Murder at the Cabin: A Tall Pines Cozy Mystery

Tall Pines Cozy Mystery #4

by Avery Kent

An amateur sleuth, her two best friends and a cozy mountain getaway that leads to murder…

A spontaneous visit to her family’s cabin, leads small town nursery owner Rosemary Hart to walk straight into a crime scene.

Instead of warming their toes by a cozy fire, Rosemary and her friends discover the wife of a fellow cabin owner dead, her husband injured and a suspicious trail into the woods.

The prime suspect? Bobby, the quiet soft-spoken, kind-hearted son of the cabin’s manager, who Rosemary has known for years.

Although the local police believe they’ve found the culprit, something doesn’t add up. Rosemary doesn’t buy it — Bobby is no killer.

As the trio starts digging, they uncover more than just buried mountain secrets. The victim wasn’t exactly well-loved and with a growing list of enemies, they discover secrets and a history of long held grudges.

With a killer on the loose and time running out, can Rosemary, her friends and their beloved animal companions unearth the truth before the snowy retreat ends in disaster?

Genres: Mystery

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2025

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romantic vacation for Carlos and Ashley is disrupted when an assault and murder happens in the cabin next door. Though Carlos is the sheriff, the cabin is not exactly his jurisdiction and the state police are called in. The victim’s husband identifies Bobby, the caretaker’s withdrawn and shy son, as the killer. Rosemary has known him for years and is sure he couldn’t have done it, but the cops aren’t looking elsewhere. Plus Bobby has gone into hiding. Since Gabby and Rosemary are at the cabin anyway, as Carlos forgot to bring an important item, the amateur sleuths convince Carlos to investigate further. Digging into the victim’s history with the area reveals a connection to a man presumed drowned years ago. Could these cases be linked? Rosemary’s cat, Marmalade, and Ashley’s dog, Ace, help turn up important clues.

The fourth book in the Tall Pines series hits all the right notes for a cozy mystery. Carlos’s nervousness and forgetfulness around preparing for the trip add some levity before the tragedy at the cabin. The strong, long-term friendship between Rosemary, Gabby, and Ashley is the heart of the series. Ashley’s Grandpa Joe is the grandfather we could all wish for. These characters are all so relatable and well-rounded. The mystery was nicely crafted, and I’m so glad that I was right about the villain. And I admit to tearing up when Carlos found the right time and place to ask Ashley that all important question. The story can be read as a standalone, but that ending will hit harder for those who read the previous three books.

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

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carlos takes Ashley on a romantic getaway to Rosemary's family cabin. But he forgot one very important item at home and calls Gabby and Rosemary to bring it up - And they do along with Rosemary’s cat, Marmalade, and Ashley’s dog, Ace. While sitting by the fire in the cabin, an assault and murder happens in the cabin next door. The victim's husband identifies the caretaker's shy, quiet son, Bobby as the murderer. But he's missing and although Carlos is a sheriff, this is not his jurisdiction and the local police decide Bobby is the number one suspect. Rosemary says that's impossible, Bobby wouldn't hurt anyone. Convinced the police are on the wrong trail, Rosemary, Ashley, Gabby and with Carlos' help decide to investigate themselves and find a murderer before something bad happens again. With the clue finding Marmalade and Ace the gang find some connections between the victim's past and a man supposedly drowned a long time ago. Where is Bobby and who is the murderer? This is a twisting page turning mystery in the Tall Pines mystery series and this 4th book is a great addition with a fantastic ending. I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Giannina Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley will be having a birthday but before that day, Carlos and her take a vacation to Rosemary's family cabin. Carlos has planned to propose on this trip, but problems arise. He forgets the engagement ring and the girls have to take it to him. In trying to hide the fact that he is planning to propose a murder occurs and must be solved.
Unfortunely, the state police are quick to form a conclusion as to the culprit and Carlos feels that he may have to help. Ashley, Gabby, and Rosemary are pulled into investigate as well. With all the information that they gather they come to realize there may be mor to this murder then first thought. The author does an excellent job of uncovering the clues to help us solve the mysteries. It is a pleasure to read any of Avery Kent's story. She gives the clues and allows us the pleasure of solving the mysteries. The conclusion is very satisfying. A wonderful read.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Gabby's brother, Carlos, forgets the ring on the trip when he was going to propose to Ashley she and Rosemary end up heading to the mountains to take it to him. It is a family cabin that is up by a lake. Then there's a murder and everyone gets involved in solving. It also helps that Carlos is the sheriff and has official help. There is another officer that is the actual investigator as Carlos and Ashley are supposed to be on vacation but he isn't interested in looking past the obvious person. The group decide to go up the mountain in the snow but they got horses from Ashley's home to do the search. There is a lot of information that they must go through to get to the right culprit but they manage. Great story!

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Carlos just can’t catch a break!

Carlos plans on asking his long-time girlfriend, Ashley, to marry him during a vacation at a friend’s cabin. However, nothing goes right for poor Carlos. First the weather with a major snowstorm. Then he forgot the ring, so his sister and the cabin’s owner, Rosemary, bring it to him, along with Marmalade, Rosemary’s cat. Then a murder occurs and Carlos gets pulled into that by Gabby, Ashley and Rosemary. There was a bit of everything in this story, from humor to murder and jealousy. Avery Kent has the kind of writing style that lends itself to telling an interesting tale of murder, mystery, friendship and love and I highly recommend anything she writes. I can guarantee it will be an enjoyable read!

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back to Tall Pines. Carlos, Gabby’s brother, has a romantic weekend planned at the cabin to propose to Ashley. However, once they get to the cabin, he realizes he forgot the ring. He calls his sister, Gabby to bring the ring to the cabin. There’s a storm coming, so Carlos convinces Gabby and Rosemary to stay. Unknowingly, their cat Marmalade had snuck into the car. The wife of the couple staying next door is murdered and the owner’s son is being blamed. Gabby and friends are determined to solve the case and prove the boys innocence. During the investigation they discover clues of another person that had disappeared years before. Can they uncover the truth and solve both mysteries? Another great mystery in Tall Pines. Looking forward to the next. 

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable murder mystery. I loved the way the relationships between Gabby, Rosemary, Ashley and Carlos played out. I wanted to be their. friend. The various twists and turn of Enora's murder included so many clues to different characters as possible suspects made the big reveal very satisfying.

My favorite character had to be Ace. But I also liked Marmalade and the horses. Marmalade isn't like any cat I ever had.

I received a free ARC from the author of this book. My review is voluntary and honest. I recommend this book. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased an ebook so that I can reread it again in the future. And I look forward to reading the previous books and learning about their back stories.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read.

When Gabby’s brother forgets the most important item for his romantic vacation with Ashleigh, Gabby and Rosemary spring to the rescue. Snow delays their return trip from the cabin and while there, a neighbor dies and her husband is injured. The police quickly settle on a suspect, but the friends disagree with their choice. They dive headfirst into uncovering the truth. Secrets come to light as clues reveal possible links to the past.

The story has likable characters, a well-thought-out plot, and enough twists to keep it interesting. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story with interesting characters and situations. Gabby's brother takes his girlfriend Ashley on a romantic vacation and forgets the most important thing he meant to bring. So Gabby and Rosemary come to the rescue and end up staying because of the weather plus a murder. There is some suspense and drama in the story about someone who disappeared a few years ago as well. When the police settle on a suspect and the friends disagree, they dive headfirst into investigating. A well thought out plot with enough twists to keep it interesting and the past intersects with the present murder. I received a free copy of the book and this is my honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little cozy mystery.

It's been a bit since I read a cozy and I saw this on book sprout and had to snag an ARC copy. Glad I did, it was a fun read.

The characters are likable. I thought Carlos was really sweet and I liked the friendship between Rosemary, Gabby and Ashley.

And I loved Ace, Marmalade and the horses.

I knew who the killer was right away, but that is okay. I often figure books out early on. The author still did a good job making the ride to the conclusion fun.

The winter setting was cozy and the ending was adorable.

Thanks to the author for the ARC opportunity..

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carlos is a sheriff who wants to propose to his girlfriend, Ashley. A friend of Ashley and his sister, Gabby, has inherited the cabin they all used to hang out together during the summers of their youth. What better a place to propose? Except things go terribly wrong from the get go. He forgets the ring, then convinces Gabby and Rosemary (owner of the cabin) to stay, to cover for why they arrive there. Oh, and the woman next door is murdered and they find a human bone in the woods. It is no longer the perfect place to propose. When and where will that happen? Her birthday is almost here.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carlos and his longtime girlfriend, Ashley are staying at a cabin in the mountains, but, he forgot something very important so had to get his sister, Gabby, & her friend, Rosemary bring it up. Then he says that they’ve come to stay, so it is very lucky that Rosemary owns the cabin & has some spare clothes there! Then a murder happens, so, although Carlos is the local Sheriff he calls in the State Police, as he’s on vacation! Lots of back story in this book which made for interesting reading.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Carlos wanted to do was enjoy a trip to the cabin and propose to Ashley, but when have things ever turned out quite that way?
Another fantastic book in this series (all can be read standalone). Wonderful realistic characters that make you smile. A storyline that keeps you guessing what will happen next through all the surprises. A wonderful book to relax with.

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

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder!!

One murder, maybe two murders at the cabin... Who is guilty?? A great story as Carlos and Ashley's get-away weekend changes from relaxing to investigating a murder. As Gabby and Rosemary join the investigation, along with Ace, things get very interesting. I enjoyed this story and can easily recommend it to others.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.

[Eliz Marino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and this is my voluntary review. A good fast read cozy that had an interesting plot and some light moments. Gabby's brother forgets the ring he is going to give Ashleigh when he proposes. So Gabby and Rosemary head up the the cabin to help out but things don't go as planned. A murder happens and the trio decide to help out and find the culprit. An exciting book that has lots of twists and keep my interest through out the book. I can't wait for the next one in this good series.

[Cherie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a visit to the family’s cabin has Rosemary and her friends in the middle of a crime scene and the main suspect is someone who Rosemary has known all her life something just doesn’t add up. As Rosemary and her friend’s start looking into it they uncover a number of secrets and a growing list of suspects. This has a great plot with lots of twists and turns and one you don’t want to miss!!
Cherie

[Jodi Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carlos and Ashley plan a romantic weekend getaway, but Carlos forgets something important and Gabby and Rosemary come to the cabin and get roped into staying. Then there is a death and they know the police are looking at the wrong person. As the gang investigates, they uncover surprises along the way. A romantic weekend turned into a murder mystery. This is a lovely read and a great way to spend a cold evening cozied up by the fire.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What should have been a romantic getaway for Carlos and Ashley rapidly spins out of control when the lady in the next cabin is murdered! It's hard for a Sheriff to turn away when a crime occurs and the murder takes over the carefully laid plans for romance. With so many twists and turns, can the killer be found so they can get back to their romantic getaway? Can a cat, a dog and a horse really help the investigation? Delightful book and I can't wait to read the next one!

[Linda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carlos and Ashley’s romantic breakaway at the Cabin goes awry when there’s a murder next door. All is not as the ‘witness’ leads them to believe. There’s also a cold case to solve from the teenage years. Gabby and Rosemary are quick on the scene and sleuthing.
A few twists and turns. An enjoyable and entertaining read. (However, I worked out the murderer early on).

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spontaneous visit to her family’s cabin, leads small town nursery owner Rosemary Hart to walk straight into a crime scene. A woman has been killed. The culprit is not known but there are plenty of suspects. Who killed the obnoxious woman?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Cyndi Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read anything from this series before this one. I didn't really know the characters but it didn't hinder the mystery and the solving much. The characters were engaging and I was invested in the storyline.

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

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, it's entertaining and will keep you guessing until the end who the murderer is. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Bonnie Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

But ... I loved the horses, dog, cat and people. But to me there were just too many characters trying to solve the crime. I would get confused who was who. But nice clean story.

[Mary J Odell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this series enough to want more books, I hope it continues very quickly. The characters are

Feel real and so do the plots. There are horses, cats, dogs and foold what more can you want. Also, there weren't too many errors.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amateur sleuth Rosemary Heart already see the hall is a murder

[kathyhaertle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at cabin

I enjoyed reading this book very much.. I didn't figure out the whole plot til the end. Even the dog was interesting.

[Marie Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigued story

Very enjoyable. Fast read. Made you want to continue to the next chapter. Great characters getting along so well. Enjoyed it.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I really loved this series. I also suspect that the series takes place in eastern Arizona, my beautiful home. I also loved the characters.

[Emmy McCabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romantic weekend at a cabin turns into a murder investigation. Secrets from the past help clear the prime suspect. A great mystery.

[Jim Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serious but fun

Anyone loving animals and their people will have an adventurous read that can have you tottering over the edge but recover with a smile on your face 🤗