The Moonlight Vanishing: A Kansas Small Town Cozy Mystery

by Maple Quinn

68 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2026

Reviews

[Barry Jacobson]

A quick and delightful read - well worth your time

Maple Quinn proves herself a skilled storyteller in this brief cozy mystery. The characters leap off the page as fully realized individuals—you grasp their essence not just through physical descriptions, but through their actions, quirks, and interactions. Quinn strikes an enviable balance in her prose: rich and evocative without tipping into purple prose or unnecessary embellishment. Each scene feels vividly rendered yet moves at a brisk pace.

The dynamic between the heroine and her canine companion is particularly engaging, leaving me eager to follow their future adventures. My only complaint? The story ends too soon. This felt less like a complete tale and more like a tantalizing appetizer that left me hungry for a full meal. Quinn has created a world and characters worthy of a longer treatment, and I hope she'll oblige with a full-length novel featuring this duo.

A promising start that showcases real writing talent, even if it leaves readers wanting considerably more.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read other books by this author before and this one doesn’t disappoint at all. An elderly man who had dementia is missing and the whole town is on the search for him. Molly feels compelled to help and Star leads the search. I enjoyed the diverse quirky characters in this story and enjoyed the fact that someone was given a second chance at being happy. This story brings you thru all different emotions and then back again. Really enjoyed this cozy mystery. I also enjoyed Molly’s best friend Joan. I’d love to have a friend like her. And my favorite quote from the book is “Sometimes the detours are the destination.”

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

[GinaB. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Moonlight Vanishing is a great prequel for a new series. Therapist Molly McBeal & her mini Aussiedoodle Star stop in Kansas for what was supposed to be one night. When she hears an 86-year old man with dementia & his dog have disappeared, she decides to help find them when Star’s eyes change from bright blue to deep navy blue. Molly solves the mystery with a LOT of help from her dog Star & helps calm things down for the family. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last. I look forward to reading how things go once Molly gets to Cape Cod & opens her coffee shop. I received this quick read cozy mystery from Book Sprout & am leaving an honest review.

[Mark Menard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Plot, Frustrating Protagonist This was an engaging story about a woman driving cross-country to start a new chapter, only to find herself embroiled in a missing person case. While the plot was an easy read, I struggled to connect with the protagonist, Molly. As a character-driven reader, I found her approach a bit grating; she often pushed her way into the investigation and interrogated people as if she were law enforcement. Additionally, the depiction of the police felt unrealistic, making them look incompetent to prop up the lead. I would have preferred a more realistic, collaborative dynamic.
I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this initial book in the Molly McBeal and Star series, you can witness the great connection and understanding between them. While traveling to the Cape Cod area they stop over in Kansas and discover a missing gentleman with dementia. Molly and Star begin their investigating and getting to know each other and reading signs others can't. This is an emotional story that keeps you reading. This book is a great start to a wonderful series that makes you think and feel.

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

[Lorraine O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely short story. Molly recues a dog with azure blue eyes that change color depending on Molly's mood and situation. She is moving from Seattle to the east coast and stops in the Midwest & adopts the dog. She goes to get coffee and ends helping look for a missing person with Alzheimer's.

[Ilene G> · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice , quick read. Molly and her dog Star are heading for Cape Cod and stop in a small town. They help find a missing man with dementia. The characters are good. I recommend this to those who like cozy mysteries with animals.

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting