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Rest in Peas
Over 300 Pages of High Stakes, Heartfelt Friendships, and the Truth Scarlett Has Been Dreading.
Scarlett James is no longer just a visitor in Spirit Lake; she’s part of the fabric of the town. But as her roots grow deeper, so do the complications. Her friend group is expanding, the local businesses are thriving, and her love life has shifted from a "slow burn" to a "complicated fire".
The Spirit Lake Farmers Market is in full swing, but when a worker is found dead one Saturday morning, it brings the town to a sudden halt. The list of suspects is as long as a summer day. As Scarlett, Zoey, Bree, and Della dig through the dirt of small-town rivalries and long-simmering grudges, they uncover a web of lies that stretches back generations.
The deeper Scarlett digs, the more she realizes that the "accidents" in Spirit Lake rarely are. With new evidence about her parents’ car accident finally coming to light, Scarlett must decide who she can really trust—especially when the truth hits closer to home than she ever imagined.
Rest in Peas is the most immersive Scarlett James mystery yet. Featuring a growing cast of characters, richer town lore, and a shocking twist in Scarlett’s personal journey, this is the book that changes everything.
The Spirit Lake saga continues. Read Book 3 now!
Scarlett James is no longer just a visitor in Spirit Lake; she’s part of the fabric of the town. But as her roots grow deeper, so do the complications. Her friend group is expanding, the local businesses are thriving, and her love life has shifted from a "slow burn" to a "complicated fire".
The Spirit Lake Farmers Market is in full swing, but when a worker is found dead one Saturday morning, it brings the town to a sudden halt. The list of suspects is as long as a summer day. As Scarlett, Zoey, Bree, and Della dig through the dirt of small-town rivalries and long-simmering grudges, they uncover a web of lies that stretches back generations.
The deeper Scarlett digs, the more she realizes that the "accidents" in Spirit Lake rarely are. With new evidence about her parents’ car accident finally coming to light, Scarlett must decide who she can really trust—especially when the truth hits closer to home than she ever imagined.
Rest in Peas is the most immersive Scarlett James mystery yet. Featuring a growing cast of characters, richer town lore, and a shocking twist in Scarlett’s personal journey, this is the book that changes everything.
The Spirit Lake saga continues. Read Book 3 now!
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Ashley Albi
35 books30 followersAshley Albi was born in Germany, on a US military base. Upon returning to the States she grew up in a small town in IL. Her love of books and storytelling began at a young age when she would create stories and plays with other children or just for herself. Many summer vacations were spent at the local library browsing for new books and participating in reading challenges.
She attended Illinois State University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She worked many years at a local bank as a teller and then as a Human Resources assistant. It was then that she began to put her stories to paper and attempt to write her first book.
In 2010, with a first draft completed and buried in her desk and many other snippets of stories scrawled in several notebooks she decided to find a change in scenery and begin a new chapter in her life. August 2011 brought a move to Denver, Colorado.
After her first year of grad school she dropped down to a part-time class load in order to work full-time at non-profit in downtown Denver that focused on serving the homeless and at-risk populations. But while the busyness of her life required her to set down her creative pen for a time her mind continued to search for a new story. Late one night as she returned to her apartment on campus, a curious scene from her window sparked a single question that opened a new creative world for her. Thus, the Covenant series was born.
Though it was several years before the first word of the Covenant series was written, Ashley attributes the story to that single moment.
Ashley met her husband in Denver and they married in 2014. Shortly after their wedding he accepted a pastoral position in a rural community in Iowa. It was in this new chapter that she realized her love of storytelling was more than just a casual hobby and began to pursue her writing with a passion. In this time she outlined the Covenant series and wrote the first book, ‘The Conspirator’.
In 2018, Ashley and her husband welcomed their first-born daughter into the world. It is to her that ‘The Conspirator’ is dedicated.
In 2021, their second daughter joined the family. She arrived shortly after Ashley found a love for cozy mysteries. During the late nights and early mornings, when it was just the two of them, Ashley began to craft her own cozy mystery series based around the charming town, where they had once lived, in Iowa. The first book 'Death is Better at the Lake' was published in September 2022.
Ashley and her family continue to travel around the country, seeking new adventures to keep the spark of creativity alive. She is currently working on the Covenant series and Scarlett James cozy mystery series.
She attended Illinois State University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She worked many years at a local bank as a teller and then as a Human Resources assistant. It was then that she began to put her stories to paper and attempt to write her first book.
In 2010, with a first draft completed and buried in her desk and many other snippets of stories scrawled in several notebooks she decided to find a change in scenery and begin a new chapter in her life. August 2011 brought a move to Denver, Colorado.
After her first year of grad school she dropped down to a part-time class load in order to work full-time at non-profit in downtown Denver that focused on serving the homeless and at-risk populations. But while the busyness of her life required her to set down her creative pen for a time her mind continued to search for a new story. Late one night as she returned to her apartment on campus, a curious scene from her window sparked a single question that opened a new creative world for her. Thus, the Covenant series was born.
Though it was several years before the first word of the Covenant series was written, Ashley attributes the story to that single moment.
Ashley met her husband in Denver and they married in 2014. Shortly after their wedding he accepted a pastoral position in a rural community in Iowa. It was in this new chapter that she realized her love of storytelling was more than just a casual hobby and began to pursue her writing with a passion. In this time she outlined the Covenant series and wrote the first book, ‘The Conspirator’.
In 2018, Ashley and her husband welcomed their first-born daughter into the world. It is to her that ‘The Conspirator’ is dedicated.
In 2021, their second daughter joined the family. She arrived shortly after Ashley found a love for cozy mysteries. During the late nights and early mornings, when it was just the two of them, Ashley began to craft her own cozy mystery series based around the charming town, where they had once lived, in Iowa. The first book 'Death is Better at the Lake' was published in September 2022.
Ashley and her family continue to travel around the country, seeking new adventures to keep the spark of creativity alive. She is currently working on the Covenant series and Scarlett James cozy mystery series.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 26, 2025
Rest in Peas is an engaging, twist-filled journey that I had trouble putting down. Scarlet James is the heart of the story; she genuinely cares for others, and her unwavering determination to solve the crime is inspiring.
Scarlet moved back to her hometown to take care of her grandmother and help out at Fireside Books & Cafe, little did she know she would end up staying. Since she has moved back, finding dead bodies just seems to follow her. In this third installment she has stumbled upon yet another dead body. When her best friend appears to be the prime suspect, Scarlet dives in headfirst, allowing readers to experience her courage and moments of doubt.
This book takes the reader on twists and turns as Scarlett begins to piece together the clues to uncover the truth. The plot unfolds with clever twists that kept me guessing right up until the final pages. Will Scarlett put herself in jeopardy as she gets closer to the truth?
If you enjoy a cozy small-town mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, featuring a lovable protagonist you’d want as your best friend and a hint of romance, this series is for you. I recommend starting with the first book of the series to get to know the characters.
There is also a subplot involving Scarlett and a cold case. I look forward to continuing the series to see how this cold case develops and what other mysteries Scarlett will encounter..
Having loved the first two books in the Scarlet James series, I was thrilled when the author reached out to ask if I would like to read and review the latest installment. I eagerly accepted the opportunity, as I thoroughly enjoyed Scarlet’s previous adventures. This opinion is entirely my own and was shared willingly.
Scarlet moved back to her hometown to take care of her grandmother and help out at Fireside Books & Cafe, little did she know she would end up staying. Since she has moved back, finding dead bodies just seems to follow her. In this third installment she has stumbled upon yet another dead body. When her best friend appears to be the prime suspect, Scarlet dives in headfirst, allowing readers to experience her courage and moments of doubt.
This book takes the reader on twists and turns as Scarlett begins to piece together the clues to uncover the truth. The plot unfolds with clever twists that kept me guessing right up until the final pages. Will Scarlett put herself in jeopardy as she gets closer to the truth?
If you enjoy a cozy small-town mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, featuring a lovable protagonist you’d want as your best friend and a hint of romance, this series is for you. I recommend starting with the first book of the series to get to know the characters.
There is also a subplot involving Scarlett and a cold case. I look forward to continuing the series to see how this cold case develops and what other mysteries Scarlett will encounter..
Having loved the first two books in the Scarlet James series, I was thrilled when the author reached out to ask if I would like to read and review the latest installment. I eagerly accepted the opportunity, as I thoroughly enjoyed Scarlet’s previous adventures. This opinion is entirely my own and was shared willingly.
December 14, 2025
Thank you Ashley for a #gifted digital copy.
Pub Date: 11/21/25
Format: Kindle
Genre: Cozy mystery
I read the first two books in this series when they released in 2022 and 2023. It was so great to pop back into the world of Scarlett James and her friends in Spirit Lake, Iowa. I wasn’t quite sure what I would remember about the prior books but from the first page, all the memories of the first two books came back and it was like no time has passed. Scarlett continues to find herself in the middle of a murder investigation. And now with romantic feelings for two men complicating her life, Scarlett is in all kinds of trouble.
Rating:
I really liked it!
What you’ll find:
Cozy mystery
Small town setting
Loveable characters
Pub Date: 11/21/25
Format: Kindle
Genre: Cozy mystery
I read the first two books in this series when they released in 2022 and 2023. It was so great to pop back into the world of Scarlett James and her friends in Spirit Lake, Iowa. I wasn’t quite sure what I would remember about the prior books but from the first page, all the memories of the first two books came back and it was like no time has passed. Scarlett continues to find herself in the middle of a murder investigation. And now with romantic feelings for two men complicating her life, Scarlett is in all kinds of trouble.
Rating:
I really liked it!
What you’ll find:
Cozy mystery
Small town setting
Loveable characters
January 11, 2026
Another irresistible entry in the series that I truly couldn’t put down. The characters and settings are described with such clear, relatable detail that they feel like old friends. It’s an easy, immersive read that pulls you in—perfect for a rainy day. It brought back that cozy, page-turning feeling I had reading Nancy Drew as a kid, but with a grown-up perspective. Clean content, heartfelt emotions, and just the right touch of nostalgia make this one a delight from start to finish. Can’t wait for #4!
November 23, 2025
Rest In Peas is the third book in the Scarlett James Mystery Series by Ashley Albi while it had been a while since I had read this series I was able to pick up with book with no issues.
I enjoyed the mystery in this series. There were multiple people that could have been the culprit so it kept you guessing. I also enjoyed that there’s a second mystery in that’s overarching in the series.
This was a fun cozy mystery!
I enjoyed the mystery in this series. There were multiple people that could have been the culprit so it kept you guessing. I also enjoyed that there’s a second mystery in that’s overarching in the series.
This was a fun cozy mystery!
December 11, 2025
Brick by brick
Obviously this is not the last book. We need book 4. After reading this series I can say I didn't expect myself to be so involved and even relate with the characters.
Want an advice, do not take anything for granted.
Obviously this is not the last book. We need book 4. After reading this series I can say I didn't expect myself to be so involved and even relate with the characters.
Want an advice, do not take anything for granted.
January 4, 2026
Great read
Love the characters in these stories. Looking forward to the next one.
A very talented author who keeps the reader engaged
Love the characters in these stories. Looking forward to the next one.
A very talented author who keeps the reader engaged
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews