The Potter's Final Piece: A Pooka Women's Club Mystery (Book 1): A Hilarious Friends Cozy Murder Mystery Club Series

by Virginia Ann

A small-town scandal. A stolen fortune. And a women’s club with nothing to lose.

When Biddy Bramley returns to her hometown of Pooka, Indiana, after her husband’s passing, she expects awkward reunions, petty gossip, and a fresh start—not rumors that her estranged sister was cheated out of a multi-million-dollar pottery business before her death. The town dismisses Eileen as a delusional old woman, but Biddy refuses to let her sister’s legacy die with her.

Never one to leave history buried, Biddy enlists a ragtag band of a no-nonsense bar owner, an exhausted mom craving a break, and a street-savvy woman working off her community service. Together with Biddy’s own skeptical daughter, they form the Pooka Women’s Club—part support group, part amateur detective team.

But as the unlikely allies dig into Eileen’s past, they stir up more than just old grudges. Someone in Pooka has secrets worth killing for—and if they’re not careful, they’ll find themselves jumping out of the kiln and into the fire.

The Potter’s Final Piece is a charming, twist-filled cozy mystery perfect for fans of small-town secrets, found family, and amateur sleuths with something to prove. With a quirky cast of witty women, this novel delivers a delightful blend of humor, heart, and mystery ideal for readers who love compelling but clean whodunits.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2025

About the author

Virginia Ann is a consumer industry analyst with a decade of experience uncovering hidden trends, following the money, and making sense of complex business dealings—all skills that have translated well into crafting intricate mysteries.

Before venturing into fiction, Virginia authored numerous financial articles. Her insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Reuters, and she has appeared as an expert guest on CNBC’s Squawk Box, BNN, and Bloomberg.

A lifelong lover of charming small-town whodunits, Virginia brings her keen analytical eye to the world of cozy mysteries, blending intrigue, humor, and strong female friendships. She lives in Wisconsin with her beloved cocker spaniel, Millie, and, when not devouring cozy mysteries or writing, can be found gardening and decorating. The Potter’s Final Piece is her debut novel.

Reviews

[nikka · Rating 3 out of 5]

cozy read

While the author’s tone is really warm and nice like a comforting chat with an old friend, the book didn’t quite do it for me. The writing is pleasant and the characters are relatable, but I found it a bit too light and predictable. Great for cozy vibes, just not my favorite.

[Rayleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts out slow so you get some idea of who the main characters are. The mystery takes place in a small out of the way farming town that was started by Irish immigrants. Biddy's sister dies around the same time as her husband. Her niece is obsessed with proving that her mom was the rightful creator of a multi-million dollar pottery company which has gotten her in legal trouble. Since Biddy has nothing holding her in Boston she heads back to her home town to help her niece prove her mother is the rightful owner. Megan, her daughter thinks her mom is being taken advantage by some poor relative and follows her to the small town of Pooka. Everyone in town thinks Biddy 's sister, Eileen a lowly cleaning woman was crazy, yet Biddy believes her niece as she remembers scientific things her sister used to do when they were younger. Since no one will take Biddy or her niece, Maude seriously Biddy starts a women's club to investigate on their own. A ragtag bunch of a few women come together to look for facts & clues. The town is a little old fashion so even though others supported the group they didn't attend due to the thoughts of the men in their families. Thinks have changed a lot in Pooka since Biddy left and the town is actually thriving as everything has gone into a form of a co-op with everyone working together to get the items the different farms produce to a nation wide distribution. And of course the famous Pottery company. Oh before I forget, I received an Advance reader copy of the book for an honest voluntary review. Besides proving the town wrong the story is about friends reconnecting, making new ones, family members connecting, each women figuring out who they are, and proving that women are truly the back bone of the community making things happen that usually are preceived as not a big deal,yet really is. It talks a lot about history. How women are viewed/thought of by their looks or what their occupation & education or lack of are. In between this the mystery becomes even bigger as new facts & clues are found. Just when you thought you figured things out new things come to light,the bad guy/guys change as well as which mystery is the most important. As I started reading the story I told my husband I just can't get into the story, yet felt I needed to give it my best shot to keep going. If I still hadn't get into the story by a certain page number in the book I would give up. I am so glad I kept going as the story like how the view of the town as you are entering the area was described gave you a much bigger and colorful mystery then you could ever imagine. This is the author's first book as mentioned in the back of the book. I look forward to reading more stories about these colorful amazing women of Pooka

[Cozy Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Potter's Final Piece is the first book in the new Pooka Women's Club Mystery Series by Virginia Ann. The amateur sleuth is Biddy Bramley, a widow who returns to her hometown of Pooka, Indiana after the death of her husband.

Biddy is shocked to hear rumors that her estranged sister was cheated out of a multi-million-dollar pottery business before her death. She decides to investigate with the help of a few new friends, including Biddy's skeptical daughter, a no-nonsense bar owner, an exhausted mom in need of a break, and a street-savvy woman doing community service.

This book has a fun ensemble casts and the three things I like to see most in a cozy mystery: heart, humor, and small-town suspense.

The women in this sleuthing club are all very unique and quirky. I was entertained by their wit and liked watching their friendship blossom throughout the story.

The mystery is twisty and suspenseful with a logical conclusion. The setting is charming and provides the perfect small town backdrop for a Midwest mystery.

I look forward to seeing what's next for Biddy and the Pooka Women's Club.

I received an advance reader copy of this book. It did not influence my voluntary review.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biddy Bramley returns to rural Pooka, Indiana from Boston after being widowed and organizes with four other women to form The Pooka Women’s Club—part support group, part amateur sleuthing team. The cause is the defamation of Biddy's sister who is the real originator of the local multimillion dollar pottery factory. And then there's the deaths. And all the undercurrents in the lives of the women who learn to work together toward common goals. Good read!
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[Steph Mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing read with several twists and lovable characters. Took a little bit to understand who's who and whats what but that's probably just me. Biddy Bramley, the main character, comes back to her home town of Pooka, Indiana, USA, upon receipt of the news of her sister's death. Her daughter, Megan, ends up following her there after a personal setback. Biddy ends up staying as she investigates her recent sister's (Eileen) death. She forms a group called the Pookas Womens Club to help her. Their investigation gets more sinister the more they dig.
A mature women's, cozy mystery with a lovely comradery.

[Mrs K.Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Potter's Final Piece is a story about a family. Biddy visits her Niece Maude after her Mother's death. Maude wants justice for her Mother who says she started a pottery company, but no one else agreed. They started a group of five ladies all from different walks in life and they look into this . But while investigating there is some surprising information that they uncover. Excellent story. I highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katie Hatters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next one!!

The main characters are so well developed in this book. They are real women, each with their own individual personalities, who come together for one purpose and end up being the most unexpected friends. I don't know who my favorite is; Biddy, Ruby, Sheila... I can't pick just one!

[Kevin Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small Town, Big Secrets

This book is a fun and touching mix of mystery and sisterhood. Biddy comes home to heal, but ends up chasing clues with a wild bunch of local women. It's got twists, laughs, and plenty of heart. If you like smart ladies solving old secrets with sass and smarts, you’ll really enjoy this story.

[Ishieta Chopra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy and quick read. It took a while to get into and all the names, especially tons that start with the letter M made it a little confusing at times to keep them all straight.
I enjoyed the sisterhood and their daring in the investigation, i especially loved Ruby :)

[Paula M Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women unite to solve a mystery

I enjoyed reading this powerful story of how the 5 women got together to redeem Eileen's name and accomplishment in creating her beauty in pottery. Not even greedy men can keep it buried.