Secrets of Mulberry Creek

by M.A. Moon

Moving to Mulberry Creek was supposed to be a fresh start.

Until I found a dead body in the bookstore.

The quiet charm of the town shatters when I stumble upon Mr.

Thompson, the beloved owner of the local bookstore, lifeless on

the floor.

Books scattered.

A terrified dog.

And the unmistakable chill of murder in the air.

With Chief Sanders bungling the investigation and eager to close the case, I have no choice but to step in.

My past as a police clerk might help me, but this town has secrets lurking around every corner.

Betty, the gossiping neighbor, and Tommy, the reformed criminal, seem eager to assist me in solving the case, but their friendly facades might be hiding shadows of their own.

As I dig deeper into the mystery, I realize I'm not just solving a murder I'm uncovering a web of lies that could make me the next target.

Threatening anonymous letters have begun to appear under my door, hinting that I'm not safe.

Time is running out, and if I can't unravel this tangled mystery soon, I may find myself as the next victim in a town where danger hides behind every friendly face.

211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2024

Reviews

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dead body in a bookstore . Some fresh start!? Mr Thompson the owner of the bookstore is laid out right there on the floor. Books scattered and a poor dog looking shattered and frightened to boot . Agnes deals with this sadness in her stride ,gathering clues and such like because the way the investigation is handled thus far ,it’s definitely not going to go far. With the Chief of police Sanders wanting to close the case down it’s up to Agnes and newly found amateur sleuth’s assistants Betty and Tommy ,the latter a criminal reformed and Betty the gossiping neighbour ,well of course they don’t miss a trick sort of in the thick as it were . Just a good thing she didn’t get closer as she’d be deceased too ! Oo’er …But there’s secrets and lies tangled up in the deceased demise. Just who wanted old Mr Thompson dead? Danger is lurking in every corner and may even garner a retreat before she finds herself dead meat! It no it won’t do she must follow a clue or two ,no matter what. In Mulberry Creek the answers she does seek. There’s a real sense of community ,security and safety as well as the inept cops being hasty in their endeavours to hide their heads but a rude awakening they get instead . This super sleuth will teach a lesson in master criminal finding that’s blindingly good. Well solve it themselves they should. Chief Sanders you’ll learn before it’s your job Agnes dies earn. Very good immersive storytelling , compellingly good story with great characters and plot

[Jeffrey Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is a delightful, cozy mystery set in a picturesque small town hiding dark secrets.

The story’s charm lies in its ability to balance the tranquillity of small-town life with the suspense of uncovering a sinister conspiracy.

The characters are a standout feature. Agnes is an interesting protagonist whose transformation from a grieving outsider to an intuitive sleuth is both believable and engaging.

Secondary characters, such as the reformed Tommy and the gossip-loving Betty, add depth and warmth to the narrative, making the town of Mulberry Creek feel alive.

M.A. Moon’s writing style is vivid and immersive, bringing the setting to life with detailed descriptions and a touch of nostalgia.

The prose flows well, though the pacing occasionally falters in the middle sections where some scenes feel repetitive.

The resolution, while satisfying, could benefit from a bit more emotional depth.

Overall, “Secrets of Mulberry Creek” is an enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great thriller from M.A. Moon. Started out like any good mystery or thriller - someone is found murdered. Unlike many other mysteries, this one didn't seem easy to solve. Each page turn revealed something else to consider. And like most mysteries, the local police chief, Chief Sanders doesn't want anyone interfering in police business and continues to warn Agnus that she is in over her head and could be in danger. Is he really concerned about her safety?
This book is full of twists and misdirection page after page. I really couldn't figure out who was responsible as I continued to read and actually I'm not totally sure who is after finishing the book!!
If you like thrillers, no gore or mayhem, I would recommend.

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

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all things M.A. Moon, and this does not disappoint! Agnes Parker is new to Mulberry Creek, she is a widow and a former police clerk. Agnes is out walking, and is walking past Thompson's Tome; the local bookstore. She notices a dog barking incessantly inside. She opens the door and calls Mr. Thompson's name but no one answers, the inside of the store is a disaster. The dog is in the office, along with Mr. Thompson's dead body. Agnes offers to help Police Chief Sanders, he wants no one meddling in his case. Agnes talks with Betty the town gossip, and Tommy the coffee shop owner. They get their own theories together. Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters. I look forward to reading more from M.A. Moon!!!

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

What starts as a murder, ends up being so much more!

With her husband gone, Agnes leaves her home, her job and moves to a new place to start over. Where she picked to live is the small town of Mulberry Creek. Out on a walk, Agnes ends up finding a murder victim in a bookstore. When the police chief doesn’t seem all that interested in finding who killed the victim, Agnes decides to investigate and gets the help of a café owner and the local gossip. This story has all the elements of a cozy mystery I really enjoy—the small town, help of the community, and friendship. There is danger, more secrets than you can shake a stick at and Agnes is in the middle of it all! Very enjoyable read!

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this was a thriller. It was a page turner and the suspense was insane and intense. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. Could they solve this case of another dead person in the book store. Will this dogs help them sniffing out clues left and right with a hint of danger and chaos. Will the killer be revealed in time before it is too late in all this madness and conspiracy of nonsense and more drama .
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

[Julie Angstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting Mystery

Agnes has moved to the quiet town of Mulberry Creek when she retired from her job as a police clerk, where she helped with cases. She likes the quiet town, and the bookstore. Then, Harold, the owner of the bookstore, is murdered. She offers her services to the police chief, but Chief Sanders declines her services, and tells her she doesn’t understand. As she reviews the details of Harold’s murder with her friend Betty, they both believe there are things being covered up, and details not pursued. Can they “work the case” without getting in trouble with Chief Sanders? Is he covering up something?

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. The general story is good but the main character is the narrator and repeats herself, a lot including tasks she is involved in. One example is that early on she goes through the deceased’s desk finding a book that looks like he’s blackmailing people. Later in Chapter 13 she goes back and searches the desk and finds a hidden drawer with another book that appears he is being blackmailed? That was it for me. Perhaps some editing to add other aspects of her life and fewer repetitive items and it could be really engaging. Good luck.

[Linda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great mystery by Ms Moon. There is so much woven into the story that gives it plenty of depth. It’s my favourite of the author’s books. There’s so many dark secrets, deceit, corruption & blackmail that make it more complex than a normal cozy. Great characters and an intriguing plot. Well done. Enjoyable read!
I received a complimentary copy from the author and I am writing an honest, voluntary review.

[Lcr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secrets of Mulberry Creek is a stand-alone cosy mystery. It is fairly short and easy to read.
The characters are ok but I don’t really know much more about them at the end of the book than I did at the beginning. The writing seems quite formal and the storyline rather stilted in places.
The chapters are short so this is an easy book to pick up and put down if you only have a short reading time.
If you want a light read then you will probably enjoy this book.

[Jean Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a good, interesting murder mystery. I mostly enjoyed reading it, although I found myself skimming over some parts of it as the storyline dragged and the heroine repeats herself often, doing one action then a similar action not to long after that. The ending was good and there are some interesting characters and some that are hard to figure out. I received an ARC copy of the book and this is my voluntary, honest review.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agnes is trying to figure out who killed the local book store owner.
Cozy mystery that is digging deep into the town secrets. A few surprises and a dedicated investigative team make this an interesting read.

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

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agnes moves to small town Mulberry Creek and is immediately involved in figuring out who killed bookstore owner Harold. It didn't matter that the sheriff told her to leave it alone, she got involved
any way. Unfortunately, she didn't realize all the other things that she would find and where it would lead.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agnes Parker is new to Mulberry Creek. On a walk one morning she is Dawn to a barking dog who how’s her a dead body! As she investigates with the help of a very few people she trusts she uncovers a web of corruption, blackmail and general ugliness. I would rate this slightly darker than a cozy, but, not a thriller!

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agnes Parker a police clerk new to Mulberry Creek finds the body of Mr. Thompson and this leads to a lot of questions. Some of the residents and not what  they seemed as secrets, corruption,  deceit,  blackmail and threats  were part of it. An intriguing read with a nail-biting finish.  I recommend this book to other readers

 

[Sarah Zweigenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets of Mulberry Creek is about a woman moving to a small town, and a bookseller with a hidden past is found dead in his store. Agnes Parker discovers more than she bargained for.
Personally, the last few chapters could have been split into a second book. These chapters read like an extended epilogue, and I think it could have explored some pasts of other shifty characters.

[Terri Borkgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets of Mulberry Cree: A Gripping cozy Mystery Unveiling DarknConspiracies

Discovery of a dead bookstore owner is one of the mysteries that haunt Mulberry Creek including blackmail. Who is behind this, time is running out.

[Barb Hegreberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think you know what is going on behind the scenes, the story changes. Watch your back, you never know when danger is coming your way.

I received this book free from the author, publisher, or other source. My only obligation is to provide a fair and honest review.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A challenging cozy murder mystery. Lots of questions about possible involvement for many members of this small town. Thanks to the author for providing a copy. My review is voluntary.

[Diana Hershberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non stop excitement

I couldn't stop reading . you won't be able to figure it out. I dare you to try? Great reading!
Five stars

[Rowan Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gripping and delightful cozy set in a bibliophile's fav setting - a bookstore. It has wonderful characters and an intriguing storyline. I highly recommend this book.

[Sue Shipley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy book to read. It starts with Agnes' move to a small town. She discovers a dead body right away and the clues start coming.