A Grave Situation: A Page-turning, Small Town Whodunnit Murder Mystery

Magnolia Manor #10

by Joy Patrick

A dirty, small town secret. Decades of cryptic disappearances. For Lilly, it’s now or never time.

Despite the inn humming along with Gert and Brian as reliable employees and her relationship with Quigley in a good place, Lilly still can’t shake a nagging restlessness.

When a local fishing tournament brings an eclectic group of guests to the inn, Lilly lets crass Gert take the reins so that she can dive headfirst into the latest FBI cold case—seemingly unconnected John Does who vanished over the decades.

Continuing to butt heads with lead agent Brock Armstrong, Lilly starts to feel she can do nothing right. But just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, a dead body shows up, and Lilly finds herself a prime suspect alongside one of her guests.

As Lilly plunges deeper into the two cases, her mind racing with possible connections, she ventures far beyond her civilian scope and possibly her sanity, finding herself in the crosshairs of a killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past dead and buried.

With time running out and her own life at stake, Lilly uncovers a chilling In this small town, some secrets are worth killing for.

Enjoy this page-turning, 10th book in the Magnolia Manor Mystery series!

166 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2025

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery relationship listening 😮🤗

This kindle ebook novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 12 of 12

One of Lilly's guests goes missing and the adventure begins. A great fast moving action novel. Lilly is in the middle of the investigation leading to a great ending. 😎

I would highly recommend this series and author to readers of family and friends relationships adventure mystery novels 😘🌙 2025 🤓😉

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilly is known for finding answers her own way which does not fit in with the supervision style of her boss. Armstrong knows she gets results but always tries to put her down but Lilly is resilient. Lilly finds herself in peril when she discovers a cold case and a current case are connected. This is a page-turning cozy that was hard to put down. It can be read as a standalone.

[Jacquetta Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was fast and furious happenings in this book from the beginning. Lilly had so many ideas about the FBI cases she was working with her group as the part time unpaid civilian working with the team. She came up with a many clues, hints and ideas, others in the team agreed with some of her thoughts or wanted the FBI Director of their group to listen more and not be impatient with her. She got into trouble with the Director, ignored his orders, did things she shouldn't have done and almost got thrown off the team, trying to solve the case.
Not only that she was running her Inn and it was busy with guests. Her boyfriend's dad was in the hospital dying, one of her workers at the Inn was moving to an apartment, her handyman had a new girlfriend, her mother and worker were planning a party secretly, and the police were trying to solve a crime involving a guest.
This book was a fun book to read, I could see a younger cousin of mine who was always in trouble doing things like Lilly did that I could see her in Lilly's spot and watch her do the same things. The book made me smile. I think you will enjoy reading it.

[Ruth McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I found out that Joy Patrick was coming out with another Magnolia Inn mystery! And I certainly was not disappointed.
There's so much happening in this story.
Lilly finds herself somewhat obsessed with an FBI case that she's working. It's a cold case file that has been given only one week to be solved, or else it would go in the circular file for good. Lilly knows that many families need to be able to have resolution on their missing family members and so she takes this case very personally. And at some point, it becomes very dangerous as well.
I loved all the little surrounding stories going on concerning her friends. They added to the story, rather than detracting from it.
And all the scenes were well thought out and followed through with.
At the ending, it sort of felt like it WAS the ending (of the series) which I most definitely hope is not the case.
I highly recommend this story. I think it was fantastic.
Well done, Joy Patrick!
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary review.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilly's out of the box thinking is going to get her killed as works with the FBI. A Grave Situation is full of more suspense and twists and turns than you will be prepared for. And it is not like her personal life is any calmer with the family she has created. Part of what makes this series great is the characters and this book is no exception. Everyone continues to grow and care for each other. Even in the midst of all the danger and suspense there is humor. Lilly knows they all have her back and that is what gives her the courage to do the things that she does. When she is in the most danger, she calls Quigley who she knows will rescue her. Annie's latest undercover assignment is laugh out loud funny, everyone needs a friend like her. She may protest Lilly's schemes but she always carries them out. Gert and her down to earth wisdom and unwavering loyalty are traits we should all aspire to. In the end Lilly is reminded that every new chapter is an adventure and with the help of her friends, even Agent Armstrong anything is possible.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though a local fishing tournament is in town, everything at the Inn seems to be running smoothly. Lilly then lets Gert take the reins of running the Inn so Lilly can dive into some cold cases since she is the civilian consultant to the FBI cold case crew, much to the chagrin of the lead agent Brock Armstrong. The latest cold case assignment she's working on seems to be the cold case of John Does who have vanished over the decades. Her gut feeling is they are all connected. And then when one of the Inn's patrons is missing and the only thing left behind is a bloody knife and blood stains, Lilly can't help but think there may be a connection to the missing persons' cold cases she was working on. And of course Armstrong doesn't like what she's doing and he wants her off the cases. This is a fast paced terrific addition to the Magnolia Manor mystery that keeps you guessing and rooting for Lilly all the way! I highly recommend not only this book but the entire series! I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s another entertaining installment in a page-turning mystery series! I read this latest entry in one sitting.

When a local fishing tournament brings an eclectic group of guests to the inn, Lilly lets Gert take the reins so that Lilly can dive headfirst into the latest FBI cold case—seemingly unconnected John Does who vanished over the decades. And just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, a guest from the inn is missing and there’s signs of a struggle. Lilly finds herself a prime suspect alongside one of her other guests. To clear her name, Lilly takes a deep dive and some major risks.

This is such a fun series because each book is short, but certainly doesn’t lack on plot, thrills and cozy details. Lilly is determined and maybe a little impulsive, but you can’t blame her. The wonderful cast of side characters are fun to visit each time there is a new entry in the series. It’s really kind of amazing that in such short books, so much ground is covered not just with a mystery, but also with the lives of each character. Anne’s romance gets two thumbs up, and without giving any spoilers, I’m super happy for Lilly’s revealed future!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilly finds herself in trouble with her boss on the cold case FBI team for which she works as a civilian consultant. Again. Her boss, Brock Armstrong, doesn’t like the way she goes about gathering information and resents having a civilian on his team. The latest case leads Lilly to believe it’s related to the recent death of a guest staying at her Magnolia Mannor Inn, but Brock doesn’t believe her and takes her assignment to the case away from her. But that doesn’t stop Lilly. She gets herself into some serious life-threatening trouble that she might not be able to get out of this time.

Other things are going on involving Lilly’s boyfriend, her friends, and guests back at the inn.

A fun whodunit full of intrigue, drama, quirky characters, charm, humor, and more! A great story!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Magnolia Manor mysteries. Lilly and her group are such wonderful characters and the scenes outside in the evenings are ones I would dearly love to be a part of. There is such a camaraderie among the base characters in the ways they love and support each other that they feel almost like old friends after the reader has spent a few tales with them. A grave Situation has Lilly desperately attempting to help the FBI with old cases before the clock runs out on them. As an added stress, one of Lilly's customers goes missing and she fears he has been murdered and that it may be connected to what she is working on. There was a lot of action in this one, some putting Lilly in a grave situation indeed.
I received a copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving my opinion of the tale.

[Carmen M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Joy Patrick and Mermaid Sisters Publishing for this E-Arc, in exchange for an honest review.

Lilly is completely wrapped up in an old FBI case she’s been assigned. She has just one week to figure it out before it gets tossed away forever. For her, it’s more than just another file—she knows how much it means for families to get closure about their missing loved ones. The deeper she digs, the more dangerous things get.

One of my favorite things about this book was the side stories involving Lilly’s friends. They didn’t feel like distractions; instead, they made the story even better. Every scene felt carefully planned and fit perfectly into the bigger picture.

By the time I got to the ending, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be the last book in the series.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. 4.5 Stars!

[Marcie Pomper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always look forward to reading what Lilly will get herself into with her position as an FBI consultant, as well as what adventures will head her way in running her inn. Love all the characters in this series - they’re feeling like old friends. In this latest installment, Lilly and her fellow FBI members are given only one week to solve several cold cases of people who have disappeared. If not solved they will be forever put away. So Lilly is trying her hardest, and as usual, keeps butting heads with Armstrong - the leader of her FBI group. When a guest at her inn disappears, with all signs pointing to him being murdered, Lilly becomes one of the leading suspects. Her week becomes even more stressful with trying to solve that mystery as well. Loved all the twists, and reading about the group of friends from the inn.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Grave Situation is the latest book in the Magnolia Manor mystery series and it is a fantastic one. There is a great mystery related to the FBI case that Lilly is working on - and only has a week to solve and wonderful side stories that add to the overall storyline. As usual, Lilly gets herself in sticky - and dangerous - situations but she has a wonderful crew of characters around to help her.

She has her usual clashes with Armstrong, FBI agent in charge. What is his problem?! And there are some exciting developments on the personal sides for several characters. I certainly hope this isn't the last book in this series as I look forward to seeing how the characters move forward from here.

I highly recommend this book and this series. I received a free advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing and busy mystery!
Reverse of a Grave Robber... well, kind of!
Lilly has quite the time trying to find out what is going on with people who are 'John Doe's'. So, Lilly being herself digs-in, quite literally and figuratively.
Then there is the matter of where her personal life is and where it is going. By putting herself in another 'pickle' situation, she fears she may be off of being on the FBI team for old cases, but, is she, and where does her manor fall in all this?
I loved this addition to the Magnolia Series! It would be good as a solo story, but it is so much better when read as a series.
Thank you, Joy Patrick, for another wonderful story.
I received a complimentary copy of this story and this is my honest review.

[Gina Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, this series just keeps getting better! I just absolutely love this cast of characters, their love for one another, the Inn setting and all of the murder mystery. There are several big time reveals in this book! Every time I read a book from this series, I feel like I know everyone and wish I had a permanent room at the Manor. Such another great installment that was packed with lots of mayhem that had me shouting "oh wow!" and "oh no!" at the pages, but also laughing out loud and cheering. Lots of super fun “YAYS” especially towards the final few pages. While each book can be read as a standalone, experiencing the series in its entirety is truly rewarding—it's like gaining a second family.

[J Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold case conundrum!

The Inn has a new group of eclectic guests. Lily juggles her duties at the Inn with her job as an FBI cold case consultant. Agent Armstrong barely tolerates her. Their new assignment could solve a number of cold cases but they only have a week to do it. When one of the Inn’s guests goes missing, Lily finds herself a prime suspect and Armstrong questions her dedication to the team. How long can she keep up the pace of two jobs without failing at both?

This is a great series! There is humor, romance, and a good mystery. I received an advance copy of the book but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Catherine Stratman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a fun series!

Lilly and her FBI group are spending the week working on missing persons cold cases. But things start to get a little too close to home when one of her guests is missing with only a blood stain and bloody knife left behind. The initials on the knife point to Lilly or another of her guests. When Lilly blunders headfirst into what she mistakenly thinks is the solution to both her cold case and her missing guest, will she still have a job with the FBI? Armstong is furious! But her FBI job is the least of her worries when the murderer sets his sites on Lilly. Will she make it out alive?

I received an ARC. This is my honest review.

[Javon50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilly Livingston, FBI consultant and owner of the Magnolia Manor, a historic inn in Drifter’s Cove, is content with her life, her relationship with Peter Quigley and is happily working at the inn. When she is called in to the FBI for work on some cold cases, Lilly begins to delve deeper into those people who are missing and presumed dead but are left with no solutions as to who did the killing. When a body is found, Lilly finds herself as well as some Manor guests as suspects, so she dons her FBI consultant hat on and begins her own investigation to clear her name. This book kept me engaged well into the night. This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Myranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 4.5 rounded up. Part of it is my fault. I knew going into this when the author reached out and asked me to read it that it was part of a series and not the first book. The story is good and I can't wait to play catch up and read the other 9 books that come before this. If they're all this quick to read then it shouldn't take long to knock them out. It's all about finding the time to read them though. It's a cozy mystery that I loved. It also broke up some of the fantasy that I've been reading so much of lately and I appreciate it.

Full review on my website on 8.4.26.
www.mommodeloading.com

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilly had some close calls and "some crying wolf calls". Will they answer her last call ? ?
This was another great cozy adventure with teeth and it doesn't disappoint on the nonstop action. Usually Marissa is the bothersome female in the story, but Lilly is on the cusp of it all. I'm fearful she'll be buried with her evidence!! The was a highly impactful story that resonated with me. Quigley really came through for Lilly in a lot of ways. Happy tear!! Happy tears!! A stupendous ending. Humor, entertainment, surprises, and an enjoyable mystery.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC. The reason I gave this book only 4 stars is because I got lost with the characters and didn't know their background other than that the book was wonderful. It had me guessing till the ve3ry end. Lilly gets herself in some tight situations but she has her friends to help her when she gets in a jam and she sure did in this book. Her boss Livingston comes through for her when you least expect it which goes to show you never can tell what a person thinks of you. The book deals a lot with the relationships you have with the people you see every day.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!

Murder, intrigue, and romance rolled up into one fantastic story. I loved this story with Lilly as she tested the patience of the Chief Armstrong in her role as a civilian advisor for the FBI. Lilly is an amazing, talented woman with a supportive and loving group of family and friends. The story was awesome and the ending left me with a feeling of total contentment. I highly recommend this book

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

[E.V. Sparrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Grave Situation by Joy Patrick ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a cozy mystery lover, this checked the boxes. Quaint and lovely inn, lots of quirky characters, and a mystery to keep readers guessing. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Without spoiling the ending, which was nicely wrapped up, I must mention the Opal Merriweather debacle and how it surprised me. Loved it! You’ll find out when you read the story. I was given and ARC without being required to post a positive review. These are my thoughts.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let the shenanigans begin

What a crazy week. I can’t believe all that action happened in just one week. But I guess that’s the life of an innkeeper/ FBI consultant. There’s missing persons cases to solve, a ticking clock on that case, a whole lot of fisherman all in town for a contest, a mysterious guest who might be a made man, tragedy for Quigley and family joy and love too. I’m not sure if this is the end of the series it has a feel that it’s either a series ending or a switch in focus. It was a wild wacky ride but I loved every word!

[Pam Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books keep getting better & better!! Lilly & the rest of the characters are funny, quirky & just plain wonderful!! Lilly is working on cold cases for the FBI that tie into a current murder of one of her guests. Of course she solves the case in her own unique way & ends up making some life changes at the end. The author keeps the stories fresh & interesting, leaving you waiting for the next book. I guarantee you will be thoroughly entertained by this book, a definite must read!! I voluntarily read for an honest review.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, and this book is my absolute favorite by far. Lilly is always in the middle of the action, whether she wants to be or not, and sometimes finds herself in precarious situations. There were some tense moments, funny moments and happy moments. I love Lilly, her friends, and even her mother. The way the story flowed and formed was amazing. Joy Patrick really knows how to write an awesome book and series, and I highly recommend them all!

[Lou Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable cozy mystery by Joy Patrick. I love all the main characters surrounding Lilly's B & B, Magnolia Manor. You do not have to read the books in order to enjoy the stories. I was guessing till about the end on who the "bad guy" was. Even though Lilly makes mistakes along the way she always gets her "man." The ending surprised me and has me wondering what is next in the series.

I received an advanced copy and give my honest review

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily is busy with the Inn and also with her FBI work when they are presented with a bunch of cold cases that they only have a week to work before they go cold forever. Each of the group is given a different case and of course she is in trouble with Armstrong so she doesn't really get her own case. She also has a missing person at the Inn that feels like a death. Both cases get tied together when she figures out the John Doe angle. Great cozy mystery with a possible new life angle for them all.

[Julianne Dombrowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a GOOD BOOK!! This book grabbed me right in! Lilly and Quigley try to steer romance throughout. She owns a bed and breakfast, full time. She also is a part-time FBI agent. She has plenty of support with the family and friends that surround her, but she takes on a part of a case against her supervisors advice. She on a timeline. Can she make it with everything going on? You’ll need to read this fantastic book to find out!

[ABurch74 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great example installment in the Magnolia Manor Mysteries series. Once again, Lilly and the gang keep busy helping the FBI and local police solve another mystery while also developing their relationships. If is great to read these stories and learn more about the characters and their connections to each other.

I received an advance copy. My review is my honest opinion and is left voluntarily.

[Lavender Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything I love in a cozy mystery: a captivating story (I was hooked from page 1), lots of twists and surprises, delightful characters (Lilly and her friends are fantastic), a lovely romance, and plenty of humour. A five star must-read!

A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own..