Dead-End Detective

Piper and Porter Mystery #1

by Amanda Flower

"The lead characters, with their realistic flaws, kick off a well-developed mystery." - Library Journal Starred Review

Darby Piper is in shock. A seasoned female detective, she worked with Samantha Porter at the Two Girls Detective Agency. Now, Samantha is dead, and it doesn’t look like an accident. In fact, evidence is pointing toward Darby.

Darby had expected to inherit Samantha’s half of the agency, but Samantha had recently changed the will to leave it to Tate Porter, her nephew, who returns to town.

Tate is no private eye. He’s a world traveler and a veteran whose military past is also something of a mystery. But as he helps Darby delve into secret histories and real estate development plans, he proves to be a talented amateur sleuth. Will the agency have a future…even if Darby can solve this murder mystery in time?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Contemporary, Crime

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2020

About the author

Amanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.

Reviews

[Natalia R · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Dead-End Detective is the first book in Amanda Flower's Piper and Porter Mystery series. Set in New York in a quaint little town on Seneca Lake, we meet Darby Piper, a private investigator whose partner, Samantha, has just been killed in an accident. Except it wasn't an accident at all, someone deliberately ran her off the road and all signs point to Darby being the culprit. Still reeling from her friend's murder, she is shocked to learn that Samantha has left her share of the business to her nephew, Tate. Although wary of each other, Darby and Tate team up to solve the murder.

Amanda Flower is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and when I saw she had a new series coming out with Hallmark, one of my favorite TV channels and publishers, of course, I was excited. I have never read a book by her that I didn't enjoy and this one was no exception. Dead-End Detective is an easy, delightful read, with great writing, a cozy small-town setting, and a plot that will hold your interest until the last page. The characters are engaging and the chemistry between Darby and Tate makes me excited to see how their relationship will develop in future books. The mystery is cleverly plotted, with enough red herrings and suspects to keep you guessing. I did manage to figure out the culprit's identity but wasn't sure of their motive.
All in all, This was a classic cozy mystery and I really enjoyed it. I hope we won't have to wait too long for the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific! This is a new cozy series by Amanda Flower. Set in a small town by Seneca Lake, NY, our protagonist, Darby Piper is a private investigator. When her mentor and partner at Two Girl's Detective Agency died from a car "accident" all evidence suggested that Darby is a prime suspect.

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great new series. I really liked the mystery. It had a very nice pacing and kept me guessing the whole time. Can't wait for #2...but I fear that'll be a while.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Flower has made a start to another great series with the Piper and Porter Mystery series. Set in New York in a small town on Seneca Lake, Darby Piper and her friend and partner, Samantha Porter, have run the Two Girls Detective Agency for ten years when Samantha is killed by another driver running her off the street on a hill into a ravine. All clues point to Darby and her ex boyfriend Austin Caster is the lead detective. Thinking she will inherit the business where it is a 60/40 ownership with Samantha owning the larger shares, it is a shock to find that Samantha left her portion to her nephew Tate Porter, former Army soldier, now drifter, who happened to be in town the night that she was killed. There are other people who are considered suspects in Samantha's death but it appears that someone has set Darby up for the fall. So, Darby and Tate wound up working together to find out who might want Samantha out of the picture. And it is a surprise to see who that person is.
I am looking forward to reading more of this series with likable, interesting as well as quirky characters in a small town with a failing resort and a desperate owner. I am interested in seeing what happens in the way of a possible romance in the future as well. Lots of promise and fun reading.
I received a complimentary ARC from Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darby Piper and Samantha Porter were partners in the Two Girls Detective agency. Samantha owned 60 percent of the business while Darby owned 40 Percent. Things worked out good for the partners for 10 years but then Samantha decided to close the agency and except a position as Chief of Security in a Private get away resort on the shores of Seneca Lake. The two partners argued over Samantha’s decision to close the agency and then Samantha was found dead in her car at the bottom of a revine. Evidence pointed to Darby as a prime suspect for Samantha’s murder. She must do her own investigation into Samantha’s death and find the person who ran her off the road in the early morning hours while Darby was asleep in her apartment. Can she find the killer before the police haul her off to jail for the murder of her late business partner? Samantha was well respected in the community but someone hated her enough to want her dead!
Though this isn’t a recent release I have wanted to read it for some time. It didn’t disappoint this reader and I will read book two, Frozen Detective at a later date. This mystery was a real puzzler. It was unpredictable and the conclusion of the book was surprising . I thought it was entertaining and witty at times.
I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mystery and fans of the author. It’s book one of the Piper and Porter series.
I borrowed an Audio version of this book from the Hoopla Library and was under no obligation to review it.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darby Piper and Samantha Porter are co-owners of Two Girls Detective Agency. Samantha, the owner with 60% ownership has decided to sell the business to a real estate organization against Darby's wishes. Darby will be left without a job, her business, or her home. Needless to say, the two are at loggerheads.

When Samantha is killed in an auto accident a day later, Darby is horrified ... even more so when she learns that this was no accident. And the really scary thing is that Darby seems to be the prime suspect.

Darby had expected to inherit Samantha’s half of the agency, but Samantha had recently changed the will to leave it to Tate Porter, her nephew, who returns to town.

Her ex-boyfriend, a detective, advises Darby to get a lawyer ... a criminal lawyer since an arrest will be made shortly. She and Tate decide to investigate themselves ... and hopefully prove Darby's innocence. Rifling through Samantha's life, Darby unexpectedly finds that Samantha had secrets .... was this why she was killed?

This is a well-written, highly enjoyable, cozy mystery. Darby and Tate are exceptional characters. Darby brings humor into the mix while Tate is a rather mysterious man. I love how that interact with each other. Maybe a budding romance? There are plenty of suspects to follow as the duo goes on the hunt for a killer.

Many thanks to the author / Hallmark Pubishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this delightful cozy mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Ell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sensational start to a brand new cozy mystery series by Amanda Flowers. I won't rehash the plot since you can read that in the book description. The characters are well-rounded. The story unravels remarkably. I absolutely love the fact that Darby is a Private Detective. As such, her actions make sense throughout the book. Time flies when you are reading Dead-End Detective. I am looking forward to many more in this series!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent new series! Darby knew there were going to be some uncomfortable situations working as a private eye when her ex long time boyfriend is a cop but when she becomes the prime suspect in a murder case it is beyond uncomfortable.

A well woven mystery with a likable protagonist and a fun secondary character. I look forward to spending more time with Darby, her new partner Tate and even her ex Austin. Thanks to Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darby and Samantha are partners at the Two Girl Detective Agency when Samantha is killed in a car crash that does not look like an accident and Darby is considered a possible suspect. This was a very good, fast paced mystery and the audiobook narration kept my attention throughout. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read/listen to this fun book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope there are a lot more books to come in this series! I liked it all and even solved it before Darby. I enjoyed the banter between Darby and Tate and want to see how their relationship evolves. There could have been better editing, mainly small typos but I’m not used to that with this author.

[LaurenLoveReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! I wish there were quirky characters in this cozy, but the 2nd one in this series has more!
I <3 Amanda Flower
See full thoughts here: https://youtu.be/5CNMewwNzFo?si=M4Imk...

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead-End Detective by Amanda Flower is the debut of A Piper and Porter Mystery series. We are transported to Herrington, New York on Seneca Lake where Samantha Porter and Darby Piper run Two Girls Detective Agency. Darby is upset because Samantha is talking about selling the business and a taking a job as head of security at Lake Waters Retreat. Samantha is then murdered, and someone has set up Darby to take the fall. Darby reluctantly teams up with Samantha’s nephew, Tate Porter to find the killer. I thought Dead-End Detective was well-written with interesting characters and a beautiful setting. I like that the author took the time to establish the setting and the main characters. Tate is still a bit of an enigma, but I am sure we will get to know him better in each subsequent book. He is a charmer and I like how kept popping up when Darby attempted to investigate on her own. I liked Darby’s mother who is the town librarian. The whodunit had several suspects, misdirection, and subtle clues. Someone worked hard to frame Darby. I like how it all came together, though, I did feel that Darby stumbled upon the solution. I would have preferred for Darby to solve the case since she is supposed to be such a good detective. I like how she questioned her various suspects and solved her open cases. There is humor in the story that mostly comes from the elderly Mrs. Berger and her spoiled cat, Romy. There is romance potential for Darby. There is her ex-boyfriend (who does not deserve her) and Tate. I loved the name of Darby’s cat, Gumshoe. There is a secondary storyline involving Matt Billows who owns Lake Waters Retreat. He is trying to buy Mrs. Berger’s land which she does not want to sell. Dead-End Detective is a good start to this new series, and I look forward to reading the next installment in A Piper and Porter Mystery series. Dead-End Detective is a charming cozy mystery with one dead detective, an itinerant nephew, a climbing cat, a tenacious nonagenarian, and a set-up sleuth.

[Moondance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in Amanda Flower's new Piper and Porter Mystery series. Darby Piper and her partner, Samantha Porter own Two Girl's Detective Agency together. Samantha has decided to liquidate the business and take a job with a local exclusive resort. Darby is devastated by the news but even more so when Samantha dies in a car crash that does not look like an accident. Darby must clear her name as all the clues point to her.

What an excellent start to a series! It's not often that I cry within the first couple of chapters of a cozy, but his one had me in tears. So often the murder victim is so unlikable that there are multiple suspects. Samantha was well like by the community and Darby. So many clues point to Darby that she must find the true culprit to save herself and to have peace of mind over Samantha.

The setting in upstate New York in the Seneca Lake region was lovely. The description of the town makes it very homey and the type of place i would like to visit. The characters are well written and believable. I love the cats! I know that Ms. Flower is owned by cats and it truly shows in her portrayal of Romy and Gumshoe. Romy is quite a rascal with his tree climbing and Darby's continued efforts to rescue him. My Maine Coon was a complete love bug but I could see one being this mischievous. The fact that they are huge cats makes the rescues funny. Gumshoe sounds like your typical Ragdoll. Such a sweet breed!

The introduction of Tate, Samantha's nephew, throws a lot of kinks into the mix. I'm really interested to see where his relationship with Darby goes both personally and professionally. Austin is a bit of a wild card as well. Will he and Tate create the dreaded love triangle for Darby's attention.

The murder plot was very well done. I had a number of suspects in mind as the story unfolded. I was a bit shocked at the revelation of the culprit. Such a sad situation that didn't need to end up the way it did.

Overall, this was an excellent book that i would highly recommend.

I was provided a copy of this book by NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several books in other series by this author and have enjoyed them, so I was excited to read this debut in a brand-new series. The premise of the book is interesting. Darby Piper’s partner in a private detective agency is murdered but instead of inheriting Samantha’s half of the business as expected, Samantha has left her share to her nephew. Darby finds herself as a suspect in Samantha’s death, so while proving her innocence, she has to get to know the mysterious Tate Porter and figure out if the agency has a future.

I enjoyed getting to know Darby, and it’s so nice to find a cozy mystery in which the main character has loving parents that support their daughter instead of trying to control them or disapproving of them. Darby’s mom even helps with the investigation! There are other interesting characters in the story which makes this a fun book to read. In this book, I was kept guessing as to who the murderer really was and how things would progress with the agency. After some interesting suspense that builds in the earlier chapters, things wrap up a little too quickly at the end, but I still like the way things turn out. “Dead End Detective” is a good start to a promising new cozy series by a talented author.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Hallmark Publishing. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting mystery with strong leads. When a detective is killed in a small town, the suspect list is short--mostly comprised of the woman who works with her in the detective agency. There seem to be a load of folks who didn't like Samantha, though, and Darby is sure they make better suspects than she does--so why's the town police chief so certain she did it?

I enjoyed the read despite finding the ending rather weak and rushed; there's a lot of action but the denouement was very sudden. I love a good twist, but this one felt more like Darby stumbled over it rather than figured it out...might just be me. I'll consider continuing the series but may not.

Content: low quantity of profanity and swearing; a gay couple. No sex or graphic violence.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit to stumbling through the first part of this book. It seemed slow. However, as I continued to read, the plot developed and I couldn't stop reading!

Dead-End Detective is the first in a new series by Amanda Flower for Hallmark Publishing. It, of course, like all good cozy mysteries begins with a murder! The characters developed a little slow for my liking but the plot was great and, once the characters were developed, the story just flew on it's own! I'm looking forward to the second in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a first time read by this writer for me. She was highly recommended by Natalia R. Thanks girl! Moves at a good pace. Likable characters.
Interesting mystery & clever once you realize what the clues were & who did it.

I do wonder though after reading all these cozy's what is the obsession with having cats?

Negative:
there's alot of info thrown out. (i would imagine it's b/c this is the first in a series so the writer is setting everything up but it was still alot all at once.)

Overall, I liked it. And I will read other books by this writer as she has many series to choose from.

[Heidi Prockish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Amanda Flower knocks it out of the park. I have never read a cozy where the main character is a PI and I am so glad that I did. Darby's business partner is murdered and Darby is the main suspect. I kept guessing but had no idea who really did it, I was shocked to find out in the end. I really enjoyed this book and I will be continuing the series.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start to a series. This is the first book in the Piper and Porter series. Darby Piper co-owns a private investigative business with her long time friend Samantha Porter. Samantha is thinking of leaving the business which would put Darby out of a job since Samantha owned the majority of the business. Things change though when Samantha dies in a car crash under mysterious circumstances and leaves her portion of the business to her nephew, Tate. The police, which includes Darby's ex, think Darby had something to do with Samantha's death. Both Darby and Tate want answers so they decide to look into the accident themselves.

This was such a great book. I loved the characters. Darby was very relatable and fun and just so easy to connect with. I loved Darby's parents. I love that her mother is a librarian and helped with the case without being asked. I could definitely see the similarities between Darby and her mom. Tate was great. I wasn't sure about him when he first showed up but I grew to love him as the book went on. The mystery was well done. I started to suspect someone towards the end of the book but I was proven wrong and when the killer was revealed I had the same aha moment as Darby. I can't wait to read more about these characters. I received this book from net galley and Hallmark Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dead-End Detective“ by Amanda Flower the first instalment in “A Piper and Porter Mystery” series. What a great start to a new cozy mystery series! I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for the next instalment! I adore Amanda Flower and her other cozy series so I was pretty sure I would like this but I think it is my new favourite.

I loved Mrs. Berger and her cat Romi, who constantly got stuck in the tree. I also enjoyed the tension between Darby, her ex Austin and Tate Porter. I can see the love triangle forming, part of me wonders if Tate liked Darby back in school and that’s the friction between him and Austin.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed.
I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Hallmark Publishing and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darby Piper and Samantha Porter are business partners at the Two Girls Detective Agency. But one morning Darby is awoken by a jarring knock on the door. She finds her ex-boyfriend, officer Austin Caster, on her doorstep. He’s there to tell her Sam has been killed in a car accident. But the cops don’t think it’s an accident, and they think Darby had something to do with it.
Darby had expected to inherit Samantha’s half of the agency, but Samantha had recently changed the will to leave it to Tate Porter, her nephew. Tate is a veteran, but he’s not a P.I. And he’s been gone from home for quite some time. Now that they’re partners, Darby and Tate team up to find out what really happened to Samantha, before the cops put her behind bars.
This book was a one-sitting read for me. The characters are perfectly drawn and I felt an instant connection to them. Darby is strong, and she is a great main character. Tate was a great addition to the cast of characters.
The mystery was intriguing, and I kept going back and forth about whodunit. I didn’t see the ending coming, and Amanda Flower did a great job of weaving it all together. There are also two great cats in the book that always add to a story.
I’m happy I got in on the ground floor of this series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead End Detective
Piper & Porte, Book #1
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

They were the Two Girls Detective Agency. Now, one of them is dead,
and the other is suspected of murder.

Darby Piper is in shock. Samantha Porter—her mentor and business partner at Two Girls Detective Agency—has died in a car crash, and it doesn’t look like an accident. In fact, evidence is pointing toward Darby.

Darby had expected to inherit Samantha’s half of the agency, but Samantha had recently changed the will to leave it to Tate Porter, her nephew, who returns to town.

Tate is no P.I. He’s a veteran, a world traveler, and something of a mystery himself. But as he helps Darby delve into secret histories and real estate development plans, he does seem to have a knack for the job. Will the agency have a future…even if Darby can prove her innocence in time?

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Darby is hardworking and wants to see justice done. And when her partner is killed in a car accident, she really wants to see it served. It does not look as if it was an accident, it looks as if it was cold blooded murder. Tate, her partner’s nephew, does not belong in the PI business, but he is going to give it a shot and help Darby figure things out. Can Darby and him learn to get along and work together and figure out the killer?

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and those descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The author is also very talented in creating a cozy setting, and this helped the story have a comfortable down-home feeling.

The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. You will really need to put your detective’s hat on to solve this one, which is how I like my mysteries.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it is released.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Hallmark Publishing, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

[Caitlin C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never met an Amanda Flower book I didn't like, and this was no exception! This is the first in the "Two Girls Detective Agency" books. Two Girls is run by Samantha and Darby. They focus on local matters- figuring out if partners are skimming one another and determining if the local horse trainers is taking clients on the side. Darby is devastated when she learns that Samantha has died in a car accident, and that the police suspect it was her car that ran Sam off the road. I love the characters in this book. Sam's nephew, Tate has returned from gallivanting across the globe, just in time to inherit his aunt's estate and take on her portion of the Agency. Darby is down to earth and it's fun to see her follow the leads. I liked Tate immediately, maybe because of his nomadic nature, but he grew on me more and more as the book progressed. I also loved that Darby's mom is a librarian and able to help her without Darby even asking. I started to figure out who the killer was, but not until the very end, which I always love. I can't wait to read more in this series!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest opinion of the book.

[Micky Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding new series! The characters are strong, well developed and likable with their unique characteristics! Two female P.I.'s running their company when one suddenly wants out then ends up dead, it looks like one partner killed the other to save the company....or does it.....you'll have to read to figure out the story for yourself, but be prepared to fall in book love with this book and being eager for more! I know I am! I can't wait to see what will happen with Darby and Tate in the upcoming books. Think of the old Remington Steele series, but the guy isn't a dashing playboy, but rather a dashing ex-military wanderer. The female a small, but mighty and intelligent female who has worked hard to get where she is.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3- stars. This was my first Amanda Flower mystery, and from reviews I've read, she's very popular. So I may try other series by her, but probably wouldn't based on this read.

There were some baffling inconsistencies, especially early on with Tate and his knowledge about Darby's car. First he says she wouldn't run someone off the road using her own car, which he knows because the police told him. Two pages later he says the police need to find the car, because the owner is most likely the killer. ?? Then about 20 pages after that, he reveals that he has just found out it's Darby's car from his conversation with Nat. Maybe the writer meant to delete that first scene.

I also had trouble with the change of the will. I guess that Darby's a better person than I am, because if someone made plans that would leave me homeless and jobless, I sure as hell wouldn't help with her funeral. Also, didn't the lawyer represent both partners? Didn't he owe it to Darby as well to look out for her interests in the business?

There also seemed to be some loose ends, like in the open cases for the agency. My impression was that they were just going to be dropped.

It wasn't my intention to go into a rant here. I did finish the book, and it wasn't a bad mystery.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead-End Detective by Amanda Flower is the first book in a new series Piper and Porter Mystery series, and I loved it. I am a big fan of the author, and love all her series. Darby Piper and Samantha Porter are business partners at Two Girls Detective Agency. When Samantha dies in a car crash, the evidence points to Darby. When Samantha leaves her 60% of the agency to her nephew, Tate, they set out to solve Samantha’s murder. This series is off to a great start, and I can't wait for the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book for cozy mystery readers, you won't be disappointed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm in love with Tate. He is my favorite character in this book, which I just LOVED, btw. I love his sense of humor, his wit, his wanting to protect Darby. I just loved the chemistry between those two. The friendly banter. I enjoyed the character of Mrs. Berger. She is a hoot! This was a very intriguing mystery. I really didn't know for sure who the murderer was until right before Darby figured it out. I am very much looking forward to book #2 in this series.

[Roberta Abt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good Mystery

A good read. Hard to put down. Will keep you guessing to the end. Love the characters. A story of family betrayal and strong friendships.

[Lacey Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Amanda Flower Mystery and it won’t be the last. Darby Piper runs Two Girl Detective Agency with her partner Samatha. Samatha decides to close the agency and takes a job at the local celebrity resort. Darby is furious but is only a 40 percent stakeholder. Samatha is killed and Darby is being framed. Samatha’s only family a nephew is back in town and is now the new majority stakeholder of the company. Darby must find who ever is framing her to save her freedom and career.
I loved this first book. It was well written and easy to follow. It felt as though I have already read many books in the series. Characters are well developed and I am looking forward to learning more about their past. I am looking forward to the next adventure!
#DeadEndDetective #NetGalley

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead-End Detective by Amanda Flower is the first book in the Piper and Porter Mystery series. Samantha Porter and Darby Piper run Two Girls Detective Agency, but when Samantha is murdered and Darby becomes prime suspect, Darby with the help of Samantha's nephew and heir, Tate, investigates. A lovely start to the series where I enjoyed getting to know the small picturesque town of Herrington on Seneca Lake. I loved that Darby is a detective which makes her investigation more professional and expected, although I would have expected her to solve the mystery sooner and avoid some of the murderer's traps. A beautifully written typically cozy mystery.