Forecast: Foul Play : A cozy mystery novella with newsroom secrets

by Ashleigh Quinn

Same title, same cover, reimagined story

Weather 100% chance of sabotage, suspicious coworkers, and a murder that’s way too close to home.

Autumn Davis thought she’d landed her dream job as a weather reporter at Moore Broadcasting. Instead, she’s fetching coffee, dodging diva anchors, and trying not to trip over cats. But when a high-profile colleague turns up dead at the station, Autumn becomes the newsroom’s newest suspect.

With a trail of shady secrets, missing footage, and a storm of backstabbing coworkers, she’ll have to dig deep to clear her name before someone else winds up in the headlines.

Can a weather girl with a sharp tongue and a nose for trouble solve the case before something else happens?

If you love twisty whodunnits, lovable underdogs, and a cast of quirky characters (feline included), you’ll adore this book..

This is a stand-alone in the Weather Girl Mysteries series.
Book 1 - Foul Play (Second Edition)
Book 2 - Deceit & a Deathly Downpour (Second Edition)
Book 3 - Autumn Abduction (Second Edition)
Book 4 - Cooking Up a Storm
Book 5 - A Frosty Wedding Reception

Genres: Cozy Mystery

148 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 3, 2025

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autumn Davis wants to follow in her late mother’s footsteps and become a meteorologist. She lands a job at Moore Broadcasting and is looking forward to making her mark. Autumn finds herself in the middle of a storm when the lead meteorologist, Amber Davis, is found dead at the station. Amber had made plenty of enemies so there is no shortage of suspects, including Autumn. Autumn joins forces with custodian Carl to investigate the murder and clear her name.

This novella (152 pages) is a 2nd edition of this book of the same title from 2 years ago. I felt that the plot was pretty well developed and it was easy to follow along. The characters have some depth and I love the camaraderie between Autumn and Carl. I enjoyed reading this story and encourage other cozy mysteries to give it a try.

*I received an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Shameka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a quick, light-hearted read as a bit of a palette cleanser from some of the other genres I've been reading. Overall it was ok. There were a few plot holes and few typos but I did enjoy the story. It didn't turn out to be a quick read for me because it took me a long time to get into this story but the pace did finally start to pick up about halfway through.

[Jeffrey Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a sharp, suspenseful mystery set inside the chaotic world of local broadcasting.

This is a rewritten version of a story set in a school environment.

Quinn builds tension through clipped chapters, layered dialogue, and believable stakes.

Autumn is a standout lead, flawed, curious, and capable, while Carl, the janitor, provides a steady foil with quirky charm.

The plot keeps a brisk pace, blending newsroom politics with creeping dread. Subtle foreshadowing and tight scenes maintain suspense without sacrificing clarity.

Dialogue feels authentic, often carrying double meaning.

Characters act with purpose, and the setting drips with atmosphere.

Some early scenes risk cliché (the hostile veteran vs. rookie).

The mystery is slow to get started, and its complexity could benefit from tighter clarity around character motives midway through.

Still, these are minor distractions in a strong debut.

Recommended for readers who enjoy fast-paced mysteries with smart dialogue, a relatable heroine, and a steady drip of suspense.

It’s a solid entry in the murder mystery genre with strong series potential.

[Aparna J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashleigh Quinn's revised edition of her first book, Forecast Foulplay, from The Weather Girl Mysteries series, is a thoroughly delightful and engaging read. She is one of my favorite authors. She has also authored Ruby Tate cozy mysteries and Moonridge Series (Romance). I have enjoyed reading all the books in both the series. I admire her for exceptional writing skills.
Autumn Davis is excited and looking forward to join Moore Broadcasting as a weather reporter. Much to her surprise, the glamorous weather gig includes a not-so-glamorous side: serving coffee, doing odd jobs, and only sometimes stepping in front of the camera. This is nothing when compared to a bigger catastrophe awaiting her when a colleague is found and she becomes the primary suspect simply because she had an argument with the deceased.
The case is not so simple and there are multiple suspects besides her, each having their ulterior motives to get rid of her. Will Autumn prove her innocence or end up like her nemesis? Forecast Foulplay is cozy crime at its finest—smart, intriguing, and impossible to put down!

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

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

The weather – or murder?

When Autumn Davis accepted the position at Moore Broadcasting, she never thought it would be for an internship so she is a bit surprised by that. Then when one of her co-workers is murdered, Autumn knows she has to find the killer, especially since she ends up on the suspect list after an argument with the woman. Teaming up with the janitor Carl, Autumn follows clue and clue. This is an enjoyable read and a great escape. The story is very well written, the plot moves along at a brisk pace and there was more than one twist in this story.

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

[Debdutch · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Forecast: Foul Play” by Ashleigh Quinn

-A brisk, cozy newsroom mystery with sabotage, secrets, and meteorological mayhem. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Autumn is a flawed, engaging heroine, and Carl the janitor adds quirky warmth. Tight chapters and layered dialogue create suspense without confusion.

A fun whodunnit full of suspects, atmosphere, and even a few charming cats.

[Sandy T · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable quick cozy murder mystery read with lots of weather puns. Autumn is starting a new job and is immediately disappointed when she discovers her job duties are not what she expected. Then a murder occurs and she is a suspect. With the help of her new friend Carl, she starts to investigate to clear her name and discovers several other people have motives.

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

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable whodunnit with great characters. Even a couple of cats thrown into the mix! Plenty of suspects to keep the reader speculating. This is a rewritten version. I want to highly recommend it. The story moves along quickly with plenty of clues.

[Genoveva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this murder mystery book. I sympathize with Autumn, getting all excited for her dream job only to discover shes not being given the chance to show what she can do. Dealing with all of that to stumble on her coworker being unalived oh my!.

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

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autumn Davis is the new recruit on the Moore Broadcast. Her time there was not easy with all the tensions ,murder and chaos to deal with. An intriguing read. I received this ARC copy and recommend this book to other readers .

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Adventure by Ashleigh Quinn

This is a great mystery. I really enjoyed it with all of the fun characters, some mean, some secretive, all well written. I loved the ending, it was so good. Don't miss this one.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

a different universe of drama, suspense and death surrounding a meteorologist and murderous mayhem.

intense drama and action

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and couldn't wait to see how things turned out. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Charlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was too slow and didn’t get interesting until the last 2 chapters. I will not be reading book #2 of this series.

[Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a bit boring. A tad predictable but also left me confused me on why and how things escalated like this at a broadcast station.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being the new weather girl shouldn’t put a target on your back. What she thought was going to be her dream job quickly becomes a nightmare. Fortunately, she has a nose for news and investigations. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series.