South View: A Canadian Cottage Country Mystery 2

by Renny deGroot

Every house deal brings an adventure.

In Book Two of the cozy Canadian Cottage Country Mystery series, Real Estate Agent Shannon Coyne loves to explore the beautiful lake houses in her corner of Southern Ontario, Canada, never knowing what secrets a property may reveal.
Her quiet life is ruptured when she and her cocker spaniel, Dusty, find a man’s overcoat in Rice Lake. The discovery sends her on a puzzling journey through the area’s intriguing history. Her investigation is complicated when Shannon realizes the lake property belongs to Violet Walker, an elderly woman she’s known for years and is shocked to discover this frail widow is accused of murdering her husband. Despite warnings to stay out of the investigation and threats to her life, Shannon puts her fears aside and rallies her friends to help free Violet by uncovering the truth.

The surprising history of this peaceful community may hide a past someone is prepared to kill for.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2025

About the author

Renny deGroot was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, a first-generation Canadian of Dutch parents.

Her novels have been shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize and a Whistler Independent Book Award. They have been awarded several readers’ awards from the U.K., Canada, and the U.S. She has published mystery, historical fiction, short stories and non-fiction

Renny has a BA in English Literature from Trent University and studied creative writing at Ryerson University.

She lives in rural Ontario with her Great Pyrenees and Golden Retriever, and vacations at her cottage in Nova Scotia.

Reviews

[Tracy Rafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the setting of these books around Rice Lake and in Northumberland County! I'm not too fond of how naive and ridiculous the main character is, I like women leads to be strong and intelligent. While Shannon Coyle possesses these characteristics to some degree, her actions are frustratingly counter to expectations. She needs to smarten up and get the same results without putting herself in harms way all the time. No one would do that as often as she does!

That being said, it is always good to pick up a book and relate to the setting. The characters feel like people I would like to know, and the storylines are always filled with interesting details.

[Dave Wickenden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real Estate Agent Shannon Coyne is back with another listing. This time it’s a lakefront property of an owner who Shannon has found floating dead in the lake. When the man’s wife is arrested for his murder, Shannon doesn’t believe it for a second and sets out against the advice of all her friends and family to solve the mystery.

The clues add up and Shannon finds herself a target. Will she be able to solve the mystery without becoming the next victim? Reminiscent of Agatha Cristy or T.E. Kinsey, this cozy mystery will have you guessing until the last page.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kind of had a feeling who did it in this one but I have the reasoning at all. This was kind of a hard one. The ending made me so sad. Especially considering everything. But it's one heck of a book. I highly recommend. Just if you have triggers, be warned.

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

[Georgie Gail Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the story mysterious and unique and would speak to young adults and those young at heart that believe in what we can't see with our eyes.

[Marie-France Leclerc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great mystery that has me go back and forth between a few possible murder suspects. Looking forward to the third one in this series.