A Very Tidy Death

Lily Rock Mysteries #6

by Bonnie Hardy

More than anything, Olivia Greer wants to celebrate moving into her newly built home with her boyfriend, Michael. Unfortunately, she's plagued with guilt about leaving her sister Sage. Convinced she would feel better about the whole situation if Sage had a boyfriend, Olivia cooks up a scheme to play match-maker between Sage and her old friend Jeff Grossman.

The pair seem to be on the right track toward a connection...when Jeff's sister, Roxanne, finds a dead body and is arrested for murder. Worse yet, Roxanne makes a misguided confession that gets in the way of the real killer being tracked down.

As Olivia wants to see Sage and Jeff together, she has to find a way to clear Roxanne's name. When every other suspect has an alibi, can Olivia follow the clues to the truth? Or will a wrongful conviction destroy all their happily-ever-afters?

Genres: Audiobook

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2024

About the author

Bonnie Hardy, a retired professional turned author, is celebrated for her two enthralling cozy mystery series. The first, set in the picturesque mountain town of Lily Rock, features amateur sleuth Olivia Greer, known for her uncanny ability to draw out confessions from the most unlikely people.
The second series, set in Palm Desert, features the mid-life duo mentalist Rex Redondo and his down to earth next door neighbor doula Vivienne Rose.
Inspired by Agatha Christie, Bonnie's captivating tales of mystery and community masterfully blend fast-paced whodunits with clever sleuthing.

Reviews

[JJ Bellfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You're going to take my perfectly simple arrest, with a confession, and turn it into something complex and ridiculous. I hate that!"

A perfect quote to sum up Olivia and Janis Jets relationship and the situation they find themselves as they seek to solve another murder in Lily Rock. With several people with motive and opportunity, the reader follows along on an investigation that has several surprising twists. Admittedly, I am left to ponder was it Janis Jets and Olivia that cracked the case or was it really Mayor Maguire?

A theme that is present through all of the Lily Rock mysteries, is Bonnie’s knack for character development that allows the reader to continue to create a personal connection with the beloved residents of Lily Rock. This talent also allows the reader to easily connect with the new characters that become central to the plot.

I should add that A Very Tidy Death isn’t all about murder, it is balanced with the the continued exploration of Olivia and Michael’s relationship, the progress of their new house, and their efforts at playing matchmakers for Olivia’s sister Sage.

As always, Bonnie has written a cozy mystery that is a captivating page-turner. This time she has managed to blend tidiness with intrigue for an enjoyable reading experience.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reader of this author and as the story unfolds with a calm yet intriguing rhythm, weaving a delightful cozy mystery around the entertaining premise of a cleaning competition. What sets this tale apart is the relatable nature of the characters—individuals I would genuinely want to be acquainted with. The inclusiveness, representing diverse groups, enriches the narrative, while the central character, Olivia, stands out as immensely likable. Her quirky, determined, and intuitive personality keeps the story dynamic, and the interactions between the characters add layers of charm. Each character brings a unique perspective, enhancing the overall depth of the narrative.

Once I immersed myself in the narrative, it became an irresistible journey that held my attention from start to finish. Despite thinking I had figured out the "who done it" puzzle, the plot took an unforeseen twist, keeping me hooked.

This thoroughly engaging book follows Olivia as she tackles yet another murder investigation, navigating the intricacies of moving in with her boyfriend, Michael. Multiple story-lines seamlessly converge, maintaining my interest throughout. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a well-crafted mystery, complete with a charming and relatable protagonist.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matchmaking and Murder . . .

Olivia Greer is elated to be able to move in a month into her new home along with Michael, her boyfriend. But she wants to make sure Sage, her sister, is happy. Olivia doesn’t like that her sister is currently dating Luis, so she sets a plan in motion to find Sage a wonderful boyfriend, and her old friend Jeff Grossman would be perfect in that role!

But even a perfect plan can sometimes go wrong. Jeff's sister Roxy Grossman finds a dead body in the bathroom where she is working, and she calls her brother in a panic. As Jeff moves toward the door to go help his sister, Michael assures him Olivia has a “gift” and can help find the killer. But Jeff doesn’t seem to even hear him as he hurries out to his vehicle. And unfortunately, Roxy didn’t wait for advice and confessed to the crime to Officer Janis Jets, which would stop or at least slow up the search for the REAL killer! If Officer Jets hadn’t forgotten to read her rights before she did so, it might have actually been admissible. Regardless, Olivia most definitely needs to begin her investigation to definitely clear Roxy from this case. Will her luck hold? Can she find the real killer and get back to her matchmaking plan?

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia has been trying to play matchmaker between her sister Sage and her neighbor Jeff, so that she doesn’t feel guilty about moving out. Jeff is smitten with Sage & baby Star, so inviting him over for coffee & breakfast sounds like a good plan. Unfortunately, one morning, Jeff gets a panicked call from his sister, Roxy, about a dead body at her new job. Arriving on scene, Roxy confesses to Olivia, causing Officer Jets to arrest her. With her guilt in question, Olivia and Janis do a deep dive into the world of cleaning influencers to find the real killer.

Another enjoyable visit to Lily Rock. The story is nicely balanced between the small town lives of the residents and the murder mystery. Although it’s book 6 in the series, new readers get enough background to not feel out of touch with the characters. Olivia is a relatable heroine and her struggles to come to terms with the impending changes in her life are very realistic. The mystery was well plotted and I was surprised both by the actual culprit and the secret another character was hiding.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
The best thing about this series is the great character development. Each book in the Lily Rock series gives one a little more insight into why the characters are the way they are. It's great to see how the relationship between Olivia and Michael has evolved, and how Olivia and her new-found sister Sage have grown closer. Olivia is trying to get Sage and her new neighbor, Jeff, together because she's feeling some guilt about leaving Sage and her baby, Star, to move with Michael into their new house. Meanwhile, Jeff's sister, Roxanne, stumbles over a dead body at her new job and becomes suspect #1 in a murder. Bring in the Constabulary, add a dash of tidying madness in the form of a cleaning contest between three Social Media Cleaning influencers, add some shenanigans by the sponsor of the contest, and you've got a great story for some cozy reading. You'll have to read it for yourself if you want to know what happens.
I was sent this book as part of Bonnie's ARC and this is my honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those Quirky Lily Rock Folks Strike Again!
Once again Lily Rock has drawn in some odd visitors, this time for a contest related to tidying up cabins. I enjoyed this story immensely and couldn't wait to solve the mystery. It is fun seeing Olivia and Michael's relationship progress, Sage being a mother, and catching up with the other residents of the town as well. There were plenty of suspects, red herrings, emotional moments, and well-placed clues to move the story along. I love how the author includes all types of people in her books and represents them all as real people who live, love, make mistakes, and find redemption. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia and Michael couldn't wait to move into their new home. I love Olivia huge heart and how she wants everyone to be happy and in love. Little did she know when she set her sister up with Jeff, that things would get screwed up, but if she can help fix the screw up they might have a chance of an awesome romances. Things took a turn when Jeff sister confess by accident she killed the dead body. Because of this slip, the police stopped looking for the real killer. Can Olivia help get them back on the right track, so Jeff and Sage can get back on the right track. Will she be able to keep Jeff sister out of jail.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynne Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the calm & interesting development of the story. The characters are not only relatable , but people I would like to know. It seems just about all groups of people are represented. Of course Olivia is very likable. she is quirky, interesting, determined,fun & intuitive. You never know what is coming up next with her. The interaction of the characters between each other enhanced the story.They are unique in their own way.
Once I started reading I could not stop. The book held my interest from beginning to end. I was sure I had figured out "who done it" & yet I was off.
Excellent read.
Highly recommend

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia is still working out what it means to have and be a sister, so her expected move to a dream home with her beau brings up anxiety of more than one kind

sister stuff is hard to negotiate when you start as a grown up, but have some kid baggage, in my experience

various siblings in this story have some tangled connections and issues, and someone has issues that turn lethal

can Olivia stay safe and help solves a murder and a few mysteries?

will Michael and Olivia survive?

What might happen next with Sage and her life as a single mom?

much ado with family and tangles in this batch of mysteries and whodunnit

[Big Fat Hairy Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia is adjusting to her new life with Michael but still feels guilty about leaving her sister, Sage, and her baby behind so she tries to match make her sister with her neighbor. Unfortunately, the neighbor's sister discovers a dead body and becomes the prime suspect. So, if Olivia wants to assuage her guilt by successfully match-making her sister with her neighbor then she's going to have to sleuth out the truth. This is an interesting cozy mystery with plenty of clues, characters and red herrings.

I'm a member of the ARC team and have left an honest review voluntarily.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder and romance!

A thoroughly enjoyable book with Olivia investigating yet another murder as she tries to come to grips with moving in with her boyfriend, Michael. At the same time, she hopes to set her newly found sister, Sage, up with the man she prefers, not the one Sage is dating. Lots of story lines came together in this book and held my interest from cover to cover. I recommend this book.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am providing my honest opinion.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun premise of a cleaning competition sets the scene for this delightful cozy mystery. Wacky competitors compete for prize money but one ends up death, not at all tidy. Olivia drags herself away from packing, match making and her new role as an aunt to help Janis Jets bring the culprit to justice. Feels like HGTV gone awry, but told with laughter and multiple storylines. Can’t wait for the next installment.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and I totally fell in love with this book. There were parts I'm not sure I understood correctly as this is book six and this is where I started. That being said, I am glad I didn't pass up the chance to read this book as I now have a new author to look forward to reading. Really, really clever!

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, cozy mystery with plenty of twists and turns to make this story interesting and entertaining. It's so well planned out and brings so many pieces together. Fantastic mystery and lots of laughs. Loved the cute characters. I’ve read other books in the series and enjoyed them all so much.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia, Michael, and Mayor Maguire make a wholesome team but there are many more delightful and surprising members. Janis Jets tops the list. She is hilarious even though she has no idea this is so. You're sure to be amused and surprised by this story. Recommended.

[aprilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would continue the series

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting cozy mystery. The heroine seemed a bit indecisive. I enjoyed it and have continued reading the series. I enjoyed the characters a lot. The plots were quite interesting and fun to solve.