The Dixie Hemingway series is one of my favorites.  I started it somewhat close to the end and have actually read it mostly out of order. This is book 2 in the series and it was really written like a thriller with lots of action and criminal activity, suspected fraud, bribes, murder, animal cruelty and threats of violence.  I would hesitate to classify this as a cozy and would instead think of it as a traditional mystery.  Dixie is a well written character with a great deal of depth to her.  The reader can follow along with her struggles to overcome her own challenges and really see growth in the character.  There is a hint of possible romance sometime in the distant future in this book and it is handled realistically given Dixie’s history.  Loved the book and the series.  I would highly recommend it, just cozy readers should be aware that it is much heavier/darker in this particular book than the average cozy.