About the Book
Lilly heads south to finalize the estate, planning to quickly return to her busy life in D.C. But the quaint, sleepy town has a strange appeal. Locals wave to you on the street. What a difference from the frenetic pace and backstabbing politics of her normal life.
But no sooner than finding the estate lawyer’s office, the laid-back vibe starts to evaporate.
An evasive legal assistant and surly Chief of Police try to shuffle her out of town. Estate files come up missing. The lawyer is surprised anyone would want to stay here...after what happened.
The town coroner reports her stepfather died of natural causes, but Lilly is not convinced. Poking around, she starts to suspect murder.
Lilly now realizes the Magnolia Manor of her fond childhood memories may be a crime scene. And that sticking your nose into small town secrets comes with a price.
This inn should’ve come with a danger sign: enter at your own risk.
Review
Lilly is successful at what she does, keeping her boss out of trouble along with Eric, the man she's been seeing. Only Eric wants to get married and she has bad feelings about marriage.
The same day she finds herself executor for one of her mother's many ex-husbands, her mother shows up in D.C., getting another divorce. Having fond memories of Magnolia Manor and needing to deal with the legal documents, she travels to Florida.
Memories come flashing back as she walks through the inn, even though it's in bad shape. Then things take a turn for the worse except for Quigly (Pete to his friends) but he insists he's just driving her around. She's sure there is something shady going on and she doesn't like the plan to demolish the inn. The inn is broken into with things broken and vandalized. Then the estate lawyer's assistant is killed.
This is a well-written story and Lilly's character is well-developed as are the other major characters, especially the sheriff. The pace is even and there is plenty of action to keep the reader engaged and wondering what will happen next. Everything leads up to an ending reflecting the nostalgia Lilly's felt since she returned to Magnolia Manor. And, yes, Lilly's five-year plan definitely changes.
This is the first in the Magnolia Manor series and a great start to a 14-book series (at least as of this posting).
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
Joy Patrick is the pen name for this spirited cozy mystery writer, psychology researcher, and outdoor enthusiast. Drawing inspiration from her background in the medical and mental health fields, as well as her vibrant family of writers and fine arts aficionados, Joy aims to weave smart, compelling mysteries that blend warmth, intrigue, humor, and goodwill.
Joy lives in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, her home base for spontaneous travel and experiences that broaden her knowledge and sense of adventure and freedom.
