A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder by Melinda Mullet

Charming yet wickedly imaginative mystery ghostwriter Maeve Gardner finds herself at the center of a murder investigation with more twists and turns than any story she's ever written, perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Richard Osman.

Maeve Gardner kills people for a living. A dodgy occupation perhaps, but as ghostwriter for the long-running Simon Hills mysteries, Maeve has planned the perfect murder time and again and she enjoys it. She dreams of writing something under her own name someday rather than babysitting her adopted character Simon, but at least she’s writing. And as one of the burnt-out souls who’ve run away from dry land to live on London’s waterways, she has the joy of working from the home she a colorful houseboat. Life on the canals is grand, but when her cheating ex-boyfriend turns up floating face down in the water outside her boat, murdered, and the police arrest her, the plot takes a wayward turn. 

Suddenly, Maeve is thrust into one of her own crime dramas, complete with missing money, violent thugs, extortion, and conspiracy. Only this time, there is no real-life Simon Hill to come to her aid. Instead, with the help of friends from the river–India, owner of a popular floating bookshop; Paul, the exceedingly attractive landlord of the local pub; and Ash, Maeve’s quiet, nerdy neighbor who is keeping some secrets of his own–Maeve may have a shot at saving herself. 

As Maeve and her motley crew of would-be investigators find themselves wondering if they are in over their heads, a killer lurks and won’t hesitate to kill again…  (Summary via Goodreads)

WOW !!!   A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder by Melinda Mullet was so fun to read !!  

In A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder readers are introduced to main character Maeve Gardner, her loveable dog Captain and a group of people who become true friends when she finds she needs their help and they deliver !!

Maeve lives on a houseboat and writes about murders for a long standing Simon Hills mystery series.  Little did she know that she was going to become the main suspect in a real life murder !!!   Maeve catches Captain biting into a rubber tire bumper on the dock. When she goes to check it out, she finds money hidden into the hole.  She knows it isn't hers so she returns it to it's hiding spot and goes to the police to report it.  When she returns with the cops, the money is gone !!  And while the police are there, they discover a body floating in the water .... and it turns out to be her ex-boyfriend, Gavin.

Maeve hasn't seen Gavin in months since they broke up and he moved on with the woman he cheated on her with.  Even though she hated him and what he did she didn't want to have him dead and to die that way.  But the police aren't so sure and when the murder weapon is determined to be something on her boat with her fingerprints on it, she is arrested for his murder.

Luckily while Maeve is at the police station her friends, India, Paul, and Ashley decide to do some investigating themselves.  Soon each of them has their own line of research going and hopefully one of them will clear Maeve.

Fortunately Maeve is released from jail and can also help with the investigating.  She needs to clear her name so she can return to her life of just writing about murders.

I have found that books written with characters living on houseboats is quite fascinating.  I am not a boat person and am very claustrophobic so you would never find me doing it but I cannot help but appreciate those that do, even if it is in a story.  

Readers will enjoy this book with the author providing viewpoints of the main characters by designating chapters to what they are doing.  It allows the reader to see all the different "balls in the air" that this story requires .... and even though Mullet doesn't designate them for Captain, you are provided with little tidbits here and there.

If you cannot tell, I will say it to be sure, I highly recommend grabbing your copy of A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder, a comfy seat and let Mullet entertain you for a spell.

 

Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel Mystery Book # 2) by Ellen Byron

Dee Stern’s Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains promises a tranquil getaway for outdoor lovers in the scenic Californian village of Foundgold. But when Dee accidentally triggers a modern gold rush, she suddenly turns her peaceful retreat into a hotspot for mayhem and murder . . .

With the summer season looming, former Hollywood sitcom writer Dee Stern has one small goal—scrubbing her motel’s unflattering moniker as the “Murder Motel.” Dee and ex-husband-turned-business-partner Jeff Cornetta are excited to introduce a family-friendly panning activity complete with fool’s gold just in time for the peak tourist months. Except neither could have anticipated the discovery of a real gold nugget or the ensuing social media frenzy. In a flash, the viral sensation draws grizzled prospectors, wide-eyed adventurers, and trend-chasing thrill seekers to the abandoned mines scattered around the woods . . .

The instant popularity proves great for business, but it also attracts a group of out-of-touch Silicon Valley techies with dreams of striking it rich—again. Dee finds herself particularly annoyed by the insufferably smug Sylvan Burr, a retired CEO who sold his startup before age 30 and won’t let anyone forget it. But things take a sinister turn when Sylvan meets a grim fate at the bottom of a mineshaft, leaving Dee at the center of a deadly mystery that could end her days as a motelier. And while Sylvan had plenty of enemies, Dee suddenly faces adversaries rooting against her own success. Now, with her life and the future of the Golden Motel hanging by a thread, Dee must unearth a minefield of suspects and outwit a greedy killer before she finally digs herself too deep . . .  (Summay via Goodreads)

Sometimes readers come across a book that they fall in love with .... that is exactly what happened when I read A Very Woodsy Murder. This was the first book in the Golden Motel Mystery series written by Ellen Byron.  So much to love and knowing it was the first book in a series made it even better !!!  So when I received the second book, Solid Gold Murder, I waited as long as I could then had to tear into it !! 

One thing I think readers will appreciate is the Who's Who in the beginning of the books.  This gives the reader an idea of the characters and their roles in the books.

Okay let's get into Solid Gold Murder ... Dee, who co-owns the Golden Motel with her best friend Jeff, is recording her father as he gives a lesson on how to pan for gold in the sluice to a father and son staying at the hotel.  It is suppose to be a fun event for families to do while there.  Unfortunately as a result they find that they have a few real specs of gold !!  And Dee was so excited that she accidentally shared the video !!

Soon the hotel is full with people who are there to pan for gold in areas around the hotel.  Dee and Jeff have their hands full wih all kinds of interesting people.  They even have a foursome of young techie rich kids and a married couple that is down on their luck hoping for something good.

Sadly things get out of hand and one of the techie's ends up missing but is soon found dead in an abandoned mine shaft.  Sylvan Burr, the leader of his little group, had ruffled quite a few tail feathers so the suspect list is quite long.  Dee and Jeff will do whatever they can to solve this murder so that they can try to get people to stop calling it the Murder Motel .... which isn't going to be easy !!! 

The Golden Motel Mystery series is so fun !!  Byron has creative a great setting for the books, with colorful characters, two interesting towns and even without the murders, it would still be a fun series to get lost into.

Marsupials Are Murder (Merry Wrath Mysteries Book # 34) by Leslie Langtry

From USA Today bestselling author Leslie Langtry comes a murder mystery as wild as the Outback...

Merry Wrath's troop is going Down Under! When young Mayor Ava of Who’s There, Iowa gets a call for help from Mayor Sheila of their sister city in Doover, Australia, the girls in the troop waste no time in packing their bags for a trip halfway around the world—of course, with their fearless ex-CIA agent turned Girl Scout leader, Merry Wrath, in tow. Merry thinks this is a great opportunity to see another part of the world with the girls and her more-than-slightly-koala-obsessed co-leader, Kelly.

Met by Sheila, her Girl Guide troop, and a few kangaroo bodyguards, Ava and the girls get to work to help the mayor fight her obnoxious City Council. While the girls assist Sheila, Merry and Kelly plan to spend the time looking for koalas and taking in the sites of the Blue Mountain town in New South Wales. Being in another hemisphere, what could possibly go wrong?

Unfortunately, even halfway around the world, Murder Magnet Merry lives up to her reputation, when one of the council members' bodies is found in the bush. To make things worse, the police think Mayor Sheila is the murderer! Merry and the gang race to find a dangerous killer before they have to go home and Sheila goes to jail!

What critics are saying about Leslie Langtry's

"I laughed so hard I cried on multiple occasions! Girl Scouts, the CIA, and the Yakuza... what could possibly go wrong?"
~ Fresh Fiction

"Darkly funny and wildly over the top, this mystery answers the burning question, 'Do assassin skills and Girl Scout merit badges mix…?'"
~ RT BOOKreviews

"Mixing a deadly sense of humor and plenty of sexy sizzle, Leslie Langtry creates a brilliantly original, laughter-rich mix of contemporary romance and suspense."
~ Chicago Tribune

"Langtry gets the fun started from page one."
~ Publisher's Weekly    (Summary via Goodreads)

I don't know how Leslie Langtry does it but with Marsupials Are Murder being the thirty-fourth book in her Merry Wrath Mystery series, she does it !!  She definitely brings it every time !!!  And fans are going to love this one .... Merry, her best friend Kelly, and their girl scout troop and mayor are heading down under !!!

Thirteen year old Ava is the mayor of Who's There, Iowa, and her friends consist of her girl scout troop as well as her council and they have unbelievable skills that will amaze you.  Ava has been in contact with Mayor Sheila from their sister city in Doover, Austrailia and they have organized a trip to go and help Sheila and her council.

Unfortunately even though they are far away from home and their track record of solving murders in their home state, they will find themselves in the middle of another murder case.  When they are on a bush walk, Merry and Sheila find the body of Seb Butcher, a member of the city council.  Even though it looks like it might just be an innocent death, Merry and Kelly know better and begin to organize things. Then when Sheila is brought in and arrested for the murder, they all pitch in to prove her innocence.

With having thirty-four books published in one series, you know that this is something worth looking into.  I, to be honest, came into the series not that long ago but if I could I would definitely go back and read all of the previous books because you know they would be a hoot !!!

Books & Bribes (A Book Store Cozy Mystery Book # 1) by Lucinda Race

Enjoy this clean, paranormal cozy mystery by award winning and bestselling author, Lucinda Race.

In a small town like Pembroke, Maine, everyone has something to hide. But when bookstore owner Lily Michaels takes a tumble and hits her head, and her cat Milo starts talking to her, she discovers she has something to hide, too. She’s a witch, and Milo is her familiar. And she’s not the only one in town. Lily has been hiding something else, too. Even though she’s always kept Gage Erikson in the friend zone, her feelings for the man Milo calls Detective Cutie go a lot deeper than she’s willing to admit.

Gage has a secret too. He’s always had a crush on Lily. But if he gives into his feelings, it might mess up the wonderful friendship they have. With his cowboy boots and cherry red pickup truck and knack for just letting folks talk, people might underestimate just how good a detective Gage actually is. But is he good enough to discover all of Lily’s secrets?

Somebody in Pembroke knows a lot about the secrets people are keeping, and isn’t above a little blackmail. While Lily struggles with learning how to be a witch, she works with Gage to uncover the truth, and a new kind of magic develops between them. Will they continue to be just friends, or will they finally admit to the secret love they’ve been hiding?

Books and Bribes is the first novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as standalone. A sweet and clean cozy mystery with a guaranteed the culprit is caught. Happy reading!  (Summary via Goodreads)

Books & Bribes is the first book in the Book Store Cozy Mystery series by Lucinda Race and from the moment you start reading this book, you will be hooked !!  Race knows how to get you invested immediately !!!

In Books & Bribes readers are introduced to main character Lily right after a dusty book falls off a shelf in her bookshop.  It knocks her out briefly and  when she comes to she finds out that she can understand her cat Milo.  And then he informs her that she is a witch !!  

Now if that doesn't keep you turning the pages, hold on......

Before Lily can thoroughly grasp all that, she has to get to the library for movie night.  Unfortunately before movie night gets underway, she and those that are gathered for the movie, hear a scream and Lily recognizes it as her Aunt Mimi.  When they get to where Aunt Mimi is, they find her standing over the body of the mean librarian Flora .... holding the murder weapon !!!

Still need more convincing .....

The detective on the case is Gage who Lily has secretly loved forever and Gage feels the same way but neither is willing to chance their friendship by admitting their true feelings.  Oh and Gage has Aunt Mimi on the top of the suspect list so Lily decides she will investigate the murder herself ..... lots of tension there but fun for the reader !!!!

And the last thing I will share with you because I am pretty confident that you don't need more convincing but will give you like a bonus tidbit ..... Race provides most chapters in Lily's "voice" but every so often she gives you a glimpse of what in going through Gage's mind also.

Books & Bribes is a fun read with a captivating tale that is paving the way for the future books in the series.  I am totally a fan and cannot wait to see where the next book takes me ......