Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Blackmailer's Murder: A page turning cozy murder mystery that keeps you guessing

Rate this book
The story has mystery, danger, a dead body, humor, a cute dog, best friends, several suspects, romance and a few twists. 5 STAR Amazon Review.

I just wanted some R&R at my B&B. How was I to know the town meanie would R.I.P. and I’d get the blame.

I only returned to this small town when my Aunt left me her beloved Bed and Breakfast where I was raised.

Right when I’m having my grand reopening, the town's most ruthless businessman takes a tumble down my creaky staircase.

We all gather around and see a silver hair from the librarian's wig on his suit. They were screaming at each other earlier as the whole town heard, literally.

And there’s a piece of yarn in his hand from his ex-girlfriend’s sweater. She’d give him a shove, for sure.

We’re all suspects at this party crime scene.

Now me and my pooch Watson must warm up the locals and loosen their lips for clues to find the killer.

But, as I get closer to the truth I receive threatening notes warning me to ‘stop or die’, and I swear I’m being followed. I need to unravel this mystery fast before my sweater knitting days are over for good.

207 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2024

13 people are currently reading
21 people want to read

About the author

Daisy Belle

20 books30 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
23 (54%)
4 stars
11 (26%)
3 stars
8 (19%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Jane litherland.
4,106 reviews74 followers
December 1, 2024
Hitting the ground running this immersive mystery series is fabulously descriptive and cosy feel while keeping the murderous intent real feel. It’s cosy as well and covers all grounds ,character bound. There’s best of friends and a love interest too, the handsome Sheriff , Jack Callahan , well wouldn’t you ? So here we have Fi / Fiona Cates who inherits the Cosy Nook B&B inn Peaks Point from her aunt Gina along with her cousin Tom Mattlock . No sooner has the ink dried ,than the town meanie Roger Barnett nemesis to all upped and died. Well …seems it was murder at the B&B and not just an unfortunate stumble down the creaky stairs …this is the stuff of nightmares ,it really is when Fi is also a suspect . The bumbling constabulary really hasn’t a clue arresting Fi? I ask you … so what’s a girl to do but take up the mantle and solve the mystery before she is history and sitting in jail for a crime she didn’t do… Tom is on the case too and asks in his normal carefree manner how it goes.. “So, how’s the investigation going, Angela Lansbury?”“Don’t even joke about that Mattlock,” there’s funny quips like this that makes for the reading pleasure. Such holds the key to the mystery ..speaking of which what do the cousins discover that must’ve belonged to Roger but just that.. a hidden key …”You really think this is the key to solving it all?” With threatening notes telling her to stop or die. “I’m telling you, Fi,” he said, “We can’t ignore that note. Someone’s playing dirty, and it’s only going to get worse.”
She can’t stop now she must try to catch the killer before they kill her.. Now let’s not split hairs but there was that grey hair on his business suit..from the librarian’s white wig if we’re being astute. Not to mention a vociferous quarrel was heard by the whole town , but then there’s his ex girlfriend’s sweater yarn thread in his hand , was it her instead? Then there was Fi ,but rather than reel from the accusations her and trusty dog Watson are taken onboard with great accord when the sheriff realises she’s not the killer and can be a help , that must illicit a yelp from Watson and a phew from Fi , now let’s get on with solving this mystery that saw fit to make sure Mr. Barnett was history…So the sheriff and Fi with Watson too are joined by her Tom to see what they can do . They gather the clues in order to catch the real killer. This is certainly a thriller. Where does she start well there’s her dear heart or soon he’ll be I guarantee ,I’ve seen the cute see …well not really but that’s the guessing game of a good mystery …the local Sheriff Jack, how handsome he be and that’s a fact. Lead the way , hearts astray , her cousin Tom with much aplomb and those quips of his move the story along splendidly the humour a bomb. Brilliant writing Daisy Belle , i thoroughly enjoyed this mystery ,I guess you can tell. The characters already feel familiar and the camaraderie between them is truly immersive and fun. A perfect read for mystery lovers , there’s lots going on between the covers. Excellent storytelling!
Profile Image for Debbie.
54 reviews2 followers
December 17, 2024
I got this ARC via BookFunnel and the author (thanks!). This review is honest and voluntary.

I’m often up for a cozy mystery, so I was eager to get into this one. In “The Blackmailer’s Murder,” a man dies mysteriously at Fiona’s Bed & Breakfast, and when she’s considered a suspect, she decides to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. Turns out it goes waaay deeper than it initially appeared.

From the beginning of the book I really liked Fiona. She’s got personality, she’s got agency, and she’s the first one to take seriously the first piece of evidence in what could be the victim Roger’s murder. (I was surprised how dismissive the police were of what could be such a blatantly obvious clue in the search for suspects!)

As the book wears on Fiona’s methods grow more questionable. I understand desperation, and how deeply connected her B&B is with the murder. However it would’ve been in her interest to be respectful in her investigations. Her mode of questioning switches from innocent conversation to downright demanding. She had to remember that she wasn’t in law enforcement, and no one owed her any explanations. Also, considering some of the means she gained evidence to convict a suspect, I doubt any of her findings is actually admissible in court.

It surprised me a lot how willing the sheriff was to share the details of the investigation with Fiona. Early on he’s suspecting her of murder, then begging her to stay off the case for her own safety, then willingly divulging all the info he finds, even when as she gets more involved the threats on her safety grow more frightening. I get that Fiona and the sheriff are friends, but she could still have been guilty. I wondered if it was wise to be this forthcoming with classified information to someone who’d been a suspect, friendship history aside.

The book’s pacing is good, though. There’s always something happening. The murder happens fast, so it gets exciting right away! The author describes scenes well too; never is the reader left to imagine what a place looks like. I highlighted some really cool descriptions, as well as some that kept repeating. A chill ran down my spine. The weight of [this] is dawning on me. Occasional variations of these expressions would’ve been nice 😅.

The book’s over 200 pages long, and that made me happy. Longer mysteries often mean more time spent exploring villains, their motives, figuring out how they could’ve committed the murder, seeing if there’s any you’re rooting for 🤭. In this book the villains are mentioned and then explored somewhat, before fading into near oblivion because Fiona zeroes in on one. The zeroing in isn’t bad if it comes close to the end, but it happens just over halfway into the book, meaning the rest of the story has the tendency to drag. Some chapters only reinforce what’s already been established, so it got repetitive. A twist ending could have saved it.

Still, it’s pretty fun, with potential for some of the relationships to be explored in later books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christina.
557 reviews4 followers
January 3, 2025
Blackmailer’s Murder by Daisy Bell is a fun, easy-read cozy mystery. The story follows Fiona and her cousin Tom, who inherit their aunt’s bed and breakfast. However, their grand opening takes a grim turn when the body of a local developer is discovered on their property. Suspicion falls on Fiona and others, as the suspect pool is too large to narrow down.

I enjoyed this book and would definitely read more by this author. That said, there were a few issues that stood out to me:
1. While it’s not unusual for the sheriff to be the protagonist’s love interest in cozy mysteries, I was surprised by how openly he handed over evidence to Fiona. It felt a bit unrealistic and detracted from the tension.
2. Despite the clear danger of the situation, including what could have been a near-fatal accident for Fiona, she seemed remarkably unfazed. She had no problem asking town residents pointed questions or even breaking into a building to gather evidence. It felt inconsistent with the seriousness of her predicament.
3. Fiona’s dog, who accompanied her everywhere, was frequently given all kinds of human food. While cozy mysteries aren’t known for their pet care advice, I would have preferred more responsible depictions of what is healthy or harmful for dogs, given how well-known the dangers of some foods are.

Taking all of this into account, I would rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars. It’s an enjoyable read with some quirks, but those quirks might not bother all readers.
Profile Image for DianaRaven.
1,310 reviews8 followers
December 7, 2024
THE BLACKMAILER'S MURDER is A Peaks Point Cozy Mystery Club story by Daisy Belle, this is my introduction to the author. I found this book to be good page turning mystery with twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the last page.

Fiona and her cousin Tom inherited a B&B and during their grand opening a guest is found dead. Since Fiona had an argument with the deceased, she becomes the prime suspect. Set on clearing her name, Fiona,  Tom, BFF Iris and Fiona's dog Watson start their own investigation, but the Sheriff  orders her to keep out of the investigation. As if!  Fiona keeps digging, finding more suspects and even illegal activities that threatens her dog, Watson. 

I really enjoyed reading this book and looking forward to the next one. I did receive a free copy of this book via Bookfunnel and this is my voluntarily and honest review.
69 reviews1 follower
November 30, 2024
This is book 1 of the Peaks Point cozy mystery series.
Fiona has moved back to her small home town after
Inheriting her Aunt’s B&B with her cousin. At the reopening
A guest is killed - murdered. After having an argument with
Him she is now a suspect. So now Fiona, her cousin, her bestie
The Sheriff ( her High School crush) and of course her dog Watson
( great name) work to crack the case. I enjoyed this book, a great
Mystery, easy flowing story. A very cute dog, and a possible romance.
I only didn’t like the lack of description- what colour hair and eyes do these people have, what do they look like. What kind of dog is Watson, and what state is
Peak Point in! Hopefully these will be addressed in further books, which I will
Be reading!
Profile Image for Sandy.
139 reviews2 followers
December 3, 2024
This was certainly a page turner, mystery, couldn't put it down book. First let me say I really hope this is Book 1 as the title includes, and there will be more to come. There are so many levels of things happening and it's almost hard to keep up. I love how Watson always seems to know what is going on.. I know he is just a dog, but he is totally devoted to his people.
And it is always fun to include a little interest between some of the main characters. The Sheriff and the B&B owner were friends from high school and now she is always getting involved and trying to help solve a suspicious death or other illegal activities.
I would strongly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,593 reviews28 followers
May 1, 2025
The Blackmailer's Murder: A page turning cozy murder mystery that keeps you guessing (A Peaks Point Cozy Mystery Club Series), my third enjoyable 207-page read from author Daisy Belle. “I received a complementary Kindle copy and am voluntarily leaving a review." There are so many cozy mysteries out there and so many authors writing them, but they're popular and I read my share of them. The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with A Final Brush with Murder: Try to find clues hiding in plain site in this endearing cozy mystery as it unleashes suspense. (A Peaks Point Cozy Mystery Club Series) next on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
1,022 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2024
A murder, a B&B and Fiona’s return to the Cozy Nook Bed and Breakfast!

What happens when you combine the above? A rollicking chase to catch whodunit! Add in a very protective dog—whose name is Watson of all things—and the story just gets better and better. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery with Fiona returning to the B&B she inherited from her aunt, along with her cousin Tom. The story is well written and the plot moves right along and there’s even the added benefit of a bit of romance between Fiona and the local sheriff. I highly enjoyed this story and can’t wait for the next one from Daisy Belle.
946 reviews9 followers
November 22, 2024
Fiona with her dog Watson is at her B&B, which Fiona had inherited from her Aunt Gina. A grand reopening party & she finds someone dead, at the bottom of the stairs. She is sure it is murder, although the sheriff takes some convincing! She’s right & as she digs deeper she finds out quite a lot of things. This book is a page turner! I had to grit my teeth to leave it half way through so I could get to sleep! Something great happens whilst she is snooping! Watson finds an abandoned puppy which Fiona adopts & names Pip.
213 reviews4 followers
November 26, 2024
Owner Fiona with the help of her cousin Tom are opening the Cozy Nook Bed and Breakfast that Fiona inherited. A man who wanted to buy the Inn is found dead at the grand opening. The sheriff starts investigating Fiona then realizes he needs her help to solve the case. She starts to unravel a lot of corruption which puts her and her dog’s life in danger. This was a book that was hard to put down. Good to the very end.

I received an advance review copy, ARC, for free and I am leaving an honest opinion and voluntary review
4,572 reviews31 followers
December 13, 2024
Even though she grew up in Pike’s Point, I’m not sure the town is really ready for Fiona, although the sheriff is. The author gives us romance, best friends, humor, a dead body, several suspects, a cute dog and a few twists. I can just picture the look on Jack’s face when Fiona starts talking about a piece of yarn in the victim’s hand. This is a case of a lot of suspects and suspicious characters before the facts come together. It is handy to have a tech expert in the family. I look forward to visiting Pike’s Point again.
Profile Image for Tari.
3,630 reviews102 followers
March 20, 2025
I got a kick outta Fiona’s crazy cousin Tom, the tech wizard (who only used his skills for goodness and niceness) to help with the case. And her bestie Iris was all kinds of moral support when Fiona was getting threat notes from baddies and confronting possible suspects. The showdown/takedown was a really good one and even little Watson pup got to help. Fiona and her cousin Tom found out something at the end that might just open up the subject for the next book, at least it’d be an interesting one.
Profile Image for Lcr.
900 reviews7 followers
November 30, 2024
Fiona and her cousin Tom inherited The Cozy Nook B&B and planned to run it together. Roger the local developer had other plans for the B&B until Fiona’s dog Watson found him dead at the bottom of the stairs. The culprit seemed obvious but it was not all as it appeared.

This is a great start to a new series. The characters are wonderful and the storyline was good. I enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it to all cozy mystery fans or anyone looking for a good, easy read, sweet mystery.
Profile Image for Lynda.
1,031 reviews8 followers
November 30, 2024
This was an enjoyable easy to read story of Fiona's B&B that is in the middle of a man trying to buy up all the local land for a project. Roger is pushing Fiona hard at the opening ceremony of the reopening after Fiona's aunt had passed away. Unfortunately, Roger had some friends that weren't really friends and he is found at the bottom of the stairs deceased. Fiona decides she has to find out what happened and why and you travel with her while she is busy with the clues.
Profile Image for Trina Jones.
2,699 reviews39 followers
December 24, 2024
Oh WOW this was a cozy story. It was a page turner and the suspense was mind blowing. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. Who was blackmailing her or will the culprit be caught in time. Will they had find out more clues about this mystery blackmail and drama. Will they guess who did it!!!
I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones
2,339 reviews26 followers
January 7, 2025
Fiona grew up in Pike's Point and returns after the death of her aunt Gina. The town doesn't seem ready for Fiona, but the sheriff is. The story has mystery, danger, a dead body, humor, a cute dog, best friends, several suspects, romance and a few twists. There are a lot of suspicious characters as well as suspects to choose from on the way to solving the murder. I received a copy of the book and this is my honest review.
1,110 reviews3 followers
November 27, 2024
A really fun cozy. Fiona inherits a B&B from her Aunt and decides to open it with her cousin Tom. On the reopening a man who wanted to buy the inn is found dead. The Sheriff suspects Fiona until he realizes that if she didn't do it, he needs her help. Fiona and her dog Watson uncover many clues which lead to major corruption and puts her life in danger. I read this straight through.
790 reviews5 followers
November 28, 2024
Fiona was busy at the opening party for her B&B when one of the guests dies. Is it murder, or just an accident?
This is a really great cozy mystery to read. It is action packed so it keeps you captivated from the first to the last page. Great characters and a couple of furry side kicks. Fun to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kristina Schurmann.
561 reviews3 followers
November 29, 2024
I am typically not a mystery type of reader but I wanted to give it a chance. I actually enjoyed it. It was a cute and easy read with suspense. I could not tell where the book was going. I loved how the main character, Fiona, was a strong and independent female and not a dainty character. I definitely recommend to cozy mystery readers!
Profile Image for Joyce.
147 reviews2 followers
December 7, 2024
I received an ARC of the book. Fiona inherited a B&B after her Aunt Gina’s death. Roger was wanting to purchase the land around the B&B as well as other areas in the town. Roger’s death is investigated by the Sheriff. Fiona with the help of her cousin Tom and friend Iris assist. A good cozy mystery!
Profile Image for Dwayne Keller.
1,009 reviews13 followers
December 24, 2024
Fiona inherits a B&B from her aunt and moves back to town. During the grand opening, a ruthless business man takes a tumble down the steps and dies. Was it an accident or was he pushed. There are clues on his body and he was heard arguing earlier in the day. Plus the fact, nobody could stand him. Now Fiona has to solve his murder before becoming the next victim.
Profile Image for Lizz Taylor.
1,411 reviews16 followers
November 24, 2024
Fiona is looking forward to a fresh start but after a tragedy occurs, she finds herself investigating a murder. There are many layers of intrigue in this small town. It is good that she has Watson by her side to help. This is a twisty cozy that is a good start to a new series.
678 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2024
Fiona has returned to Peaks Point when she inherits her aunt's B&B. Of course, there is a murder and along with her dog Watson they are going to investigate. This was a fun easy read and there were lots of undercurrents.
Profile Image for Leah.
1,976 reviews
December 1, 2024
This is a fun start to the series. I'm not sure where this takes place, but it sounds like a cute town. The investigation was interesting. It was a good way to meet the townspeople. I liked the ending, but I thought it would be someone else.
490 reviews6 followers
December 3, 2024
I received a free advance review copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it. Can't wait to see what Fiona, Jack and Watson get up in the next book.
4,497 reviews24 followers
May 26, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book! The books storyline will keep you guessing who did it. I can't wait to see what happens next. I received this book as a Free ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.
Profile Image for BeBop19.
481 reviews4 followers
November 22, 2024
Made me laugh out loud. I tagged along as the mystery of the string unfolded. The twisty silly plot will keep you reading and planted with a cup of tea.
1,393 reviews5 followers
November 28, 2024
A wonderful who done it by author Daisy Belle.
I love all the awesome characters in this wonderful book.
Such a wonderful book that I highly recommend...
356 reviews
November 30, 2024
This book can be read in a day. It is a cozy mystery that will satisfy most readers. I especially liked the beginning and ending scenes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.