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Cottage on Gooseberry Bay #18
The Innocence Factor
A murder shrouded in secrets. A young man’s future hanging in the balance. A past that refuses to stay buried.
When Ainsley Holloway stumbles upon the body of a substitute teacher beneath the high school bleachers, it seems like an open-and-shut case. All evidence points to Justice, a brilliant but troubled student with ties to the victim—and no alibi. But Ainsley’s gut tells her there’s more to the story.
In a race against time, Ainsley must unravel a tangled web of lies, hidden histories, and painful truths to clear Justice’s name. But as the investigation draws her deeper into the shadows of the past, she begins to wonder: how far will someone go to keep their secrets buried?
When Ainsley Holloway stumbles upon the body of a substitute teacher beneath the high school bleachers, it seems like an open-and-shut case. All evidence points to Justice, a brilliant but troubled student with ties to the victim—and no alibi. But Ainsley’s gut tells her there’s more to the story.
In a race against time, Ainsley must unravel a tangled web of lies, hidden histories, and painful truths to clear Justice’s name. But as the investigation draws her deeper into the shadows of the past, she begins to wonder: how far will someone go to keep their secrets buried?
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2025
485 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Kathi Daley
320 books1,788 followersKathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 6, 2025
The Innocence Factor is the eighteenth book in Kathi Daley’s Cottage on Gooseberry Bay series. This is an entertaining and clean series with a strong emphasis on family, friends, community, and caring. The setting is charming, and the three-dimensional characters are well-developed. Ms. Daley’s descriptive writing draws the reader in, making them feel like they’re taking part in the action. The complex and intriguing mystery, twists, and red herrings will keep readers engaged and guessing. Whenever I pick up one of Ms. Daley’s books, I know I’m in for a treat, and I’ve never been disappointed. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading well-crafted, cozy mysteries.
After Ainsley Holloway’s adoptive father passed away, she found a photograph of a woman with two young children. For reasons Ainsley couldn’t explain, she felt connected to the people in the photograph and started doubting her past. In her search for the truth about her past, Ainsley and her two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Kai and Kallie, moved from Georgia to Washington State and rented a cozy cottage in Gooseberry Bay. Ainsley, who originally planned to stay for only a month or two, quickly made friends, settled into the community, and opened Ainsley Holloway Investigations.
In this installment, Romy Mansfield, a visitor from Virginia, who found a tote bag an elderly woman left on a public bus in Seattle, hires Ainsley to identify and locate the tote bag’s owner and return it and its surprising contents to its rightful owner. While on an early morning run, Ainsley and her dogs, Kai and Kallie, discover the body of the local high school’s new substitute teacher, Clark Oberson, beneath the high school’s bleachers. Unfortunately, because of a recent verbal altercation between Mr. Oberson and one of the Winchester Academy’s students, Justice James, becomes the prime and only suspect. Even though all the evidence points to Justice as the killer, Ainsley’s gut instinct doesn’t agree. Ainsley, Jemma Hawthorn, Josie Wellington, and Parker Peterson join forces and enlist FBI Agent Dante Ryker’s help to uncover the truth about Clark Oberson’s death and identify the perpetrator.
After Ainsley Holloway’s adoptive father passed away, she found a photograph of a woman with two young children. For reasons Ainsley couldn’t explain, she felt connected to the people in the photograph and started doubting her past. In her search for the truth about her past, Ainsley and her two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Kai and Kallie, moved from Georgia to Washington State and rented a cozy cottage in Gooseberry Bay. Ainsley, who originally planned to stay for only a month or two, quickly made friends, settled into the community, and opened Ainsley Holloway Investigations.
In this installment, Romy Mansfield, a visitor from Virginia, who found a tote bag an elderly woman left on a public bus in Seattle, hires Ainsley to identify and locate the tote bag’s owner and return it and its surprising contents to its rightful owner. While on an early morning run, Ainsley and her dogs, Kai and Kallie, discover the body of the local high school’s new substitute teacher, Clark Oberson, beneath the high school’s bleachers. Unfortunately, because of a recent verbal altercation between Mr. Oberson and one of the Winchester Academy’s students, Justice James, becomes the prime and only suspect. Even though all the evidence points to Justice as the killer, Ainsley’s gut instinct doesn’t agree. Ainsley, Jemma Hawthorn, Josie Wellington, and Parker Peterson join forces and enlist FBI Agent Dante Ryker’s help to uncover the truth about Clark Oberson’s death and identify the perpetrator.
August 13, 2025
Ainsley Holloway is a private detective in Gooseberry Bay and finds the body of a local substitute teacher while out on a run. The case seems to be an open-and-shut one with things pointing to a young man named Justice as being the guilty party. Justice is a brilliant yet troubled teen with no alibi and a previous tie to the victim. Yet Ainsley is sure the boy's innocent. Can she and the Peninsula gang prove it?
Kathi Daley is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and this series has become one of my must-reads. I've really enjoyed this series and this book's no exception. It's well-written with wonderful characters who are both believable and likable. I was drawn into this enchanting story and kept hooked from beginning to end. The featured strong connections of friendship and found family. The mystery is intriguing with lots of twists and turns and red herrings. I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend both book and series which I believe is best read in order although each book does have a self-contained mystery.
Kathi Daley is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and this series has become one of my must-reads. I've really enjoyed this series and this book's no exception. It's well-written with wonderful characters who are both believable and likable. I was drawn into this enchanting story and kept hooked from beginning to end. The featured strong connections of friendship and found family. The mystery is intriguing with lots of twists and turns and red herrings. I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend both book and series which I believe is best read in order although each book does have a self-contained mystery.
May 7, 2025
A woman from out of town contacts Ainsley to find a woman she met on a bus in Seattle and that had left her tote under the seat when she left the bus. The tote contained an urn with the woman's husband's ashes. After much searching and using her contacts, the woman is found in a hospital as a Jane Doe after being mugged, but will recover. With that mystery solved, Phoenix, who is home from college asks Ainsley to look into her mother's new boyfriend. Something is off about him. What Ainsley and her friends discover is frightening and dangerous. And, a student at Adam's school for the gifted is arrested for murder. So all the gang from the peninsula has their hands full to save the one student and help the other before anyone else is harmed. Great series!
May 11, 2025
I really do enjoy reading the cosy mysteries Kathi Daley writes. Every book I've read of hers has been good. The characters are well defined, and the storylines are entertaining. I also love that the books are long-running series, so you can really get into the lives of the characters.
This book continues Avery's story in Gooseberry Bay, her role as a Private Investigator comes in handy when trying to solve a mystery and then trying to clear the name of a young man who she feels has been falsely accused with the crime.
The books are all standalone stories, but they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.
This book continues Avery's story in Gooseberry Bay, her role as a Private Investigator comes in handy when trying to solve a mystery and then trying to clear the name of a young man who she feels has been falsely accused with the crime.
The books are all standalone stories, but they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.
May 11, 2025
Good not great.
Kathy Daley has written several excellent series, including this one in Gooseberry Bay. Most of the books are 4 or 5 stars. This story was good but, there were more 'summaries' than usual, and they felt flat.
Also, the story went along well until near the end. Then randomly they find something out and switch things up, without any connection.
That does happen a lot with cozy mysteries, but this felt totally unrelated.
Of course I will still keep reading! Her new series, the Rescue at Gooseberry Bay had an excellent beginning in book 1!
Kathy Daley has written several excellent series, including this one in Gooseberry Bay. Most of the books are 4 or 5 stars. This story was good but, there were more 'summaries' than usual, and they felt flat.
Also, the story went along well until near the end. Then randomly they find something out and switch things up, without any connection.
That does happen a lot with cozy mysteries, but this felt totally unrelated.
Of course I will still keep reading! Her new series, the Rescue at Gooseberry Bay had an excellent beginning in book 1!
June 2, 2025
Enjoy this series
A tote bag with a cremation urn left on a bus results in Ainsley trying to find the owner. A murdered substitute teacher with ties to one of the kids at Adam's school pulls all the peninsula gang into trying to clear the kid. There is a mysterious man in Phoenix's mother and sister's life that is a lot more dangerous than they want to believe. This is a story series that is best enjoyed by starting at the beginning as the characters and relationships develop throughout the series. I look forward to the next one.
A tote bag with a cremation urn left on a bus results in Ainsley trying to find the owner. A murdered substitute teacher with ties to one of the kids at Adam's school pulls all the peninsula gang into trying to clear the kid. There is a mysterious man in Phoenix's mother and sister's life that is a lot more dangerous than they want to believe. This is a story series that is best enjoyed by starting at the beginning as the characters and relationships develop throughout the series. I look forward to the next one.
May 7, 2025
Great book
As I say in all my reviews, I love books in a series. These books get better and better. I do have trouble keeping all the friends straight. Aiinsley, Jemma, Josie, Avery and Parker I can keep straight but after more people get added or come back it gets a little confusing. This book covered three different mysteries. A person who lost her dead husband's ashes and disappeared, a maybe serial killer and an innocent boy accused of murder. So interesting.
As I say in all my reviews, I love books in a series. These books get better and better. I do have trouble keeping all the friends straight. Aiinsley, Jemma, Josie, Avery and Parker I can keep straight but after more people get added or come back it gets a little confusing. This book covered three different mysteries. A person who lost her dead husband's ashes and disappeared, a maybe serial killer and an innocent boy accused of murder. So interesting.
May 12, 2025
A good story, but as this author now writes these, it's just a series of conjectures with minimal hard clues or evidence until it all suddenly falls together.
Amazon synopsis:
In a race against time, Ainsley must unravel a tangled web of lies, hidden histories, and painful truths to clear Justice’s name. But as the investigation draws her deeper into the shadows of the past, she begins to wonder: how far will someone go to keep their secrets buried?
Amazon synopsis:
In a race against time, Ainsley must unravel a tangled web of lies, hidden histories, and painful truths to clear Justice’s name. But as the investigation draws her deeper into the shadows of the past, she begins to wonder: how far will someone go to keep their secrets buried?
May 17, 2025
Is there Justice for Justice?
Adam and Arcjie had allowed a young man fresh out of Juvenile detention into the school. The young man was doing well until an argument brought to light an issue fron his past. With the Gerk Squad home college Ainsley receives info about some odd behavior and the search for understanding follow. Always enjoy reading Kathi Daley books. Good story lines and characters apoear in other series.
Adam and Arcjie had allowed a young man fresh out of Juvenile detention into the school. The young man was doing well until an argument brought to light an issue fron his past. With the Gerk Squad home college Ainsley receives info about some odd behavior and the search for understanding follow. Always enjoy reading Kathi Daley books. Good story lines and characters apoear in other series.
May 14, 2025
Love
Kathi never ceases to amaze, she always comes up with great stories for each series. The gang at Gooseberry Bay are involved in a case that gets kind of complicated but with the help of FBI agent Ryker it all is worked out in the end. I highly recommend Kathi's books to anyone that asks.
Kathi never ceases to amaze, she always comes up with great stories for each series. The gang at Gooseberry Bay are involved in a case that gets kind of complicated but with the help of FBI agent Ryker it all is worked out in the end. I highly recommend Kathi's books to anyone that asks.
May 23, 2025
Lots of mysteries going on
Daley has done it again. Another 5 star in my eyes. There was the question as to where the lady with the yellow bag with her husband's ashes was, who killed the substitute teacher, what Phoenix's mom's boyfriend's intentions were and who is next target to kill was... if he is, in fact, a killer.
It all kept me reading!
Daley has done it again. Another 5 star in my eyes. There was the question as to where the lady with the yellow bag with her husband's ashes was, who killed the substitute teacher, what Phoenix's mom's boyfriend's intentions were and who is next target to kill was... if he is, in fact, a killer.
It all kept me reading!
May 17, 2025
Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: The Innocence Factor
Winslet starts out with a lost cremation urn. From there the mystery goes tangled with a murder, a stranger, and the group etc entwined in more than one possible conclusion and a cat and mouse game.
Winslet starts out with a lost cremation urn. From there the mystery goes tangled with a murder, a stranger, and the group etc entwined in more than one possible conclusion and a cat and mouse game.
January 1, 2026
Family is important, but the killer is breaking it up
So this murder mystery has a psyco walking into the town and finding his victim. Not nice. But there are more than one victims. So who done it, will they be caught and then can the group get back to their lives.
So this murder mystery has a psyco walking into the town and finding his victim. Not nice. But there are more than one victims. So who done it, will they be caught and then can the group get back to their lives.
May 7, 2025
Another Good One!
I have enjoyed this book series and this was another good one. Full of suspense but with a satisfactory ending.
I have enjoyed this book series and this was another good one. Full of suspense but with a satisfactory ending.
May 15, 2025
Love this series!!
May 17, 2025
Good read...
May 18, 2025
Great read.
Kept you guessing from beginning to the last chapter. Great characters. Great relationship throughout.Can't wait to go on to the next book.
Kept you guessing from beginning to the last chapter. Great characters. Great relationship throughout.Can't wait to go on to the next book.
May 22, 2025
I love all the Cottage on Gooseberry Bay books but this one really kept me reading through the night! Lots of suspense. Loved it.
May 31, 2025
It is so nice to visit old friends.
Always something unexpected to ponder. Love the characters and trying to keep up with what is happening. The curves keep me on my toes.
Always something unexpected to ponder. Love the characters and trying to keep up with what is happening. The curves keep me on my toes.
June 1, 2025
Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!
June 25, 2025
Very good story
I love reading these book's I wish Adam would spend more time with Avery as they don't spend many days together.
I love reading these book's I wish Adam would spend more time with Avery as they don't spend many days together.
September 23, 2025
I love all Kathi Daley books. I really enjoy this series. It is a fun light read.
November 14, 2025
I truly enjoyed this cozy murder mystery! I will be getting all the other books!
January 7, 2026
Great book
This is a great series. I love all of the characters and pets. It was good to see Phoenix involved again.
This is a great series. I love all of the characters and pets. It was good to see Phoenix involved again.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews