Fatal Check-In

Maggie Wright #1

by Tessa Aura

Maggie’s summer escape to Camp Willow Creek promised campfires and marshmallows, not murder and mayhem.

What her clumsy arrival at the lakeside camp, designed for recovery and relaxation, didn’t mess up, a dead body in the woods certainly did.



First at the scene makes her Detective Harper's prime suspect. But whispers about Donnie's untimely death pique her curiosity; no way she’s sitting this one out.



Maggie and Biscuit, her trusted sidekick mutt, sniff out clues in this small-town retreat. The secrets they uncover are slicker than the murky lake bottom.



Campers' motives run sharper than a marshmallow stick. Dana's blackmail and Lisa's love triangle add up to a heap of old grudges thicker than the forest.



Threats heighten with an explosion in her cabin and a close call in the woods.



It’ll take more than campfire stories to unravel this cozy mystery, but Maggie better find the truth fast before she’s the next to be roasted.



**A lighthearted clean mystery perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, dog sidekicks, and outdoor adventures!**

Genres: Cozy Mystery

138 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2025

Reviews

[ReadaBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is written as a member of the book’s ARC team.

Although I enjoyed the story line in general, it seemed I was leaping into the book about midway through the actual story. None of the characters were developed sufficiently to like, or even care much, to be truly interested in them. I didn’t like that Harper the investigator was constantly described as smirking. Although the story was concluded, more issues surfaced near or at the end to make me think: What happens next?
Overall, it has promise. However, I need more character development to care about any of them.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I must say that Tessa Aura has done it again. She has written another great cozy mystery. I was drawn into Maggie and Biscuit’s world from the first page, well, almost, but it definitely began in the first chapter.

Maggie Wright and her little doggie Biscuit was in needed a vacation. Within a few hours after checking into the campsite where they were going to spend a few days Maggie and Biscuit find a dead body in the woods. Maggie being the first one to see the body automatically becomes the number one suspect.

Maggie decides she needs to find out who the murderer is before she is hauled off to jail. Maggie and Biscuit’s investigation leads them to many secrets. They discover that quite a few of the campers have secrets they want to keep quiet about that could put them on the suspect's list.

Maggie but especially Biscuit kept me glued to my chair as I raced to the end with them as they unraveled all the clues to finding the real culprit for the murder.

The more Maggie unveiled the faster I wanted to read as each clue left me with more questions and wanting to know the whole truth behind all the secrets.

The suspense kept me hanging on every word. I can’t wait to read more about Maggie and Biscuit in future books in the Maggie Wright Cozy Mystery series.

I enjoyed reading Fatal Check-In so much that I recommend it to everyone looking for their next cozy mystery! Grab your copy of Fatal Check-In today and meet Maggie and Biscuit!

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie’s on the Case . . .

Maggie Wright and her dog Biscuit head for a vacation at Camp Willow Creek. She has rented one of the cabins for the week. When Biscuit starts growling on the porch, Maggie takes him for a walk and he finds a blood trail in the woods. She hears a loud, chilling scream and Jack Timmons, who runs the campground, arrives to see what happened. The two of them find the dead body of Donnie Numb. Detective Harper William keeps pushing questions at Maggie who has apparently become his most likely suspect being one of the first at the scene. She points out that she has only been at the camp a couple of hours and hasn’t even met the other campers. Since the victim, Donnie Numb, doesn’t have many friends, the suspect list becomes a lengthy one, and everyone seems to have their own little secrets they want to hide. Will Maggie and Biscuit find the killer before Maggie gets tossed in jail? Or even worse, is she risking that the killer may attempt to get rid of her if she gets too close to the truth? Because somehow, it still doesn’t feel like it’s over...

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to opening her own accounting office, Maggie Wright and her trusty, smart dog, Biscuit felt the need of a small getaway. So she rented a cabin at Camp Willow Creek. When Maggie takes Biscuit for a walk in the woods, she hears a scream and Maggie and Jack Timmons, who runs the campground, and they find a camper, Donnie Numb, dead. Because Maggie was there at the scene, Detective Harper William makes her the prime suspect. So of course, to clear her name and find the real murderer, Maggie and Biscuit have to investigate. Apparently, there were many who disliked Donnie and there are many secrets and suspects that Maggie has to uncover before she is either arrested or the next victim. Biscuit is a great help. This s a fast paced, page turning read that gets you from the start until the surprise ending. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Dan Rees · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I want to thank Tessa Aura for the opportunity to be on her ARC team. That being said, I am at kind of a loss to know exactly how to describe this book. Apart from the basic whodunit of the murder, which is (mostly?) solved by the end of the book, there are some enigmas that never do get resolved. I can definitely see many readers as thoroughly enjoying the resulting tale, but it is equally apparent that the book is not just for anyone. The epilogue leaves the reader completely hanging, presumably as an enticement to get and read the next book in the series, so if you dislike cliffhangers at the end of books, you should probably steer clear of this one.
Otherwise, the puzzles and narration were intriguing, but I don't feel I can give this my full approval rating.

[Genesia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie went to camp between jobs, to rest for a week before heading back to the city. She met a few of the other campers, and them she and her dog Biscuit found one of the campers body. He was murdered. Maggie started to ask question and get involved in the investigation. From the start there's a few suspects and the local detective see Maggie also as a suspect. Who is the murderer? Was it just one or more than one murderer? Everyone at the camp have secrets. Will Maggie found out what everyone is hiding? A cozy mystery with a lot of intrigue and unanswered questions, that will keep you entertained until the last page. A page-turner and a must read for cozy mystery fans. Buy the book you won't regret it, I promise.

[Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interest story. The main Character Maggie Wright and her dog Biscuit are going a vaction and they end up find a dead body not that far from their cabin. Of course she becomes the prime suspect as she found the body. So she has to trying and figure out who the real murderer is. There are lots of twist and turns so that it takes a while to figure out who could be the murderer. There are lots of suspects as no one likes the victim Donnie Numb. The main detective Harper Williams seem to be new to the area but is taking over the investigated but he sure is interested in Maggie more than usual. This was excellant story line and I look forward more adventures with Maggie, Biscuit and Harper. If you enjoy a good clean mystery this will be for you.

[Dave Measner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Campground mystery.
Maggie Wright is an accountant running from something and spending some time with her dog Biscuit at Camp Willow Creek. She meets a few of the other campers and the brother and sister who run the palce. That evening something bothers Biscuit and when they check it out they find a trail of blood leading to the body of Donnie Numb, a fellow camper whom she hasn't met yet. Detective Harper William initially thinks of Maggie as a suspect but as she continues to find clues begins to see her as an ally. This book does have a cliffhanger type ending so a followup book is hopefully out there in the not too distant future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun cozy mystery from this author. Good character development, fast moving, and full of twists. Maggie and her dog Biscuit head off for a much needed vacation. But shortly after arriving, they discover a dead body in the woods near their campsite. And of course, since they found it, Maggie is the prime suspect.
Detective Harper comes to investigate, while Maggie also tries to figure out who the killer is. It is difficult because a number of people at the campground have questionable stories.
This book does not disappoint. I recommend this book and this author and look forward to book 2 in the Maggie Wright series.

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

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are not what they seem at Camp Willow Creek. Maggie arrives at the camp for rest and relaxation. She hasn't finished unpacking when Maggie and her dog, Biscuit, find a dead body. Detective Harper is investigating, and he seems to think Maggie might be the killer. Why would she kill someone she hasn't even met? There is history between Maggie and Harper but why and what is it? Maggie is determined to find the killer to clear her name. Secrets are at the root of all the problems at the camp. When the book ended it wasn't clear if all was known, even with the murderer in jail. This book will make you think and Biscuit is awesome.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given a chance to read this book as an ARC.
This book is just too confusing. Supposedly it is the first book in a new series. Why then, is the interaction between Maggie and the detective written as if they have been buddies for years, instead of having just met?
Why does Harper have no problem with someone he doesn't even know butting into police business?
Why is someone allowed to walk away when they have just confessed to helping with a murder?
There are several more things that just don't run true to the story.
Also, this ends with out being totally solved, leading to a cliff hanger, which I hate. I will never buy the next book in a series that way.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie and her dog, Biscuit, check-in to Camp Willow Creek for a getaway. Unfortunately her dog sniffs out a body in the woods. Since she was first on the scene, Detective Harper, considers her a suspect. Maggie asks questions of the other campers trying to find out who the victim, Donnie, was and finds out that he was disliked by everyone which makes them all suspects in her eyes. As she digs deeper she finds out he was a blackmailer and everyone at the camp were his victims. Did one of them have a secret that they wanted to die with him?
I enjoyed most of the book, but was not a fan of the cliffhanger ending.

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW this was entertaining story. It was a page turner and the suspense was insane. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. Maggie and Biscuit’s world was up side down when they a dead body while they were on their vacation. Will the clues help her to figure out whodunnit and what will they gain from this crime. Now she and her dog will have to investigate this mystery. Lives will be in danger in this moment.
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

[Jean Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie decides that she and her little dog Biscuit are in need of a vacation. After checking in at the campsite for a few days, the duo discover a dead body in the woods. At first, Maggie is the prime suspect since she is the one who found the body. As Maggie investigates, she finds out that a lot of the campers have secrets they don't want revealed. It seemed a little odd to me that the police detective is new to the area yet seems to know quite a bit about Maggie even though it seems they have never met. I didn't really figure out who the guilty party was until it was revealed. I received an ARC copy of the book and this is my honest review.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatal Check-In: A Maggie Wright Cozy Mystery, my third enjoyable 136-page read from author Tessa Aura that I finished in about 2 hours. There are so many cozy mysteries out there, but they're popular and I read my share of them. “I received a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I'll read more from this author, owning 6 other books by her, high on my TBR list are Secrets in the Pines: A Maggie Wright Cozy Mystery and Pandemonium at the Pet Store: A Molly Montgomery Cozy Mystery. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018

[Cathy Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting mystery. Who killed the guy Maggir and Biscuit find in the woods and why? Lots of suspects as everyone at the campground disliked him--alot. Maggie works to solve the mystery and puts herself in danger, eventually finding the killer? I loved her dog Biscuit and it was a good story but I felt like I had missed something alot of the time and the ending leaves you hanging, wondering if the man in jail is really "who done it" and who he was working with. Needed a better conclusion for me.

[Cherie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the city gets too much for Maggie Wright she decides to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life and rents a cabin at Camp Willow Creek for a week. On her first day there her dog Biscuit discovers a blood trail that leads them to find a body in the woods. Her planned peaceful vacation week becomes anything but as she becomes involved in a murder investigation as a suspect . This mystery is not lacking in suspects and Maggie must sort through them all in order to clear herself! This is a great little who dunnit that keeps you guessing and one that I recommend reading!
Cherie

[G.Terenzio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie and her dog Biscuit arrive at a campsite for some peace and quiet. But at the first night Biscuit leads Maggie into the woods surrounding the site towards a trail of blood and a dead body.

Detective Harper is investigating the case and makes Maggie his first suspect. So she starts investigating by herself and finds disturbing evidence which she shares with Harper. Both are working together and finally find enough clues for an arrest. But a bitter taste remains and lots of loose ends.
I hope we will find the final solution in the next book.

[Sue Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal check in by Tessa aura

This mystery begins when maggie and her dog biscuit go on vacation to a cabin in the woods. Shortly after arriving there biscuit picks up a blood trail and they discover a body. It seems the murdered man was quite unliked by a lot of people so there are many suspects on the list!

With maggie’s curious mind and biscuit’s amazing scent detection they begin investigating.

With delightful descriptions, lots of different characters and a cozy mystery storyline you get swept away for a few hours.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of true crime will like the Curated True Crime #8: Murder Most Sadistic well researched Ms Malton covers so crimes you might have heard a little about and others that you have never heard of. She gives you the facts without making the sensation. While the crimes are disturbing, the matter of fact delivery keeps the horror factor to a minimum. Perfect for people who want to read about true crimes but don't want nightmares!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I didn't like the cliffhanger ending. Usually I love Tessa's work, but I hated that things were not completely resolved. I did like the characters and enjoyed following along as they searched for clues. I would have preferred things be wrapped up completely by the end. This is a fun read if you don't mind the cliffhanger ending. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie goes to have a break from work and her city life with her dog Biscuit. The first thing that she finds is a blood trail and Biscuit finds a body. Detective Harper comes to investigate and the two start working on the case. maggie because she can't leave it alone, Harper because it's his job. The other campers are a diverse group that make investigating difficult. Someone gets arrested, but is it the right person?

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Wright goes to Camp Willow Creek with her dog Biscuit for a break and ends up finding a murder on the very first day. There was more  going on with the victim than it seemed . Blackmail, secrets and danger to complicated the matter. An intriguing read which has you on the edge of your seat.  I received this ARC copy and recommend this book to other readers.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe for YA

I am rating this 2 only because I reserve 1 star for books I don't finish. This book seemed so ridiculous that maybe it is for YA, not adults. It isn't even a good cozy mystery. A rock used in a murder found under water that still has blood on it?? Then it is obviously a cliffhanger ending. The only redeeming quality of the book was the dog.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie needs rest and relaxation and heads to Camp Willow Creek. She ends up investigating a murder to the initial annoyance of Detective Harper. Can she trust anyone in the campground? Luckily she has Biscuit to help. This was an enjoyable cozy and a good start to a new series.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic start to a new series. The mystery was well written and had a campground of suspects. Maggie meets Harper and there is more to both of them than is written in the story. I hope there are answers in the next. Recommend reading.

[Linda Whitenight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie just wanted to get away from the city and enjoy sometime in the woods and relax. But Biscuit had to go and find a blood trail leading to a dead body! Now can the murder be solved without Maggie becoming the prime suspect?

[Kathy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Maggie the heroine and her willingness help solve a murder even though no one liked the victim.

[Donna Bagby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to the story. At the end it was implied that Maggie may have been someone who had memory loss and the camp had been part of her past.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise was intriguing. So many suspects, so many motives. A few characters were mentioned and not developed, which makes me wonder if they will become prime players in book 2. Maggie does so many things that break protocol. What about the key ring? I felt like the ending was open to interpretation, or the beginning of the next adventure. Why is Harper checking on Maggie? Lots of question!