Death at Daffodil Inn

Cinnamon Falls #2

by R.L. Killmore

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!’

Genres: Romance, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published February 26, 2026

About the author

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.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Bianca Stanciu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️/5⭐️

[Cláudia Oliveira · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Gostei muito e foi muito viciante! Só senti que arrastou um bocado, porque íamos a 70% +/- do livro e tínhamos poucos avanços e pistas sobre o caso… era a única coisa que mudava!

De resto, um mistério de small town angustiante e viciante! O romance entre o Will e a Morgan foi muito fofinho e slow burn autêntico 🥹🫶🏼

[Sabina_bere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tale serija mi je pa kar luštna.😄 Tudi ta zgodba vsebuje ravno pravšnji koktejl romance in detektivke za odklop, njen najbolj šibek del pa je razplet, ki bi bil lahko bolj dodelan.

[Amanda Almén · Rating 4 out of 5]

Döden på Daffodil Inn överraskade mig! Jag brukar bli lite uttråkad av cosy crime men den här hade både fart, spänning och värme. Jag tror jag uppskattar att den största vikten lades på själva mordet: karaktärerna jobbade mer med lösningen av det än med det relationella. Hade det varit större del kärlekshistoria och bara ett mord i bakgrunden hade jag tyckt sämre om den.

Vi följer två karaktärer: Morgan, vars föräldrar äger Daffodil Inn där mordet sker, och Will, som arbetar som trädgårdsmästare på området. De är båda på väg in i en relation tillsammans när mordet sker och deras världar skakas om på olika vis. Wills dotter Angel är nära sammankopplad med den gamla damen som hittas mördad och hennes teckningar och kryptiska meddelanden är en bidragande faktor till att mordet nystas upp. Jag älskar sånt! Slutet är minst lika rafflande som i vilken deckare som helst och jag slår nöjt ihop boksidorna efteråt. En cosy crime med fokus på crime - helt i min smak.

[Corina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
Morgan are maturitatea emotionala a unei lingurite. Orice neintelegere minora este tratata ca un eveniment catastrofal, iar comunicarea pare sa fie un concept complet strain pentru ea. Drama queen este putin spus.
Will este atat de dispus sa isi ceara scuze pentru orice incat ma mira ca nu si-a cerut iertare si pentru schimbarile climatice.
Politia este complet inutila. Noroc cu consatenii bagaciosi, experti in barfe si investigatii dupa ureche, care reusesc sa rezolve cazul. Pentru ca de ce ar fi competenti oamenii care sunt platiti sa investigheze?
Plotul is not plotting. Dialogurile sunt stangace, personajele sunt frustrante, iar atmosfera nu compenseaza absolut nimic. Nici macar nu ma pot consola cu ideea ca este o carte de vibe, pentru ca nu am simtit nimic in afara de iritare.

[Phoebe Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Sarah P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death at Daffodil Inn is cute in its own cosy‑mystery way, with the murder and mystery adding just the right amount of intrigue to keep the story moving. It’s sweet rather than intense, and the romance woven through it fits that tone perfectly - gentle, warm, and not at all spicy, but still satisfying.

Morgan is such a lovely character. A nursery teacher who adores her job and her kiddos, she’s kind‑hearted and steady, even if she’s been unlucky in love and hesitant to put herself out there again. Will, a single dad to Angel, handles his crush on Morgan with real respect - waiting until Angel is no longer in her class before making any kind of move. It’s thoughtful, patient, and exactly the kind of behaviour that makes you root for him.

Together, Morgan and Will find themselves drawn into solving the murder of Ms Eleanor, Angel’s new best friend. Their teamwork and growing connection make the mystery feel even more engaging.

A sweet, lightly suspenseful romance with charming characters and a cosy small‑town mystery at its heart.

[Nola · Rating 2 out of 5]

I predicted the plot and I didn’t feel any chemistry between them.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy whodunnit, set in Cinnamon Falls and following on from the first novel, although can be read as a standalone.
Lighthearted and good to curl up with for a feel good romance, alongside a murder in the style of Midsummer Murders or Death in Paradise.

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Lisa (Two Bookish Brits) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

ARC Review

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.

[Matteja LV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knjiga me je pritegnila, všeč mi je bil poudarek na romanci, se mi je pa potem na zadnji tretjini branje malce ustavilo, je trajalo kar dolgo, da sem jo prebrala. Ni imela veliko zapletov, ena taka cozy mystery, veliko likov, tudi iz 1. dela knjige se vrne.

[Jenny E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

En helt okej fortsättning i serien. Denna gång var jag lite mer med på att allt inte är vad man tror än första gången.

Betyg 2,5 av 5

[Gerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

ik hou van dot soort verhalen. Het leest lekker weg, zit een beetje spanning in
en ook nog een love story

[Tara McLean · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

[Ruth Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new romance , a dead body and a seven year old sleuth. Plenty of plot twists - but enough clues so the reader can solve the mystery. Looking forward to the next book out this summer.

[Maarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
Kuulasin seda audioraamatuna, sobib kenasti kiireks ja mõnusaks suviseks lugemiseks.
Väikelinna olustik, natuke mõrvamüsteeriumit, sassis suhteid ja armastust.

[Živilė · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took me quite some time. I was thinking of DNFing way too much, the book is cute, romance was average, mystery was a decent one

[Lydia Kealy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 🌟

[Sanne Alma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het evenwicht tussen romantiek en misdaad is perfect; een cozy crime! Ik kijk alvast uit naar het derde deel wat in januari verschijnt.

[Cloe · Rating 1 out of 5]

The amount of cliched sentences was hard to stomach for me. Also I dont't think that the plot makes any sense: rezoning doesn't force you to sell anything, and can't imagine rezoning being so specific that an inn and a spa are not in the same category.

[katya ⏾⋆.˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um Mistério com Aroma a Narcisos transporta-nos novamente para Cinnamon Falls e onde o Jubileu dos Narcisos é um dos acontecimentos mais aguardados do ano.
Aqui acompanhamos Morgan, filha dos donos da pousada Daffodil Inn, educadora de infância, determinada, independente, mas... com um coração ainda por curar ❤️‍🩹, e Will, um single daddy que me conquistou, ele é pai de uma menina, Angel, e sempre teve curiosidade em conhecer melhor Morgan, que, em tempos, foi professora da sua filha.
Agora que Morgan já não desempenha esse papel, Will vê naquela celebração do Jubileu uma oportunidade para a conhecer melhor e, talvez, dar início a algo mais. 💭A interação entre os dois é leve, divertida e absolutamente deliciosa 🥰. No entanto, mal sabiam eles o que estava prestes a acontecer...

A atmosfera festiva é abruptamente interrompida quando Eleanor é encontrada morta no labirinto da pousada, em plena celebração. À medida que a investigação avança, torna-se evidente que Eleanor guardava mais inimigos do que amigos.
Enquanto o mistério se desenrola, acompanhamos também o desenvolvimento da relação entre Morgan e Will. Regressam ainda personagens já conhecidas de "Um Mistério com Aroma a Canela", nomeadamente Jesse e Nia, os melhores amigos de Morgan e Will, que trazem aquele sentimento de familiaridade tão característico desta série. 🥰

Estamos perante um cozy mystery numa small town, com romance na dose certa!❤️ Morgan vive ainda com as feridas do passado e carrega consigo um sentimento de insuficiência em relação aos pais, o que a torna uma protagonista muito humana e fácil de compreender. Já Will é muito mais do que eu esperava. Como já referi, é um pai solteiro dedicado, sensível, carinhoso e completamente rendido à sua filha, Angel, uma menina absolutamente adorável. Eu derreti-me com as suas ações, inseguranças e pensamentos!🥺
Foi uma leitura leve, divertida e cozy. Era mesmo o que estava a precisar! ❤️

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death At Daffodil Inn 🌼
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book two of the Cinnamon Falls series, another cosy read! 📚

We get to spend time with the characters from book one which was nice and we also got to meet some new characters.

With the setting being based around the Daffodil Inn and the Daffodil Jubilee a yearly tradition for the residents of Cinnamon Falls and people from far and wide..... The Daffodil Jubilee is in full swing with everyone getting ready for the Petals and Promises dance including Morgan and Will....

When suddenly a horrible deathly scream echoes through the Jubilee and everyone goes running to the maze where a previous owner of the Inn is found dead.... could this be natural causes or was it another murder in the corrupt town of Cinnamon Falls???

In steps the local police force with Jesse (a character from book one) at the front ready to solve this crime and get justice. However all is not as it seems 🤔

Will is a single dad to a beautiful daughter who has managed to strick up a wonderful relationship with the deceased, after watching his daughter struggle with the loss he and Morgan decide to try and solve the crime for themselves all whilst there is a romance building in the background for them both.

This was another easy cosy read, but I must admit I did enjoy book one more. For me the ending of this one just didn't fit with the rest of the book..... the wording of someone being unalived was a bit off... why not just say killed, that's where the story was going after all.

A small town murder with a friends to lovers 💕 setting.... will everything work out for the best for everyone of Cinnamon Falls?

[Alla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a good and enjoyable read.

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.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[octojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!! ⭐️

[Michelle Morley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.