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Dressing Up A Corpse

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When a hunting expedition doesn't go as expected and family comes for a holiday visit, having good aim is important. When the grandest event Mayor Cora Mae Bingham has ever coordinated is nearing launch, two of her trusty volunteers are used as target practice while hunting in the woods!

With the shooting taking place in another county's jurisdiction, Chief Conrad Harris struggles with how the sheriff's office handled it and offers his services (and Briscoe's) to facilitate matters. Meanwhile, Mayor Cora Mae Bingham is kicking off the largest Thanksgiving dinner in her history and has invited the entire town of Spicetown!

What could possibly go wrong?

323 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

68 people are currently reading
30 people want to read

About the author

Sheri Richey

33 books112 followers

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5 stars
79 (52%)
4 stars
48 (32%)
3 stars
19 (12%)
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3 (2%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Lucinda.
597 reviews11 followers
November 18, 2024
This is my first foray into Spicetown, a small country town full of streets named for spices and interesting characters. In this book, the Mayor, Cora Mae Bingham undertakes to organise the biggest turkey dinner for the residents that Spicetown has ever seen.
With everything to coordinate with the army of volunteers, the last thing the town needs is a shooting accident! But, is it an accident? With the incident occurring in another jurisdiction, Chief Conrad Harris struggles to investigate effectively.
I enjoyed this cozy small-town mystery. I was able to jump right into the story without having read the other books in the series, but I imagine the interactions of the characters would have more meaning if I had done so. I am intrigued enough to seek out the whole series now.
Profile Image for Jenni.
6,281 reviews77 followers
November 3, 2024
3.5 - 4 Stars
Dressing Up A Corpse is set in the charming town of Spicetown where the streets are named after spices. The inhabitants are a little quirky and there seems to be an endless stream of mayhem and madness. Set in a small town there is a cast of characters but that adds to the fun.
Chief Conrad 'Connie' Harris is a lawman through and through and a stickler for details so when he discovers a shooting, he must jump to piece together the puzzles only it’s not on his turf.
Mayor Cora Mae Bingham is a delightful character who loves to have festivities bringing the town together. Dressing Up A Corpse sees the town rally together to make Thanksgiving the best. But will the current happenings put a damper on the whole event?
This engaging cozy mystery is full of humour, banter, and fun. Sheri’s narrative makes it so easy to imagine the town and its people and become completely immersed in their story. This town is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to something amiss. It makes a wonderful escape.
I enjoyed it and looking forward to seeing what’s next for the town and its crazy characters.
Profile Image for Danielle Lawson.
338 reviews1 follower
November 14, 2024
Cute short read

Cute short read...not a thing like what I typically read but cute quick one for fall and includes thanksgiving with their town.
Profile Image for Trina Bagley.
113 reviews3 followers
November 4, 2024
Mayor Cora Mae Bingham has got all Spicetown rushing about getting ready for the Thanksgiving community dinner. She has been planning this for months and incorporating as many volunteers as she can. There’s no time for any distractions.
Charlie Mays and Bert Miller, are excited about hunting season and venture out on their friend, Hank Fulton’s property to hunt squirrels. Nobody else has permission to be on the property that day so when Charlie is shot twice, they have no idea who fired the shots. Everybody is ready to call this an accident, but Chief Conrad “Conny” Harris has his own suspicions and doesn’t want to let it go. Even though it took place outside of his jurisdiction, he knows the victim and wants to find out what happened. He works with the Highland County Sheriff’s Department to help solve the case.
I felt like I was a member of the Spicetown community with all its colorful characters. As a fellow crocheter myself, I wanted to join in on their crafting meetings! Ms. Richey created a wholesome small town where everybody knows everybody. This was an enjoyable read and I truly felt like I knew everybody. I can’t wait to read more about Spicetown’s adventures.
Profile Image for Britney.
84 reviews3 followers
November 26, 2024
Dressing Up A Corpse (A Spicetown Thanksgiving Cozy Mystery) by Sheri Richey - Review by Britney Humphreys

5 Stars

This is a cozy mystery set in a small town in Ohio called Spicetown. At the beginning of the book, there is a flurry of activity surrounding the preparations for the town Thanksgiving dinner. The mayor, Cora Mae, becomes more and more anxious through the book because she’s expecting everything to go wrong. The town is full of colorful characters, and talks about the gossip, personality quirks, and romantic entanglements that come with living in a small town.

The big questions: Who shot Charlie? Why did they shoot him? Was it actually a simple hunting accident? If it was squirrel season, why was he shot with a rifle? He was wearing bright orange, so that should have been a clue for the shooter that he was a person and not an animal.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It’s a great book for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries. I am going to see about reading the rest of the series when I have time.
Profile Image for Jennifer .
1,619 reviews31 followers
November 8, 2024
An enjoyable and engaging cozy mystery which kept me happily turning the pages. Set in the wonderfully named Spicetown during the holiday season, the storyline had me hooked. Mayor Cora Mae Bingham is coordinating the grandest event the town has seen. However, the hunting expedition doesn’t go to plan when two trusty volunteers are used as target practice. Despite it not taking place in his county’s jurisdiction, Chief Conrad Harris can’t help but offer his and Briscoe’s services in investigating the shooting. The Mayor also has her hands full having invited the whole of Spicetown to the largest Thanksgiving dinner in the town’s history. The small town of Spicetown was brought to life through the descriptive narrative. Whilst the mix of quirky characters all added to the overall story. A short, fun, easy read, perfect for some escapism during the holiday season!



502 reviews14 followers
November 22, 2024
Sheri Richey’s Dressing Up a Corpse is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and small-town humour, with just the right amount of suspense to keep readers turning the pages. Set in the charming and quirky town of Spicetown, the story follows Mayor Cora Mae Bingham as she juggles the chaos of planning a Thanksgiving feast for the entire community while dodging the curveballs life (and murder) throws her way.

The premise is as enticing as a holiday feast: what begins as a routine hunting expedition and festive holiday preparation quickly unravels into a tangled mystery. With a corpse turning up in the midst of the Thanksgiving chaos, Cora Mae finds herself knee-deep in an investigation that threatens to ruin the town’s holiday spirit. Her sharp wit and determination make her a lovable protagonist, and her resourcefulness adds a spark to the unfolding mystery.

Richey’s talent shines in her vivid portrayal of Spicetown and its colourful cast of characters. From nosy neighbors to eccentric family members, the town feels alive with personality and charm. The humor woven throughout the narrative balances the darker elements of the mystery, making the story a lighthearted yet engaging read.

The pacing is brisk, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing. Richey skillfully builds suspense while maintaining the cozy, feel-good atmosphere that fans of the genre adore. The Thanksgiving setting adds a festive backdrop, making it the perfect seasonal read for lovers of small-town mysteries.

Verdict

With its lovable characters, sharp humour, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, Dressing Up a Corpse is a cozy, entertaining read that captures the spirit of community and holiday cheer. Fans of authors like Joanne Fluke and M.C. Beaton will feel right at home in Spicetown. A perfect pick for readers who love their mysteries served with a side of warmth and wit.
1,912 reviews25 followers
November 8, 2024
Dressing Up A Corpse (A Spicetown Thanksgiving Cozy Mystery) by Sheri Richey. I love these books so much and this one was perfect for this time of year. They are cozy mysteries set in small towns and they are always so fun. This one is about Spicetown and the Mayor has everyone running around getting ready for the big Thanksgiving dinner. In the meantime Charlie & Bert are excited about squirrel season and have asked permission to hunt on Hank Fulton's land and he has granted them permission. While hunting Charlie is shot, not once but twice, and no one knows who did it. Its out of Chief Harris' jurisdiction but he is working with the sheriff there to find out what happened. The Mayor is all up in arms over the murder interfering with her big dinner and Chief Harris' just wants to find out who the murderer is before someone else is hurt or worse killed. Such a fun murder mystery with a little romance and I loved the small town of Spicetown. I felt like I had visited there after I finished this book!
Profile Image for Kerry  carr.
1,932 reviews24 followers
November 21, 2024
This is a interesting cosy mystery. It is the first one I have read from this author and I really enjoyed it. Set around Thanksgiving there is lost of charm, character and festivities as the town works alongside the Mayor to put on the biggest Thanksgiving dinner the town has ever seen. With all the volunteers organised and plans in motion what could possible go wrong?

When 2 of the local residents go out hunting an accident leaves one of them in hospital with gun shot wounds. As this is out of his jurisdiction Chief Conrad Harris struggles to investigate the case. Was this just a hunting accident or was something more sinister at play?

This is a great cosy mystery. I loved the authors writing style and I couldn't help fall in love with the characters. Each of them is so unique and their relationship and banter are exactly what you would expect in a small town where everyone knows everyone and also their business. I really enjoyed curling up with this book.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
470 reviews13 followers
November 1, 2024
"When a hunting expedition doesn't go as expected and family comes for a holiday visit, having good aim is important. When the grandest event Mayor Cora Mae Bingham has ever coordinated is nearing launch, two of her trusty volunteers are used as target practice while hunting in the woods!
With the shooting taking place in another county's jurisdiction, Chief Conrad Harris struggles with how the sheriff's office handled it and offers his services (and Briscoe's) to facilitate matters. Meanwhile, Mayor Cora Mae Bingham is kicking off the largest Thanksgiving dinner in her history and has invited the entire town of Spicetown!
What could possibly go wrong?" Will have to read the story to find out, this was good suspenseful story. Great storyline and great characters would love to read more from this author. I give this book 4 stars.
Profile Image for Angela.
8,013 reviews118 followers
November 10, 2024
3 - 3.5 Stars

Dressing Up A Corpse is the latest addition to the Spicetown Mystery series by Sheri Richey. While I am new to this series, and author, coming into the series a little backwards, this Spicetown Thanksgiving Cozy Mystery was a fun introduction to both the author and the series.
I love a good cozy mystery, and add a little fun, humour, crime and investigation, small-town setting, and quirky characters- make an enjoyable reading experience. I am definitely curious to see what the other instalments hold, so I will go back and start at the beginning next time, to read the series in sequence.
If you love cozy mystery with a dose of fun and mayhem- then Spicetown is the place for you.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Sheri Richey!
Profile Image for Randi.
143 reviews6 followers
November 14, 2024
I love a good cozy mystery and this one did not disappoint. There are a lot of characters and it can get a little confusing but if you stick with it it all makes sense in the end. This is the first in a spin off series and I am looking forward to going back and reading the original series.
Spicetown is a typical small town, everyone knows everyone, most are friends or at least friendly, and occasional rival, but mostly it's just a nice place to live. This thanksgiving season however is a different story when 2 friends go hunting and one ends up in the hospital after an unknown shooter may or may not have targeted them.
It's a quick read, a little drama, a little suspense, and a lot of small town charm. If that's your jam, I highly recommend this book
Profile Image for Shannen.
1,025 reviews23 followers
November 23, 2024
Since this is the first book I read by this author, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s a pretty quick read at just under 200 pages, so it would be perfect for a cozy weekend read. Thanksgiving is just around the corner which makes this the perfect time to read it! The author grabs your attention from the very beginning and never lets go. It is incredibly engaging as I found myself completely absorbed and unable to put it down for any amount of time. There are many characters in this book which made it kind of difficult to find my reading groove right away, but eventually everything fell into place. If you are looking for a cozy mystery to read this holiday season, do yourself a favor and pick this one up! I am excited to pick up other work by this author.
Profile Image for Christie72 (Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews).
1,446 reviews32 followers
November 24, 2024
I love a good, cozy mystery, and what makes this one even better is that it’s a Thanksgiving murder mystery!


Mayor Cora Mae is planning a huge community Thanksgiving feast, so she did not anticipate a murder would occur. It happens outside of Chief Conrad’s jurisdiction, but he is determined to bring the culprit to justice, especially when he questions how the other sheriff handles the matter.


I enjoyed getting to know the townspeople, and I appreciate it when a writer makes me feel like a part of the community he or she has created. This was a cute, cozy, easy read just in time for Thanksgiving. There isn’t anything better than curling up with a good book on crisp autumn days. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Shelly.
1,226 reviews2 followers
November 2, 2024
What an entertaining story! I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Cora Mae and the ladies of this town are quite the network to have for a small town. Most of them know the scoop. The funny part is that some of the men like Bert may have the scoop too, and give it a little flare. I don't think I've ever rooted for a couple like the Sheriff and Cora as much as I have in this one. As for our mystery...who shot Charlie? what a twist! I can't tell you anymore but this is one story that will have you wanting to know more. This is one of the best cozy's that I've jumped into this year. I can't wait to read the next one. I'm a new fan of Spicetown.
69 reviews2 followers
November 4, 2024
This is the well written story of 2 friends who go hunting together and one gets shot. This happens just before the Thanksgiving dinner that's being put on by the town mayor where the entire town is invited.
The story weaves together the investigation of the shooting with the prepping for and actual Thanksgiving celebration. It also weaves in a murder!
I really enjoyed the characters but even more I enjoyed the relationships between the characters including relationships between friends and also between family members. A really great read.
I received this book for free and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
3,075 reviews33 followers
November 4, 2024
This book is a great cozy mystery story that is such a fun read from start to finish. I thought the story gave a really strong sense of the community it was set it and all of the characters added so much to the story overall. They provided entertainment the whole way through.
The mystery was great fun to try and solve. The author really could have taken this in any direction at any point and I loved the fact it felt like I went on the journey with the characters. I became really invested in the story and couldn’t wait to see how it would turn out. This is a great story I would fully recommend.
Profile Image for Ashley  Schoen.
34 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2024
Dressing Up A Corpse by Sheri Richey gave me total Murder She Wrote meets Golden Girls vibes, which I loved! The story centers around Mayor Cora Mae Bingham, who’s not only coordinating the biggest Thanksgiving dinner Spicetown has ever seen but also dealing with a mysterious shooting incident that’s got everyone talking. The mix of small-town charm and unexpected twists kept me turning the pages.

The book is an easy, light read with a cast of quirky characters that made me smile. There were definitely some surprises, and it was fun watching Cora Mae and Chief Conrad get to the bottom of things. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a bit of sass, this one’s a great pick!
Profile Image for Juls.
170 reviews9 followers
November 17, 2024
Dressing up a corpse is part of the Spicetown series by Sheri Richey, I thought it was a fun seasonal read. The story follows the residents of Spicetown as they prepare for Thanksgiving while also dealing with the apparent accidental shooting of one of the residents of the town while on a hunting trip. It had a nice story however, I felt that there were too many additional characters that sometimes made it difficult to remember who is who and what they do. I feel it would have improved if it focused more on the main characters. However, I did still find it enjoyable and now know what to expect if I read other books in this series and if it was a real place I think I would like to visit.
409 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2025
Love

I love the small town in Ohio of all places, I live in Ohio. I really enjoy series where you feel like the characters are friends and the location is where you want to live. Sheri does a great job making everyone friends. Cora Mae is preparing her big community Thanksgiving dinner with volunteers for everything from set up to tear down. A local man gets shot while hunting on a friend's property and Chief Harris is working on finding out what happened. Everything takes a turn when another local man is missing and found murdered. It all gets solved and the holiday goes on. Ready for the next one.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
421 reviews13 followers
November 13, 2024
"Dressing Up A Corpse" by Sheri Richey is a delightful blend of dark humor and small-town charm, revolving around Mayor Cora Mae Bingham's ambitious plans for a Thanksgiving dinner. As a hunting trip takes an unexpected turn, chaos ensues when family and townsfolk converge to celebrate. Richey masterfully weaves together suspense and wit, tackling the intricacies of community dynamics with a playful twist. This engaging story kept me on my toes, anticipating both mishaps and heartwarming moments as the holiday unfolds.
181 reviews1 follower
November 15, 2024
This book is such a cozy, well-written holiday mystery that is definitely not long enough! I love the small-town with its colorful and interesting characters. The mayor of Spicetown, Cora May Bingham, is preparing the town for the Thanksgiving feast when a hunting fiasco turns it upside down. This story is compelling and will keep you hooked throughout and, like I said before, you’ll want it to last much longer, so hopefully there will be more! I highly recommend this book to anyone to get into the Thanksgiving and mystery mood!
Profile Image for Laura.
203 reviews7 followers
December 3, 2024
I'm new to this author and to this series. Such a cute and fun cozy mystery! There are a lot of characters in this book, so it can be a little hard to keep them straight to being with. However, the story does all fall into place and make sense. It's a quick read full of drama with twists and turns along the way. I love the small town feel of this book, and the characters are great. Perfect Thanksgiving Day reading!

Dressing Up A Corpse, A Spicetown Thanksgiving Cozy Mystery, Sheri Richey, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Cozy Mystery
16.5k reviews151 followers
October 31, 2024
A murder mystery around thanksgiving when two people are liked while hunting in the woods. It happens in another county so they bring in a new sheriff to the one they had hoped. A big party was planned for thanksgiving and life is going to get interesting for everyone there. So follow them to see what happens next
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and it kept me hooked all threw the book
252 reviews4 followers
November 18, 2024
A great cozy mystery, perfect for the holidays. Or anytime honestly. Cora May is the mayor of Spicetown and she's getting ready for the town's Thanksgiving dinner. There is a hunting accident that throws a curveball into her plans. There are a lot of people to try to keep straight at first, and with some names being similar, it's a bit confusing. However, it all works out by the end. I now want to go back and read Sheri Richey's original series of Spicetown. Go ahead and check out this book.
Profile Image for Gina.
42 reviews
November 22, 2024
Many people are draped with some sort of holiday Drama. This is a super cute and fun book that has Drama, twists turns and everything to keep you fully engaged in the story. You really will not be able to put this one down. You think you figure things out and then here's another twist. This is an excellent Holiday cozy book. So grab your hot drink a blanket and this book and prepare to finish it in one day.
184 reviews3 followers
November 4, 2024
Dressing Up A Corpse by Sheri Richey was such a good story! Multiple POV shifts, a twist that was somewhat unexpected, and wonderful characters. I really enjoyed the book all the way through. It was relatively fast paced. A nice, relaxing read, despite the topic. Perfect for unwinding over the holidays. Definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Cherie Melbourne.
1,352 reviews15 followers
November 6, 2024
This is a new author to me and I enjoyed the way she told this story and the introduction to various characters along the way. There were some amusing moments that had me smiling and kept me turning pages.
I'll gladly read more from this author.
I received a free advance review copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn McCarty.
32 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2024
Dressing Up A Corpse was such a cute, fun, cozy, mystery. I loved the small town setting and great characters. It was such a light and easy read, with holiday feel. Cora Mae reminded me of Angela Lansbury in “Murder She Wrote” (which was a childhood favorite show). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.
1,817 reviews18 followers
November 14, 2024
This is a cute little cozy mystery in a little town that decides to all get together for a community Thanksgiving dinner. Before the dinner can take place Bert and Charlie decide to go hunting on Hank's property the next town over. While hunting they hear three gunshots and Charlie gets shot twice. The story tells about his accident and then takes you through the dinner.

Was a cute read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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