A Cold November Murder: A Justice Bay Mystery

by Patricia Smiley

Genres: Mystery

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2026

About the author

Patricia Smiley is the author of nine novels: four featuring amateur sleuth Tucker Sinclair, three in the PACIFIC HOMICIDE series about LAPD homicide detective Davie Richards, and two in the Justice Bay series featuring amateur sleuth Emmaline McCoy.

Patty's short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Two of the Deadliest, an anthology edited by Elizabeth George. She has taught writing classes at various conferences in the U.S. and Canada and served as the vice president of the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America and as president of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles. Patty lives in Los Angeles with her opinionated Siberian forest cat.

Reviews

[Ellie Parry]

Really enioyed this, I love mysteries and thrillers so this was right up my street. There were a lot of characters which made it confusing sometimes but you catch on pretty quickly. Why doesnt the main character consider a career change and start working for the police force because she was a great detective in this book. I did not expect the murderer to be who it was so that reveal shocked me. Will definitely be recommending this especially if you like murder mystery’s.

[Iain Culverhouse]

I’m diving into A Cold November Murder by Patricia Smiley, the second instalment in the Justice Bay Mystery series. I recently finished this one, and it lands at a very respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars for me.

If you enjoy a cosy mystery that mixes small-town charm with a slight hint of the supernatural, this might just be right up your street. The story centres on our intrepid main character, Emmaline “Emma” McCoy. She is a former executive who has recently relocated from Los Angeles to the remote Northern California coastal town of Justice Bay to run a local shop. She has only been in town for a couple of months when she makes a grim discovery: a dead stranger loaded down with a suspiciously large amount of cash.

Driven by an inexplicable sense of responsibility toward the victim, and guided by a series of strange visions, Emma decides to take matters into her own hands. What follows is a classic amateur sleuth narrative as she relies on good old-fashioned shoe leather and dogged determination to ferret out a killer who is hiding among the bucolic scenery.

Smiley does a fantastic job of world-building; Justice Bay is the kind of quirky, atmospheric town you can easily lose yourself in. Emma is a witty, relatable protagonist, and the snappy banter she shares with the eclectic supporting cast provides a nice counterbalance to the tension of the murder investigation.

So, why the 3.5 stars? While the core mystery is engaging, the pacing felt a bit uneven in the middle sections. Additionally, some of Emma’s investigative leaps—particularly those relying heavily on her visions—felt a little too convenient for my liking, slightly detracting from the grounded, traditional mystery vibe I usually favour. However, the warmth of the characters and the crisp dialogue kept me hooked until the final reveal.

Overall, it’s a fun, character-driven read that fans of small-town mysteries will certainly appreciate.

Thanks once again to NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review

[Anindita Guha]

A taut but cozy atmospheric small-town mystery that hits all the right notes of resilience and vulnerability.
Patricia Smiley has done it again. A Cold November Murder, the second book in the Justice Bay series, is everything I love in a traditional mystery — fast-paced, clever, often humorous and full of heart.
The opening hooked me instantly: On a cold November morning, former tech executive turned shop-owner Emmaline McCoy is out for a run when she sees hundred-dollar bills floating in the air, only to follow them to a meadow where a man has been shot execution-style. From that chilling image, Smiley builds a wonderfully layered mystery.
What makes this series so special is Emmaline herself. She’s smart, resilient, and relatable — a woman rebuilding her life in the bucolic Northern California town of Justice Bay, using every bit of her corporate savvy and grit to protect the community she’s come to love. You can’t help but root for her.
Smiley perfectly balances cozy charm with real stakes. The plot is tightly woven with plenty of twists, the town feels lived-in and authentic, and the danger feels personal. It’s both a satisfying whodunit and a story about belonging, second chances, and finding justice where you least expect it. Uncertainties also play their parts in making the story retain its tension till the end with Cooper, Walter, Zeke, Skip often blowing hot and cold with Emma.
If you love mysteries with a strong, curious proactive heroine, a vivid setting, and a gripping opening that never lets up, you will devour this one. I couldn’t put it down — and I’m already waiting for the next trip to Justice Bay.

5 stars. For lovers of small-town cozy mysteries, highly recommended.

Thanks @netgalley and @levelbestbooks

#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookish #books

[Leanne]

A Cold November Murder is a quietly gripping mystery that blends atmospheric small‑town tension with an unexpectedly introspective edge. Emmaline McCoy’s move from bustling L.A. to the fog‑shrouded coastal town of Justice Bay is meant to be a reset, but the discovery of a murdered stranger in a meadow pulls her into a case that feels both personal and unsettlingly surreal.

What I enjoyed most is how Patricia Smiley balances the classic pleasures of a whodunit—eccentric locals, a tangle of plausible suspects, and a victim with no name—with Emma’s growing sense that something deeper is at play. Her investigation isn’t flashy; it’s grounded in persistence, intuition, and a willingness to follow threads others overlook. The strange visions she experiences add an intriguing, almost dreamlike layer without tipping the story into full supernatural territory. Instead, they serve as emotional signposts, nudging her toward truths she isn’t sure she’s ready to face.

Justice Bay itself is wonderfully rendered: windswept, remote, and full of the kind of secrets that thrive in tight communities. The contrast between Emma’s outsider perspective and the town’s insular rhythms gives the story a steady, engaging tension.

This is a mystery that unfolds with a calm confidence—more reflective than pulse‑pounding, but no less compelling. Smiley delivers a satisfying blend of character, atmosphere, and intrigue, and Emma’s journey toward understanding the victim—and herself—makes the final reveal land with real weight.

With thanks to Patricia Smiley, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
A thoughtful, moody coastal mystery perfect for readers who enjoy a slow burn with emotional depth.

[Jan Fore]

A Cold November Murder
Patricia Smiley
August 11, 2026

We are in Northern California in the small town of Justice Bay. Emmaline McCoy moved into her aunt’s home after her unexpected death. The adjustment from LA was not an easy one. She went through many discussions and paperwork with the police regarding the case. They had still not solved who or why she was killed however Emma took up residence in her home. Her aunt ran an antique shop. Emma cleaned and restocked the small store using many of the collectables from the estate.
One morning she was out on an early morning run when she passed a field that was empty and dry. She did see what she thought was a pile of clothing in the center of the pasture. She ran over to take a look in case someone was in need of help. Upon arrival she found a man, the same man who she stopped by to chat with as she left her house not long before. Em knelt beside him to see if he was hurt. She couldn’t be certain whether he was alive or dead. Immediately she dialed 911.
A Cold November Murder was published on August 11, 2026 by Level Best Books. I was able to read and review Smiley’s 2nd novel in her Justice Bay series via NetGalley. I found this book to be oddly humorous and intriguing. Emmaline reminded me of a twenty-something who needed to be needed. When the detectives were involved in solving the case she made it her business to try to be helpful. After all she had read many detective books and is an avid TV murder mystery fan. This is a good casual suspense novel, give it a try!

[Linda]

Emmaline McCoy left her job as a marketing director at Fortuna Cruise Lines in Los Angeles and moved to Justice Bay in Northern California. (I love the setting since I live in Northern California!) After her beloved Aunt Lydie was killed by a hit and run driver, Emmaline settles her estate and opens Cassandra's Collectibles. She sells antiques and travel memorabilia. She has an able bodied assistant--Arthur Baxter Bromley. I loved the lines, "Dateline might send a film crew. I hope Keith Morrison narrates. I love his voice". Emmaline has problem solving skills honed from working for the cruise line and she puts them to good use when she discovers a man shot in the head in a meadow surrounded by one hundred dollar bills. This book has well developed and interesting secondary characters. Her boyfriend Cooper Dane; Walter Kestrel Retired FBI agent/Cooper's uncle/her next door neighbor; Zeke Digby and his dog Tango; and Justice Bay Police Chief Skip Kowalski. The author makes these characters come to life. This book is well written and entertaining. Even though I haven't read the first book in this series yet, I had no trouble getting "into" A Cold November Murder.

[Andrea T]

When there's a dead body on page one, you have my full attention.  This story, set in a California coastal town, had a lot of 

mysteries that may or may not be connected.  The main character was intent on solving despite not being law enforcement, and causing issues for those who actually are, as well as putting herself in danger.  I did find the main character, Emmaline,  to be annoying but maybe she was supposed to be…. definitely a nosey Parker.  Also the romantic relationship of the main character was juvenile at times despite both being adults…..they clearly had some trust issues that were based on very little.  There were many other intriguing characters who had their place in unravelling the mysteries.  The book had a decent pace, and I enjoyed the writing style.  I thought that was a good story overall, aside from my annoyance at the main character, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

[Tasha]

Thank you to the publisher/author for the free ebook courtesy of a Goodreads giveaway. I won't recap the book, as you can read the book jacket for that.

This was my first Patricia Smiley book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While this is book 2 of the series, it stands alone well. I didn't feel like I was missing any of the story that was vital to enjoying this book.

I have seen other reviewers criticize Emma's visions as being not necessary or even detracting from the story but I did not. Her visions just help give her ideas of what to look into next or point her in a direction, though she struggles in interpreting them correctly, much like most of us do when analyzing dreams.

I also found the assumptions Emma draws about her boyfriend Cooper accurate and realistic.

[Nikki Strange]

I enjoyed A Cold November Murder overall, although I felt the pacing was a little slow in parts. I also enjoyed the small-town coastal setting and the unusual element of Emma’s strange visions as she tries to piece everything together.
I didn’t realize this was the second book in the Justice Bay series and hadn’t read the first one, A Dark September Night. Thankfully, I felt like this one could stand on its own and I was able to follow the story without feeling completely lost. It was an interesting mystery with some unexpected twists, but I would have liked a faster pace to keep me more engaged. Overall, a solid mystery and I’d be interested in reading more from the series.

[Theresa Sivelle]

Emmaline runs a antique store in small town Justice Bay. She's out on run when she finds a body and hundred dollar bills blowing in the wind. She gets involved in the investigation and hopes that her visions will lead her to the killer(s).

When I started this book I didn't realize it was not the first one in a series. I felt a little behind but the story does stand well on it's own. I did find parts of it a little choppy but it was an interesting story.

I want to thank the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Cherry London]

A Cold November Murder is a captivating and exciting read that kept me hooked from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed Emma’s character—she’s not overly talkative, but her astute intuition consistently puts her at the center of the action. The plot, centered on a new hotel development, masterfully introduces tension to the community. As the project progresses, it uncovers ancient secrets and hidden agendas, spiraling into a thrilling sequence of murder and mayhem. It’s a compelling mystery that perfectly balances character depth with high-stakes intrigue.

[Britney Ireland]

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC to read and review.

I enjoyed the story and main character. The mystery of who was actually found murdered and why was there a ton of money found along with the body kept my interest throughout. I felt this was a lot like most whodunit mysteries I’ve read and nothing captured my attention to make it any better than ones I’ve read before. I would recommend people who enjoy the whodunit and why mysteries to pick this up and read it.

[Brandy]

Cozy Mystery

Likable characters & interesting side characters. Nice cozy setting and a murder mystery, sign me up! I found this to be an enjoyable and entertaining quick read. It wasn’t one of those where I easily sussed out who it was from the beginning but definitely suspected at a certain point. I would definitely consider more books by this author in the future.

[C J]

Goodreads winner.
I enjoyed this book. A good plot and mystery to keep me engaged.

[P.J. Colando]

A compelling mystery, replete with romance, intrigue, and more than one murder, set in a bucolic seaside town where everyone knows everyone - and their business.