Review and Giveaway: Death in a Difficult Position

Death in a Difficult Position (Mantra for Murder - Book 4) by Diana Killian


Publication Date: September 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: Paperback, 304pp
ISBN-13: 9780425243817
ISBN: 0425243818

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)


Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Diana Killian on the WEB: website, blog, facebook, twitter 

Synopsis:

At Sacred Balance yoga studio, owner A.J. Alexander tries to help her clients feel heavenly. But a seriously inflexible preacher claims she's sending them straight to Hell...

Though he's new in Stillbrook, the charismatic Reverend David Goode has wasted no time in pointing a righteous finger at the town's center of sin: A.J. and her studio. A.J. tries to have a civil word with him, but the fire and brimstone only get worse. In fact, her former partner turned ruthless yoga rival, Lily approaches her suggesting they present a united front against Goode before he drives them both out of business.


But when Goode is found murdered and the hot-tempered Lily is accused, A.J. discovers that the good reverend was actually a bad, bad boy, with a flock of motives for murder. And if she wants to clear Lily' s name, A.J. is going to have to stretch her sleuthing skills to the limit...


Thoughts:


Death in a Difficult Position is the fourth book in Diana Killian's Mantra for Murder mystery series that focuses on heroine A.J Alexander and her yoga studio, Sacred Balance. Killian has created a series that is current, edgy, and full of humor. She takes the dire situation of murder and gives it lighter, less exhausting spin. This is a great example of what a cozy should be. Killian's multifaceted characters are well written and engaging and the story itself with appeal to readers with many different backgrounds.


In the fourth installment of the series, Death in a Difficult Position we find A.J. teaming up with rival yoga instructor, Lily to face down salacious comments from a member of the religious community. Reverend David Goode is hell bent to prove that yoga is from the devil and those who practice it are steeped in sin. Killian certainly isn't afraid to let readers draw their own conclusions. She chooses a somewhat controversial side of the yoga debate and uses it to enhance her story, without seeming condescending or pretentious. I thought she did an excellent job of taking a difficult premise and making it work. 

One of the things that I really enjoy about this series is the amount of comic relief and humor that Killian instills in her story. From well placed puns and comments, to quirky characters like A.J.'s mom and her TV buddies, to funny situations and circumstances. Let's face it... murder is a heavy subject, but in true cozy style Kilian is able to give readers an interesting mystery that is lighter and does not produce the same angst that main stream mysteries and thrillers provide. Murder is still murder, but Kilian's characters prove, that life still goes on.


Yoga is very popular right now and that gives this series a very current and edgy feel to it. Yoga is one of those things that can be embraced by everyone from housewives to rock stars and everyone in between. That also allows for a much bigger reading audience as well. Readers will appreciate the authors knowledge of yoga and how she presents it in her books. I've always thought it was exercise for the body and the mind and I think Killian is able to convey that to the reader, along with helpful techniques and ideas. I always feel like a I learn a little more about it with each one of her books.

They mystery aspect of this one is well written and will hold the readers interest all the way to the end. Killian provides several clever motives to keep readers guessing and draw them into A.J.s life and the town of Stillbrook. I recommend this one to cozy mystery fans, yoga enthusiasts and those who are looking for a great mystery to wile away the Autumn evenings.

Death in a Difficult Position is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Diana Killian is the author of the comedic Mantra for Murder series about an overstressed freelance marketing consultant who inherits a yoga studio from her murdered aunt. Diana is also the author of the romantic and lightly literary Poetic Death novels -- a series about the adventures of an American school teacher in the English Lake District.

A graduate of Pepperdine Malibu, Diana is married and lives in California.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The publisher is providing one copy of Death in a Difficult Position by Diana Killian for giveaway here on Debbie's Book Bag!

~ You must be a Google Friend Connect follower to participate.

~ US Addresses only (Publisher Request)

~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST October 10th.

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