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Everyone in town is buttoned up about the truth behind the mysterious mansion on Thread Lane.

Louisa Henry can’t seem to get any answers about the abandoned mansion hidden behind brush that she runs by each day. Well, she thought it was abandoned, but she’s recently seen signs of life. Whenever she asks the locals about who lives there, they clam up.

One day, Lou notices someone sneaking around the mysterious house. When she hears a crash inside, she runs to help. The body of a man lies inside, unconscious. As Lou arrives on the scene, someone else is leaving in a hurry. Lou stays with the man only to find he’s already dead, and realizes she might’ve just let his murderer run free.

As Lou investigates what happened, she uncovers the reason behind the man’s secluded status, as well as a heap of suspects who would’ve wanted him dead. Can she parse the truth from the decades of lies?

Dear reader, if you love rescue cats, goats who wear pajamas, and a cozy bookstore, you’re going to love this new series by Eryn Scott. Hold on to your hats. The town of Button is as cute as they come, but that doesn’t mean it’s free of murder. These books are clean with no foul language or gore. Each book and mystery stands alone. Curl up under a cozy blanket, cuddle with a cat (or two), and come join Lou as she solves mysteries in the town of Button.

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

89 people are currently reading
220 people want to read

About the author

Eryn Scott

76 books479 followers
Eryn Scott is the author of heartwarming cozy mysteries. Her novels feature close friendships and strong families because those are the most important things in her life -- a little humor doesn't hurt either.

She calls the Pacific Northwest home and doesn't plan on changing that anytime soon. Eryn loves to hike, horseback ride, knit, ski, and read. She believes musicals are the greatest thing since lattes, even though she's not particularly good at singing or dancing -- hey, a girl can dream, right?

Her first cozy mystery series, Pepper Brooks, is based on some of the greats in classic literature. Each book features a different author from Shakespeare to Austen. Eryn's newest series is set in a little town called Stoneybrook. The Stoneybrook Mysteries follow local jam-maker Hadley James as she solves mysteries in her town's year-round farmers market. From deceased knitters to sabotaged florists, these crafty citizens keep Hadley and her twin brother, a deputy sheriff, on their toes. Pebble Cove Teahouse Mysteries are great for readers who love a hint of paranormal with their mysteries. These books feature a tiny town tucked between craggy coastline and rocky shores with quirky characters of both the living and non-living variety. Look for new releases from all three of these series in 2022 as well as Eryn Scott's new cozy series.

You can visit her website, erynscott.com, for more information about her books and new releases.

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5 stars
493 (56%)
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266 (30%)
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102 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for hana.
435 reviews
August 1, 2022
Books, Cats, and Murder in a Cozy Bookstore

Dear reader, if you love rescue cats, goats who wear pajamas, and a cozy bookstore, you’re going to love this new series by Eryn Scott. Hold on to your hats. The town of Button is as cute as they come, but that doesn’t mean it’s free of murder. These books are clean with no foul language or gore. Each book and mystery stands alone. Curl up under a cozy blanket, cuddle with a cat (or two), and come join Lou as she solves mysteries in the town of Button.

Really love this book.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews362 followers
March 6, 2022
Who Killed Ron ? . . .

Louisa Henry (“Lou”) is curious about an abandoned mansion that she runs past each day because recently she has seen activity there. When she asks people about whoever is living there, no one admits to knowing anything. So when she sees someone sneaking around the house, then hears a crash inside, she tries to help. She finds a man unconscious and notices someone quickly leaving. On closer examination, the man, Ronald Rossback, is actually dead and now she could be in danger having seen the murderer run away.

Lou begins to investigate what happened and some of it starts to make sense. Unfortunately, the suspect list of those who would want him dead is quite large. Can she solve this murder? Will she find out why no one wants to talk to her about the house?

I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery which held my interest throughout. I enjoyed the interaction of the characters and seeing Lou in action. Grab your copy and enjoy!
1,024 reviews19 followers
March 12, 2022
This is a great addition to Lou’s story. Lou, Willow and Lou’s nieces Mia and Mandy are wonderful characters. They really made the story great. The cats and books made the story fun. The mystery was intriguing, and well crafted. You will definitely enjoy reading this book along with any other book by Eryn Scott. Ms. Scott is a true storyteller at heart. Love her books and this series.
4,417 reviews43 followers
July 30, 2022
Who killed Ronald Rossback and why??? A blast furnace in an old steel mill??? Secret passages??? I enjoyed this story and the cats and recommend the book.
Profile Image for Kim.
1,163 reviews16 followers
January 29, 2024
Louise finds a dead man inside a house that some might believe is abandoned. Louise wants to find out who the murderer is; however, she fears it may be someone she views as a friend. Since her nieces are in town, Louise has to split her time between family and investigating.

As the series continues, the relationships and the chemistry between the main protagonist, Louise, and the secondary characters are getting stronger. I love the rescue cats living in the bookstore setting. The mystery kept me guessing who the murderer might have been. The storyline kept me entertained as I followed the clues to whodunit.

I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator speaks clearly with wonderful accents and characteristics of the characters. This adds to the experience of reading the book.

All thoughts and opinions are my own; in no way has anyone influenced my opinion.
Profile Image for Sirah.
3,029 reviews27 followers
January 2, 2026
Lou is once again facing a tragic anniversary, but this time her teenage nieces are coming to visit. Lou is worried they won't come when she walks in on a murder in the mysterious mansion that no one wants to talk about, but friends and family remain loyal as Lou considers possible culprits and tries to stay out of danger once again.

Always so cozy, and the cat subplot makes me smile.

*update upon second reading: the audiobook is also very satisfying.
Profile Image for Debbie Orazi.
1,755 reviews26 followers
March 8, 2022
This was book 3 in the Whiskers and Words cozy mystery series.

I loved this story and look forward to reading more in the series. Highly recommend!

Lou Henry has two sad anniversaries coming up, the first anniversary of her husband's passing and his birthday. Fortunately her nieces Maddy and Mia are coming to stay with her for two weeks and as always her best friend Willow will help her get through. On the way to dinner at Willow's home Lou stops in front of the decrepit mansion on Thread Lane. She see someone in the window and heard a crash so she runs into the house and finds a dead man on the kitchen floor. Turns out the man is Ron Rossback the former owner of the steel mill in Tinsdale. Twenty years ago there was a horrible accident which took the life of 5 people and injured many more causing the mill to be closed. Ron has lived as a hermit since because he was hates by so many people in the surrounding towns.

Lou is fascinated by the house and it's former occupant and investigates his murder. Though the murderer ends up being a total surprise, the reason the murderer was in the house in the first place was the best mystery.
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,552 reviews15 followers
February 26, 2022
It’s a difficult day for Lou Henry. It’s her beloved spouse’s birthday the first she will spend since his untimely death a year prior. Trying to distract herself from morose thoughts she focuses on an anomalous house in her new home tome of Button. The old Victorian is run down and everyone avoids talking about it. That night on her way to Willow’s house for dinner as she passes by the mystery house she hears crashes and sees someone fleeing the scene and finds an older man dead on the kitchen floor. The man, a recluse is the center of a town legend/tragedy. The factory he owned had an accident twenty years ago and five people were killed. So the deceased was universally despised. Yet Lou can’t seem to let it go and as she gets deeper into the mystery she finds out there’s more than one side to every story, and something strange was going on in the house right before the murder. A counterpoint to the death and sadness are two welcome visitors Lou’s nieces Maddy and Mia. An unexpected trip to a psychic helps put things in perspective in many ways.
This series is becoming a must read for me. I love the town, the people and the crazy shenanigans that Lou and Willow get into. A fun way to pass a couple hours with a heartwarming story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Andie.
519 reviews
March 5, 2022
An excellent read

Eryn swings and she knocks this one right out of the park.

Lou has been asking everyone about the big mansion in town but people act like they either don’t hear her and steer her away from the conversation.

Who lives there?? She’s sooo curious.

Unfortunately for her, when going to Willow’s she hear a noise and finds the owner dead.

With almost the entire town as potential suspects and even the local police except Easton seeming to be happy about the death she must once again insert herself to solve this intriguing mystery.

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
Profile Image for Melenareads .
3,302 reviews79 followers
March 6, 2022
Flea the Scene was another great cozy mystery from Eryn Scott.

The mystery of who killed the most hated man in town kept me guessing right up until the very end. It had some good twists and turns as everything unfolded.

I also loved getting to meet Lou's nieces as they spent time with her and Willow. This was a particularly emotional story as Lou comes up on the one year anniversary of her husband's death. I felt so much for her as she experienced the pain of his loss and moving on with her new life in Button.

Of course, there is no shortage of cats or books in the story, and I wish Button was a real town so I could visit the store!

I am already looking forward to seeing what happens for Lou next.

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
336 reviews3 followers
March 12, 2022
Another Murder in a town of Button that is as cute as they come!!!
Flea the Scene is the third book in a Whiskers and Words Mystery Series and it can be read as standalone.

I really enjoyed this book, it is a great fun to read with many delightful characters and cute animals, a page turner full of mystery, action, and humor full of a lots of twists and turns that keeps me entertained as I try to figure out who is the murderer. I recommend this book to any cozy mystery fan and I am looking forward to read the next books in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jeanne.
1,908 reviews9 followers
March 5, 2022
Flea the Scene is the third book in the Whiskers and Words Mystery series by Eryn Scott.

Lou’s curious about an apparently abandoned house that turns out not to be abandoned. No one wants to speak about the owner, but Lou finds herself involved in the mystery around a murder and the house.

This was my favorite book in the series. We get more insight into Lou’s past and learn more about the local history. The mystery that had some interesting twists.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
351 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2022
Emotional

I have enjoyed the first two books in the series, but this one was beyond that. Eryn Scott explores the way we grieve for a loved one. There is a mystery with twists and turns, but throughout that, her nieces are helping their Auntie Lou through the anniversary of her husband’s unexpected death. It is a truly beautiful story of incorporating grief into a good life.
Profile Image for Debbie Borthwick.
454 reviews7 followers
March 4, 2022
Another hit from Eryn Scott! I love Lou and her friends & family and especially the cats she fosters. Meeting her nieces was great; I loved how they added to the story, trying to help Lou with the 'investigation'. I loved this book and look forward to the next in the series. I was given an ARC and I'm voluntarily sharing my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Heather W.
4,066 reviews35 followers
March 4, 2022
Flea the Scene is the third book in the Whiskers and Words Mystery series. This is an entertaining cozy mystery with likable characters, amusing animals, a haunted mansion, murder, and intrigue.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
205 reviews8 followers
March 6, 2022
Great!!!

Yet another good one in this series. Louisa is on track to find a killer but why? The old man was hated for an accident at his steal mill years ago so no one really cared what happen to him. Yet Lou cared and she needed to do something about it. But learning the real reason the man was murdered was a bit of a surprise.
Profile Image for Jennifer Laird-Lord.
410 reviews4 followers
March 4, 2022
Another good read. Lou gets involved in another murder investigation. Good characters and story. I would recommend this book

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
312 reviews4 followers
March 13, 2022
Another great read in this series, I really enjoyed it! Wonderful characters, cats, and an interesting mystery! I love visiting Button! I can’t wait for the next book!
Profile Image for Deb Walker.
14 reviews3 followers
March 2, 2022
I loved this mystery. The bookstore, cats and awesome characters didn't hurt either. There is a murder and Lou, the bookstore owner sets out to solve the mystery. Lou has wonderful family and friends! I liked it so much that I pre- purchased it on Amazon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for JANE VAN HORN.
2,100 reviews12 followers
March 9, 2022
Great book

This is another great book in the Whiskers and Words series by Eryn Scott I love all of the characters and 2 new ones were added this time. And I also love the cats.
Profile Image for Katie Millsaps .
64 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2023
Cute cozy cat and book mysteries that are like 200 pages. Fun kindle books
12.7k reviews189 followers
March 2, 2022
Another outstanding and enjoyable story. Louisa and her friend get involved with solving a murder. They are such perfect characters that draw you in to want more. Loved it.
Profile Image for Bernice.
72 reviews
February 23, 2022
This book is the third in the Whiskers and Words mystery series that takes place in a small, charming town. The main character, Louisa, and her best friend, along with her visiting nieces, are on the trail to solve mysterious happenings in a local, seemingly haunted, mansion. Not only does Lou run the local bookstore, but she also fosters cats for adoption, which always provides for amusing scenarios. Throw in a visit with a psychic and an unfolding love story, and you have it all with this book.
The story held my interest, and I found the characters very likeable. I most definitely recommend this book. Although part of a series, this book can easily be read as a standalone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nikki.
1,423 reviews12 followers
July 18, 2022
Lou is settling into the small town of Button, and her bookshop/cat adoption facility are doing well. She has some regular customers who come in each day to pet the cats and put the world to rights.

Lou is interested in the large dilapidated mansion in the town, especially when she thinks she sees someone at the window. When no one will speak to her about it, her curiosity is peaked!

Passing by one evening, Lou hears a crash, as she goes to investigate she sees someone running away and then she finds the body of an old man. When she hears the history associated with the mansion and the man, she wants to find out who murdered him.

She's also got her Nieces staying with her, at an especially emotional time as it's a year since her husband's untimely death.

This is a great cozy mystery series, clean with a bit of romance, easy to read. The books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series.
Profile Image for Amanda Ray.
312 reviews8 followers
July 4, 2022
Great storyline and characters! Looking forward to the next in this series!
2,009 reviews
June 3, 2022
I like this book. Louisa is having a tough week as the first anniversary of her husband's death is approaching. Her nieces come for a visit (and to distract her) and enjoy the town. Lou finds a murder victim and tries to solve the murder.

Amazon synopsis:
Everyone in town is buttoned up about the truth behind the mysterious mansion on Thread Lane.

Louisa Henry can’t seem to get any answers about the abandoned mansion hidden behind brush that she runs by each day. Well, she thought it was abandoned, but she’s recently seen signs of life. Whenever she asks the locals about who lives there, they clam up.

One day, Lou notices someone sneaking around the mysterious house. When she hears a crash inside, she runs to help. The body of a man lies inside, unconscious. As Lou arrives on the scene, someone else is leaving in a hurry. Lou stays with the man only to find he’s already dead, and realizes she might’ve just let his murderer run free.

As Lou investigates what happened, she uncovers the reason behind the man’s secluded status, as well as a heap of suspects who would’ve wanted him dead. Can she parse the truth from the decades of lies?
5,665 reviews63 followers
March 31, 2022
Lou runs a bookstore and is dealing with the anniversary of her husband passing. She jogs daily past an old house and ends up finding a dead body and seeing a killer dart away. The characters are wonderful and determined in their goals, whether it is finding a killer or cheering up their friend. The storyline had me hooked from the beginning and I did not see the reason and killer until the very end reveal. Great job at keeping us guessing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,507 reviews16 followers
December 27, 2023
Lou is going through a difficult and heart wrenching time, but with the amazing support that her family and friends give her, it makes it much easier. And the universe helps by throwing a murder into the mix to help distract her!

I always enjoy Scott's cozy mysteries; they are fun, exciting and intriguing, full of love and humour. And cats, oh, lots of them! Yes!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews

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