Book picks similar to
Welcome to Piney Falls (Piney Falls Mysteries #1) by Joann Keder
mystery
cozy-mysteries
female-protagonist
ereader
Missing in Mystic Grove (Liz Bean, #1)
S.F. Bose - 2018
Bose featuring Liz Bean, woman sleuth.
Liz Bean Mystery Series
Book 0 - Missing in Mystic Grove (Prequel)
Book 1 - Murder in Mystic Grove
It’s Thanksgiving Week at the Bean Family Bed and Breakfast. Liz Bean is looking forward to helping her family prepare a Thanksgiving dinner and celebration for their B&B guests. Two months earlier, a traumatic event prompted Liz to leave her job as a field translator with Worldhead Global Security in Virginia and return home to Mystic Grove. After four years of hiding what she really did in the Covert Services Group at Worldhead, Liz is relieved to be home. She looks forward to a peaceful and enjoyable holiday. Then everything falls apart. A B&B guest reports that a piece of her jewelry has gone missing. Then she suggests that another guest might have actually stolen it. The guest gives them four days to find her jewelry or she’ll call the police. Grandma Addie Bean shivers at the thought of the negative online reviews the guest might leave if they don’t find her jewelry. Grandma Addie pairs Liz with Sam Nolan, a quirky private investigator who’s a frequent diner at the B&B. Their meeting is like oil and water, but Liz knows they have to team up to help the B&B. When their prime suspect disappears, the situation goes from bad to worse. As they investigate each lead, Liz realizes that she’s not the only one in Mystic Grove who’s keeping secrets. When the truth is revealed, it takes everyone by surprise.
This action-packed mystery featuring a young woman sleuth and her private investigator partner will keep you guessing all the way to the surprising ending.
The Reviews are In!
"I read book 0 and book 1. Loved them both! Plenty of mystery and suspense. Really great characters that I want to enjoy reading about again and again."
"This was really an excellent mystery. Lots of twists and turns. I liked and identified with the heroine. The other characters were believable and interesting. I would recommend this to any mystery lover."
"Lively characters and good story. Enjoyed from start to finish. Unexpected events."
"Missing in Mystic Grove" is a prequel to S.F. Bose’s first mystery novel, "Murder in Mystic Grove", and I enjoyed this one just as much. At 148 pages, it’s a shorter story, but just as much fun to read. It starts out as a story about a ring that may be lost or stolen, but quickly develops into so much more. Ms. Bose has a knack for building suspense and fleshing out characters. I hope she continues the series because I want to see what happens to her main characters next."
"I was very excited when I saw S.F. Bose's new book, Missing in Mystic Grove, released. Great characters and plot. Once again, twists and turns and an ending I didn't expect.
Rose Hill
Pamela Grandstaff - 2008
When rich and rotten Theo Eldridge is found bludgeoned to death in the local veterinary clinic, Rose Hill police chief Scott Gordon is forced to work with ambitious county investigator Sarah Albright. Unfortunately Sarah seems more interested in seducing Scott than in solving the crime. Scott’s crazy about Maggie Fitzpatrick, but she's still grieving over the mysterious disappearance of the love of her life. Although determined to resist the powerful chemistry between them, Maggie finds herself deeply involved with Scott's investigation, and battling emotions she can no longer deny. It’s a bitterly cold January in Rose Hill. As Scott and Maggie untangle the sticky web of Theo's shady business dealings, they uncover dark secrets that may connect Theo's murder to another committed twenty years before.
The Moonshine Shack Murder
Diane Kelly - 2021
All signs indicate her new 'shine shop will be a smashing success. What's more, mounted police officer Marlon Landers has taken a shine to Hattie. For the first time ever, the stars seemed to have aligned in both her work and romantic life. But when a body ends up on her store's doorstep alongside a broken jar of her Firefly Moonshine, it just might be lights out for her fledgling business.The homicide detective can't seem to identify the person who killed the owner of a nearby bar. The only witness is Hattie's longhaired gray cat, and Smoky isn't talking. When the detective learns that the victim and Hattie had a heated exchange shortly before his murder, she becomes her prime suspect.Lest Hattie end up behind bars like her bootlegging great-grandfather a century before, she must distill the evidence herself and serve the killer a swift shot of justice.
Murder Under A Blue Moon
Abigail Keam - 2019
She is a cartographer by trade, explorer by nature, and adventurer by heart. But there’s a problem. Miss Mona is broke. It’s during the Depression, and National Geographic has just turned down her application to join an expedition to the Amazon. What’s she to do? Perhaps get a job as a department store salesgirl. Anything to tide her over until a next assignment. There’s a knock on the door. Who could this be in the middle of the night? Holding a revolver, Mona reluctantly opens her door to a man wearing a Homburg hat and holding a briefcase. “I bring glad tidings. Your Uncle Manfred Moon has died and left you as his heir to the Moon fortune. You are now one of the richest women in the country!” he says. Mona’s response is to point her revolver in his face. If the stranger is telling the truth, she will apologize. If he is a fraud, she will shoot him. That’s how Mona does things in 1933. Murder Under A Blue Moon Murder Under A Blood Moon Murder Under A Bad Moon Murder Under A Silver Moon AWARDS 2010 Gold Medal Award from Readers’ Favorite for Death By A HoneyBee 2011 Gold Medal Award from Readers' Favorite for Death By Drowning 2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By Drowning 2011 USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books List of 2011 as a Finalist for Death By A HoneyBee 2017 Finalist from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Design 2019 Honorable Mention from Readers’ Favorite for Death By Stalking
Prestige, Privilege and Murder
Christa Nardi - 2019
With divorce papers not yet signed, she may get a substantial inheritance – a clear motive in the eyes of both Noth’s family and the police. His family and law firm strive to keep up the pretense that all is above reproach and idyllic. In her quest to prove her innocence, however, Stacie discovers she's not the only one with a motive for murder. Could it be a colleague at the prestigious law firm where he worked? Or is it tied to the victim's stance on domestic violence? Or maybe even his threats to reveal family secrets? Whatever the true motive may be, it soon becomes clear that Stacie might be the next victim.
A Stately Murder
Kate P. Adams - 2020
Stunning architecture, beautiful gardens – and murder most foul …A light-hearted ghost tour around the darkened rooms of a stately home is the perfect setting for thrills and chills. But the thrills and chills turn into very real terror when a new member of the phantom team starts haunting the rambling halls of the grand old house.Taking a break from managing the three cafés of Charleton House, nestled deep in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside, Sophie Lockwood joins the tour, expecting an evening of fun and banter with her friend, charismatic tour guide Mark Boxer. What she’s not expecting is to stumble upon the victim of the first murder the historic house has ever known.Determined to get to the bottom of this brutal crime, Sophie enlists the help of the sweet-toothed Mark and newly promoted Detective Constable Joe Greene. It will take an extra dose of caffeine along with the help of her colourful collection of friends to solve the mystery. Can Sophie stop the cold-blooded killer before they strike again? Or will the next ghost to haunt Charleton House be her own?Fans of T E Kinsey and M C Beaton will love A Stately Murder. Join Sophie as she attempts to solve the mystery, find the killer and save the day. But first, coffee …
A Dear Abby Cozy Mystery Collection Books 1 - 3: End of the Lane, Be Still My Heart and The Last Ride
Sonia Parin - 2018
Instead of writing about the weekend bake sale, she has to give a statement to the police. It seems the small town of Eden is not the idyllic place she'd imagined it to be. There's a killer on the lose but the finger of suspicion is pointed at Abby. Be Still My Heart (Book 2) Abby Maguire is in a rut and in desperate need of a scoop, not another dead body, but that’s what she gets. After witnessing an altercation between two Eden Thespian rivals, Abby Maguire, the town’s new reporter, hopes the annual Eden picnic fundraiser will be the perfect venue for her to witness some fireworks. Everyone has turned up, and everyone is dressed in 1920s costumes, including the dead body she finds. The Last Ride (Book 3) A carousel. A body. An inheritance. Eden’s local café owner, Joyce Breeland, has issued Abby Maguire an ultimatum - the small-town newspaper reporter must find the identity of the Eden Bloggess or be banned from Joyce’s café. Functioning on limited coffee rations, Abby Maguire goes in search of this elusive blogger only to stumble upon a body and a mysterious inheritance. There’s a killer on the loose and he might be working his way through a list… I LOVE this book. The writing flowed, the story drew me in immediately and the characters were incredibly likable. Abby flies halfway around the world to start a new life as a small-town newspaper reporter in Australia. Her first assignment is supposed to be about cake, of all things, but instead she finds herself investigating the murder of her new boss. This is sincerely the perfect cozy mystery. It is fast-paced, lighthearted, fun and engaging. I will be keeping my eye out for more books by Sonia Parin. (End of the Lane) Amazon Reviewer A hilarious cozy!!! I love Doyle! A small town, a reporter and a dog. Throw in murder and stir with a lot of sugar Well written with a good story line (Be Still My Heart) Amazon Reviewer I love this writer and especially this series in Australia. The characters are real and funny. They relate to each other. There is consistency between the books. (The Last Ride) Amazon Reviewer
Scrabbling for the Culprit
Jane Wallace - 2020
Adult triplets Cassie, Callie and Lonnie Parker, have thrown their hearts and souls into planning the Scrabble tournament Callie is hosting at the local high school. But, when a bookcase full of dictionaries lands on a beloved teacher, murmurs of foul play threaten the entire competition. With the new-to-the-county detective, who doesn't know the townspeople yet and a school full of suspects, can these siblings work together to find the killer, keep everyone else safe, and move all the pieces into place to run spectacular tournament?
Sprinkles and a Situation
Emmie Lyn - 2021
Changed for the worst, that is, when the first thing I do is stumble upon a body.And the new detective in town happens to be the most eligible bachelor around. And my new boss’s grandson. I’ve signed on for way more than I’d ever wanted.With my job on the line, my black Lab at my side, and donuts in hand, my only choice is to follow the clues. But when footprints lead to evidence that doesn’t add up, I kick my natural nosiness into high gear.My life is a complete mess, but with my new passion for sniffing out clues, I might just solve this dirty whodunit before the wrong person is arrested.Grab yourself a huge helping of this clever new cozy mystery series. You’ll fall in love with Ellie Hart, her dog, and the cast of characters who keep her on her toes!
Lies in High Places
Dana Killion - 2017
A sniper. A city on edge. As investigative journalist Andrea Kellner is heading out of Chicago for a long weekend, a driver in front of her is shot and killed. The city’s gang violence problems have spilled onto a major expressway for the third time in a month. Or is something else at play? Her career faltering and marriage all but over, Andrea desperately needs a win, provided she can find out what’s really behind the shootings. With a boss who wants her sitting on the sidelines—or back in his bed, a competitive co-worker who just wants her gone, and a detective blinded by his own past, Andrea must look past CPD’s explanation and discover the truth behind the shootings. Provided she can live to tell the story. Lies in High Places is the first book in the Andrea Kellner crime fiction series. If you like complex plots and smart, ballsy, crime-solving women, you’ll love Dana Killion’s page-turning debut.
Dead in a Dumpster
B.L. Blair - 2014
Sure, she didn't liked Isabel, but then again, neither did anyone else. Isabel had a condescending attitude and a bad reputation. As manager of the antique store, Patina, she had made a lot of enemies.There is Patina's assistant manager, the handsome and charming Trent. Isabel was blackmailing him. There is Patina's owner, the aloof and influential Anthony Thorpe. Isabel was smuggling drugs through his store. And there is the entire drug dealing Cantono family. Isabel had lost a box containing heroin from one of their shipments. That is just to name a few and didn't even include the stranger who was seen arguing with Isabel just hours before her death. The police have too many suspects and too many soft alibis. Leah needs to prove to the sexy new chief of police that she had nothing to do with Isabel's death.Leah loves a good mystery. Can she find the killer before the police arrest her for murder?
Summerhouse Reunion
Kathi Daley - 2020
After Kayla’s death, Kelly returns to the island where she joins three friends from her past, to commemorate both, Kayla’s life, and the life of a sixteen year old girl who disappeared from the island twenty five years earlier. Now in their early forties, each of the four remaining friends struggle to find a way to deal with their loss while also dealing with their own personal crisis.Meanwhile, the new sheriff on the island, also a childhood friend, seems to have stumbled onto an interesting pattern the previous sheriff overlooked all together. Apparently a sixteen year old girl has gone missing from the island every fifth summer since Peggy disappeared. Some were assumed to have run away, while others were reported as missing, but one thing is for certain, none of the girls were ever seen again.As the sheriff, the women, and other friends from the past, work together to piece together the random clues they hope will provide a mirror to the past, disturbing evidence begins to surface suggesting that the next girl to disappear will disappear this summer.The Summerhouse TrilogySummer ReunionTopsail SundaysCampfire Secrets
Bundle of Trouble
Diana Orgain - 2009
From the moment she and newborn Laurie lock eyes, Kate can't imagine returning to work after her six-week maternity leave, but in expensive San Francisco, she and her ad exec husband, Jim, need every bit of both incomes. Then a dead body is fished out of the bay and linked to Jim's estranged brother, George. Both the police and PI Albert Galigani, hired by the dead man's mother, believe that Jim and Kate know more than they're revealing. Kate is determined to find the elusive George and get some answers, but she soon gets in over her head. Galigani serves as a charming mentor as Kate navigates the twists of motherhood and an uncomplicated but engaging plot. (Aug.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review "[AN] ENTERTAINING NEW SLEUTH." -GILLIAN ROBERTS, AUTHOR OF THE AMANDA PEPPER SERIES "A charming, gutsy, wry character who will make you laugh so hard you'll forget the labor pains." -LOUISE URE, SHAMUS AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR Book Description: A body has been dredged from the San Francisco Bay. Kate Connelly, pregnant and ready to pop, has reason to fear it may be her long lost brother-in-law. Battling sleep deprivation, diaper blowouts and breastfeeding mishaps she muddles through her own investigation, Mommy style: To do: 1. Find Killer 2. Figure out hideous breast pump. 3. Avoid cranky cop. 4. Send out Make birth announcements – need pink paper. 5. FIND KILLER
Killer Music
Tammy L. Grace - 2015
So he has no trouble rubbing elbows with the best of Nashville at an elite gala. But even the experienced sleuth can’t hide his shock when country music royalty get upstaged by a music mogul's untimely death. Hired by the victim’s widow, Coop and his trusty golden retriever jump into a high-society world of old family secrets and political scandals. But his thorniest challenge comes in wrangling the high-maintenance client who may be hiding more than her share of dark surprises. Can Coop keep his customer satisfied and catch the killer before another body goes belly up?Killer Music is the first book in the award-winning Cooper Harrington Detective Series of crime mysteries. If you like eccentric detectives, snarky dialogue, and a dash of southern charm, then you’ll love Tammy L. Grace’s fast-paced whodunit.
Buy Killer Music today and get swept up in a clever crime series today!
Treat yourself to the award-winning Cooper Harrington Detective Novels readers describe as “well-written, clever, and will keep you guessing until the end.” They feature Coop, a Nashville lawyer turned private detective known for his love of coffee, snarky t-shirts, and talent for solving cases. He, along with his faithful dog, Gus, and his right-hand assistant, Annabelle, work together to solve murder cases full of twists and turns.The Cooper Harrington Series may be read as stand-alone novels, but are more enjoyable when read in order.Read more from award-winning author, Tammy L. Grace
COOPER HARRINGTON DETECTIVE NOVELS
Killer Music (2016 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)
Deadly Connection (2017 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)
Dead Wrong
HOMETOWN HARBOR SERIES
Hometown Harbor: The Beginning (Prequel Novella)
Finding Home
Home Blooms
Promise of Home
Pieces of Home
Finally Home
GLASS BEACH COTTAGE SERIES
Beach Haven
STAND-ALONE BOOKS
A Season of Hope (Christmas Novella)
Hardback Homicide
S.E. Babin - 2019
I’m not quite sure I ever pictured myself ending up in the quaint, little town of Dewdrop Springs, Maine, but the coffee, carbs, and endless reading materials inside my store keep me from venturing outside too much, anyway. But when a special-order hardcover leads me to the scene of a homicide, it looks like I'm the one falling through the looking glass. And while I prefer my murders to stay within the pages of my favorite guilty pleasure paperback thrillers, somehow it falls to me to investigate… or die. Well, let’s just hope the cat is more useful than he looks.