The Mournful Teddy

A Bear Collector's Mystery #1

by John J. Lamb

Retired San Francisco cop Brad Lyon is settling into a quieter life with his wife, Ashleigh, in Virginia's mountain country, where they collect and create teddy bears. But even here, stuff happens...

The day is here-and Brad Lyon is helping his wife put the finishing touches on her best bears, just in time for the Shenandoah Valley Teddy Bear Extravaganza. The event will draw fur-ball fanatics from near and far to buy, sell, or simply ogle the bears. But the main event will be the showing of the Mourning Bear, made to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic-and worth a hefty $150,000.

Then a local also meets a watery grave-and Brad Lyon spots the body floating in the Shenandoah. Old habits die hard, so Brad starts investigating like a homicide cop and finds the deceased might have had a connection to the Mourning Bear. But the local law would prefer that Brad keep his mouth sewn shut...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Novels, Crime

293 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

John Lamb is the author of "Bear Collector" mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime. Prior to becoming a writer, he had a distinguished career as a Southern California cop, serving as a CSI, a homicide investigator, hostage negotiator,and detective sergeant."

Series:
* A Bear Collector's Mystery
* Steve and Victoria MacKinnon Mystery

Reviews

[Lisa Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steiff Black Teddy Bear, a Titanic commemorative keepsake, sold for $136,000/91,750 pounds in 2000 at Christie’s.


★★★★★ They say write what you know and that certainly holds true here for John J. Lamb. Loved this first in the Bear Collector’s Mystery series! Mr. Lamb, a retired San Francisco policeman, writes about a retired SF cop, Brad Lyon. (Lamb to Lyon? Cute.)

Instead of another dead groundhog, Brad’s Old English Sheepdog, Kitchener, finds a dead body down by the river. Knowing it is a homicide – not a suicide – he backs off when warned away by the sheriff. That is until the local law goes a step too far, then Brad’s in the thick of the investigation and presenting the reader with a compelling mystery.

Shenandoah Valley, Virginia


There was a lot happening in this picturesque little town, but all the storylines converge, after some interesting twists, to make a wonderful, interesting cozy that I couldn’t put down. Loved the relationship between the protagonist and his teddy bear-making wife, Ashleigh. Looking forward to more of this series.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun and cute book. I really liked Brad and his personality. I was traveling in the area where the book takes place at the time I was reading it so it was fun seeing where it was set. I'd be interested in seeing what happens next.

[Wendy Jo Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how Ashe husband was interested in helping his wife at the fair with her teddy bears. I enjoyed getting to know a little more about Suzanne who actually makes teddy bears

[Amy the book-bat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew that teddy bears could be the basis of a murder mystery? I liked this idea for a cozy. Teddy bear making/collecting/exhibiting is an interesting world.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable debut! An original mystery with the right balance of fun and grit!

[Mendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Lamb writes a very well developed story line involving interesting and smart characters. This is not a traditional cozy in the sense that the main character, Brad, is a retired Inspector from the San Franisco Police Department. In fact, Mr. Lamb pokes a little fun at a cozy mystery his wife is reading that is solved by a woman with a talking dog. :o)

The world of the Teddy Bear Collector is introduced in a way that is easy to understand and Mr. Lamb doesn't beat you over the head with it. Some cozies seem to expect you to be an expert in the field before you can read the book, but not this one.

I think that since Mr. Lamb is a retired Inspector, his portrayal of the local Sheriff's Department is a little bit more realistic than in the traditional cozy. He doesn't paint the whole department to be the typical "bumbling" idiots that couldn't solve the case without a civilian sleuth.

Overall a wonderful story with great character development. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite series and I am majorly disappointed that there are only five of them in the series. I wish Mr. Lamb would write more.

Retired San Francisco cop Brad Lyon is settling into a quieter life with his wife, Ashleigh, in Virginia's mountain country, where they collect and create teddy bears. But even here, stuff happens...
The day is here-and Brad Lyon is helping his wife put the finishing touches on her best bears, just in time for the Shenandoah Valley Teddy Bear Extravaganza. The event will draw fur-ball fanatics from near and far to buy, sell, or simply ogle the bears. But the main event will be the showing of the Mourning Bear, made to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic-and worth a hefty $150,000.

Then a local also meets a watery grave-and Brad Lyon spots the body floating in the Shenandoah. Old habits die hard, so Brad starts investigating like a homicide cop and finds the deceased might have had a connection to the Mourning Bear. But the local law would prefer that Brad keep his mouth sewn shut...

[Barbara ★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little Virginia town at the foot of the Shenandoah Valley is a regular hot bed of illicit activity. Let's see, the sheriff couldn't be bothered to investigate a suspicious death, even though retired San Francisco cop, Brad Lyon flat out told him and showed him the proof. The local pastor is selling stolen merchandise at his monthly flea markets right across the street from the sheriff's office. If any of the cops question the sheriff's orders, they are immediately fired for insubordination. Oh yeah, can you say corrupt cop? It really hits the fan when the sheriff's son, Sergeant Trent gives Brad and his wife a ticket for running a red light that was green and then threatens Ashleigh. Brad has every intention of letting all the mysteries slide until this incident, then he was out for blood.

An entertaining and rather exciting hunt follows with many twists and even a few surprises. Definitely a series I will be continuing.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters, murder, suspense and teddy bear intrigue. This books is much more than you expect. I regret missing this author's event at my local independent bookstore (mysterious galaxy). I will be reading more from this author!

[Heather L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good mystery, and I loved the author's sense of humor. I would actually give this 3-1/2 stars were it possible.

[Tisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first novel of a fun cozy mystery series set in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Detective Bradley Lyon is a recently retired SFPD Inspector/ Detective forced into disability retirement after 26 yrs. On the force due to his injuries sustained from a shooting by a perp.
Since Bradley could no longer perform his passion being a homicide Inspector due to his permanent injury to his leg. Brad & Ashleigh Lyon decide to settle in what should be a peaceful time of their lives in Ash’s hometown she grew & met Brad in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia mountain country. Where Brad is working alongside his wife to pursue her dream business of collecting, designing, & competing her one-of-a-kind, custom creation teddy bears.
On the day his Ashleigh is putting the finish touches on her best teddies to take & sell at the Shenandoah Valley Teddy Bear Extravaganza. Her 1st event selling her adorable bears. The SVTBE event will draw bears lovers from near & far to buy, sell, or simply give a bear hug. Before watching the main event of the show…
the auction of the “Mourning Bear” which were made to commemorate the lives of lost on the sinking Titanic. Which is worth almost $200k.

Brad decides to let their Old English Sheep dog Kirshner run in their yard by the river. To discovers a body floating face down in the river on their property. When Brad notices signs of fowl play on the John Doe & informs the local Sheriff of his finding that this is not a suicide or accidental. The Sherriff brushes his findings as trying to boost his ego. Brad realizes that he needs investigate & find out what really is going on in the small town that he has now settled as the next chapter of his life.
With the help of Deputy Tina Barron the only non-corrupt in the bunch at the Sherriff’s office. Retired cop decides he is going to see how deep the corruption goes within the town. How many people are willing to cover up for the local Sherriff & his possie? What Brad finds out is that the connection of the fenced items being sold at the church bazar by Pastor Poole & the “Mournful Bear” owned by the greedy Liz Ewell who is now auctioning the 200k bear for profit are somehow connected. Since her nephew Robert has been robbing & fencing hot items to pastor Poole. But Robert is in cahoots with the pastor & the local Sherriff’s dept. when it comes to getting protection money, from businesses or not get caught breaking local laws. Brad finds out that a small town in Shenandoah Valley has corruption, deceit, murder just like in the big city of S.F.
Since I love teddy bears, I was intrigued on how they would get murder involved with antique teddies. But this mystery was well-plotted for the beginning of a beary creative series. I enjoy the relationship of the Lyon’s along with the other charters in the series. While some found it over the top to have the retired San Francisco cop taking such and interest into teddy bears… I felt it was quite possible for two reasons.
1. for the love of his wife. She has been supportive of his career for 26 yrs. Now it was Bradley’s turn to be there for Ashleigh passion.
2. When you work as a homicide detective for as long as Brad has. You’ve seen a lot of ugliness. Why not go for the innocent, cute & cuddly, huggable creature that gives people joy to give a retired homicide cop a bit of peace, & tranquility after all the years being in cop mentality, cynical side you’ve had to deal with as a cop out of your head?

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit it - I was a little skeptical about this book. I've noticed a trend in mysteries in recent years.
Every series seems to have a "gimmick" - we have mysteries about cheese, coffee, and pancakes; ones about knitting, sewing, and quilting; by and large, they work. But for some reason, I was sure a mystery about teddy bears was going to be impossible to get through.

I was SO wrong! This book is handled so deftly that I spent far more time laughing than scoffing. What did I like best? First, that Mr. Lyon - the detective - and his wife are in love (still) after years of marriage. That's not a common part of mystery books in my experience, but it reminded me of Annie & Max in Carolyn Hart's Death on Demand books and of Amelia & Emerson in the books by Elizabeth Peters. I also appreciated Mr. Lyon's witty one-liners and turns of phrase that truly had me laughing out loud in several places. The local color and supporting characters were superb, and I enjoyed this introduction to the world the Lyons occupy. (I also appreciate the irony that John Lamb writes mysteries about Brad Lyon... Lamb to Lyon... *wink*)

Overall, while the origin of the story is bear-driven, they don't feature prominently throughout. I thought the book was well worth reading, and I would definitely consider reading another in the series.

[chrisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun cozy mystery. I haven't read many cozies that written from a male perspective and it was refreshing. I also enjoyed the fact that the main character is older and is in a healthy, happy relationship. I am looking forward to spending more time in Virginia with these characters.

[Dick Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this mystery. I wasn't expecting to. I thought it would be a "cute" mystery and not much more. But the plot was rich and the suspense was marvelous. I will read another by Mr Lamb.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - Very, Very Good

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this was the first book in the series but there were way too many details. I got tired of hearing about how great his wife was and all the details of what a detective does.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: retired San Francisco cop Brad Lyon and his wife Ashleigh collect and create teddy bears. At a teddy show, a local meets a watery grave.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mournful Teddy is the first in the A Bear Collectors Mystery series. The series centers around retired San Francisco police officer Brad Lyons and wife Ashleigh. After suffering a crippling leg injury that forced him to leave the force, Brad and Ash move back to her hometown of Remmelkemp Mill, VA in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.

Ash is an avid teddy bear collector and has begun to design and sew her own bears with Brad's assistance. The couple is very excited to attend the Shenandoah Valley Teddy Bear Extravaganza where Ash will be displaying her very own Susannah bear. The highlight of the Extravaganza is going to be the auction of the Mournful Teddy, the rare Steiff bear made to commemorate the sinking of the Titanic.

The morning of the Bear Show, Brad and his Old English Sheepdog Kitch discover a body floating face down in the creek behind their house. Brad's suspicions arise when responding Police Chief Holcombe and Pastor Poole barely look at the body and claim they don't recognize the man and that he died from drowning. Brad can clearly see that the man had been strangled and then thrown into the water.

Ash is overjoyed when Susannah wins Best in Show and is approached by the owner of Boston Bears, who would like to market her bear for their toy company. But, spirits are dampened when the Mourning Teddy goes missing.

Brad and Ash with the help of Deputy Tina Barron set out to uncover the connection between the dead man and the Teddy Bear. In the course of their investigations they discover there is a great deal of corruption and evil lying under the surface of the idyllic little town.

I really enjoyed this book, it offered everything a good cozy should. The mystery was captivating, the cast of characters were well developed and of course the bears left me smiling. I'll definitely be reading the next in the series.

[Donald Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having never had a teddy bear as a kid (I finally broke down and got one when I was about thirty, naming it Sebastian after the main character in Brideshead Revisited; go figure), I thought a mystery series set around the making of artisan teddy bears and their collectors sounded both original and fascinating, but The Mournful Teddy (first in the "Bear Collectors" series) was just too slow-paced and not quite engaging enough, character-wise, to hold my interest. Brad Lyon, recently relocating with his wife Ashleigh to a small rural community in Virginia after an injury forced him to retire early from the San Francisco police force, finds himself being pulled back into old habits when his dog discovers a body floating in the nearby river. Curious about why the local sheriff is far too keen to call it an accident, Brad finds himself wanting to scope out the situation, which soon becomes oddly connected with a local artisan teddy bear show he and his wife - who designs and custom-makes teddy bears - are entering. When the prized bear of the accompanying auction goes missing, the body in the river looking more and more like the guy who was in charge of delivering it, Brad and Ashleigh work to solve the crime - in a novel much grittier than your average cozy, and one that plays out virtually in "real time" with the story (to me, having both an unrealistic and negative effect on the novel). Sadly, I found Brad a bit standoffish and unlikable, Ashleigh and the supporting characters not very memorable or well-drawn. I may or may not try another in the series, but while I still like this idea, the execution of this debut novel left me a little mournful, too. **

[Trine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sinking of the Titanic was one of the greatest disasters of the 20th century, and one of the many ways to commemorate this tragic event was the creation of a teddy bear, called the Steiff Mourning Bear which in this new mystery series is at the center of the mystery.

Whether or not one agrees with one of the main characters' thoughts on the history of the actual Mourning Bear at the end of the book, this is still a great start to a new series on the craft topic of collecting and creating teddy bears as well as a thought-provoking read likely to appeal to readers interested in intriguing mysteries, the topic of teddy bears and the sad history of the Titanic.

[Liora · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first novel of a fun cozy mystery series set in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The main character is retired on disability from the San Francisco Police Department and now helps his wife with her burgeoning business of designing teddy bears. He becomes involved in a murder investigation when he discovers the body on his property, but the town sheriff is obviously involved in a cover-up and the town seems to seethe with petty corruption. The mystery was well-plotted, and I really enjoyed the main characters. I did find the idea of a toughened, retired San Francisco cop taking to teddy bears rather over-the-top, but I suppose it is possible.

[Holly Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a while of it being in my to be read pile for months I finally picked it up and found myself not able to put it down. So then I finished it in record time. So I met Brad Lyon, a retired homicide detective from the SFPD. He finds that the floating body of a man in the river that flows by his house. Immediately knows its foul play due to his years looking at dead bodies. The sheriff dismisses the whole thing then threatens him.
He then feels like he must investigate! So the investigation is more like you would expect it is more from by the book that flying on a whim and following what the neighbors say to all of a sudden stumbling on the killer.

[Ann aka Iftcan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 in the Bear Collector's Mystery series. A charming series new to me. Of course--it IS populated by teddy bears, so what's not to love, right?

In this case, the title teddy is worth 170,000 or so dollars and is a very rare Steiff bear. One that was made to commemmorate the sinking of the Titanic (hence the name "The Mourning Bear"). Now he has been stolen and the last person known to have him is dead. Who killed the courier and why? Where is the teddy and does he have anything to do with the murder. . .

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad and his wife Ashleigh are enjoying his retirement by indulging their hobby of teddy bear collecting and creating. But then Brad finds a body on their property and a local show featuring a rare bear is robbed. Will this ex-cop be able to figure out what is happening? I loved this debut. The characters were great, there was some good humor, and the mystery was well plotted. The only issue was that the first chapter was a data dump.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Sue Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mournful teddy was recommended to me by my friend Paige. It is a great cozy that is written by a man in a man’s voice and his ideas. It was easy to read and once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. Unfortunately life got in the way, but now I’m happy to say I finished it and bought the rest of the series of 5 books. So if you are looking for an easy read written from a man’s point of view, this is the one for you.

[Sfdreams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the first book in a new (to me) series. The protagonist, Brad Lyon, is a retired San Francisco homicide detective and his wife, who move to Virginia and make artistic teddy bears for a living.

Brad is very sassy (like me) and there were several times that I laughed out loud reading this book.

Very enjoyable, even if you are not into teddy bears or teddy bear collecting.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. A retired policeman finds a body next to his house and is determined to bring the murderer to justice. Only problem is that there's corruption everywhere. The joy of this book is the likeability of the 2 main characters, you really want them to win. The reader also learns a lot about teddy bears, the mournful teddy does indeed exist, I googled it.

A nice, fun read.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gripping and entertaining mystery about a retired homicide detective and his teddy bear making wife who investigate a murder centered around the theft of a valuable antique teddy bear which was made to commemorate those who died in the sinking of the Titanic.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice fluffy read. Who cannot like a detective who loves teddy bears? Being the author is a former detective, he can get a little bogged down in details. I enjoyed the relationship of the detective and his wife.

[Hongyi Guo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book describes how a detective solve a mystery of a murder of a man found in a river. John J. Lamb's way of writing is truly captivating and it makes people not wanting to stop reading it. This book should be recommended to people who love mysteries that are not too violent.