A budding new romance. A dead body. Who can you trust? Filled with twists, tension and undeniable chemistry, Death at Daffodil Inn is a must-read Cinnamon Falls mystery. Perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars and the Dream Harbor series.
Spring is blooming in Cinnamon Falls and the annual Daffodil Jubilee is in full swing.
Morgan Taylor, who is reluctantly helping her parents host the event at the Daffodil Inn, wishes she could be left alone to daydream about Will, the dangerously hot single dad she can’t seem to get out her head.
As the Jubilee draws to a close with the Petals and Promises dance, Morgan’s finally finds herself face to face with Will. But their magical moment is swiftly shattered by a bloodcurdling scream.
A guest has been found dead in the inn’s garden maze, and whispers ripple through the Murder.
With the inn’s future at stake, Morgan teams up with Will to solve the mystery. Can they uncover the truth before it’s too late, or will their search only end in heartbreak?
Tropes * Single dad * Amateur sleuth * Love triangle * Flawed victim * Friends to lovers * Small-town setting
Praise for the Cinnamon Falls series… (***** star reader reviews) ‘Oh. My. Goodness. YES! This book ticked all the right boxes for me’ ‘The sweet meets sinister in this perfect autumnal read’ ‘SCREAMING!!! I usually rotate with a thriller and a romance novel, but this had it all in one’ ‘Encompasses all I love in a book!’ ‘A little bit of romance alongside a good mystery, plus a cosy atmosphere - just what you need for a good night in’ ‘If I could rate it 10 stars I would!’
R.L. Killmore is the pseudonym for US-based author Necole Ryse. Necole has been writing since she was four years old, when she triumphantly wrote her ABC's on the hood of her grandmother's brand new Volvo. When she's not writing, she's weeping into a stack of unfinished manuscripts, abandoning exercise regimens, scolding innocent children in libraries, or listening to other people's conversations.
All good and fun, until the last few chapters where someone was being held at literal gunpoint after being abducted and the author wrote ‘unalived’ instead of killed. Either censoring (boo), booktokification (boo), bad writing (boo) or ai use (boo) so like 🤷🏻♀️
Oh also the main guy was meant to be like drop dead gorgeous but the first time we meet him he’s wearing like slim fit jeans, a tight black shirt, a PURPLE BLAZER and SNAKESKIN BOOTS AND MATCHING BELT. NO. AND A PONYTAIL. HUH.
Death at Daffodil Inn is a cosy mystery romance and is the second book in the Cinnamon Falls series by R. L. Killmore (a pen name for Necole Ryse).
In the small town of Cinnamon Falls, Morgan Taylor returns home to help her family run the charming Daffodil Inn during the town’s lively spring festival. Between guests arriving, events to organize, and the pressure to make everything perfect, she’s already got plenty on her plate. But the festive atmosphere is shaken when a guest is found dead on the inn’s grounds.
With the town buzzing and suspicion spreading, Morgan gets pulled into uncovering what really happened. As she starts asking questions, she realizes that even in a close-knit community, people can be hiding more than they let on.At the same time, Morgan is navigating complicated feelings for Will, a kind but guarded single dad, which adds a layer of emotional tension alongside the mystery.
The story blends a light, cosy tone with intrigue; focusing on friendships, small-town dynamics, and a growing romance as Morgan works to uncover the truth before the situation spirals further.
Death at Daffodil Inn brings us back to Cinnamon Falls and another murder mystery is upon us.
We first meet Morgan in book one of the Cinnamon Falls series and she intrigued me and she’s just as intriguing in this one.
Morgan is reluctantly helping her parents at the Daffodil Inn getting ready for the festivities but things take a turn when a dead body turns up in the Inn’s garden Maze.
Will the local landscape Gardner is designing the maze for this years festival so when the body is found he needs answers. Will was such a sweet and lovely dad, his relationship with his daughter was so adorable. I loved that the author gave depth to this character and showed his past.
Morgan and Will work together to try and figure out what happened and it’s fun watching them do so.
I loved the whole community and how close everyone is. The characters are easy to love and I can’t wait to see who gets a story next.
R.L. Killmore created an intriguing cozy mystery with a whole lot of small town charm. It’s fun, it’s tense and it’s been a joy to read.
Picking back up in the second book of the Cinnamon Falls mystery with a new murder to solve. I enjoyed this a lot more than the first book, while one of the twists was predictable the characters in this were a lot more enjoyable to read. Angel was such a good standout character and it was so good making her the key to unlocking what happened.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.
okayy this book was definitely cute! i specifically went out of my way to buy this in paperback format as the first book was so enjoyable to read. firstly, the characters were so lovely: as soon as i found out that will was a single dad, i KNEW i had to read this. i liked the fact that he had a troublesome past, but is now a better guy. i liked morgan a lot from the first book, and really liked her appearances in this book - especially when it came to the depth with her and the inn/her parents. and angel... she's soooo cute bless her: she was definitely my favourite character, and i loved how her past friendship with eleanor shaped the discovery of the murderers. and of course the continued appearance of nia and jesse was lovely to read about too, especially how nia had morgan's back when it came to will. i really loved the whole premise, too: murder mystery and romance will always be a little bit of me, especially when set in an almost idyllic town. however, the reason why i didn't give this the full 5 stars, and could honestly consider rounding it down to 2.5 stars, is the imbalance of themes. in the first book, i found that the romance parts were not really mentioned much, like how jesse and nia saw eachother for the first time after 6 years and they didn't even react?, however it almost felt like we weren't given any romance OR murder mystery for a good part of this book. i found that, after the first couple chapters and the last few chapters, the book was just so boring. it was just too much family drama, so many loose ends, and not much investigating the murder of eleanor. it felt as if morgan and will were so 'unsynched': will was more focused on caleb and his involvement, and morgan only realised the potential of this in the last half of the book. i don't know how to describe it, but it's as if one character goes down an alley when investigating the murder, and then doesn't go down it any further after that chapter. it felt as if a couple ends were just completely uninvestigated in the middle of the book, and were only addressed again at the end, which made my reading experience a little unpleasant. and also, i felt as if the romance was a little lacklustre for my liking? obviously no book's going to have the perfect level of romance for everyone, and i appreciate that, but it almost felt a little awkward reading what happened between will and morgan. so they meet for the first time, and they've apparently been crushing for a little while. aww that's sweet, will brings morgan the bouquet of daffodils, oh and they just so end up falling into eachother, and then oh the murder's happened. this was a little cringe but i'll let it pass... my main issue was their date. they'd barely even talked prior to this/in between these two events, it felt like, so it felt a little out of the blue? so they go on the date, aww it's going well, and then suddenly will gets that call from caleb saying that he was arrested. i understand why he had to leave the date, but i don't know why morgan thought that this was about her?? he was clearly angry at something on the phone and not about her, and i felt that this quick switch from 'he's so lovely' to 'i'm not going to waste any tears on him anymore' was so strange and a bit awkward to read?? i felt like i was sitting in on a weird group therapy session where i was the only one who knew both sides of the story 🧍♂️. ^ linking to this, the romance was so poor and awkward that it made me ship morgan and cameron. when cameron was eventually made out as 'the bad guy', i literally felt bad for him. i don't think that was meant to happen!! but yeah!! this book was alright, and i think it was a good sequel to the first book. i'm not sure if i'm going to return for the third, but we'll see how it goes!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Death at Daffodil Inn captures all the charm and idyllic small-town atmosphere that made book one in the Cinnamon Falls series so enjoyable. Honestly despite its murder rate, I'd move to Cinnamon Falls!
This time, the focus shifts to Morgan - Nia’s best friend - whose story I was already keen to read after she piqued my interest in the first book.
Spring is in bloom in Cinnamon Falls and it's the annual Daffodil Jubilee. Morgan is reluctantly helping her parents run the Daffodil Inn, all while trying (and failing) not to daydream about Will, the attractive single dad she can’t get out of her head. When a guest is found dead in the inn’s garden maze, the festivities turn deadly, and Morgan finds herself drawn into a mystery that could jeopardise her family’s future.
The romance here is sweet and heartfelt. But my favorite relationship was between Will and his daughter, Angel - utterly heartwarming and very relatable.
It was also nice seeing Nia and Jesse appear on the periphery while allowing Morgan to fully step into the spotlight.
The mystery itself is fairly predictable, but still enjoyable, and the pacing keeps things moving nicely alongside the romance.
Tropes included: 🧍♂️Single dad 🔍 Amateur sleuth 🔪 Flawed victim 💖Friends to lovers 🏡Small-town setting
Overall, Death at Daffodil Inn is a cosy, comforting mystery filled with charm, romance, and springtime vibes - perfect for fans of small-town whodunits with heart.
Will I read book 3? Absolutely!
Although this book can be read as a standalone, I’d highly recommend starting with book one for the full series experience.
Thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story blends murder, small-town corruption, and a touch of romance - a combination that keeps the pages turning.
One of the highlights for me was the portrayal of Will as a single dad doing his absolute best to raise his daughter, Angel, into a good person. Their relationship felt genuine and heartfelt. I also appreciated the dynamic between Will and his ex (Angel’s mom), those interactions added emotional depth and realism to the story.
Morgan continues to shine as a character. She’s independent and intelligent. I would happily read more about her and see how she grows in future books.
However, the ending didn’t fully work for me. It felt very rushed and somewhat messy in the details, especially during the main confrontation scene when the killer is arrested. Small details matter in a mystery, and the sequence involving the surprise hit with a long piece of wood just before a gunshot (aimed near the head) felt unrealistic and slightly spoiled the impact of the finale. A stronger, more carefully constructed resolution would have elevated the entire book.
That said, the final show scene did make me laugh - it was a fun and lighter moment to close things out.
While I personally enjoyed Book 1 more, I would still pick up Book 3 to see where the story goes next. Despite my issues with the ending, it was an entertaining read overall.
If you love: ✔️ Small-town mysteries ✔️ Family dynamics ✔️ Strong female leads ✔️ A mix of murder and romance
…this one is worth adding to your TBR.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Spring in Cinnamon Falls should be all about blossoms, romance, and the gentle hum of small-town life—but R. L. Kilmore reminds us that even the prettiest settings can hide shadows. Death at Daffodil Inn draws us into the annual Daffodil Jubilee, where Morgan Taylor is reluctantly helping her parents host the festivities. Between daydreams of Will—the dangerously magnetic single dad—and the swirl of community celebrations, Morgan’s life feels poised on the edge of something new.
That edge sharpens when a scream cuts through the Petals and Promises dance, and a body is discovered in the inn’s garden maze. Suddenly, the warmth of spring collides with the chill of murder.
Kilmore crafts a cosy mystery that blooms with tension, romance, and small-town charm. The chemistry between Morgan and Will is undeniable, adding heart to the suspense, while the Jubilee setting brims with atmosphere—petals, promises, and secrets entwined. Twists unfold with perfect pacing, making this a story you’ll want to devour in one sitting (as I did!).
Fans of Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, and the Dream Harbor series will find themselves enchanted by Cinnamon Falls. It’s witty, heartfelt, and just sinister enough to keep you turning the pages late into the night.
With thanks to RL Kilmore, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
Firstly, it was such a pleasure to receive this as my first piece of bookmail ever. Maybe for sentimental value this book now has a special place in my heart, but I will still be fair in my thoughts (don’t worry).
Death at Daffodil Inn is book two in the Cinnamon Fall series by R.L. Killmore. This is a small town, cozy mystery series where murders keep interrupting the idyllic neighbourhood’s peace!
Going into this, I worried that I should’ve picked up the first book beforehand. But actually, despite some of the repeated characters and lore being a little lot on me, I don’t think prior knowledge was necessary at all.
I thought that the characters in this one were nicely layered, especially our mmc Will who had such a lovely relationship with his daughter. The exploration of his past gave his character such depth, and the fact he runs a gardening club for troubled boys was such a cute addition 🥹
Overall, I think some of the plot points were a bit predictable and rushed, but otherwise, I think that’s the cozy elements and murder mystery were nicely balanced. It’s the kind of book that will sprinkle creepy suspense throughout without giving you nightmares (my cup of tea completely).
My overwhelming final thought is that I think this should be adapted into a tv series, like NOW!!! ⭐️
4.5 ⭐️ (Please Goodreads, bring your rating system in line with reality).
I was lucky enough to have ARC read book one in the Cinnamon Falls Mystery series and was excited to be blessed once again with an early copy of Death at Daffodil Inn.
This series is gearing up to be my new favourite cosy mystery series. I want to move to Cinnamon Falls, but I just hope I wouldn't end up being the victim in R. L. Killmore's next installment.
Killmore's writing is a joy and effortless, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in the story.
The 'Whodunnit' element of this book wasn't particularly difficult to work out, but I didn't mind that, because this was a character led read. This was more about the growing connection between two people, the impact our family has even when they believe they are doing what is best for us, it's about roots and heritage, and not being afraid to stand up for what is right.
A wonderful read and I will for sure be keeping an eye out for book three in this series.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to R. L. Killmore and Netgalley, for allowing me an early copy of Death at Daffodil Inn. All views expressed within this review have been freely provided and are my own.
This is a cosy mystery set during the Cinnamon Falls Daffodil Jubilee. Morgan Taylor, helping at her parents’ inn, finds her spring romance with a magnetic single dad, Will, interrupted when a guest is murdered in the garden maze. Morgan and Will must solve the case to save the inn
Tropes: Single Dad Amateur sleuth Small town Friends to lovers
Morgan is reluctantly helping her parents host the festival at their family-run Daffodil Inn. While distracted by her duties, Morgan is daydreaming about Will, an attractive single dad. When they find a private moment together at the Petals and Promises dance, their romantic encounter is interrupted by a scream when a guest, revealed to be the former owner of the inn, is found dead in the garden’s maze. With rumors of murder swirling and the future of the inn (and the family’s livelihood) at risk, Morgan and Will team up as amateur sleuths to solve the mystery before the business is forced to close. Being a character led story, I didn’t mind that the murder mystery was predictable and I loved the relationships between the characters, especially between Will and his daughter. You could literally devour this book in a day, it is so addictive and I can’t wait for book 3, plus, can I just say how cute the cover is!
Cinnamon Falls feels like the kind of town you’d move to for fresh pastries and friendly faces… and then immediately realise the murder rate is slightly concerning.
Death at Daffodil Inn is the second book in the Cinnamon Falls Mystery series and this time we follow Morgan. I loved getting inside her head, she’s relatable, a little chaotic, and impossible not to root for. Between helping at the family inn, dodging her very obvious feelings for a certain single dad, and trying to solve a murder before it ruins everything, the vibes were immaculate.
The annual Daffodil Jubilee setting was cosy core perfection, blooming flowers, town traditions, and just enough secrets lurking beneath the sunshine. The romance is soft and sweet, the small town charm is peak comfort reading, and the mystery kept me turning pages even when I thought I’d figured it out. Bonus points for the wholesome father-daughter moments that absolutely melted me.
If you like your mysteries warm, charming, and sprinkled with romance, add this one to your TBR ASAP. And yes… I’m already ready for book three.
Murder in a small town setting, community and a cosy budding romance - plus an adorable little girl and her (heartthrob ofc) dad just wanting to make her smile again. They’re the bullet points you need to know and it was all it took for me to make the decision to pick up the book.
That and I really enjoyed the first one and they’re easy to read. It’s a steady developer (perhaps a tad bit too long for me. I think it could have been wrapped up quicker but then again, by the end when it was all starting to come together, I raced through the last 40%!).
I love the community feel and the characters were easy to get behind. It was entertaining and a well-woven story and I look forward to ‘The Berry Bakery Murder’ to follow this one!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
It’s time for the Daffodil Jubilee at the Daffodil Inn in Cinnamon Falls. Morgan helps her parents wherever she can, kind of still fighting for her mothers approval. At the same time she hopes to finally kick of some romance with Will. Everything goes according to plan until they hear a scream during the Jubilee. A guest is found dead in the maze. She was murdered and the police need to investigate. Suddenly, everything is on the line. A shady investor wants to buy the Inn, a murder needs to found. Morgan does everything she can while stumbling across some romantic hiccups with Will. I really enjoyed this book a lot. It’s cozy, a little romantic (could be more) and a little mysterious. I would have loved to learn a little more about Will‘s backstory, not just some hints of a strange past but besides that I loved it.
You're just about to kiss the man of your dreams - Will, and they hear a loud scream... someone has been murdered!
Morgan is a FMC, and its spring time at the Daffodil Inn, which her parents own and run has a guest house. This tragic event has all the locals talking and has made the news. Its not good for business. Will is a single dad to Angel and I love their relationship together! The story is set in a small town, where the well known victim is not well liked. This was a cosy spring mystery of whodunit. The characters are likeable, and there is a detailed backstory of the different families. It had its twists, even slightly predictable but I managed to read through this very quickly.
I enjoyed the first of this gentle murder mystery series and the second was equally enjoyable.
This time the story centres around Daffodil Inn where the annual Daffodil Festival is held and organised by Morgan Taylor’s family. During the festivities a body is found in the maze and a murder investigation is launched.
Evelyn - the murder - is not greatly liked by the community but Morgan and Will - whose daughter befriended her - are determined to find her killer.
As she investigates, Morgan also needs to find a way to preserve the Inn from a local property developer and see if her romantic interest in Will can be kindled.
A gentle tale - tense at times but romantic and charming.
Morgan Taylor has gone home to the Daffodil Inn in Cinammon Falls to help her parents with their annual Jubilee and daffodil festival, their major event in the year. One of her pupils is staying at the Inn as well with her dad Will, a landscape gardener. Evelyn used to own the Inn and comes back every year to stay for the Jubilee, She has made friends with Will’s young daughter and takes her out to local shops and diners.. Will has created a new maze for this years event, unfortunately it’s the scene of a murder as the evening dance is getting underway. This is the second book in the Cinnamon Falls mysteries that manage murder and romance at the same time.
As a bookseller, we are granted some books on Libro right before they are released. I was so happy to see this one pop up, as I thoroughly enjoyed the original Cinnamon Falls book.
If you’ve read the first one, you will be delighted to see a few familiar characters. However, you don’t need to have read it to enjoy this book.
Sweet, small town, cozy mystery and a little slow burn light romance. Interesting mystery with some good twists and turns.
If you need a light fun read, definitely go make yourself a hot chocolate, grab a fluffy blanket and find a comfortable spot on your couch and read this book!
A cute murder mystery/ romance story by R.L. Killmore continuing the Cinnamon Falls Mystery series. I liked the budding romance between the main characters Morgan & Will as she helps to organise the annual Daffodil Jubilee that her parents organise at the Daffodil Inn. When a murder is discovered in thr inn's garden maze at the final jubilee event , at the Petal and Promises dance it put's the inn's fiture at stake . Morgan and Will team uo to solve the mystery . But could this effect their relationship. The ending worked well and the romance added so much to the storyline.
Woohoo, this was a great read. It's a small-town book but instead of being all sappy romance, there's a little bit of romance with a lot of cosy murder.
The story centres around Morgan and her family's inn and we start when someone is found unalive at their annual daffodil festival.
Morgan needs to solve the mystery and sort out her love life.
I can't wait for the next installment of Cinnamon Falls.
Unfortunately, this book did not do it for me. I loved the first book in the series, despite some red flags in de MMC, but this book's MC's just felt off. Will has issues he hasn't worked through, and blames his ex experiencing things he himself also suffers from, and Morgan can't seem to be able to be her own person. There was 0 chemistry, because they didn't even know each other other than seeing each other around school. The mystery part was great though.
Another cute cosy mystery, the perfect palette cleanse after some dark thriller reads.
A whodunnit case for a small village to solve. Everyone in cinnamon falls can’t believe another case has happened so soon in their quiet little village.
It has mystery, secrets, unaliving and even some romance thrown in there. This is the second in the series and it didn’t disappoint. A wholesome read.
The newest edition of cinnamon falls welcomes new characters, new crimes & a fun agatha christy ‘who dunnit’ vibe with a spring/summer twist !
I love that there’s a book in the ‘romantic crime’ market that has only POC characters. The story telling is easy to follow, and the ending was , albeit predictable, satisfying.
I enjoyed returning to a spring time mystery at Cinnamon Falls. Despite the high murder rate I'd be happy to live there. I really enjoy these cosy mysteries however I did find the story slow at times hence the 3.5 star rating. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One thing that annoyed me throughout, was how old Angel sounded. I'm not around many 7 years old, but some of the stuff Angel says is so much more advanced than 7. 'I plead the fifth' is not something a 7 year old would say.
I guessed that someone was involved and I was right! It wasn't as twisty as the first one, unless it's because i guessed it.
It was a good book. Its more of a mystery than romance which is good. I did get creepy vibes from Will at one point, but I'm sure that's a me thing 😅