Edited Out

Seffi Wardwell Mysteries #3

by Rebecca M. Douglass

Who erased the writer?

Winter in Maine is long, dark, and cold, and California transplant Seffi Wardwell is combating the winter blues with a full calendar. Tending the plants at the local bed-and-breakfast, writing reports for the library, and generally keeping an eye on events in Smelt Point barely leaves time for pastry and gossip at Sweet Dreams, the local bakery and heart of the village.

When the participants at an artistic retreat held at the bed-and-breakfast grow combative, Seffi is there to smooth things over, stiffen the spine of the innkeeper, and keep things going. But when a writer turns up dead, Seffi’s called on to wield a different kind of expertise. Then someone lets slip there was poison in a coffee bought at Sweet Dreams, and it looks like Seffi’s favorite source of treats is in real trouble. Can her knowledge of plants save the inn—and the local bakery—before the killer strikes again and tears the heart out of Smelt Point?

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2025

About the author

Rebecca M. Douglass has lived in Idaho, Arizona, California, and Washington, and now lives and writes in the Seattle area. Her imagination resides where it pleases, in and out of this world. Her passions include backpacking, hiking, books, and moderately adventurous travel, especially when shared with good friends and family. Douglass is the author of the delightful Ninja Librarian books for children, and the Pismawallops PTA cozy mysteries for adults, and the new Seffi Wardwell Mystery series. After more than seventeen years working at the her local library and volunteering her time in the schools, she has retired to concentrate on reading, writing and travel.

Reviews

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel the cold as Seffi pursues a killer!

Edited Out is the third book in author Rebecca M. Douglass's warm and winning Seffi Wardwell Mystery series set in the wintry small coastal town of Smelt Point, Maine, where everyone knows everyone else, all their business, and outsiders stand out like lighted buoys. Though not known as a tourist destination, Smelt Point is the annual host of an off-season artists' residency, and this year, there are five artists and writers participating and staying in Chloe and Arden Patterson's struggling inn, where Seffi Wardwell helps part-time. When an obnoxious writer who has singlehandedly developed a strong local following of ill-wishers is found dead in the inn's solarium, Seffi steps up to track down the murderer and save the inn's reputation.

I so enjoy Seffi, her friends, and their vividly described town; just don't call it charming or a village! These tough Mainers know their town is pretty much low on charm, relishing their fishing heritage and the jobs the local cannery provides, the magnificent coastal views, and their almost fanatical obsession with gardening of all kinds. The five artists-in-residence offer a temporary distraction to the locals as winter descends, blanketing the town in ice and snow. The weather also creates a pseudo "locked room" situation when the much-disliked Zaria Carver is murdered.

Seffi, a recent transplant from the West Coast, is still settling in as a resident and is well aware that she is still viewed by many as an outsider herself. However, her wide-ranging participation in local activities has garnered her many good friends, as evidenced by their enthusiastic show of regard after her exciting 'life or death' confrontation with the killer. Seffi has personal sadness in her backstory, but, as an aside to the resolution of the murder case, there are hints of change in her future.

I recommend EDITED OUT to cozy mystery fans, especially those who enjoy LGBT representation and Maine or coastal settings in their stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

[Jemima Pett · Rating 5 out of 5]

We start with a writers' and artists' retreat. In Maine. In winter. It's cold, and a blizzard is due. I tend to imagine Maine as a bit Scottish, light and weather wise. It's probably not unlike Aberdeenshire. Wrap up well. And they do. They wear things I've never heard of, like fuzzy leggings, although that's the locals, not the artists, some of whom are seriously unprepared for bad weather. Or bad vibes.

It's not quite a locked room, but it's the nearest thing you'll find to one in the open air, isolated village, coastal setting, with lovely things for the artists to paint. The characters are skillfully assembled, and placements are made so you know there are undercurrents, and the reader comes across the first dead body with just the right amount of preparation. And thanks to our local law enforcement, both of whom are closely involved with Seffi and her partner in... investigations, all the right procedures are carried out. But they are short-handed, so Seffi gets to listen in on the evidence.

This is a well-constructed mystery, with plenty of local colour thrown in, where even on a second reading I was doubting whether I'd remembered the antagonist correctly, such are the subtleties of the red herrings introduced. In fact, it holds up so well on re-reading, that I reckon you should read it again and again.

[Ronel Janse van Vuuren · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery of who had killed the most condescending writer in the artist residency taking place at the inn in Seffi’s small town. When everyone had reason to kill the victim, Seffi has to figure out from which plant the poison came from and who had the means and opportunity to kill the snippy writer.

The blossoming friendship/romance between Seffi and the ME is sweet.

I like that the mystery kept one wondering and guessing right until the end.

There’s a definitive environmental care theme throughout the story (re-useable cups at the bakery, cloth napkins, etc.) that added a nice touch to the storyline as the entitled victim insisted on clean linens every day.

Seffi taking walks in the cold, dark, icy outdoors made me feel cold on her behalf. LOL. She has so much gumption. But I am worried about her: every psychokiller who comes to town wants to kill her at some point.

An enjoyable book that had me reading it in one sitting well into the wee hours of the morning.

Highly recommended to fans of cosy mysteries with LOL moments and great worldbuilding.

*I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just the cozy mystery I needed during a heat wave in the midwest AND our AC going out (it’s fixed now, yay!). I turned on my portable fan, sank into my favorite reading chair and immersed myself in the dark and cold winter in Maine.

I inhaled this mystery in one sitting and am happy to report it’s just as entertaining as the first two entries into the series. Readers new to the series can certainly jump in here, but I encourage everyone not to miss books one and two.

In addition to the vivid setting that drew me into the book and made the places and people come to life on the page, the mystery was well paced and there was no lack of suspects. I always enjoy being with Seffi and all the other characters (there are some folks that made me chuckle). The ending is nail biting and then I do believe there’s some budding romance for our Seffi which I’m rooting for.

A strong entry into a great series!