The Death of a Maven

The Haunted Farmhouse Mysteries #1

by Kathryn Johnson

From best-selling author Kathryn Johnson, a new fast-paced mystery series with a paranormal twist and a heroine as lovable as she is brave.

On the anniversary of her husband's death, all Verity Cade wants is a quiet night in with her besties. The next morning, she’s shocked when the body of one of their group is discovered at the bottom of an abandoned quarry. Although the sheriff rules it a suicide, Verity is sure her friend couldn’t have killed herself.

Determined to uncover the truth and give the grieving family closure, she scours the victim's journals and discovers a web of lies and secrets. Meanwhile, her struggling Vermont farm has a new two ghosts—former owners from two centuries ago—who can't pass on.

With help from her living and not-so-living friends, Verity must solve a murder no one else believes happened ... before the killer strikes again.

Genres: Mystery

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2025

About the author

Kathryn Johnson is the author of over 40 published novels under a variety of pen names. Most of her contemporary novels now being written under her own name, while she writes historical fiction as Mary Hart Perry, on Goodreads as well.
When Kathryn isn't working on her own novels, she loves teaching at The Writer's Center in the Washington, DC area and mentoring other writers at http://www.WriteByYou.com. She has spoken nationally at writers' conferences and at the Library of Congress and for the Smithsonian Associates in Washington.
Her new series, The Haunted Farmhouse Mysteries will have 6 titles, the first being, The Death of a Maven.

Reviews

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Verity's friends gather at her farmhouse to comfort her on the anniversary of her husband's death. When one of them is found dead the next day, the cops say suicide, but Verity thinks it must be murder. Verity and her friends begin to look into the victim's death, determined to find some proof that she didn't kill herself. The victim's family asks Verity to help go through the deceased's possessions and Verity begins reading the old journals that could contain the secret to her death. Verity discovers that her old farmhouse is also home to two ghosts who are unable to move on after hundreds of years. They watch over Verity and the dairy farm and eagerly join in the investigation.

This mystery was a lot of fun! I loved Verity's gaggle of girlfriends and the funny shenanigans of the Civil War ghosts. They have such cute dialogue as they discuss the clues. Each of Verity's friends has a very distinct and memorable personality, and it was a delightful getting to know each of them. Verity herself is a great main character. She's vulnerable and plucky and tough. I really connected with her because she is so kind to everyone. She sees their flaws and loves them anyway.

The mystery itself is good, and I enjoyed following all the clues. But I wish the mystery had been even more complex and intriguing, because I figured out who the murderer was on page 192 (over a hundred pages before it was revealed), but it was still fun to see how Verity figures it out.

I liked that this is a cozy mystery and has a mostly light-hearted feel to it, but there are some more serious subjects as well. The violence is very minimal, and there is no spice. However, there is a lot of profanity in the book. I counted over 36 instances of profanity, so that annoyed me quite a lot.

The writing is excellent, but a little too repetitive. It seems like a lot of the same subjects and clues are canvased over and over. The writing could have been more concise and the book could have been about a hundred pages thinner.
However, I really loved the descriptions of all the food the ladies eat at their gatherings! And I liked hearing about the daily chores around the farm, and the route for the dairy deliveries. It was really sweet to see how Verity is so grateful for a simple country life. She really takes time to appreciate the loveliness in life.

Overall, a fun book that I enjoyed reading!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and have not been influenced by anyone.

This book has been screened on the Screen It First website: https://screenitfirst.com/book/the-de...

[A. Eveline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the Death of a Maven! In this can’t-put-it-down murder mystery, the Evansville Private Investigators, eight female entrepreneurial friends, band together over tea and pastries to try to solve the shocking death of one of their own. Through the help of her nineteenth century spectral housemates, Verity Cade charges ahead to find the murderer and incurs the wrath of the sheriff, the victim’s husband, and an unknown saboteur. A surprising convergence of characters in a thunderstorm at the murder site is the perfect resolution. Kudos to Kathryn Johnson!

[Ruth Glick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Death of a Maven is an engaging start to a promising cozy mystery series. It’s a fun read filled with quirky characters—including a recalcitrant sheriff and a pair of Civil War ghosts. I also enjoyed the insights into small-town life and loved learning what it’s like to run a local dairy farm. All of that made for a rich, atmospheric setting and a well-crafted mystery. The author kept me guessing about the killer’s identity right up to the final reveal. I have a feeling there will be plenty more murders to investigate in this little Vermont town.

[Scott Letteer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death of a Maven is an engaging read that kept me turning pages. Kathryn Johnson crafts a compelling story with well-developed characters and a mystery that unfolds at just the right pace. The plot is layered and thoughtful, offering plenty of intrigue while still leaving room for strong character moments that make the story feel grounded and believable.

The tension builds naturally, making this a very satisfying read from start to finish.

This copy was an advanced reader copy, and I’m grateful to both the author and publisher. The author signed my copy and included a handwritten note, which was such a thoughtful and personal touch.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable cozy mystery. There is a bit of the supernatural with two ghosts who help out, but nothing is overly frightening.

The clues about the killer are subtle so though you may have an idea of the killer you cannot be sure.

Excited about this new series!.

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

[Daria S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delicious read. Verity and her off-beat friends drew me right in. The characterizations are finely tuned (very original) and the plot was so entertaining. As much as I loved the cozy-mystery vibe - the who-done-it quotient hit my sweet spot - I'll return to this series for Verity. I want to read every word of whatever mysteries she and her gang of female sleuths are set to unravel.

[Dina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters are getting together in their new roles and seeing how they fit. They are from diverse backgrounds and have made a friendship worth having in good times and bad. A nice start to this series.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of cozy mysteries, I loved how this story balanced humor with suspense. The characters felt warm and relatable, and the twists kept me guessing without losing that comforting, small-town charm.
Recommended. Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.

[Bonne Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. It’s easy going and the characters are interesting which will hold your attention but the writing could be a little tighter. Overall it’s a fun read with enjoyable moments.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun quick paced murder mystery. It has friends, a farm, and ghosts! Thanks to the author and Goodreads for the giveaway.