Escrow and Arrows

A Holly Daye Mystery #6

by Rachel Lynne

Love is in the air, but murder comes in with the tide ...

Freezing temperatures in Sanctuary Bay set the stage for a steamy Valentine's Day ball at the yacht club. Event decorator Holly Daye works her magic to create a romantic evening for guests but when Cupid’s arrow misses its mark and leaves a notorious playboy developer dead in the water, a chilling wave of suspicion washes over the town.

An altercation with the deceased lands the boyfriend of Holly’s Mama in the hot seat, but despite him being the number one suspect, Holly is determined to keep her nose out of the case; until her mama decides to investigate and ends up in the slammer!

Dragged into a complicated mystery the mother- daughter sleuthing duo wade through clues and fish for suspects, but when the net they’ve cast drags a decades old secret to the surface Holly’s own romantic relationship is left hanging by a thread.

In too deep, Holly and her Mama continue trolling for a killer but with each new piece of the puzzle, the stakes rise and Holly fears the solution to the case might leave her with a broken heart.

Fans of small town cozy mysteries will be captivated by the icy atmosphere, twisty secrets, and the enchanting spirit of Valentine's Day that mingles with danger in the Lowcountry.

189 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2024

About the author

*Sweet Tea & Live Oaks heavy with Spanish Moss.
*A warm breeze rustling the Spartina.
Now, add a cozy little murder & a dash of mayhem!
I live in the hauntingly beautiful Savannah, Georgia/South Carolina Low Country area. My Cozy Mysteries feature strong Southern female sleuths, a motley crew of locals, plot twists and a splash of romance all set amidst the splendor of the coastal South.

Reviews

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Killed Ed Whitten ? . . .

A developer of the Gray’s Island Yacht Club, Ed Whitten, solicited money from many of the townspeople, yet no work has been started. Dr. Dean Sawyer, the man Holly’s mom has been dating, got into a highly visible argument with the developer and punched him in the face. He had put a two-hundred-thousand-dollar down-payment on a waterfront condo, yet 7 months later, all he has is a concrete pad with nothing on it.

So when Holly is out walking her dog Colonel in the early morning hours and he runs toward a large yacht, she finds Ed Whitten’s dead body, his hand clutched around a diving gun spear protruding from his chest at heart level. Suspicion immediately falls on Dean Sawyer as the two were last seen arguing. Holly’s mother insists that Holly jump in and identify the real murderer. But when her impatient mother gets into it as well, she gets herself arrested and complicates things! What will the investigation uncover? Can Holly track down the murderer? And at what cost?

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Daye mystery book six already. A great series with familiar cosy quirky characters to keep going back for more, such is the immersive writing style of this fine author. Event decorator Holly is taking up the challenge of a Valentine’s Day Ball at the yacht club but when the Dr , Tate’s father and her mother’s beau , who is accused of murder of a notorious developer it’s not so much Cupid’s arrow that hits its mark…It was Colonel , Holly’s English Bulldog who found Ed dead, but it’s herself and Tate who must investigate the case before things get really out of hand . Great writing, good plot and perfect dialogue.

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

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Daye and Colonel English bulldog and
Boyfriend Tate must investigate murder to keep Tate’s father Dr Dean Sawyer out of jail. Dr Sawyer got into fight with Ed Whitten, a man who took $200,000 for down payment and seven months later has not started on the waterfront condo Next morning Colonel found Ed Whitten dead and Dr Sawyer is arrested. Many people disliked the crooked contractor who took a lot of peoples money and gave them
Nothing in return
This was a very suspenseful book. Very good book. Enjoyed it

I received an advance review copy, ARC, for free, and I am leaving an honest opinion and voluntary review

[Beth Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Daye can not catch a break. Just as she and Tate are getting really serious, his father, retired town doctor, is accused of murder. Holly, retired from the Sheriff's Department on disability is reluctantly dragged in to investigating. Her Mama decides to help and some hilarity and shenanigans ensue.
I really enjoyed this book. Rachel Lynne has the voice of the Low Country captured beautifully. I must admit that it tends to trigger my Grammar Nazi tendencies but most people would not be bothered
The endings were a bit of a surprise. Read this book. Enjoy it. And then dip into more Holly Daye mysteries.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cupid’s arrow misses its mark and leaves a notorious playboy developer dead in the water, a chilling wave of suspicion washes over the town. An altercation with the deceased lands the boyfriend of Holly’s Mama in the hot seat, but despite him being the number one suspect, Holly is determined to keep her nose out of the case; until her mama decides to investigate and ends up in the slammer! This is a confusing example of a mystery but it is good.

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

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was self-delusion, and then there were the rose-colored glasses Mama wore

Not only has a cold snap and an ice storm derailed the Valentine’s Day Ball but a nasty confrontation between her boyfriend’s father and a shady developer that leads to murder. Throw in a recurrence of nightmares from her shooting and PTSD and Holly would like nothing more than to bury her head in the sand and let someone else deal with everything but she can’t. What follows is a roller coaster ride of a story that’s completely enjoyable. This is a must read series for any cozy fan for sure.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lethal end to a Valentine's Ball leaves someone close to Holly in dire straits- and might leave Holly at odds with others close to her as she investigates at their request

might there be guilt close to heart and home?

an intriguing mix of low country history, multiple whodunnit puzzles and family and small town drama, debts and cross pollination is a drama and puzzle packed mystery fan read.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The people of Sanctuary Bay are celebrating Valentine’s Day with a ball. The next morning the body of a developer is found dead at the marina. Holly is determined to stay out of the investigation until her mothers boyfriend is arrested for the murder. To keep her mother from investigating on her own, Holly joins forces with her. So many people in town have motives but who really killed him? Join Holly and her ever-present dog, The Colonel, as they search for the real killer!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this book is part of a series, the story stands on its own. You know there is a back story to the main characters, but that doesn't keep you from fully enjoying this 'episode'. Dead bodies, embezzeled funds, crooked contractors, a mom with no filter, an ex-cop with PTSD, and of course her ever-present dog, The Colonel, make this a real page turner.
I highly recommend if you enjoy a good mystery.

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

[Rachel Binnington · Rating 4 out of 5]

_Escrow and Arrows_ is a delightfully engaging continuance of the Holly Faye series. They mystery is nuanced without being gruesome, the characters just eccentric enough to feel like know them.

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

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Event Decorator Holly is busy getting ready for the Valentine’s Ball. What she doesn’t expect is a visit from Cupid. Will this even work out for two totally different people. Absolutely heartwarming and delightful story.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy the well-developed characters in this Holly Daye cozy mystery series. Ed Whitten is a man unliked by a lot of people, from ex-wives and lovers to people upset at the delay in the Gray’s Island Yacht Club and the environmental protestors! So when he is found murdered in the marina, propped up against his storage locker, no one is really surprised. When Holly’s mom is arrested for trespassing on Whitten’s yacht, trying to prove her boyfriend is innocent, Holly is forced into helping her. What a hoot Mom is, with all her southern sayings and bossing Holly around! I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.

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