Pumpkin Patch Peril

Brook Ridge Falls Ladies' Detective Club #1

by Leighann Dobbs

Four senior sleuths. One missing pumpkin. Zero chance of keeping out of trouble.

When Brenda Mossberry’s prize-winning pumpkin vanishes days before the annual fair, she hires The Brrok Ridge Falls Ladies Detective Agency to track down the thief.

Armed with Mona's keen sleuthing skills, Ida’s improbable statistics, Ruth’s questionable “evasive driving,” and Helen’s sharp reporter’s instincts, the ladies chase tire tracks, snoop through barns, and stir up plenty of small-town gossip. But the deeper they dig, the stranger the case becomes.

Full of humor, friendship, and fall festival fun, The Case of the Missing Pumpkin is a cozy caper that proves you’re never too old to solve a mystery… or to stir up a little mischief along the way.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

151 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2025

About the author

USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.

Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.

Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.

Reviews

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkin Patch Peril is the first book in the Brook Ridge Falls Ladies Detective Club series.

You will recognize these senior sleuths from the Lexy Baker Cozy mystery series, one of my all-time favorite series.

The ladies, Mona, Ruth, Helen, and Ida have a new case, a stolen GIGANTIC 520-pound pumpkin.

This was such a fun mystery! I laughed SO much as I followed the clues.

I really enjoyed this character driven story, and I so appreciate the senior sleuths, NEVER too old to do anything!

The story exudes fall and I love the lady's friendship. The small-town vibes are perfect for a fall cozy mystery.

Highly recommend, and looking forward to more from these ladies!

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pumpkin Patch Peril is the first book of the Brook Ridge Falls Ladies' Detective Club.
Brook Ridge Falls Ladies Detective Agency are on the case again.
The senior ladies who have developed a reputation for solving multiple crimes in the area are hired to find a giant pumpkin that has been stolen just days before the local fair has its contest to declare the winner of the county.
The winner of the last three years has had her pumpkin stolen and now she's desperate to get it back.

There are developed characters and a good plot line along with a bit of humor.

This is a spinoff of the Lexy Baker Series.

[Kymm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything Leighann Dobbs writes but this one is really good. I'm a sucker for a senior citizen protagonist who's out there solving crimes with her also senior friends. Maybe because I am one now but either way, this was a fun read while the ladies searched for a huge pumpkin stolen from a woman's barn days before the contest for biggest pumpkin starts in town, the award she's won the last five years. You can imagine the high jinks these women get into looking for something that should be hard to hide. I really had a good time reading this one and can't wait to read more in this series. Happy Reading!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of a spin off series from the Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery series by Leighann Dobbs. The four older ladies have their own detective agency and the case is a stolen 520 pound pumpkin.

I enjoyed the four ladies trying to puzzle out the missing pumpkin. I suspected the reveal but the lead up was great!

A GREAT start to the new series. I was allowed to read an advanced copy and these are my opinions.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oldies but goodies

Super delightful story with 4 great women with each a masters in life! Only planned to read for a short time but these ladies roped me in til the end was finished with only a few nibble bites in between haha. Hopefully there will be more with these Ladies Dectives!

[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful first book of a new series! These ladies are so much fun! They work so well together even though they all have different personalities. They make you laugh, cry and wish for their exciting lives. I highly recommend this book. It’s a lot of fun!

[Geraldine R. Gaugler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read

I really enjoyed reading this book. The Ladies' Detective Club's antics made me laugh. I was almost to the end before I had feeling how the mystery would be solved. The book is very well written, and I loved the characters.

[Glendora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Much Fun

Stolen pumpkins, statistic probalities, mysterious cars jangling jewelry, poison petitions and murdered mums. What on earth are the ladies going to do to solve the weirdest case on record so far?
You really should read this book.
Grâce Eileen Smith

[Eileen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stolen pumpkins, statistic probalities, mysterious cars jangling jewelry, poison petitions and murdered mums. What on earth are the ladies going to do to solve the weirdest case on record so far?
Grab a copy while they’re fresh. You won’t be sorry!
Grâce Eileen Smith

[Peter Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, fun with old friends!

I love the Lexy Baker Mysteries and this is icing on the cake. Mona and the girls feel like old friends. This was a nice,quiet well thought out mystery. Enjoyed it immensely!

[Nana Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!!!

[Michelle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute cozy mystery. Entertaining, quick read

[Dawn Gehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute mystery

Love the 4 little old ladies out there trying to solve a mystery. It had me stumped as well until the end I started piecing it together. Very well written

[Nancy Simcoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pumpkin

This was a very entertaining story. It was a quick and east read. I hope there are more books in this series.

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

This one waa not on par with the others. I had it figured out about half way through. It really didn't keep me on the edge of my seat as the others did.

[Mari-carroll Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[DONNA FOSS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good!
Kept me interested all the way through.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t mess with the Ladies Detective Agency
Mona. Ruth. Ida. And Helen are the case of the missing pumpkin
Sounds crazy but it’s a piece of cake for these ladies

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait for book 2

OMG. What a cute story. Love the characters and love how the 4 ladies are out on a case solving a case of the missing pumpkin. I can’t wait for book 2

[Patricia Suggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

the great pumpkin mystery

Four ladies solve the mystery of the missing pumpkin and go about it in many funny ways, but at least it is solved.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

ki

[Laura A Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope its not over

This book was like meeting back up with old friends I loved the story and of course the loveable characters. Please give us more!

[Jackie Marsh]

cute

[Mary Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely entertaining book!