Dockside Secrets by Terry Overton Review and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Dockside Secrets

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Christian Cozy Mystery

Release Date: October 17, 2025

When Finley Burke moves to the peaceful lakeside village of Sunset Cove, she’s looking for a fresh start-not a mystery. But when a violent storm washes a strange tackle box onto her dock, she discovers more than fishing lures inside. Hidden within are antique jewels and secrets that link to a long-buried family feud and a suspicious death. As Finley digs deeper, she finds herself tangled in a web of

lies that threaten the calm of the cove- and her own safety.

With the help of her quirky but loyal neighbors, a sharp-eyed detective, Finley must uncover the truth before the past catches up to her.

Full of Southern charm, close-knit friendships, and suspense that keeps you turning the pages. Dockside Secrets is a heartwarming cozy mystery that proves it’s never too late to start over or to solve a mystery.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology.

Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean.

She has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals.

Over the years, Terry’s books have won the Mom’s Choice Award, Christian Indie Award, Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Pencraft Award, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her writing examines real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels.

More from Terry

I must admit I have probably watched and read just about every Hallmark cozy mystery I have come across! I have become addicted to mysteries lately! I don’t limit it to just the cozy mysteries. Lately, I have been watching plenty of true crime. The attraction for me is the puzzle. I mean, really, who can resist a “whodunit?” I prefer more of the gumshoe approach, but I also watch several crime scene investigations.

It started out with a curiosity about why people do such actions. What motivates people to commit these crimes and then try to cover them up? In many cases, criminals just aren’t that bright. But there are some cases that remain puzzling.

I decided to give it a go. Dockside Secrets is my first cozy. It was fun to write this mystery in the little community outside of a big city. We moved to this new little cove on a lake, Sunset Cove, and this is where the characters live. The large city in the book, Sagebrush Bend, is in reality, Fort Worth, Texas. Plenty of changing landscapes here, and these appear in the story.

Grab this cozy and meet the quirky cast of characters: a retired forensic psychologist, a very proper southern lady, a nutty and loud best friend, and a middle-of-the-road peacekeeper join a fumbling local sheriff and a handsome detective to discover what really happened at Sunset Cove.

My Impressions

“She hadn’t expected trouble just sixty-two days into retirement, but it found her standing at the edge of the lake peering under her dock.”

The power of a great first sentence! This one is penned by cozy mystery author Terry Overton. I was really pleased with this book, because I had just finished a very intense thriller. I wondered if Overton’s cozy, Dockside Secrets, #1 Finley Burke mysteries, would suffer in my mind by being read next.

But not to worry. Overton’s style is simple, yet educated, comfortably peaceful while dealing with murder. As a cozy, the action is not super fast, but the pacing is steady, and the characters are introduced and clues presented in an intriguing way. I really cared about recently retired college professor Finley who had moved to a small lakeside Texas community. Expecting to find peace, Finley finds neighbors who become supportive friends (another fun, eclectic group!) and a washed-up tackle box.

What she doesn’t find is quick answers or much help from the local sheriff. Old habits die hard, and Finley finds herself returning to her amateur sleuthing ways. Enlisting the help of her neighbors, the “Sleuths of Sunset Cove” set out to discover the secrets behind the items on the tackle box. Like Pandora’s box, each of them finds secrets being released. But, will some secrets they discover of a local oil family bring them closure or more danger than they can handle?

Instead of a fave character, I believe I’ll pick a fave scene. It would have to be when each member of the group finds they want to trust each other enough to share a carefully guarded part of their past. Such a defining moment!

This is a new cozy mystery series that is now on my “to-be-recommended” list! If you enjoy small town cozies and quirky groups of characters, this may be just the novel for you!

I received a copy of the book from the author through Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“The guy is sneaky. He bends the law at forty-five-degree angles.”

“I do not spread gossip. I hear it, but that’s all.” [ Hoo, boy, is this speaker’s constant avowal hilarious!]

“cologne that could gas a room”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! I am happy to recommend this new cozy series!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 7

Holly’s Book Corner, October 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 8

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 10

Lights in a Dark World, October 10

For Him and My Family, October 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 12

She Lives to Read, October 13

Sylvan Musings, October 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 14

The Avid Reader, October 14

Fruitfully Planted, October 15

Vicky Sluiter, October 16

Avid Reader Nurse, October 17

Book Looks by Lisa, October 18

Simple Harvest Reads, October 19 (Guest Review from Donna)

Mary Hake, October 19

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 20

Lily’s Corner, October 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/55lW2/dockside-secrets-celebration-tour-giveaway

Coordinates of Death by Darlene L. Turner Spotlight

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Coordinates of Death by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Book Details

Title: Coordinates of Death
Series: Arctic Protectors #2
Author: Darlene L. Turner
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Genre: Romantic Thriller

A police officer will do anything to catch the serial killer that got away—even if it means playing a deadly game in the icy wilderness.

Sweetwood Falls, Yukon, has seen too much terror for one small town. Corporal Aurora Hunt still blames herself for not catching the Shadow Box Killer before five women lost their lives. The killings stopped two years ago, and her colleagues believe the murderer is dead. But Aurora isn’t convinced.

A chilling discovery on a winter’s morning confirms her fears. The crime scene is all too familiar—a woman’s mutilated body, and beneath it, a box containing a gruesome souvenir. But this time, there’s a special message, daring Aurora to play a game that will lead her into the wilderness to try and save the next victim.

Canadian Watcher Squad survivalist Kordell Greene is part of the past that Aurora has tried to put behind her. He’s also the only person equipped to guide her through this deadly terrain. But somehow, the killer knows all their secrets. Solving cryptic clues as they battle the elements, Aurora and Kordell must confront dark truths they’ve withheld, even from each other. And always, the Shadow Box Killer is one step ahead, drawing them deeper into a twisted game where the slightest mistake may be their last.

More in This Series

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Get to Know the Author

Darlene L. Turner is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

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This has got to be Darlene L. Turner’s best book yet! It’s creepier than ever, the mystery more twisty, the ending packing multiple surprises!! I loved it and highly recommend it!

Why would you like to read Coordinates of Death?

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Wanna Win? (Tour Giveaway)

(2) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

The Fine Print…just because
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 6, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 13, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Belle’s Christmas Carol by Michelle Griep

About the Book

Book: Belle’s Christmas Carol

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2026

While all of London waits for snow, an orphanage in need holds holiday cheer, sparks of love, and secrets waiting to be discovered.

When Ebeneezer Scrooge’s former fiancée, Belle Beaumont, unexpectedly inherits a struggling London orphanage, she dreams of giving the children of Haven House the most splendid Christmas they’ve ever known. But her vision of snowflakes and merriment quickly collides with reality: Fire damage has rendered part of the building unsafe, and the paperwork is years behind.

Barrister Rafe Munro is fighting to clear an innocent man and searching for a child, who may be his relative. His pursuit leads him to Haven House, where Rafe offers to help Belle sort through the chaotic records that might lead to the missing child. Amid the mayhem of running an orphanage full of mischievous children and eccentric staff, will Belle and Rafe find love and the answers they seek this holiday season?

With characters from Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, this festive historical romance Christmas novella of family and second chances from Michelle Griep is set in Victorian England and perfect for fans of Julie Klassen and Mimi Matthews.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Michelle Griep is an award-winning author known for her captivating historical romances. With a keen eye for detail, she pens tales that transport readers to the past where they’ll experience romance, adventure, and unforgettable characters. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her garden scaring away armadillos.

More from Michelle

Why I Gave Scrooge’s Belle Her Own Christmas Carol

Guest post by Michelle Griep

I’ve always been suspicious of characters who appear just long enough to break your heart and then vanish without so much as a forwarding address. Belle from A Christmas Carol is one of those.

Scrooge, of course, gets the full treatment. Ghosts. Doom. Moral terror. A dramatic overnight transformation. Turkey delivery. The works. And yes, yes, it’s all very moving. But Belle? Come on. All she gets is one aching goodbye and then is shoved neatly into Scrooge’s past. So, excuse me, Mr. Dickens, but I have questions.

What became of the woman who loved Ebenezer before greed got to him? Did she regret walking away? Did Christmas ever sting? Did she build a fine, sensible life or did some little corner of her heart still ache for him or not? That wondering became Belle’s Christmas Carol.

In my story, Belle Beaumont unexpectedly inherits Haven House, a struggling London orphanage with fire damage, muddled ledgers, eccentric staff, and children who are more than rambunctious. Naturally, Belle decides she will set everything to rights and give the children the most splendid Christmas imaginable because—like me—apparently the woman has never heard of pacing herself.

Then along comes Rafe Munro, a handsome barrister searching for a missing child, and Belle’s tidy plans start to change. Oh, did I mention he’s single? That’s because I wanted Belle to be more than Scrooge’s lost love. I wanted her to have grit, flaws, hope, purpose, and a future all her own.

Because sometimes the story doesn’t end with goodbye. Sometimes that’s where the real story begins.

My Impressions

“Sometimes love looks like staying. Other times it looks like letting go because it’s the only way to keep a loved one safe.”

This is my opening quote for Belle’s Christmas Carol by Michelle Griep, because it could actually apply to more than one person in the story, and, in one character’s case, in a few different ways.

Oh, la! Did this Dickens-based novelette have to end? That was my biggest disappointment about the book. I wanted to stay in Belle’s and Rafe’s world quite a bit longer than wordsmith Griep allows. But the story itself is a cup of Christmas wassail (assuming that tastes good) perfection. As I am oft wont to do with a Griep book, I had to read slowly. Not only is the story itself a thing of beauty, but the phraseology a thing to be admired, to be read, and re-read, before moving on.

A meet-cute? In a Regency Christmas book? That was my first thought as Rafe initially meets our heroine, Belle, who has just inherited an orphanage of seven children. What the orphanage doesn’t have in numbers of children, it has (in spades!) of crazy caretakers, damage to the building, and out-of-control children. Turf and Thunder! What has Rafe walked into, looking for a relative?

I loved both Belle and Rafe. Both strong characters with plenty of hurt and disillusionment in their pasts. Belle is still haunted by the looming shadow of the failure of her engagement to Ebenezer Scrooge, ten years past. Not only is she struggling to maintain and “right” the orphanage, but she fights her attraction to Rafe, afraid he will be just another rich man whose main concern is himself and his money. “What if, beneath his warmth was another tortured soul who prized appearances over people?”

Rafe fights his own demons. He searches for one relative, has lost another, and is in danger of losing a third. His personal life is out of whack and his professional life is going up in smoke as he takes on the justice system that doesn’t care about truth. Rafe is spending a lot of time with Belle and the orphans, and one little orphan in particular, Cricket.

Cricket is such a loveable little character. But his size and demeanor make him an easy target for the other children to bully.

Children can be so cruel… and the victims don’t realize bullies are in the very same boat as themselves! Rafe is very drawn to the 5-year-old Cricket, assuring him of his worth in his and God’s eyes.

“That’s what Christmas is about, you know. God’s love for us. You see, Cricket, God didn’t wait for us to deserve Him. He came to a cold, untidy world and gave everything, not because we were perfect, but because we were precious. So when I tell you that you are loved, it’s not just my word. The whole Christmas season says so.”

What this book meant to me: besides being a new favorite Christmas story, I am taking away several truth nuggets. The biggest might be that God doesn’t call most of us to save the world through what we do, but he does call us to love those around us through what we do. God is in control. I can relax and have peace.

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. I also purchased my own pb copy for a friend. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“I am coming to believe that maybe the Almighty didn’t place us here solely to set the world aright. Rather, to love amidst the ruin. Even when it grieves us— or perhaps most when it does. For love may accomplish what justice, in all its forms, cannot. “

“Promise me you won’t get so caught up in the daily management of things that you lose sight of the fact that it is God who is in charge. For you, my darling dear, have a way of carrying the world on those shoulders. You are neither Atlas nor the great Creator. Make use of those He sends your way.”

“…sometimes a storm us just what is needed to wash away the dirt of the past.”

“And I believe God smiles when He sees things like this too. Not because it’s perfect, but because you made it. God made you as different from anyone else as this snowflake is from the other children’s. And rest assured, my boy, that when He looks at you, He sees His own work, made with care, called by name, just like He made the stars.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superior!! This book changed the way I do my job! Thank you, Ms. Griep for the reminder straight from God about what truly matters!!

Blog Stops

Where Faith and Books Meet, October 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , October 7

The Avid Reader, October 7

She Lives To Read, October 7

Texas Book-aholic, October 8

Devoted To Hope, October 8

Betti Mace, October 9

Inkwell Inspirations , October 9

The Lofty Pages, October 9

For Him and My Family, October 10

Romances of the Cross, October 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11

Jeanette’s Thoughts , October 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 12

The Vine and The Branch, October 12

Maureen’s Musings, October 13

Fruitfully Planted, October 13

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 13

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 14

Mornings at Character Cafe, October 14

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 15

Simple Harvest Reads, October 15 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, October 16

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, October 16

Vicky Sluiter, October 16

Devoted Steps, October 17

Lily’s Corner, October 17

Holly’s Book Corner, October 18

Mary Hake, October 18

Blossoms and Blessings, October 19

Pause for Tales, October 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/KNJXt/belles-christmas-carol-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Heirs Beloved by Rhonda Dragomir Review and Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Heir’s Beloved by Rhonda Dragomir, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Book Details

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Heir’s Beloved by Rhonda Dragomir, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Book Details

Title: The Heir’s Beloved
Series: The Ravenwood Chronicles #1
Author: Rhonda Dragomir
Publisher: Dragomir Group Publishing
Release Date: September 30, 2026
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Torn from his mother’s arms after a deadly fire and spirited away to Scotland, Liam’s past refuses to remain buried. On his twenty-fifth birthday, he learns he is the rightful Duke of Ravenwood. His ancestral English estate is now ruled by the usurper who murdered his family in the fire and stole his inheritance.

The knight’s plan to reclaim Ravenwood and exact revenge hinges on secrecy—but a chance meeting with a courageous, kindhearted lass threatens to unravel everything. Ella would risk anything to protect a ragged band of orphaned children, and when her violet-eyed beauty draws the villain’s lecherous attention, Liam is forced to choose. Will he risk discovery and death to save the woman who has captured his heart? Or will saving Ella require him to surrender his thirst for vengeance and embrace God’s higher calling?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | RhondaDragomir.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Also Available

( Don’t miss this debut novel by Dragomir. I absolutely loved it!!)

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Get to Know the Author

Rhonda Dragomir is an award-winning novelist and multimedia creative who treasures her fairy tale life in Central Kentucky. She insists her home is her castle, even if her prince refuses to dig a moat. Known for richly researched historical fiction, she weaves romance, faith, and redemption into the lives of unforgettable characters. Her newest novel, The Heir’s Beloved, launches The Ravenwood Chronicles, an Elizabethan historical romance series set along the Anglo-Scottish border.

Barbour Publishing released her award-winning debut novel, When the Flames Ravaged, in March 2024. Her work has also appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul®, Guideposts, and other anthologies and periodicals. Bible studies she co-authored are used by more than 10,000 women each week around the world. Rhonda’s writing has earned awards in both fiction and nonfiction, including being named 2019 Writer of the Year by Serious Writer, Inc. She was also a finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest for historical romance in both 2020 and 2022. Learn more about Rhonda at rhondadragomir.com.

My Impressions

“What do the problems of an English duchy have to do with a Scotsman like me?” ““Ye’re nae a Scot.”

What a 25th birthday present for Liam! So begins his journey to retake his rightful position as an English duke in The Heir’s Beloved by Rhonda Dragomir. I don’t usually read medieval novels. The whole concept of medieval novels has always been a turn-off for me, but Dragomir may have single-handedly opened my mind to a new genre! (Win for both of us!)

Strong and braw, and a trained warrior, Liam begins to understand his legacy and the loss to himself personally and the kingdom. But how can he defeat an evil usurper with his large contingent of malevolent minions? Bent on revenge for grievous wrongs done him and his family, will Liam look to his own understanding in the end or listen to God’s voice?

One of Liam’s best allies is a woman. And I don’t refer to the lady he falls in love with, but the one who has loved him for a lifetime. Wheest, but Betha is a complicated character. Fiercely loyal, with a vocabulary to embarrass a sailor, she can scheme and plan with the best. Will her advice prove true? Or will her prickly character drive off the very prize Liam most wants to win?

I loved Ella, but does she come with baggage. Her baggage has names, empty tummies and abused souls. Will Ella be able to continue to support her beloved orphan friends if she doesn’t acquiesce to the hated acting duke? How long before Ella realizes she may have sold her soul to the devil?

My fave character is John. He is meekness and power wrapped together in kindness and a thirst for the right. What have those qualities cost him n the past, and will helping Liam cost him more than the evil duke has already extracted?

Bottom line, I loved this book. If you like historical fiction at all, I urge you to give it a try. You can turn to the glossary in the back for help with unfamiliar Scottish or old English terms, or Google them. Enjoy Elizabethan England with its religious upheaval, castles, feuding, and pageantry!

I received a copy of the book from the author. I also bought my own pb for the keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Nobility is in someone’s soul, not their parentage.”

“When strength is nearly gone, the mind is the best weapon.”

“Honor was a virtue. But it might become a weakness.”

“God alone is judge. When He renders a verdict, He ensures justice is meted out. When self-appointed men judge, it often devolves into revenge. Retribution then arises from the heart of man, not the will of God.”

“…effective prayer is not a matter of mumbling meaningless words you’ve memorized. It’s not mere words from the lips God hears, but the prayers of the heart. Speak to Him, and He will listen.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior

Dragomir has convinced me I’m missing out on a whole sub-genre I’ve been snubbing for years! I would encourage any historical fiction lovers to read this book!

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Wanna Win? (Tour Giveaway)

(3) winners will each receive a print copy of The Heir’s Beloved and When the Flames Ravaged, plus a $15 Amazon card!

Fine Print… just because…

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 29, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 6, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink Review and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Murders in the Marquee

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release Date: September 1, 2026

In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good.

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion for excellence in mystery/suspense. She was honored to receive the Author of the Year award from West Coast Christian Writers. A California native, she’s written over sixty titles for the general and Christian markets in the suspense, lighthearted romance, and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Revell.

More from Dana

Ice cream or pie? Cake or cookies? Beach or mountains? The answer for me is always, “Yes!” I’m a restless soul, I suppose, but I’ve never been able to choose one delight over the other. I’m that way with writing too. I started my career in mystery and sidestepped to suspense. It’d be so much easier to stick with one genre but no. Dana Mentink has to write both, it seems. I attended a Harlequin anniversary celebration in Toronto a couple of years ago and listened to the editors discuss their futures wishes. Tina James mentioned she’d like to see an “Only Murders in the Building” type book or maybe a historical mystery. Whammo! The idea hit me like a train. What about both? An Only Murders in the Building/Downton Abbey type mashup? The series idea was born. Lots of twists and turns? Check. Humor? Check? An unlikely crime solving trio? You bet! I’m truly thrilled to have been allowed to step back into mystery land. I hope you’ll enjoy the results!

My Impressions

“Murder, mayhem, and mallards. Who could conceive of such a thing?”

Only Dana Mentink, on a quest to develop a zany cozy mystery, Murders in the Marquee! Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the imaginary Grand Mallard Marquee Hotel in San Francisco is actually patterned to a degree after a famous hotel in another part of the country! I was already prepared to laugh by the ridiculousness of the prestigious 1905 San Francisco hotel’s name. And a duck parade through the lobby twice a day? Complete with a duck commander?

But this is where things get a little hairy. The prominent hotel’s duck commander has disappeared. The hotel manager, desperate to impress one particular guest he believes to be scouting city hotels for a famous literary guest, well, he doesn’t read Saul Niffler’s resume very well. “Shady Saul” as I might refer to him finds himself the bewildered leader of 12 prized ducks, about which he knows nothing.

As Saul acquaints himself with his duties via journals left behind, he is amazed to find himself in partnership with a famous tenor’s young adult daughter, Kitty, and the young elevator man, Henry. “‘You were an eyewitness, Saul.’ The paleness of his face blanched to bone white. ‘An eyewitness to what?’ ‘That’s exactly what Henry and I want to know.’ She skewered him with her hardest detective stare. ‘And I’m not leaving here until you come clean.’” Oy, vey. Kitty wants to be a Pinkerton, not a socialite. Henry dreams of becoming a juggler, performing in shows. Saul, in his 30s, checkered past, just wants to keep his past hidden, his nose clean, and be able to woo his estranged wife back.

This book had me in stitches with the unlikely trio’s escapades, attempts to unmask the visitor who isn’t all he claims, and the wealthy widow who is behaving oddly. Could there actually have been a murder at the hotel, and a cover-up to boot?

Kitty is young, used to getting her own way because of her wealth, and trying out her wings as much as possible. She is a darling, but quite excitable and easily swayed from one theory to the next.

Henry is also young, has a secret, and needs a bit of guidance. Plus, he may be sweet on a forbidden character.

And now, somehow Saul is not only leading the duck parade but this impossible group as they secretly defy given instructions and work hard to prove what none of them saw.

Great twists and use of side characters!

Uncle Joe is one of my fave characters.

If you like historic, twisty cozy mysteries, I highly recommend Murders in the Marquee. I am ready for book 2!

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I also pre-ordered my own paperback. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“A woman reasons by telegraph, and a man’s stage-coach reasoning cannot keep pace with hers,”– Saul’s paraphrase of quote by Dr. Mary Walker

“You did bad things, Saul. We all have. God forgives,” Henry said. “He forgives. You’re gonna mess up and do more bad things still, but only He can tell how you’re being polished up.”

“The chaplain…insisted that God was doing a new thing to Saul’s crusty, battered soul. With ducks? That was a novel way to go about it.”

“Opera singers are like roosters. They each believe there’s only room enough for one in the flock.”

“He heard the voice of the tiny chaplain. God’s doing a new thing in you, Saul. A new thing? It sure felt like he was about to step in a boiling vat of trouble and that was nothing new at all.”

“Choices. That was all she really wanted, to be able to make them for herself.”