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Blueprint for Murder
Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Orchard Grove is the kind of town where everyone knows your name—and your secrets don’t stay buried for long.
When Piper Landry buys the grandest old building on the town square to expand her antique shop into a cozy bookstore and coffee nook, she’s expecting creaky floors, not creeping danger. But after a woman is found murdered behind the building during the final night of the Apple Festival, Piper notices an unsettling number of people suddenly taking interest in her new property, each with their own questions and motives. The more she digs, the more she what could be hidden inside the old walls of 101 Main Street?
Perfect for fans of small-town whodunits and amateur sleuths with heart.
When Piper Landry buys the grandest old building on the town square to expand her antique shop into a cozy bookstore and coffee nook, she’s expecting creaky floors, not creeping danger. But after a woman is found murdered behind the building during the final night of the Apple Festival, Piper notices an unsettling number of people suddenly taking interest in her new property, each with their own questions and motives. The more she digs, the more she what could be hidden inside the old walls of 101 Main Street?
Perfect for fans of small-town whodunits and amateur sleuths with heart.
- GenresCozy Mystery
215 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2025
7 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Penni Justice
7 books3 followersPenni Justice McDaniel is a lifelong book lover and storyteller at heart. An Atlanta native, she now lives in the scenic North Georgia mountains with her husband in a certified wildlife sanctuary. Surrounded by nature and inspired by the charm of a nearby tourist town, Penni crafted her debut cozy mystery, Blueprint for Murder. The beauty of mountain living, along with cherished memories of traveling across the country and hearing true-life stories from family and friends, often sparks ideas for her writing.
Her love of books began early, nurtured by frequent trips to libraries in Atlanta, Decatur, and Tucker, Georgia, where her mother introduced her to the magic of reading. She fell in love with fiction after discovering Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. As the church librarian, her mother also provided a treasure trove of young adult fiction and mysteries that further fueled Penni’s passion.
An avid reader, Penni devours around 70 fiction books each year, favoring cozy mysteries, historical fiction, and spy thrillers. In May 2023, she earned her second college degree, graduating with honors from Southern New Hampshire University with a B.A. in Creative Writing and English, concentrating in fiction writing. Her coursework included numerous fiction workshops that helped her hone her narrative style and voice.
For the past 24 years, Penni has owned and operated a music entertainment agency, specializing in public relations, writing, ghostwriting, and marketing. In addition to her fiction, she is working on a historical novel set in South Georgia during the 1940s and overseas during World War II.
Penni and her husband are the proud parents of three grown children, a son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law—each inspiring her with their humor, intelligence, and love. They are, in her words, “the absolute joys of my life.”
Her love of books began early, nurtured by frequent trips to libraries in Atlanta, Decatur, and Tucker, Georgia, where her mother introduced her to the magic of reading. She fell in love with fiction after discovering Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. As the church librarian, her mother also provided a treasure trove of young adult fiction and mysteries that further fueled Penni’s passion.
An avid reader, Penni devours around 70 fiction books each year, favoring cozy mysteries, historical fiction, and spy thrillers. In May 2023, she earned her second college degree, graduating with honors from Southern New Hampshire University with a B.A. in Creative Writing and English, concentrating in fiction writing. Her coursework included numerous fiction workshops that helped her hone her narrative style and voice.
For the past 24 years, Penni has owned and operated a music entertainment agency, specializing in public relations, writing, ghostwriting, and marketing. In addition to her fiction, she is working on a historical novel set in South Georgia during the 1940s and overseas during World War II.
Penni and her husband are the proud parents of three grown children, a son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law—each inspiring her with their humor, intelligence, and love. They are, in her words, “the absolute joys of my life.”
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 15, 2025
Hard to put down!
November 9, 2025
What an amazing read! A real hard book to put down, you just want to seeing what is going to happen next. Piper Landry moves to a town in the beautiful place in the mountains. Her Aunt lives there too and has a business. Pipers business is in antiques and things change for her when she buys a new building. She wants to expand her business into a larger space. But things take a turn when someone's life is taken.
Penni is an amazing writer, you feel you are right there in this little town. It is FALL, and you feel the vibes of Fall all around you, the leaves falling, the excitement of the events that are going to happen in town. And Christmas to be close to coming. There is a dog in the the story that I really love, being a dog lover that is. Penni and I have a friend who has a website, and I entered the giveaway for Penni's book. I won, and was so amazingly surprised. Thank you so very much Penni for the book. It is beautiful and so very colorful, it really would catch your eye in a bookstore. The website our friend has is: http://www.birdhouse-books.com I thank my friend, Trish, for encouraging me to entered, now I have a new author I really love. I have already bought her 2nd book, All Wrapped Up in a Mystery (An Orchard Grove Mystery Book 2).
Penni is an amazing writer, you feel you are right there in this little town. It is FALL, and you feel the vibes of Fall all around you, the leaves falling, the excitement of the events that are going to happen in town. And Christmas to be close to coming. There is a dog in the the story that I really love, being a dog lover that is. Penni and I have a friend who has a website, and I entered the giveaway for Penni's book. I won, and was so amazingly surprised. Thank you so very much Penni for the book. It is beautiful and so very colorful, it really would catch your eye in a bookstore. The website our friend has is: http://www.birdhouse-books.com I thank my friend, Trish, for encouraging me to entered, now I have a new author I really love. I have already bought her 2nd book, All Wrapped Up in a Mystery (An Orchard Grove Mystery Book 2).
November 7, 2025
Piper’s journey in Orchard Grove is endearing and so enjoyable to read. The author’s writing style conveys the charming nature of a small town and the people that make it a community. I’m excited for the next book in this series!
May 26, 2025
In Orchard Grove, Georgia, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Piper Landry is excited about buying a beautiful, historic building so she can expand her antique business and include a coffee shop and bookstore. Then a friend is found murdered just behind the building, and her life changes. She works to solve the mystery as she juggles time with friends, her aunt, and a new romantic interest, Mike.
I wanted to read Blueprint for Murder because I love cozy mysteries. I am a native Georgian so the North Georgia small town setting was very appealing. The author is a good friend since childhood and I know she is a very talented writer, so I was especially excited to read her new book.
This is the first book in the Orchard Grove mysteries and it is a wonderful start for a new series! Penni does a wonderful job at describing the town, with its seasonal festivals and activities, the townspeople, and day-to-day life in the town. I love a fictional small town that becomes part of the story, and Orchard Grove is one of those towns.
Orchard Grove is a charming town, as seen in descriptions like:
"The following day, Piper stepped outside, breathing in the crisp autumn air as she looked up and down Main Street. Visitors flocked to the mountains for the vibrant fall foliage this time of year. The Apple Festival had broken attendance records, and Piper had made record profits at Hometown Antiques and Décor. Next weekend's Halloween in the Streets was expected to draw more locals than tourists, and soon, the part- timers would return to their cabins, bringing extended family to celebrate Thanksgiving.
But it was Christmas that Piper loved most. She'd already filled half her front windows with holiday decorations - her bestselling items, even in October. With its tight- knit charm, Orchard Grove always pulled out all the stops: lights, parades, and parties that made everyone feel like they belonged." (eBook locations 1790 - 1792).
Piper is a likable protagonist. She is fairly new to town, moving the same time as her Aunt Violet, but she is already well liked and very comfortable in Orchard Grove. As a lifelong antique person, I loved the antique and restoration details in this book. They added to the storytelling and showed Piper's passion for antiques and history.
Aunt Violet, Piper's friend Lucy, and her new love interest, Mike, are all great characters and I enjoyed their interactions with Piper. There is even a lovable older Great Pyrenees dog named Maddie!
The mystery is well done - the mysterious death happens early on and Piper works to eliminate suspects and find out what has happened, sometimes putting herself in a dangerous position along the way.
I am excited about Blueprint for Murder and enthusiastically recommend it for other cozy mystery fans. It will be especially appealing for readers who love southern settings and small town atmosphere (my favorite for cozy mysteries!). I really look forward to the next book in this series.
I wanted to read Blueprint for Murder because I love cozy mysteries. I am a native Georgian so the North Georgia small town setting was very appealing. The author is a good friend since childhood and I know she is a very talented writer, so I was especially excited to read her new book.
This is the first book in the Orchard Grove mysteries and it is a wonderful start for a new series! Penni does a wonderful job at describing the town, with its seasonal festivals and activities, the townspeople, and day-to-day life in the town. I love a fictional small town that becomes part of the story, and Orchard Grove is one of those towns.
Orchard Grove is a charming town, as seen in descriptions like:
"The following day, Piper stepped outside, breathing in the crisp autumn air as she looked up and down Main Street. Visitors flocked to the mountains for the vibrant fall foliage this time of year. The Apple Festival had broken attendance records, and Piper had made record profits at Hometown Antiques and Décor. Next weekend's Halloween in the Streets was expected to draw more locals than tourists, and soon, the part- timers would return to their cabins, bringing extended family to celebrate Thanksgiving.
But it was Christmas that Piper loved most. She'd already filled half her front windows with holiday decorations - her bestselling items, even in October. With its tight- knit charm, Orchard Grove always pulled out all the stops: lights, parades, and parties that made everyone feel like they belonged." (eBook locations 1790 - 1792).
Piper is a likable protagonist. She is fairly new to town, moving the same time as her Aunt Violet, but she is already well liked and very comfortable in Orchard Grove. As a lifelong antique person, I loved the antique and restoration details in this book. They added to the storytelling and showed Piper's passion for antiques and history.
Aunt Violet, Piper's friend Lucy, and her new love interest, Mike, are all great characters and I enjoyed their interactions with Piper. There is even a lovable older Great Pyrenees dog named Maddie!
The mystery is well done - the mysterious death happens early on and Piper works to eliminate suspects and find out what has happened, sometimes putting herself in a dangerous position along the way.
I am excited about Blueprint for Murder and enthusiastically recommend it for other cozy mystery fans. It will be especially appealing for readers who love southern settings and small town atmosphere (my favorite for cozy mysteries!). I really look forward to the next book in this series.
October 16, 2025
This mystery has a lot going for it: appealing characters, a charming setting, and a clever plot with historical references.
Piper, who has moved to Orchard Grove, a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and opened a business in antiques and restoration, has decided to purchase a large empty old building where she can add more selling space, a bookstore and café area.
An unexpected and chilling event – a murder of a long-time resident – puts Piper on edge.
This is a book you can settle down with on a rainy day or cold night, with a cup of tea or hot chocolate, and some delectable snacks, then relax and escape...
Piper, who has moved to Orchard Grove, a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and opened a business in antiques and restoration, has decided to purchase a large empty old building where she can add more selling space, a bookstore and café area.
An unexpected and chilling event – a murder of a long-time resident – puts Piper on edge.
This is a book you can settle down with on a rainy day or cold night, with a cup of tea or hot chocolate, and some delectable snacks, then relax and escape...
August 24, 2025
Hard to put down this is a fantastic start to a new series! Penni does a wonderful job bringing Orchard Grove to life with its seasonal festivals, daily activities, and warm, memorable townspeople. I love when a fictional small town becomes a character in its own right, and Orchard Grove definitely does.
December 21, 2025
excellent
Penni did a wonderful job with her descriptions without over telling (which can get old) I could see what she wanted me to see without over sharing. The characters were real and relatable I loved everything about it
I'm prefer good with who done it's but I didn't guess the right person
I'm thrilled to be starting her second book.
Grace
Penni did a wonderful job with her descriptions without over telling (which can get old) I could see what she wanted me to see without over sharing. The characters were real and relatable I loved everything about it
I'm prefer good with who done it's but I didn't guess the right person
I'm thrilled to be starting her second book.
Grace
December 26, 2025
I read it in a day and can’t wait to see what Piper is up to next!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews