Against the Currant is the book that left me conflicted. In the span of 2024 alone, I read 13 titles including this one. Some of those titles feature the start of small business owned by the heroine that got into hot water so far when someone died days later after the victim's altercation with the heroine. Against the Currant is totally follow the same formula while try to be different with the way Olivia Matthews infused some of Caribbean culture to this book. I'm not that familiar with the Caribbean culture and norms, so I will take what I get.

This book is a cozy mystery yes, but tend more toward mystery rather than cozy feeling. The cozy come from the Lyndsay Murray's big family, from her parents, her big brother, her grandma, her cousin and some uncles and aunties. The pace itself kinda fast but I wish Matthews didn't try to always remind what time is it when Lynds going somewhere or investigate someone. This book also didn't try to hide its dislike of cops, lel. Apparently NYPD detectives were incompetence of sort with how they are so sure that Lynds is the murderer. Actually, the way Matthews write it was make sense. Lynds have motives, means and also her charm bracelet was found in the victim's place. All the evidence were against Lynds and I kind of know how frustrated Lynds might be. Try to clear her name because her business and her family matters. The unbelievable happen when Lynd and her cousin, Reena, got random shot that they believe the culprit try to intimidate them but the cop (in this case a potential love interest) said that maybe they fake the whole things. Like, OMG, seriously, I can't even. How incompetence these cops eh?

Although the mystery and the way of story unfold left me with mixed feeling, I decide to give half star more to my original 3 stars rating with the way story end, especially when Lynds got cornered by the culprit. I'm appraised Matthew's decision to write Lynds that keep practicing kickboxing because the scene when

Lynds kicking the culprit to their ass was very satisfying. We need more heroine in cozy mystery that know to defend herself

. While I said that one of the cop will be Lynd's potential love interest, I can see that the romance itself is more afterthought. Rather than Bryce (the cop), I enjoy Lynd's interaction with Jose, a local newspaper journalist. The power and strength of this book is more like the family support that Lynds has. Sigh, I almost green with envy, lel. Lynds sure have a family that love her in their own way and they also seem tight-knit.

I enjoy reading Against the Currant although Lynds's attitude sometimes can grates my nerves, lel. So I don't know if I want to read the next book or not. I think if you like your foodies cozy with Caribbean culture and a spitfire heroine that will not let others bullied her and accused her of murder, you might want to try this one.