Book Review: ALL ABOARD FOR MUDRER (A Golden Motel Mystery Book 3) by Ellen Byron

All Aboard for Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series 

Setting - California 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 28, 2026 

Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages 

About the Book:

Dee Stern is starting to feel at home running her Golden Motel in the quaint California village she moved to, leaving behind her LA life as a sitcom writer. But a killer sees the town’s Halloween celebration as a golden opportunity to write a script for murder... 

It’s October in Gold Rush country and all manner of tricks and treats are happening in the lead-up to Halloween. October also happens to be the birthday of Angus Sprockles, the man responsible for the town being designated a historic landmark, and the residents are celebrating his memory as well. His only living descendant, Moses Sprockles, runs the narrow-gauge railroad—once used to ferry lumber from the mountains to the sawmill, now a tourist attraction. The Sprockles Railroad is hosting a Halloween-themed fundraiser for the Historical Society.

 

But when a body is found on the tracks, it’s not a Halloween prank. It’s Moses himself, seemingly felled by a fallen tree branch. Dee’s dad Sam is convinced his friend is the victim of foul play and urges his daughter to apply her sleuthing skills. Dee’s train of thought leads her to suspects ranging from a former child star and one-hit wonder, the owner of a nail salon with her claws in everything, and even the mayor. When a self-proclaimed ghost hunter throws his hat in the ring and claims to know who did it, the investigation really goes off the rails. No matter how crazy things get, Dee is determined to blow the whistle on a runaway killer with a one-track mind.

Review:

All is going well with the Halloween festivities, and, along with guests from The Golden Hotel, Dee takes a ride on the Sprockles Railroad, founded by Angus Sprockles. The train goes from FoundGold to GoldGone. The enjoyable trip takes a turn, when they happen on Moses Sprockle the only descendent of Angus. Dee, Jeff, and Dee’s father, aren't convinced Moses' death was an accident. 

I liked the characters, including Dee’s sweet dog and the hot tub-loving bear. There are plenty of suspects, and the killer isn’t easily identified. Byron sets a steady pace, filtered with humor, and small town vibes that will appeal to cozy mystery readers. This is my first in the series, and easily read as a standalone, though I always recommend starting a series at the beginning.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

Purchase Links 

Amazon ~ Kensington ~ Bookshop.org ~ B&N 

 Hudson Books ~ Target~ Walmart 

About the Author: 

Ellen Byron is the Agatha and Lefty Award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of the Golden Motel Mysteries, the Vintage Cookbook series, and the Cajun Country Mysteries, as well as the Catering Hall Mysteries written under the name Maria DiRico. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and The Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart. 

A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. 

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Catering Hall Mysteries  

 

Book Review: EDITED OUT (Seffi Wardwell Mysteries Book 3) by Rebecca Douglass

Edited Out (A Seffie Wardwell Mysteries)

by Rebecca Douglass

3rd in Series 

Setting – Maine 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 25, 2025 

Print length ‏ : ‎ 263 pages 

About the Book

Who erased the writer? 

Winter in Maine is long, dark, and cold, and California transplant Seffi Wardwell is combating the winter blues with a full calendar. Tending the plants at the local bed-and-breakfast, writing reports for the library, and generally keeping an eye on events in Smelt Point barely leaves time for pastry and gossip at Sweet Dreams, the local bakery and heart of the village. 

When the participants at an artistic retreat held at the bed-and-breakfast grow combative, Seffi is there to smooth things over, stiffen the spine of the innkeeper, and keep things going. But when a writer turns up dead, Seffi’s called on to wield a different kind of expertise. Then someone lets slip there was poison in a coffee bought at Sweet Dreams, and it looks like Seffi’s favorite source of treats is in real trouble. Can her knowledge of plants save the inn—and the local bakery—before the killer strikes again and tears the heart out of Smelt Point? 

Review  

Seffi is relatively new resident of Smelt Point, a small town that doesn't have a lot of glitz. The highlights are the Inn, the bakery, and the library. To try to make ends meet, the Inn is hosting an artist's group  - authors, painters, illustrators - of all ages for a month long residency. Although intended to be an opportunity for these artists to connect and be productive, there's an undercurrent of tension. Then the murder of the one guest no one particularly liked. This isn't Seffi's first murder but she knows how to handle Chief Miah Cox - she taught him many years before.

The story is well-written, with a steady pace, and there's enough suspects and clues to make it hard to guess the killer. There are a few other surprises as well. The characters are well developed and described - I could visualize them and their behaviors. Although this is the third book in the series, it was easily read as a stand-alone. I found myself interested in Seffi's history and her move from California to Maine. I'll be adding the first in the series to my ever growing TBR list. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

About the Author 

Rebecca M. Douglass has lived, worked, and hiked around the American West for more years than she’ll admit, while raising two children to adulthood and dreaming up interesting ways to bump people off. Thanks to good friends in Maine, she has also fallen in love with that mysterious coast. 

Since retiring from work at the library, the author has moved to Seattle, where she is writing the Seffi Wardwell Mysteries. In addition to her Ninja Librarian series for younger readers and the Pismawallops PTA mystery series, she has had short stories published in a magazines and anthologies. 

When she isn’t writing, Ms. Douglass likes to go hiking and backpacking, or travels to discover new places or revisit old favorites, including the Sierra Nevada mountains, the desert Southwest, and of course Maine, where so many of the best cozy mysteries are found.

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New Release and Review: DREIDELS AND DEAD ENDS (Bad Hair Day Mysteries # 16) by Nancy J. Cohen

About the Book: 

A daring holiday heist at the local history museum sends hairstylist Marla Vail on her most tangled case yet. 

When salon owner Marla Vail agrees to speak at the local history museum’s gala opening for a new exhibit, she expects applause—not a catastrophe. But shortly after she takes the stage, a thief steals the featured diamond-studded hairbrush, leaving behind an empty display case and a badly injured security guard. 

Marla’s friend, museum curator Becky Forest, begs for her help in recovering the prized heirloom before the mayor uses this scandal as an excuse to cut their funding. To make matters worse, the antique hairbrush comes with a curse, and suddenly bad luck is spreading through town faster than a botched dye job. As Hanukkah festivities begin, Marla would rather be lighting candles than chasing clues, but with Becky’s job at stake, she takes on the case. 

Her trail leads to a knot of suspects including the hairbrush’s owner, his greedy cousin, shifty museum staff, and a reclusive collector of mystical antiquities. Instead of enjoying menorah lights and latkes, Marla discovers murder, lies, and larceny. She’ll need sharp wits and a holiday miracle to save the museum and to keep the truth from being brushed aside. 

Review:

Marla's dealing with her pregnancy and her business, along with preparations for Hanukkah, while her husband Dalton left the police department to be a full-time father. Only when the diamond-studded antique hair brush is stolen, both of them get involved in the investigation. There are lots of coincidences, conveniently explained away by the curse associated with the brush. As Marla and Dalton work to find the killer and save the museum, the possible suspects multiply.

Well-written, with a steady pace to keep the reader engaged, this was an enjoyable cozy mystery read. The new characters are developed over the course of the story, from the odd owner of the brush to his son, and the antique collector who wants to buy the brush. Having read others in the series, Cohen depicts the conflict Marla feels as she deals with her growing family. This is easily read as a standalone.  I highly recommend this one.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

AMAZON

About the Author: 

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day mystery series and the Keri Armstrong cozy mysteries. Her titles have won numerous awards including her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

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Spotlight New Release: A CULTIVATED CORPSE (Food Blogger Mysteries #9) by Debra Sennefelder

Cozy Mystery 9th in Series 

Setting – Connecticut 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beyond the Page Publishing 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 28, 2026 

ABOUT THE BOOK

When the local garden club president is killed, food blogger Hope Early will have to dig through the clues to catch a killer . . . 

The Jefferson Garden Club’s annual plant sale is just around the corner, but Hope Early and other members of the club are more focused on the garden restoration project at Ambrose House. The gorgeous landscaping promises to help return the stately old house to its former glory, but rumors are surfacing of unexplained delays and exorbitant costs. Then the club’s president is found dead amid signs of foul play, and Hope can’t ignore the uneasy feeling that the victim was silenced for something she knew about the renovations. 

Certain that the solution to the murder is tied to the garden project and the club’s recent financial struggles, Hope begins to go through their books and uncovers more than mismatched numbers. A tangle of transactions points to an intricate embezzlement scheme, but before she can weed out who’s behind it, a local reporter chasing the same story is killed. It’s clear now that someone is dead-set on keeping the truth buried, and Hope will have to unearth a vital piece of evidence before the killer decides it’s time to bury her as well . . . 

Includes mouthwatering recipes! 

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Debra Sennefelder lives and writes in Connecticut, where she lives with her family and slightly spoiled Shih Tzu. An avid reader across a range of genres, mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. She’s the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series. When she’s not writing, she’s either baking or reading. To learn more, visit her:

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ABOUT THE FOOD BLOGGER MYSTERIES

If you love cozy mysteries with a foodie twist, the Food Blogger Mysteries are for you. Follow food blogger Hope Early as she juggles baking, blogging, and uncovering secrets in the charming town of Jefferson, Connecticut. Each book delivers: 

• Amateur sleuthing with humor and heart 
• Recipes from Hope’s kitchen 
• Small-town friendships (and rivalries!) 
• Seasonal settings — from Halloween to Christmas 
• Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, Jenn McKinlay, Ellie Alexander, and Peg Cochran, this series combines delicious food with puzzling whodunits. Author Links Website: https://debrasennefelder.com/ 

Giveaway: 

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BOOK REVIEW: THE WATER DIAMOND (A Gem Hunter's Mystery Book 2) by CB Wilson

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

Every diamond has a story… this one rewrites history. 

When a legendary Art Deco bracelet disappears from the Wrigley Mansion, diamond detective Taylor “Hunter” is pulled into a case that turns deadly fast. The theft is only the beginning. A body surfaces. A trail of lies follows. And every clue points back to a mystery buried since 1929—the disappearance of a young heiress and the secret of a second, missing bracelet. 

From the Arizona desert to the shadowed cliffs of Catalina Island, Hunter and her diamond-sniffing dachshund, Glimmer, race a ruthless adversary who is always one step ahead—and has no intention of letting anyone walk away alive. 

Because some secrets aren’t just buried…they are never meant to be found. 

REVIEW: 

This is the second book in A Gem Hunter's Mystery series, featuring Taylor Hunter, diamond detective, her twin sister, and, of course, Glimmer, the diamond-sniffing dachshund. The "diamond" in question, isn't just a diamond. An Art Deco diamond necklace, at some point split into two bracelets disappeared years ago. Interestingly, there are those who do not want the necklace to be reconstructed for fear of what it might reveal. Add in a few "helpers," although it's not immediately clear who are helpers vs bad guys. The secret held by the jewelry is as key to the mystery as finding the two bracelets. 

The story is well-paced, character driven, and easy to follow. There's humor, twists, surprises, and a resolution that makes sense. I particularly like Taylor and her twin as they follow the trail to the end, and, of course, Glimmer. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Award-winning author CB Wilson began her writing journey with a childhood rebellion—after finishing a Nancy Drew mystery, she decided she could write a better ending. A passionate animal advocate, she created the beloved Barkview Mysteries, blending her love of puzzles and pups. 

Her newest series, Gem Hunters, shines with adventure. Drawing on her Gemology degree from the prestigious Gemological Institute of America, CB weaves authentic sparkle into every page, featuring an extraordinary “Diamond Dog”—a clever Dachshund named Glimmer who can sniff out diamonds fifty feet underground. Glimmer, the Diamond Dog, is no ordinary dachshund. With her silky, long hair and sharp instincts, she has an extraordinary gift—she can sniff out diamonds buried deep underground. 

Serious and focused when on the job, Glimmer is the loyal partner of diamond investigator Taylor Hunter. Together, they unravel mysteries where every gem holds a dangerous secret. Fiercely devoted and brilliantly skilled, Glimmer proves that even the smallest detective can make the biggest discoveries.

You can find C B Wilson here:

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Spotlight: IN THE DEAD OF WINTER (The Blue Water Mysteries) by Lyn Farrell

In the Dead of Winter (The Blue Water Mysteries)

 Mystery 1st in Series

 Setting – Michigan

 Publisher ‏ : ‎ Camel Press

 Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 10, 2026 

Print length ‏ : ‎ 260 pages Paperback 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Victoria Treadwell, dispatcher for the sheriff’s office, is driving to work in a snowstorm when she sees a car fish-tailing behind her. Horrified, she watches at the car swerves off the road. When she heads back to help, she finds the driver bent over the steering wheel and barely breathing. In the back seat is a tiny child in a pink snowsuit. Victoria calls for an ambulance and then dials her boss, Pete Manstead, Undersheriff, of Charlevoix County. The ambulance arrives and the paramedic tries to shock the woman’s heart back into rhythm, but the driver, who they learn is named Carly Yellowwood, is dead. 

From the autopsy, Pete finds Carly died of a drug overdose, although she didn’t use drugs. The coroner lists the cause of death as murder. Pete sends his deputies to visit Carly’s neighbors and learns she has been seeing two men. One is her ex-husband, Joe Yellowwood, a Native American living on the nearby reservation. No one knows the second man. Since Carly Yellowwood was divorced and has a new boyfriend. Pete believes its a crime of passion. Victoria, who hopes to adopt Carly’s motherless child, thinks the motive is far darker.

Purchase Links

 Amazon ~ Bookshop.org ~ B&N

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lyn Farquhar—pen name Lyn Farrell—holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and is an experienced author, having published the seven-book series (the Mae December mysteries) with Epicenter Press and four books in the Rosedale Investigations series. She has also published one women’s fiction book. To date, eight of her books have been picked up by a secondary publisher, Harlequin. Sales to date from both primary and secondary publishers are approaching 50,000. 

Lyn worked for Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine for 35 years before retiring to pursue her dream of becoming a published fiction author. Lyn is the mother of two, has six stepchildren, and twelve grandchildren. She loves gardening, playing with her Cavalier King Charles spaniels, and is always on the lookout for paintings by her famous artist grandfather, Eugene Iverd. 

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Book Review: TERROR IN TAFFETA - Destination Wedding Mysteries Book 1 by Marla Cooper

Terror in Taffeta: Destination Wedding Mysteries 

by Marla Cooper 

Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 

Setting - San Miguel de Allende - Mexico

Publisher: Chicks on the Case Press

ABOUT THE BOOK 

Wedding planner Kelsey McKenna is just a few hours away from wrapping up her latest job when one of the bridesmaids upstages the couple by collapsing into a floral arrangement. Kelsey soon discovers that the girl hasn't just fainted—she's dead. When the bride's sister is arrested for murder, the demanding mother of the bride insists that Kelsey fix the matter at once. And although Kelsey is pretty sure investigating a murder isn't in her contract, crossing the well-connected Mrs. Abernathy could be a career-killer.

Before she can leave Mexico and get back to planning weddings, Kelsey must deal with stubborn detectives, a rekindled romance, and late-night death threats in this smart, funny cozy mystery debut.

REVIEW 

Kelsey is a "fixer" and this wedding had more things that needed to be fixed, including a last minute acceptance by a bridesmaid and her plus-one. Dana may be close enough friends with the Nicole, the bride, but that's not the case with everyone. When it's determined she's dead, Mrs. Abernathy, mother of the bride, insists the wedding go on without mentioning Dana's demise. Once it's determined it's murder, Mrs. Abernathy's demands increase, including investigating the murder. Unfortunately, the two detectives are sure they have the killer, no matter what Kelsey finds out. Kelsey is kindhearted and visits Zoe in jail regularly, determined to prove she's innocent.

This is a well-written cozy mystery with twists and turns, a slice of humor, and a touch of melancholy. Kelsey is kindhearted and visits Zoe in jail regularly, determined to prove she's innocent. Kelsey considers rekindling a romance, while she's dealing with many obstacles and the ever aggravating Mrs. Abernathy, and juggling the next few weddings. Brody helps her along the way.  It was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON    ~     GOODREADS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MARLA COOPER is the author of the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries. As a freelance writer, Marla has written all sorts of things, from advertising copy to travel guidebooks to the occasional haiku, and it was while ghostwriting a guide to destination weddings that she found inspiration for her series. She currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and a few too many cats. She is the Vice President of Sisters in Crime, Heart of Texas chapter.

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