Book picks similar to
Dumpster Dying by Lesley A. Diehl


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Peril at the Pawn Shop


Mel Faye - 2019
    Really busy.With her petsitting client, Ralph the pug, at her side, Annie is running around town walking dogs, training greyhounds, organizing puppy classes, and taking energetic Vizlas for runs. And it's all to save money for and build interest in her not-yet-named dog store, the business she's dreamed of for years.But Annie's plans change when she finds out that the death of local pawn shop owner, George Appleby, has been ruled a suicide. She knows that there's at least one person in town who will benefit from Appleby's death: Chet West, the real estate mogul who's trying to buy up all the small businesses in her little town and replace them with chain stores and tourist destinations. And one day soon the small store going out of business might be her own. Now Annie's determined to figure out what happened to Appleby and how Chet West is involved - even if the police don't care. And the more she and Ralph run around chasing down leads and sniffing out suspects, the more Annie realizes that Little Nectar, Connecticut, is not the wholesome little town she thought it was.Peril at the Pawn Shop is Book 1 of the light-hearted Walk in the Bark cozy mystery series. It features:...an amateur detective whose spunk is liable to get her in trouble...a pug who snores in his sleep...a small town full of quirky characters...a mystery that will keep you guessing until you turn that last page...no foul language, cliffhangers, or gore Scroll up and buy it now!

Jeopardy in January


Camilla Chafer - 2017
     Welcome to Calendar where life is sweet, but death is murder. Sara Cutler loves her job as head librarian of the public library, an integral part of the historic heart of the picturesque mountain town, Calendar. The combination of old books, quirky clientele, and endless reading is nothing less than perfection for Sara. So when she discovers a body in the rare books section that threatens to destroy her quiet existence, along with the imminent demise of the library, Sara vows to find the killer. She never expects to receive any help from Jason Rees, the handsome, big city developer whose only objective is to get rid of the library. Sara assumes he is counting on the murder to serve as the final death knell his firm needs to demolish the library. However, that doesn’t prevent him from falling head over heels for the very woman with whom he’s clashing. When news arrives that the dead woman was nothing that she appeared to be, the whole town is instantly enthralled by the concept of having an actual jewel thief in their midst. Even more puzzling is: where did she hide her stolen treasure? All Sara must do to save the library is simply solve the murder, find the hidden jewels, and convince herself not to succumb to the one man she would rather see run out town. It doesn’t take long before she realizes that amateur sleuthing isn’t as easy in real life as it is in the stories she loves to read. Twelve cozy mysteries... one deadly town!

The Owl Thief (Utah O'Brien Mystery #1)


Jonni Good - 2015
    There's a local election coming up in three days. Utah is running in that election, and she hoped to win.The scene of the murder couldn't be worse, either—only six people have a key to City Hall, and Utah O'Brien happens to be one of them.The sheriff is out of town on a more important case. If she's going to clear her name, regain her reputation and, hopefully, win that election, Utah and her friends need to unmask the real killer before the voting starts—and before anyone else gets killed.You'll like this book if you enjoy character-driven mysteries that include dogs who take an active, realistic role in the plot. It's filled with likable small-town characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. This is the first Utah O'Brien Minnesota Mystery. Almost non-stop drama and a fast moving plot kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish ... Really enjoyed the mix of the small town charm, and the fun cast of characters (loved Jocko too). "The Owl Thief" has an unpredictable plot, and a sassy and smart heroine in Utah, infused with a compelling storyline - felt really believable. Megan King—Goodreads

Bayou Bubba


Sam Cheever - 2015
    Together, they follow a trail of gold coins to Sinful, Louisiana, where a homeless guy named Bayou Bubba turns up dead with an alligator tooth in his hand and a gold coin between his teeth. Is Bubba Miss Chance’s long lost father? Or will the mystery of his disappearance suck her down into the bogs of the Bayou, and ruin her favorite purse?

New England Clam Murder


Summer Prescott - 2015
     Divorced caterer Becca Rogers feels more than a little bit out of her league when she roams the ballrooms of the rich and shameless, serving the finest seafood in the region. Finding herself smack dab in the middle of a very mysterious set of circumstances when her ex-husband’s new socialite wife is murdered, Becca’s normal existence gets turned upside down as she learns that nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted. Filled with twists, turns and a lively cast of characters, this Cozy Mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. Click the “buy now with 1 click” button at the top of the page OR Read it for FREE with Kindle Unlimited.

Jellies, Jams, and Bodies


Donna Walo Clancy - 2016
    Small shops line Main Street, the hub of the town. The residents all know each other and each other’s business. Tourist season brings the place to life, when the locals are outnumbered by visitors, fifty to one. It has been a safe, quiet place to live, until now. There hasn’t been a murder in Whipper Will Junction for over forty years. Now, bodies are popping up everywhere. To make matters worse, Richard Wells, the beloved elder of the town has disappeared. Who or what is causing the upheaval in the quiet town of Whipper Will Junction? While opening her new shop, Jellies, Jams, and Weddings, on Main Street, Tabitha Moon is thrust into her first, real life mystery to solve. Will she be able to find the murderer and rescue Mr. Wells in time? Teaming up with her best friend, Jenny Jones, and her new love interest, Greg Stone, they work together to make Whipper Will Junction the safe place it used to be. With its cast of loveable locals like Gladys Twittle, The Town Mouth, and Sheriff Puckett, you will fall in love with Whipper Will Junction and its people. Come visit. WHERE THE GOSSIP IS PLENTIFUL; AND SO ARE THE BODIES.

Seven Lives to Kill


K.M. Waller - 2020
    But when her eccentric Aunt Ginger passes away, she leaves Loretta her prized cat sanctuary. Her aunt's dying wish is that the seven remaining felines are allowed to live out the rest of their days in comfort on the little farm.Recently widowed and ready for a change, Loretta relocates to the town of Saint Wales, Florida to honor her aunt's wishes thinking how hard can it be to look after a few cats.Only, the neighbors aren't exactly hospitable and several have been trying to shut down the sanctuary for years. Worse, someone is out to sabotage the farm by any possible means putting the cats and Loretta in danger. Not only that, a close friend of her aunt's doesn't believe Aunt Ginger died of natural causes.Can Loretta settle into her new role as cat mom and protector while fending off the cat haters and a possible murderer?

Deadhead and Buried


H.Y. Hanna - 2019
    Hanna! City girl Poppy desperately wants to pay off her debts, quit her dead-end job, find her father… oh, and keep a plant alive. But she knows these are just hopeless dreams—until the day the letter arrives. Suddenly, Poppy is on a train heading deep into the English countryside, to collect a mysterious inheritance. And the last thing she expects to receive is a cottage garden nursery—complete with romantic climbing roses, fragrant herbs, a ginger cat with attitude… and a dead body. Now she must solve the mystery or risk losing her new home and the chance for a fresh start. But who would want to murder a gardener in a sleepy little village? Could the reclusive inventor have something to do with the killing? What about the brooding crime author next door? And why is her long-lost cousin so desperate for her to sell the cottage? Poppy might not know her pansies from her petunias but that doesn’t stop her digging for clues. The only problem is, she could be digging her own grave too… This book follows British English spelling and usage. Clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language. Genre: cat cozy mystery series / gardening cozy mystery / women amateur sleuth / British detective mystery THE ENGLISH COTTAGE GARDEN MYSTERIES Deadhead and Buried (Book 1) Silent Bud Deadly (Book 2) ~ more coming soon!

Basket Case


Nancy Haddock - 2015
    Sherry Mae Stanton Cutler and her housemates—a crafty group of retirees who’ve dubbed themselves the Silver Six. But when Sherry Mae’s niece, Nixy, arrives to keep them in line, Lilyvale also plays host to a killer.When Leslee Stanton “Nixy” Nix gets the latest call from Lilyvale detective Eric Shoar, she knows it means trouble. There’s been another kitchen explosion at her Aunt Sherry’s farmhouse, and the dreamy-voiced detective has had enough. If Nixy doesn’t check on her aunt in person, the Silver Six could become wards of the court. But the trouble Nixy finds in Lilyvale is not at all what she expects.The seniors are hosting a folk art festival at the farmhouse, featuring Sherry’s hand-woven baskets, when land developer Jill Elsman arrives to bully Nixy’s aunt into selling the property. When Jill is later found dead in the cemetery, Sherry is suspected of weaving a murder plot, and it’s up to Nixy and the Silver Six to untangle the truth.Recipes and crafting tip included!

Decked in the Hall


J. New - 2022
    But tragedy strikes when one of the villagers dies. Mobile librarian Penny Finch, an avid mystery reader, immediately suspects foul play.With bumbling PC Bolton out of his depth, and Inspector Monroe new to the area, it’s up to Penny and her rescue puppy Fischer to help solve the crime. But under the surface of this idyllic English village lurk secrets and lies.Will Penny be able to dig beneath the shine to get to the murky truth? Can Fischer help sniff out the red herrings and unearth the clues they need to catch a murderer?Or will their nose for trouble lead them down the wrong track entirely?Get your paws on the first cozy mystery featuring sleuthing duo Finch & Fischer, and follow them as they attempt to solve a serious of crimes in the six villages and hamlets that make up Hampsworthy Downs.

Purebred Dead


Kathleen Delaney - 2015
    As someone who knows nothing about dogs, Mary had better learn - and fast - in order to catch a ruthless killer.

The Big Lead


Libby Kirsch - 2015
    Being on live TV in a small town has never been so funny, until Stella covers the town’s first murders in years.When the prime suspect’s girlfriend enlists Stella to help clear his name, she uncovers another shocking crime that could expose a handful of powerful insiders.Who is honest, who can’t be trusted, and who committed the murders? Stella is on a tight deadline to find out. Can she help free an innocent man, or will the real culprit get away with murder?

Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery: Books 4-6


Kathi Daley - 2014
    Not only does Zoe suspect that her dad’s new girlfriend is really a killer, but Zoe is the only one who believes that her soon-to- be evil stepmom is guilty of such a dastardly deed. Add that to the fact that Zak clearly has a secret, Jeremy’s baby mama is making his life as miserable as her pregnancy is making hers, Levi’s girlfriend Barbie is on a rampage, and Ellie is caught in a brotherly love triangle, and you have a Valentine’s Day disaster in the making. Big Bunny Bump Off: Spring is in the air and with the warm weather comes an abundance of babies; human and otherwise. Things seem to be right on course until Jack Frost comes to town throwing the entire town of Ashton Falls into chaos. When Zoe sees the Easter Bunny running from a murder scene during a freak snowstorm she must track down the 'Cartoon Bandits' in order to catch a killer. Beach Blanket Barbie: Zoe suspects that something is up when Levi’s ex-girlfriend Barbie comes to town unexpectedly. When she ends up floating face down in the lake Zoe and the gang shift into full sleuth mode to find a killer. As they delve into Barbie’s life since she left Ashton Falls, they find a complex puzzle that is going to take a group effort to unravel.

Murder at Match Point


Myrtle Morse - 2020
    If you love uplifting cozy mysteries, quirky cats, and snarky humour, you’ll love this series. Pick up this page-turning cozy cafe mystery today!

An Open Book


Sheila Connolly - 2012
    After part-time librarian Sarabeth Dodson discovers elderly Edith Hathaway dead in a snowdrift in small-town Strathmere, Pennsylvania, she enlists the help of Police Chief Vanessa Hutchins to get to the bottom of the mystery. With no footprints around the body and no purse, what was the retired school teacher doing out in the middle of nowhere in the snow? The answer may have something to do with the library book Edith failed to return... Includes a preview of the first book in Sheila Connolly's brand-new County Cork Mystery series—Buried in a Bog. Also includes excerpts from the first book in the Orchard Mystery series—One Bad Apple—and the first book in the Museum Mystery series—Fundraising the Dead.