Murder In The Sapphire's Shadow

Willow Creek Cozy Mysteries #2

by Capri Winslow

The dark shadows of a 20-year-old unsolved murder turns Madelyn’s quiet life upside down.

In 1979, Madelyn Harper had the ideal life—a loving husband, a young son, and the return of a treasured family heirloom from a museum exhibit, or so she thought.

But when the necklace arrives back into her hands, something feels wrong. Could it be a fake?

Little did she know, her investigation into the Sweet Sapphire Necklace would be tied to her husband’s sinister and sudden death.

As Madelyn delves deeper into the investigation, determined to uncover the truth, she must solve this deadly puzzle before the next murder occurs--- possibly her own.

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2024

About the author

Hello, Cozy Mystery Friends! I'm Capri Winslow, and I love writing Cozy Mysteries. I love murder mysteries with red herrings, amateur sleuths, and grumpy detectives who don't like amateur sleuths.

I grew up in a small town, so relationships within the community are close to my heart. There will always be humor in my books, and all of my Cozy Mysteries will have a beagle dog involved in the mystery. Beagles have a nose for clues!

I have four beagle dogs who bring me joy! They are such a fun breed.

Writing has been a passion of mine since I was young. When I retired from Nursing, I began writing Cozy Mysteries and reading them to my six beautiful grandkids.

Please enjoy my passion with me and read my Cozy Mysteries. Thank You!

Love and Blessings,

Capri Winslow

Reviews

[Mariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder In The Sapphire's Shadow: A Willow Creek Cozy Mystery Book 2
By Capri Winslow

I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving my review.

A Gripping and Heartwarming Cozy Mystery, "Murder In The Sapphire's Shadow" is the second instalment in Capri Winslow's delightful Willow Creek Cozy Mystery series. The story follows Madelyn Harper, whose peaceful life is disrupted by the dark shadows of a 20-year-old mystery. In 1979, Madelyn had the ideal life—a loving husband, a young son, and the return of a treasured family heirloom from a museum exhibit. When she thinks she has everything she could need in life, tragedy strikes.

Winslow masterfully weaves together a complex plot filled with intriguing characters. Madelyn, the protagonist, is a relatable, endearing heroine, and her journey to uncover the truth is suspenseful and heartwarming. The author's vivid descriptions of the characters and settings make it easy for readers to become fully immersed in the world of Willow Creek. The descriptions of the quaint little town come to life, making you feel like you could easily stroll down its streets. 

One of the standout aspects of this mystery is its exploration of themes. The novel delves into the consequences of the power of family bonds, and the courage required to face the past. I loved how the town came together, highlighting the importance of friendship and support, especially in tough times. These deeper themes add depth and nuance to the classic cozy mystery formula.

Winslow's writing style is engaging and accessible. Her prose is clear and concise and infused with a warm, conversational tone that makes the story feel intimate and relatable. The pacing is well-balanced, with a steady stream of clues and revelations to keep readers guessing. From Madelyn's loyal friends to the enigmatic suspects, each character feels fully realized.

Overall, "Murder In The Sapphire's Shadow" is a captivating cozy mystery, boasting a compelling plot, memorable characters, and a richly detailed setting.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Recommendation: This is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, particularly those who enjoy stories with complex characters, intricate plots, and a touch of heartwarming drama.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic well written second book in the Willow Creek series that is broken into two parts and keeps you turning pages. The main character, Madelyn Sweet is a very likeable character and we are treated with so much she has to go through that you are rooting for her all the way. The beginning of the book is about Madelyn's life from her acting career, the heirloom sapphire necklace, meeting her husband, Henry Harper, and having a son. A wonderful life. Until tragedy strikes and her husband is dead. Why? How? And when after Madelyn gets the return of the Sapphire necklace loaned to the local museum like they had done for years, when it is returned it doesn't seem right. So in her investigating the situation since there was something odd about a brooch loaned and returned in the past didn't seem right either, she has to delve into past bad deeds are discovered and is it all tied into her husband's death? Madelyn and her son are in great danger and the only chance of future safety lies in discovering the truth about the past and keeping it secret. So much to unwind and discover, will she come out of it unscathed? There are so many twists and turns in this second book. I recommend reading the first book first so some of the things in this second book explains a few things. But, this is a real page turner and I highly recommend both books. I received an ARC of the book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Jean Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of this mystery is set mainly in 1979 and 1990, with both time periods connected to a family heirloom. The mystery deepens when tragedy strikes and the heirloom goes missing. Madelyn is a wonderful person and is living a happy life until her husband dies and she suspects he was murdered. She perseveres and later meets Christopher, which leads to them working to solve some of the mysteries. I found it a little confusing about the relative who keeps threatening Madelyn and somehow the police never catch up to him. I enjoyed seeing Madelyn and Christopher's relationship grows and they fall in love and marry. Then the unthinkable happens. The epilogue leaves you hanging after the receipt of a letter. I'm assuming there must be a third book, if for no other reason than to tie up loose ends. I received a free copy of this book through Bookfunnel and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellant written book about murder and mystery. I love Madelyn Sweet how she goes for her dreams and how her love interest Henry Harper is so supportive of her dreams. They seem to have a very happy marriage until Madelyn comes home from a acting trip to New York and finds out her husband has died. She is having trouble just keeping going but she know that she must for their son. She finally trying to get but to life after she meets Chrisopher Everett but she is afraid encase her great uncle shows up again and hurts her son or anyone close to her. When she finally agrees to marry Christopher she receives a letter from her great uncle with a threat to her son and Christopher. She must make a decision on how to protect her family. This books leaves us quessing if she was kidnapped or if she ran away. I hope the next book will clear this up I am looking forward to it.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, we’re back in Willow Creek with another mystery!

This time, we’re also dealing with an heirloom on display with Madame Wren. Our relic on this occasion is a sapphire necklace owned by the Sweet family, a family of jewelers. The “keeper” of this heirloom is Madelyn Sweet, an up-and-coming actress. When Madelyn gets the necklace back from Madame Wren, she realizes it’s a fake and has that verified. This brings about a terrible chain of events leading to the death of her husband. This story has a bit of everything, from love to murder, jewel thieves and even the black sheep of the Sweet family! It’s exceptionally well written with an exciting plot.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet small-town love, with a little murder.
What a wonderful love story, times 2! There is much mystery within this story, too. A well-to-do family that grows with the next generation. Then there is the heirloom items that make a mystery of why a person did what he did, and where did he go?
The second part of this story with Christopher makes it a well-rounded family, which makes the ending not an ending, as well as not expected.
Thank you, Capri Winslow, for a good story.
I received a complimentary copy of this story and this is my honest review.

[L KQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery Deepens

The majority of this mystery spans across time periods, mainly 1979 and 1990, which are both connected to a family heirloom. Unfortunately, as tragedy strikes and the original item goes missing, the mystery deepens. Capri Winslow does a great job of weaving this small-town mystery with an unexpected outcome. Transitioning to the epilogue only leaves unanswered questions with hope and anticipation that they will be resolved in the next installment.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing mystery.

Madelyn Sweet is a delightful person and lives a fairy tale life, or so it seems until tragedy strikes. I enjoyed reading how she moves on with life and teams with Christopher to solve an age-old intriguing mystery. An enjoyable and fascinating story with lots of unexpected events.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure how to feel about this book.. It was very 'proper' in the building of relationships. With a title including murder - I expected more of a story about solving a murder. It felt more like the developing of a love story with a side of jewel thief. Then a long bit of searching for lost heirlooms with an unexpected twist of an ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows a mystery through generations of families with lots of twists and turns. The storyline does get a little complex at times, but it is a great read to take your mind of everyday things. A very engaging story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, it was sweet, Madelyn had both joy and sadness to deal with and then there's the mystery of the family necklace. The story was lovely, the characters likeable and I definitely enjoyed the then and now aspects too. I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

I enjoyed the stories attached to the precious, gem laden artifacts of Willow Creek. Madeleine, a talented actress, with a love of her family and town, searches for clues to the mystery connected with her sapphire necklace. Lots of surprises pop up.

[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this 2 part book a lot. It held my interest and kept me engaged. The thought the characters were believable and likable. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

[Missy · Rating 1 out of 5]

It took too long to get to the point. Was a very slow read

[G. Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it was slow at times and it felt long winded as well but in the end with everything that they went through it turned out to be really good.