Guest Sleuth Spotlight: Daisy Stone — Murder on the Morning Route
Meet Daisy Stone — author of The Dog Walking Detective Series. A dog walker, a dead body by the lighthouse, and a beagle-corgi who's always on the trail.
Series: The Dog Walking Detective Series (Book 1)
The Book: Six months ago, Megan traded corporate burnout for a simple life walking dogs in a picturesque seaside town. She knows everyone's routines, their secrets, and which dogs will do anything for treats.
What she didn't expect? To stumble upon the murdered body of controversial real estate developer Marcus Sterling near the historic lighthouse.
As the town's gossip reveals that nearly everyone had a motive, Megan's marketing background gives her an unexpected edge — she notices patterns others miss. But when someone starts leaving mysterious warnings along her walking routes, it becomes clear that asking questions in a small town can be dangerous.
With her loyal beagle-corgi Biscuit at her side and reluctant guidance from Detective Hayes, Megan must untangle decades of secrets before the killer strikes again.
“A dog walker, a murdered real estate developer, and a beagle-corgi named Biscuit — yes, really. Daisy Stone had my attention from page one. If you love a smart heroine who notices what everyone else misses, grab this one.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love the Maple Grove Gazette—my weekly blog where a certain town archivist reports on the latest incidents in Maple Grove (there are always incidents), and I share the cozy mystery authors and books I think you need to know about.
👉 Read the latest Maple Grove Gazette
Want free early copies of my books? My ARC team, The Inner Circle, gets every new release before it hits Amazon — in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for Willow's Inner Circle | Get Ghosts Don't Use Blueprints on Amazon
Guest Sleuth Spotlight: Bessie Barr and Death at the Easter Egg Scramble
Meet Bessie Barr — the author behind the Pelican Shores Cozy Mystery series. A holiday golf tournament, an Easter egg scramble, a floating caddy, and a dog who refuses to behave. Finn Dockrey didn't come here for this. But she's not leaving without answers.
The kids are hunting Easter eggs at Pelican Shores' City Golf Course. Finn Dockrey shows up expecting coffee, sunshine, and enough pastel chaos to last a lifetime. Instead — a scream from the back nine, and a dead caddy floating in the water hazard next to a plugged-in vintage toaster. Nothing says holiday spirit quite like electrocution before noon.
Best friend Birdie is all in. Beau the dog is sniffing where he absolutely shouldn't. And Queen Bean is carrying herself like she personally outranks the entire police department. The suspect list runs from a sweet-faced dog-walker with a quiet temper to a law student with a grudge to a fellow caddy whose doubled paycheck is looking very suspicious now that his work rival is gone.
This is Pelican Shores — where motives hide beneath the surface, and somebody's always guarding a nasty little secret behind the Easter smiles.
“Death at the Easter Egg Scramble is cozy mystery done exactly right—a holiday weekend, a sun-drenched beach town, a dog who absolutely cannot stay out of trouble, and a murder that hides behind the cheeriest possible façade. Bessie Barr writes community the way it actually feels: warm on the surface and endlessly complicated underneath. Finn Dockrey is exactly the kind of sleuth I want to spend a weekend with.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Guest Sleuth Spotlight: LB Dayton and A Five Star Murder
Meet LB Dayton — author of A Five Star Murder, where Kat Calloway's NYC getaway goes sideways the moment she finds a body behind a Manhattan restaurant. The dining scene is cutthroat. The secrets are simmering. And this vacation is heating up fast.
Detective David O'Neil, jaded by the bustling streets of New York, seeks solace in Texas, but finds himself caught in a tangled web of deceit and desire. The Dolanato Family's sinister reach threatens his new beginnings. He must outsmart not just the Mafia, but also navigate the twisted loyalties of friends and neighbors. All while the dazzling Texas dream, Carly Bells, becomes entwined in his perilous path, her heart set on defending him and his daughter.
As secrets unravel, love and survival hang by a thread. Will the couple conquer the chaos, or will Appleton's charming façades conceal yet another mystery lurking in plain sight?
“A Five Star Murder is everything I want in a cozy mystery — sharp wit, genuine chemistry between the leads, and a setting so vivid you can practically smell the kitchen. LB Dayton writes the kind of book that makes you miss your stop on the train and absolutely refuse to apologize for it.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Murder She Whispered by D. T. Rose
Meet DT Rose — author of Murder She Whispered, where a detective moves his misfit family to a quiet Texas town only to find murder waiting at the door. Quiet places never stay that way for long. Sound familiar?
Detective David O'Neil, jaded by the bustling streets of New York, seeks solace in Texas, but finds himself caught in a tangled web of deceit and desire. The Dolanato Family's sinister reach threatens his new beginnings. He must outsmart not just the Mafia, but also navigate the twisted loyalties of friends and neighbors. All while the dazzling Texas dream, Carly Bells, becomes entwined in his perilous path, her heart set on defending him and his daughter.
As secrets unravel, love and survival hang by a thread. Will the couple conquer the chaos, or will Appleton's charming façades conceal yet another mystery lurking in plain sight?
“Small towns, big secrets, and a cast of characters who are absolutely, gloriously unhinged”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Fencing & Foul Play by Nina Hunt
Meet Nina Hunt — author of the laugh-out-loud cozy mystery set at a Paris fencing tournament where journalist Mia Andrews walks straight into a murder scene. Plus: a detective Yorkie named Toby who is, frankly, stealing the show.
Paris was supposed to be baguettes, beautiful architecture, and a quick paycheck. Instead, Mia Andrews walks into an international fencing tournament and straight into a murder scene—complete with a staged foil, a cryptic referee symbol, and enough suspects to fill the stands.
While Eli and Kai chase a digital trail through hacked scoring logs, Mia chases the human story: the grudges, the secrets, and the one person who wanted Bastien LeRoux silenced for good. Add Toby the Yorkie—now unofficially famous as a "detective dog"—and you've got one jet-lagged sleuth team on the case.
The killer is caught, the truth is published… and Green Acres welcomes Mia home with Grannies, pastries, and a reminder that trouble loves a return flight.
A globe-trotting, humor-forward cozy mystery with murder, kidnapping, whodunit twists, and a very determined Yorkie. Clean, wholesome, and laugh-out-loud fun.
“Nina had me at ‘Paris’. What a great setting for a funny whodunit!”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Guest Sleuth Spotlight: Gemma Harper and Murder on the Bunny Slope
Beagles, bunny slopes, and a body that wasn't supposed to be there — Gemma Harper's Poppy James is back and funnier than ever. Willow sat down with Gemma to talk small-town sleuths, quirky sidekicks, and the art of hiding clues in plain sight.
Poppy James just wanted a beginner ski lesson, a mug of cocoa, and a weekend where her biggest problem was uncomfortable boots. But when her beagle Midsip drags her to a suspicious snowbank on the bunny slope, Poppy's cozy instincts kick in — and what looks like an accident feels anything but. With her history-buff boyfriend Theo, her charm-interrogating best friend Nadine, and a resort management team with something to hide, Poppy follows a trail of missing receipts, blocked-off corridors, and disappearing photos. Someone knows she's getting close. And on a mountain full of secrets, the next body might not be staged for show.
“Murder on the Bunny Slope has all the makings of a perfect cozy weekend read — a clever sleuth, a scene-stealing beagle, and a mountain full of secrets that someone very much wants to stay buried. Gemma Harper knows how to build atmosphere and keep you guessing, and Poppy James is exactly the kind of amateur detective I root for. If you love cozy mysteries with heart, humor, and a good furry sidekick, this one belongs on your TBR right now”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Icy Roads & Cold Justice by Ivy Featherstone
A winter drive turns complicated in this atmospheric cozy mystery. Ivy Featherstone writes setting the way the best mystery authors do — as part of the tension.
A winter drive. A mystery nobody expected. A sleuth who won't let it go.
What starts as a routine winter journey turns into something far more complicated in Ivy Featherstone's atmospheric mystery. The frozen landscape isn't just backdrop — it's a character in itself, creating a sense of isolation and unease that makes every revelation hit harder. Readers who love setting-driven mysteries with a sleuth who absolutely refuses to walk away will find a lot to love here.
“Ivy Featherstone writes setting the way the best mystery authors do — it becomes part of the tension. Really impressive.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Pies, Lies, and a Deadly Slice by Oscar Tate
A pie contest, a long suspect list, and enough small-town gossip to keep you warm on a cold night. Oscar Tate delivers a cozy mystery that's funny and satisfying.
Oscar Tate has written one of those cozy mysteries that feels like settling into your favorite chair — familiar, warm, and just a little dangerous. When the town's beloved pie competition becomes ground zero for something much more sinister, the only way to sort out the truth is to dig through layers of filling, gossip, and long-buried grudges.
Funny, clever, and satisfying right down to the last crumb.
“This one will make you laugh out loud twice in the first chapter. Oscar Tate is a talent to watch.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Murder at the Winter Magic Parade by Kara Post
Holiday lights, festive crowds, and a body nobody expected. A cozy mystery with atmosphere to spare.
Holiday lights, festive crowds, and a mystery no one is prepared for.
The parade is in full swing, the lights are sparkling, and someone isn't going home. This atmospheric cozy mystery uses its winter setting to brilliant effect — the warmth of community events makes the darkness underneath feel all the more surprising. Vivid, suspenseful, and perfect for readers who love a mystery with real atmosphere.
Grab your cocoa and your sleuthing instincts.
“The setting in this one is just stunning. It pulls you right in from the first page.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Murder on the Campaign Trail by Angie Frost
When a local campaign turns deadly, sharp wit and sharper plotting carry this cozy mystery straight to the top of your TBR.
Politics, small-town gossip, and a body nobody saw coming.
When a local political campaign turns deadly, the race to find the killer is just as fierce as the race for the vote. Angie Frost delivers sharp wit, sharper plotting, and a mystery that feels both timely and timeless — the kind of book that reminds you small-town politics can be far more dangerous than anyone lets on.
If you like your cozy mysteries with a little extra edge and a cast of characters you'd genuinely want to have coffee with (while watching them very carefully), this one is for you.
“Angie Frost has a gift for making you suspect everyone equally. Clever, propulsive, and lots of fun.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Revenge Takes the Cake by Molly Blake
A bake-off, a body, and a suspect list longer than a dessert menu. Molly Blake delivers a cozy mystery that's warm, funny, and impossible to put down.
A cozy mystery with frosting, feuds, and a killer with a serious sweet tooth.
When the annual bake-off becomes the backdrop for something far more sinister, the only thing more complicated than the recipe is the suspect list. Molly Blake serves up a mystery that's warm, funny, and impossible to put down — exactly the kind of story that makes you want to brew a fresh pot and cancel your afternoon plans.
Perfect for fans of small-town settings, charming amateur sleuths, and plots that keep you guessing right up until the final reveal.
“This one has that perfect cozy balance — high charm, real stakes, and a sleuth you actually root for. Highly recommend.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Murder Among Friends
In this tense mystery, Maple Quinn proves that the people you trust most can sometimes be the ones with the most to hide.
In Blue Heron Bay, even healing can hide something deadly.
One month after opening Star’s Landing café, former therapist Molly McBeal is finally settling into the peaceful life she fought for—crafting perfect espresso, serving quirky regulars, and relying on her intuitive Mini Aussiedoodle, Star, to keep her grounded. Then a desperate woman interrupts Molly’s grand opening with a plea: her sister Jennifer didn’t take her own life two years ago. She was silenced.
Molly once promised to “look into it” and failed. This time, she won’t look away.
Jennifer’s obsessive ex-boyfriend had motive. A resentful gallery owner stood to lose everything. Even a landlord quietly profited from her death. Yet each suspect clears, and the pattern only grows stranger.
Meanwhile, café regulars begin confessing unsettling feelings after private conversations with someone they trust.
As Molly follows the thread, she realizes the threat isn’t buried in the past—it’s woven into her community.
If she exposes the truth too late, another life will be lost.
“There is nothing more chilling—or more captivating—than a mystery that strikes close to home . Maple Quinn reminds us that sometimes our closest inner circle is exactly where the deadliest secrets are hiding. It’s a twisty reminder to always keep one eye on the clues and the other on your guest list!”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Death in the Bookshop
In this atmospheric mystery, June Hollis proves that the most lethal secrets are often hidden in plain sight—right between the pages of a bestseller.
Mara Ellison came to Larkspur Cove for a fresh start— not a murder investigation.
After leaving a scandal behind in the publishing world, Mara settles into the foggy lakeside town of Larkspur Cove with her cozy bookshop and her clever rescue dog, Pepper.
But during the town’s lively Spring Book Stroll festival, a powerful real-estate developer is found dead in the library archives.
The police call it an accident.
Mara calls it a badly written story.
With suspects piling up —including Mayor Deirdre Shaw, an ambitious mayor and Reid Hargrove, a charming cousin eager to inherit—Mara can’t resist unraveling the puzzle.
But when anonymous threats start arriving and evidence mysteriously appears that could make her the prime suspect, Detective Cole Mercer warns Mara to stay out of the investigation.
But Mara can’t ignore a mystery that refuses to stay shelved.
And in Larkspur Cove, someone is ready to close the book on her permanently.
“There is something inherently dangerous—and utterly delightful—about a mystery that unfolds between the stacks of a local bookstore. June Hollis has a gift for making you feel the dust on the shelves and the tension in the air. As a writer, I’m always a sucker for a story where the books themselves might hold the key to the crime!”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Murder with an Ocean View
In this atmospheric mystery, Cheryl Marlow proves that the most beautiful views can hide the deadliest secrets.
An abandoned seaside home. A view to die for. And a raging fire that leaves a body in the ashes.
Someone has been secretly hiding out in the house, determined to keep its secrets hidden, even if it means burning it to the ground.
And no one can identify the victim.
When local realtor and Shoreline Circle member Tamika Roy falls under suspicion, innkeeper Paisley Penrose—along with her loyal Labradoodle, Noodle—can’t stay on the sidelines. Working alongside Detective Grant Halloway, Paisley begins asking questions, and a troubling list of suspects emerges: a wealthy out-of-state developer who stood to gain if the house—and anyone hiding inside it—disappeared, and a distant homeowner whose decision to quietly shelter a secret guest may have had deadly consequences.
But as rumors spread and the truth smolders beneath the wreckage, Paisley realizes the fire wasn’t meant to draw attention—it was meant to erase it.
Now someone is watching her, and if she gets any closer to the truth, she may be the next body left in ashes.
“There is nothing like a seaside escape to clear the head—unless, of course, there’s a body on the beach! Cheryl Marlow has created a world where the only thing saltier than the ocean air is the suspect list. It’s the perfect refreshing read for when you want a vacation with a side of danger.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Save the Date for Murder
In this tense mystery, Maple Quinn proves that the people In this gripping prequel, Vivian Keyes proves that even the most celebratory dates can hide a deadly motive.
One bride-to-be. Two trusted friends. Three ways the truth gets twisted.
When former wedding planner Kelsey Woods returns to the seaside charm of Carlyle Cove, Maine, she’s hoping for a fresh start—serving pastries at her aunt’s café and standing by her childhood best friend Tanya on her big day. But when the town’s infamously difficult wedding planner turns up dead just days before the “I dos,” and Tanya becomes the prime suspect, Kelsey’s picture-perfect plans unravel fast.
Armed with color-coded checklists, an eye for detail, and zero crime-solving experience, Kelsey teams up with retired detective Elinor Brooks—and Duke, her beloved sidekick dachshund with a nose for trouble. As a trail of clues point to a disgruntled florist, a lovesick best man and secrets buried deep in the town’s history, Kelsey discovers that behind every cranberry scone lurks a motive for murder.
With wedding bells ready to ring and rumors flying like confetti, Kelsey must solve the mystery before her best friend’s walk down the aisle becomes a march toward disaster.
“There is nothing quite as high-stakes as a wedding—unless you add a cold-blooded killer to the guest list . Vivian Keyes has crafted a prequel that perfectly captures the tension of a ‘big day’ gone wrong. It’s a twisty reminder that some invitations come with a much higher price than a toaster!”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team: The Inner Circle. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Murder, Mystery, and a Very Good Boy
In this charming mystery, A. P. Wells proves that sometimes the best sleuths have four legs and a very keen nose for trouble.
Hazel Winslow’s first mistake was falling in love with the dead man’s dog.
All Hazel wanted was a fresh start. Instead, her car blows a tire outside a quirky little town, and a body turns up before the tow truck does.
Now's she a primary suspect in a murder she didn't commit. Bad timing. Worse luck. Story of her freaking life.
The hawk-eyed sheriff says civilians get killed poking their noses where they don't belong. Hazel can't tell if it's a threat or a warning.
Hazel’s only way out is to find the killer, with nothing but her instincts and a clue-sniffing sidekick. But the murdered antique dealer left behind a whole mess of enemies. Every smiling face in town seems to be hiding something, even the crazy cat lady.
And when a death threat shows up on Hazel's door, it becomes painfully clear someone has been watching her. Someone knows where she’s staying. And every answer Hazel uncovers only tightens the noose.
Because the killer isn’t just covering their tracks.
They’re making sure there are no witnesses—
not even a puppy.
“As someone who knows that the best sleuthing happens with a four-legged friend by your side, I was immediately charmed by this story. A. P. Wells perfectly captures that special bond between a detective and their dog—and let’s be honest, sometimes the dog is the one with the best nose for clues!”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series. Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow’s Inner Circle | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Death in Denmark by Greta Sinclair
International food critic Darcy Finnegan expected comfort food, not a smuggling ring. Explore the canals of Denmark in this heart-stopping mystery.
MULTIPLE BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND THE 2025 GLOBAL BOOK AWARDS WINNER FOR A VERY STICKY MURDER.
Copenhagen in late winter promises candles, canals, and comfort food—not murder.
When international food critic Darcy Finnegan arrives to sample Denmark’s coziest cuisine and quietly plan her European elopement, she expects hygge, pastries, and good coffee. What she doesn’t expect is the murder of an elite Danish customs inspector—and her Schnoodle, Mozart, obsessively sniffing a suspicious shipment of gourmet coffee beans.
Ignoring the firm objections of her Interpol fiancé, Darcy follows the inspector’s final trail through roasteries, Michelin kitchens, and candlelit cafés. With help from her fearless photojournalist best friend, she uncovers a hidden world of high-end culinary smuggling, where rare delicacies are concealed inside luxury imports—and silence is deadly.
As suspects close in and a heart-stopping ride over the treetops of Tivoli Gardens nearly claims Darcy herself, she must expose a killer hiding in plain sight.
Because in Copenhagen, even comfort food can conceal lethal secrets.
“I am a firm believer in the power of ‘hygge’—that Danish sense of cozy comfort—but Greta Sinclair shows us that even the most candlelit cafe can hide a dark secret. Darcy Finnegan is a fantastic lead, and her Schnoodle, Mozart, is absolutely charming. This culinary mystery took me on a beautiful, heart-stopping tour of Copenhagen that made me want to book a flight and grab a magnifying glass simultaneously.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow Thorne ARC Team | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Deadly Prose by Carla Crowe
Candice Holladay’s book signing turns into a real-life whodunit. Can she find the killer before she becomes the next victim in Gregory Caldwell’s prose?
Literary giant Gregory Caldwell was set to sign books at Candice Holladay’s shop, The Crime Scene—until Chowder discovered him dead in the stockroom just hours before the event.
Excitement had been building in the small town of East Black Oak ever since Caldwell’s visit was announced. Now, instead of a lively book signing, Candice and her sleuthing sidekick Gracie are faced with a dead body and a tangled mystery.
Caldwell’s novels were notorious for drawing inspiration from real people, revealing secrets best left buried. With a lineup of suspects that includes local writers, politicians, historians, and even ghostwriters, the list of motives seems endless.
As journalist Christopher Donovan publishes stories to rattle the guilty, threats begin to roll in, warning Candice to drop the case—or else.
With Police Chief Sterling enlisting her help, Candice must tread carefully. One wrong move could turn her into the next victim in a mystery that’s as deadly as Caldwell’s prose.
“Carla Crowe has written every author’s nightmare! A literary giant found dead in the stockroom just hours before his signing? Deadly Prose is a brilliantly meta mystery. I loved the small-town dynamics of East Black Oak and the duo of Candice and her sleuthing sidekick Gracie. It’s a sharp reminder that sometimes, the most dangerous stories are the ones written about real people.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow Thorne ARC Team | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Murder at the Dog Show by Diane Scotland
Lila Jennings expected wagging tails, not a dead sponsor. Alongside Tank the bulldog, she must sniff out a killer before the final awards.
When prize ribbons turn deadly, one florist must sniff out the truth before she’s next.
Lila Jennings expected long days, wagging tails, and friendly competition at New York’s prestigious dog show. Not a dead sponsor and her own name tangled in the investigation. When the body is found displayedbehind the scenes, suspicion spreads faster than gossip in a grooming tent.
With her floral wire turning up as evidence and rumors threatening her business, Lila can’t afford to sit back and hope for the best. Alongside her steady partner Ethan, his sharp-eyed bulldog Tank, and her well-meaning but impulsive blogger friend Lucy, Lila starts pulling at loose threads no one else seems to notice.
What begins as a simple whodunit unravels into something far more dangerous: a carefully staged crime, manipulated evidence, and powerful players desperate to keep their secrets buried.
As the show builds toward its final awards and the killer grows bolder, Lila must trust her instincts, follow the smallest details, and risk everything to expose the truth.
Because at this dog show, winning isn’t everything.
Surviving is.
✨ Perfect for fans of intriguing whodunits, clever amateur sleuths, slow-burn romance, and cozy mysteries with heart, humor, and a hint of danger.
✨ Includes dogs, a determined florist, and a mystery that proves appearances can be deceiving.
“As someone who appreciates the art of arrangement, I immediately bonded with Lila Jennings, the florist sleuth in this delightful mystery. Diane Scotland brings the competitive world of New York dog shows to life with such vivid detail. Between the floral wire evidence and the sharp-eyed bulldog named Tank, this is a must-read for anyone who knows that under the ‘best in show’ exterior, things can get a little messy.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow Thorne ARC Team | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon
Secrets on the Pier by K. Z. Black
When a guest vanishes in the Funhouse, Summer Caldwell must unravel a 10-year-old incident before the pier chooses her as the finale.
Some places don’t close. They just wait for you to come back.
Seabreeze Pier reopens in a blaze of lights and screaming rides, and Summer Caldwell, Head of Guest Safety, knows how to keep chaos contained. Until a “minor” ride fault feels wrong. Not broken. Tampered. Management wants smiles for the cameras. Summer wants the truth.
Then a radio call cuts through the noise: someone’s locked inside the Funhouse.
Mirrors warp reality. Exits shift. Alarms glitch. A guest vanishes in a crowd thick enough to hide anything, especially a killer who treats murder like public entertainment. When Detective Delgado arrives, he sees a crime scene. The pier sees a PR disaster. Evidence disappears. Security feeds corruption at the worst moments. And Summer’s phone lights up with a message meant only for her:
YOU’RE STILL HERE.
As bodies drop and the park keeps operating, Summer starts to unravel, because the pier has tunnels, keys, and staff-only corridors… and a buried incident from ten years ago that someone wants resurrected.
Is Summer losing her grip?, or is someone making sure she can’t trust her own eyes?
And when the killer’s endgame finally surfaces, there’s only one question left:
If the pier chose Summer as the finale… Can she survive the last ride?
“If you’re looking for a mystery that keeps your heart racing, Secrets on the Pier is it. K. Z. Black takes the nostalgia of a seaside pier and turns it into a brilliant, high-tension puzzle. The idea of being trapped in a funhouse where the exits keep shifting is my literal nightmare—but Summer Caldwell’s determination to find the truth amidst the neon lights and corruption will keep you turning pages late into the night.”
Love Small-Town Mysteries?
If you enjoyed this spotlight, you'll love my Weekly Notebook. Every Saturday, I share a curated round-up of the best cozy mysteries, plus exclusive updates on my own Jenna McGregor Mystery Series.
Want to read my new novella early? I'm currently recruiting for my Permanent ARC (Advance Reader) Team. Members get free early copies of all my books in exchange for honest reviews.
👉 Apply for the Willow Thorne ARC Team | Pre-order the Prequel on Amazon