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Moonlight, Magnolia and Murder
A long-buried secret. A meddling town. A horse who refuses to mind his own business.
Divorcee Sable Jones is determined to leave her Southern past behind, but Magnolia Creek isn’t finished with her yet. When her Labrador sidekick, Mister Max, unearths a rusted lockbox tied to an old scandal, Sable is thrust into a mystery she never asked for.
With Max, Blaze—her towering, temperamental ex-racehorse—and the trio of meddlesome friends, AKA the Magnolia Grannies at her side, she becomes the reluctant center of a secret the town meant to keep buried.
When the town’s notoriously grouchy handyman turns up murdered in her barn, suspicion falls on everyone from Nora Belle, the heiress with everything to lose, to Timmy Raye, the skittish stable hand/town drunk.
Vandalism, threats, and arson turn Sable’s quiet goodbye into a fight for the truth. Someone has killed to keep Magnolia Creek’s secrets buried—and if Sable can’t unravel the lies in time, she may be next.
Divorcee Sable Jones is determined to leave her Southern past behind, but Magnolia Creek isn’t finished with her yet. When her Labrador sidekick, Mister Max, unearths a rusted lockbox tied to an old scandal, Sable is thrust into a mystery she never asked for.
With Max, Blaze—her towering, temperamental ex-racehorse—and the trio of meddlesome friends, AKA the Magnolia Grannies at her side, she becomes the reluctant center of a secret the town meant to keep buried.
When the town’s notoriously grouchy handyman turns up murdered in her barn, suspicion falls on everyone from Nora Belle, the heiress with everything to lose, to Timmy Raye, the skittish stable hand/town drunk.
Vandalism, threats, and arson turn Sable’s quiet goodbye into a fight for the truth. Someone has killed to keep Magnolia Creek’s secrets buried—and if Sable can’t unravel the lies in time, she may be next.
65 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2025
About the author
Ellis Thorne
4 books4 followersEllis Thorne writes charming, heart-tugging Southern cozy mysteries filled with small-town secrets, loyal animal sidekicks, and slow-burn intrigue. The creator of Moonlight, Magnolia and Murder, Ellis blends a lifelong love of horses, community folklore, and character-driven storytelling into mysteries that keep readers turning pages long past bedtime.
When Ellis isn’t crafting twisty whodunits, you’ll likely find them wandering old barns and backroads for inspiration, jotting down story ideas in mismatched notebooks, or sharing treats with an opinionated Labrador and a towering rescued ex-racehorse who inspire the series’ beloved animal sleuthing duo.
Ellis believes every mystery is, at its heart, a story about resilience, friendship, and finding light in unexpected places — even when the magnolias cast long shadows.
Connect with Ellis for book updates, behind-the-scenes peeks, and upcoming releases.
When Ellis isn’t crafting twisty whodunits, you’ll likely find them wandering old barns and backroads for inspiration, jotting down story ideas in mismatched notebooks, or sharing treats with an opinionated Labrador and a towering rescued ex-racehorse who inspire the series’ beloved animal sleuthing duo.
Ellis believes every mystery is, at its heart, a story about resilience, friendship, and finding light in unexpected places — even when the magnolias cast long shadows.
Connect with Ellis for book updates, behind-the-scenes peeks, and upcoming releases.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 24, 2026
The story was good, but not told well.
SPOILERS:.
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How old is the FMC? She seems to be a young adult recently divorced. She states the 3 supporting characters, though not related, feel like her Grannies. Later on we find out as a young child she knew the lady who died 50 years ago. BTW, 50 year old ribbon does not disintegrate that easily, and 50 year old paper is not that fragile. I mean, seriously? How old is the author? I'm nearing 60 and my baby books and everything in it is fine. So, FMC is what? 55, 56? Are the ladies she calls "the grannies" her parents age? (To be fair, I am about to be a great grandmother so "the grannies" could possibly be her own age. 🤔)
MORE Spoilers:
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.
There are many continuity errors; for example the barn burns down (the fire burns much too quickly I might add) but next scene the horse is in his stall. Then a few pages later the tailor is used for his temporary stall, then a few pages later she (Sable, the FMC) says "lets try this again" apparently referring to the beginning where the horse refuses to enter the trailer. If he has been using it for a temp stall then he should be used to it.
There were other errors as well. The hours are discordant and the evening light goes from too dark to see someone as more than "a shadow" to after the confrontation & the sun is now just setting leaving bright streaks of color in the sky.
.
I know it's a short story, and it could be a great one, but as it is now-- nope.
SPOILERS:.
.
.
How old is the FMC? She seems to be a young adult recently divorced. She states the 3 supporting characters, though not related, feel like her Grannies. Later on we find out as a young child she knew the lady who died 50 years ago. BTW, 50 year old ribbon does not disintegrate that easily, and 50 year old paper is not that fragile. I mean, seriously? How old is the author? I'm nearing 60 and my baby books and everything in it is fine. So, FMC is what? 55, 56? Are the ladies she calls "the grannies" her parents age? (To be fair, I am about to be a great grandmother so "the grannies" could possibly be her own age. 🤔)
MORE Spoilers:
.
.
There are many continuity errors; for example the barn burns down (the fire burns much too quickly I might add) but next scene the horse is in his stall. Then a few pages later the tailor is used for his temporary stall, then a few pages later she (Sable, the FMC) says "lets try this again" apparently referring to the beginning where the horse refuses to enter the trailer. If he has been using it for a temp stall then he should be used to it.
There were other errors as well. The hours are discordant and the evening light goes from too dark to see someone as more than "a shadow" to after the confrontation & the sun is now just setting leaving bright streaks of color in the sky.
.
I know it's a short story, and it could be a great one, but as it is now-- nope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2026
This was a strange story that started out sad, got creepy, then things started snowballing like mad, starting with a murder. Grannies were snooping, the murder victim turned out to be as much a blackmailer as someone digging up secrets, and a barn is burnt, clues are found, and then there is a big uproar the actually cleanses the town. I do recommend this short story but be prepared to walk straight into a Kansas tornado.
December 9, 2025
This was a short whodunnit that packed a great story into a few pages.
It was well written and left me wanting to know what comes next for Sable, Banner and the trio of granny detectives. I can’t wait.
It was well written and left me wanting to know what comes next for Sable, Banner and the trio of granny detectives. I can’t wait.
February 26, 2026
She's at the point of loading her horse into the trailer (to go to her new home) when the horse and dog find a small lockbox.
Anybody else would hand the box over to (neighbours or cops) but she hangs around for the investigation of ownership.
Me? I'm moving on.
Anybody else would hand the box over to (neighbours or cops) but she hangs around for the investigation of ownership.
Me? I'm moving on.
May 26, 2026
There was no mention of a destination, other than North.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews