Bones In The Mud: A Digital Detective Cozy Mystery

by Angel Chase

Bones, Gossip, and a Cold Case.

Software engineer Ava Reynolds is en route to settle her sister's affairs when a storm sticks her in the mud. Her pampered dachshund, Princess Daisy, seizes the chance to dig up human bones, thrusting Ava into unfamiliar territory. Her only ally is retired detective Jake Morrow, haunted by the decade-old disappearance of violinist Ella Baroque.

The bones reveal a shocking link to Calmont, pointing them to The Reynolds Muse Gallery. Ava must probe her late sister's eccentric circle. Suspects Seraphina Blackwood, the dramatic "bad news" curator, and Reginald Sterling, the secretive intern. Digging into Marissa's life, they discover her suspicious death is dangerously intertwined with Ella's cold case.

They soon realize they've stumbled on a truth someone will kill to keep buried. To find justice for both victims, Ava must untangle a web of old secrets... before the killer can cover their tracks forever.

Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2025

Reviews

[Cornel Diaconu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This starting point for the (presumed) series of Digital Detective Cozy Mysteries, with Ava, her dachshund Princess Daisy, and Jake, retired detective, is pretty good introduction to the series (okay, currently there is nothing more, but hopefully the next installments will arrive).
What struck me a bit, was the nonchalance of Ava, clearing the mud of objects found by her Daisy while digging in the mud, partly through the rain, partly wiping them on her jeans !

[Linda Whitenight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava's structured life is interrupted by a call from a police department advising her of her sister's death and requesting her to come to Calmont. Ava and Princess Daisy, her dachshund, leave Virginia and head towards Calmont, in Southern California, for her sisters estate. However, they get stuck in the mud in Arkanvale, Arkansas when they leave the interstate during a storm to stop at a diner. During this stop Daisy digs up a human bone from the mud along the roadway. Can they help Jake and the local Sheriff solve this case and what does it have to do with Calmont, CA? A Digital Detective Cozy Mystery that kept my attention through to the end, I can't wait until the next book to find out what happens in Calmont.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava is a technical wizard, with her dachshund Princess Daisy. She gets a call to say her sister has died and she has to come to sort things out. They had been estranged for years. Ave drives, so her dog can go too. On the way a sudden storm makes her take a side road to a diner, but she gets stuck in the mud. A local man driving a tractor rescues her. Meanwhile Princess Daisy unearths a human bone. Later she uncovers other things as well. The odd thing is,n they seem to tie this mystery to the one where her sister lived.