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Elusive Embezzler
A quiet inn. A buried secret. A widow who isn’t ready to trust again.
After the sudden loss of her husband, accountant Jenna Ross retreats to rural Georgia to rebuild her life as owner of the Peach Blossom Retreat. The historic inn offers quiet routine and distance from grief she’s still learning to carry.
But Jenna has always possessed something more than sharp instincts. She has second sight. A subtle awareness that warns her when something isn’t right.
At the inn, that awareness deepens, especially beneath the watchful portrait of Nettie Wyndham, whose presence feels less like memory and more like guidance.
When a decade-old embezzlement scandal resurfaces and a guest is found dead on the property, Jenna’s intuition sharpens into certainty. The past isn’t finished, but someone is determined to keep it buried. Jenna’s second sight is warning her of one undeniable she’s closer to the killer than she realizes.
As suspicion tightens around the inn, Jenna finds herself drawn to Ethan, her steady, protective landscaper whose quiet strength challenges her guarded heart. Trusting again may be dangerous, but ignoring the connection between them could be worse.
In this slow-burn romantic suspense, love and danger intertwine as a widow discovers that listening to her instincts may be the only way to survive.
When the killer stalks her, Nettie’s watchful eye may be the only warning she gets.
Jenna is single save the inn. The killer is single kill Jenna.
After the sudden loss of her husband, accountant Jenna Ross retreats to rural Georgia to rebuild her life as owner of the Peach Blossom Retreat. The historic inn offers quiet routine and distance from grief she’s still learning to carry.
But Jenna has always possessed something more than sharp instincts. She has second sight. A subtle awareness that warns her when something isn’t right.
At the inn, that awareness deepens, especially beneath the watchful portrait of Nettie Wyndham, whose presence feels less like memory and more like guidance.
When a decade-old embezzlement scandal resurfaces and a guest is found dead on the property, Jenna’s intuition sharpens into certainty. The past isn’t finished, but someone is determined to keep it buried. Jenna’s second sight is warning her of one undeniable she’s closer to the killer than she realizes.
As suspicion tightens around the inn, Jenna finds herself drawn to Ethan, her steady, protective landscaper whose quiet strength challenges her guarded heart. Trusting again may be dangerous, but ignoring the connection between them could be worse.
In this slow-burn romantic suspense, love and danger intertwine as a widow discovers that listening to her instincts may be the only way to survive.
When the killer stalks her, Nettie’s watchful eye may be the only warning she gets.
Jenna is single save the inn. The killer is single kill Jenna.
- GenresMystery
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2024
About the author
Judith A. Barrett
87 books52 followersAward-winning author Judith A. Barrett lives in rural Georgia with her patient husband, FarmerMan, and two spoiled farm dogs. When she's not writing, you'll find her outside gardening or with her husband and dogs.
Judith A. Barrett writes thriller, mystery, and survival science fiction series. Her unusual main characters are brilliant, talented, and down-to-earth folks who embrace solving difficult problems and righting wrongs.
Donut Lady Mystery Series
Sweet Deal Sealed, Book 1 Sweet Deal Sealed
Sweet Deal Concealed, Book 2 Sweet Deal Concealed
Sweet Deal Revealed, Book 3 Sweet Deal Revealed
Sweet Deal Appealed, Book 4 Sweet Deal Appealed
Sweet Secret Deal, Book 5 Sweet Secret Deal
Maggie Sloan Thriller Series
I Always Wanted to Be a Spy, Book 1 I Always Wanted to Be a Spy
Red Is the New Gray, Book 2 Red is the New Gray
Hidden by Fire, Book 3 Hidden by Fire
One Eye on the Killer, Book 4 One Eye on the Killer
See Beyond the Fog, Book 5
Grid Down Survival Series
Danger in the Clouds, Book 1 Danger in the Clouds
|Danger in the Wind, Book 2 Danger in the Wind
Danger on the Road, Book 3 Danger on the Road
Danger in the Field, Book 4 Danger in the Field
Riley Malloy Thriller Series
Tagged by Death, Book 1 Tagged by Death
Defy Death, Book 2 Defy Death
Check her website for more information about her books and to read her blog.
Judith A. Barrett website
Subscribe to her monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on her news including each month's free book ! Subscribe to the Newsletter
You can find her books on Amazon with your preference of ebook or paperback!
Judith A. Barrett Amazon Author Page
Judith A. Barrett writes thriller, mystery, and survival science fiction series. Her unusual main characters are brilliant, talented, and down-to-earth folks who embrace solving difficult problems and righting wrongs.
Donut Lady Mystery Series
Sweet Deal Sealed, Book 1 Sweet Deal Sealed
Sweet Deal Concealed, Book 2 Sweet Deal Concealed
Sweet Deal Revealed, Book 3 Sweet Deal Revealed
Sweet Deal Appealed, Book 4 Sweet Deal Appealed
Sweet Secret Deal, Book 5 Sweet Secret Deal
Maggie Sloan Thriller Series
I Always Wanted to Be a Spy, Book 1 I Always Wanted to Be a Spy
Red Is the New Gray, Book 2 Red is the New Gray
Hidden by Fire, Book 3 Hidden by Fire
One Eye on the Killer, Book 4 One Eye on the Killer
See Beyond the Fog, Book 5
Grid Down Survival Series
Danger in the Clouds, Book 1 Danger in the Clouds
|Danger in the Wind, Book 2 Danger in the Wind
Danger on the Road, Book 3 Danger on the Road
Danger in the Field, Book 4 Danger in the Field
Riley Malloy Thriller Series
Tagged by Death, Book 1 Tagged by Death
Defy Death, Book 2 Defy Death
Check her website for more information about her books and to read her blog.
Judith A. Barrett website
Subscribe to her monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on her news including each month's free book ! Subscribe to the Newsletter
You can find her books on Amazon with your preference of ebook or paperback!
Judith A. Barrett Amazon Author Page
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 21, 2026
This was a clean cozy (5 stars!); however, beware that a significant portion of the dialogue and action revolves around renovating and running an inn. I would have loved more background on the characters and a clear focus on the mystery, rather than changing floor plans, setting up happy hour, and the latest placement of the yellow chair.
The ending felt abrupt, and I had questions that were never fully answered (1 star taken away), especially about the contents of the found letter. The main character was a paradox. She was business savvy but very young, kind to some people but rude and judgmental to others. Her obsession with Nettie and the yellow chair were never fully explained. It seemed like pieces of the story were accidentally left out.
The ending felt abrupt, and I had questions that were never fully answered (1 star taken away), especially about the contents of the found letter. The main character was a paradox. She was business savvy but very young, kind to some people but rude and judgmental to others. Her obsession with Nettie and the yellow chair were never fully explained. It seemed like pieces of the story were accidentally left out.
January 13, 2025
Great read!
Perfect not a cozy mystery but not a thriller with constant tension! I love all of your books and have read almost all of them, the Danger books with Angel and Red I have read the entire series 3 - 4 times,; that doesn't include the individual reads as the came out. All of the series are just enough different that you don't feel like reading the same story with only name changes. I pray the Lord will keep blessing you with wonderful ideas and storylines and thank you for excellent editing!
Perfect not a cozy mystery but not a thriller with constant tension! I love all of your books and have read almost all of them, the Danger books with Angel and Red I have read the entire series 3 - 4 times,; that doesn't include the individual reads as the came out. All of the series are just enough different that you don't feel like reading the same story with only name changes. I pray the Lord will keep blessing you with wonderful ideas and storylines and thank you for excellent editing!
March 15, 2026
Elusive Embezzler engaging mystery thriller
Ms. Barrett paints a lively mental picture with her characters and scenic descriptions. A thoroughly entertaining and engaging group of characters involved the reader in a gripping mystery only solved in the last few pages. You will not see this ending coming. Excellent writing Judith A. Barrett. Please keep writing and thoroughly entertaining us with your imagination. Can't wait to start the next book!
Ms. Barrett paints a lively mental picture with her characters and scenic descriptions. A thoroughly entertaining and engaging group of characters involved the reader in a gripping mystery only solved in the last few pages. You will not see this ending coming. Excellent writing Judith A. Barrett. Please keep writing and thoroughly entertaining us with your imagination. Can't wait to start the next book!
January 16, 2026
It's an fair mystery but is overshadow by the personal stories of the characters. The mystery is almost an afterthought. Good if you just want a cozy story.
February 17, 2026
Writing to me seemed just immature. Plot was predictable. The ending just stops and leads to a subsequent novel, I supposed, but I won't be reading it.
March 5, 2026
Another first author ,again I have been gripped by the first chapter,I will be looking forward to reading the second one in the series
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews