Item: Booty in the Backseat
Author: Gina

Booty in the Backseat by Karen C. Whalen (The Tow Truck Murder Mysteries) $20 Gift Card Giveaway! #BookReview #Excerpt #CozyMystery @GoddessFish @WildRosePress @whalenkc @Karen_C_Whalen_Author

First Thoughts: Delaney Morran is no typical amateur sleuth—she’s a tow truck driver who stumbles into her detective work in the most unconventional ways. The title alone hints at the book’s quirky humor, and Whalen delivers a laugh-out-loud, suspenseful story.

A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.

Book Details

Booty in the Backseat by Karen C. Whalen
Series: The Tow Truck Murder Mysteries Book 6
Published by Wild Rose Press on November 18, 2024
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Crime
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 226

High-heeled tow truck driver, Delaney Morran, is shocked to discover bags of money in the backseat of a Volvo she was hired to tow. She's even more shocked to find a severed hand in one of the bags.

She learns the car belongs to the aunt of her friend, Rory. The booty in the backseat, amounting to half a million dollars, raises questions, but more mysterious is the disappearance of Rory's uncle.

Spruce Ridge, Colorado is home to the rich and famous, and the uncle is a well-known movie producer. With that much money...and a severed body part...and the uncle gone AWOL...Rory fears a kidnapping. When his aunt finally admits to receiving a ransom demand but was warned against calling the police, Delaney agrees to help.

Is the kidnapper a drug kingpin seen with the victim? His neighbor who has reckless parties? Someone connected to his new film? Or, perhaps the victim's spouse trying to cover up the murder of her husband?

When a dead body turns up next, and it's not the kidnapped victim, Delaney has two crimes to solve.

Source: Goddess Fish Promotions

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Excerpt from Booty in the Backseat

“You need a nickname. How about Del?”

My dad’s name. I was happy when my customers called me Del. A lot of them did, since that was the name of my business, Del’s Towing.

“Sure, I’d like that, but why do I need a nickname?”

“Cause you’re an honorary member of the TKs, the Thunder Knuckles Gang.”

I tried to keep a shocked expression off my face, but couldn’t help the heat flooding my cheeks. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No, ma’am.” He leaned back in his chair and tucked his thumbs into his pockets.

I’d met Lance last year when I discovered the bullet-ridden body of a member of the Thunder Knuckles Gang in a car on the side of the road. Lance had considered the victim his brother, and when I solved the crime, Lance considered me his friend. I didn’t know I was also one of the gang now.

“What’s it mean to be an honorary member?”

“It means, I got your back, Del.” He shot an imaginary gun. “Pow, pow, pow.”

“Excuse me?” I glanced over my shoulder and all around. “Someone might hear you.”

“I get it, I get it. Kill the noise. But Del, you need a tattoo.” He tapped his head where the dark blue lightning bolt colored his skin. “I know just the place where you can get the ink done.”

I said, “Hard to pass up, but no.”

“It’s part of the gang initiation.” He looked disappointed.

“We can talk about it later.”

Or never.

Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.

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Purchase Links for Booty in the Backseat

Booty in the Backseat (The Tow Truck Murder Mysteries Book 6)

Amazon Kindle Edition
Whalen, Karen C. (Author)
English (Publication Language)
227 Pages - 11/18/2024 (Publication Date) - The Wild Rose Press, Inc. (Publisher)

Booty in the Backseat (The Tow Truck Murder Mysteries)

Whalen, Karen C (Author)
English (Publication Language)
256 Pages - 11/18/2024 (Publication Date) - Wild Rose Press (Publisher)

If the above links do not take you to your country’s Amazon page for Booty in the Backseat, please let me know, and I’ll gladly get you a link.

Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount of their share, and every penny helps support this blog.

Purchase Booty in the Backseat from YOUR local Bookshop!

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My Thoughts on Booty in the Backseat

“Booty in the Backseat” by Karen C. Whalen is an unexpected delight in the world of cozy mysteries. Delaney Morran is no typical amateur sleuth—she’s a tow truck driver who stumbles into her detective work in the most unconventional ways. The title alone hints at the book’s quirky humor, and Whalen delivers a laugh-out-loud, suspenseful story.

Blending humor, suspense, and a dash of romance, the story follows Delaney Morran, a tow truck driver with a knack for getting into trouble. When she discovers a dead body in the backseat of a repossessed car, her life takes a thrilling detour as she’s pulled into a murder investigation. With a tenacity that matches her mechanical skills, Delaney is determined to solve the mystery, uncovering small-town secrets and dodging danger along the way.

Delaney is a refreshingly down-to-earth character. You can easily root for her as she juggles life in a male-dominated job while dealing with family, friendships, and a knack for finding trouble. Whalen has a talent for blending small-town charm with an edge of danger that keeps you turning the pages.

The story is a mix of humor and suspense. It’s not overly gruesome, making it an excellent pick for readers who enjoy a good mystery without the heavy grit. If you love a cozy mystery with a unique twist and a protagonist you’d happily grab a coffee with, Booty in the Backseat is a fun ride worth taking.

While this is part of The Tow Truck Murder Mysteries, it can easily be read as a stand-alone, but I can’t wait to read the others.

I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!

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About Karen C. Whalen

Karen C. Whalen is the author of two mystery series for The Wild Rose Press: the Dinner Club Mysteries featuring Jane Marsh, an empty nester who hosts a gourmet dinner club, and the Tow Truck Mysteries starring Delaney Morran, a super feminine shoe-a-holic who drives a tow truck.

Both are cozy mysteries about strong friendships and family ties set in Colorado. The first book in the Dinner Club series tied for First Place in the Suspense Novel category of the 2017 IDA Contest sponsored by Oklahoma Romance Writers of America. In the Tow Truck series, Eyes on the Road was a Second Place winner of the 2023 Firebird Book Awards in the Cozy Mystery category.

Whalen worked for many years as a paralegal at a law firm in Denver, Colorado and was a columnist and regular contributor to The National Paralegal Reporter magazine. Whalen loves hosting dinner parties, entertaining friends, riding bicycles, hiking in the mountains, walking on the beach, and reading cozy murder mysteries.

Murder at Sea Oats Beach is her first book published as an indie author.