Deadly Return by PJ Skinner

The premise of this series has potential. The lead protagonist was once an investigative journalist who let her craft lie dormant as she struggled with depression. She has since left her husband and moved to a small house and is planning on running a vintage shop. She has two friends who are close to her, and they give her support on both professional and personal fronts. In the very beginning, Tanya befriends someone who gives her access to estate sales. He is also a possible future love interest, something that took away from the story itself, I felt. There is also the ex and his son from an earlier relationship who feature in Tanya’s life. Amidst all this, Tanya is always open to helping people, and this leads an old schoolmate into her life. This schoolmate soon exits the scene, and only Tanya wants to hold on to the possibility that it was not a natural accident. The mystery part of this was well done. I found it easy to follow and clear in the direction that the plot was taking. I thought the personal issues were one too many, and each left a little for the next book, meaning almost all of them were unresolved by the end. The women and their friendships and support system felt refreshing, without too much unexpected drama. Fans of this genre will find a lot to enjoy in this book (and possibly the series). I will need to read the next to confirm if I like this style of narration or not. I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.