While the idea of friend for hire (not that kind of escort) was unique, I just find that A Plus One for Murder is just an okay read. Maybe Bradford want to make this book different than other cozy mysteries out there while still manage to capture the feeling of cozy, but some of the character especially the main character's action didn't make sense. Our heroine, Emma Westlake, a 34 y.o entrepreneur and unsuccessful travel agent decide to create a new service called Friend for Hire after her latest employer's suggestion. But when her first client end up dead when he recite a poem in the local events, what Emma did? Fleeing after the scene while bringing evidence that given by the victim who stated before that four people in the event want him dead. So, that's make Emma the last person who see the victim before his demise. Usually, in the mystery I read, that make Emma is one of the suspect and she will questioned thoroughly by the cop. BUT, that didn't happen in this book. 

I think maybe Bradford want to create the allusion that the Sweet Falls cop are incompetent (and turn out that the sheriff was corrupt as well), but this is just unbelievable. I got that Emma is a civilian and I think her reaction toward her client's death is humane, but to flee AND bring the evidence?? She didn't think that she will be the no 1 suspect and try to clear her name, but nope, she just let it go and only react after the sheriff's deputy start questioning her about the victim. Not only that but despite living in small town, Emma didn't recognize some of its people. I think people in small town knowing each other and usually this interaction is one of the amateur sleuth's arsenal in decipher the culprit wrongdoing. Also, its grated my nerve whenever Emma echoed everyone opinion. Like person A state her/his deduction and Emma answer by echoing the deduction. Like, arrghhh, she's so ditzy! 

While Emma's personalization is hard to connect into, the secondary characters are well written. Sure, Dottie is a judgmental old lady of sort but her sleuthing enthusiastic is what propel Emma to also did the investigation. The cozy mysteries discussion in this book is pretty meta, although because of Emma's characterization that defied from usual cozy mystery, it just only there. I like Emma friendship with Stephanie, a 40 y.o woman that still live with her mother and need Emma's help to spread her wings. The romance aspect are okay with a hint of love triangle. Although not a dog person myself (or cat person, since I don't have pets), I find Emma love for her golden retriever called Scout is endearing. Sadly the mystery only discussed in the half part maybe because of Emma's reluctance in sleuthing and this book focused mostly in Emma's interaction with her clients.

A unique cozy mystery indeed, but with a main character that is hard to get into. At least the friendship between Emma with Dottie and Stephanie is what make this book interesting, but overall just an okay and a little bit disappointing read.