Murder on Pointe: A Fiona Quinn Mystery #1 by C.S. McDonald

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Links to other C. S. McDonald books below.
Synopsis - 

Fiona can't wait to attend the performance of Coppelia at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. Her old friend, Silja Ramsay, is dancing the principal role. They have dinner after the show, but when they return Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is down one dancer! Ballerina, Alexis Cartwright, has been found dead in the dressing room. Is this murder a result of hot tempers among the cast members? Or is it a random act of violence? Will there be more murders? Homicide Detective Nathan Landry isn't taking any chances. After finding out Fiona has a strong background in ballet, he recruits her to go undercover among the cast of Coppelia. Can Fiona help catch a killer, or will she be the next victim?

Review - 

The Fiona Quinn Mystery Series was created by the author as a cozy set of mysteries that her grandkids could also enjoy, so the audience for these books would be largest with those in their tweens and teens. That said, it is a light hearted, fun read that can be enjoyed by any one a fan of the cozy mystery genre.

This first book will definitely appeal to young girls who love and dream of dance as it is set in the world of ballet. Another draw for them would be that Fiona manages to step back onto the stage in a professional performance despite a decade away from dance. I was that girl who dreamed of dance growing up. My parents didn't allow me to take lessons, but that didn't stop my visions of passionately stepping on stage and being brilliant.

The main character, Fiona, was originally heading for a career in ballet when a skiing accident made it impossible. Her career path led her to teaching elementary school kids, something she became equally passionate about.  When a dance friend from the past, Silja, is cast in a principal role in a local ballet production of Coppelia, Fiona is gifted with a chance to be backstage to soak in the memories. Then everything goes awry for the company. One of the principal dancers is found dead in her dressing room and, despite her time away, Fiona is asked to again lace on those painful pointe shoes, so she can step into the company in a minor role as a mole for the handsome detective working the case, keeping her eyes and ears open for clues. But that puts her in danger as well. 

Can she help the handsome detective find the murderer, or will she end up the next victim? 

Buy the Book:  Audible ~ Amazon ~ Add to Goodreads

Fiona Quinn Mystery Series Reviews:
Murder on Pointe #1 HERE
Merry Murder #2 Coming 4-3
Waves of Murder #3 Coming 4-3
Tastes Like Murder #4 Coming 4-3
Good Luck to Murder #5 Coming 4-3
Mambo and Murder #6 HERE
Saddle Up For Murder #7 Coming 4-3
Bon Voyage to Murder #8 HERE
Taking Notes on Murder #9 HERE
Matrimony Mayhem and Murder #10 HERE
Deep Blue Murder #11 Coming 4-3
Four Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries HERE

Owl's Nest Mystery Series Reviews -
Back to the Burgh and Beyond #1 HERE
Maxed Out #2 HERE
Double Dog Dare #3 -HERE

Meet the Author - 

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg. Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy! Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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