Weekly Notebook: Scones, Guest Sleuths, and Maple Grove Gossip.
🥣 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.
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