Death of a Dapper Snowman

Stormy Day Mystery #1

by Angela Pepper, C.S.E. Cooney (Narrator)

Listening Length: 7 hours and 26 minutes

Gift shop owner Stormy Day is settling into her new life until she comes across a frozen body, hidden inside a well-dressed snowman.

When her own father is implicated in the murder, Stormy must chase down clues and uncover the town's secrets herself.

As she draws closer to identifying the killer, Stormy's own life may be in danger. That is unless Jeffrey, the mischievous Russian Blue cat who led her to the icy body in the first place, can flick his sleek gray tail at the final piece in the puzzle.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Christmas, Ebooks, Humor

Audible Audio

First published November 1, 2014

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Angela Pepper lives with her family in the rainy Pacific Northwest, surrounded by spoiled kitties, deer, raccoons, and the biggest woodpeckers you've ever seen.

Reviews

[Linda Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good cozy for seasonal reading. It’s fast-paced, and the protagonist, Stormy, is an interesting character. I like the cat, Jeffrey, and hope to see him in future books.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am surprised to see that this book has such high ratings. It started out to be cute but devolved into a case accusing in order to finally discover who did the dirty deed. I thought this was a good choice since I was snowed in, but just like the weather it soon got to be too much.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulously fun read full of quirky wit. Extremely well written with characters you can't help but love. A new series and author for me and one I'll definitely be reading more of!

[C.]

Could not finish. Did not find it at all engaging. Too BORING!

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While trying to recapture a runaway cat, Stormy Day finds a frozen corpse packed inside a snowman and decides to investigate.

What follows is a delightful murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns.

[Richard White · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book because it was free. It's absolutely the WORST book I've ever read cover to cover. It's written like a bad children's book, with weird adult themes sprinkled in. Repetitive and predictable, reading this book made me realize that anything can get published these days. Dear Lord, there's even sequels. Avoid at all costs, unless you're one of those people that like to read/watch terrible things like B-movies. Augh!

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this book. I love the how witty Stormy is and her interaction/conversations with her new found cat Jeffrey cracks me up. I did figure out the killer early on but still enjoyed watching the story unfold. I will definitely continue the series.

[Kerry sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a free book from www.bookbub.com. I really liked this, I will admit I knew who didn't right from chapter 3 but I still enjoyed it. I loved the conversations with the cat, mainly because I talk to my cat as if she is a person too. I enjoyed meeting all the diverse people in the town. The journey to find the killer was interesting and at times exciting. We were given lots of red herrings and logs of small town gossip which was one in the same. As the opener to a series it was great as we got to know all the movers and shakers, I will be reading the next book in the series soon.

[Kelcy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ah, I am typically very lenient with ratings. This could be because I'm sort of in a cozy slump...but I could not get into this. DNF'd a little over halfway through....which is surprising because there were a number of good reviews. Did not really care for Stormy or any of the characters really. The story itself was just OK but I was struggling to get through. Maybe in the future Ill pick it up again but probably not any time soon.
Not necessarily telling anyone to not give this a chance, just saying this wasn't for me!

[Nerdish Mum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omgoodness I really enjoyed this book. The main character is so sassy and her relationship with Mr Jeffery Blue the cat is absolutely adorable. It was a light hearted, quick and easy read and I will definitely be picking up the next books. I thought the plot was really good and I was that distracted that I didn't guess who the killer was until about three seconds before Stormy did! If you like your crime mystery with a bit of humour then this book is definitely for you!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Stormy Day and her adventures trying to figure out who murdered Mr Michael. Lovely characters in the small town of Misty Falls. The cat friend was enjoyable too. All around good cozy mystery.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can we please have a mystery where in the first few chapters, the heroine is NOT shown to be the only woman with her shit together? Please!

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't have high expectations as I picked the whole series up as an almost freebie (5 books for $0.99 total), but it was quite entertaining actually.

[Aoibheann · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆


Please find a more extensive and full review on my blog here


SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Stormy Day returns to her home-town of Misty Falls after cashing in and leaving her boyfriend. Minding her father's house as he is in hospital, Stormy tries to blend in to avoid being gossiped about. After spotting a "Dapper Snowman" in her neighbour's garden, she opts to take a selfie- but discovers more than she ever imagined.

Her neighbour is the frozen body acting as the snowman's skeleton, and Stormy is thrown in to the mystery behind the murder. Opting to undertake her own investigations when her father is a suspect, Stormy does her own digging to try and pin the murder on different citizens of the town.

Soon though, Stormy realises she has gone too far in her questions, and has put herself right in the line of the murderer.


My Thoughts:

When I began this novel, it wasn't looking like I'd complete it. It definitely has a poor start and doesn't really hook you. However, it does improve and I am happy to say I easily finished it and mostly have pleasant things to say.

Show Not Tell: Right, this annoyed me immensely. The author was insulting to the reader by presuming we could work nothing out for ourselves- so much so we had to be told the main character was sarcastic and witty...

"I wouldn't call myself a snarky person, because I never mean to be cruel, but I do serve up a number of sarcastic quips each day. Whenever people are being ridiculous, my instinct is to make a joke and break the tension."

The reader does not need to be told this- this isn't something you'd say if you were introducing yourself. I know I'm fluent in sarcasm, but I can't help it and often bite my tongue, but it wouldn't be something I'd say on PAGE 2!!!!! of anything about me. Every minor joke or attempt at humour basically had a big luminous arrow with "LOOK- A JOKE! FIND IT FUNNY AND LAUGH!!!!" making me just hate the character and not find it remotely funny. Humour is prime with its subtlety - treat your reader as if they have a half a brain, thanks.

" 'Is your cat broken?' She laughed at her joke, then quickly added, 'Just a little veterinary assistant humour to lighten the mood for kitty.'"

Characters: I didn't think the characters were really thought out or developed much. Stormy was all over the place; didn't feel like I could predict her actions or replies and it seemed like she was just constructed with the flow of the novel rather than properly figured out prior to writing. And Logan? Why was he in the vets when he first met Stormy? He was renting and there was no mention of any pet? And there was no chemistry what-so-ever between them. None. Nada. Zilch. No romance and yet she was oh so overwhelmed by him that she couldn't return to her home in case he saw her but she spied on him through his window... whatever.




So, as for the redeeming features of this novel?

I need to judge it for what it actually is and not be too harsh. It's a light-hearted cozy mystery that probably is trying too hard to be humorous. It is an easy read and not really anything that memorable but does a good job of breaking up the reading of heavier novels.


Overall:

I was going to give this two stars but that'd be rather harsh so it reasonably deserves three. I know I can be quite mean at times with certain aspects but only as I have pet peeves about particular things. I'd still recommend this as a good easy read for escape purposes - but not really funny.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Death of a Dapper Snowman” earns 4/5 Sinister Snowmen!

Stormy Day has returned home to Misty Falls, Oregon, excited about her new house and new business, but not the town gossip and seeing old friends. She is keeping an eye on her dad, who after an injury, has a live-in girlfriend/caregiver. She is not one of Stormy’s favorite people, as she barges into the shop shouting complaints and demands Stormy drop everything to find her cat. Stormy grits her teeth and sets off in the wintery snow to finding the Russian Blue ball of mischief in the neighbor’s yard sitting on top of a front yard snowman. The bribes of tasty treats serve to coerce the cat into the pet carrier, but dislodges the snowman’s head. It falls, and uncovers the body of grumpy Murray Michaels.

Stormy has more than once helped her father with some ‘snooping,’ so she does have the skill set to ask probing questions. She starts as a witness, but decides when her father is thought to be a ‘person of interest,’ she needs to actively pursue her own investigation. She discovers shoplifters and snoops, old friends with gossip, and lots of secrets to sort out. Although the investigation puts Stormy on everyone’s radar, she does find her new tenant, the hunky lawyer, a very interesting sight.

This is the first book of the Stormy Day Mystery series and a great way to introduce some delightful characters and an entertaining mystery. Stormy, not thrilled with her parents’ humor in naming her, is an independent and strong character whose reputation of exacting justice against school bullies has everyone whispering about her return home. Her sidekick Jeffery Blue, a Russian Blue cat, is fun offering that helpful ear and encouraging ‘meow’ for her to sort through her feelings about being back home and whether romance is a possibility, along with going over all of the various suspects and scenarios. It is an easy read with some twists that make you question whether you figured out the motive and the killer. The writing is entertaining, but I thought the final solution was a bit too simplistic. However, I am interested in continuing to read the series currently with four books.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star rating: 4 Stars

After moving back home to Misty Falls Oregon, Stormy Day is still acclimating back into the routine of small town life. Just as she's starting to feel as if moving back home wasn't a mistake, she discovers the dead body of her childhood neighbor frozen inside a snowman. With her father as the prime suspect, Stormy will do whatever it takes to get him off the hook and find the real killer before its too late.

This book was such a hoot! Stormy is an independent, strong-willed woman who knows exactly what she wants out of life and is willing to stick to her guns just to get it. I really admired those traits in her and found myself rooting her on as she investigated her way through each developing plot twist. While there were a few spots in the story line that were a little rough, overall it was a great start to a brand new cozy mystery series. I can't wait to pick up the next novel and read all about Stormy (and Jeffrey Blues) next adventure!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great fun cozy mystery

I really loved getting to know Stormy Day and her family. This is the first of a series of books. Angel Pepper made her character fun, witty and very smart. She has a great way with the people in the community and the local cats. Jeffrey Blue was certainly a favorite in this book. He was perfectly wonderful.

Stormy bought an investment home that she shares one side with a new lawyer in town. His name is Logan Sanderson. She is new to the Landlord role and so it sometimes makes her stressed. She shares her side of the house with her friend Jessica. She is funny in the way she handles money with Jessica. As I said this book has a lot of humor.

I can't wait to read more of this series.

[Namitha Varma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, fun read - nothing extraordinary about the narrative or writing style. The story was decent - better than some I've read recently. The characterisation is good, though I didn't think the protagonist Stormy Day was funny or witty.

[Britney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out slow & unentertaining, but picked up in the middle. I got a chuckle out of the names Stormy & Sunny Day. Sisters who dad decided it would be cute to name them that since their last name is day.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good cozy mystery. Stormy finds the man that lives next door to her dad dead. Of course at first she becomes a suspect. As the book progresses we learn more about the guy. It's not surprising someone wanted him dead. I just was surprised by the who. I did enjoy these characters and look forward to reading more.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mystery has poor writing, a cat, a killer with lame motive, and a protagonist that doesn't work her job.

First sentence: I was hiding in the back office of my new gift shop when I overheard a woman harassing my staff.

What I liked:
Protagonist does not use a gun because she doesn't know how.
Talking to the cat was endearing

What I did not like:
The writing was very immature, felt like it was written by a teen.
The main character's job is that she owns a store... but she doesn't work there at all! Then she repeatedly comments that she is a hard worker, very focused, good at business, but then indicates that she has time on her hands. Real business (especially storefront) owners spend a lot of their time (especially in the first months) at their work. If the author wanted the character to have lots of free time, just make her not have a job yet- she's only been in town a month, that's far more realistic than being a business owner that's never working.
The "motivation" for the killer did not seem like enough to commit the crime or much of the other actions described in the last few chapters. Just didn't make sense.
Actually, most of the characters (protagonist, "best" friend, father's girlfriend) did not make sense as adults
Small bit that really irked me: The illustration on the cover doesn't match the constant description of the main character having a pixie cut hairstyle.

[Tulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny murder mystery.

Characters were very likable, even the cat named Jeffery. Even during the tense moments Stormy always had something funny to say. Really enjoyed this book and will read more from this series.

[Rene Crowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great holiday read

This was the perfect book for that quick holiday read. Stormy was very entertaining. Hope to see more of the lady's in the tea room.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really fun! Loved the interaction between sassy Stormy and her father, Finn. A possible love interest or two and Stormy solving murders makes for a fun read.

[Rae (Bookmark Chronicles) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot....... TRASH😒
Characters..........TRASH
Writing..............TRASH

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book for so long that I finally read it and was wishing I'd read it sooner, it was so good! I fell in love with the sweet little Russian Blue cat that worked his way into Stormy Day's heart. Stormy herself underwent some good changes as the book went on. She'd come to her hometown and was kind of curmudgeonly, and at only mid-thirties it wasn't such a good thing. I did love her crazy sense of humor and banter she engaged in with her dad and officer Tony Marino, a childhood hero who was always like a big brother, sarcasm included.

I had an idea of who the killer was eventually but not the reason. The murder itself was well explained, and the showdown was great! I loved that Stormy planned out her actions a little more than some sleuths, although she did have her share of crazy spontaneous moves. It was pretty funny that the guy who rented her duplex had actually met her but had no idea she was his landlady. It'll be interesting to read more in the series (and I definitely plan to do that, I really like these characters a lot!) and see how Stormy and Logan get along as well as Stormy and her new bestie. Her dad was pretty funny too, and I hope he's in the next books.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stormy Day has returned to Misty Falls and right into a murder. She finds her neighbor buried in a snowman and takes it upon herself to solve the mystery. Since her dad was a cop and she helped him out sometimes when she was a kid, she figures she'll be good at it. She actually is pretty good at it and gets to know her neighbors in the community while she's at it. She also learns a lot about a couple of new girls in town and a handsome lawyer who has just rented out the other half of her house.
This was a cute cozy mystery with humor and great characters. Stormy is a bit flaky at times, but she gets the job done. I also found her to be very quick to judge people. It may be because of her previous line of work, but it got tedious. She was a very successful business woman, but she doesn't think about things very well. The residents of Misty Falls are a great bunch of people that I hope we learn more about in the upcoming books. There are so many stories there.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cozy little mystery. Although I was able to have my suspension about the killer, but I didnt think I would turn out to be right. Especially considering the reasoning on why the killer did it. Kind of childish if you ask me. Thank gosh Stormy was there to protect her father and her town even though she stupidly put herself in harm countless times.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This takes place at Christmastime in Oregon. The story involves a snowman, a cat, neighbors, family, theft, and murder. The tea room was a fun spot, and I think that was the best part of the story. The mystery was okay. It would have been better if it had ended differently. I liked the town and characters enough to continue with the series.

[izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death of a dapper snowman is about stormy Day who returned to mist falls after several years.
Only to find a body inside a snowman
Her father who is in the hospital for hip surgery is a suspect
She needs to find the killer before her father's reputation is stained and also she had help which is a cat called Jeffery Blue