A Very Sticky Murder

by Greta Sinclair

Food critic and amateur sleuth Darcy Finnegan thought returning to Vermont for Thanksgiving meant cozy traditions, maple treats, and a dash of family drama—not a shocking murder.

When a shady real estate developer is found dead near the candy station of her family’s historic sugarhouse, Darcy, her clever Schnoodle Mozart, bestie, and Interpol Agent Marcus Evans are pulled into a mystery as sticky as spilled syrup.

The victim’s scheme to clear local maple groves for luxury homes earned him more than a few enemies. But things get personal when a prized candy mold vanishes, the murder weapon disappears, and Mozart is suspiciously framed.

The gravy’s lumpy, tempers are bubbling over, and the only thing colder than the turkey is the trail of mistrust winding through the Finnegan family. Darcy knows one thing for before the night is over, the truth will be served.

Bonus Recipe Included!

Perfect for fans of Ellery Adams, Ellie Alexander, and a strong seasonal bake, this maple-laced mystery delivers a bite of suspense with a dollop of cozy charm.

Award-Winning Cozy Mystery Author Greta Sinclair Wins Silver Medal at 2025 Global Book Awards

See what readers are

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I want to go to the Finnegan's house for Thanksgiving! Another awesome book!” -Willow

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Such an unlikable victim. Who in the family could have wanted him gone? A sticky mess to clean up and solve.” -Becky Houston

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “The Darcy and Mozart Cozy Mystery Book Series just gets better with each book! Lots of imagination, humor, great characters, compassion, clues that don't quite fit, and many suspects, even if they are family. It kept me turning pages until the end!” -Bev Roland

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “This was the first book in the series that I’ve read and even though the characters were all new to me, I quickly figured them out because they were so well written. I found the plot very interesting, especially since it centered around a subject I am not too familiar the world of maple sourced foods! This book was very good, and is a perfect read for the fall season.” - Chawna

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I love this story with its wonderful characters and plot. Darcy and Lizzie are quirky, amusing characters as they investigate yet another unusual murder. Along with Darcy's handsome boyfriend, Marcus, and the fabulous and clever Mozart I was thoroughly entertained from cover to cover as various twists and turns cleverly disguised the murderer until the end. This book and author are easy to recommend.” - Dijohall

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Another fun cozy murder mystery with Darcy, Lizzie, Schnoodle Mozart and her boyfriend Interpol Agent Marcus. This time, it is Thanksgiving and Darcy's family home. Oh my. No one wants a death to be from a family member! Who could it be? And oh, what a family. Very entertaining. Maple syrup! Yum! Of course it it a terrible person who was killed, but still, the law is the law. Totally enjoyed turkey bowling, and wonderful recipes at the end.” -Lifegiggles

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2025

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday havoc

Darcy, Lizzie and Marcus (swoon) are heading home for Thanksgiving. It’s supposed to be a heartwarming holiday where Darcy’s family can meet Marcus and they can all celebrate. It’s turns sour when the town bully turns up dead on their land. The sheriff is puffed up with power and the town has all eyes on the Finnegans. Darcy needs to catch a culprit fast or this holiday will be never forgotten for all the wrong reasons.
Quick, lighthearted holiday shenanigans. Lots of food talk so I highly recommend reading with snacks lol. It was sweet to see Darcy and Marcus together all domestic. The ending was a bit sad as they go off in different directions. Good mystery with a few red herrings thrown in yo keep you guessing. A feel good read!

[Madison Bloomfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute, cozy, thanksgiving!

[Javon50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What should be a good time with family at Casa Finnegan celebrating Thanksgiving and the Harvest Festival turns into a murder investigation after an unpleasant developer is found dead on the property. Darcy Finnegan, along with her boyfriend Marcus Evans, Interpol Agent, best friend Lizzie and her clever dog Mozart want to enjoy time with family but instead they will be investigating a murder. When Darcy’s mother is taken in for questioning, Darcy knows she will do everything in her power to clear her mother’s name and find the real killer. This terrific mystery kept me up well into the night until the very last page. This is my honest and voluntary review of an advanced copy of this book.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book in this series (all can be read standalone). Who would have thought that a return home for Thanksgiving could cause so much chaos? I really enjoyed the characters, how everyone has a little more going on than you think, but how they support each other. This book will keep you glued to the pages from beginning to end through laugher and surprises. Wonderful to read!.

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

[Marietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all the books regarding Darcy Finnegan and her dog I have enjoyed them very much and this was no different just that we finally got to meet her family. I love that Agent Marcus Evans is finally introduced to the family and it is great how Greta can make everyone seem so real. It was great to hear about how they celebrate Thanksgiving that can be so different to what everyone else may do. I love that Lizzie just seems to fit right into the family as well. But when they are having the gathering at the farm for everyone to celebrate the Harvest Jubilee the real estate developer who has made more enemies than friend is found dead in the sugarhouse. And everyone of the family becomes suspects in the death. The Sheriff Grady Tomlin comes out but right away he tells Agent Marcus that he does not need his help with anything as it is a Maple Leaf problem. But as soon as Darcy’s mother is taken in for questions and keeps, then Darcy really starts to investigate everything with Lizzie and Mozart’s help. Darcy hates that she must suspect any of her family, but someone has killed Freddy Alden. Her family turns on her when she lets slip that her brother had been at the sugarhouse that night, so he is taken for questioning after her mother is sent home but told not to leave town. I love how Greta makes you think that it could be someone in the family who is the murderer and how she goes about trying to clear everyone as she goes. Lizzie still has her since of humor as always and she tries to help Darcy as much as possible. I had a hard time putting down this book once I started to read it.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Sticky Murder, yet another delightful mystery in Greta Sinclair’s A Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series, captivated me from the start. I've relished many of the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mysteries, but I truly believe that A Very Sticky Murder stands out as the best. I adore that Darcy returned home for her family’s Thanksgiving at their charming sugarhouse.

The joy and affection shared among everyone were truly heartwarming. The ambiance radiated warmth and a sense of coziness. I could nearly envision the enticing aromas as they began their baking.

Darcy arrives with her new boyfriend, Interpol Agent Marcus Evans, her clever Schnoodle Mozart, and her dear friend Lizzie. This marks Marcus's first introduction to her family, and he is quite anxious about the entire situation.

All are anticipating a wonderful time, and everything seems to be unfolding beautifully until real estate mogul Freddy Alden shows up, only to later be discovered face down in a sticky pool of maple syrup.

Darcy must uncover the truth behind what happened to Freddy before her family’s reputation is tarnished and Mozart is wrongfully accused as the prime suspect, along with her relatives.

I wholeheartedly recommend grabbing a copy of A Very Sticky Murder for another delightful and heartwarming mystery to unravel. Yes, I realized after reading it that my comment may sound a bit off, but I trust you understand the sentiment I intended to convey.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 9th book in a fantastic series that grips you and doesn't let you go until the end. In this book, Darcy Finnegan is going home to the Finnegan Sugar house in Maple Grove for a family Thanksgiving dinner bringing her boyfriend, Agent Marcus Evans, her BFF Lizzy and of course, the intelligent clue finding Schnoodle, Mozart for a homecooked dinner and of course there is the Harvest Jubilee. This is the first time Darcy is introducing Marcus to her family. What a fun, family Thanksgiving is planned. But things didn't seem to go as planned when real estate developer, Freddy Alden is found dead and Darcy's mother is taken in for questioning and Mozart also get blamed. And the full of himself sheriff doesn't want anyone involved in his investigation including Marcus who is outside his jurisdiction. But that doesn't stop their investigation. And they find Alden had many enemies. Can Darcy, Lizzy, Mozart and Marcus find a murderer? With some humor and intrigue, we are taken on a roller coaster ride until the ending. Not only do I highly recommend this book, but I highly recommend the entire series and I can't wait for more. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Willow Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Darcy Finnegan invites her new boyfriend, Interpol Agent Marcus Evans, to her family's home at the Finnegan Sugarhouse for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and Maple Grove’s Harvest Jubilee, she has no idea what awaits them.
Local real estate developer, Freddy Alden, has set his sights on turning Maple Leaf into a high dollar retreat, and is gathering enemies everywhere he goes. Unfortunately, Darcy's family is on his radar as he does more damage.
As the Jubilee winds down and people go home, Darcy's Schnoodle companion, Mozart, leads Darcy and Marcus to the sugarhouse where they discover Freddy Alden’s body, face down in something sticky.
The suspects are plentiful, but mostly they are Darcy's family members, pushing Darcy into an investigation she’d rather avoid, especially since Marcus is out of his jurisdiction.
I loved this book! The clues keep coming and the conclusion was quite a surprise!
I highly recommend the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series and, as always, the recipe at the end is amazing!
I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy and I am excited to leave this voluntary review!

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanksgiving and a murder!

This year, Darcy is spending Thanksgiving with her family, along with Mozart, Lizzie and she’s also bringing Marcus to meet the family. She even made it back in time for the Harvest Festival. In true Finnegan fashion, everyone ends up helping to set up the festival. So it should come as no surprise, that the person making everyone’s life miserable ends up dead. Murdered. However, he’s found in the family sugarhouse, which makes Darcy’s family all suspects, from her father the mayor, to her mother, little brother, cousin and aunt, and Marcus can’t help with the investigation so it’s down to Marcy to solve the murder. Along with the local sheriff, of course. These stories are all so much fun, even with the murder. There’s humor because Lizzie is something else. We have adorable with Mozart, romance with Darcy and Marcus and there’s always a thrilling mystery to be solved. Not to mention, there’s always local history and food, with—bonus—recipes included.

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

[Marguerite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m on this journey with Darcy, Lizzie and Mozart (not forgetting Marcus!). I’m not only travelling the world, but I’m experiencing different festivals and customs, location specific. Publication dates have been so carefully timed: Thanksgiving in Vermont. I can smell the pumpkin pies and cranberries through the words on the page.
Freddy Alden, a real estate developer (and not a nice man) is the murder victim — and not a tear is shed for him. Unfortunately, the main suspects seem to be all those near and dear to Darcy. In her own inimitable way, she must find the truth, even if she upsets her family in the process.
And there’s still an awful lot of food involved in Maple Leaf town and Finnegans’ Sugarhouse. Sometimes I wish there was a scratch’n’sniff facility.
Great to see all the characters taking on a life of their own, thanks to Greta’s writing and dry humour. Rich language and dialogue are making this series a fun read.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Sticky Murder (A Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery) is not the first in the series, but it is the first I have read in the series. The Finnegan’s home will be full this year since Darcy Finnegan has returned to Vermont along with her Schnoodle Mozart. This may be my favorite book by Greta Sinclair. Wile Darcy is now an amateur sleuth, her day job so to speak is a food critic. I could see that, gives her travel and different place to be. This time the murder is right near home when a scheming real estate developer is found dead. Mozart is on the case along with Darcy and ends up being blamed for some missing items. I wanted this case solved and that sweet dog cleared of all suspicions. What a delightful holiday story. Since Thanksgiving is often overlooked I especially enjoyed this addition to a series that previous books are now on my TBR list.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Darcy Finnegan travels to her hometown for Thanksgiving, she hoping for a relaxing time with family. What she gets, however, is a murder in the backyard and her family members under suspicion. With boyfriend Marcus by her side, Darcy is determined to find the killer, even if it’s one of her relatives.

I truly enjoyed this book! Sinclair uses descriptive writing to paint a picture of Vermont in the fall. It makes the reader feel as if they are right there in the middle of the story. There is mystery, red herrings, family loyalty and a bit of romance throughout the book. I was guessing the culprit right up to the end. I’ve read most of the books in this series and I have yet to be disappointed. I encourage cozy mystery lovers to check out Greta Sinclair’s books…they wont regret it!

*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Dave Measner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday season death
Thanksgiving is close and Darcy, Mozart, Lizzie and Marcus are going to Maple Leaf Vermont to see Darcy's family. When developer Freddie Alden shows up at the festival parade and rubs everyone the wrong way, it's not too surprising that he ends up dead. Unfortunately he is murdered in the Finnegan's sugar house, putting the whole family top of the suspect pool. The local sheriff allows Marcus to consult, but forbids Darcy from involving herself in the investigation. This means of course she will do anything in her power to clear the shadow from her family. A fast paced mystery with many possible suspects and a tricky trail of clues.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

With so many Halloween and Christmas cozies, it is refreshing to get my hands on a Thanksgiving one. Unlike others that may just mention it or start with it, Thanksgiving week is the setting/star of this one, culminating in the big day.

Although marred by murder early on, honey and maple syrup, sweetens it up a bit as Darcy is afraid the murderer is closer to home than she would like. With her sidekick Lizzie and boyfriend Marcus by her side, she has to clear or suspect almost every member of her family. Will that dinner table for Thanksgiving end up smaller than expected?.

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

[LaurenB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never pass up a Darcy, Mozart, and Co. mystery! In this installment, we’re in Vermont at the Finnegan home and sugarhouse for Thanksgiving. When a murder hits a little too close to home, the crew, including Marcus, goes on another investigative adventure.

I love this series! They can be read as standalones because the author does a great job of incorporating sufficient background into each story. The stories are well thought out and incorporate some culinary knowledge as well.

I highly recommend this series!.

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

[Cherie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greta Sinclair has done it again with another excellent book in the Darcy Mozart culinary mystery series! This one takes place at thanksgiving when Darcy and Mozart head home to her parent’s place for Thanksgiving Dinner and the body of the local land developer winds up dead in the family’s sugar house. The obnoxious developer wasn’t well liked in the community so the list of suspects was long but Darcy’s family is top of the list. It’s up to Darcy, her best friend Lizzy and Mozart to find the real killer. This book is well written and will keep you reading right to the end, you won’t be disappointed!
Cherie

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sugary sweet story!

I love this story with its wonderful characters and plot.  Darcy and Lizzie are quirky, amusing characters as they investigate yet another unusual murder.  Along with Darcy's handsome boyfriend, Marcus, and the fabulous and clever Mozart I was thoroughly entertained from cover to cover as various twists and turns cleverly disguised the murderer until the end. This book and author are easy to recommend.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team.  I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Jamie Haggett · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first reading of a Darcy Finnegan cozy mystery, by Greta Sinclair. I thoroughly enjoyed the antics of Mozart the dog. The storyline kept me moving along through the book, and I enjoyed it until the end. I thought I had figured it out about 2/3 of the way through, and I was correct.
As I said, I enjoyed the story, and can’t wait to go back to the beginning of the series with Darcy and Mozart.
Cozy enough to read anytime of the day, mysterious enough to make you wanna stay up past your bedtime to finish it.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Darcy, Lizzie, Mozart, and Marcus story. This time we are going home for Thanksgiving and as the group drive into the yard they find that the sugarhouse has smoke coming out of it. It's the wrong time of year for it and they find the body of a man that is a thorn in everybody's side. Darcy and Marcus are busy helping with the investigation, unfortunately, the suspects are Darcy's family.
The end of the case of course comes in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner, and most of us think we have bad relatives!
I received an arc and this is my review.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darcy brings Marcus to her family home for Thanksgiving, only before they can celebrate a death of the Real Estate Developer, Freddy Alden, is killed. Darcy and gang must find the real killer before her brother is found guilty. I found some of this to be very funny, especially when Marcus is told to peel a squash. Plus when he cuts himself while trying to carve the Turkey. A good read with Mozart getting into trouble again.

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

[Linda K Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun cozy murder mystery with Darcy, Lizzie, Schnoodle Mozart and her boyfriend Interpol Agent Marcus. This time, it is Thanksgiving and Darcy's family home. Oh my. No one wants a death to be from a family member! Who could it be? And oh, what a family. Very entertaining. Maple syrup! Yum!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. Of course it it a terrible person who was killed, but still, the law is the law. Totally enjoyed turkey bowling, and wonderful recipes at the end.

[Marsha Asquith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darcy came home for Thanksgiving and brought Marcus to meet her family. A traditional Thanksgiving Dinner was all any of them wanted but murder had all of her family under suspicion,even Mozart. As Darcy tries to figure out the clues and evidence, she, Lizzie and Marcus are put to work helping fix the family dinner. This is a heartwarming, chaotic story and I can not wait to see where Darcy, Lizzie and Mozart go next!

I received an ARC copy and this is my honest opinion and review.

[Roselady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will the family be upended or disrupted or split? Will she “betray the truth to protect her family—or betray her family to protect the truth?” That is the question for Darcy. With the help of Mozart, Lizzie, and Marcus, perhaps she can protect both. The town might want to cause the Finnegans trouble, but these three—eh, four—want to keep the name out of the mud. Thanksgiving may never be a wonderful holiday again. I read an ARC of A Very Sticky Murder.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great episode and mystery. This one finds us at a family Thanksgiving in Vermont. It was fun to spend time with Darcy’s family and I love that Mozzie got to be so involved. Plus, Marcus, Lizzie and Mozart are all there too! Add to that a dead person despised by so many people that it’s hard to tell who actually did it and Voila! Another enjoyable addition to the series.

[Jodi Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darcy went home for Thanksgiving and she brought her boyfriend Marcus with her. When the least popular person in town is killed, her family are the main suspects. They have to solve the murder, but how close to home will it hit?
I really love these books, the writing is great, food descriptions make you hungry, and drama abounds.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This takes place at Thanksgiving, so this was a great time to read this book. The crew is in Vermont for this one, so the story is heavy on maple everything. It was interesting to read about. I liked the mystery. I knew who the killer would be, but I wasn't sure how the author would get there, which made it fun.

[Ilene G> · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery.

Darcy and Marcus enjoy Thanksgiving with her family while investigating a murder. With Mozart's help, they find clues that point to Darcy's family. I enjoyed the Thanksgiving activities Darcy enjoys with her family. The story kept me guessing who the murderer is. I like this series. I recommend this to cozy mystery readers who like animals and humor.

[J And · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vermont: Maple Sugar with Murder

This Darcy and Mozart mystery, like Greta Sinclair's other stories, is a tangled web that will keep you in suspense and turning pages until the story ends. This one is in Vermont, and it's just as culturally immersive as the other Darcy books. You won't want to miss this one either!

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darcy Finnegan is on a murder mystery defending Mozart her dog who was framed. Lots of suspense and humour in this edge of the seat read which is captivating from the start. I received this ARC copy and recommend this book to other readers .

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanksgiving Chaos

A real page turner for the holiday. Great setting in a maple syrup farm. So many suspects and clues. I couldn’t decide who who did it or the murder weapon. Hated to see to book end.