Death in the Ozarks

Sally Witherspoon Mysteries #1

by Erik S. Meyers

A cross between Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and a Cheers bartender, Sally Witherspoon, a 50-something accountant turned biker-bar owner, loves solving puzzles. Up to now, she has focused on helping neighbors and friends find lost jewelry, lost pets, and lost loves.

But when she finds her best friend and business partner, Bill Arnold, dead in a dumpster behind her bar on a Saturday night, she needs all her wits and grit to find out who did it.

And she won't stop until she does.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2023

About the author

Currently in Austria, I'm an American abroad for years & years who has lived or worked in six countries on three continents, the longest in Germany.

I'm the author of the Sally Witherspoon murder mystery series Death in the Ozarks & Murder on the Mississippi, an award-winning, bestselling Jewish LGBTQ historic fiction novel Caged Time, a short story anthology Connections, and a business book The Accidental Change Agent.

Reading and writing are my passions, when I'm not hiking one of the amazing trails in Austria or elsewhere.

Reviews

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author as an ARC reader to give my feedback. I can't express enough how much i enjoyed this book, it is super well written with tons of suspense and plot twists. There were a few times when it was slightly predicable but not enough to make the book bad. I will 100% read more future books from the author! I would love to see this turn into a series with Sally Witherspoon!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasant and entertaining mystery featuring an interesting and likeable FMC. Well plotted, solid mystery
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Karen Siddall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at the biker bar!

Death in the Ozarks is the first novel in author Erik S. Meyers's entertaining Sally Witherspoon Mysteries and is a fine debut for the series. The author creates a great small hometown vibe and introduces readers to a direct and confident new amateur sleuth.

Sally Witherspoon, a transplant from Atlanta, Georgia, has been in Berry Springs, Arkansas, deep in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, for 15 years. In that time, she has built herself a successful second career as the owner of a biker bar with the help of her old college friend and business partner, Bill Arnold. When she discovers Bill's body behind the bar after closing one Saturday night, she is understandably invested in finding his killer. Still, I felt she was way too eager and convinced she was the only person who could solve the case.

The plot moves quickly, with Bill's murder occurring early in the story, and Sally wastes no time jumping into investigator mode. The author does a great job developing the town of Berry Springs, presenting the leading citizens and secondary characters through their appearance at Sally's Smashers biker bar during the opening chapter, and additional residents are introduced as they are encountered during her investigation. The author also does justice to the scenic Ozark setting, and the plethora of bikers typically found enjoying the forested mountain byways.

I recommend DEATH IN THE OZARKS to cozy mystery readers, especially those who like bikes, bikers, biker bars, and the beauty of the Ozark region.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable mystery featuring an engaging amateur sleuth. Sally is tenacious in finding out who killed her business partner. Her relationship with the police is interesting. Sometimes the detective is antagonistic yet at other times lets her go along on investigative activities. I wondered if there might be a potential romantic future between the detective and Sally, he was so concerned for her welfare. And she did get into trouble, investigating on her own.

The characters are well presented and the pace of the plot is good. Meyer's writing style is easy to follow. There are a number of surprising revelations along the way as well as times of suspense. This is a good mystery for readers who like one set in a small town and featuring a feisty older female amateur sleuth. I enjoyed it and am planning to read the next in the series.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partner in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Callan J Mulligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid mystery from a formidable writer. Erik Meyers deserves every bit of praise for his work!

[Sloane McClain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad to have discovered a new mystery series to follow. I hope there are more books in the works in the Sally Witherspoon series. Just when you think you have it figured out, you find out you don't. Sally is a fun amateur sleuth to follow and I look forward to learning more about her friends.

[Stanley McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.

Berry Springs is a small Ozark town and usually very peaceful. However, all that changes with a sudden spate of unexplained deaths. Sally Witherspoon owns a club called “Sally’s Smasher.” Sally envisions herself as a detective who can augment the local overworked police department.

When someone close to her and associated with Sally’s Smasher is suddenly and brutally killed, she feels that she is the one to assist the local law enforcement professionals.

The local police department considers Sally’s investigation of the crime meddling. The victims begin to mount up though and they are all people associated with her establishment.

Meddling in police work and crime investigation can be very dangerous as Sally soon finds out. Can she solve the mystery or will she become the next victim? Read and enjoy this thriller. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good mystery and it’s even more fun when there’s more than one. And more than one murder. I know, doesn’t sound so good. But, it’s fiction. This book has a pile. The small Ozarks town of Berry Springs has a pile of bodies and no suspect in sight. Or maybe too many to choose from. Enter Sally Witherspoon. She owns Sally’s Smasher, a local biker bar. When a connection between the victim’s and her club is discovered all eyes to turn to her and her clientele.

I really like Sally. It’s nice to have an amateur sleuth that’s a bit more mature. Doesn’t mean she’s that much wiser in figuring out the who, what and why. But she’s determined despite warning from the police to mind her own beeswax and maybe drawing attention from the killer or killers. Oh yes, who says there can’t be more than one.

When I reached the end I realized I’d read the book straight through. It was that fun. And if I’d had the next one, I’d have picked it up and continued reading.

I received A complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book number 1 in the Sally Witherspoon series. Sally Witherspoon is our FMC, who owns a biker bar in Berry Springs a very small town. I love small town mystery books! Sally stumbles upon the body of her closest friend and business partner Bill one late night and she is thrown off horribly as anyone would be. She has no reason why anyone would kill him, so as his friend she aims to find out!
The author wrote an excellent story about a mystery that happened in a small town with a female middle aged character like myself. I loved this book and Sally is a relateable character. All of the characters are well described by the author and you can defintely see them as you are reading the book and feel in the town of Berry Springs with everone;) Something doen't seem right about Bill's murder and people seem to know more than they seem. I can't wait to read more about Sally in the future and hope the author makes it into a series!

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure how anyone could turn back a book when the main character is a cross between Agatha Christie and a Cheers bartender! I know I couldn't. It's even better when Sally Witherspoon is exactly as described. Erik Meyers has given readers an absolutely wonderful character and set her in a town, in a bar, where she can see everything that goes on in town. Her determination to find out who killed her friend should have had the killer running for the hills....the Ozarks have many. The story line is as original as the characters. A great new to me author with a character that I'll be recommending to my reading circle.

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this Kindle edition as a Goodreads giveaway, so a big thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read.
This would have been on my "want to read" list regardless. Anything that has "accountant turned biker bar owner" is sure to be on my radar.
Sally Witherspoon is like all of us amateur super sleuths, she likes puzzle, finds lost items for friends and recently discovers her best friend murdered in the bar they co-own.
Now frustrated by the lack of help from local authorities, Sally decides to take the case herself- much to the chagrin of local law.
A quick read with many twists and a few red herrings, I recommend it!

[Stephen Meng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in a small town! When the co-owner of the local bar Bill is found dead it’s up to Sally friend and Co-owner of the other half of the bar to help solve this murder and bring the murderer to justice. The murderer is someone you would never expect and the murder was done for the reason you will never see coming. With twists and turns that will keep reading till the end. Murder in the Ozarks is a new kind of murder and thriller the next kind of Agatha Christie. If you want If you want small town, murder mystery with entry and murder in Ozark is the book for you.

[DeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Very good book lots of interesting turn of events didn't have the killer figured out until the end would read more of this person's books

[Paige Kateeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

‼️‼️‼️‼️ARC REVIEW‼️‼️‼️‼️

Thank you to the author the publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to review this advanced reader copy!

Death In The Ozarks by Erik S. Meyers
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️/5
Release Date: December 12, 2023

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! It’s filled with suspense and twists that had me not wanting to put it down.

I didn’t feel like it was dragging at any point. I was engaged with the characters and the plot so I am definitely interested in more Sally Witherspoon mysteries!

#mystery #deathintheozarksbook #eriksmeyers #murdermystery #sallywitherspoonmystery

[Saltygalreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death in the Ozarks is a murder mystery set in a small town in the Ozarks. The lead character is Sally Witherspoon, who co-owns and manages Sally's Smasher, a popular biker bar in the town. Sally considers herself an amateur sleuth, focusing on helping friends and townsfolk with minor domestic mysteries. However one night as she is closing up, Sally is shocked to find her business partner and good friend, Bill Arnold, dead behind Sally's Smasher. Determined to find her friend's killer, Sally inserts herself into the police investigation as the tension and the body count rises.

Death in the Ozarks contains colourful characters in a colourful small town. As a bar owner and manager, Sally occupies a unique position in the town, with the opportunity to observe the townspeople, sometimes becoming aware of their secrets. The author does a good job of setting the stage and introducing the cast of characters. There is plenty of action and a steady pace. However, it didn't feel believable that a civilian would have access to a police investigation and be immersed in it, as Sally was. I appreciate what the author was going for - an amateur detective helping the police, in the style of Agatha Christie - but that often is quite unrealistic even in Dame Agatha's novels. Things also begin to unravel a bit in the final chapters when we jump from quite an action-packed scene at the end of one chapter, to a gathering in the bar at the beginning of the next one, where all the events are basically explained to the reader in a denouement that feels rather flat.

Thanks to Level Best for the copy to read.

[Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of murders here in a book that has a fairly
predictable tactic- many murders in a. small town
with a small business owner playing sleuth. It is
entertaining In because the story are secrets kept
by a
generation about to come to life with unintended
consequences for many innocent townspeople.
I was held off figuring the end of the story, which
is a good thing-a successful story should be this way.
Overall, a pleasant cozy book.
My thanks to Level Best Books via NetGalley for the
download copy of this book for review purposes.

[Nicole Long · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won this kindle e-book in a Goodreads giveaway. I feel bad for giving any book a 1 star, but this book started off bad and just became worse. The last 50 pages I more or less scanned due to how cringey it all sounded. There appeared to be little thought given to the plot and no research into legal or police matters. The author would benefit from creative writing courses and support if they attempt another project.

[Avril Hemingway · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really struggled with this one there were a lot of murders for one small town which was a bit unbelievable and it just felt flat the character's didn't grab my interest and I just found it hard work to slog through it, This is a new author to me and I don't think I'll bother with any other books sorry. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death in the Ozarks by Erik S Meyers is a great start to a new series with an unexpected sleuth. Having worked in accountancy, it can be safely said that dynamic, interesting, vivacious sleuths are rare in the profession. However, when Sally escapes the drudgery of the vocation, hotfoots it to a different state and opens a Biker Bar with her best friend Bill Arnold, little did she suspect the challenges ahead and just how much of a career change she was making


Sally settles well into the little community of Barry Springs in the Ozark Mountains. Everybody is welcoming and it is a tight little community, vey much centred around the local bar. However, the town is thrown into turmoil when Sally finds Bil dead in the dumpster behind the bar. Sally is frustrated by the police investigation and chooses to dive in, very much resented by the police, who make it clear her input is most certainly not required. However, our tenacious FMC is not to be deterred. She WILL find out who did this to her friend and bring them to justice

Death in the Ozarks is a highly entertaining introduction to the writing of Erik S Meyers and it's definintely a series to get behind. The character profiles are detailed and relatable, the world building is on point and the reader i drawn in to and becomes a part of the small community of Berry Springs by the illustrative and engaging flow of the narative. Loved it!

Thank you to Partners in Crime VBT for this wonderful ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death in the Ozarks by Erik S. Meyers is set in the Ozarks of Arkansas. I too live in the region. This novel reminds me so much of Murder She Wrote and Anthony Horowitz's Magpie Murders. In all three of these amazing detective sleuthing crime fiction reads, is a lead female sleuth. An older woman making a life for herself until murder stumbles into life. Then, it sets her on a path of detective work along with the lead detective on the case. She wants to find her friends and help solve the murder. A murder case that gets more complex by the minute. There is so much to explore in this read that it keeps readers on edge with suspense while every now and then let of a clue slowly.

Dear readers pay attention and follow along this is a crime mystery you do not want to pass. Overall, I was thrilled from beginning to end. I did not have to wait long before the crime took place. I was not bored with a long introductions to the main character either. I was thoroughly entertained and cannot wait to see what the next case that sparks Sally's interest. For now, she will continue her bartending. As I read, I liked how she took to the lead male detective for headway in handling the case. I think she is an incredible character that can bounce back from anything the comes her way. Especially, kidnapping and murder. Erik S. Meyers brilliantly creates a masterpiece that needs to be featured on Masterpiece Mystery asap! I can just picture the characters on screen...

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Ivanka Fear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read, with a likeable main character who can’t keep her nose out of other people’s business. Very relatable. When Sally Witherspoon discovers her best friend and business partner’s body in the dumpster behind their bar, she makes it her mission to find out who killed him and why. A busybody who cares about the people in her small town, Sally has a lot of grit and doesn’t let anything stand in the way of getting to the truth, even if it puts her life in danger.

The atmosphere of a small community in the Ozarks, set against the mountains and wilderness, lends itself well to the tight-knit group of residents who frequent Sally’s Smasher, the bar that lives up to its name when drinks flow and fists fly on a Saturday night. A cross between a cozy and traditional mystery, Death in the Ozarks deviates from the quaint towns often featured in cozies, with its biker bar and rough clientele mixed amongst respected citizens.

Plenty of action keeps the plot moving as Sally, much to the disapproval of Detective Finnegan, insinuates herself into the investigation. Several unexpected revelations and turns of events lead to chapter cliffhangers. Readers will love piecing together the clues that lead to the murderer and their motive.

Author Erik Meyers has written a fast-paced story that will entertain mystery fans. With a satisfying conclusion, the book will leave you wondering what’s next for Berry Springs’ bar owner and amateur detective.

[Melissa Ammons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed ‘meeting’ Sally Witherspoon and being introduced to the many characters in this cozy mystery.
Sally is an amateur sleuth and the owner of Sally’s Smasher, who was co-owned by her friend Bill Arnold. There are a whole host of other characters you’ll get to meet – Jay and Magda, the mayor, Finnegan and Soder (the detectives), Margaret, Diane, the rest of the Arnold family, Zeke and Annette. All of these folks make for some pretty colorful characters that help bring this story to life. Some of the situations Sally finds herself in made me shake my head, and left Sally wondering how she got herself into the situation. The more questions she asked as an amateur sleuth, the more trouble she found herself creating.
There were a couple of folks in this tale that I suspected of being the whodunit. All of them viable for different reasons. I was wrong and the whodunit was totally unexpected, wasn’t even on my list of suspects. And the reasoning … that was even more unexpected.
On the whole, while I don’t usually read cozy mysteries, I did enjoy Sally’s tale and her sleuthing. I liked her persistence and her loyalty to her friends and wanting to see justice served. I liked the fact she was willing to take chances, even to her own detriment and much to Finnegan’s surprise sometimes. It will be interesting to read about her next adventure … see what small-town mysteries she unravels.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEATH IN THE OZARKS by Erik S. Meyers
The First Sally Witherspoon Mystery

Having left the big city finance world in Atlanta, Sally Witherspoon is happy running her bar in Berry Springs, Arkansas. Even for a biker bar the fights at Sally's Smasher seem to be getting more violent. Not even the presence of the mayor and Father O'Malley could quell a fight that resulted in one of her regulars being thrown out! Once the last customer had left and she sent her bartenders home, Sally could finally take a breath and enjoy the quiet routine of closing for the night. But everything changed when she took out the trash and found the body of her best friend and business partner in the dumpster. Who would want to kill the jovial teddy bear of a biker? Always curious and with the belief she could solve any mystery Sally sets out to discover who killed Bill. But her search for a killer leads her to more questions. Will she find the answers she needs or is she simply making herself a target?

Murky characters stand out against the beautiful landscape of the Ozarks darkening the small town. Most pf the people of Berry Springs are shifty, making me suspicious of just about everyone. Sally is a take charge protagonist who takes no nonsense, vital characteristics for someone who runs a biker bar! Doubting the abilities of the detective in charge, she wastes no time asking questions determined to find the killer and finding herself in trouble. Murders with no obvious connection and questionable motives made for a confounding mystery.

While I initially had difficulty getting into the story, I eventually found myself swept up in the action. I particularly enjoyed when Sally started working more with the police than parallel to them.

With a unique setting and an interesting sleuth/police dynamic DEATH IN THE OZARKS is a solid entry to a new mystery series.

[BookWormBecky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

*Thank you to Partners in Crime Tours for including me on this tour!

Detective brain, grit, nebby…

Sally, an ex-Atlanta accountant, currently owns a biker bar in Arkansas. She “likes to solve puzzles, likes to be in charge, and wants to be in the middle of things.” When her friend / business partner Bill is murdered, of course all correctly assume that she will want to solve THIS puzzle.

The excitement and concern will build when it turns into a double-murder investigation. (Or could it possibly be more?)

A tale of relationships, loyalty, betrayals, and long-held secrets. There is a small town vibe which includes a close-knit community who have found ways to connect to each other, as well as LOTS of secrets and gossip.

A wide variety of characters with different personality traits. Sally was annoying at times! She is tenacious and very competitive, especially with the detective and sgt. Together they will discover many suspects and motives.

This was a solid mystery that was entertaining. I partially solved the who but not the how or why of this whodunnit / whydunnit. The plot twists should keep you guessing until the big reveal!

[Nanasbookreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was kindly provided to me.

Death in the Ozarks by Erik S. Meyers is a captivating mystery and the first book in the "Sally Witherspoon Mystery" series.

The story follows Sally Witherspoon, the owner of Sally's Smasher, a bar in Berry Springs. Her world turns upside down when she discovers her best friend’s dead body in the dumpster one night. Shocked and heartbroken, Sally takes it upon herself to uncover the truth behind the murder. As she digs deeper, she finds herself entangled in a web of danger. With more deaths piling up and an increasing number of suspects, Sally must race against time to catch the killer—before she becomes the next victim.

This incredible small-town mystery is packed with danger and surprises. The plot is gripping from start to finish, easy to follow, and unfolds at a well-paced rhythm. Sally is a lovable character—sweet, brave, and clever, reminiscent of a modern-day Miss Marple. What I especially enjoyed was how the story kept me guessing until the very end.

If you're a fan of a good mystery, Death in the Ozarks is a must-read!

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good mystery, and the main character, Sally, the owner of a biker bar, is a gutsy and exciting sleuth. She needed to be strong and determined to find out who killed her business partner, Bill. Throughout the book, there were some twists and turns that kept me engaged. Sometimes, Sally was smarter than the detectives investigating the crime, and they thought she was interfering, but she added to the investigation. Throughout the book, numerous characters are killed, and I felt I knew who the killer was, but I was way off. The ending was exciting and unpredictable. The author did a great job developing the story, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series, "Murder on the Mississippi," coming soon.

[Harriet Helfand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Witherspoon's entry into the pantheon of amateur detectives brings a unique character to readers. Sally is a curious, sometimes incautious, middle-aged owner of a biker bar in Berry Springs, an outpost in the Ozarks. When Sally discovers the murder of her dear friend and co-0wner, she jumps into action, determined to solve it, along with several other related murders that follow.

Sometimes Sally's intuitive outreach frustrates professional law-enforcement, but ultimately, their respect for her grows. She is the veritable dog with a bone who will not give up, even when placing herself in danger.

In Death in the Ozarks, the first taste of Erik S. Meyers' new series, the author has created a charming small-town vibe, with engaging characters, and a story that will keep you guessing until the end. I look forward to further tales of Sally's Ozark adventures!

(I received this as an ARC and have written my true assessment of this book.)

[Wendy Bayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move over, Jessica Fletcher and Agatha Christie. Here comes Sally Witherspoon, a small-town bartender with mad skills as an amateur sleuth. Determined to discover who murdered her best friend and co-owner of Sally's Smasher. Experienced in solving minor mysteries, the community isn't surprised when Sally launches herself into the murder investigation, frustrating the local authorities, but they aren't the only ones. Some secrets should stay secret or should they? Follow Sally and find out.

[K.T. McGivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this mystery! Suspenseful and a real page turner. The main character Sally Witherspoon, the owner of a biker bar, is a gutsy, intelligent, likeable woman determined to find out who killed her business partner and this leads the reader on an exciting adventure. Thought I had it figured out but was surprised at the ending. Highly recommend!

[David Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death in the Ozarks proved to be a very entertaining read. Full of suspense, it contains numerous plot twists which keep the reader guessing until the very end. Sally Witherspoon is a very relatable character, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.