Who killed Ben Addison?

It took me a little while to get into the audiobook version of this who-done-it, and I had to rewind the first hour to listen to it again. I'm not American, so I'm assuming it was the narrator's slightly fast American accent that stumped me. I sometimes find it can take a while to get into an audiobook because you can't listen to the details of new characters and places at your own pace.

The opening hour of the book related to an American diner, The Bully Pulpit (strange name!), whose boss, Ben Addison, had announced that tips were being stopped and replaced by a (small) increase in hourly wages. The staff were up in arms, but it also prompted demonstrations from the local agricultural college, some of whom were for tipping and others who were against. Then the college debate team got involved, interviewing the demonstrators and generally causing mayhem. Unfortunately, amongst all this chaos, Ben was murdered.
Was it one of his staff, one of his customers, one of the demonstrators.....?

Enter the local Police Chief, Elizabeth Friedman and her friend, Medical Examiner Skelly, to unravel the clues and bring the perpetrator to justice.

I'm not quite sure what the term 'Cozy Mystery' means, but I assume this would fall into that genre. It sort of rumbled along, gathering clues, adding new suspects, eliminating others, until we discovered who had committed the murder, and why.
I enjoyed it while it lasted but I wouldn't search out this author again. The audio version, in particular, is probably more suited to an American audience.

My thanks to the author, publisher and narrator, who provided me with a free copy of this audiobook through Audiobook Boom via Audible, in exchange for an unbiased review.

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What did you like most about Tip a Hat to Murder?

This is a perfect pairing of story and narrator. The easy going policing of a small agricultural college town is matched by the pleasantly gentle verbal amble of Kevin Iggens. The owner of a popular 24 hour diner is found dead early one morning. Nothing seemed to have been stolen. The police chief, a woman, had recently transferred there to escape the homicides so frequent in Chicago, whilst her colleagues, all male, had never had to investigate a murder before and, as in any small town, knew most of the locals and their secrets, pretty well. The victim had been well liked by everyone including his serving staff, despite the recently imposed 'no tips' imposition which had reduced their incomes and divided the college fraternity which started demonstrations for and against.The search for the killer is slow moving, introducing the other residents of the town and each is beautifully painted, everyone becoming a rounded personality. It is the very real aspect of this book which is so appealing. Both the happenings and the conversations feel authentic..

What about Kevin Iggens’s performance did you like?

This reality is further enhanced by Mr.Iggen's performance, who voices each of the protagonists clearly as individuals, whilst his text reading between conversation mirrors the emotional content, gently accented and warm and easy to hear. No fireworks but fully tonal.

Any additional comments?

I loved listening to this book and was saddened when it ended. I felt connected to the town and it's inhabitants and really wanted to know more about them and their ongoing futures. Although a stand alone story, there are hopes that author Elaine Orr might revisit the town and write another some time in the future. If so, I will definitely want to read it.
My thanks to the rights holder of Tip a Hat to Murder, who gifted me a complementary copy, via Audiobook Boom. A new author and narrator to add to my list of favourites.

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