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Morning Room Murder: An Unputdownable Small Town Cozy Mystery
She survived the renovation of her Inn. The first guest didn't.
Maggie Thornton poured everything into the Clover Creek Inn. By opening weekend she was solid booked and had one dead guest by morning.
Nobody mourns Clifton Hale. He arrived late. Handed her his bags like she was the bellhop. Sizing up the inn like he planned a hostile takeover.
Maggie bought this place to bake and read mysteries. Not investigate murder. But her sharp-eyed Sheltie, Biscuit, knew better. At 5:30, Biscuit was crouching outside the Morning Room. Her nose pressed flat to the gap under the door. Dead still. Inside, Clifton Hale was face-down on the Persian rug. He wouldn't be making it to breakfast.
Now Maggie has a full house and not one guest willing to blink first.
Three guests. Three Pauline Marsh, the lawyer who slipped a note under his door. Ned Whitmore, the contractor whose truck was on the side road. Sylvia Crane, who asked very subtle which room Clifton was in.
If she can't catch the killer, Clover Creek won't be Maggie's fresh start. It'll be her last stop.
Maggie Thornton poured everything into the Clover Creek Inn. By opening weekend she was solid booked and had one dead guest by morning.
Nobody mourns Clifton Hale. He arrived late. Handed her his bags like she was the bellhop. Sizing up the inn like he planned a hostile takeover.
Maggie bought this place to bake and read mysteries. Not investigate murder. But her sharp-eyed Sheltie, Biscuit, knew better. At 5:30, Biscuit was crouching outside the Morning Room. Her nose pressed flat to the gap under the door. Dead still. Inside, Clifton Hale was face-down on the Persian rug. He wouldn't be making it to breakfast.
Now Maggie has a full house and not one guest willing to blink first.
Three guests. Three Pauline Marsh, the lawyer who slipped a note under his door. Ned Whitmore, the contractor whose truck was on the side road. Sylvia Crane, who asked very subtle which room Clifton was in.
If she can't catch the killer, Clover Creek won't be Maggie's fresh start. It'll be her last stop.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 26, 2026
I just finished reading Morning Room Murder. This is the second book in a series. I didn't read the first one but I don't think it affected my enjoyment of this book.I enjoyed the story featuring an innkeeper who helps to solve the murder of an unpopular guest at her inn. She's able to elicit confidences and information from her guests by sitting calmly and having tea with her guests.
Her sheltie seems to point the way to clues by sitting places where someone should investigate. The information gathered from people, as well as her sheltie's direction, helps her to solve the murder. I question the quietness of her sheltie since we own one who almost always has a lot to say.
Her sheltie seems to point the way to clues by sitting places where someone should investigate. The information gathered from people, as well as her sheltie's direction, helps her to solve the murder. I question the quietness of her sheltie since we own one who almost always has a lot to say.
July 20, 2026
Maggie Thornton is just having the Grand Reopening of Clover Creek Inn. The building has been done and the food was ready. The first customers where coming and signing in. One person made a big deal about being late, making Maggie carry his bags, and basically said world here I am worship me. During the first night someone decided that he wasn't going to go beyond his first night and Biscuit found him at 5:30 in the morning room dead. Maggie really wasn't ready for that kind of attention for the first night, but decided she was going to help Cole and Travis, the police officers, figure out why it happened. Boy did they find a lot of why. Great story, fast reading figuring out the bad guy.
I received an arc and this is my review.
I received an arc and this is my review.
July 22, 2026
Quick Fast Mystery
Maggie and Biscuit are back on a full length mystery. This is good mystery, with in interesting plot line. Likable characters,especially Biscuit…
Maggie and Biscuit are back on a full length mystery. This is good mystery, with in interesting plot line. Likable characters,especially Biscuit…
July 18, 2026
Hard to put down!
Love these adventures and the way the book is written. I started reading and didn’t want to put it down until I got to the end. So easy to keep up because there are not many characters like so many other books I have read. Can not wait to read the next book in this series
Love these adventures and the way the book is written. I started reading and didn’t want to put it down until I got to the end. So easy to keep up because there are not many characters like so many other books I have read. Can not wait to read the next book in this series
October 16, 2026
The books are well written and the mystery is interesting. I just found myself getting bored and skipping through several pages. The book is overly wordy without really adding much to the plot. The characters didn’t engage me. I struggled to understand why the innkeeper was involved. At least in this book, she let the detectives do their jobs. For the most part, till she had that too stupid to live moment near the end.
There’s an overarching plot point. It seems to be the exact same one that is central to many cozies lately. I suspect that’s one of the reasons I found myself getting bored.
I was confused by Delia, I thought she owned a bakery? Why is she the morning cook and not working her bakery? Towards the end, something is said about an expansion? But nothing is really explained.
Where did the detective sergeant come from? Why wasn’t he there in the prequel to help the inexperienced deputy? So confusing.
Also, from the prequel. She sold her inn. Retired from being an inn keeper and the responsibilities. Burnt out, etc. Now she’s bought an inn. The prequel was 30 pages. Seriously, continuity shouldn’t be an issue. I don’t understand not explaining why she changed her mind. Why Delia isn’t working at her bakery.
There’s an overarching plot point. It seems to be the exact same one that is central to many cozies lately. I suspect that’s one of the reasons I found myself getting bored.
I was confused by Delia, I thought she owned a bakery? Why is she the morning cook and not working her bakery? Towards the end, something is said about an expansion? But nothing is really explained.
Where did the detective sergeant come from? Why wasn’t he there in the prequel to help the inexperienced deputy? So confusing.
Also, from the prequel. She sold her inn. Retired from being an inn keeper and the responsibilities. Burnt out, etc. Now she’s bought an inn. The prequel was 30 pages. Seriously, continuity shouldn’t be an issue. I don’t understand not explaining why she changed her mind. Why Delia isn’t working at her bakery.
August 5, 2026
Maggie Thornton poured everything into the renovation of the Clover Creek Inn.
Maggie bought this place to bake and read mysteries, but her plans were not to be as her sharp-eyed Sheltie, Biscuit, knew. At 5:30, Biscuit was crouching outside the Morning Room. Her nose pressed flat to the gap under the door. He wasn't anyone's favorite and it didn't take long for Maggie to decide she was going to help Cole and Travis, the police officers, figure out what and why it happened.
It moves pretty rapidly, with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.
This is my first by this author, but I will be looking for the next in the series.
I highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Maggie bought this place to bake and read mysteries, but her plans were not to be as her sharp-eyed Sheltie, Biscuit, knew. At 5:30, Biscuit was crouching outside the Morning Room. Her nose pressed flat to the gap under the door. He wasn't anyone's favorite and it didn't take long for Maggie to decide she was going to help Cole and Travis, the police officers, figure out what and why it happened.
It moves pretty rapidly, with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.
This is my first by this author, but I will be looking for the next in the series.
I highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 19, 2026
Morning Room Murder is a Superb story and series about Maggie Thornton an Inn Keeper and a very clever sleuthing dog Biscuit. Maggie has just re-opened the Inn after it was refurbished. Biscuit lead Maggie early one morning to the morning room and they found one of the guests dead. She called Deputy Travis Howell and he came to investigate with Detective Sergeant Cole Whitfield. Maggie also looks for clues in the Inn and helps Cole and Travis. But what will be uncovered and can they discover the truth?
I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that you read this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that you read this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 28, 2026
Morning Room Murder was a fast-paced, enjoyable cozy read. Ava Keene is a new author for me, but I look forward to reading more of her books. This cozy is well-written with well-developed characters who feel like people you already know. Maggie is looking forward to welcoming her guests for the grand reopening of the Clover Creek Inn. Everything seems to be going as planned until a guest is found murdered by Maggie and Biscuit, her dog, in the morning room. Pick up your copy to discover how Maggie assists the police in solving the mystery.
Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
July 25, 2026
What a wonderful book! I enjoyed from the first sentence. The writing was clever, the mystery excellent, Maggie and Biscuit awesome. I just got the prequel and must start it NOW!!! May come back for more review later, but definitely 5 glorious stars!!!!
Absolutely loved it, so good I read it twice!
Absolutely loved it, so good I read it twice!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews