Hush Money by by T. E. Woods Published by Random House Publishing Group – Alibi is a fantastic summer read that if you had no work and nothing to do for a few hours you could finish in one sitting. I am rather sad I did not get that luxury. This being my first book by this author I was very impressed, it keeps you engaged and interested and keeps you wanting to see who done it. It is a cozy mystery wrapped nicely in a romantic suspense novel. Sydney Richardson is a heroine who is strong willed, stubborn independently successful yet has enough flaws to make her relatable which I love. The story centers around the murder of the mayor and the girl who they think did it. You might be asking yourself did Sydney do it? No…. the role she plays here is the boss who knows her employee is innocent and she goes out of her way to proof it to the point she might be put in harm’s way. Wanda(Windy) is a server at Hush Money one of the two restaurants that Sydney owns Ten-Ten being the other where she honors her late father who was on the force making it feel like a good place for cops to relax and unload. I love the way the book is laid out, it gives a clear picture of the path the author is taking while still making the reader guess and second guess who killed the mayor.
All and all a great read. Thank you Netgalley the author and publisher for my advanced copy this was fantastic!
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Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC Kindle e-book of [b: Hush Money: Hush Money Mystery #1|35173131|Hush Money (Hush Money Mystery #1)|T.E. Woods|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1495220412s/35173131.jpg|56506042] by [a: T.E. Woods|6433111|T.E. Woods|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1388702564p2/6433111.jpg]

Sydney a fearless and determined entrepreneur opens two restaurants in her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. Her mother worked in the food industry all of her life and both of their lives were changed by the death of Sydney's father who was a police officer.

Although the opening night of both restaurants; one fine-dining (Hush Money) and the attached (Ten Ten) cop bar are a hit with the community, it turns murderous.

As the main suspect in the homicide of the Mayor of Madison, Sydney is tossed into a mixer of intrigue and mystery, finding clues and friendship in unlikely places.

Will Sydney lose everything including her freedom? Will her father's old buddies in blue turn out to be friends or foes?

The first in a series, the writing is good, subplots move the story along, building the narrative and setting the reader up for a wild and twisty ride.

I have recommended this for our library collection and in reader's advisory. ( )

I have read a couple of the Justice Series and don't think they are all that special but I asked for this one to see how well Ms Woods does with a different protagonist. I am not impressed here either.

Sydney Richardson inherited a lot of money she feels she doesn't really deserve and so she decides to spend it, first by setting up two restaurants a fancy one called "Hush Money" and one for cops called "Ten-Ten", and then by paying the legal fees for one of her staff who is accused of murder.

I found the restaurant startup tale unrealistic and the writing tedious. I am not a T. E. Woods fan and I guess I never will be.

I received a review copy of "Hush Money" by T. E. Woods (Random House – Alibi) through NetGalley.com. ( )

I love T.E. Woods' "The Fixer" books and was sad when The Fixer decided to get out of the life of fixing. That girl was AWESOME! I wondered what would come next in in T.E. Woods' world and now I know. I loved this book.

I loved the locale, Madison, WI is a beautiful city and I loved the main character, Sydney Richardson. A woman with a lot of issues of abandonment and a huge heart. During opening night of her "two", yes not just one, restaurants the Mayor is murdered. His wife had to be driven home in a taxi, so she can't be the suspect. However, one of Sydney's new employees, Wanda Fields, is a no show for work. There is no phone call or a replacement found.

Wanda Fields, with no restaurant experience at all, tugged on Sydney's heartstrings with her status as a single mother. Sydney hired her right away. Now, Wanda is the main suspect in the Mayor's murder.

Sydney comes to the rescue with money for a lawyer, bail and a babysitter for her young daughter. She is bound and determined who killed the mayor because she knows Wanda did not do it.

A great story with not really a lot of suspects. There is no clue that there was anyone in that house besides the mayor and Wanda. However, some shady actions behind the scenes provide quite a few suspects. A fact I was happy to see because I really liked Wanda, as well.

The jaw dropping ending reiterated the fact why T.E. Woods is one author that I request her books without even reading the description!

Huge thanks to Random House/Alibi and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. ( )

Received an ARC for my fair review for netgalley. I thoroughly enjoyed!! What fun. Now this books keeps you interest, and trying to figure out, who did it? Did Sydney do it? She was one those characters that I liked, not perfect but not weak, and I am all for that, also liked her mom..go out and read when it comes out, you will be entertained... ( )