A Murder and Maggie MacGill

by Rebecca Lee Smith

When elementary art teacher Maggie MacGill finds the richest, most despised woman in town dead, then inherits her estate, life in the sweet mountain town of Wrenhaven, Tennessee, takes a greased ride downhill.

No one knows why Mrs. Grayson left her fortune to Maggie, but once her death begins to look like murder, and a series of unexplained pranks directed at the MacGill family turn nasty, Maggie must untangle a web of secrets and discover who has it in for her before it’s too late. Even if it means accepting help from the victim’s grandson, a man she’s loathed since high school but whose devastating grin and quick wit can still make her heart race.

Genres: Mystery

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2025

Reviews

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Maggie MacGill is an elementary school teacher and budding artist in Wrenhaven, Tennessee. She had recently befriended Mrs. Grayson through their love of gardening. Mrs. Grayson’s extensive garden needed a lot of help, and Maggie volunteered to do her best to clean it up. Constance Grayson had her hands in several projects in Wrenhaven, but it turned out she had a pretty despicable side, and many despised the woman. So when Maggie finds Mrs. Grayson dead, the town doesn’t do much grieving.

Then, Maggie finds out she has inherited the bulk of Mrs. Grayson’s estate. Their relationship was unique, but not close. It’s a mystery why Maggie was even mentioned in the will, let alone inheriting. Why was almost everything bequeathed to her? When Mrs. Grayson’s death is ruled a murder, Maggie finds herself a suspect. Then some nasty happenings target Maggie and her family. Is someone trying to get them out of the picture, putting the will back in play? Maggie, with help from Mrs. Grayson’s grandson, Eli, whom she has hated for years, works hard to out a killer. Then she will have to address the issues her heart is having whenever that certain grandson is in her vicinity.

Maggie MacGill is a smart and stubborn woman facing what many towns/school districts are facing these days: budgets and not enough money. Sadly, arts and music programs are the first classes cut. Her father and brother have come to depend on her income for their own businesses; an inheritance would be a godsend. Losing her job gives her time to parse through the secrets and lies to help her discover why the victim changed her will shortly before her death and who gained the most by her untimely demise. Eli is an interesting man; he came to visit his grandmother after seventeen years, but it was too late. He is invested in finding her killer and reconnecting with Maggie. He is more pragmatic, while Maggie rushes in before thinking things through. They make a good team. Maggie’s Pop is recovering from a work injury and has a girlfriend who leaves a lot to be desired. Her brother Jesse is a chef trying to make his restaurant a success. The characters are all well-crafted and feel true to life. The members of the supporting cast, including the suspects, are also well-crafted.

The mystery was very well-plotted and written. The author knows how to set a scene, blend plotlines, and lay out the information needed to follow along with the investigation without being overly wordy or repetitive. The story unfolded at a comfortable pace and ramped up measurably as the clues started to fall into place. Maggie chides herself for not figuring out everything before she found herself in a very troublesome position. She did try to think on her feet, but made a decision I found questionable, but I wasn’t the one trying to save my life. Just when you think the culprit is down, there’s another little twist before the satisfying final takedown.

A Murder and Maggie MacGill is a charming cozy mystery filled with relatable and interesting characters. There was romantic tension between Eli and Maggie that didn’t overtake the mystery. It played in harmony with funny moments until the final pages. I loved the ending to this story. This is written as a standalone story, so no cliffhanger, but I wouldn’t mind catching up with Maggie sometime in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

An out-of-work elementary school art teacher becomes a suspect in a murder case!

A Murder and Maggie MacGill is a fun, cozy mystery by Rebecca Lee Smith that features former elementary school art teacher Maggie MacGill and the close-knit community of Wrenhaven, Tennessee. When the wealthiest woman in town dies unexpectedly and leaves her fortune to Maggie, bypassing her grandsons and other family members and retainers, talk goes around town that Maggie may have had a hand in Mrs. Grayson's death.

Maggie is an engaging and relatable young woman, with everyday worries as well as those resulting from a recent stretch of bad luck. Not only did she discover her boyfriend's grandmother's body, but she also lost her job due to budget cuts and her boyfriend to a Hooter's waitress (his soulmate – like he even has a soul!) With her father recuperating from an injury and unable to work as a painting contractor, and her brother's new restaurant still struggling to get off the ground, she's the sole breadwinner for the present. When Constance Grayson leaves the bulk of her estate to Maggie rather than family, though, people start to talk and speculate. But when the woman's death proves to be from natural causes, someone starts playing pranks that quickly escalate into the danger zone. Maggie is compelled to get to the bottom of things so she can accept her inheritance and use some of her good fortune to help others in her town.

The author populates the East Tennessee mountain town with a variety of fun neighbors and potential suspects. Eli Grayson, one of the dead woman's grandsons and a horrible memory from Maggie's past, returns to Wrenhaven just before his grandmother's death. While he was the catalyst for Maggie's bullying in high school, he seems genuinely sincere in his apology and regret for his youthful behavior. The chemistry between the two is electric, while her relationship with his cousin, Stephen, her former boyfriend, was a shocking disappointment, as he was such an awful individual.

The story is well-paced, with the discovery of Mrs. Grayson's death occurring early in the book and the development of the town of Wrenhaven, its residents, and Maggie's current situation unfolding organically without info-dumping. I was behind Maggie every step of the way as she searched for answers, dodged disasters, and considered what to do with Mrs. Grayson's legacy. As the deceased was generally disliked by many people, who also felt like she owed them for her nastiness in life, there are plenty of suspects to consider before the person behind everything is identified. The big reveal was exciting and played out with some unusual twists, including the appearance of an unlikely hero.

I recommend A MURDER AND MAGGIE MACGILL to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy art-themed stories or Tennessee settings.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie MacGill lives in a small town in Tennessee, painting seascapes and teaching elementary art. When an unlikable older woman in town dies mysteriously, leaving Maggie her fortune, her life changes. She finds herself - and her family - in danger, and so she works to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read A Murder and Maggie MacGill because the Tennessee setting and art teacher protagonist appealed to me. This is my first read by Rebecca Lee Smith and it is a standalone mystery.

This mystery was an absolute delight! It is a cozy mystery with elements of women's fiction and a fresh, sassy voice. It was a very fast read for me because I read in all my free time over a couple of days ... I wanted to see what happened next! A sample of the authorial voice:

"Dust motes floated in the air like glitter. The whole thing felt surreal and romantic, like a scene from a Hallmark movie without the fake snow and the gay leading man." (eBook location 67)

I really like Maggie. She is creative, loyal to her family (dad Les and brother Jesse), and she cares about the kids she teaches. She meets her high school antagonist, Eli, by surprise early on and sparks unexpectedly fly. She wonders, though, if she can trust him and be vulnerable with him. Their friendship/possible romance is a big part of the story.

The mystery aspect of this book was well done. There were a number of strong suspects. I figured the answer and enjoyed Maggie solving the mystery as well.

The only thing I didn't like about A Murder and Maggie MacGill is that it isn't the start of a series! I would love to read more featuring these characters. I enthusiastically recommend this book for other cozy mystery fans.

[Kymm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that end long before you're done reading. Maggie the rock of her family since her mom left and always putting everyone else first dreams of visiting the ocean which she paints so beautifully when she finds time between teaching art to students and caring for her father and brother, but she knows there's no way she can accomplish that dream until her father and brother are financially secure on their own. When the hated Mrs. Grayson changes her will then dies of suspicious circumstances days later leaving Maggie her entire estate that dream gets closer to coming to fruition until she dives deeper into the Grayson family members who hated their grandmother as much as most of the townspeople and wonders if they could have killed their grandmother. The book was fun to read; I couldn't put it down especially as Maggie and Eli started to grow closer through their investigating only to have it all blow up in Maggie's face when she thought she could trust him. I haven't had the opportunity to read a Rebecca Lee Smith book yet, but if the others are as good as this, I'm anxious to check them out. This is the kind of book that when finished you just feel better about having read the story. Happy Reading!

[Barbara Pucser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book! I was riveted right from the very beginning pages. There were so many twists and turns and it kept you guessing right until the end. Poor Maggie has been dealt a lot and she just wants to help out her family. She gets a chance to do that but not without some mystery and trouble along the way. I really enjoyed the characters, they were believable. The descriptions were not over the top but just enough to put a picture in your mind. All in All, i really enjoyed this book and could not put it down!

[Tabby Shiflett · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extraordinary contemporary cozy murder mystery, this novel is set in a southern small-town and has a quirky cast of likeable (and questionable) characters that makes you wish this stand-alone was a series introduction. The witty and occasionally snarky banter adds light to some serious themes, and it's intriguing that many characters are attempting a second chance at life in this little corner of the world (while others seek to escape). I appreciate the inclusion of a hearing impaired child character as well.

BookSirens Review Copy

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Murder and Maggie MacBook is A novel by Rebecca Lee Smith. I thought that this was an excellent murder/mystery/romance. Mrs Grayson is dead… who murdered her. Grandson Stephen broke up with Rebecca, Rebecca hates Eli… grandson #2. But, neither grandson gets grandma's assets. Greed/family dynamics/equals murder? Excellent story, wonderful characters, equals a can't put down book. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Devons book corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books that instantly pulled me in and ended way before I wanted it to. I ate this book up. I'm a sucker for a good cozy murder mystery, and this was absolutely fabulous and everything that I could have asked for. The story was well written, there were many twists and turns that kept you guessing until the end, and characters that were easy to love. This was everything that I could have wanted and more.

[Steph Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn in by the stunning cover and intriguing description and I was not disappointed!

This is a well written, cozy murder mystery with a full cast of super characters. The story is engaging and comforting, with just the right touch of romance to round it out.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story that was impossible to put down. I really liked Maggie, her dad and her brother Jesse. I also really liked Eli and how he was always there to help Maggie out. Maggie is super kind, caring and still is strong and courageous. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I look forward to my next book by Rebecca Lee Smith.

[Ag · Rating 5 out of 5]

worth the read

[Nisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Murder and Maggie McGill by Rebecca Lee Smith is a cozy mystery: quick, entertaining, and genuinely hard to put down. I finished it in just a couple of sittings. Maggie felt refreshingly normal—an elementary art teacher suddenly thrown into chaos—which made her reactions believable and easy to root for.

The mystery itself stayed engaging without getting overly complicated. The inheritance twist hooked me right away, and the escalating pranks added a nice layer of tension. I also enjoyed the small-town setting; Wrenhaven felt lived-in, with just enough gossip and secrets to keep things interesting. The slow-burn dynamic with the victim’s grandson added charm and a bit of spark without overpowering the plot.

Overall, it’s a fun, fast, comfort read with heart and suspense—perfect when you want something light but still intriguing.