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Sherlock Paws Cozy Mystery #1
Pawsitively Murder: A Sherlock Paws Cozy Mystery
In Shepherd Falls, some stories end in murder.
I found librarian, Wilhelmina Wiggins, as she took her final breath.
Her eerie last words, “This is the end of Solomon Grundy,” left me shattered.
Wilhelmina wasn’t well-liked and had plenty of enemies, especially in local businesses. My bookstore, The Book Worm, was often in her crosshairs.
I’ve got to uncover the truth to stay off the suspect list—or worse.
Just when I think I’m getting nowhere, a little stray dog keeps crossing my path. It’s almost as if she knows something I don’t, nudging me toward clues that I’ve missed.
I didn’t expect this mystery to come with a four-legged ally, but at this point, I’ll follow any lead I can get.
Time is running out, the killer is growing bolder...and knows I’m investigating.
I must find the truth before this twisted tale makes me its next victim.
I found librarian, Wilhelmina Wiggins, as she took her final breath.
Her eerie last words, “This is the end of Solomon Grundy,” left me shattered.
Wilhelmina wasn’t well-liked and had plenty of enemies, especially in local businesses. My bookstore, The Book Worm, was often in her crosshairs.
I’ve got to uncover the truth to stay off the suspect list—or worse.
Just when I think I’m getting nowhere, a little stray dog keeps crossing my path. It’s almost as if she knows something I don’t, nudging me toward clues that I’ve missed.
I didn’t expect this mystery to come with a four-legged ally, but at this point, I’ll follow any lead I can get.
Time is running out, the killer is growing bolder...and knows I’m investigating.
I must find the truth before this twisted tale makes me its next victim.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
90 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 2, 2025
E-book freebie at time of download. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
This is a cute novella that needs a bit of reining in. The plot kind of meanders a bit as Molly searches for clues and since it's a novella, it doesn't have a lot of explanation. I really, really hate the stereotype of the cranky old lady librarian and extra hate it when said stereotypical librarian either ends of dead or is the killer. There's a little bit of an air of mystery surrounding the cute little dog on the cover. For most of the book it seems like she's either a guardian angel or a ghost. It wasn't too much "woo woo" and kept me reading.
I liked the main character well enough. She's kind of bland but she's a good friend and has a big heart. A bookseller by trade, Molly is naturally curious and when she's a suspect in the local librarian's murder, she has to figure out the truth to clear her name. What else can she do? Her best friend Sam is an amazing baker. She's on the outs with the librarian and sends Molly to return her book instead of taking charge of her own problem. Sam is fun and a loyal friend. I love how they can communicate silently and always know what the other person wants them to do. Kit, Molly's bookstore assistant, is funny with a million puns she delivers in a deadpan voice.
Wilhelmina Wiggins was the town librarian, the usual stereotype of an old, gray haired lady shushing everyone and harping on them about overdue books. It's time to ditch that stereotype. Seriously. Her backstory made her more interesting and a better developed character. A full length novel could have done justice to all the characters. The cute little dog appears out of nowhere to help Molly when she needs it most. I was left wondering if she was a real dog or some kind of guardian angel? Molly's parents are dead so I thought maybe her mom was trying to protect her or something. Molly's insistence the dog is a she because of her swagger annoyed me. Check first, maybe? Wilhelmina Peabody is the nosiest old lady in town. She's always full of gossip and eager to dish.
Detective Bennett is one of those arrogant cops who won't listen and is eager to pin the crime on someone. Anyone. Evidence sort of points to Molly eventually but not entirely and he doesn't have a case. For some reason, he seems to hate her right from the start.
Suspects include Captain Thomas O'Reilly had beef with Eugenia. He's an old salt, has a bit of a temper when riled and talks in nautical terms. I didn't like him because he's corny and the nautical aspect takes away from the bookstore and bakery. It's too much. I don't think the captain is the killer. Surely he must have been at sea? Or has an alibi? James Halliwell, a member of one of the founding families of the town and owner of the Cider Mill. He loves books and is a good customer of the bookstore but he also seems ... a little scary. He knows how to make himself intimidating and throws his weight around. His family pretty much owns the town and they wouldn't want anyone to take that from them. Dr. Reggie Whitaker, a Ph.D, professor at the local college and history scholar. He's arrogant, snippy, defensive and rather rude. He's allergic to animal danger (and everything else) and Molly should have taken the dog outside but that does help figure out if he is a viable suspect. Did anyone hear sneezing? If he's so allergic to dust he probably would have sneezed a lot. This is yet another book where someone misunderstands reference collection (or archive). Even if it's in a public library, if it's rare/one of a kind/old it doesn't circulate! No exceptions. Don't professors take sabbaticals to do their research? This guy sounds like a hack to me.
I enjoyed this story but not enough to want to buy the series. If Hoopla buys it I might check out a few.
This is a cute novella that needs a bit of reining in. The plot kind of meanders a bit as Molly searches for clues and since it's a novella, it doesn't have a lot of explanation. I really, really hate the stereotype of the cranky old lady librarian and extra hate it when said stereotypical librarian either ends of dead or is the killer. There's a little bit of an air of mystery surrounding the cute little dog on the cover. For most of the book it seems like she's either a guardian angel or a ghost. It wasn't too much "woo woo" and kept me reading.
I liked the main character well enough. She's kind of bland but she's a good friend and has a big heart. A bookseller by trade, Molly is naturally curious and when she's a suspect in the local librarian's murder, she has to figure out the truth to clear her name. What else can she do? Her best friend Sam is an amazing baker. She's on the outs with the librarian and sends Molly to return her book instead of taking charge of her own problem. Sam is fun and a loyal friend. I love how they can communicate silently and always know what the other person wants them to do. Kit, Molly's bookstore assistant, is funny with a million puns she delivers in a deadpan voice.
Wilhelmina Wiggins was the town librarian, the usual stereotype of an old, gray haired lady shushing everyone and harping on them about overdue books. It's time to ditch that stereotype. Seriously. Her backstory made her more interesting and a better developed character. A full length novel could have done justice to all the characters. The cute little dog appears out of nowhere to help Molly when she needs it most. I was left wondering if she was a real dog or some kind of guardian angel? Molly's parents are dead so I thought maybe her mom was trying to protect her or something. Molly's insistence the dog is a she because of her swagger annoyed me. Check first, maybe? Wilhelmina Peabody is the nosiest old lady in town. She's always full of gossip and eager to dish.
Detective Bennett is one of those arrogant cops who won't listen and is eager to pin the crime on someone. Anyone. Evidence sort of points to Molly eventually but not entirely and he doesn't have a case. For some reason, he seems to hate her right from the start.
Suspects include Captain Thomas O'Reilly had beef with Eugenia. He's an old salt, has a bit of a temper when riled and talks in nautical terms. I didn't like him because he's corny and the nautical aspect takes away from the bookstore and bakery. It's too much. I don't think the captain is the killer. Surely he must have been at sea? Or has an alibi? James Halliwell, a member of one of the founding families of the town and owner of the Cider Mill. He loves books and is a good customer of the bookstore but he also seems ... a little scary. He knows how to make himself intimidating and throws his weight around. His family pretty much owns the town and they wouldn't want anyone to take that from them. Dr. Reggie Whitaker, a Ph.D, professor at the local college and history scholar. He's arrogant, snippy, defensive and rather rude. He's allergic to animal danger (and everything else) and Molly should have taken the dog outside but that does help figure out if he is a viable suspect. Did anyone hear sneezing? If he's so allergic to dust he probably would have sneezed a lot. This is yet another book where someone misunderstands reference collection (or archive). Even if it's in a public library, if it's rare/one of a kind/old it doesn't circulate! No exceptions. Don't professors take sabbaticals to do their research? This guy sounds like a hack to me.
I enjoyed this story but not enough to want to buy the series. If Hoopla buys it I might check out a few.
March 24, 2025
Nice and cozy short story.
The little dog, besides being too cute on the cover, is always the "helping hand" the Molly in the quest to uncover the mystery of the murder of town's librarian, and find the murderer.
Which they did, in a raucously direct encounter (and a bit of dog's snap at the culprit's hand :-) )
It would be nice to watch in the next episode(s) how would the dog come together with Molly, since in the end it was taken back by the apparent owner.
The little dog, besides being too cute on the cover, is always the "helping hand" the Molly in the quest to uncover the mystery of the murder of town's librarian, and find the murderer.
Which they did, in a raucously direct encounter (and a bit of dog's snap at the culprit's hand :-) )
It would be nice to watch in the next episode(s) how would the dog come together with Molly, since in the end it was taken back by the apparent owner.
March 5, 2025
Murder mystery, wonderful characters, sweet pup named Sherlock, and a very smart amateur sleuth named Molly make this first book in the series worth the read kind of book. Solving murder mysteries was not something Molly aimed to do, but when a pup appears out of nowhere and lures her to a body, Molly has no choice by to put her amateur sleuthing to work in order to prove that she did not commit the murder. After putting the puzzle pieces together with the help of her friends, Molly and Sherlock were able to figure out who is the actual suspect and solve this mystery before anyone else. Loved this book and the characters to include sweet Sherlock made it entertaining to read.
February 9, 2025
I really enjoyed meeting Molly, her bestie Sam and Molly's very punny store clerk, Kit. Pretty sure my favorite character was a tiny ball of fur that seemed to show up just when Molly needed a warning or some help. That sweet pup stole the show and held her own during the showdowns, what a good baby! Can't wait to dig into the next book! This one did a really good job of telling a mystery pretty much as well as a full-length book would've done.
January 14, 2025
Very sweet cozy, the first in a series, introduces the little dog Sherlock who has taken on the role of companion sleuth and protector of the heroine Molly. Molly's the proprietor of the Bookworm a wonderful bookstore left to her by her parents. She finds the body of the local librarian Eugenia and is determined to find the culprit in the murder.
February 16, 2025
This is a very sweet, cute cozy mystery and is the first in a series. A stray dog named Sherlock takes on the role of protector and companion sleuth of Molly, who runs a bookstore started by her parents. Molly finds the body of the town librarian and becomes determined to find the murderer. I received a free copy of the book from the author and this is my honest review.
March 29, 2025
Pawsitively Murder: Molly owner of the bookstore, The Bookworm, her family's legacy discovers the body of the town librarian, Eugenia. With the help of the towns gossip queen, Williamina and the pawsome Yorkie -Chihuahua mix, Molly completes this puzzle, will she find the killer before he comes for her?
December 22, 2024
I found the librarian, Wilhelmina Wiggins, as she took her last breath. Her eerie last words, “This is the end of Solomon Grundy,” left me shattered. This is a good mystery. I liked it very much.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.
January 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and was surprised with the ending. This is a new series and I look forward to reading the next book.
February 12, 2025
It was a quick and cozy mystery
March 29, 2025
Lovely cozy mystery with twists and turns and a still believable ending, with an interesting new start included. Definitely entertaining. And a worthy introduction of valiant Sherlock.
June 9, 2025
Cute coastal cozy mystery. Love all the characters and how they help each other solve the murder of one of their local residents. Highly recommend to all mystery lovers.
October 7, 2025
Easy read and enjoyable
November 5, 2025
Molly finds the librarian murdered. Can she figure out the why and who with the help of a renegade pup (Watson or is it Sherlock?)? Acute mystery from Kit Sterling.
January 16, 2025
Entertaining cozy!
I enjoyed this entertaining cozy mystery with Molly finding the body of the librarian and becoming the main police suspect. As Molly cleverly undertakes investigating the murder to clear her name, a sweet dog with a nose for finding clues provides support. I recommend this book.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.
I enjoyed this entertaining cozy mystery with Molly finding the body of the librarian and becoming the main police suspect. As Molly cleverly undertakes investigating the murder to clear her name, a sweet dog with a nose for finding clues provides support. I recommend this book.
I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.
March 26, 2025
A stray dog found Molly, and the dog become part of her team investigating a murder. Every time she need a distraction or help the little dog is there. A cozy mystery I enjoyed very much. What surprised me is that I had an idea who the murderer was before it was revealed. A real page-turner and worth every second spend reading it.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews