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Henry and Emily Fox are jolted from their peaceful semi-retirement in the idyllic community of Sugarbury Falls, Vermont when Emily discovers a dead body during her morning run. As if the discovery isn’t shocking in itself, Emily learns the dead body has a connection to the adult summer writing camp she is about to start teaching. With no apparent cause of death, Henry’s buddy, the coroner, suspects foul play. Neither Dr. Henry, nor former reporter Emily can resist solving a puzzle. As they work to solve the mystery, they discover an intricate web of relationships and motives involving the writers in Emily’s class. Along the way, they are confronted with a profound, life changing decision. Follow A Deadly Course through the first book in the Sugarbury Falls mystery series and see if Emily and Henry make it safely to the end.

189 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2016

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766 people want to read

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Diane Weiner

45 books279 followers

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5 stars
323 (47%)
4 stars
213 (31%)
3 stars
107 (15%)
2 stars
28 (4%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Christi M.
345 reviews86 followers
December 27, 2021
First, I want to say I enjoyed this book, but there were a few things that weighed it down while I was reading it, which is how I came to give it 2 stars.

Sometimes when I read a book it starts dragging or slows down somewhere in the middle. As a reader I will wish there was some action or additional subplot to catch my attention and speed things up. But that is not the case with this story. One of the things I kept wishing for or wanting in the story was for it to slow down. The author has carefully crafted her plot, her victim(s), her suspects, her locations, but I felt that we went from point to point too fast. However, it got me to thinking that perhaps it wasn't too fast, but instead there wasn't enough prose or breathing room between plot points. Leading me to then think that what I felt it needed was better transitions, although I still would like some room to breathe and think between plot moments.

With that being said, I found the additional character of Maddie a welcome addition to the story. Once she came into their lives, the mystery solving slowed down a bit and we got to breathe a little as this new development outside of the mystery occurred. I also appreciated the willingness of the main characters to open their hearts and lives to Maddie.

One of the things to like about the 2 main characters is how they work together to solve the mystery and help out the police. However, while I enjoyed their sleuthing I wasn't as keen on how they would immediately go back to the widow and ask or bring up questions that they really shouldn't even know or had any business asking about. Sometimes they brought a question up with a bit of stealth - those times were fine. But other times it felt like such a bold question that I wondered why the widow didn't get upset with them. I also had a difficult time when Henry divulged private patient information to his wife immediately upon coming home. I knew he was going to do it, but it still bothered me nonetheless.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and the story. Never once did any of these issues stop me from wanting to read it. But with a few additional tweaks, I think the next stories will be even better.

I won this in a GoodReads Giveaway and this is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Jettiep Parrish.
285 reviews
August 16, 2020
Good reading

I thought about halfway through the book that I had it figured out and I at least part of it right. Well written and she followed the rules of adding something new to keep it interesting.
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,246 reviews134 followers
September 4, 2016
I am a huge fan of this author and her other series featuring Susan Wiles.
When she asked me if I wanted to read and review A Deadly Course, A Sugarbury Falls Mystery, I couldn't say yes fast enough.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sugarbury Falls, Vermont is the idyllic setting for this first in a new series by one of my favorite authors, Diane Weiner.
Emily and Henry Fox have retired to Sugarbury Falls and enjoy the peace and quiet their little town offers. Emily and Henry, however, aren't ones to sit and do nothing, so Emily is teaching at the local college and Henry, a retired radiologist, is working at the hospital.
Emily is excited to be teaching a summer camp class about writing and she is looking forward to meeting her students.
While out for a morning run, Emily notices a strange form over the Rocky edge of her path. As she nears, she discovers it's a body, one that may not have survived the fall.

When Emily finds out the dead man was one of her students, and that he was murdered, Emily and Henry work together to uncover the motivation behind his death. Who wanted him dead and who had the opportunity to kill him without a trace of evidence left behind?

Emily and Henry are kept busy we the investigation until a letter arrives and the information enclosed has the ability to change the course of their lives forever.

This first in a new series was phenomenal. The setting, the characters, the plot and story were told in such a natural way that I felt I was in Sugarbury Falls with them.
The author spun a tale of lies, deceit, greed and revenge that will keep you reading from the very first chapter.

Anyone who loves cozy mysteries should read this wonderful story. I can't wait to read more!
Profile Image for _sassy_39.
2,669 reviews164 followers
July 8, 2021
"A Deadly Course: A Sugarbury Falls Mystery" penned by the author Diane Weiner is a captivating story. Story is set in Sugarbury Falls, Vermont. Main characters of the story are Emily Fox and her husband Henry both in their mid-fifties. When Emily was on her morning run, she saw a biker lying over the side of the ravine. Emily called 911. Soon the police officers reached the scene.

When Henry got to know about the dead biker, he told Emily that they are suspecting it as a murder. Emily has started a new job as an instructor for six adults at the writing camp. The adults at the camp are quite fascinated by Emily's work as an author. Emily found out that Carter, a dead biker was registered for the workshop with his wife Holly and his business associates. Emily and Henry is curious to find the cause of biker's death. Grab a copy of this book to unveil what happens next.

This is a gripping story. It kept me on the edge the whole time. I wasn't able to put this book down. Cover photo is nice and title is suitable. If you love reading stories with suspense then go ahead with this one. Author's writing style is nice. Henry and Emily's characters are my favorite. I am looking forward to read more books by the author.
170 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2021
Great glimpse into a writer's life

Emily is an educator, famous author, wife, murder sleuthing lady, and guardian to a grieving teenager. This lady can do it all. This cozy mystery keeps you riveted to the pages, turning furiously to see what happens next. Excellent first book in series!
1,064 reviews4 followers
September 14, 2017
Great reaf

I'm sooo glad I found Diane Weiner's books and A Deadly Course is a great start to a series that I'm looking forward to the next book
12.8k reviews191 followers
February 14, 2022
A delightful short mystery story. Emily and Henry just want to enjoy semi retirement. Solving a murder isn’t part of that. Suspenseful all the way to the end.
345 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2019
Good five star!

I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to everyone who enjoys reading a good mystery book.This is the first book in a new mystery series my Diane Weiner. Looks like it will be an interesting series.
Profile Image for Paula Justus.
11 reviews
August 3, 2020
Love this series. I enjoyed the Susan Wiles schoolhouse mysteries so love how this series is an extension of characters that were introduced with that series. Fun, enjoyable read love to pick up on the clues as you solve the mystery along with the characters.
Profile Image for Alice Vaughn.
130 reviews
January 2, 2019
Grand book!

While browsing through the store I found this gem! This is very well written, fast paced and lots of stuff going on. I was quite entertained and will be looking for this author again.
Profile Image for Lynn Dawson.
15 reviews
January 2, 2019
A Learning Leason

This book has a great homey feel about it. The story keeps you guessing and has a surprising culprit. I would love to live here
Profile Image for C Janet .
432 reviews
March 29, 2020
Easy read

Finding a dead body while running is startling. Emily Fox who is also teaching a writing camp is shocked to find out this murder has a connection to this course. Her husband Henry who is a doctor and Emily a former reporter have their work cut out for them when the coroner can’t discover a cause of death.
This was a quick read. It is also the first book in the Sugarbury Falls mystery series.
706 reviews2 followers
July 24, 2019
GREAT BOOK!!!!

10++++ stars!!!!
Wow, I love this new author's book. I love the characters and the setting of Sugarbury Falls.
The story line is great, Emily, Henry her husband and Maddy the new addition to her family is a great way to start a new chapter in their lives around all the drama with their writing class.
And the suspects are adding up with good motives, but which ones, Emily and Henry which is an emergency room doctor.
The police detective Wooster and O'Leary did an outstanding job getting to the bottom of some of the drama with a lot of Emily and Henry with a little of Maddy's help.
You will love this first book in the series, get busy and read this book!!!!
Profile Image for Diana.
476 reviews12 followers
July 21, 2019
Silverberg Falls mystery

Emily Cox is teaching a summer writing class at the local school. While on her daily run she discovers a body in the ravine close to her home. When she learns the victim is one of her students, Emily knows she will have to investigate.
The victim turns out to be a software mogul and a lot more involved with the other students in her class. Emily and her husband Henry starts looking into backgrounds to try find a suspect for the murder.
Another whodunit set in the little town of Sugarberry Falls, Vermont. This story keeps you guessing from beginning to end.
43 reviews
July 28, 2020
What is happening?

This book keeps mystery going. Actually more than one mystery. You need to pay attention or
you might forget a twist or turn.
11 reviews
January 12, 2020
Murders in a peaceful place

The story had a good flow but for a writer interested in true crime, she apparently missed a few important clues.
49 reviews1 follower
June 26, 2021
A pretty good story

I. Enjoyed reading this one. It kept my attention and stayed within the storyline, meaning no sexual content. Jyst a good story. I'm ready to read book two.
Profile Image for Julie Howard.
Author 2 books33 followers
May 4, 2021
I really loved this book. I started with book three but enjoyed it so much I just had to go back to the beginning and find out what I had missed but don't worry the author is skilled enough that reading them out of order doesn't matter, as each book is a stand alone mystery. The characters were interesting, I especially liked that they had to buy a guild to coping with teenagers when they ended up adopting one, it added a fun aspect to the family life part of the story. The fact that Emily is a writer and met the suspects by offering interesting writing classes is a unusual occupation for the main character but I really liked it as it gave her plenty of opportunities to get information and question them. The author obviously put in a lot of planning to come up with the different sub plots and weaves them well. As for the mystery there was plenty of suspects to keep you guessing and I ended up coming up with the wrong suspect. Looking forward to the next visit at Sugarbury Falls with the Fox family.
Over the course of the summer Emily is offering writing course to would be authors but when she is out jogging and stumbles over a body she has no idea that the dead biker would turn out to be one of her students. His wife and business partner is also attending the course. With the police at a loss as to how the man died Henry, Emily's husband and a doctor at the hospital joins Emily in her investigation to work out how he died and more importantly who killed him. At the same time Emily gets news that her college roommate has died and has left Emily the soul custody of her teenage daughter. Then Emily's prime suspect in the first murder is found dead and Emily fears for her new daughters safety especially as the teenager seems to be bonding with the murdered man's young son. Is she in danger? and is the two deaths connected? Can Emily concentrate on teaching her students and find a killer at the same time?
I liked the narrator as she gave each character there own voice bring the story to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
5 reviews
March 9, 2021
A Deadly Course is the first book in the Surgarbury Falls series.  I listened to this book as an audiobook on Audible and found the story to be well written, entertaining to the listen to, and full of mystery.  This book keeps the reader on their toes, trying to solve the mystery until the very end.  I would definitely recommend.  Looking forward to listening to the second book in this series on Audible.
Profile Image for Melva Clark.
401 reviews23 followers
October 7, 2021
Fun

This book is a quick read when you are craving a mystery that you can solve yourself. Emily and her family are likable and relatable.
Profile Image for Janalyn, the blind reviewer.
4,758 reviews145 followers
May 24, 2020
This is the first book in the this is the first book in the series and I just want to say this couple is my favorite. I love the way they talk to each other, because I find in books a lot of characters do not talk to each other the way normal people speak to each other but Henry and Emily do. This was a great book that I totally recommend to any mystery fan somethings were just made for fun and I just funny!
3 reviews
February 21, 2021
Great read

Loved the story it kept me In Suspense the hole time I was reading it didn’t expect the ending to be one of her students in the writing class
Profile Image for Jeanette Hurrelbrink.
415 reviews7 followers
May 17, 2020
A Deadly Course

The first novel in a new series. This author has a way of introducing a large group of characters. She then eliminates each suspect while weaving a fascinating story.
516 reviews4 followers
November 28, 2020
Good

I really enjoy reading this author's writing style. This is a good mystery with several different twists and murder. The professor and her doctor husband work with police to solve the mysteries. Will read more of this author' book.s
7,800 reviews51 followers
May 5, 2021
Emily finding a student in her summer writing class dead on a morning walk, is caused enough to investigate. He was a software mogul, was there more to that. Solving murder, an author keeps her busy. Good narration added to this enjoyable story . Given audio also for my voluntary review ,



Profile Image for Tess Ailshire.
814 reviews3 followers
August 16, 2024
In general, this was a good story. I gave it a 4, though 3.5 is more likely. There are several typos in my edition, which should have been caught in proofreading.

There is a comment from one of the participants in the writing workshop - either the girl from NC or the one from San Diego - about not being able to take the heat. In Vermont? Not credible.

Franklin has done time in prison - not jail. That implies more than one year, and thus 99.99% likely to have been for a felony. Felon's rights are not automatically restored on release, so he would not have been able to buy a gun without a boatload of work that should have been mentioned. So the whole "Franklin owns a gun even though he can't produce it" is not credible.

I found it quite easy to determine who the killer was, so there wasn't a lot of mystery.

I did *not* find it easy to believe Emily and Hank take i a 14-year-old who has just lost her mother, been moved across the country to someone she likely doesn't know *at all* (since Emily and Fiona had lost touch) and have no behavioral issues. Not likely. There was a great opportunity for conflict in the story (something Emily teaches about), but it just doesn't happen.

Still, it was an enjoyable read.
2,070 reviews
Read
November 12, 2024
Another book with the overused plot device of amateurs trying to solve a murder without being directly involved in the case. Endless speculation creates endless boredom!

Amazon synopsis:
Henry and Emily Fox are jolted from their peaceful semi-retirement in the idyllic community of Sugarbury Falls, Vermont when Emily discovers a dead body during her morning run. As if the discovery isn’t shocking in itself, Emily learns the dead body has a connection to the adult summer writing camp she is about to start teaching. With no apparent cause of death, Henry’s buddy, the coroner, suspects foul play. Neither Dr. Henry, nor former reporter Emily can resist solving a puzzle. As they work to solve the mystery, they discover an intricate web of relationships and motives involving the writers in Emily’s class. Along the way, they are confronted with a profound, life-changing decision. Follow A Deadly Course through the first book in the Sugarbury Falls mystery series and see if Emily and Henry make it safely to the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mary Cokenour.
477 reviews6 followers
March 17, 2024
Main character Emily teaches writing classes. For the summer, she has a small class and with the students writing some type of mystery. Very similar to an episode of Murder, She Wrote. Her husband is a retired radiologist, but does part-time work in the local hospital's emergency room.

Now I won't outline the story, that's what the "back cover" info. does, and it does read smoothly and fast. However, my main problem is the main couple themselves. They are so "WOKE", that they annoy me to no ends. They are also very "perfect"; never argue or fight, always agree or willing to compromise, and do "police work" as if they've been on the force, but when into private investigating as a side line.

So, 2 stars for story concept and written smoothly, but disliking the main characters means I will not consider going on with the series. When a reader hopes the murderer does away with main characters, there is no point in continuing.
104 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2020
I always hated summer camp, but writer's camp for adults sounded like fun. It's actually more fun to read about it. At this camp, murders happen, something I've tried to avoid in real life, admittedly not always successfully. My then teenager daughter once asked me how many murderers I've known. I started counting on my fingers.

You should have seen the look on my husband's face when I answered, "Only six." I realized that it probably was not the right answer to reassure a child as soon as I said it.

Emily and Henry face a similar problem after adopting the adolescent daughter of Emily's college room mate. She died, since years ago she'd agreed to it, and there's no one else to take her, they reach out to take her in. Kids don't take kindly to murders around them. So Emily had no chance at coming up with the right approach. Fortunately, kids are stronger than we think.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the wonderful characters, and the well crafted, well written plot. I was up half the night trying to finish the book, and for once, I didn't see it coming. Good thing that thanks to Kindle, I don't need to put on the overhead light. My husband and the beagle would have kicked me out of the room.

I'm not sure I'll ever get to Sugarbury Falls, but I'm planning on reading the rest of the series. Probably a lot safer that way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews