Award-winning author Ellen Byron is launching a new cozy mystery series this week!
photo by Colleen from @ILikeOldBooks1213
I am thrilled to be joined again by guest blogger, and fellow Bookstagrammer, Colleen from @ILikeOldBooks1213 as she and I review the new book from Ellen Byron which kicks off a new cozy mystery series! Tune in tomorrow as Colleen and I host a Q&A with the author!
Colleen's review:
A fantastic start to a new series! Ellen Byron has an amazing sense of humor, which makes her cozy mysteries so much fun to read. The premise of this is great. A tv writer leaves LA to open a motel in rural California, only to have a former colleague get murdered when he stays at the motel! The main character and her business partner Jeff have a great rapport - not romance, they are exes - and their humorous banter lightened the mood even as they are dealing with the stresses of trying to start a new business. There is a whole cast of entertaining characters in town, and of course no shortage of suspects. Not to mention a bear.
I see so much potential for this series.
Not only as the hotel develops, but also as relationships develop. The main character seems to have some things to work out with her father, who is also a really interesting character. Much to look forward to, and I hope the series continues for a long time.
Thank you to Edelweiss Plus and Kensington Publishing for the gifted eARC.
My review:
Ellen Byron is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors. Like FMC Dee, she has also worked as a comedy TV writer, and books always entertain and make me laugh. This one was no exception. I loved it!
Since this is the first book in a new series, there is a fair amount of world-building, which was very well done. Atmospheric, the charming woodsy town and kitschy motel came vividly to life, complete with a bear named Stoney. Several quirky characters who inhabit the town are introduced, and I cannot wait to get to know them better in future books. They were memorable and provided comic relief, as did all the witty dialogue. Dee is bright, likable, and spirited, and I enjoyed sleuthing alongside her. The mystery was fast-paced, with some funny situations and a few red herrings that kept me guessing.
This was such a fun read, and I loved how it felt simultaneously nostalgic and modern. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the gifted eARC
My steep was Evening in Missoula from Montana Tea & Spice -an aromatic blend of chamomile, rosehips, raspberry leaf, mint, star anise, vanilla, lavender, and other herbs and spices. Available from various retailers.
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS:
New motel owner Dee Stern has checked out of the familiar comforts in the San Fernando Valley and checked in to the quaint village of Foundgold. Running a rustic getaway in the woods sure beats LA traffic—until murder ruins the peace and quiet . . .
Down-on-her-luck sitcom writer Dee Stern is flipping the script. Twice divorced and wasting her talents on an obnoxious kids’ show, the lifelong Angeleno embraces the urge to jump in her car and keep driving. It's a road trip with no destination—until she pulls into a mid-century motel filled with cobwebs and retro charm. Nestled in the shadow of a national park, it’s a time capsule of a place that, like her, could use some work. So, in the most impulsive move of her life, Dee teams up with best friend, Jeff Cornetta—who happens to be her first ex-husband—to transform the aging ranch into the Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains, a hiker’s oasis on the edge of the wilderness . . .
But Dee and Jeff soon realize there couldn’t be two people more unprepared for the hospitality business. There’s also the panic-inducing reality of prowling bears and a general store as the only shopping spot for miles. Living and working in the middle of nowhere takes some getting used to—especially when a disrespectful guest ends up murdered! Now, with the motel duo topping the suspect list, Dee must steer clear of a meddling park ranger, face her past in show biz, and determine if the killer is a local or tourist. Because as she quickly finds out, there are many things worse than a one-star review.
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