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Whisper Hollow #2
Murder with a Hint of Peppermint
(This book can be read as a standalone, but it may contain spoilers for Murder With a Hint of Pumpkin Spice.)
'Tis the season for murder.
With her book store safe from closing and her name cleared of murder charges, Harper Coleman is ready to shelve her problems—until her cheating ex-fiance comes to town. When he refuses to accept Harper is over him, Sebastian steps in as her temporary Mr. Right to prove her ex wrong.
After another suspicious death occurs in Whisper Hollow, Harper and Sebastian’s seemingly-innocent lie becomes their alibi, and they have to fake a relationship or face murder charges. Now they’re stuck with their charade until they find the murderer. Strangely enough, convincing the town gossips of their love story proves easier than uncovering clues. As the danger increases, Sebastian takes the protective boyfriend act to the next level, leaving Harper struggling to determine truth from fiction, both with his feelings and hers.
Can Harper learn to trust another man with her heart—and her life?
Check out the second Whisper Hollow Cozy Mystery book, where the magic of Christmas mixes with a dash of danger. It’s the perfect read to curl up with by a fire on a snowy winter night.
'Tis the season for murder.
With her book store safe from closing and her name cleared of murder charges, Harper Coleman is ready to shelve her problems—until her cheating ex-fiance comes to town. When he refuses to accept Harper is over him, Sebastian steps in as her temporary Mr. Right to prove her ex wrong.
After another suspicious death occurs in Whisper Hollow, Harper and Sebastian’s seemingly-innocent lie becomes their alibi, and they have to fake a relationship or face murder charges. Now they’re stuck with their charade until they find the murderer. Strangely enough, convincing the town gossips of their love story proves easier than uncovering clues. As the danger increases, Sebastian takes the protective boyfriend act to the next level, leaving Harper struggling to determine truth from fiction, both with his feelings and hers.
Can Harper learn to trust another man with her heart—and her life?
Check out the second Whisper Hollow Cozy Mystery book, where the magic of Christmas mixes with a dash of danger. It’s the perfect read to curl up with by a fire on a snowy winter night.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2024
216 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Laura M. Drake
25 books188 followersMy name is Laura M. Drake, and I'm the youngest of five kids. I grew up in Arkansas and moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University. After spending three summers abroad in France, Japan, and China, I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and began teaching 4th grade near Salt Lake City. A few years later I moved back to Japan to fulfill a life-long dream of living there. When Covid got bad, I came back to America and have been living in Arkansas and writing full-time ever since. I'll soon be moving to UT and look forward to the new adventures that await me there. When I'm not writing (which isn't very often--I should probably get a life haha) I love playing ultimate frisbee, board games, writing in my journal, and spending time with friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
November 22, 2024
All I can say is….. FINALLY!! This was such a fast and fun cozy mystery book and I ate it up just as quickly as the first book in this series!! I couldn’t put it down it was so good! I love cozy mystery books like this especially with a small drop of romance in it…. Just perfection. And can we talk about the slow burn in this book?? Simply amazing!
The twists and turns at the end definitely caught me off guard but I really enjoyed it and the plot was so good! The mystery concluded perfectly and the ending was so cute I love it.
I love the writing style in these books and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
The twists and turns at the end definitely caught me off guard but I really enjoyed it and the plot was so good! The mystery concluded perfectly and the ending was so cute I love it.
I love the writing style in these books and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
January 3, 2025
I am really enjoying this series. I'm loving the town, the characters, and that it's set in a bookstore. This one has all that plus Christmas vibes. Loved it.
December 1, 2024
I am in love with Whisper Hollow! This one is even better than the first book. It can be read as a standalone. I recommend reading in order to really appreciate it. This is a cozy mystery but the romance is what kept my attention. Cheating ex who comes knocking, fake relationship, slow burn. Whooooooo!!!!
I was not expecting the twist at the end. I was consumed by the relationship between Harper and Sebastian that I didn’t even see it coming. The author is able to blend cozy mystery and romance so well. A perfect read for the holiday season.
Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for my review.
I was not expecting the twist at the end. I was consumed by the relationship between Harper and Sebastian that I didn’t even see it coming. The author is able to blend cozy mystery and romance so well. A perfect read for the holiday season.
Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for my review.
December 30, 2025
I just love Harper & Sebastian, but Harper’s detective skills definitely need some work! I will be finishing this series in February with “Murder with a Hint of Dark Chocolate” because I can’t leave Harp & Seb quite yet! 😉
November 15, 2025
this was a fun read!! if you like cozy murder mysteries i think you’d enjoy this series!
December 5, 2024
Cute festive cozy murder with a hint of romance.
What to expect:
🎄The setting of Whisper Hollow is reminiscent of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.
🎄Fake dating romance trope. Harper and Sebastian (hate the nickname Seb they used though 😬) were so cute together! They worked well together to solve the murder and have the start of a cute relationship.
🎄A great mystery involving her ex who suddenly showed up in town. I thought I instantly knew who the bad guy was, changed my mind a bunch of times and then the ending happened 😱.
What to expect:
🎄The setting of Whisper Hollow is reminiscent of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.
🎄Fake dating romance trope. Harper and Sebastian (hate the nickname Seb they used though 😬) were so cute together! They worked well together to solve the murder and have the start of a cute relationship.
🎄A great mystery involving her ex who suddenly showed up in town. I thought I instantly knew who the bad guy was, changed my mind a bunch of times and then the ending happened 😱.
December 6, 2024
"Seb pressed his lips against mine in a kiss as gentle and mesmerizing as the flutter of snowflakes." ❄️
I absolutely love this author!! This is my second book by Laura M. Drake and it definitely won't be my last. Cosy mystery combined with fake dating and romance made this the absolute perfect festive read. It was just so good!!! From start to finish I was hooked and I read it cover to cover in one sitting, I just didn't want to put it down, I needed to know what happened, who did it and if Harper and Seb would ever get theory happily ever after. 💕
The story was a engaging from the first page, the MCs were totally likeable and I love that it picked up pretty much where the last book left off. But at Christmas time🎄
Easy 5 stars 🌟 for me and I definitely recommend this book and this author!
I absolutely love this author!! This is my second book by Laura M. Drake and it definitely won't be my last. Cosy mystery combined with fake dating and romance made this the absolute perfect festive read. It was just so good!!! From start to finish I was hooked and I read it cover to cover in one sitting, I just didn't want to put it down, I needed to know what happened, who did it and if Harper and Seb would ever get theory happily ever after. 💕
The story was a engaging from the first page, the MCs were totally likeable and I love that it picked up pretty much where the last book left off. But at Christmas time🎄
Easy 5 stars 🌟 for me and I definitely recommend this book and this author!
December 17, 2025
After reading the first book in this series, I had to read this Christmas themed one as well and continue Harper and Sebastian’s story. This is such a cozy murder mystery series that has sucked me in from the very first page.
In this story, we have another dead body, an ex boyfriend that comes back into the picture unannounced and a few people who could be on the suspect list. The twists and turns in this one will shock you and Harper finds herself in a really horrible situation towards the end. Of course we can always count on Sebastian to come to her rescue.
As soon as I finished this book, I went to KU and borrowed the third one. I can’t wait to read it once the holidays are over!
In this story, we have another dead body, an ex boyfriend that comes back into the picture unannounced and a few people who could be on the suspect list. The twists and turns in this one will shock you and Harper finds herself in a really horrible situation towards the end. Of course we can always count on Sebastian to come to her rescue.
As soon as I finished this book, I went to KU and borrowed the third one. I can’t wait to read it once the holidays are over!
December 29, 2025
If you’re looking for a short and sweet Christmas murder mystery, this book is for you! Harper and Sebastien enter a fake relationship to keep her ex at bay—and to discourage Helen, who has a crush on Sebastien. As they spend more time together, they begin investigating the most recent murder in their town. Will they catch the killer before the killer catches them?
December 6, 2024
I didn't think it was possible but this one was better than the first. I love Harper and the world of Whispering Pines. I loved all the characters, the mystery had me guessing all along and had a great ending. I'm so excited there is another one coming next year!
Thank you Laura for an ARC copy.
Thank you Laura for an ARC copy.
November 9, 2025
All I am going to say is FINALLY! It was cute and an easy cozy mystery read. This is the second in the series and the slow burn of this relationship had me hopeful! Worth a read but read the first one of the series so you get the background on these characters.
December 3, 2024
This one took me a minute to really get into, but turned out to be a fun and pretty quick read!! Still BEGGING for just a morsel of spice though 😩😅
December 4, 2024
4.5 stars! Never thought I'd be a cozy mystery person but I love Laura Drake's writing/ characters/ stories/ everything! Cannot wait for the next book
December 11, 2024
Loving this series! Cute and perfect for the holidays.
October 31, 2025
5✨ Another cozy mystery complete! Another one I've loved ☺️ Let's get myself a bookshop, maybe with a little less murder and see what happens! Love, love, love!💖
December 18, 2025
Love this series!!! Cute little mysteries for every holiday
December 20, 2025
i love this series!!!! just what I needed to get into the holiday spirit 🎄
December 22, 2025
A cute cozy Christmas book with a mystery to add to the overall fun.
January 10, 2026
Despite being back in Whisper Hollows, this book seemed more like a Hallmark Movie compared to Pumpkin Spice where you still had a bit of mystery. It was still a cute read though💕
February 23, 2025
I enjoyed the first book in this series and I couldn’t wait for this second one to come out. I finally had a chance to read it. This fake-dating with Harper & Sebastian was adorable. I loved seeing his feelings for her develop and how she kept denying the truth. Can’t wait for the third book in the series!
January 7, 2026
I enjoyed this, alot more mystery in this one then the first book. cant wait to read the Valentine’s Day one in February.
December 2, 2024
Yessssss for a second book with another unaliving in a small town I was like how is this going to go. Literally the person I was most certain of it was not so well done. Such a cute and cozy murder mystery. I love whisper hallows so much, it gives me such a Gilmore girl vibes. I will say about darn time. 🖤🖤
Please if you are looking for a cute book that has to kicking your heals and then falling off your chair this is it.
Please if you are looking for a cute book that has to kicking your heals and then falling off your chair this is it.
September 30, 2025
didn’t like this one as much as the first one, but still a good read! the plot twist at the end was pretty good. felt like the romance was more focused on in this book and i actually think that’s why i didn’t like it as much- the romance is just okay. very drawn out and just kinda boring. overall, not bad for a quick holiday read!
August 19, 2025
MURDER WITH A HINT OF PEPPERMINT BY LAURA M DRAKE.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This is my 2nd time reading this series and it's amazing.
Love the cozy Christmas vibes of it.
♥ Sebastian and Harper ♥
I still just want to visit Whispering pages and have a sweet treat and hot drink at Superplum Delights 🎂🫖🍰☕️🥧
This is my 3nd book by Laura in a row and im starting on book 3 of The Whisper Hollow Mysteries series immediately.
Highly recommend this book
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This is my 2nd time reading this series and it's amazing.
Love the cozy Christmas vibes of it.
♥ Sebastian and Harper ♥
I still just want to visit Whispering pages and have a sweet treat and hot drink at Superplum Delights 🎂🫖🍰☕️🥧
This is my 3nd book by Laura in a row and im starting on book 3 of The Whisper Hollow Mysteries series immediately.
Highly recommend this book
October 31, 2025
Another light hearted cozy read, following the life of Harper in Whisper Hollow. The stories are not complex, but they are cosy and a joy to read whilst sipping your evening hot chocolate or morning coffee. Nancys character has inspired me to keep baking and Harpers determination to find answers makes me smile every time. We will miss Sal!4 stars ✨️
January 24, 2025
I adore this series!! Can’t wait to read the next one!
December 23, 2025
Murder With a Hint of Peppermint, book 2 in the Whisper Hollow series.
I haven't read the first book in the series yet, I wanted to read books with a holiday vibe, so did skip to book 2. I can say, while the story overall could be read as a standalone, I do feel there was a decent amount I missed by having not read book 1 first, so I will definitely need to go back and read that!
This was a super cozy, romantic mystery. FMC Harper owns a lovely bookshop, right next door to Sugarplum Delights, which sounds like a lovely place for some good food! Harper's ex-fiancé unexpectedly comes to town, and her friend, MMC Sebastien, comes to her "rescue" by saying that he and Harper are dating. Unfortunately, in such a small town as Whisper Hollow, the gossip reel is non-stop, and just about the whole town believes that Harper and Sebastien are actually dating in no time at all. With a mysterious murderer on the loose, Harper's ex-fiancé lurking, as well as a possible stalker, Harper and Sebastien agree to continue their fake dating until the mystery is solved. But neither of them seem to realize what the other truly wants...
I loved reading about Whisper Hollow, the entire town sounds so festive and homey. Harper's bookshop Whispering Pages, is definitely an indie bookstore I would love to visit! I love that she brings her cat Jiji with her to work everyday too, I love stores with pets in them! Sugarplum Delights seems like such a great place to grab some coffee and a snack, and maybe a little small town gossip. Amidst this pleasant little town, you really don't expect a murder to occur! The characters are quite unnerved themselves, especially since this is the second murder in a short amount of time. It seems that Harper may also have a stalker, which is made even more terrifying that the timing of the stalker seems to coincide with this murder. Harper is even more set on finding the murderer with the potential that her stalker may be one in the same person.
I enjoyed the mystery in this story, a lot of signs pointed to one character or another, but I was definitely surprised when the true culprit was revealed. Harper and Sebastien keep up their fake dating throughout the story, unfortunately Harper would really prefer to actually date Sebastien, and is afraid of what this will do to their friendship.
You have to read the story for yourself to see how it ends!
Some fav quotes:
""Christmas is the perfect time for murder," I told Maria as I shelved more books in the mystery section of my bookshop, Whispering Pages."
"A group of older ladies descended on the romance books in the corner like a pack of vultures in knit cardigans."
""Stop distracting me. The point is, I'm not trying to fall in love. I'm trying to catch a killer." Again. How many times would I have to do that in a town as small as Whisper Hollow?"
"Our mouths seemed to fit together as if they were two halves of a poem, nice on their own but perfect together."
"I stopped and shook my head. What was I thinking? I couldn't base murder accusations on who Jiji did and didn't like. If the verdict was up to my antisocial cat, half the town would be in jail by now."
""Santa is supposed to be fat and jolly, not sexy and smoldering.""
"He needed to come with a warning label: caution. Too sweet and attractive for his own good. Do not let loose near any females..."
I haven't read the first book in the series yet, I wanted to read books with a holiday vibe, so did skip to book 2. I can say, while the story overall could be read as a standalone, I do feel there was a decent amount I missed by having not read book 1 first, so I will definitely need to go back and read that!
This was a super cozy, romantic mystery. FMC Harper owns a lovely bookshop, right next door to Sugarplum Delights, which sounds like a lovely place for some good food! Harper's ex-fiancé unexpectedly comes to town, and her friend, MMC Sebastien, comes to her "rescue" by saying that he and Harper are dating. Unfortunately, in such a small town as Whisper Hollow, the gossip reel is non-stop, and just about the whole town believes that Harper and Sebastien are actually dating in no time at all. With a mysterious murderer on the loose, Harper's ex-fiancé lurking, as well as a possible stalker, Harper and Sebastien agree to continue their fake dating until the mystery is solved. But neither of them seem to realize what the other truly wants...
I loved reading about Whisper Hollow, the entire town sounds so festive and homey. Harper's bookshop Whispering Pages, is definitely an indie bookstore I would love to visit! I love that she brings her cat Jiji with her to work everyday too, I love stores with pets in them! Sugarplum Delights seems like such a great place to grab some coffee and a snack, and maybe a little small town gossip. Amidst this pleasant little town, you really don't expect a murder to occur! The characters are quite unnerved themselves, especially since this is the second murder in a short amount of time. It seems that Harper may also have a stalker, which is made even more terrifying that the timing of the stalker seems to coincide with this murder. Harper is even more set on finding the murderer with the potential that her stalker may be one in the same person.
I enjoyed the mystery in this story, a lot of signs pointed to one character or another, but I was definitely surprised when the true culprit was revealed. Harper and Sebastien keep up their fake dating throughout the story, unfortunately Harper would really prefer to actually date Sebastien, and is afraid of what this will do to their friendship.
You have to read the story for yourself to see how it ends!
Some fav quotes:
""Christmas is the perfect time for murder," I told Maria as I shelved more books in the mystery section of my bookshop, Whispering Pages."
"A group of older ladies descended on the romance books in the corner like a pack of vultures in knit cardigans."
""Stop distracting me. The point is, I'm not trying to fall in love. I'm trying to catch a killer." Again. How many times would I have to do that in a town as small as Whisper Hollow?"
"Our mouths seemed to fit together as if they were two halves of a poem, nice on their own but perfect together."
"I stopped and shook my head. What was I thinking? I couldn't base murder accusations on who Jiji did and didn't like. If the verdict was up to my antisocial cat, half the town would be in jail by now."
""Santa is supposed to be fat and jolly, not sexy and smoldering.""
"He needed to come with a warning label: caution. Too sweet and attractive for his own good. Do not let loose near any females..."
July 23, 2025
🚨Call the Dr, Emma read something that wasn’t fantasy and absolutely LOVED it 👩🏻⚕️🩻
These little books are exactly what I needed right now! I haven’t been able to pick up a book since my Nan passed away, then I got Covid and forgetttttt it. My brain decided it couldn’t read anymore. But these, these amazing books were the thing to pull me back to the light.
@lauramdrakebooks sent me this series last year as ARCs and while I read book one straight away (murder with a hint of pumpkin spice), I never got around to finishing the rest.
Since they’re short novels, I decided to reread book one yesterday (which took me half a day!) and jumped into book two (Murder with a hint of peppermint) yesterday and today I’ll start book three. Laura’s writing is hilarious and so easy to digest. No overthinking required. My tired, Covid-fogged brain didn’t need to decode fantasy maps or figure out intense magic systems. Instead, I got a cozy murder mystery that felt like Gilmore Girls with a splash of Nancy Drew 😂
I mean… moody MMC? Bookstore FMC? And the neighbour runs a bakery café hybrid?? It’s like this series was written for me. You know I’m sick if I’m voluntarily reading something that isn’t fantasy, but I’m also a true crime girlie at heart, so this is my perfect exception. Laura is honestly a literary genius 🥰
If you’re after something cozy, sweet, seasonal, and a little murdery (without the chest pains) this series is for you. I’ll be saving my favourite nerdy quotes and posting them over the next few days as I continue devouring these!
These little books are exactly what I needed right now! I haven’t been able to pick up a book since my Nan passed away, then I got Covid and forgetttttt it. My brain decided it couldn’t read anymore. But these, these amazing books were the thing to pull me back to the light.
@lauramdrakebooks sent me this series last year as ARCs and while I read book one straight away (murder with a hint of pumpkin spice), I never got around to finishing the rest.
Since they’re short novels, I decided to reread book one yesterday (which took me half a day!) and jumped into book two (Murder with a hint of peppermint) yesterday and today I’ll start book three. Laura’s writing is hilarious and so easy to digest. No overthinking required. My tired, Covid-fogged brain didn’t need to decode fantasy maps or figure out intense magic systems. Instead, I got a cozy murder mystery that felt like Gilmore Girls with a splash of Nancy Drew 😂
I mean… moody MMC? Bookstore FMC? And the neighbour runs a bakery café hybrid?? It’s like this series was written for me. You know I’m sick if I’m voluntarily reading something that isn’t fantasy, but I’m also a true crime girlie at heart, so this is my perfect exception. Laura is honestly a literary genius 🥰
If you’re after something cozy, sweet, seasonal, and a little murdery (without the chest pains) this series is for you. I’ll be saving my favourite nerdy quotes and posting them over the next few days as I continue devouring these!
November 5, 2025
This is the second book in the series. You definitely need to read them in order. You will miss a lot of things if you do not. If you haven't read the first book, then read it before reading this review.
Things are going well for Harper. The book store is prospering and it is almost Christmas. She has started having weekly dinners with her handsome business neighbor Sebastian. Then her Ex-fiance, Tate, waltzes into town to try to convince her to go back to him. To top it off, there is another murder in town. This time, it is Sebastian who is suddenly a suspect. When Sebastian steps up and pretends to be Harper's boyfriend to keep Tate away she repays the favor by being his alibi. They end up having to continue the pretend dating until they can figure out who the murderer is. When Harper discovers signs that someone is watching her, Sebastian really steps up and offers to stay at Harper's house until the murderer is caught. After a few days, the fake dating doesn't really feel quite so fake anymore. Will the murderer be caught and will Sebastian and Harper finally admit their feelings?
Things are going well for Harper. The book store is prospering and it is almost Christmas. She has started having weekly dinners with her handsome business neighbor Sebastian. Then her Ex-fiance, Tate, waltzes into town to try to convince her to go back to him. To top it off, there is another murder in town. This time, it is Sebastian who is suddenly a suspect. When Sebastian steps up and pretends to be Harper's boyfriend to keep Tate away she repays the favor by being his alibi. They end up having to continue the pretend dating until they can figure out who the murderer is. When Harper discovers signs that someone is watching her, Sebastian really steps up and offers to stay at Harper's house until the murderer is caught. After a few days, the fake dating doesn't really feel quite so fake anymore. Will the murderer be caught and will Sebastian and Harper finally admit their feelings?
December 1, 2024
Book Review: Murder with a Hint of Peppermint by Laura M. Drake
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
After thoroughly enjoying the first book in this series, I was excited to dive into Murder with a Hint of Peppermint and return to this charming cozy town and its familiar cast of characters. Laura M. Drake did not disappoint with this sequel!
One of the highlights for me was seeing the characters grow and develop even further in this story. The sense of community and warmth in the town made the book feel like a comforting escape, perfect for the festive season. The holiday setting added an extra layer of coziness that kept me engaged throughout.
As a book lover, I still adore that our main character runs a bookshop—it’s such a delightful backdrop for a cozy mystery. The pacing of the story was well done, with an exciting buildup that really picked up toward the end, making it hard to put down.
If you’re looking for a festive cozy mystery to get you into the holiday spirit, this series is a great choice. I’m already looking forward to the next installment!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
After thoroughly enjoying the first book in this series, I was excited to dive into Murder with a Hint of Peppermint and return to this charming cozy town and its familiar cast of characters. Laura M. Drake did not disappoint with this sequel!
One of the highlights for me was seeing the characters grow and develop even further in this story. The sense of community and warmth in the town made the book feel like a comforting escape, perfect for the festive season. The holiday setting added an extra layer of coziness that kept me engaged throughout.
As a book lover, I still adore that our main character runs a bookshop—it’s such a delightful backdrop for a cozy mystery. The pacing of the story was well done, with an exciting buildup that really picked up toward the end, making it hard to put down.
If you’re looking for a festive cozy mystery to get you into the holiday spirit, this series is a great choice. I’m already looking forward to the next installment!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews