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Magnolia Manor #5
A Deadly Combination
Ah, the 70’s. Disco, Star Wars.
And a heist that baffled the police every decade since.
Lilly Livingston is celebrating her year mark as owner of Magnolia Manor—but things aren’t going exactly as expected.
As an FBI unit descends on Drifter's Cove to tackle cold cases from a bygone era, a local billionaire, the elderly Baron Carrington, nears the end with his estate and heirs in question.
Meanwhile, more tourists and riff-raff pour into once-sleepy Drifter’s Cove, frustrating Chief Crowder as she struggles to run a tight ship. As tempers flare, one probationer protests his sentence, sparking a deadly conflict.
When Lilly's friend becomes a prime suspect in the murder, she dives head-first into small-town scandals, encountering shadowy figures and risking her life in the process.
So, don your bellbottoms and join Lilly in a suspenseful ride where past and present collide.
May the force be with you.
And a heist that baffled the police every decade since.
Lilly Livingston is celebrating her year mark as owner of Magnolia Manor—but things aren’t going exactly as expected.
As an FBI unit descends on Drifter's Cove to tackle cold cases from a bygone era, a local billionaire, the elderly Baron Carrington, nears the end with his estate and heirs in question.
Meanwhile, more tourists and riff-raff pour into once-sleepy Drifter’s Cove, frustrating Chief Crowder as she struggles to run a tight ship. As tempers flare, one probationer protests his sentence, sparking a deadly conflict.
When Lilly's friend becomes a prime suspect in the murder, she dives head-first into small-town scandals, encountering shadowy figures and risking her life in the process.
So, don your bellbottoms and join Lilly in a suspenseful ride where past and present collide.
May the force be with you.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2024
20 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 1, 2024
What a great entry into the Magnolia Manor Mystery series this was. Another murder for Lilly et al (and it was a goooood one) to dig in to, but what I really enjoyed was the peek into Marissa's past and seeing another side to her. That was pretty entertaining with a superb surprise ending. Very enjoyable read.
I received a free reader's copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free reader's copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 22, 2024
Lilly solves a cold case and thinks about her future life. This is an enjoyable cozy mystery series.
July 7, 2024
Entertaining mystery listening
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 6 of 7
Lily is celebrating one year at the manor when everything goes side ways. The chief of police is arrested on murder charges. Lily keeps investigating that leads to the truth.
I would recommend this series and author to readers of family and friends relationships mystery novels. 2024
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 6 of 7
Lily is celebrating one year at the manor when everything goes side ways. The chief of police is arrested on murder charges. Lily keeps investigating that leads to the truth.
I would recommend this series and author to readers of family and friends relationships mystery novels. 2024
May 26, 2025
I just finished another fantastic Magnolia Manor adventure with Lilly and the gang, and it was a five-star experience! This series never disappoints and is consistently brilliant! Every read feels like catching up with old friends. Pure enjoyment!
March 3, 2024
Murder Mystery Gold
This really was unputdownable genius. I loved every page . So immersive is the writing , so memorable that I was soon donning the characters from previous books like a comfortable pair of slippers . Cosy and warm and full of charm. Lilly Livingston is celebrating the anniversary of her inheriting Magnolia Inn , she wants to honour Tom’s legacy with all the people involved in the inn’s success by having a party for past guests . She can see her good friend Chief Crowder is under stress as there’s not enough man hours in the police day as it is without the FBI Forensics Unit DC looming with a particularly big cold case from a bygone era… Anne , Lilly’s best friend has her own woes thanks to the uncertainty of the Ephron Hotel due to the slow demise of the Billionaire owner Baron Carrington. Lilly enlists Eric’s culinary skills to provide sustenance to offices housing the police department, tax office and more, delivered direct to the break room by Lilly courtesy of his catering business from his Fresh Experience Deli. Her friends list is numerable and Lilly will need her wits and them to help out a friend when they’re wrongfully ( she has a feeling ) arrested. Even putting herself in danger in the process!? A few surprises in store and secrets revealed. A jam packed treat of a mystery from the prolific pen of Joy Patrick. Sublime crafting , brilliant prose and on the nose descriptors make for a pleasant reading experience. Characters with depth and traits all their own. Marvellous!
This really was unputdownable genius. I loved every page . So immersive is the writing , so memorable that I was soon donning the characters from previous books like a comfortable pair of slippers . Cosy and warm and full of charm. Lilly Livingston is celebrating the anniversary of her inheriting Magnolia Inn , she wants to honour Tom’s legacy with all the people involved in the inn’s success by having a party for past guests . She can see her good friend Chief Crowder is under stress as there’s not enough man hours in the police day as it is without the FBI Forensics Unit DC looming with a particularly big cold case from a bygone era… Anne , Lilly’s best friend has her own woes thanks to the uncertainty of the Ephron Hotel due to the slow demise of the Billionaire owner Baron Carrington. Lilly enlists Eric’s culinary skills to provide sustenance to offices housing the police department, tax office and more, delivered direct to the break room by Lilly courtesy of his catering business from his Fresh Experience Deli. Her friends list is numerable and Lilly will need her wits and them to help out a friend when they’re wrongfully ( she has a feeling ) arrested. Even putting herself in danger in the process!? A few surprises in store and secrets revealed. A jam packed treat of a mystery from the prolific pen of Joy Patrick. Sublime crafting , brilliant prose and on the nose descriptors make for a pleasant reading experience. Characters with depth and traits all their own. Marvellous!
March 4, 2024
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It's the one-year anniversary since Lilly inherited the Magnolia Manor from her stepdad, Tom. To celebrate, she wants to invite all the past visitors--and their dogs to Magnolia Manor for a celebration.
Lilly also wants to ask her friend, Chief Crowder to the party; however, the timing couldn't be worse for the Chief as she is stressed to the max with personnel shortages, current personnel being irate because of the long hours and on top of that a D. C. forensics team along with the FBI are coming to town to work on a cold case.
When a murder is committed in the city government building house the police, things start to fall apart for the Chief. Lilly and her friends from Magnolia Manor are wanting to help the Chief, so they jump in to help the investigation.
I really enjoyed this story and the characters in this series and would recommend this to anyone who likes cozies.
Please note, I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and all opinions expressed are my own.
It's the one-year anniversary since Lilly inherited the Magnolia Manor from her stepdad, Tom. To celebrate, she wants to invite all the past visitors--and their dogs to Magnolia Manor for a celebration.
Lilly also wants to ask her friend, Chief Crowder to the party; however, the timing couldn't be worse for the Chief as she is stressed to the max with personnel shortages, current personnel being irate because of the long hours and on top of that a D. C. forensics team along with the FBI are coming to town to work on a cold case.
When a murder is committed in the city government building house the police, things start to fall apart for the Chief. Lilly and her friends from Magnolia Manor are wanting to help the Chief, so they jump in to help the investigation.
I really enjoyed this story and the characters in this series and would recommend this to anyone who likes cozies.
Please note, I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and all opinions expressed are my own.
March 1, 2024
Drifter’s Cove Chief of Police becomes the prime suspect when a probation officer is killed after the FBI re-opens linked closed cases of jewel theft. Lilly and the gang immediately jump in to help their friend, with the assistance of return hotel guests, some of whom were around when the jewel thefts were occurring. This is another intriguing and entertaining mystery with twists and turns that kept me guessing. I love the realistic characters, the hint of romance, and how everyone works together to solve the mystery.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
July 14, 2024
Say it isn’t so!
A well-liked probation officer is murdered and the evidence points to Chief Crowder. Lily does not believe the chief, who lives by the letter of the law, would ever commit a murder and she is going to prove it. Her plans for the Inn’s first-anniversary party, which would include friends and past hotel guests, just expanded to include a murder investigation.
This book is an enjoyable mix of humor and mystery. Marissa is stirring the pot as usual and the possible romance between Quigley and Lily is still simmering. I received an advance copy of the book but my review is honest and voluntary.
A well-liked probation officer is murdered and the evidence points to Chief Crowder. Lily does not believe the chief, who lives by the letter of the law, would ever commit a murder and she is going to prove it. Her plans for the Inn’s first-anniversary party, which would include friends and past hotel guests, just expanded to include a murder investigation.
This book is an enjoyable mix of humor and mystery. Marissa is stirring the pot as usual and the possible romance between Quigley and Lily is still simmering. I received an advance copy of the book but my review is honest and voluntary.
February 20, 2024
Lilly leading the way again!
This was another great story with Lilly working very hard to Sleuth her way to the Truth! After a person is shot... they follow the information on the bullet, which comes from a very unthought of person! I loved how this brings law and order to law and order, sort of.
This would be good as a stand alone story, but is so much better when read as a series.
Thank you, Joy Patrick for a great story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.
This was another great story with Lilly working very hard to Sleuth her way to the Truth! After a person is shot... they follow the information on the bullet, which comes from a very unthought of person! I loved how this brings law and order to law and order, sort of.
This would be good as a stand alone story, but is so much better when read as a series.
Thank you, Joy Patrick for a great story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.
March 1, 2024
Great cozy!
A fun and entertaining cozy that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love following Lily as she investigates a cold case that the FBI is in town to solve. After the investigation gets complicated with the arrest of whom Lily believes is innocent, Lily never gives up despite the odds being against her. I recommend this book and this author.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am providing my honest opinion.
A fun and entertaining cozy that I thoroughly enjoyed. I love following Lily as she investigates a cold case that the FBI is in town to solve. After the investigation gets complicated with the arrest of whom Lily believes is innocent, Lily never gives up despite the odds being against her. I recommend this book and this author.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am providing my honest opinion.
March 22, 2024
Cold Case Mystery
The FBI is in town re-opening a cold case but when Lilly's friend is suspected of murder, she and her friends decide to investigate the matter themselves. Danger, secrets and jewelry thefts keep this story interesting and full of action. This was a well weaved story that kept the pages turning and dying to find out what happened.
I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily leave this review.
The FBI is in town re-opening a cold case but when Lilly's friend is suspected of murder, she and her friends decide to investigate the matter themselves. Danger, secrets and jewelry thefts keep this story interesting and full of action. This was a well weaved story that kept the pages turning and dying to find out what happened.
I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily leave this review.
February 19, 2024
This was a tricky one to solve as most cold cases are. Lilly doesn't take no for an answer and continues to sleuth even when most hope looks dim and the top brass is looking questionable. That doesn't stop Lilly from seeking truth and justice, not for one minute! Many people can be thankful that Lilly is like a dog with a bone- tenacious! Some career moves are on the horizon. Check it out.
March 1, 2024
Lily decides that it is now the one year anniversary party at the manor and reaches out to their previous clients, but during all the planning the police chief is charged with murder of the probation officer. There is a lot of things going on it the background of this story but the party comes out without a hitch for the first time.
July 18, 2024
Lilly finds herself investigating a cold case to solve a hot one. Good thing she is tenacious because an innocent victim could end up being blamed for a murder she didn't commit. There was a satisfying showdown and conclusion to this book. It can be read as a standalone but I am really enjoying the heart of this series.
May 4, 2025
An F.B.I. unit is coming to town to look into a cold case from many years ago. Lily is dealing with her inn and guests, but she also wants to help out the F.B.I. in their investigation. Lily gets herself involved in trying to figure what is going on at the inn, and events going on with her friend Ann. Another amazing book in this series!
May 7, 2025
The good news is the murder did not occur at Magnolia Manor. The bad news is that Lilly was just getting to know him. She appreciated the changes he had made. So it became her job to solve it.
Didn’t hurt to throw a party for inspiration. But extremely unconventional techniques combined with her ability to see the links between facts is her modus operandi . Just having fun with friends!
Didn’t hurt to throw a party for inspiration. But extremely unconventional techniques combined with her ability to see the links between facts is her modus operandi . Just having fun with friends!
July 16, 2024
This is another episode in the Magnolia Manor Mysteries series. I am really enjoying the development of the characters and their relationships with each other. These are fun wholesome mysteries that are easy to read.
May 20, 2025
What a fun story. I have come to love these characters who are so quirky and endearing. This storyline kept me guessing which is always intriguing. Another great story Ma. Patrick, I can’t wait to start the next one!
March 15, 2024
The book keeps you guessing. The characters are fun and interesting. The book does not get to wordie. It describes just enough and goes on. The series is well thought out.
May 19, 2024
Who killed him and why??? crackerjack Jo is not male??? I enjoyed this story and recoommended the book.
June 17, 2024
Excellent book!
January 27, 2025
I loved this book. This series just keeps getting better. Only Lilly could put all those random pieces together.
January 28, 2025
A well-written story featuring Lilly and her inquisitive nature (nosiness!). Characters we are coming to be acquainted with. And another implausible solution to the crimes.
May 2, 2025
Enjoyable! Really well-done mystery; I liked how everything ended up coming together. I can honestly say that I suspected someone else!
(And Lilly’s mom will never stop being a riot… 😂)
(And Lilly’s mom will never stop being a riot… 😂)
May 2, 2025
This continuation of the series combines a cold case with a current murder and introduces Lilly to the FBI. This is important to future books in the series.
February 25, 2024
Good book. The characters were delightful and the book was pretty good. The plot was great. I really enjoyed how the writer can make you dislike someone just by the way the characters acted or how they were. I will be picking up the others in this series.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews