Book Review: Frozen Stiff Drink by James J. Cudney (Braxton Campus Mysteries #6)

Stars: 2 out of 5

Pros: I still like Kellan and care about him

Cons: Weak writing in a book that needed editing

The Bottom Line:

A snowstorm is coming

But then a killer strikes first

No improvement here

Murder During a Snowstorm

I had considered giving up the Braxton Campus Mysteries, but I’m so close to the end of the series, I decided to press on. Which brings me to Frozen Stiff Drink, the sixth in the series. It did little to change my mind. 

The series features Kellan Ayrwick, who has returned to his hometown and taken a job as a media professor at the local university - a job he’s hoping to turn into a permanent gig. But ever since returning home, he continues to find himself involved in the mysteries around town. Then there’s the soap opera of what is going on in his and his family’s lives. 

Which means you shouldn’t start with this book. Not only would you be lost in the ongoing storylines, but this book spoils several plot points from the previous book. 

As this book opens, Wharton County is bracing for a late winter storm that is supposed to dump quite a bit of snow on them. Before the storm buried them for good, the local magistrate dies under suspicious circumstances. But with his beloved Nana D missing, that’s all Kellan is able to think about. Until his brother becomes caught up in the murder investigation. Can Kellan help his family?

I’m sorry to say that the psychic introduced in the previous book is back again. I really don’t like those elements in my books, so I was sorry to see that. 

But the bigger issue is the writing. It tells us more of the story. A perfect example of this when we are told what happened in a conversation instead of actually getting to see the conversation happen. The result is a story that is harder to get into. 

This book tries to keep several balls going at the same time, and it doesn’t quite work. In fact, I’d say the pacing is another strike against this book. We get lots of rehashes and speculation. We do eventually reach logical climaxes. 

The book could have used a good continuity editor, too. I verified several mistakes in timing or other things that contradicted what we’d already been told. I’ve got to admit, this made it hard to care. 

Finally, the book has a lot of characters with lots of connections. It is really hard to keep them all straight, and they aren’t the most distinct characters. 

So, what keeps me coming back? I really do like Kellan. I keep hoping that he will get a happy ending. And maybe a little more respect from his family. 

But the fact that I like Kellan made the ending that much more compelling. I have to know what happens next. 

I do hope some things improve in the final two books. Only if you have already started the series is there any reason to pick up Frozen Stiff Drink. 

Here are the rest of the Braxton Campus Mysteries.