Weekly Notebook: Why Spring Always Brings Me Back to Maple Grove
Spring pulls me back to Maple Grove every time. This week: five cozy mystery picks, a peek behind the scenes of the April 18 launch, and why origin stories fascinate me.
🌿 The Maple Grove Update
Spring has arrived in Maple Grove — and if I know Jenna McGregor, she's already opened every window at Brewed Awakenings, declared it "coffee weather, not patio weather," and argued with Mildred about what that actually means. Meanwhile, Lisa has almost certainly consulted her charts about what the equinox portends. (Spoiler: it portends snacks and mild chaos, same as always.)
On my end, I've been doing that very spring thing where I look at everything I've been building and ask: where did all of this begin? Which, not coincidentally, is exactly what Ghosts Don't Use Blueprints is about. April 18th is coming fast — if you haven't grabbed your pre-order yet, now's a great time.
📜The Weekly Tasting Menu
Five Guest Sleuth picks this week — each one hand-selected because I think you'll love them. Here's the lineup:
🔍 Guest Sleuth Spotlights
🎂 Revenge Takes the Cake — Molly Blake When a beloved local bakery becomes the scene of something far more sinister than a soggy bottom, it's going to take more than a good recipe to sort this one out. Charming, funny, and exactly what a cozy should be. Grab it here.
🗳️ Murder on the Campaign Trail — Angie Frost Politics, small-town drama, and a body nobody saw coming. Angie Frost delivers sharp wit and sharper plotting in this one. Get your copy
❄️ Murder at the Winter Magic Parade The holiday lights are up, the crowds are out — and someone isn't making it home. A cozy with real atmosphere and a mystery that keeps you guessing. Find it on Amazon
🥧 Pies, Lies, and a Deadly Slice — Oscar Tate This one has everything: a pie contest, a suspect list longer than a dessert menu, and enough small-town gossip to keep you warm on a cold night. Grab it here
🛣️ Icy Roads & Cold Justice — Ivy Featherstone A winter drive turns into something much more complicated in this atmospheric mystery. Great for readers who like their settings as vivid as their suspects. Find it here
🧁 The Main Course
If you're caught up on the Jenna McGregor series and waiting impatiently for April 18th — first of all, same — here's a reminder that Parade of Peril (Book 4) is still waiting for you if you haven't read it yet. Small-town parades are never as simple as they look. Especially in Maple Grove.
✍️ Behind the Scenes
This week I've been thinking a lot about origin stories — what it means to go back before the beginning and find the moment that set everything in motion. It's the heart of what Ghosts Don't Use Blueprints is about, and it's been one of the most meaningful things I've written. I can't wait for you to read it.
See you next week,
Willow 🌿
Meet Willow
Author, School Board member, and gluten-free baker. I write the Jenna McGregor mysteries from my home in Michigan, fueled by coffee and Peloton PRs.
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Weekly Notebook: Scones, Guest Sleuths, and Maple Grove Gossip.
The flour is flying in Maple Grove! Grab your copy of Scones, Secrets & Sabotage and discover 5 new "Guest Sleuth" mysteries to devour this weekend.
🥣 The Maple Grove Update
The flour is officially flying in Maple Grove this week! Between Jenna trying to track down a 'missing' sourdough starter—which she eventually found exactly where she left it—and my own flurry of final edits for Ghosts Don't Use Blueprints (launching April 18!), the kitchen has been a bit chaotic.
I’m thrilled to see so many of you joining our 'Inner Circle.' Remember, if you’re looking for the origin of the chaos, you can grab book 1 in the series, Scones, Secrets & Sabotage, for free right here on the site! Click the purple button above and apply to become part of my Inner Circle. The book will be delivered to you within minutes. Additionally, as an Insider, you will receive special content like character videos, Mildred’s strategic notes, Lisa’s cosmic predictions, and new recipes from Jenna!
📜The Weekly Tasting Menu
While Jenna is busy dodging flour-dusted disasters, I’ve gathered five 'Guest Favorites' for your weekend reading. Each of these sleuths brings a unique flavor to the mystery table:
🔍 Guest Sleuth Spotlights
Murder, Mystery, and a Very Good Boy by A. P. Wells: A tail-wagging mystery that proves some partners are better at sniffing out clues than others.
Death in the Bookshop by June Hollis: Because there is nothing more dangerous (or delightful) than a mystery hidden between the stacks.
Murder with an Ocean View by Cheryl Marlow: A refreshing seaside escape where the only thing saltier than the air is the suspect list.
Murder Among Friends by Maple Quinn: Proving that sometimes, your closest inner circle is exactly where the secrets are hiding.
Save the Date for Murder by Vivian Keyes: A high-stakes prequel that reminds us that some dates are worth dying for.
🧁 The Main Course
Hungry for more? If you've already devoured the scones and you're ready for a second helping of mystery, Hotter than Coffee and a Killer Brew (Book 2) is waiting for you. Jenna thought the morning rush was her biggest problem, but a killer has other plans.
After a year of slinging lattes, sidestepping sabotage, and solving the occasional murder, Jenna McGregor was hoping for a season of smooth brews and zero body counts. But when a local professor turns up dead behind her café, she’s once again in the center of Maple Grove’s latest scandal.
With her (maybe) psychic best friend Lisa, retired special-ops neighbor Mildred, and a very skeptical (but frustratingly handsome) police chief, they uncover a trail of secrets leading to a suspicious puzzle club, a buried archive of incriminating documents, and a scandal involving the towns founding families.
✍️ Behind the Scenes
It’s been a week of 'tidying up' the series, much like Jenna McGregor tidies up a crime scene—though with significantly less flour involved. I’ve been mapping out the connection between the upcoming Book 0 prequel and the draft of Book 5, ensuring every clue in Maple Grove leads exactly where it should. Thank you for being part of this journey while I sift through the latest secrets!
Warmly,
Willow
Meet Willow
Author, School Board member, and gluten-free baker. I write the Jenna McGregor mysteries from my home in Michigan, fueled by coffee and Peloton PRs.
Want to stay in the know? Get the Weekly Notebook
Weekend Mystery Round-up: Blueprints & 6 Must-read Mysteries
Where the Story Began
The response to the Ghosts Don't Use Blueprints cover reveal has been wonderful! If you're just joining us, this is the prequel that sets the stage for everything you know about Jenna McGregor.
Where the adventures began
They say you can’t know where you’re going until you understand where you’ve been. That’s exactly why I had to write "Ghosts Don't Use Blueprints." > This novella has been a labor of love, peeling back the layers of Jenna McGregor’s world to show you the origin of the secrets that started it all. I am so proud of how this cover turned out—it feels like the perfect doorway into this story. Pull up a chair and take a look; I’d love to hear your first impressions in the comments.
Weekly Readers List
Also on the Radar
Meet Willow
Author, School Board member, and gluten-free baker. I write the Jenna McGregor mysteries from my home in Michigan, fueled by coffee and Peloton PRs.
Want to stay in the know? Get the Weekly Notebook
Join the Willow Thorne Inner Circle! 🗝️ Want to read my upcoming novella for free before it launches? I'm recruiting my permanent ARC team now.