Book Review: Flashes of a Dying Hour

Flashes of a Dying Hour

Flashes of a Dying Hour expertly combines suspense, history, female friendship, humor, and just a hint of the supernatural.

• Series: Liv Wilde Mystery (Book 2)

• Written by: Lynda Allen

• Publication date: March 27, 2025

• Mystery type: Jersey cozy mystery (explanation below)

Flashes of a Dying Hour is a compelling, multi-dimensional cozy mystery with a unique twist: the amateur sleuth, Liv Wilde, gets premonitions when she experiences menopausal hot flashes. Liv attained this power just a couple of years ago, so she is still learning how to remember and interpret her visions.

The mystery gets rolling on the very first page when Liv has a dream, or more accurately, a premonition, about a dead man. She doesn't know who he is, where he is, or what happened to him, but she knows that what she saw will eventually come to pass.

The story ramps up when everyone in Fredericksburg learns that the town may have a secret treasure: a rare copy of Tamerlane, Edgar Allen Poe’s first poetry collection. The news draws treasure hunters to town, including a shady figure known as The Falcon.

The story has multiple mysteries. Who is the man in Liv’s vision? What happened to him? Who is The Falcon? Will they find Tamerlane? There is always something to keep you intrigued and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.

The writing style is engaging, and the pacing is very good. Lynda Allen builds suspense with precision. It's hard to put the book down once you start.

The city of Fredericksburg, Virginia is beautifully described and provides the perfect backdrop for the mystery. The historical facts are well-researched and interesting.

At the heart of the novel is the friendship between Liv and her tight-knit group. Liv’s friends are great supporting characters. Liv’s adult daughter also fits in well with the group.

To add to the fun, this book is what the author calls a "Jersey Cozy." It has all the hallmarks of the cozy genre plus a dash of salty language. This reflects both the author and the sleuth’s home state of New Jersey.

Flashes of a Dying Hour is the second book in the Liv Wilde Mystery Series and can definitely be read as a standalone novel. However, if you'd like to start at the beginning (and the series is certainly good enough for that), look for Flashes of Insight, the first Liv Wilde Mystery.

I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.

Disclosures: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Cozy Crime Reads may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Cozy Crime Reads received an advanced reader copy of Flashes of a Dying Hour from Net Galley.