Halloween at Pumpkin Hill (Inn Vermont Cozy Mysteries Book 7)

Author:    Thea Cambert

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798473904451

Independently Published

158 Pages

$6.99; $3.99 Amazon

September 9, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sometimes truth is more mysterious than fiction.

It's Halloween in Williamsbridge, Vermont, and the whole town is getting ready for the annual Spookfest celebration.  With jack-o-lanterns scattered all over Pumpkin Hill, the inn full of guests, and a cozy chill in the air, Eloise and Matthew are all set for a wonderful weekend.  But spooky turns scary when they discover a body while judging the downtown decorating contest.  And when what had appeared to be an accidental death turns out to be murder, El and Matthew will have to track down the killer.

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Eloise and Matthew both help El's mother run the Inn Vermont, El's home that her mother turned into a B&B shortly after her father's death.  Decorating the inn is all done, and they, along with the mayor, are all set to judge the businesses downtown's decorating contests.  But when they come to a new business that deals with exotic pets, they find the owner, dressed like a vampire, dead in a coffin.  Once the local doctor determines that it's murder, both of them decide that they need, once again, to help the police figure it out.

But when they start digging, they discover that there is more than one suspect, and all of them have a motive to want the man dead,  The question is, who actually killed him?

This is the seventh book in the series, and I must admit that I have not read them all.  I usually read Ms. Cambert's works when I need something light and easy, and these books fill the bill.  They are well-written, full of interesting characters, and the plot lines, while not dark, are fun to read.  She has become one of my favorite writers.  Partly because I suffer from depression, and reading her books helps me in more ways than one.

In this book, everyone is having a fun Halloween, and after finding the body, Eloise discovers something else in the store that brings her joy of her own.  Matthew is even happy with it, and I'm not going to say what it is so as not to ruin the book for others who have not read this.

They involve themselves in Halloween activities while still keeping an eye on all their suspects; and while there isn't a lot of red herrings, there are still secrets that come to light.  When the murderer is discovered, the reason why seems both petty and as old as time.

The ending has one more surprise, and gives you meaning to read the next in the series.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FVRT21Z?ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5073971465

More on Thea Cambert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/thea-cambert/

Murder Says 'I Do' (Rooftop Garden Mysteries Book 5)

Author:    Thea Cambert

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798689726847

Independently Published

201 Pages

$7.99; $3.99 Amazon

September 20, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fall has returned to beautiful Blue Valley, Tennessee, and amateur sleuth, Alice Maguire, is gearing up for the busiest weekend every.  She's once again in charge of the fall festival, and is determined to make this one the best one yet.

The centerpiece of the festival this year is Haunted Blue Valley, a tour for visitors and locals alike to view the historic Main Street buildings by candlelight, learn about the town's past, and of course, look for ghosts, all in good fun.  But when Alice, Owen, and Franny's building appears to actually be haunted, it's up to the three friends to figure out what's going on.

Events take a spooky turn when the history buff who's supposed to give the tour of the building finds an actual skeleton in the closet.  Is it some sort of morbid warning?

Franny and Ben's wedding preparations are continually getting derailed, as the time until their special day slips away faster and faster.  Before festival weekend is over, the three friends will have to throw a wedding, host a festival, and catch a killer.

Will they be able to accomplish the seemingly impossible and find wedded bliss?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

This time out, Alice and her friends Franny and Owen are trying to put together the fall festival, including random ghosts that supposedly haunt Blue Valley.  Franny is also marrying her love, Alice's brother Ben, so their time is limited.  When they look through old papers of their historic building, they discover that there's a basement below them, long sealed up.  But their curiosity overcomes everything else, and they venture down only to find what appears to be Civil War artifacts.

They mention this to the unofficial town historian, and he can't wait to view everything.  But no one notices that he never returns to the festival.  When Owen spots what appears to be another wall, they, along with police officer Ben Maguire and Detective Luke, who's Alice's beau, venture down and find a very dead body.

Now there are too many suspects in town and anyone could be a killer...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have to say that I enjoyed it as much as the rest.  Confessing to everyone that I suffer from depression (brought on by a surgery that went wrong in every way possible), at times it is difficult to do anything.  But then I grab one of Ms. Cambert's books and read it right through.  

The writing is light, the stories interesting, the characters endearing, and I would like to visit Blue Valley for myself and experience first hand.  These books are light-hearted mysteries, and the intelligent Alice always finds the answers.  I love the descriptions of everything, and the fact that there is neither an 'evil nemesis' (which I detest) nor a love triangle (ditto).  The writing flows smoothly, and the story is easy to read.

When we come to the end and the killer is revealed, the motive is very sad indeed, but it is, as we already know, as old as time itself.  The ending was very satisfying, and I look forward to the next in the series.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08JX5PV1X?ref_

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5042228879

More on Thea Cambert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/thea-cambert/

Peril At Pumpkin Hill (Inn Vermont Cozy Mysteries Book 1)

Author:    Thea Cambert

Genre:      Mystery 

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798722350596

Independently Published

144 Pages

$6.99; $3.99 Amazon

March 15, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trying to juggle everyday responsibilities along with holiday tasks...can be murder...

It's Christmastime, and the entire town of Williamsbridge, Vermont, looks like a snowy New England postcard.  The Inn on Pumpkin Hill is booked solid, and it's sure to be a busy season for Eloise Murphy and her mother, with all the local festivities that are planned for the holidays.

Eloise does her best to juggle her innkeeping duties with her job as a reporter, and secret advice columnist at the local newspaper.  When a body turns up, she joins forces with her oldest friend to solve the mystery in time for Christmas.

Will the daring duo save the day?  Or will the killer strike again?

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Eloise's mother June turned their large home into an inn after her father's death.  It's Christmas, and the entire place is booked with a group of people who are there for a family reunion.  But not everyone is welcome to the town, and there are more than one person who would like to see that person gone.

Fortunately, they are.  Unfortunately, they've been murdered in the back of the inn, and now all the family members are suspect.  But which one had the greatest motive?  After realizing the dead person's room had been ransacked before Eloise could lock it for the police, she has one clue.  Then she overhears conversations -- and now she has more.  With the help of her childhood friend, Matthew, who now works at the inn, they're determined to get to the truth of the matter.  But will they be able to do so before someone else gets killed -- namely, one of them...

This is the first book in the series, and I really wanted to read it because I read Ms. Cambert's other series and enjoy it so much.  This one is no less enjoyable than the other.  While these are short mysteries, they are fun to read and are written well.  The characters are interesting, and the dialogue is crisp.  

Watching Eloise and Matthew go about their day while trying to put clues together and figure out a mystery was fun, but hearing the descriptions of the inn and the things around them made this pleasant to read.  I myself had a few clues to the murderer, and it was pretty apparent before Eloise discovered it, but it was still entertaining watching the climax and how it played out.  I enjoyed this book quite a bit and will continue with the series.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Peril-Pumpkin-Hill-Vermont-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08Z1RNNNQ/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4815273219

More on Thea Cambert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/thea-cambert/

Murder Rings a Bell (Rooftop Garden Mysteries Book 4)

Author:    Thea Cambert

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798682570980

Summer Prescott Books

176 Pages

$7.99; $3.99 Amazon

September 2, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After the fireworks...

Murder is afoot.

It's summer in picturesque Blue Valley, Tennessee, and that means it's time for the Annual Independence Day Celebration at Blue Lake.  Main Street is hopping with summer visitors, and amateur sleuth, Alice Maguire, is even busier than usual.

Between ringing up sales at The Paper Owl, helping her dear friend Franny plan her wedding, and teaming up with her brother Ben for the yearly, highly competitive pedal boat race, she barely has time to take a breath.  Her only respite comes in the form of cool summer evenings spent with her beau, Detective Luke Evans.

When a body washes up on the shore of Blue Lake, Alice is shocked, as is the entire town, but not as shocked as she will be when she discovers the victim's identity, and learns that the death was no accident.  Luke lands squarely at the top of the suspect list, in a case that will prove to be Alice's toughest yet.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

In small town Blue Lake, Tennessee, everyone is gearing up for the annual Independence Day Celebration.  There is also a medical convention in town, and Alice Maguire, owner of bookstore The Paper Owl, learns to her dismay that one of the physicians is her boyfriend's ex-fiancé.  Luke Evans discloses to Alice that the woman left him when her career became more important than their relationship.  But Alice is twice as surprised when she finds that the woman is the same one who so rudely entered her shop and sized her up.  Now she wonders if Luke is having second thoughts about it all..

But things take a nasty turn when a dead body is found in the lake by herself and her brother Ben, also a police officer.  When the identity is discovered, Alice and her friends Franny and Owen are sure they can figure out who wanted this person dead.  But they not only have to look at both locals and tourists alike, they also have to look at the doctors.  Someone is a killer, and they won't have any qualms if they have to do it again...

This is the fourth book in the series and I have enjoyed them all.  They are easy-to-read, fun mysteries that are well written and keep you guessing right up until the end.  Just when you think you have the right suspect, the author proves you wrong once again, and it's enjoyable to try and figure out who the killer might be.

There is also the story of Alice and her friends, while we watch Franny and Ben (mostly Franny) prepare for her upcoming wedding, and the blooming relationship between Alice and Luke.  You also get a bit of other townspeople in each book, and it makes the town of Blue Valley seem more realistic, which is very nice.

I love that the climax in every book is worth getting to the end for, and we also always have a teaser for the next in the series.  This is one series that I am liking very much and I can't wait to revisit the town in the next book.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Rings-Rooftop-Garden-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08HFLBPB4/ref

Goodreads:     https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4678044335

More on Thea Cambert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/thea-cambert/

Murder Just Isn't Faire (Rooftop Garden Mysteries Book 3)

Author:    Thea Cambert

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798676995348

Independently Published

162 Pages

$6.99; $3.99 Amazon

August 20, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sometimes murder can be a royal pain...

Spring has come to Blue Valley, and that means the arrival of the Nottingham Medieval Faire -- owned and operated by the Webb brothers, Rich and Logan.  The faire features King Richard the Lionhart, Prince John, Robin Hood and his merry men, Maid Marian, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and the whole gang.  This year, Owen gets to play Robin Hood, and Alice has reluctantly agreed to be his Maid Marian.

Daytime events are held in Town Park and on Main Street, but in the evenings, the clearing in the woods near the lake lights up for jousts and balls, costumes, and all manner of revelry.  Things go terribly awry, however, when one of the events has a rather dark outcome, and mayhem breaks loose.

Murder is afoot, and Owen is the number one suspect.  Alice and Franny -- along with Ben and Luke -- won't rest until they find out who really ruined the Faire.

Can they clear Owen's name and catch a killer in time to save the Faire?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Alice and her friends in Blue Valley, Tennessee are getting ready for the annual Medieval Faire to arrive.  They've all got their costumes, and this year baker Owen is going to be Robin Hood -- even though he's never shot an arrow.  Still, everyone is excited, especially at the hint of a celebrity guest.

The guest turns out to be a movie star who is also friends with Rich Webb, the elder of the two brothers who run the faire.  But not everyone in town is happy with the faire, and when someone is shot through the heart with an arrow, it's suspected that Owen did the deed.

But his friends don't believe it, and they determine to find the truth -- even if it means putting their own lives in danger to do so...

This is the third book in the series and I quite enjoyed it as much as the first two.  It's written well, and the plot line is interesting, surrounding the events taking place at an annual faire.  With suspects abounding, and motives in the air, Alice and Franny, along with Ben and Luke, have their tasks cut out for them.  Who had the best motive?  Or the opportunity?  

I'm getting to enjoy the characters more and more, and while we only get a glimpse or two of each of them in different books, we learn more about their pasts -- and this time about the future of some of them.  It's fun reading, doesn't take a lot of time to do so, and makes you want to read the next in the series.  That's a good thing, and I enjoyed this look into their lives.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GC4GYFC?ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4672019216

More on Thea Cambert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/thea-cambert/

Murder Sets the Stage (Rooftop Garden Cozy Mysteries Book 2)

Author:    Thea Cambert

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798670892001

Independently Published

166 Pages

$7.99; $3.99 Amazon

July 29, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nothing puts a damper on the holiday spirit...

Quite like a murder.

It's holiday festival time in picturesque Blue Valley, Tennessee, which means there'll be plenty of fun, and an onslaught of tourists coming to town.  This year, Paper Owl owner, and amateur sleuth, Alice Maguire, is helping out with organizing the Hometown Holidays Festival.

The festival fearures a week chock full of activities, beginning with the Bowl Full of Jelly 5k Fun Run, and leading into the Mistletoe Market, the Winter Wonderland, and the annual Tinsel Theater's production of A Christmas Carol.

Main Street is decorated to the nines, and the rooftop garden that Alice shares with her fellow sleuthers is cozier than every, with the addition of Owen's new fire ring.  Franny will be whipping up plenty of hot chocolate, and Alice's budding romance with Luke Evans is going smoothly.

Life is good in the quaint little town, and it's shaping up to be a perfectly wonderful holiday, but when a body is discovered at the 5K, it'll be up to Alice, Owen, and Franny to make sure that Blue Valley's Hometown Holidays Festival gets back on track -- and that means they'll have to catch a murderer.  

Will they catch the killer and save the festival?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Alice Maguire and her friends are preparing things for the Hometown Holidays Festival in small town Blue Valley, Tennessee.  There's a new 5K race that's going to take place, and the person who is going to direct their own version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Ash, is ready and raring to go.  But not everyone is happy about his changes.  A local named Chester is angry because his Ebenezer Scrooge has been scratched entirely from the show, and it's been changed to a modern version about an alcoholic.  But Ash seems to have made other enemies in town, and Alice is about to find out who they are when Ash's body is found during the race.  

Now with Chester being suspected of murdering the man, she knows he couldn't have done it, but who did?  With her friends Franny and Owen on board, they want to investigate and find out who had the biggest motive to get rid of the demanding director...

This is the second book in the series, and I enjoyed it quite as much as the first.  This isn't high art, nor is it supposed to be.  It's a book to be read and enjoyed, and I did just that.  It takes place at the Christmas holiday, and even though we are well past the season, nothing says we can't visit it now and then and I am glad I did.

I enjoy the banter between the characters, and the fact that the romances aren't getting in the way of the murder mystery.  While it was fairly easy to decipher who the guilty party was (I read a lot of mysteries, as I've stated often enough) it was still fun to read the story and watch how Alice came to the same conclusion. 

Her relationships with her friends is warming, and I like the fact that her brother Ben doesn't chide her for getting involved, because, after all, Alice doesn't knowingly walk into situations she shouldn't.  It's a story that can be read in a couple of hours, and it's relaxing and enjoyable.

When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed, it's not so much a surprise as satisfying for the conclusion, and the motive for the murder is, of course, one that is as old as time itself.  After all, there are only so many reasons for murder, right?  But I think the writing is very good, and the author has given a story that will entertain, which is the reason for books anyway.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/MURDER-Stage-Rooftop-Garden-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08DYGYQXH/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4658927782

More on Thea Cambert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/thea-cambert/

Murder Between the Lines (Rooftop Garden Cozy Mysteries Book 1)

Author:   Thea Cambert

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9788666350805

Independently Published

$7.99; $2.99 Amazon

July 15, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blue Valley, Tennessee -- a cozy town nestled snugly into the Great Smoky Mountains -- buzzes with excitement every October with the return of colorful autumn leaves, chilly air, and the wave of tourists who arrive for the annual Fall Festival.

This year, Alice Maguire, owner of The Paper Owl bookshop on Main Street, is planning the festival with a little help from her best friends, Franny and Owen.  All three live in tiny apartments above their shops.

The trio of friends have share a charming rooftop garden, where they meet in the mornings for coffee from Franny's coffee shop, and sweets from Owen's bakery.  When a new yoga studio, Bliss, opens up across the street, Alice reluctantly agrees to take a class to promote relaxation in her life, and it actually works, much to her relief.

A fire breaks out in town, resulting in a tragic death, and Alice's brother, Blue Valley PD Officer Ben Maguire, and newcomer, Detective Luke Evans -- who has an irritating way of making Alice blush -- lead the investigation.  When it is determined that the death was no accident, Alice, Franny, and Owen get pulled smack dab into investigating the case.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Alice Maguire, owner of The Paper Owl bookstore, is chosen to run the local Fall Festival by the town council, courtesy of her friends Franny and Owen.  While she's not completely displeased, she enlists the help of those two, considering they were the ones who nominated her.  But when things get to be a bit stressful for Alice, Franny signs the two of them up for a yoga class at Bliss, a new studio across the street.  Once the class is over, Alice tells the owner, Kira Om, that it did help her, and they leave.  Later on, Alice decides to welcome Kira to town and leave her a gift.  But when she enters the studio, no one is around, and she leaves a note with the chocolates she's given on the desk.  Then, when she leaves the studio, she runs right into the new detective in town, Luke Evans, which embarrasses her.

But that evening there's a fire at the studio, and a body is found.  When it's discovered that the person was murdered, Alice is a main suspect.  Determined to prove her innocence, she tasks her friends to help her, and the three of them together make plans.  But will it end in finding a killer or Alice being the next target?...

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  The characters were given a bit of depth, and even though they didn't seem to spend much time in their respective businesses, it was explained away; yet I do hope to see them do so in the future.  Another thing I really liked is that there is no 'evil nemesis' in the picture.  I absolutely abhor that.  It's not needed to write a good mystery or create tension; the story should stand on its own without that or my other peeve, the eternal Love Triangle.  How trite and overused it is, and again, not needed.

Thankfully, this story had nothing but a good, old-fashioned cozy mystery that allowed you to fall into the season with the characters and get geared up for the upcoming holidays which will be upon us soon.  (Hard to believe, but yes); and descriptions of the gardens were just lovely.  I can almost imagine the three gardens connecting to each other, and being able to see the town from their rooftops, and the beautiful Smoky Mountains beyond.  That alone would destress anyone.

When we get closer to figuring out who the murderer is, it only comes as a bit of a surprise (only because I read a lot of mysteries and knew who it was ahead of time) but we also learn that it is believable, if rather sad all the way around.  I did like the characters quite a bit, and I would like to see more of Poppy (because I love animals), and learning more about Alice and her friends.  Hopefully, they will continue to evolve as the series goes on.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CZHFCY2?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4227028182

More on Thea Cambert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/thea-cambert/