Murder Most Pumpkin: A Fall Themed Small Town Cozy Mystery

by Maisy Marple

Fall has arrived in picturesque Cinnamon Falls, and café owner Harper Lane is perfecting her signature pumpkin spice blend for the annual Spice & Harvest Festival competition. With famous food blogger Savannah Bloom judging this year's entries, winning could put Harper's quaint Whisking Leaves café on the culinary map. But when Savannah is found floating in the historic mill pond the morning after the festival gala—with traces of Harper's unique spice blend found in her lungs—the cozy competition turns deadly. Suddenly, Harper finds herself the prime suspect, her reputation in tatters, and her beloved café closed by police order.

Determined to clear her name, Harper teams up with her teenage barista Tessa and best friend Maggie to investigate Cinnamon Falls' secrets. Between her café rival Gloria Finch's smug accusations, gruff farmer Eddie Whitlock's mysterious opposition to town development plans, and retired history teacher Norman Crisp's obsession with the mill's mechanisms, Harper uncovers a web of motives more complex than any recipe. Even Detective Miles Rowan, whose professional demeanor can't quite hide his growing attraction to Harper, is following evidence that all points in her direction.

As Harper delves deeper into the town's hidden rivalries and long-simmering resentments, she realizes the killer has more planned than just framing her for murder. With the festival competition rapidly approaching and more evidence mounting against her, Harper must identify the culprit before they decide she's becoming too troublesome to leave alive. In Cinnamon Falls, it seems the most dangerous ingredient isn't in the pumpkin spice—it's the secrets bubbling just beneath the surface of this seemingly perfect small town.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Crys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast cozy mystery that takes readers on a journey with Harper Lane being our amateur sleuth.

Harper is preparing for a fall festival competition when one of the judges is found murdered…and Harper is the prime suspect. She has to clear her name because it’s clear there’s a frame job pointing the finger - and evidence - right at her.

Cinnamon Falls seems to be a character itself, but because the mystery is a fast one, it doesn’t get as developed as I expect we’ll see in the other books. We get an introduction in this one via a fall festival, but I look forward to learning more about this quaint small town.

I found this to be a fun, satisfying read. Sometimes the shorter cozy mysteries feel rushed, but this one did not. The pacing matched the story the writer wanted to tell.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character is Harper Lane. Her small town is having it's fall pumpkin spice festival and she has entered with her spice blend from her business. A woman who came to judge the events is found murdered in the river by the old mill. They found Harper's spice blend in her lungs with pond water. Everyone it seems believe Harper did it but she didn't. She with a couple of friends set out to find out who did. The closer they get the more likely it seems she will be the next one to die. Can they figure this all out before it's too late ?

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Cinnamon Falls, café owner Harper Lane is working on her pumpkin spice blend for the annual Spice & Harvest Festival competition. Celebrity food blogger, Savannah Bloom will be judging the entries. Unfortunately, Savannah is found in the mill pond with traces of Harper’s spice blend in her lungs. Harper is a suspect, and her café is closed by the police. Harper and her friends decide to investigate. They discover the how Savannah was killed. Now they have to figure out the who.
This was an interesting mystery with a number of clues and suspects. I enjoyed it.

[Susan A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read with delightful characters

This book would make a great series all on its own. Would love to see more of Harper Lane owner of the Whisking Leaves cafe and her friends solving more mysteries in Cinnamon Falls. And a continuation of her relationship with Detective Rowan Miles. This book could easily grow into a long term series. Please do think about it and make it so. Harper solving more murders would be totally readable and an enjoyable cozy series.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great blend of amateur sleuths and small town romance

This book immediately sucked me in. I spent the entire read wondering if Maisy Marple might revisit this character set. She has a good grasp of how to plot a cozy mystery, create a villain and set up a protagonist. I definitely like her style. This book was just the complete picture of a great read.

[Marsha Asquith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food blogger to be a judge in Cinnamon Falls Festival, turns up dead and Harper is the number one suspect. She and friends set out to find the person trying to frame her.
Fun quick story. Love the character Tessa, she is young and energetic and fun!

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

That drowning was no accident. With Savannah found floating in a pond with traces of Harper Lane's special spice found in her lungs, a mystery begins. This tale is short, and feels a bit incomplete, but it is still a great way to kill an hour, maybe.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, the only thing that makes me uncomfortable about this book (and this publisher/publishing company/author) is that I think they've moved to all being AI generated. That being said, it was still an enjoyable read, but I'm not sure that there's a human behind the production any longer.

[Ilene G> · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish.

Did not finish. I do not like most of the characters and the overall plot. I stopped at 33 percent.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read but entertaining. The plot moved at a quick pace and the characters were an interesting assortment of people. First book I’ve read by this author but I plan to read more of her stories.

[Emilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

it felt far too short, a bit unoriginal and predictable

[DONNA FOSS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written.
Kept me interested completely.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it love the characters and the small town, the mystery was interesting and the people worth reading look forward to reading more of these books

[Lois Hinderliter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

It is a delightful mystery. Harper is suspected of murder. She and her fiends investigate to find the real murderer. Its quite interesting. It won't disappear
Kind you.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

good start to a series

Good start to a series. At times a little hard to keep characters straight but still fun. Good read. Recommend.