You’ve Lost That Livin’ Feelin’ by Nicholas George: Slow-Burn Cozy Mystery Review

Read time: 2 minutes

📚 Read as a book (5 hours)
🏷️ Published by Severn House
🗓️ ARC provided by NetGalley (Release Date: 6 Jan 2026)

Book Blurb

Adam and Shawna Parrall, a retired couple with a shared musical past, are living a slow, contented life in their small English town. Adam runs a cozy record shop while Shawna, ever curious and full of life, dabbles in real estate and attempts to master the art of cooking. But when a close friend is found dead, their quiet rhythm is disrupted. What begins as casual curiosity soon pulls Adam into a world of secrets and regrets—forcing him to confront not only the truth behind the murder but also the meaning of love, loss, and getting older.

Let’s talk about the book:

This one’s a slow, slow burn, and I don’t mean that in the simmering, tension-filled way. You’ve Lost That Livin’ Feelin’ feels more like a meandering stroll through the lives of Adam and Shawna Parrall than an actual mystery. The murder plot exists, but it’s very much in the background, almost like a background track you forget is playing while you’re busy admiring the decor.

Now, full confession: I found it adorably sweet that Shawna is also the name of the author’s wife, because the warmth and affection between the fictional Adam and Shawna shines through every page. Their banter, their gentle teasing, their shared history. It’s the kind of mature relationship we don’t see enough in fiction.

But the pacing… oh boy. It’s glacial. The clues come in fits and starts, and when the reveal finally hits, it feels more random than revelatory. Adam’s investigation doesn’t really feel like sleuthing; it’s more like an old guy asking casual questions over cups of tea and vinyl records. There’s heart here, absolutely, but the mystery side never quite finds its rhythm.

Would I Recommend It?

If you love slice-of-life stories with cozy, older protagonists and gentle charm, this might be your kind of comfort read. But if you came for the mystery, you may find yourself impatient for the beat to drop.

Instead…

You could try these:

• The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
  A group of retired friends solve crimes in their quiet English town. Warm, witty, and surprisingly clever.
• The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
  Cozy British mystery with charming characters and lighthearted intrigue.
• Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
  Struggling single mom + mistaken for a hitwoman = chaotic, laugh-out-loud caper.
• Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
  Meddler mom, meddler aunties, and one very dead blind date in the trunk.

Let’s Talk Cozy vs. Crime

Do you enjoy mysteries where the crime is secondary to character development? Or do you crave a snappy, clue-driven plot? I’d love to hear your “slow burn” tolerance in the comments!

Book Links:

Amazon CA
Goodreads
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