Knock Down
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TL;DR: A bit creepier than most cozy mysteries, Knock Down is a solid read even if it is more along the lines of a suspense book than a mystery.
Knock Down is an installment in the Home Repair is Homicide cozy mystery series by Sarah Graves. The series follows former Wall Streeter Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree and her son who have moved to the town of Eastport, Maine. Knock Down brings yet another scary encounter to the pair and their group of friends when Jake is threatened by someone from her past. Murders start happening in town, and Jake tries to figure out how to stop the perpetrator before he kills again - she’s pretty sure the next target is herself.
The book is told from two perspectives, that of Jake, and that of the perpetrator who has traveled from New York City to track Jake. The villain is a creepy, unhinged character with a backstory that is slowly revealed throughout the book. Knowing who the murderer/threat is from the start doesn’t take away from the book, it simply makes it more of a suspense book than a truly cozy mystery. Throughout, the reader also learns more of Jake’s past in New York City, giving a fresh look at the character. Side characters and plots build out the story, adding to the suspense and providing more action than just that of Jake, her plan to bring down her adversary, and the usual work on her house.
Though more suspenseful than mysterious, Knock Down does retain one important aspect of cozy mysteries - the main character making decisions that ignore common sense and/or being in the middle of events no average citizen would be involved in on a regular basis.
Overall, if you enjoy cozy mysteries, or even lighter suspense books, Knock Down is worth picking up.