Death Through a Dark Green Glass

Writer's Apprentice Mystery #6

by Julia Buckley

Lena, Camilla, and their Blue Lake friends are back for a long-anticipated sixth mystery!

It's winter in Blue Lake, and Lena's wedding is only weeks away. Before she can focus on the final plans with her fiance, Sam, she must attend a much-publicized promotional a sleuthing competition between Camilla and three other bestselling mystery writers. The event will take place at Green Glass Manor, a mansion belonging to the wealthy Hardwick family, located just outside Blue Lake. The family estate happens to be the home of the publicist running the event, a long-time friend of Camilla's. Alexandra "Sasha" Hardwick, a publicity guru, has dreamed up the event as a way to garner new fans for her writer friends, but also as a way to make money.

Lena and Camilla brave a blizzard to take part in Sasha's mystery challenge. Camilla knows the other writers, and feels exuberant at the thought of a reunion. But when the four famous competitors come together in Green Glass Manor, they are soon snowed in, and a brutal crime has them longing to get out.

Lena and Camilla must forget their game of make-believe to sort through genuine clues and find a real killer, knowing that someone in the house with them has committed murder. As time ticks away, they feel the growing menace in the cavernous mansion, and their suspicion of former friends begins to grow . . . .

A new addition to the bestselling Writer's Apprentice Series!

"It's never a surprise that Julia Buckley writes a winner!"
--Suspense Magazine on DEATH WAITS IN THE DARK

"Unreservedly and emphatically recommended."
--Midwest Book Review

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Cozy

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 19, 2024

About the author

Julia Buckley is a Chicago-area writer. She has written three mystery series with Berkley Prime Crime, including the best-selling Writer's Apprentice Series, which Mystery Scene calls "engaging, enjoyable, and surprising," while Kirkus dubs it "pleasantly old-fashioned." The Library Journal called Buckley "a writer to watch."

Buckley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Chicago Writers Association. She blogs about writing and mysteries at Mysterious Musings, where she has interviewed almost 200 other mystery writers about their work.

She teaches high school English and enjoys reading, playing Words With Friends, and spending time with her husband and two sons, along with their menagerie of animals.

Reviews

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent cozy mystery! Great, likable characters! Great, suspenseful setting for a murder! Hard to figure out whodunnit. I highly recommend this story, plus the previous stories in the series. One of my favorite series!

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camilla Graham is one of 4 mystery novelists competing in "The Great American Mystery Challenge." A one-of-a-kind publicity extravaganza is created and hosted by renowned publicist Alexandra (Sasha) Hardwick at Green Glass Manor, the Hardwick family estate. Only one writer can win the event by solving a simulated crime. The buzz on social media has created high interest, and followers are looking forward to updates on the event website and blog. As Camilla's writing partner, Lena will accompany Camilla. Camilla and Lena are about to experience a weekend of unexpected events that no one could have anticipated.

What a delightful surprise to discover a beloved cozy mystery series, once abandoned by a publisher, finding a new lease of life with Julia Buckley's new release in 2024 as an indie author! The series' standout feature, the intriguing epigraphs gracing the start of each chapter, serves as a gateway to the captivating storyline. With elements like a locked room, a blizzard, and its aftermath, the investigation's intrigue is heightened. The unexpected twists and red herrings kept me pleasantly challenged, and I found myself unable to predict the outcome of the investigation.

While this new release can be enjoyed as a standalone, its true allure lies in the enchanting update in the personal lives of Lena and Sam. Their journey has captivated longtime readers of the series and adds depth and connection to the story. It's a testament to the author's ability to create characters that feel like old friends, drawing us further into the narrative.

Thank you, Julia Buckley! Thank you for welcoming us back to Blue Lake!

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/UcA9...

[Diana Goulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Buckley delivers again.

Julia is one of my favorite writers. She makes subtle changes within the mystery genre from book to book. She holds true to the framework of the genre yet she delivers different stories each time that do not read like cookie cutter novels. Yet she changes the framework of basic story structure so beautifully and daringly!

Finally, her mastery of sentence and paragraph structure is second to none. Her writing is pure prose.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one felt wild!!!! The mystery I didn’t see it coming at all but I am so glad this author wrote this book, I hope there are more to come.

[Suzzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder mystery weekend at the house

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected so much more from this author and I was disappointed. It was ok but not by much.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series since the first book and was excited to learn about this book after four-year wait since book #5. I like the primary characters, although some were missing from this story because of the setting. The guest characters were a mixed bag, and my opinions on most of them changed as the story continued. I got more than a little annoyed at how often Lena screamed in this book - at a loud noise, at someone walking around a corner, at too many other things to recall. If she did that is earlier books, I don't remember it.

The setting contributed to the mysterious goings-on in the book. A rambling almost-manor house with a blizzard raging outside (which of course cuts off communication with 'the outside world') all add up to what is essentially a locked-room mystery. While I enjoy reading them, I am rarely able to solve them, so I was surprised that I identified the killer well before it became obvious, although I couldn't figure out the motive.

In the pages after the story ends, there is a reference to book #7 in this series, and I'm hopeful that we won't have to wait another four years to read it.

[Shelley Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. It is so cleverly plotted, well-written, and the mysteries are always intriguing and varied. I also love characters and their relationships with one another. They are easy to connect with and they are the kind of people you would want to spend time with in real life.

I truly enjoyed this wintry, closed room mystery and the culmination of Sam and Lena’s wedding, though we got more details (and pages) about the wedding than I probably needed, but that’s just me. Nevertheless, Murder Though a Dark Green Glass was captivating, incredibly sweet, and a satisfying, feel-good conclusion to a wonderful series.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

During a February snowstorm, Lena accompanies Camilla to a nearby manor for the weekend. There Camilla and three other mystery writers are to compete in a Murder Mystery Weekend. But early the next morning Lena discovers their hostess and organizer, Sasha, murdered! She calls the police, but due to weather conditions, they don't arrive immediately, so in the meantime, the group gathers together to discuss possible motives. Very fast-paced and atmospheric, this book is hard to put down. Especially since it ends happily with Lena and Sam's wedding!

[Kelly Rosario · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been fond of this series and read the entries in order. However, this one was my least favorite. I am not a fan of locked room mysteries. Readers who like that setting will probably enjoy it much more than I did. Also, while I know it is a cozy mystery, there were too many instances that I thought stretched the boundaries of what would happen in reality. I will, however, read the next one, hoping it will be more like the first five books in the series.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camilla Graham is invited to a mystery weekend and brings along her writer apprentice Lena to Green Glass Manor during a raging snowstorm. Looking forward to meeting up with old friends, a murder takes place. Lena, Camilla, Lena's fiance Sam help the detectives discover who the culprit is.

I was happy to see this series continue, as I have enjoyed all these books.

[Sterre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Because of the snowy landscape, the depicted Green Glass Manor and the brutal murder, this story feels like it is set in a different time and it is very reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery novel. I love the Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series and I am glad that the series has not ended (yet). A #mustread

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Buckley has done it again with a wonderful return to this series. I love every book in the Writer's Apprentice Mysteries and Death Through a Dark Green Glass didn't disappoint. Setting, characters, plot, visuals, terrible weather and murder. I consumed it all eagerly. I look forward to more stories of Lena and Camilla and their friends and found family.

[Carla Eacret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply irresistible!!! So happy to have another book in this series after four years. Fell in love with these characters from the very first book and still amazing ❤ hoping that there are more yet to come!

[Patsy Hamm · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a wild ride through dark green glass

Love this series , the characters, the plot and the climax of the murder being caught .
I sure hope Julia will continue writing more books in this series … but faster as it seems so long in between

[Brenda Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve missed Lena and Camilla in Blue Lake, Indiana. Four famous mystery writers are invited to the publicist mansion for a murder puzzle game. Tension is in the air in the beginning and only gets worse as the game is suppose to start.

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun entry to this series. I've really enjoyed the characters, the setting and the mysteries. It appears this one was self-published -- it's a bummer when a publisher decides to drop a well-liked series.

[Elexndra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story from Julia Buckley!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Registered on Bookcrossing - https://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/...

[Melmo2610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great mystery. An interesting storyline, a perfect setting and a fun cast of characters.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

They keep getting better!

Love this entire series! This book with a wonderful mystery and a beautiful wedding was a joy to read. I can’t wait for the next one!!!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic "stuck in a house in the snow with a murderer" story, with a modern take.

[Julie Carithers Overstreet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 6 in "A Writer's Apprentice Mystery Series" is awesome!!! Keeps you wondering what will happen next. Loved it!!! I'm looking forward to book 7, hopefully coming soon!!!

[Annalee Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope this isnt the last one in the series. While it's not my favorite of the author's works i've become attached to the characters and the town so I want to visit them more.