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When the town librarian is an avid mystery and true-crime reader, the local law enforcement must need a book-smart assistant like her, right?

Rebecca Ramsey returned to the Newfound Lake area of New Hampshire because it feels like home. The library is Rebecca's safe place, but the local seafood restaurant at the foot of the lake is where all the action happens. While dining on the patio of the seasonal hotspot on her day off, a body is pulled from the lake. Kenny Towne, Chief of Police, is on the scene to investigate and catalog the evidence.

Rebecca and Kenny grew up around Newfound, along with the collection of suspects in the ongoing investigation. Since the deceased is also a Newfound native, old rivalries come into play, including feuds dating back to high school.

Will Chief Towne and Rebecca solve this mystery together or end up getting in each other's way?

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2023

123 people are currently reading
300 people want to read

About the author

Virginia K. Bennett

45 books58 followers

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5 stars
81 (30%)
4 stars
94 (34%)
3 stars
61 (22%)
2 stars
27 (10%)
1 star
6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Nicole Bernache.
97 reviews5 followers
July 8, 2024
2.5 stars | so for context…this is an author from the area that my family vacations to & has a cottage at during summers, and she writes cozy mysteries set at Newfound lake which is the lake we are on, so once I found out about these books I wanted to check at least one of them out!! Once I saw that she’s a brand new author and they’re just shorter novellas (about 100 pages) I wasn’t expecting much. It wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read, but if I wasn’t sitting on our beach at newfound lake while reading it I think I would have disliked it even more lol

It was fun to read about the town and surrounding areas of the lake, and “the catch of the day” restaurant which was a play on the actual restaurant “the big catch” and all those little things like that.

As far as the actual writing and storyline goes, it was meh. It was overall a fast paced and easy book to read, especially as a beach read. But like I mentioned before, this is a newer/amateur author and that definitely showed through her writing. It was giving me when I was 12 and trying to write my own book lmao. Cringy moments at times, some parts were dragged out way too long when others were way too quick, etc. For a 100 page novella, it took me a long time to actually get through (even though I just said it was fast paced lol)

Again, not an *awful* book…I just don’t know that I’ll pick another one of her books up (unless I’m at the lake and am desperate for a quick read haha)
Profile Image for Megan Vandiver.
175 reviews3 followers
November 5, 2024
I’ve been on the hunt for shorter books to read towards the end of the year because I’m behind on my goal for 2024, and this one was definitely that!! I enjoyed the crime solving, small town aspect but I absolutely need more romance and spice in my books!
Profile Image for Catherine Martin.
14 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2023
a wonderful start of a new local series

Can’t wait to see the next book in this series!

Love all the local references. But don’t tell everyone how special our lake is, hahaha
Profile Image for Kathleen R. Cuyler.
Author 2 books28 followers
June 19, 2023
An amazing read you can't pass up

Can I just be Rebecca for a day? This book draws you into the world of the main character and makes you long for a lakeside view, a library, plenty of seafood, and, of course, a mystery to solve! There are passages where I actually squeeed out loud with excitement. Thank goodness for Virginia K Bennet because her mystery series is just the fun, cozy, suspenseful, and romantic read we need to make us realize life can actually be pretty darn good!
Profile Image for Abbie Martin.
Author 5 books37 followers
December 28, 2023
A fun quick read that is still full of twist and turns!

This was the perfect book to begin my holiday break. A fun, quick read with endearing characters and a cute town that you just want to visit. Even in this novella length book I was kept on my toes with twists and turns in an unusual case. I enjoyed the library setting and the different relationships between the characters. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
578 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2023
Wanted to read this book because I have vacationed on Newfound Lake for over 50 years. Although it was great to recognize and envision the places mentioned in the book, the story was a disappointment and quite juvenile. I might recommend it to my 10 year old granddaughter.
Profile Image for Tambi Smith.
201 reviews12 followers
November 4, 2024
Rebecca Ramsey, a devoted librarian and mystery enthusiast, finds herself entangled in a real-life whodunit when a body is discovered in the tranquil waters of Newfound Lake, New Hampshire. While enjoying a meal at the local seafood restaurant, Catch of the Day, Rebecca witnesses the chilling scene that triggers a cascade of questions: Was this a tragic accident or a calculated crime?
The victim is soon identified as a former classmate, thrusting Rebecca into a world of intrigue and suspicion. Her lifelong friend, Chief Kenny Towne, is tasked with unraveling the mystery, and he knows that Rebecca’s extensive knowledge of crime fiction and true crime stories could be invaluable. Though unofficial, her involvement is crucial, as she skillfully navigates the delicate balance between aiding the investigation and respecting the law.
As Rebecca and Chief Towne delve deeper, they uncover a tapestry of motives among the townspeople, each story more tangled than the last. With a network of narratives weaving through the small community, they must discern who had not only the motive but also the means and opportunity to commit such a heinous act.
Rebecca and Chief Towne race against time to solve the mystery and prevent an innocent person from being wrongfully accused. Can they piece together the clues to unravel the mystery or will the truth leave them drowning in uncertainty?
Virginia Bennett's "Catch of the Day," the first book in the "A Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery" series, is a delightful and fast-paced read that captivates from the first page. This cozy mystery introduces readers to a charming cast of characters, with Rebecca standing out as a particularly engaging and intelligent protagonist. Her wit, humor, and compassion shine through, making her a character that readers can easily root for. Virginia Bennett's writing style is characterized by subtle yet vivid descriptions that bring the story to life without overwhelming the reader.
The novel is rich with relatable details, which enhance the reading experience. From the cultural references to movies and books that many will find familiar, to the endearing way Rebecca prepares her sauce for Chief Town, Bennett creates a world that feels both lived-in and accessible. These elements contribute to a narrative that feels personal and engaging, allowing readers to connect with the story on multiple levels.
As the plot unfolds, readers are drawn into the mystery alongside Rebecca, whose actions and dialogue are engaging and thoughtfully crafted. The twists and turns of the plot are subtle yet effective, maintaining suspense without sacrificing the cozy atmosphere that defines the genre. With all loose ends neatly tied up by the conclusion, "Catch of the Day" offers a satisfying and enjoyable experience, leaving readers eager for the next installment in this promising series.



Profile Image for Lauri.
79 reviews
February 2, 2025
Two stars instead of one because this felt like a newer author and I could definitely sense that she loves to write.

That being said, the ending was great. I loved the wrap up and the reveal. The rest of the book however, honestly I think it would have been a lot better if it had been longer. Much of the book features very forced feeling conversation and character building that is often out of place within the bounds of the story. Certainly good things to know when building up to make a book into a series, but these random inserts very likely would have done better were there more time to slowly reveal them.

I did love the MC's book t-shirt collection, and I think that could be leaned into a bit more in future books for some comedy. I did not love the self-hatred bordering on eating disorder comments about the MC eating dry salad and being worried about all of the oil in her food affecting her waistline. I know that body insecurity is something that a lot of cozies insert because it makes the characters feel more relatable, but to be honest in this book it felt more dark and aggressive than anything.

To the author, I hope you keep writing because I think you're on to something here. Don't be afraid to make that 100 pages turn into 300! Give us some more time to settle in the universe you're creating and add more to both your murder storyline and your underlying romance storyline!
Profile Image for Vanessa.
96 reviews9 followers
July 12, 2023
Ah, yet another cozy that could benefit from a decent editor and honest reader feedback. Virginia has the makings of a cute cozy series with librarian Rebecca and the Newfound Lake area. Nice perhaps-romantic tension with the Chief Kenny, but the mystery is just so-so. I always embrace cozies with a high level of suspension of disbelief, but we jump to Rebecca as a credible investigator with little explanation. The scenes with her "working" at the library are filler; she doesn't seem to do much actual work. Scenes of feeding kitties and rubbing their bellies is also just is wheel-spinning to get to the next scene. Little things like tossing a Styrofoam ice cream cup into a recycling bin (umm, not recyclable) and misspellings like "flakey" and "frier" are distracting. Not to mention calling the main character Mackenzie in the middle of the book. (Who the HE*% is Mackenzie??) Also, I question Rebecca's (my-600-lb-life?) health with the constant fried scallops, onion rings, fried calamari, fried clams (whole belly) with fries, fried pickles and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream that she ingests in this very short cozy! Needs more Karen, the after-school activity librarian.
113 reviews4 followers
October 21, 2025
I do like the occasional shorter read and this book fits that at about 100 pages long. I really like Rebecca; she is a librarian in the beautiful area of Newfound Lake. And she has a reputation for helping solve cases, but I think more backstory would be good on this. The book just alludes to her having a reputation for sleuthing. Her best friend is a police officer and maybe there is some romance brewing there. The book was fast-paced and kept me interested throughout. Had the ending kept with the rest of the book, it would have been a solid book. I won't spoil it, but it was more or less luck and guesswork. There really weren't clues to allow the reader to figure out the culprit, which is always a let down for me because I enjoy sleuthing my way through a book.
Overall, it was a cute book with some good characters and potential to be a good series. I would love to know more about Rebecca and have a little more interaction with the other characters. It's also fun that the chapters are all named; it was so common to see when I was reading as a child and that little touch just gives me such nostalgia.
Profile Image for Grace Krispy.
134 reviews27 followers
February 10, 2025
2.5 stars

I was looking forward to reading this book because I thought the premise sounded interesting and I'm a sucker for a cozy. I think the book had a lot of potential, but I got stuck on what felt like unrealistic interactions. When reading a cozy, you have to suspend belief because the situations tend to get ridiculous sometimes. That's part of the fun. But in order to enjoy a cozy, I also need to be able to immerse and really feel like I could picture the settings and the people. I didn't feel that way with this book. I found myself viewing the book from the outside and simultaneously thinking about the phrases and interactions I felt didn't ring true. That being said, I appreciated the ending (although it felt abrupt to me) and I thought it had a decent storyline. I did finish it, which is saying something as I've finally given myself the grace to stop reading a book I'm not enjoying.

I know this was a first book, and (as another reviewer said) the author clearly loves being an author. I hope she finds her audience.
Profile Image for Regina Williams.
247 reviews5 followers
July 22, 2024
I've been seeing this author's books on a lot of the cozy mystery Facebook groups I follow and decided to give this new to me author and series a try and I am so glad I did!

I must admit I didn't have high hopes since it is less than 100 pages but I was so happy to be so wrong! I really enjoyed the mystery and I love how Rebecca Ramsey worked with her childhood friend and possibly more Chief Kenny Towne to solve the murder. I did love that there were only really three possible suspects but the author still managed to throw in a red herring or two and I didn't guess who the killer was.

However, there are 15 books (so far) in this series and I look forward to continuing and I am hoping to see not just growth but more world building concerning Newfound Lake, NH and learning more about Rebecca, Chief Towne and all the residents of Newfound Lake

If you are looking for a short, quick, light hearted cozy mystery this is the cozy mystery series for you!
499 reviews6 followers
August 25, 2024
The Catch of the Day restaurant in Newfound Lake, New Hampshire is in the midst of the busy summer season. When Mac, a local resident is found dead in the water in front of the eatery the race is on to find his killer.
Local Librarian Rebecca is drawn into giving her assistance and happy to use her sleuthing skills to help. She was my favorite character. She adores true crimes, her two cats and wearing cute tshirts with literary and cat references.
Police Chief Kenny Townes works with Rebecca to solve the case. They are childhood friends. He is divorced and their relationship seems to be going in the friends to something more direction.
I liked that there were several local area residents who remained in town since childhood.
Several suspects with motive are questioned and the true culprit is caught. I enjoyed the ending as well.
Nice start to a new series.
Profile Image for The Poisoned Pen.
160 reviews5 followers
January 14, 2025
What did I just read?!

96 pages and 80% of it was over-describing EVERYTHING. From the sayings on her shirt, to the schools the other characters went to, to the custody agreement of the Chief, to the water movement patterns of the lake, to the details of making and storing biscuits, and so on.

It was awful!

The entire plot could have been done in 20 pages. The author didn't flesh out any of it. She just rambled on, giving no clues to the actual bad guy. I honestly think she had no idea who the bad guy even was until she randomly picked someone in the last few pages of the book....

This was by far one of the worst things I've read. It needed an editor badly.

Also the FMC is atrocious. She wants to date a single father but have nothing to do with his children. What kind of person even writes that??

I won't be continuing this series or reading anything else by this author.
1,726 reviews8 followers
November 17, 2025
First in a fun series

I had found a later book in the series that I read and enjoyed so I decided to go back and start at the beginning. Rebecca is the librarian in her small hometown on the shore of Newfound Lake. She is friends with Kenny the town sheriff.She was having lunch at the catch of the day a seasonal restaurant on the lake shore when a crowd begins to form down by the water. When she goes down to see what is going on the local police are fishing a dead body out of the lake. From there the mystery takes off as she tries to help the sheriff solve the case. A fun read that comes to a surprise ending.
4 reviews
September 13, 2023
Small-town librarian, Rebecca, loves mysteries and true-crime. While eating at the local seafood restaurant, a body is pulled from Newfound Lake. The police chief, Kenny, has to investigate. Rebecca and Kenny grew up together around Newfound, along with the possible suspects. They work together to try and solve this murder of their elementary friend. While sharing their findings, there's some love interests happening. If you're looking for a quick, small-town with a lil flirty flirty cozy-mystery, then this is for you.
2,229 reviews44 followers
August 2, 2024
I prefer to read longer cozy mysteries, but Catch of the Day was a fun, quick read. Rebecca Ramsey is a librarian/amateur sleuth in Newfound Lake. One summer day a body is found floating at the foot of the lake near The Catch of the Day, a popular local restaurant. The body turns out to be someone that Rebecca went to high school with-- Joseph Maxfield (Max). Three names immediately rise to the top of the suspect list for Rebecca and her good friend Chief Kenny Towne. So who is the murderer? This book has a fun beach town setting and interesting characters. I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Toby.
2,052 reviews72 followers
December 1, 2024
This was a cute cozy mystery except there wasn’t a ton of mystery to it. There were also a LOT of extraneous descriptions, like what tshirt the FMC was wearing (although since I’m also a bookish tshirt lover, I didn’t mind that part a ton). It felt more like a newer author’s miscalculation than anything terribly egregious though. Just unnecessary detail but not harmful - the book was short enough anyway (novella, really - 96 pages) and would’ve been more of a short story had extra descriptions been removed.
Profile Image for Alice H99.
57 reviews
April 6, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, I must say though that a few of the timings were written in wrong and confused me a bit. This would have been a 5 star read but I felt let down by the ending. I know it is a novella and will be short but there wasn’t really a build up to catch the murderer just a random thought and then they accidentally outed themselves.
Other than this I liked the characters and how they were introduced to us. I also like the hopefully impending love story between the FMC and the police Chief
3,079 reviews13 followers
September 17, 2025
Librarian Rebecca Ramsay is enjoying a meal in a local restaurant when she sees police taking a body from the adjacent Newfound Lake.
It's got absolutely nothing to do with her but she's consumed by the need to investigate.
It turns out she knew the dead man and, as a native, just about everyone else in town (including the Sheriff).
The story is full of cats, food, tips about food, books, the library, and Sheriff Kenny Towne.
“Catch of the Day” is a nice read but the mystery, such as it is, isn't very good.
2.5 Stars, brought back to 2 Stars.
Profile Image for Patricia Rhodes.
79 reviews2 followers
January 4, 2024
Catch of the Day was a fun, quick read. I really enjoyed the book. The story was a perfect Cozy Mystery. A murder, a sleuth, a couple of cats, and a little romance.

What I liked best about the book was the way Rebecca acted like a normal person. You didn’t constantly have to hear about her only eating a corner of a cookie because she always focused on her weight. It was sooo refreshing.

I will be reading all of this series plus any other series by Virginia K Bennett.
6,726 reviews5 followers
July 29, 2024
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book one

I picked this because it is in New Hampshire where we lived for many years.

She is eating lunch at the cafe when a body is found in the lake. She is part of the investigation leading to the happy ending 😀.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of family and friends relationships mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024
Profile Image for Brooke.
468 reviews
August 4, 2024
A super quick read. The biggest draw for me was that it was set on Newfound Lake in NH. It was a simple mystery that got started right away with a body showing up in the water outside the popular seafood restaurant and bar. The local librarian tries her hand at helping to solve this mystery while helping the police chief who is a high school friend and recent divorcee. Mystery and romance await lol
Profile Image for Donna.
1,188 reviews4 followers
September 24, 2024
Short fiction

I loved this first cozy mystery set in Newfound Lake. It's summer time and the days are longer. There a body pulled from the lake. It is that of a local man. Rebecca helps to figure out who could have killed Max especially after it's revealed there was no water in his lungs. Several suspects emerge. I wasn't all together sure who it was until the reveal.
1,345 reviews
September 16, 2025
This is a small town cozy where the librarian helps the police chief solve a murder. Although this is the first book in the series the author jumped right into the action and introduced the characters as the story progressed so the story really moved. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
Profile Image for Erica Means.
34 reviews
July 1, 2023
Fun read

This was a quick, fun book set in one of my favorite places on
earth. I enjoyed it all. I got this one through kindle unlimited but will definitely get a hard copy for my parents.
Profile Image for Amary Chapman.
1,665 reviews27 followers
Read
July 7, 2024
Coastal cozy

Add a librarian and a cop to clues in an odd death and stir well. Ms. Bennett pens an interesting tale with a victim and a few suspects, but their motives are questionable. Who did it? I recommend for any cozy lover
Profile Image for Suzie.
2,557 reviews23 followers
July 16, 2024
Engaging story line

I like the fast-paced plot, the characters,and the small-town vibe of these cozy novellas. Perfect to read before bed, waiting for appointments or school pickup lines.
The librarian,Rebecca Ramsey, has a naturally curious mind - made for solving fictional mysteries.
Will Chief Towne include her in the real-life murder investigation of a mutual friend?
24 reviews
August 8, 2024
Such a fun quick read!

This novella keeps you on your toes right until the very end. Cute cats, will they/won’t they moments, and lovable characters in a small town on a lake. Perfect.
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