Murder at Starfall Lake: A Quillhaven Paranormal Cozy Mystery

by Tessa Silver

Magic runs through her veins—and the lake is calling her to use it.

Olympic silver medalist Diana Waverly thought a summer at Starfall Lake would be the perfect break—peaceful waters, fun swimming lessons, and zero drama. But when a flashy real estate developer takes an unexpected tumble off his stranded boat and turns up dead, her plans get swept away into a dangerous investigation.

Quillhaven is buzzing with gossip, and the list of suspects is longer than a summer day. There are jealous exes, shady business rivals, an angry boss, and maybe even a magical motive or two.

As she digs deeper, Diana discovers an unexpected connection to the lake itself – a magical bond that awakens powers she didn’t know she possessed.

With two mysterious talking Siamese cats as wisecracking allies, a handsome reporter who sees beyond her Olympic fame, and a bookshop owner guarding ancient secrets, Diana must unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again.

But Starfall Lake holds deeper magic than anyone realizes. As the summer solstice approaches and celestial forces align, Diana must choose between the life she left behind and the magical community that's claiming her heart.

A magical cozy mystery that’s full of cozy cabins, curious cats, and a mystery that’s anything but shallow.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. . . a whimsical, heartfelt journey through magic, mystery, and finding your place in a world that feels like it was waiting for you all along. ~ Hannah Haywood, Author

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. . . has mystery, romance and magic in equal doses. ~ wwagner, BookSprout reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. . . Tessa Silver can conjure up all the magic and mysteries to keep you hooked. ~ Pip, GoodReads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. . . Tessa Silver's lyrical prose lifts her stories beyond the ordinary. ~ dknr1, Amazon reviewer

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Cozy

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2025

Reviews

[Pip Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to Quillhaven the town with magic, mystery and murders can Olympic swimmer Diana fathom out the answers. Strange things are happening in the town and the lake is not happy! Welcome Diana who has returned to stay in her grandfathers old home near the lake for some rest and soul searching. Yes we will meet Luna and Leo and their owner Annie, also meet Evan the returning Journalist. Tessa Silver can conjure up all the magic and mysteries to keep you hooked. I’ve loved all the books which I get through being an ARC member Thank you Tessa ❤️ Pip x

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana and Evan’s Investigation . . .

Diana Waverly, Olympic star, is back in Quillhaven having accepted a summer job of teaching the children to swim. She also needed a break from her own years of intensive training. She even feels that both the cabin and Starfall Lake are welcoming her home! But when it is revealed at a town hall meeting that Bryce Hastings, now a rich investment banker, plans a “revitalization” by draining the lake to build a golf course or luxury serenity resort that would destroy everything, she is upset. His slides depict large modern glass-front "cabins", a four-story spa, five Olympic size swimming pools, a seven-story parking garage, six tennis courts, and an eighteen-hole golf course where Starfall Lake should have been! The entire room sat in shocked silence. So Diana stepped forward to speak against the plan and the repercussions that could result. Which side would win the vote next week?

The next day Diana takes her morning swim and discovers the drowned body of the developer in the lake! She joins, Evan Caldwell, the Quillhaven Chronicle’s new junior reporter, to find clues to the murder. They are assisted by two helpful cats, Luna and Leo, to find the killer, prevent further murder, and hopefully prevent the lake from being destroyed. When Diana’s magic is awakened, will she decide to stay in Quillhaven permanently? Or will she return to her “former” life? Will that decision have anything to do with Evan’s presence? There are still several surprises to discover about Bryce’s murder, so make sure you grab your copy and see what happened here! Diana must protect the lake because something is coming and she is the only one who can step in.

[DianaRaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

MURDER AT STARFALL LAKE is the fifth installment in the Quillhaven Magical Cozy Mystery series by Tessa Silver. These stories have quirky characters and light-hearted fun that had me hooked from beginning to end. There are enough twists and turns in each story to keep things interesting. Luna and Leo steal show with  snarky comments that only a cat could deliver.

Diana Waverly has returned to Quillhaven to teach children to swim and unwind from the intense years of becoming an Olympian swimming champion. She immediately senses the pull of Starfall Lake. It feels like the Lake welcomes her back. Unfortunately, a developer has plans to build a large resort and turn the lake into a golf course. When she finds a body during a morning swim, she gets the feeling that the lake knows who the killer is.

Diana eventually joins forces with Evan Caldwell, the new reporter in town, to look into who could be involved in this murder and why. Luna and Leo lend their knowledge and investigative skills to help solve the murder and stop the destruction of the Lake.

Don't miss the surprise when Luna abd Leo talk to Ethan for the first time😅.  Guess Ethan has some magic in him, too.

You'll also quickly find that Luna and Leo are the true sleuths in this mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed this quick and fun story and am looking forward to more stories featuring Leo and Luna. They add a truly fun twist to everything with their snark.

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

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic addition to the magical town of Quillhaven that grabs you from the start. Diana Waverly, Olympic silver medalist wans to get away from the rat race and returns to the cabin at Starfall Lake where she and her mother lived at one time and life was simpler then. She took a summer job teaching children to swim. When she was asked to come to a town meeting because a developer, Bryce Hastings is making a presentation for developing and in his words, revitalizing the town. When his idea was displayed, what really got to Diana was that in his development he wanted to drain the lake and build all types of amenities on it. And so she stood up and said her piece. The town seemed to be divided, but Diana will definitely keep on this to convince people it was a terrible idea. Being used to getting up early and getting a swim in, she feels there's something with the lake. She sees a capsized boat and the body of Hastings, and not wanting to be a suspect, she teams up with Evan Caldwell, the Quillhaven Chronicle’s new reporter and of course, our communicating and investigating Siamese cats, Leo and Luna to find a murderer. This is a page turning mystery that keeps you guessing until the end and the fact that she is discovering her magic is being awakened and there seems to be a romantic connection to Evan makes this even better! This book is a great addition to the Quillhaven series and not only do I recommend this book, but I recommend the entire series. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana Waverly is done with the spotlight and has returned to the small magical town of Quillhaven for a break from the rat race, and more importantly, the peace and quiet. Unfortunately, a greedy real estate investor has set his sights on turning beautiful Starfall Lake and the area surrounding it into a high-end resort. When the afore mentioned developer ends up in the lake, and very dead, Diana will end up drawn into the investigation to find the murderer. Quirky and loveable feline character Leo and Luna will be on hand to assist Diana and Evan Caldwell, a local news reporter, while they investigate the crime, and to prevent the destruction of the local landmark. I loved all of these characters, especially the cats, but I also enjoyed the developing romance between Diana and Evan. The individual personalities, which I thought were very realistic, and their reactions were engaging. An unexpected twist in the plot, and a happily ever after made this a must-read cozy mystery with a slow-burn, and clean romance that kept me guessing until the culprit was revealed. I recommend this book to any reader of cozy mysteries.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC received from Book Sprout.

[Sheila Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful story in Quillhaven. Each of the stories are a stand alone with no cliffhanger ending. Some of the characters do carry over but if you haven’t read the earlier stories you’ll be fine.
This story centers on Diana who has come back to Quillhaven after being gone to pursue her Olympic dreams as a swimmer. Early on she finds a dead body floating in the beloved Starfall Lake. It just happens to be a developer that was looking to dramatically change the area around Starfall Lake. In order to save Starfall Lake and find out who killed the developer Diana will team up with Evan, the reporter, and Leo and Luna, a pair of sleuthing enchanted kitties.
The author has done a wonderful job of letting you feel like you are part of the action as it is happening. There is just enough character building, so you have sufficient background to tie everything together but don’t get bored to tears to get there. The town is clearly full of magic and beings with magic abilities in their own right. I really enjoy this type of story and this did not disappoint. I hope that there are more stories to come.
I received an ARC copy and these are my honest review comments.

[Javon50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Waverly arrives at her family home at Starfall Lake where she will be teaching swimming lessons to children this summer. Until she decides what to do next with her life, living near her lake will give her peace, calm and a place to decide her next step. A former Olympic medalist, Diana is tired of all that is expected of her. She does not want to do another meet and greet, nor does she want to continue training with no time for a life of her own. Near her lake she can be herself. When she discovers that a developer wishes to drain the lake and build a resort, she knows she will do all she can to stop the plan. When it seems that the lake is calling her name she dives into the water, feeling surrounded by the lake’s caress until she comes upon the body of the developer. As the lake seems to call to her she realizes that she must find the killer while stopping any development. This terrific and magical book seemed to call to me and kept me engaged deep into the night untiI I was finished. I look forward to the next book. This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Darla Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Waverly is an Olympic silver medalist who's back home in Quillhaven for the summer giving swimming lessons at Starfall Lake. But when she finds the body of a real estate developer after he'd apparently fallen off his boat, her plans for a quiet summer change. She begins investigating and along the way, she develops a connection with the lake itself as well as two talkative cats. She also has help from Evan, a local reporter, and bookstore owner, Annie. As Summer Solstice approaches and celestial forces align, Diana must choose between her old life and a new life in the magical town that is changing her heart.

I've really enjoyed this series and this book's no exception. It was well-written with well-developed characters who are fun to get to know. I was drawn into this captivating story and kept hooked from start to finish my. The mystery was intriguing with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The story is full of magic that's believable in the way it's told. I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend both book and series.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olympic swimmer Diana Waverly takes a job as a swimming instructor at a summer camp in Quillhaven She is looking for peace and a slower pace, but instead becomes involved in the murder of real estate developer Bryce Hastings when she discovers his body in Starfall Lake. As she investigates, she begins to feel a magical connection to the lake and a romantic connection to journalist Evan Caldwell. Along with Leo and Luna, who are talking cats, Diana and Evan work to uncover who is behind the murder and bring peace back to Quillhaven.

I have read a couple of books in this series and I enjoy them. Each book is a stand alone story with some characters returning. In this book, the author does a nice job of the new characters and using the returning characters in suitable places in the plot. There is mystery, romance and magic in equal doses. I found this to be a delightful reading and look forward to future books by this author.

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

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical Quillhaven is a charming town with lots going down . Olympic swimmer Diana Waverly who achieved the silver medal no less has something to get off her chest ,she goes home to Quillhaven and starts swimming lessons . A deadly thing occurs to get jaws gossiping ,when a flashy real estate developer winds up falling off his stranded boat and turns up dead . Star Fall called her like a siren song but she knows that she’s done no wrong but someone has seen something she can feel it in her bones . She also starts communicating with the Siamese cats and they’re listening to her quite contentedly like so they join in the investigation stealth like as can be to solve the mystery. Great writing ,loved every page .when to stop digging and when to let go …Teaming up with Evan the reporter as well as the Siamese Leo and Luna to bring the peace and the secret to this town , into the limelight with hindsight As the solstice begins and the celestial charts a path . Can she see a future’s past? Uber awesome storyline and the telling is compelling too.

[Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read by Tessa Silver and it is well written and gets you involve right away. When Diane Waverly the Olympic swimmer return to Quillhaven were she grew up at to try and find herself after all the media attention and all the trainning she did for the Olympics. She can't wait to go swimming in Starfall Lake where she had learn to swim. She finds that can finally relax again until she is out swimming one morning and finds a dead body in the lake. While she is trying to figure out who could of murder the real estate developer and trys to stop anyone from turning the town of Quillhaven into a tourist resort she meets up with a newpaper reporter who is looking for he next big story. With the help of some of the town's people and the newpaper reporter who is just trying to figure out where he wants to be they are able to uncover the murderer. I love the way Tessa Silver has of getting you to look at all her characters. I will be reading more of her books and I hope that everyone else will try her series.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Waverly, an Olympic swimming medalist, returns to her hometown of Quillhaven to take a well-earned break from her training. She starts a summer job and Starfall Lake as a swimming instructor. She instantly feels a connection to the lake when she steps into it. When a real estate developer threatens to destroy the lake by building a resort, Diana instantly speaks up against it. When Diana finds the developer dead in the lake near his boat she can’t help but investigate what happened. It’s like the lake is compelling her too. With the help of a local reporter, Evan, and the magical cats Leo and Luna, they conduct their investigation and give the Sheriff their findings. As Diana’s connection to the lake intensifies, she realizes her magical ties to the lake and the feelings of finally being home.
I love this magical town and how each book introduces us to a new resident.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once an Olympic Medal Winner, now a swimming coach and budding detective!

After Diana Waverly’s father passed, her mother moved the two of them to a cottage on Starfall Lake. As a child, Diana felt something while in the lake and she went on to become an Olympian. Fed up with all the training and pleasing everyone else, Diana decided to go back to her roots and returned to Starfall Lake. While out on a morning swim, Diana finds a developer dead in the water, literally. Somehow, she feels the lake wants her to get justice so she teams up with the local reporter and investigates the murder. This story is very well written and the characters are all engaging. I especially love Leo and Luna, the talking Siamese cat siblings. There were a few twists I did not see coming in the story as well. An enjoyable read and escape.

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

[Charlie Sandino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cozy, mysterious read that brings us back to Quillhaven. It's the 5th installment in "Murder at Starfall Lake" series.
This book is about Diana Waverly who's come home to Starfall Lake to get some peace from her otherwise stressful and busy life. Diana will come across Evan Caldwell and together they will be caught up in solving the suspect death of Bryce Hastings. The storytelling is very nice, with lovely characters, the cats Leo and Luna are back, and as it unravels the reader will be following the different leads. The pages almost turn themselves, and what makes the story so very attractive, is the mysterious glowing magic. I truly enjoyed this book and can definitely recommend this read. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read this book.
Charlotte N

[Jessica Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great novel from Tessa Silver! Diana Waverly is an Olympic swimmer who comes back to Quillhaven after spending years away. She gets wrapped up in a mystery after finding a dead body during her daily swim in Starfall Lake. As she's investigating the mystery with the help of a local reporter, Evan, she realizes that there's a lot more to her than just being a former Olympian. I've been enjoying reading this series, and the mystery of both who was responsible for the body in the lake and learning more about what Diana can now do was intriguing and kept me hooked! And, of course, the talking cats Luna and Leo are always a welcome addition.

I received this ARC from the author, Tessa Silver, for free in exchange for my review.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read this was. Diana a champion swimmer & a silver medal winner in the Olympics has come to Quillhaven for a quiet summer in her family’s cabin beside the lake. She has been hired to teach children how to swim. She feels like the lake is calling to her. She hears about a scheme to build a new resort and goes to the Town Hall meeting & states that it should not happen! The next morning she finds the developer dead beside his damaged boat. W/o talking cats that she’s know since childhood lead to some interesting things & slowly she learns to trust the local journalist enough to get him to help her try to solve the murder, as it turned out to be. Magical things happen as Diana slowly comes to realise she & the Lake are in tune in an amazing way.

[Barb Foerst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Waverly, an Olympic medalist in swimming, has returned to a family home in Quillhaven to teach swimming lessons to the local children. Diana is also ready to recoup from years of constant training, hopping a flight to a competition, and returning home to training. No time to take a breath, no time to sight see. Having a son-in-law as an Olympic medalist, this is really their life.

Diana finds the classes relaxing. However, something is going on at Starfall Lake. Developers want to drain the lake and build a golf course along with a resort. The summer solstice is near and things are coming to a head. Will Diana and the two Siamese cats be able to save the lake?

I love these stories from Quillhaven. Wonderful characters, two smart cats, and an enticing town.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical Waters


Another intriguing story, Murder at Starfall Lake was to read. Starfall Lake was where Diana grew up by and her life revolves around water. From a young age, Diana has loved the lake and water. Being an Olympic swimmer, but she needs downtime and rest. She comes back to Quillhaven to do that and teach swimming lessons for the Summer. She butts heads with Evan, from the Chronicle her first night. But something is changing in Quillhaven and she is definitely a part of it. Along with the cats, Leo and Luna, Diana wants to save the lake and takes Evan along for the ride.  A magical mystery ride in Quillhaven.

I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.

[David and Susan McConachie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Tessa Silver has written a mystery which is very hard to put down. I was always saying "just one more chapter" while I should have either been doing housework or sleeping. I loved the characters, and the way Tessa develops them and their interactions with each other. And of course I have to mention my two favourite characters from the previous books who are back again - the talking felines Luna and Leo. As usual they are in the thick of it, helping Olympic silver medalist Diana Waverly and photo reporter Evan solve the death of a real estate developer.
I read an ARC of Murder at Starfall Lake

[Sarah J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, cozy mystery read! I think it's actually my favorite of the series so far (I think I've said that for every one of these books so far lol). I love Luna & Leo....they are just fun. One sassy & one sweet-they are perfection.
This story is about a retired, burned-out Olympic swimmer coming home to Quillhaven. I love that the lake really is it's own character-I would love to visit there.
This is the 5th in the series and while it generally is good to read books of a series in order, these ones are stand alone stories since each focuses on a different character. (Though I recommend all of the series....they are just fun, clean reads!)
I can't wait for the next one to come out!

[Ruth McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana Waverly has come to Quillhaven and taken a job as a swimming instructor for kids.
One day while at Starfall Lake, she witnesses a man fall victim to a boating accident. But after some sleuthing, she begins to feel that maybe it wasn't an accident after all.
With an uncanny connection to the lake itself and a journalist and two talking Siamese cats, she must determine what her connection to the lake is and if the man in the accident was truly victim of an accident.... Or not.
I mostly enjoyed this story, altho I felt that there were far too many metaphors posing as lyrical descriptiveness. Hence the 4 stars.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary review.

[Linda Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this charming mysterious, dangerous at time story. Diana, great ! Check ! Luna and Leo great again ! Double check !! The mystery of lake kept me really going, starting off first with that mysterious murder ! The Lake knows, it always knows ! Bryce was one nasty piece of work ! Diana's friends were awesome in their support of her and her dreams. I bookmarked many places to read again, it was so good ! Evan Caldwell was quite the surprise!

Leo and Luna head up the Epilogue, which I found humorous and there were a lot of different times were humor was inserted really well.

Top notice story by Ivy Davis in my humble opinion.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at Starfall Lake is book #5 in the Quillhaven Magical Cozy Mystery series by Tessa Silver.

This trip to Quillhaven introduces us to Diana Waverly. She is back in Quillhaven for the summer to give swimming lessons at Starfall Lake. Nothing ruins a good swim like finding a body in the water. Was he murdered or was it an accident? Diana investigates, along with the help of Leo and Luna, the two Siamese cats that that are part of each book in the series. We also get to see other characters that we’ve been introduced to earlier books, but you don’t have to read those books to understand what is going on.

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

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olympic swimmer Diana comes home to Quillhaven to teach swimming for the summer. There are strange things afloat in town including murders, mystery and magic. Diana has returned to stay in her grandfather's old home near the lake for some soul-searching and rest. We will also meet Leo and Luna, magical cats who can speak and help Diana figure things out, along with their owner Annie. We also meet Evan, who is a returning journalist. The lake has secrets of its own as well. Interesting characters and well-written story line. I received an ARC copy of the book and this is my honest review.

[Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it !! love this series !! love Diana and Leo and Luna... this is another murder for them to solve.... a fast paced drama... Diana has returned for the summer to the place she loved as a child... Starfall Lake.. she's burned out and plans to teach children to swim and live in a cabin by the lake... a town meeting... to destroy the lake... the dead body of the man wanting to revitalize the community... and so much more... and don't forget about the Siamese... so good !!!.

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

[Genesia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana is at Quilhaven to give swimming lessons in the lake. Then she starts feeling closer to the lake, as if the water embraces her. With all the strangeness around the lake, a murder, magic, and romance, the book is entertaining and keeps you interested. Most of the characters are complex, but likable. Like all the previous books about Quilhaven, this one is worth reading. I recommend it to all fans of cozy mysteries.

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

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining book with a good mystery. Looks like it’s the last one in the series. I am going to check to find other books by this author.

Amazon synopsis:
Olympic silver medalist Diana Waverly thought a summer at Starfall Lake would be the perfect break—peaceful waters, fun swimming lessons, and zero drama. But when a flashy real estate developer takes an unexpected tumble off his stranded boat and turns up dead, her plans get swept away into a dangerous investigation

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The MC is an Olympic swimmer and returns to Starfall Lake. Of course, wanting to have a laidback, easy summer leads into murder, powers linked to the lake, possible love connection. Very good storyline with lots of twists and turns to keep it interesting. Great setting, I love hearing about Quillhaven and Starfall Lake. I really want to move there!.

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

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quillhaven’s lake is special and a bit mysterious. Diana comes back to town to teach swimming lessons, only she gets involved with saving the lake and finding a body in the lake. She also becomes involved with solving the murder with Evan the journalist.
I enjoyed Leo and Luna and how they help solve the murder. A quick cozy read.

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

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how Ms. Silver does it, but every book is even better than the last. This story was inspiring and magical. I loved how the main characters were able to solve this murder without actually getting themselves almost killed. They were smart. They listened to Luna and Leo (I love those cats!) and to Annie. I loved it!