ARC Review: Board to Death by CJ Connor

Board to Death
Author: CJ Connor
Series: A Board Game Shop Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Kensington Cozies (August 22, 2023)

Description: The first in an ulta-charming new “quozy” mystery series starring Ben Rosencrantz, a queer 30-something English professor (and closet scifi fan) who’s returned to his hometown of Salt Lake City to run his family’s board game shop in the trendy Sugar House neighborhood – a community hotspot for players of all ages…and for killer collectors!

Back in his hometown of Sugar House running his family’s board game shop and café, Ben Rosencrantz just can’t seem to get his life to pass go, much less collect $200. Once he was a happily married English professor in Seattle. Now he’s a divorced caregiver, looking after his ill father and a Chihuahua named Beans while still figuring out the rules of retail management. At least the town has become more LGBTQ+ friendly than when Ben was a teenager—and that flower shop owner, Ezra McCaslin, enjoys flirting with him.

But despite his usual clientele of gamers, Ben is barely earning enough to keep the store running and stay on top of his father’s medical bills. Then a local toy and game collector named Clive offers him a winning strategy—to purchase a turn-of-the-twentieth-century edition of The Landlord’s Game, the realty and taxation game that inspired Monopoly, at a tenth of the rare edition’s true value. Suspicious of Clive’s shady, low-priced deal, Ben turns the offer down.

Then Clive turns up dead at the front door of Ben’s and a backpack full of $100 bills appears on his doorstep. Now Ben is the #1 suspect in Clive’s death, and unless he and Ezra can prove his innocence and find the real killer, he’ll go to jail for murder—and no amount of double dice rolls will set him free...

My Thoughts: Ben Rosencrantz is back in Salt Lake City after a divorce from his husband and leaving his job as an English professor in Seattle. He's caregiver for his father who has developed late onset muscular dystrophy and trying to keep his father's board game shop solvent. 

When a guy comes to try to sell him a rare game, Ben refuses. But when the guy if found stabbed to death outside the shop, Ben needs to solve the mystery of who wanted Clive Newton dead and who is trying to frame Ben for the crime.

Ben is assisted by new friend flower shop owner Ezra. And Ben needs the help. He's shy and suffers from social anxiety. Also, he's an English professor and board game player, not a detective of any kind. 

This was an engaging story with interesting characters. I liked the setting of Salt Lake City and the way an openly gay man deals with his less-than-tolerant hometown. I also liked the introduction to gamer culture. 

Favorite Quote:

"I don't think you have it in you. I think you'd sooner run into a tree than kill a spider, let alone a person."

"It's less messy if you put them in a cup and let them out. And humane. Everyone knows that."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.