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A Tourist Trap Mystery #17
Vows of Murder
Fans of female sleuth cozies will delight in New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon’s latest installment in her long-running Tourist Trap Mystery series.
Jill’s wedding to police chief Greg King is just days away, at a historic Spanish mission with a courtyard full of olive trees. But the folks in South Cove are more intrigued by what kind of ceremonies might be going on behind the walls of New Hope, the walled property where charismatic Kane Matthews and his followers reside. Jill isn’t fond of the man, but his followers seem nice, and they buy a lot of books.
After a distraught woman stops by at Coffee, Books, and More with a picture of her daughter, who she believes needs rescuing from the suspected cult—and then Matthews’s body is found, at Jill’s wedding venue of all places—Jill makes a commitment to solve the case. With Greg’s mother as a houseguest, she must play hostess to her future in-law while pursuing a murderous outlaw . . .
Praise for Lynn Cahoon and the Tourist Trap Mysteries
“I love the author’s style, which was warm and friendly . . . [A] wonderfully appealing series.” —Dru’s Book Musings
“Lynn Cahoon’s popular Tourist Trap series is . . . one of my go-to cozy mystery series!” —Hope By the Book
Jill’s wedding to police chief Greg King is just days away, at a historic Spanish mission with a courtyard full of olive trees. But the folks in South Cove are more intrigued by what kind of ceremonies might be going on behind the walls of New Hope, the walled property where charismatic Kane Matthews and his followers reside. Jill isn’t fond of the man, but his followers seem nice, and they buy a lot of books.
After a distraught woman stops by at Coffee, Books, and More with a picture of her daughter, who she believes needs rescuing from the suspected cult—and then Matthews’s body is found, at Jill’s wedding venue of all places—Jill makes a commitment to solve the case. With Greg’s mother as a houseguest, she must play hostess to her future in-law while pursuing a murderous outlaw . . .
Praise for Lynn Cahoon and the Tourist Trap Mysteries
“I love the author’s style, which was warm and friendly . . . [A] wonderfully appealing series.” —Dru’s Book Musings
“Lynn Cahoon’s popular Tourist Trap series is . . . one of my go-to cozy mystery series!” —Hope By the Book
208 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2025
370 people are currently reading
3967 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Cahoon
103 books2,373 followersNYT and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, writes the Tourist Trap, Cat Latimer, Farm-to-Fork, Kitchen Witch, Survivors' Book Club, the Haunted Life, and the Bainbridge Island cozy mystery series. No matter where the mystery is set, readers can expect a fun ride Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
May 31, 2025
Vows of Murder is definitely one of my favorite books in the series. Finally, it is time for Jill and Greg's wedding. Greg's mom is in town wanting to see all the sights so Jill is off work. And the two get to know each other better. But, of course, it would not be a Tourist Trap book without a murder. This time a local cult leader is found dead at the mission, site of the wedding, just days before the wedding. There are lots of suspects, surprises, and layers to unravel in this mystery. I always enjoy reading adventures of Jill, Greg, and all the usual players in this paradise setting. And pup Emma. As in all of Lynn's books, you might have a craving for something sweet with coffee. Great addition to the series.
February 10, 2025
A fantastic book.
February 22, 2025
These are books that I can read in a day. Cozy mystery with a amateur sleuth. This is book 17 and I am still not bored with the storyline or the characters.
I am still annoyed that the narrator has been changed and it’s not my favorite.
I am still annoyed that the narrator has been changed and it’s not my favorite.
February 17, 2025
This book gave me a weird vibe, and not just the cult storyline. It felt sloppy and rushed as well as disjointed and filler-heavy.
Greg's behavior towards Jill is gross. He invalidates her opinions, acts patronizingly towards her, and is terrible at expressing his feelings in a healthy way. Honestly, I really hope they don't get married. At one point, Jill decides to put off an important discussion until after their wedding. HELLO?! I really dislike Greg. So much. Typically, there is always a little friction between the main character and the cop love interest, but this is too much, and no amount of Greg saying "That's my girl" (ugh) makes up for it. Seriously, at one point he calls her a brat and says that he's cursed to love strong women. It was definitely not just Sherrie's (his ex-wife) fault that they divorced, despite the characters constantly bringing up how awful she is. Every time she's mentioned, they have to reiterate how terrible she was. I hate the misogyny of pitting his "perfect ex-wife who was actually superficial and evil and only concerned with her image" against "down-home girl-next-door Jill." With the bonus of "mother-in-law prefers the ex-wife."
The writing is not good. It's stilted and unnatural and makes Jill seem almost childlike at certain points. Here's a partial quote: "My tummy was full of yummy food." She used to be a lawyer!! Why does she talk like this?! At one point she refers to herself as an "alumnus." Because Jill is a woman, the correct term is "alumna." I could be wrong, but I don't think that a lawyer, who has experience with Latin terminology, would have gotten that wrong. She also uses "inferred" instead of "implied."
Here's a sentence that I thought was absolutely off-the-wall:
"I guess he thought [being a] bookstore owner meant I would be a pushover. A Mary Milquetoast."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?! WHO TALKS LIKE THAT?! HOW DOES THAT EVEN CORRELATE?!
Here's another bizarre sentence from Jill, this one about a counselor's credentials:
"Was it someone in the brain business, like a medical counselor? Or someone in the heart business, like a minister?"
Why do you talk like this, Jill?
I can't stand the misogyny of this book. Multiple references to "ball and chain" and also "buying the cow." Please stop.
The clue to the mystery is way too obvious. The pacing of the book is also really bad. It takes almost 20% of the book to get to the murder, and the subplot of Jill's wedding planning really gets in the way throughout the book. It is SO slow. The missing woman subplot is too much and is just shoehorned in to give Jill a reason to investigate. It's not like that's really needed; we all know that she's going to investigate anyway. Also, didn't the last installment feature a missing woman? Is every installment from now on going to have an extraneous "missing woman" subplot?
Continuity of the book is off. Greg and Jill refer to Pastor Bill as Sadie's boyfriend, but they've been engaged for a couple of books now. Like, it literally was a minor plot point.
And we still have the "I can't eat baked treats or 'unhealthy food' or else I'll gain weight and I won't be able to fit into my dress!" One, the wedding is less than two weeks away. If you gain enough weight to not fit in your clothes in two weeks, postpone the wedding because you have an emergent medical issue. Two, this constant food policing and fatphobia that's rampant in cozies is completely intolerable. It's okay to have baked treats. It's okay to have weight fluctuations. Being fat doesn't make you ugly. Having these attitudes about food and weight does.
I wish authors would do more research. One of the characters complains about her treatment at a teaching hospital, how she always had students observing her medical procedures. You can ask them to leave, you know.
The cult leader is saying the most mild, reasonable opinions. "It's important to keep your word." "The children didn't choose this life like us adults, so we keep them out of the limelight as much as possible." "My favorite Bible version is the one comparing the original Greek to the KJV because it is important to know the original context." The bit about knowing the Bible's original context is probably the least controversial thing about religion that anyone's said in this series. (Side note, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in koine Greek.) WHAT is happening?! I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. They made the cult seem more like Dharma, the commune from Kate Carlisle's Bookbinder Mystery series, at first. The author should have led with the more sinister aspects of the cult first.
Another nitpicky point, it's very odd that Jill would have never heard of the NIV version of the Bible. That's probably one of the most common translations of the Bible. And you own a bookstore, and you've never seen a kid's Bible?! You can walk into a Barnes and Noble and find many of the Bibles that were in the cult bookstore. It is totally bizarre that Jill is acting like she's never seen such a wide array of Bibles.
Content warning: mention of physical and sexual abuse
The cult storyline is VERY odd. New Hope is a church in real life, and it would have been better to make up an outlandish name. It's just weird overall that the book is focusing so heavily on a Christian extremist cult. It's not very cozy, for one, and it's a very odd creative decision. Extremist Christian cults are often known for physical abuse (To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debbie Pearl has resulted in the death of children due to corporal punishment), sexual abuse (rape and incest are common in Amish communities, and marital rape and coercion are common in the fundamentalist Baptist and evangelic communities), and many survivors experience severe trauma. The author would have been much better served making this any garden-variety "weird cult with strange rules." I wonder if the author was trying to get in on the success of ex-Christian-cult memoirs and documentaries, particularly the Shiny Happy People documentary featuring Bill Gothard and the Institute of Basic Life Principles, The Way Down documentary featuring Gwen Shamblin Lara, as well as Counting the Cost, a memoir by Jill Duggar Dillard, former IBLP member.
Greg's behavior towards Jill is gross. He invalidates her opinions, acts patronizingly towards her, and is terrible at expressing his feelings in a healthy way. Honestly, I really hope they don't get married. At one point, Jill decides to put off an important discussion until after their wedding. HELLO?! I really dislike Greg. So much. Typically, there is always a little friction between the main character and the cop love interest, but this is too much, and no amount of Greg saying "That's my girl" (ugh) makes up for it. Seriously, at one point he calls her a brat and says that he's cursed to love strong women. It was definitely not just Sherrie's (his ex-wife) fault that they divorced, despite the characters constantly bringing up how awful she is. Every time she's mentioned, they have to reiterate how terrible she was. I hate the misogyny of pitting his "perfect ex-wife who was actually superficial and evil and only concerned with her image" against "down-home girl-next-door Jill." With the bonus of "mother-in-law prefers the ex-wife."
The writing is not good. It's stilted and unnatural and makes Jill seem almost childlike at certain points. Here's a partial quote: "My tummy was full of yummy food." She used to be a lawyer!! Why does she talk like this?! At one point she refers to herself as an "alumnus." Because Jill is a woman, the correct term is "alumna." I could be wrong, but I don't think that a lawyer, who has experience with Latin terminology, would have gotten that wrong. She also uses "inferred" instead of "implied."
Here's a sentence that I thought was absolutely off-the-wall:
"I guess he thought [being a] bookstore owner meant I would be a pushover. A Mary Milquetoast."
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?! WHO TALKS LIKE THAT?! HOW DOES THAT EVEN CORRELATE?!
Here's another bizarre sentence from Jill, this one about a counselor's credentials:
"Was it someone in the brain business, like a medical counselor? Or someone in the heart business, like a minister?"
Why do you talk like this, Jill?
I can't stand the misogyny of this book. Multiple references to "ball and chain" and also "buying the cow." Please stop.
The clue to the mystery is way too obvious. The pacing of the book is also really bad. It takes almost 20% of the book to get to the murder, and the subplot of Jill's wedding planning really gets in the way throughout the book. It is SO slow. The missing woman subplot is too much and is just shoehorned in to give Jill a reason to investigate. It's not like that's really needed; we all know that she's going to investigate anyway. Also, didn't the last installment feature a missing woman? Is every installment from now on going to have an extraneous "missing woman" subplot?
Continuity of the book is off. Greg and Jill refer to Pastor Bill as Sadie's boyfriend, but they've been engaged for a couple of books now. Like, it literally was a minor plot point.
And we still have the "I can't eat baked treats or 'unhealthy food' or else I'll gain weight and I won't be able to fit into my dress!" One, the wedding is less than two weeks away. If you gain enough weight to not fit in your clothes in two weeks, postpone the wedding because you have an emergent medical issue. Two, this constant food policing and fatphobia that's rampant in cozies is completely intolerable. It's okay to have baked treats. It's okay to have weight fluctuations. Being fat doesn't make you ugly. Having these attitudes about food and weight does.
I wish authors would do more research. One of the characters complains about her treatment at a teaching hospital, how she always had students observing her medical procedures. You can ask them to leave, you know.
The cult leader is saying the most mild, reasonable opinions. "It's important to keep your word." "The children didn't choose this life like us adults, so we keep them out of the limelight as much as possible." "My favorite Bible version is the one comparing the original Greek to the KJV because it is important to know the original context." The bit about knowing the Bible's original context is probably the least controversial thing about religion that anyone's said in this series. (Side note, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in koine Greek.) WHAT is happening?! I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. They made the cult seem more like Dharma, the commune from Kate Carlisle's Bookbinder Mystery series, at first. The author should have led with the more sinister aspects of the cult first.
Another nitpicky point, it's very odd that Jill would have never heard of the NIV version of the Bible. That's probably one of the most common translations of the Bible. And you own a bookstore, and you've never seen a kid's Bible?! You can walk into a Barnes and Noble and find many of the Bibles that were in the cult bookstore. It is totally bizarre that Jill is acting like she's never seen such a wide array of Bibles.
Content warning: mention of physical and sexual abuse
The cult storyline is VERY odd. New Hope is a church in real life, and it would have been better to make up an outlandish name. It's just weird overall that the book is focusing so heavily on a Christian extremist cult. It's not very cozy, for one, and it's a very odd creative decision. Extremist Christian cults are often known for physical abuse (To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debbie Pearl has resulted in the death of children due to corporal punishment), sexual abuse (rape and incest are common in Amish communities, and marital rape and coercion are common in the fundamentalist Baptist and evangelic communities), and many survivors experience severe trauma. The author would have been much better served making this any garden-variety "weird cult with strange rules." I wonder if the author was trying to get in on the success of ex-Christian-cult memoirs and documentaries, particularly the Shiny Happy People documentary featuring Bill Gothard and the Institute of Basic Life Principles, The Way Down documentary featuring Gwen Shamblin Lara, as well as Counting the Cost, a memoir by Jill Duggar Dillard, former IBLP member.
February 10, 2025
This was a book I had looked forward to for a while. Jill and Greg finally get to tie the knot, not a spoiler with that title, and this is the 17th book in the series. We do get quite a bit of action and mystery with our wedding cake. Greg's family is in town for the wedding, and Jill is basically in entertainment mode hosting her mother-in-law when they visit an open house at a nearby church community called New Hope. They both felt an odd vibe that was only magnified when Jill found the body of the groups charismatic leader on the grounds of her and Greg's wedding venue. What follows is an interesting tale of wedding plans, relative visits and connections, and Jill trying to stay uninvolved. While we do get a lovely wedding, time with all our favorite people and a great positive community event, we also get a mystery that takes information from various folks to get to our solution. This will be a serious winner for everyone who loves this great series!
February 14, 2025
This book is so good! We finally get Jill and Greg/s wedding , (this is not a spoiler, as you can tell from the title) and the mystery is good enough to keep you guessing almost to the end!!
August 30, 2025
This was a really good entry in the series, and in the end, we finally get an actual wedding for Jill and Greg, although their honeymoon is delayed, because of course there's been a murder. The mystery was interesting involving the death of the leader of a religious cult that has recently relocated outside of town.
So much has happened to all of the characters in this series over the years, and many new characters have been added. At this point I really like the entire community and hope there will be more in the series.
So much has happened to all of the characters in this series over the years, and many new characters have been added. At this point I really like the entire community and hope there will be more in the series.
February 9, 2025
Time to give up on this series since the author seems to have. The mystery is the last thing on the author's mind, and the plot seems haphazardly thrown together.
June 25, 2025
I wish our Libby had the whole series in audio! It was a fun, cozy mystery that I enjoyed from the first few sentences It was hard to put down, too.
November 30, 2025
With every new book in this series, I hope it's one where Greg and Jill develop a healthy relationship. I'm disappointed every time to see them, 17 books in, still keeping things from each other, shutting each other down when a discussion of feelings begins, and making snarky comments at each other. I love the stories and the cast of characters in this series very much which is why I pick up each new title, but I also now find myself completely indifferent to the relationship between Greg and Jill. They've become the least enjoyable part of the series for me which lessens my overall enjoyment of the whodunnit mystery.
February 22, 2025
Love ‘Vows of Murder’
Unputdownable. I wholeheartedly recommend the Tourist Trap Mystery series. I’ve read them all. The characters are so well fleshed out it feels like an expanded family of friends. Evolutions of the stories from one book to another adds layers to the characters. It’s so easy to become invested in the characters lives, that sometimes you have to remind yourself that they’re fictional characters you really don’t need to worry about when they find themselves in dicey situations.
Unputdownable. I wholeheartedly recommend the Tourist Trap Mystery series. I’ve read them all. The characters are so well fleshed out it feels like an expanded family of friends. Evolutions of the stories from one book to another adds layers to the characters. It’s so easy to become invested in the characters lives, that sometimes you have to remind yourself that they’re fictional characters you really don’t need to worry about when they find themselves in dicey situations.
August 28, 2025
Seventeen books in, and South Cove still reminds me of Cambria, with its breezy beach-town vibe and charming streets lined with shops, and if I didn’t love Cambria as much as I do, I might’ve stepped off this ride a few books ago. The subtle nods to Hearst Castle and the wildlife that once roamed its grounds aren’t just clever Easter eggs as to where Cahoon gets her inspiration; they anchor the story in a place that feels familiar and comforting. It is that sense of place which keeps me coming back, even when the series starts to drift.
Jill and Greg are finally getting married. The ceremony has been postponed so many times that readers might be forgiven for wondering if it’ll ever happen. Greg’s sudden moodiness and flashbacks to his previous marriage cast a shadow over what should be a celebratory lead-up.
Meanwhile, a new cult has settled into town, and with it comes a desperate mother searching for her missing daughter, presumed to be under the cult’s control. Jill’s instincts start to tingle, but she’s determined to stay focused on her wedding. Of course, longtime readers know that Jill doesn’t exactly do “stay focused.” Her sleuthing side inevitably takes over, even with vows looming and danger in the shadows.
The mystery setup has potential, but the execution feels scattered. The identity of the eventual murder victim is telegraphed early, and while the journey to the reveal offers a few twists, it’s more of a meander than a sprint. There’s even a ghost haunting the wedding venue which adds a quirky distraction, though it never quite lands.
Unfortunately, continuity issues abound. This wasn’t an ARC, so I was surprised by the number of inconsistencies that slipped through. The book leans heavily into food and wedding chatter, sidelining the bookshop and, oddly enough, the murder itself. Jill “blacks out” during the ceremony, so readers don’t even get the payoff of the wedding they’ve been waiting for. And as the story progresses, it feels like Cahoon loses grip on both the mystery and the emotional arc. The pacing stumbles, the tone shifts, and the narrative starts to feel like a rather than a cohesive whole.
The ending rushes through the resolution, with more attention paid to restaurant menus than motive. If this is meant to be a cozy mystery, the balance is off; readers need more sleuthing and less small talk about French fries.
That said, Cahoon still delivers a few genuinely funny lines, and the book is an easy, breezy read. But it’s time to ask whether this series still has fresh ground to cover. Either tighten the focus or consider giving Jill and Greg a well-earned retirement. Because while Cambria might be timeless, even the most charming coastal town can’t carry a story that’s lost its spark.
Jill and Greg are finally getting married. The ceremony has been postponed so many times that readers might be forgiven for wondering if it’ll ever happen. Greg’s sudden moodiness and flashbacks to his previous marriage cast a shadow over what should be a celebratory lead-up.
Meanwhile, a new cult has settled into town, and with it comes a desperate mother searching for her missing daughter, presumed to be under the cult’s control. Jill’s instincts start to tingle, but she’s determined to stay focused on her wedding. Of course, longtime readers know that Jill doesn’t exactly do “stay focused.” Her sleuthing side inevitably takes over, even with vows looming and danger in the shadows.
The mystery setup has potential, but the execution feels scattered. The identity of the eventual murder victim is telegraphed early, and while the journey to the reveal offers a few twists, it’s more of a meander than a sprint. There’s even a ghost haunting the wedding venue which adds a quirky distraction, though it never quite lands.
Unfortunately, continuity issues abound. This wasn’t an ARC, so I was surprised by the number of inconsistencies that slipped through. The book leans heavily into food and wedding chatter, sidelining the bookshop and, oddly enough, the murder itself. Jill “blacks out” during the ceremony, so readers don’t even get the payoff of the wedding they’ve been waiting for. And as the story progresses, it feels like Cahoon loses grip on both the mystery and the emotional arc. The pacing stumbles, the tone shifts, and the narrative starts to feel like a rather than a cohesive whole.
The ending rushes through the resolution, with more attention paid to restaurant menus than motive. If this is meant to be a cozy mystery, the balance is off; readers need more sleuthing and less small talk about French fries.
That said, Cahoon still delivers a few genuinely funny lines, and the book is an easy, breezy read. But it’s time to ask whether this series still has fresh ground to cover. Either tighten the focus or consider giving Jill and Greg a well-earned retirement. Because while Cambria might be timeless, even the most charming coastal town can’t carry a story that’s lost its spark.
February 6, 2025
"Vows Of Murder" is book #17 in the "Tourist Trap Murder" series by Lynn Cahoon.
The long awaited wedding of Jill and Greg is fast approaching but of course there is some disturbing events and a murder at a cult like compound just outside of South Cove. Jill really is trying to stay out of things but keeps finding herself in situations that provide her with clues to who may have done it.
Even after 17 books and a number of novellas, I still like the core characters of this series and appreciate how relationships have grown and changed over time. The dialogue feels fairly realistic and I do like the banter amongst the friends. Adding more time with Greg's family - especially his mom Amanda and his brother Jim's girlfriend Beth kept this story more interesting for me. The pre-wedding activities were fun but not over the top.
As for the cult compound and the murder? Sadly innocents being drawn into these cult like settings is always disturbing and uncomfortable. You can't help but ache for the families torn apart by what happens to a loved one.
The murder wasn't a real surprise but getting to the truth of who may have done it and why was of course a bit more complex. Several viable suspect both inside and outside of the group were on the radar as backgrounds and alibis were inspected.
For me, I had it narrowed down to two or three suspects fairly quickly but wasn't sure of the why.
Overall, a quick read - though some may feel a bit uncomfortable with the whole cult idea. There is a recipe included at the end as well as the first chapter of the first book in the "Survivors' Book Club" series.
The long awaited wedding of Jill and Greg is fast approaching but of course there is some disturbing events and a murder at a cult like compound just outside of South Cove. Jill really is trying to stay out of things but keeps finding herself in situations that provide her with clues to who may have done it.
Even after 17 books and a number of novellas, I still like the core characters of this series and appreciate how relationships have grown and changed over time. The dialogue feels fairly realistic and I do like the banter amongst the friends. Adding more time with Greg's family - especially his mom Amanda and his brother Jim's girlfriend Beth kept this story more interesting for me. The pre-wedding activities were fun but not over the top.
As for the cult compound and the murder? Sadly innocents being drawn into these cult like settings is always disturbing and uncomfortable. You can't help but ache for the families torn apart by what happens to a loved one.
The murder wasn't a real surprise but getting to the truth of who may have done it and why was of course a bit more complex. Several viable suspect both inside and outside of the group were on the radar as backgrounds and alibis were inspected.
For me, I had it narrowed down to two or three suspects fairly quickly but wasn't sure of the why.
Overall, a quick read - though some may feel a bit uncomfortable with the whole cult idea. There is a recipe included at the end as well as the first chapter of the first book in the "Survivors' Book Club" series.
March 3, 2025
A Wedding and a cozy mystery in Tourist Trap series
Vows of Murder is the 17th book in Lynn Cahoon's A Tourist Trap Mystery series and one we have all been waiting for! Jill Gardner owns Coffee, Books & More and she is engaged to Police Chief Greg King and their wedding is imminent. They had to reschedule the wedding a couple of times because Greg's mom had some health issues but now it is happening. They are getting married at an historic Spanish mission. Jill is busy entertaining Greg's mom Amanda and handling last minute wedding details. New Hope is a cult religion who just moved to town. Jill meets a lady who is searching for her daughter and thinks she is at New Hope. Jill meets Kane Matthews, the leader at New Hope, at a South Cove Business Meeting and then he ends.up dead. There are a few suspects but I suspected the culprits. The cult theme isn't one I particularly enjoy and there is some abuse with secondary characters but I have been reading this series for a long time and am happy to have Jill and Greg married. The rehearsal and wedding were nice. Most of the regular characters made an appearance and several of them added to the story. Greg's family, especially his Mom, are wonderful new characters. The ending came together once clues were put together and then it was over. It is an enjoyable cozy mystery and the.characters are wonderful. #VowsOfMurder #ATouristTrapMystery #Kensington #LynnCahoon
Vows of Murder is the 17th book in Lynn Cahoon's A Tourist Trap Mystery series and one we have all been waiting for! Jill Gardner owns Coffee, Books & More and she is engaged to Police Chief Greg King and their wedding is imminent. They had to reschedule the wedding a couple of times because Greg's mom had some health issues but now it is happening. They are getting married at an historic Spanish mission. Jill is busy entertaining Greg's mom Amanda and handling last minute wedding details. New Hope is a cult religion who just moved to town. Jill meets a lady who is searching for her daughter and thinks she is at New Hope. Jill meets Kane Matthews, the leader at New Hope, at a South Cove Business Meeting and then he ends.up dead. There are a few suspects but I suspected the culprits. The cult theme isn't one I particularly enjoy and there is some abuse with secondary characters but I have been reading this series for a long time and am happy to have Jill and Greg married. The rehearsal and wedding were nice. Most of the regular characters made an appearance and several of them added to the story. Greg's family, especially his Mom, are wonderful new characters. The ending came together once clues were put together and then it was over. It is an enjoyable cozy mystery and the.characters are wonderful. #VowsOfMurder #ATouristTrapMystery #Kensington #LynnCahoon
August 21, 2025
Book 17 of this adorable cosy mystery series about a bookstore/coffee shop owner and her fiancee, police detective, soon to be husband. Based in South Cove, California, it's a really good cosy mystery series which, once you've started a book in the series, you have to finish it.
Jill and Greg's wedding is finally happening, after a few false starts. Nothing will detail the festivities this time, not even another murder!
Greg's mum arrives early for the wedding, so Jill takes her sightseeing around the area. Jill hopes she can make a good impression on Amanda, for Greg's sake.
New Hope Church opened in the small seaside town, but it's got the reputation already of being a cult. When the leader of the church is found dead, at the venue for Jill & Greg's wedding, Jill fears the worse.
I really liked this book and once I'd got about a quarter of the way through, I just couldn't put it down and ended up finishing the last 3/4 of the book in a day.
The books in this series are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.
I can't wait for book 18 to be released.
Jill and Greg's wedding is finally happening, after a few false starts. Nothing will detail the festivities this time, not even another murder!
Greg's mum arrives early for the wedding, so Jill takes her sightseeing around the area. Jill hopes she can make a good impression on Amanda, for Greg's sake.
New Hope Church opened in the small seaside town, but it's got the reputation already of being a cult. When the leader of the church is found dead, at the venue for Jill & Greg's wedding, Jill fears the worse.
I really liked this book and once I'd got about a quarter of the way through, I just couldn't put it down and ended up finishing the last 3/4 of the book in a day.
The books in this series are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.
I can't wait for book 18 to be released.
October 14, 2025
Jill and Greg are about to be married. His mother has been ill and she is finally better and comes to visit. She and Jill get along very well, but Jill worries a little because she has seen a letter from Greg's former wife. A cult called New Hope has opened in South Cove with lots of security men. At their open house visitors see mostly only men. A woman at Jill's book store says she can't find her daughter who she believes is there. Kane Mathews, who is in charge, is very charistmatic. It appears that Greg's mother's former husband is a member of the cult. She divorced him after a very short time because he was spending all her money. It appears that he is now a member of the cult.
When Kane Mathews is found dead, the man's brother and his wife are taking over, and it appears that the wife is the prominent one. It also means that Greg needs to solve a murder and Jill is hoping it will be solved before their wedding. As usual, Jill is trying to help solve the murder.
When Kane Mathews is found dead, the man's brother and his wife are taking over, and it appears that the wife is the prominent one. It also means that Greg needs to solve a murder and Jill is hoping it will be solved before their wedding. As usual, Jill is trying to help solve the murder.
November 26, 2025
I have read a lot of Lynn Cahoon's books and enjoyed everyone and this on is no exception. This book is the 17th book in the series and I have read them all and enjoyed them as well. Jill is the bookstore owner and she is counting down the days till her wedding. She had to postpone it two times due to her fiancé's mother having cancer.
She had a meeting to go to and when she arrived she noticed some new people and did not like the looks of them. When they introduced themselves she was wondering why they were even there at this meeting. They called themselves New Hope Church but they were not like any church she new. The leader's name was Kane and he stood and told everyone that they were invited to come to the church and see what it was all about, and what they could offer to the town. Days later Kane was found dead and fiance had to solve the murder. I am going to say check out this book and follow along with the story, it was really good and a lot happens. Happy reading.
She had a meeting to go to and when she arrived she noticed some new people and did not like the looks of them. When they introduced themselves she was wondering why they were even there at this meeting. They called themselves New Hope Church but they were not like any church she new. The leader's name was Kane and he stood and told everyone that they were invited to come to the church and see what it was all about, and what they could offer to the town. Days later Kane was found dead and fiance had to solve the murder. I am going to say check out this book and follow along with the story, it was really good and a lot happens. Happy reading.
February 25, 2025
Jill and Greg are getting married. Unfortunately, both find themselves embroiled in the murder of the leader of the new-to-town religious cult. Hopefully the murder will not derail the wedding for the third time!
I enjoy this series. Audiobooks are my favorite way to read this series. I turn it on and do a chore and before you know it the chore is complete and so is my visit to South Cove.
Jill grated on my nerves a bit. I’ll chalk it up to wedding jitters. I didn’t appreciate her unkind thoughts towards her future mother-in-law. I felt like she blamed her for the past wedding delays. While it may be true cancer does take precedence at times.
We don’t have much of Aunt Jackie which was surprising but she did semi-retire.
We do get plenty of Emma. Doesn’t she make the cutest wedding addition on the cover?
I enjoy this series. Audiobooks are my favorite way to read this series. I turn it on and do a chore and before you know it the chore is complete and so is my visit to South Cove.
Jill grated on my nerves a bit. I’ll chalk it up to wedding jitters. I didn’t appreciate her unkind thoughts towards her future mother-in-law. I felt like she blamed her for the past wedding delays. While it may be true cancer does take precedence at times.
We don’t have much of Aunt Jackie which was surprising but she did semi-retire.
We do get plenty of Emma. Doesn’t she make the cutest wedding addition on the cover?
July 8, 2025
This was my first in the series, which is obviously pretty late to the party. I like Jill and Emma and the enthusiasm for books and coffee. It was a nice little cozy. On the other hand, if you are looking for any description- at all- of setting, like weather, season, mountains, buildings, or even basic descriptions of how people might look, you will be sorely out of luck. I live in southern CA and I have no idea where this is supposed to be set- there are no realistic geographic markers or distances. Why not bring in the light on the mountains, the sun sparkling on the ocean? I do not understand. I will read another one and see if maybe earlier books in the series go beyond the stick person version of things.
May 3, 2025
Jill and Greg are finally going to make it down the aisle, or will there. They say third times the charm and this will be the third time they have set the date. A woman is in town posting pictures of her missing daughter who she believes has been brainwashed by the new religious group in town. Locals haven’t been invited to see the compound and the folks inside. Only a select few show up in town. After they have an open house, the leader is murdered. Was it this woman looking for her daughter or maybe someone in the organization? While looking into this Jill is also showing her soon to be mother-in-law around town.
August 1, 2025
A cult has moved into South Cove. They have heavy security at their compound, with armed men. The woman are delivered to town for shopping in Vans and then collected later. The guards are always “supervising”. A mother of a cult member comes to town and asks Greg to help her see her daughter, but she is over 18. The New Hope cult has an open house and of course the whole town goes. They do have a great library and the cult leader gives Jill a book about their mission to read. Two days later he is found murdered at the mission where Jill and Greg are to be married, finally. A great read, as usual from this author.
August 10, 2025
This is the seventeenth installment in the series. It is time for Jill and Greg's wedding. Greg's mom is in town wanting to see all the sights so Jill is off work. And the two get to know each other better. But, of course, it would not be a Tourist Trap book without a murder. This time a local cult leader is found dead at the mission, site of the wedding, just days before the wedding. There are lots of suspects, surprises, and layers to unravel in this mystery.
I found some of the characters’ attitude annoying. They are not the bride and the wedding isn’t about them.
I’m glad it all worked out in the end.
I listened to this on hoopla.
I found some of the characters’ attitude annoying. They are not the bride and the wedding isn’t about them.
I’m glad it all worked out in the end.
I listened to this on hoopla.
May 26, 2025
Third time is the charm, Jill and Greg are going to get married. As per usual, Jill finds a murder victim, and of course, at her wedding venue. Can Jill figure it out before her big day? Or will the killer try to stop her? This is one of my favourite in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. Jill does not fall into the TSTL amateur sleuth category, but it may be that the suspect pool is bigger this time and these are not people to be trifled with. This is a cozy mystery with a great plot, with characters from previous books, all adding to the mystery and mayhem of the upcoming nuptials Enjoy.
August 16, 2025
Vows of Murder #17 in the Tourist Trap mystery series by Lynn Cahoon is the highly anticipated addition of Jill and Greg's wedding. Though weddings rarely go off as smoothly as desired, this one is really bumpy! Meshing with Greg's mom is a challenge, but that is nothing compared to a dead body. The storyline and mystery are tangled in the best way ---a challenge to unravel. This long-running series has everything I most enjoy in a cozy mystery: engaging characters, a cool setting, and a wonderful sense of community.
March 1, 2025
I enjoy this series so much that I'm willing to "forget" how icky and misogynistic Greg is...but this one really hammers the fact home. So much not communicating (the resume), so much invalidating Jill's opinion or in some small ways belittling her, and really heavy on the "little lady", "brat", and other pet names...but they don't sound sweet, they sound condescending.
Solid, otherwise, even if the plot was really obvious, but 3 stars on account of Greg.
Solid, otherwise, even if the plot was really obvious, but 3 stars on account of Greg.
May 21, 2025
Jumping in late in the series since I saw a dog on the cover. This one opens up with the mystery of the leader of a mysterious cult group found dead at the MCs wedding venue. It is very wedding heavy through the entire story while the bride to be investigates, but it was an enjoyable quick read that breaks from my normal reads. Favorite part was definitely each time the pup was referenced, easy way to rope me in.
July 12, 2025
An enjoyable mystery from beginning to end!
7/10/2025 Vows of Murder (5 Stars) book 17 of 18
I enjoyed this high cozy story from beginning to end! Mystery murder, investigations on top of investigations, a wedding, community meetings, cult brainwashing, lots of books and coffee with treats! Several diversions throughout but it all layered into place at the end☺️👍🏾👍🏾
All the Characters had a tight bond and likable, including Emma!
7/10/2025 Vows of Murder (5 Stars) book 17 of 18
I enjoyed this high cozy story from beginning to end! Mystery murder, investigations on top of investigations, a wedding, community meetings, cult brainwashing, lots of books and coffee with treats! Several diversions throughout but it all layered into place at the end☺️👍🏾👍🏾
All the Characters had a tight bond and likable, including Emma!
July 28, 2025
Good read!
Jill and Greg are finally getting married. But before their special day, the leader of a local cult is murdered. With plenty of suspects, solving the murder before the wedding is impossible. Awaiting the honeymoon, Jill helps to figure out what happened with the cult leadership and who the real killer is. A great addition to this long running series, whose characters feel like old friends.
Jill and Greg are finally getting married. But before their special day, the leader of a local cult is murdered. With plenty of suspects, solving the murder before the wedding is impossible. Awaiting the honeymoon, Jill helps to figure out what happened with the cult leadership and who the real killer is. A great addition to this long running series, whose characters feel like old friends.
January 2, 2026
I rated this 4 stars. Jill and Greg's wedding has finally arrived! Greg is stepping away for a few days even though there is an unsolved murder. The leader of an alleged cult is found dead. Jill is busy with wedding preparations as well as hosting family that arrived early. With as busy as Jill is it is not a surprise that she missed some important clues. The story has a lot of sweet moments and is enjoyable.
February 10, 2025
I enjoyed listening to this book as much as I have the other titles in the series. I read a couple of reviews from readers who thought Greg was too harsh with Jill. The only difference I noticed was the change of narrator whose voice wasn't as soothing as the previous one which may have prompted the criticism.
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