Hello everybody! Happy Monday. 🙃 But at least there’s this amazing tour for Death by Dissertation to help ya’ll make it through the day.
This cozy follows a new faculty member from Hawaii at a college in NEBRASKA with several deaf students where one ends up murdered. There’s quite a lot going on here, so let’s dive on in.
About death by dissertation:
I received this book for free from Great Escape Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Title: Death by Dissertation Author: Kelly Brakenhoff
Series: Cassandra Sato Mystery #1
Pub. Date: April 22, 2019
Publisher Emerald Prairie Press
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery
Format: ebook
Goodreads Amazon|| B&N
Ambitious Cassandra Sato traded her life in Hawai'i for a dream position as Student Affairs VP at Morton College in tiny Carson, Nebraska. She expected the Midwestern church casseroles, land-locked cornfields, and face-freezing winters would be her biggest challenges, but it's her job that's rapidly becoming a nightmare.
A deaf student is dead and the investigation reveals a complicated trail of connections between campus food service, a local farmer's beef, and the science lab's cancer research. Together with her few allies, Cassandra must protect the students caught up in the entanglement.
Dealing with homesickness, vandalism, and a stalker, Cassandra is trapped in a public relations disaster that could cost her job, or more. No one said college was easy.
Get to know Cassandra and her new friends at Morton College.
Purchase Link – Amazon  June 22 – 30 – Just $0.99!!
IMHO: death by dissertation
Death by Dissertation was so great!!! I love cozies but I’m always looking for something different that stands out. Death by Dissertation didn’t disappoint in any sense.
It was so easy to fall in sync with Cassandra. I loved all the little details of her day to day, her hectic schedule, and all the pressure she’s under. I do think she needs to loosen up a bit, but I think that’ll be great to watch her go from a tight bud to a full blossom.
Cheat Sheet:
- Love Cassandra
- So happy to have an ambitious woman doing her own thing, setting off on her own in such a big bold way
- Love finding out all the details about Hawaii’s culture
- The Culture Shock is real!
- BFFS <3
- Deaf interpreters & deaf students, not a gimmick but integral to the setting & story
- Appreciate the honest talk about miscarriage
- All the events on campus sounded amazing
- It is a very white area that Cassandra has to deal with & I think it’s handled well
- Cassandra’s parents are adorable, hope we see more of them. Maybe even go back to visit??
- The behind the scenes stuff about running a collage is so cool.
- Love how Cassandra’s so concerned about the students
- There are possible LIs down the line..
- Love Cassandra’s mishaps, kinda like a rom com in that way
- Figured out who’s behind it all along with Cassandra
- Stuck the landing.
- Quick & fun read.
- Can’t wait to continue the series
Perfect for cozy mystery fans, obviously, and those looking for something new in the genre especially. I think this is has great crossover appeal with fellow rom com & crime lovers too. It reminds me The Chronicle Mysteries on Hallmark .
If you don’t read cozies, you should start with this one! It’s a mystery, but light and down to Earth with amateursleuthing. It’s all about the people, relationships, and setting.
About the Author:
About Kelly Brakenhoff
Kelly Brakenhoff is an American Sign Language Interpreter whose motivation for learning ASL began in high school when she wanted to converse with her deaf friends. As an American Sign Language Interpreter with more than twenty years of experience, Kelly’s worked in college classrooms for fifteen different majors. From traipsing across muddy farm fields to stomach-churning medical procedures, and stage interpreting for famous figures, Kelly’s community interpreting interactions number in the thousands. Unfortunately, once she’s stepped away from the job, she usually forgets 90% of what happened. Which helps her keep confidential information safe, but also makes it really hard to grocery shop for more than 5 items without a written list.
Kelly wants to live in a world filled with peace, love, and joy, where people who can hear learn enough sign language to include deaf people in everyday conversations and work. Where every deaf child has early access to language and books with characters like them, and dark chocolate is cheap and plentiful.
When she’s not interpreting or writing, you can find Kelly cheering for her favorite Husker teams or training for half-marathons because she really likes dessert.
Her first mystery, Death by Dissertation, released April 22, 2019.
Giveaway:
(5) Winner’s Choice – Print or Digital Death by Dissertation (Cassandra Sato) by Kelly Brakenhoff
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
The Layaway Dragon – REVIEW – June 17Â
Only By Grace Reviews – REVIEW – June 17 –Â
Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE – June 18 –Â
Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT – June 18 –Â
 Island Confidential – REVIEW – June 19 –
The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – June 20 –Â
The Avid Reader – REVIEW – June 20 –
Book Club Librarian – REVIEW – June 21 –Â
That’s What She’s Reading – GUEST POST – June 21 –Â
Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW – June 22 –
MJB Reviewers – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – June 22 –Â
My Reading Journeys – REVIEW – June 23 –Â
Week Two:
StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW – June 24 –
Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT – June 24 –Â
A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – REVIEW – June 25 –Â
Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – June 25 –Â
Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW – June 26 –Â
Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT – June 26 –Â
 Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW – June 27 –
I’m All About Books – GUEST POST – June 27 –Â
Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW – June 28 –Â
The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW, GUEST POST – June 29 –Â
Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – June 30 –Â
This seems like a story I will enjoy. I’m looking forward to getting to know Cassandra & the other characters.
I really liked the description of the book. Looking forward to reading it.
[…] Death by Dissertation was so great!!! I love cozies but I’m always looking for something different that stands out. Death by Dissertation didn’t disappoint in any sense. ~The Layaway Dragon […]
[…] Death by Dissertation was so great!!! I love cozies but I’m always looking for something different that stands out. Death by Dissertation didn’t disappoint in any sense. ~The Layaway Dragon […]
[…] Wednesday! I hope ya’ll remember my review of Death by Dissertation, if not please check it out now. Today I’ve got the sequel, Dead Week. It’s a different […]