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Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery #1
Bearly Departed
The Silver Bear Shop and Factory might be the cutest place around, but there’s nothing warm and fuzzy about murder . . .
As manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory, thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well, except for the part about being a single divorcée with a ticking biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that’s just kid’s stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who’s set on making drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch—with or without Sasha’s approval . . .
But before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from shock, Sasha’s hit with more bad news—police suspect her hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle would never do such a thing, and she’s launching her own little investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will’s biggest rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can’t get too comfy—or she’ll become the next plaything for a killer . . .
As manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory, thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well, except for the part about being a single divorcée with a ticking biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that’s just kid’s stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who’s set on making drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch—with or without Sasha’s approval . . .
But before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from shock, Sasha’s hit with more bad news—police suspect her hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle would never do such a thing, and she’s launching her own little investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will’s biggest rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can’t get too comfy—or she’ll become the next plaything for a killer . . .
293 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2017
109 people are currently reading
1774 people want to read
About the author
Meg Macy
11 books345 followersNational bestselling author Meg Macy is a reader first and foremost. She’s always found comfort, adventure, and connection in books—which might explain why she now writes stories that offer all three.
Best known for her Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series (Kensington), several Christmas romance novellas with rescue pets, and as one-half of D.E. Ireland, the Agatha Award-nominated duo behind the Eliza Doolittle and Professor Higgins mysteries, Meg has long embraced the cozy end of fiction.
Now, she’s rewriting the rules with a new direction: LGBTQA+ romantic suspense—queer characters in a cozy setting with spice, intrigue, and plenty of emotional payoff. M/M or M/F, traditional or trailblazing, her stories are comfort reads with a twist.
Unique? Yep. Meg loves breaking the rules. She lives with her writing companion, Mr. Whiskers the cat, and prefers pages to parties any day.
Best known for her Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series (Kensington), several Christmas romance novellas with rescue pets, and as one-half of D.E. Ireland, the Agatha Award-nominated duo behind the Eliza Doolittle and Professor Higgins mysteries, Meg has long embraced the cozy end of fiction.
Now, she’s rewriting the rules with a new direction: LGBTQA+ romantic suspense—queer characters in a cozy setting with spice, intrigue, and plenty of emotional payoff. M/M or M/F, traditional or trailblazing, her stories are comfort reads with a twist.
Unique? Yep. Meg loves breaking the rules. She lives with her writing companion, Mr. Whiskers the cat, and prefers pages to parties any day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
January 30, 2019
A cute and cozy mystery set in a cozy Michigan town. The author did a great job in describing the setting. I was able to visualize the Silver Bear Shop and the charming town of Silver Hollow. It sounds like a great place to spend a weekend, doing a little shopping and stopping in at one of the bakeries for a sweet treat.
The characters were very relatable, each with their own personality, and the idioms and expressions used by them helped convey the casual and small town atmosphere. One aspect of the story that did not seem believable to me was that the main character, Sasha, came across as pushy and rather boldly inserted herself into the detective's investigation. I don't see her boldness being tolerated or indulged in real life. I was quite surprised the detective didn't have a stronger reaction to her meddling.
While I liked this mystery, I did think there were some parts where irrelevant details were offered where nothing was needed. They didn't add to the scene or overall story and just seemed like filler. I felt the same way about some of the sub-plots, they added nothing to the story. I am hoping the author is setting the stage with background info that will develop further in future books in the series. Overall a good start to a new series and I look forward to seeing how the characters advance in later books.
The characters were very relatable, each with their own personality, and the idioms and expressions used by them helped convey the casual and small town atmosphere. One aspect of the story that did not seem believable to me was that the main character, Sasha, came across as pushy and rather boldly inserted herself into the detective's investigation. I don't see her boldness being tolerated or indulged in real life. I was quite surprised the detective didn't have a stronger reaction to her meddling.
While I liked this mystery, I did think there were some parts where irrelevant details were offered where nothing was needed. They didn't add to the scene or overall story and just seemed like filler. I felt the same way about some of the sub-plots, they added nothing to the story. I am hoping the author is setting the stage with background info that will develop further in future books in the series. Overall a good start to a new series and I look forward to seeing how the characters advance in later books.
May 25, 2017
After her divorce Sasha Silverman became the manager of the Silver Bear Shop and Factory that her parents own but have retired from in the town of Silver Hollow. However even though Sasha is currently managing and helping run the shop with her sister she is constantly clashing with Will Taylor who is trying to make changes to the family owned business behind her back.
When Sasha and her sister return one night to find a car flying out away from the shop hitting the mailbox they just know that something isn't right. After calling the police Sasha can't help but check things out for herself and finds the body of Will Taylor giving the small town a murder to solve.
Bearly Departed is the first book of a new cozy mystery series, A Teddy Bear Mystery, by Meg Macy. First I just have to say what cozy fan can resist that adorable cover? Obviously I couldn't. The setting in this series was one of the best things about it, a small town family owned shop that makes and sells teddy bears and caters events centered around them. Sort of reminded me of a mom and pop version of a build a bear store. I also didn't mind the main character and her sleuthing and questioning to find out what was going on with the murder.
On the other hand though there were a couple of things that I didn't quite enjoy with the story in this first installment. One being that there were parts that seemed to drag a bit, perhaps a bit too much detail in the ordinary and not progressing the story. Also, I tended to lose a bit of track of who was who here and there but on another note with that I also had my suspicion early on of how it would end and ended up right all along so it felt it missed out on that big shocking twist to really catch a reader.
In the end though I thought this one was a decent start to a series and decided to give it 3.5 stars. Having liked the main character and setting I would be interested in seeing how the author progresses with the series and hope the next book will be that much better.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When Sasha and her sister return one night to find a car flying out away from the shop hitting the mailbox they just know that something isn't right. After calling the police Sasha can't help but check things out for herself and finds the body of Will Taylor giving the small town a murder to solve.
Bearly Departed is the first book of a new cozy mystery series, A Teddy Bear Mystery, by Meg Macy. First I just have to say what cozy fan can resist that adorable cover? Obviously I couldn't. The setting in this series was one of the best things about it, a small town family owned shop that makes and sells teddy bears and caters events centered around them. Sort of reminded me of a mom and pop version of a build a bear store. I also didn't mind the main character and her sleuthing and questioning to find out what was going on with the murder.
On the other hand though there were a couple of things that I didn't quite enjoy with the story in this first installment. One being that there were parts that seemed to drag a bit, perhaps a bit too much detail in the ordinary and not progressing the story. Also, I tended to lose a bit of track of who was who here and there but on another note with that I also had my suspicion early on of how it would end and ended up right all along so it felt it missed out on that big shocking twist to really catch a reader.
In the end though I thought this one was a decent start to a series and decided to give it 3.5 stars. Having liked the main character and setting I would be interested in seeing how the author progresses with the series and hope the next book will be that much better.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
May 4, 2017
Teddy bears! Hold them, squeeze them, play with them, sleep with them, love them! Sasha Silverman's family owns and runs the Silver Bear Shop and Factory. Custom teddys are their pride and joy. If only the bears could talk, Sasha would have advance warning about the sinister secrets taking place in, and around, the factory. Instead, she and her family are suddenly forced to deal with the unpleasantness of murder and deceit or lose the business.
In this debut story of A Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series, Author Meg Macy launches a cast of appealing main characters in a charming setting. Pet lovers will enjoy Sasha's dog, Rosie, and cat, Onyx. The pacing moves swiftly. The plot seemed a bit predictable, and once I finished, I felt like I'd seen something similar on a TV crime show before. I'm looking forward to reading the next book and seeing how the characters grow.
I reviewed an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher.
In this debut story of A Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series, Author Meg Macy launches a cast of appealing main characters in a charming setting. Pet lovers will enjoy Sasha's dog, Rosie, and cat, Onyx. The pacing moves swiftly. The plot seemed a bit predictable, and once I finished, I felt like I'd seen something similar on a TV crime show before. I'm looking forward to reading the next book and seeing how the characters grow.
I reviewed an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher.
June 1, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Things at The Silver Bear Shop and Factory are not “beary” delightful. After the sales manager Will Taylor announces manufacturing of the teddies will be moving overseas the staff is in uproar. Especially Sasha, Maddie and their Uncle Ross. The girl’s parents started this business and have basically retired and have left the shop and factory in their hands. Their parents/brother never would do something so major without talking to them first.
Before they can even contact their father Sasha and Maddie find Will’s dead body next to the stuffing machine. To make matters worse the police have pegged Uncle Ross as the prime suspect. Seems his threats to Will were taken seriously by some people. The factory and store are shut down, the upcoming teddy bear parade may have to be cancelled, her uncle may soon be behind bars and her parents are not returning their calls. Sasha just can’t bear any more drama so she starts investigating on her own not realizing she may be the next “bearly departed”.
This was a fabulous read.
The Silver Bear Shop and Factory sounds like such a fun place. I know there is a national chain that allows you to stuff you own teddies and other creatures but The Silver Bear Shops sells a very unique bear. Also Maddie and Sasha make a great team, creative to think of all sorts of events to coordinate with the seasons and holidays drawing visitors to Silver Hollow.
Macy has created a charming cast of characters. Sasha is divorced but her ex has moved back to Silver Hollow bringing a bit of added drama. She is a very determined woman and very loyal to her family and their business. Maddie takes care of the office work, paying bills, working with vendors, and the financial reports. She also has a very creative side. Uncle Ross runs the factory and can be a little prickly but like his brother, the girl’s father, he is a real teddy bear behind all the bluster. Their mother is a little tougher and ready for life to slow down. We also meet their employees and other shopkeepers like Will’s wife. Being the first book in the series the author has left plenty of room for the characters grown in future installments.
The author has written a tale with a number of twists. The clue that seemed to be missed by the police was one I grabbed onto and was pleasantly surprised that I was right about its relevance. I was still surprised by the way the story played out.
Meg Macy has penned a wonderful debut for this series. It checks all my boxes for an absolutely perfect escape. I can “bearly” wait for my next visit to Silver Hollow. Bear Witness to Murder will be released in 2018.
Things at The Silver Bear Shop and Factory are not “beary” delightful. After the sales manager Will Taylor announces manufacturing of the teddies will be moving overseas the staff is in uproar. Especially Sasha, Maddie and their Uncle Ross. The girl’s parents started this business and have basically retired and have left the shop and factory in their hands. Their parents/brother never would do something so major without talking to them first.
Before they can even contact their father Sasha and Maddie find Will’s dead body next to the stuffing machine. To make matters worse the police have pegged Uncle Ross as the prime suspect. Seems his threats to Will were taken seriously by some people. The factory and store are shut down, the upcoming teddy bear parade may have to be cancelled, her uncle may soon be behind bars and her parents are not returning their calls. Sasha just can’t bear any more drama so she starts investigating on her own not realizing she may be the next “bearly departed”.
This was a fabulous read.
The Silver Bear Shop and Factory sounds like such a fun place. I know there is a national chain that allows you to stuff you own teddies and other creatures but The Silver Bear Shops sells a very unique bear. Also Maddie and Sasha make a great team, creative to think of all sorts of events to coordinate with the seasons and holidays drawing visitors to Silver Hollow.
Macy has created a charming cast of characters. Sasha is divorced but her ex has moved back to Silver Hollow bringing a bit of added drama. She is a very determined woman and very loyal to her family and their business. Maddie takes care of the office work, paying bills, working with vendors, and the financial reports. She also has a very creative side. Uncle Ross runs the factory and can be a little prickly but like his brother, the girl’s father, he is a real teddy bear behind all the bluster. Their mother is a little tougher and ready for life to slow down. We also meet their employees and other shopkeepers like Will’s wife. Being the first book in the series the author has left plenty of room for the characters grown in future installments.
The author has written a tale with a number of twists. The clue that seemed to be missed by the police was one I grabbed onto and was pleasantly surprised that I was right about its relevance. I was still surprised by the way the story played out.
Meg Macy has penned a wonderful debut for this series. It checks all my boxes for an absolutely perfect escape. I can “bearly” wait for my next visit to Silver Hollow. Bear Witness to Murder will be released in 2018.
June 13, 2017
Sasha Silverman has her hands full at her family-owned teddy bear shop and factory. Her head sales rep, Will Taylor, is discussing major changes at the factory with Sasha’s parents. The changes include some possible staff cuts, including her Uncle Ross. Tempers are flying and Sasha can’t seem to get in touch with her parents for some reason.
When Sasha discovers Will’s dead body in the bear factory, everyone becomes a suspect in his murder. The main suspect is Uncle Ross, but Sasha isn’t buying that for one minute. No way would her uncle kill no matter how angry he gets. So, Sasha launches her own investigation. She discovers her sales rep had quite a number of enemies.
I had to read this one since I love teddy bears. I used to collect them so this looked like a cute read for me. It definitely is cute and keeps you on your toes as you try to figure out whodunit. There are so many suspects. I wasn’t overly surprised at the culprit but it was a fun adventure to get to the resolution.
It started a bit slow as we were introduced to many characters. It was difficult for me to keep track at first, but then I just delved in and couldn’t put it down. Sasha is a wonderful, strong amateur sleuth. Her determination is admirable.
The setting is perfect for a cozy mystery - teddy bear shop in a small town. Very cute and sweet.
It’s an interesting premise with interesting characters. I found the storyline to be intriguing and captivating. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
When Sasha discovers Will’s dead body in the bear factory, everyone becomes a suspect in his murder. The main suspect is Uncle Ross, but Sasha isn’t buying that for one minute. No way would her uncle kill no matter how angry he gets. So, Sasha launches her own investigation. She discovers her sales rep had quite a number of enemies.
I had to read this one since I love teddy bears. I used to collect them so this looked like a cute read for me. It definitely is cute and keeps you on your toes as you try to figure out whodunit. There are so many suspects. I wasn’t overly surprised at the culprit but it was a fun adventure to get to the resolution.
It started a bit slow as we were introduced to many characters. It was difficult for me to keep track at first, but then I just delved in and couldn’t put it down. Sasha is a wonderful, strong amateur sleuth. Her determination is admirable.
The setting is perfect for a cozy mystery - teddy bear shop in a small town. Very cute and sweet.
It’s an interesting premise with interesting characters. I found the storyline to be intriguing and captivating. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 13, 2017
Cozy mysteries are, most often, fun reads that are set in quaint towns with charming protagonists. BEARLY DEPARTED, the brand new book from Meg Mims (who also writes as part of the D.E. Ireland team) clearly takes the award for the most adorable premise and cover I've seen! I love that the series is called 'A Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery' and the book lives up to its name. Having taken my two granddaughters to Build-A-Bear numerous times, I enjoyed the insider's view of running a teddy bear factory and shop. The bits and pieces on how the bears are created added to the authenticity of the story.
The protagonist, Sasha Silverman, manages her family's Silver Bear Shop and Factory in Silver Hollow, Michigan, working alongside her sister and her uncle. She has a very close relationship with her family and I enjoyed seeing their interaction and care for each other. The author takes time to set the stage by introducing the reader to the town, the people who live there, and to the teddy bear shop. While it might seem a tad slow starting out, I appreciate having the chance to get to know the characters and envisioning the town. I personally think it strengthens future books in the series by having a solid foundation. I also loved the tours of the teddy bear factory that Sasha conducts, particularly her interaction with the group of Girls Scouts. She comes across as a caring person, genuinely interested in the girls and in the impact her family business has on the community.
Once the Silver Bear Shop's arrogant sales rep, Will Taylor, is found murdered in the factory, the story takes off and the pace picks up, keeping the reader turning pages to find out what happens next. With Sasha's uncle a suspect in the murder, she becomes invested in finding the killer while trying to save the shop from financial ruin. There is a suspenseful ending that wraps up all the loose threads of the story together, making for a satisfying conclusion. This adorably cute book has it all: charming characters, suspense, a quaint town, and a story line that keeps the reader guessing. The only downside? I have to wait for the second book to be released before I can read more of this series!
The protagonist, Sasha Silverman, manages her family's Silver Bear Shop and Factory in Silver Hollow, Michigan, working alongside her sister and her uncle. She has a very close relationship with her family and I enjoyed seeing their interaction and care for each other. The author takes time to set the stage by introducing the reader to the town, the people who live there, and to the teddy bear shop. While it might seem a tad slow starting out, I appreciate having the chance to get to know the characters and envisioning the town. I personally think it strengthens future books in the series by having a solid foundation. I also loved the tours of the teddy bear factory that Sasha conducts, particularly her interaction with the group of Girls Scouts. She comes across as a caring person, genuinely interested in the girls and in the impact her family business has on the community.
Once the Silver Bear Shop's arrogant sales rep, Will Taylor, is found murdered in the factory, the story takes off and the pace picks up, keeping the reader turning pages to find out what happens next. With Sasha's uncle a suspect in the murder, she becomes invested in finding the killer while trying to save the shop from financial ruin. There is a suspenseful ending that wraps up all the loose threads of the story together, making for a satisfying conclusion. This adorably cute book has it all: charming characters, suspense, a quaint town, and a story line that keeps the reader guessing. The only downside? I have to wait for the second book to be released before I can read more of this series!
April 23, 2017
It was a pleasure to read a book that is set in a background of a teddy bear factory and outlet. This is the first book in a new seriesThe location is a small town of Silver Hollow. It is family own. Sasha Silverman and her dog, Rosie take a walk through the town letting us know where the place is located and meeting the residents of this town. She has a cat, Onyx. The Silver Bell Shop And Factory cater to children and offers special events for them. The pattern is a family heirloom as the Silverman's grandfather made and gave them away. His son started the business.
Their salesman, Will Taylor calls a special meeting where he tells the daughters and employees that he has the owners permission to close the factory and move the jobs to China. Sasha and Maggie are unable to reach their Father to check out Will statement. Will review a couple of death threats, the most vocal is from Uncle Ross who supervise the factory. Sasha assures all that the factory will stay open and not jobs will be lost. Will left the meeting and cross the street and argues with his wife. Later that evening, the girls find Will Taylor dead in the factory, his face stuff with fillings. Sasha works with the police to find the answer so Uncle Ross is not arrested. I am looking forward to the next book as I already identified with the characters.
Disclosue: I received after copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Their salesman, Will Taylor calls a special meeting where he tells the daughters and employees that he has the owners permission to close the factory and move the jobs to China. Sasha and Maggie are unable to reach their Father to check out Will statement. Will review a couple of death threats, the most vocal is from Uncle Ross who supervise the factory. Sasha assures all that the factory will stay open and not jobs will be lost. Will left the meeting and cross the street and argues with his wife. Later that evening, the girls find Will Taylor dead in the factory, his face stuff with fillings. Sasha works with the police to find the answer so Uncle Ross is not arrested. I am looking forward to the next book as I already identified with the characters.
Disclosue: I received after copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
May 18, 2017
I received a free copy of this book through netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
One thing that I love about cozy mysteries is how they all seem to have a theme, hobby or job they focus on. And one way to get me curious about a new cozie series is when that book has a theme I hadn't read about yet. So this book immediately grabbed my attention with the focus on Teddy Bears and the mention of a teddy bear shop in the blurb.
While Bearly Departed was an enjoyable read, it sadly wasn't as good as I hoped. But let me start by listing what I did enjoy. I really liked the teddy bear focus, I thought it was cool to read about a teddy bear shop and some of the issues and topics surrounding that. I liked how they hosted special events, did tours and used social media and I enjoyed reading about the business. I would have liked to read more about the Teddy bear shop, but it was closed for a big part of he book. I also liked the overall story well enough. While there were things that bothered me, there were also parts I did enjoy. And I was in the mood for a cozy mystery, so I did feel like this book fit my mood very well.
The mystery was okay. I was curious who the murderer was, but while I didn't really try and figure the mystery out I wasn't surprised at all when we found out who the murderer was. I kept hoping there would be a twist, because it wouldn't actually be that person, but yes it was. There was a bit of a side plot line/ red herring, I didn't really care of rand it just felt like it added a bit too much to the story that didn't really fit in nicely. Or maybe that's just me. There is two events later in the book that just felt a bit overdone and unnecessary in my opinion.
I would've liked a stronger focus on the mystery or have the main character be more actively trying to solve it. Sasha did try and solve the mystery, but at the same time she more came across as someone who was just a bit noisy and thought about the murder and then solved it because she paid attention to a clue the detective didn't see. On the one hand it feel more natural how she just talked a bit with people and figured things out but on the other hand it felt a bit tedious and I just wanted her to snoop and investigate a bit more.
For the most part I enjoyed the story, but didn't really care or felt invested in what happened. The main character was okay enough, but I never really liked her, related to her or cared much. Which made it hard to feel invested in the story. I liked her passion for the store and how she was so driven to have it done well. But there were also parts where I really didn't like her, like when she was spreading a rumor she had sort of overheard without checking if it was true. She was a bit too gossipy at times for my taste and her impulsive nature didn't quite work for me, I mostly found it annoying, although at least it was done realistically and that impulsiveness was shown quite regularly.
Another thing that bothered me is how at times it felt like there were these extra details we didn't really have to know sprinkled in the story. Small details that probably should be quirky or interesting, but for me it just brought down the pace. I can't remember how often I read that the dog Rosie was doing her business. It might seem weird to mention that, but those small details broke up the pace of the story a bit for me. Guess the writing style just didn't work for me.
When I started reading I also had the hardest time remember who was who, there is almost a bit of an info dump during the first walk Sasha takes through town, introducing you to all the side characters, who is who, where they work and who is related. It was just too much for me. Only when the story progressed and we got to see more of the side characters it got easier to remember everyone, but even then it was difficult, especially with the characters we meet less often. Although that's also partly probably because I wasn't as invested in the story. Oh and the side plot line about Flynn didn't work for me either, I had no clue what the relevance was of him showing up. I thought he was a creep. And I am still not sure what the main character her opinion about him really was. It was difficult to really get a feel for what she thought at times.
To summarize: this was a cute cozy mystery with the focus on the teddy bear shop and factory. I liked the focus on the teddy bear shop and it was cool to read about, I just would've liked to read even more about that as it was closed for a big part of the book. The mystery was decent and I was curious who the murderer was. I wasn't as invested in the story or the mystery as I had hoped and wasn't surprised when we found out who the murderer was. At times it felt like nothing much was happening and at other times it felt like there were too many, in my opinion, unnecessary parts cluttering up the pace. Like these small little details that kept being added and I just thought were unnecessary and didn't add anything. I didn't really care for the main character and had some trouble keeping the side characters separate. Overall it was a cute read with parts that I liked and it fit my reading mood, but it just missed the mark a bit for me.
One thing that I love about cozy mysteries is how they all seem to have a theme, hobby or job they focus on. And one way to get me curious about a new cozie series is when that book has a theme I hadn't read about yet. So this book immediately grabbed my attention with the focus on Teddy Bears and the mention of a teddy bear shop in the blurb.
While Bearly Departed was an enjoyable read, it sadly wasn't as good as I hoped. But let me start by listing what I did enjoy. I really liked the teddy bear focus, I thought it was cool to read about a teddy bear shop and some of the issues and topics surrounding that. I liked how they hosted special events, did tours and used social media and I enjoyed reading about the business. I would have liked to read more about the Teddy bear shop, but it was closed for a big part of he book. I also liked the overall story well enough. While there were things that bothered me, there were also parts I did enjoy. And I was in the mood for a cozy mystery, so I did feel like this book fit my mood very well.
The mystery was okay. I was curious who the murderer was, but while I didn't really try and figure the mystery out I wasn't surprised at all when we found out who the murderer was. I kept hoping there would be a twist, because it wouldn't actually be that person, but yes it was. There was a bit of a side plot line/ red herring, I didn't really care of rand it just felt like it added a bit too much to the story that didn't really fit in nicely. Or maybe that's just me. There is two events later in the book that just felt a bit overdone and unnecessary in my opinion.
I would've liked a stronger focus on the mystery or have the main character be more actively trying to solve it. Sasha did try and solve the mystery, but at the same time she more came across as someone who was just a bit noisy and thought about the murder and then solved it because she paid attention to a clue the detective didn't see. On the one hand it feel more natural how she just talked a bit with people and figured things out but on the other hand it felt a bit tedious and I just wanted her to snoop and investigate a bit more.
For the most part I enjoyed the story, but didn't really care or felt invested in what happened. The main character was okay enough, but I never really liked her, related to her or cared much. Which made it hard to feel invested in the story. I liked her passion for the store and how she was so driven to have it done well. But there were also parts where I really didn't like her, like when she was spreading a rumor she had sort of overheard without checking if it was true. She was a bit too gossipy at times for my taste and her impulsive nature didn't quite work for me, I mostly found it annoying, although at least it was done realistically and that impulsiveness was shown quite regularly.
Another thing that bothered me is how at times it felt like there were these extra details we didn't really have to know sprinkled in the story. Small details that probably should be quirky or interesting, but for me it just brought down the pace. I can't remember how often I read that the dog Rosie was doing her business. It might seem weird to mention that, but those small details broke up the pace of the story a bit for me. Guess the writing style just didn't work for me.
When I started reading I also had the hardest time remember who was who, there is almost a bit of an info dump during the first walk Sasha takes through town, introducing you to all the side characters, who is who, where they work and who is related. It was just too much for me. Only when the story progressed and we got to see more of the side characters it got easier to remember everyone, but even then it was difficult, especially with the characters we meet less often. Although that's also partly probably because I wasn't as invested in the story. Oh and the side plot line about Flynn didn't work for me either, I had no clue what the relevance was of him showing up. I thought he was a creep. And I am still not sure what the main character her opinion about him really was. It was difficult to really get a feel for what she thought at times.
To summarize: this was a cute cozy mystery with the focus on the teddy bear shop and factory. I liked the focus on the teddy bear shop and it was cool to read about, I just would've liked to read even more about that as it was closed for a big part of the book. The mystery was decent and I was curious who the murderer was. I wasn't as invested in the story or the mystery as I had hoped and wasn't surprised when we found out who the murderer was. At times it felt like nothing much was happening and at other times it felt like there were too many, in my opinion, unnecessary parts cluttering up the pace. Like these small little details that kept being added and I just thought were unnecessary and didn't add anything. I didn't really care for the main character and had some trouble keeping the side characters separate. Overall it was a cute read with parts that I liked and it fit my reading mood, but it just missed the mark a bit for me.
May 30, 2017
Sasha Silverman runs her family’s teddy bear factory in Michigan, a job she mostly enjoys. The one problem is Will Taylor, the company’s sales rep. He returns from a sales conference early to announce that he’s met with Sasha’s semi-retired father, and he has agreed to ship production of the bears overseas. Naturally, all the employees are upset about losing their jobs. Sasha does her best to calm them down until she can reach her father to find out what is really going on, but that night she finds Will dead on the factory floor. Who killed him?
The book started a little slowly as we were introduced to Sasha, her employees, and her community. But once we meet Will, things were off and running. As Sasha investigates, she learns things about people she thought she knew well, including her own family. The dynamics there are interesting, and I look forward to seeing them explored in future books. Of course, this mystery comes together for a logical climax.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The book started a little slowly as we were introduced to Sasha, her employees, and her community. But once we meet Will, things were off and running. As Sasha investigates, she learns things about people she thought she knew well, including her own family. The dynamics there are interesting, and I look forward to seeing them explored in future books. Of course, this mystery comes together for a logical climax.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
November 4, 2019
First book in a new series. Loved the teddy bear theme. A book filled with surprises that keep you wondering what will happen next. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 16, 2017
Bearly Departed is the debut book in Meg Macy’s Teddy Bear Mystery series. The author provides great character and setting development, including introducing readers to many residents and business owners in the quaint small town Silver Hollow, Michigan. The plot is well developed, most of the characters affable, and descriptions so vivid it felt like I was visiting the town and experiencing things firsthand. Readers are treated to the history of teddy bears and there’s a link to the author’s bear crafting projects. Ms. Macy’s writing style flows smoothly at a steady pace and this engaging mystery kept me guessing until the reveal. There is no graphic violence or sexually explicit situations but there is some mild adult language. I enjoyed this author’s writing style and I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading well-crafted cozy mysteries.
Alexandra ‘Sasha’ Silverman and her sister, Madeline ‘Maddie’ Silverman, live in their family home, which is located in Silver Hollow, Michigan. The home also houses their teddy bear shop and their factory is located on the property. Sasha manages the shop, Maddie runs the office, and their uncle, Ross Silverman, supervises the factory production. Will Taylor, who is arrogant and self-serving, is the salesman and PR expert for The Silver Bear Shop and Factory, has been trying to convince their recently retired dad to expand the product line and move production overseas to cut costs because profits are down. Uncle Ross threatens Will during a staff meeting and so does Lois Nichols, a factory worker whose husband has cancer and can’t afford to lose her job and health insurance. That same evening, Sasha observes Will’s wife, Carolyn, arguing with Will in parking lot and Uncle Ross continues to rant and make verbal with threats in a pub later that night. As Sasha and Maddie return from dinner and a movie, they notice two cars in their parking lot, one is Will’s car and the other rushes out of their parking lot, hitting and destroying their mailbox. When the sisters enter the factory to find out why Will is there so late, they find him on the factory floor near the stuffing machine with his mouth filled with the fiber used to stuff the teddy bears. Since there hasn’t been a murder in Silver Hollow in 30 years and it was a matter of domestic violence, Detective Mason from Dexter County’s Detective Bureau is assigned to help Officer Sykes with the investigation. Even though Sasha believes there are better suspects, Uncle Ross seems to be their prime suspect. Detective Mason keeps telling Sasha to stick with selling bears but he wasn’t handling things quickly enough for her and, with sales down and the small town’s gossip network hard at work, she’s worried their business will die before he solves the case, so she starts snooping around and asking questions on her own.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Alexandra ‘Sasha’ Silverman and her sister, Madeline ‘Maddie’ Silverman, live in their family home, which is located in Silver Hollow, Michigan. The home also houses their teddy bear shop and their factory is located on the property. Sasha manages the shop, Maddie runs the office, and their uncle, Ross Silverman, supervises the factory production. Will Taylor, who is arrogant and self-serving, is the salesman and PR expert for The Silver Bear Shop and Factory, has been trying to convince their recently retired dad to expand the product line and move production overseas to cut costs because profits are down. Uncle Ross threatens Will during a staff meeting and so does Lois Nichols, a factory worker whose husband has cancer and can’t afford to lose her job and health insurance. That same evening, Sasha observes Will’s wife, Carolyn, arguing with Will in parking lot and Uncle Ross continues to rant and make verbal with threats in a pub later that night. As Sasha and Maddie return from dinner and a movie, they notice two cars in their parking lot, one is Will’s car and the other rushes out of their parking lot, hitting and destroying their mailbox. When the sisters enter the factory to find out why Will is there so late, they find him on the factory floor near the stuffing machine with his mouth filled with the fiber used to stuff the teddy bears. Since there hasn’t been a murder in Silver Hollow in 30 years and it was a matter of domestic violence, Detective Mason from Dexter County’s Detective Bureau is assigned to help Officer Sykes with the investigation. Even though Sasha believes there are better suspects, Uncle Ross seems to be their prime suspect. Detective Mason keeps telling Sasha to stick with selling bears but he wasn’t handling things quickly enough for her and, with sales down and the small town’s gossip network hard at work, she’s worried their business will die before he solves the case, so she starts snooping around and asking questions on her own.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
April 11, 2018
This book is the first in a new series and it is 'beary' good!
I loved the premise. The teddy bear shop brought back lovely memories of taking my son shopping for his own bear.
I particularly enjoyed the family business aspect and the realistic portrayal of the family.
The characters were well written and the whodunit was top notch. It kept me guessing right up to the reveal.
There was a nice touch in explaining the history of the term "teddy bear".
This was a great read and I look forward to reading further books in the series.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I loved the premise. The teddy bear shop brought back lovely memories of taking my son shopping for his own bear.
I particularly enjoyed the family business aspect and the realistic portrayal of the family.
The characters were well written and the whodunit was top notch. It kept me guessing right up to the reveal.
There was a nice touch in explaining the history of the term "teddy bear".
This was a great read and I look forward to reading further books in the series.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
May 26, 2017
For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...
August 2, 2017
Sasha Silverman helps manage her family's factory, Silver Bear Shop and Factory, in Silver Hollow, Michigan. Her parents have semi-retired from the business leaving Sasha, her sister Maddie and Uncle Ross to run the business. The family prides themselves on the great quality of Silver Bears. Imagine Sasha's surprise when the company sales manager, Will Taylor, returns from a meeting with her father stating that the family patriarch has agreed to cut staff and move most of the factory operations overseas to cut costs. Unable to reach her parents to confirm Taylor's statements, Sasha refuses to believe Taylor's claims. It soon becomes a moot point when Taylor's dead body is discovered inside the factory. Heated words exchanged between Taylor and Sasha's Uncle Ross make her uncle a suspect in the man's murder. In order to save her uncle and the family business, Sasha knows she needs to investigate and find out who killed their sales manager.
The minute I saw the cover for this book, I knew I had to read it! I have been a teddy bear collector for years. The theme of this cozy mystery had me hooked before I even read one word. Luckily, the story lived up to my expectations. This is a well-paced, fun to read cozy mystery! I liked the story and the characters just as much as I like the teddy bear theme. The cover art is incredi-cute as well.
Sasha Silverman makes a great main character. She is an inventive business woman who works hard to market the family's teddy bear line. And when pulled into a murder investigation, she puts her wits to work to discover the culprit. The side characters aren't as developed, but add nice flavor to the plot. The background details about toy manufacture and how stuffed animals are assembled is interesting and adds nice flavor to this cozy.
Bearly Departed is the first book in the new Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. A second book, Bear Witness to Murder, will be published in 2018. I am definitely going to be reading more of this series! I can't resist teddy bears -- and the mystery kept my attention from beginning to end!
**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. **
The minute I saw the cover for this book, I knew I had to read it! I have been a teddy bear collector for years. The theme of this cozy mystery had me hooked before I even read one word. Luckily, the story lived up to my expectations. This is a well-paced, fun to read cozy mystery! I liked the story and the characters just as much as I like the teddy bear theme. The cover art is incredi-cute as well.
Sasha Silverman makes a great main character. She is an inventive business woman who works hard to market the family's teddy bear line. And when pulled into a murder investigation, she puts her wits to work to discover the culprit. The side characters aren't as developed, but add nice flavor to the plot. The background details about toy manufacture and how stuffed animals are assembled is interesting and adds nice flavor to this cozy.
Bearly Departed is the first book in the new Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. A second book, Bear Witness to Murder, will be published in 2018. I am definitely going to be reading more of this series! I can't resist teddy bears -- and the mystery kept my attention from beginning to end!
**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. **
July 7, 2017
This is the first book in a new cozy series "Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mysteries". Sasha Silverman is the manager of her family's business, Silver Bear Shop and Factory, in Silver Hollow, Michigan. Her father has retired (although he still owns the company) and her parents have moved to Florida. With her sister Maddie who handles the office and Uncle Ross who runs the factory, she enjoys her job and creates many fun opportunities for the residents and visitors. The family prides themselves on the great quality of Silver Bears, each being handmade with hinged limbs so when the sales manager, Will Taylor tells them that they are moving the factory operations to China and laying off staff, there are many disgruntled people. When Will's body is found dead later that night in the factory, Uncle Ross is the main suspect for his vociferous claims of wanting to kill him. In order to save her uncle and the family business, Sasha begins her own investigation of who killed the sales manager.
I found the story dragged in some spots as there was an overwhelming amount of detail, and in some it breezed along. Sasha is successful in her attempts to ferret out the culprit, but she came across as annoying and just plain nosy at times. She is a smart business woman and worked hard to make her family business a success. She has a lot of friends and engenders loyalty from them. I know this is the first book and I hope the characters get fleshed out more in future stories as there were a lot of people introduced in this book. I will admit that it was the cover that attracted me to this story. I love teddy bears and this was a cute story. It was the epitome of a cozy with its small town, quaint characters and settings, amateur sleuth and a mystery to solve. It did not make me think too hard, I figured out the killer early, but still kept reading and enjoyed the story. If you like a cute cozy, you will enjoy this one. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via netgalley.
I found the story dragged in some spots as there was an overwhelming amount of detail, and in some it breezed along. Sasha is successful in her attempts to ferret out the culprit, but she came across as annoying and just plain nosy at times. She is a smart business woman and worked hard to make her family business a success. She has a lot of friends and engenders loyalty from them. I know this is the first book and I hope the characters get fleshed out more in future stories as there were a lot of people introduced in this book. I will admit that it was the cover that attracted me to this story. I love teddy bears and this was a cute story. It was the epitome of a cozy with its small town, quaint characters and settings, amateur sleuth and a mystery to solve. It did not make me think too hard, I figured out the killer early, but still kept reading and enjoyed the story. If you like a cute cozy, you will enjoy this one. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via netgalley.
September 23, 2017
Sasha Silverman enjoys her life managing her parents' teddy bear shop and factory along with her sister Maddie, who runs the office and Uncle Ross who is mainly in the factory but pitches in to help in the store when needed. The only thorn in her side is their egotistical accountant, Will Taylor, who announces at a company meeting that he got the ok from Sasha's dad to outsource the bear making to China. The workers and managers are all up in arms. So when Will is found murdered in the factory, we are left to wonder if someone hated him for that idea enough to kill him. The police suspect Uncle Ross but Sasha is determined to prove her uncle innocent.
I really enjoyed this first book in a brand new series. I love the idea of a teddy bear factory and selling them so it was all very interesting to me. The characters were well-developed and seemed like old friends after a few chapters of getting to know them and everyone in town. The mystery kept me guessing for sure. I had no idea who the killer was until the author revealed it at the end. And I mean really the end. Sometimes I'll read a book and they won't reveal till almost the end but then I wonder, is this *really* the killer. But in this book, there was no doubt.
I'm so anxious for the second book that I couldn't resist pre-ordering it!
I really enjoyed this first book in a brand new series. I love the idea of a teddy bear factory and selling them so it was all very interesting to me. The characters were well-developed and seemed like old friends after a few chapters of getting to know them and everyone in town. The mystery kept me guessing for sure. I had no idea who the killer was until the author revealed it at the end. And I mean really the end. Sometimes I'll read a book and they won't reveal till almost the end but then I wonder, is this *really* the killer. But in this book, there was no doubt.
I'm so anxious for the second book that I couldn't resist pre-ordering it!
May 1, 2017
This is the first in a new series by Meg Macy. Part of the reason I had put this on my TBR pile is because it takes place in my home state. In fact, it is set in a fictional town that would probably be about an hour and a half away from where I live. I always find it fun when you can relate to the location or setting in a book.
I thought this was a good debut for this author. Of course I think the setting is charming, but I like that the business owned by the Silverman's is different from other cozy mysteries. The characters are well written. Sasha is stubborn and loyal to her family. The secondary cast of characters is diverse and made up of family members, employees and towns people. The mystery kept me guessing until the end. The victim was not liked in the town so this gave the author plenty of suspects and motives for the reader to choose from. I wasn't surprised at the identity of the killer because the person was one of the many potential suspects, but I didn't think that they were actually the killer.
This book is expected to be published on May 30th. I enjoyed the story, characters and the mystery and will be back for book two.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
I thought this was a good debut for this author. Of course I think the setting is charming, but I like that the business owned by the Silverman's is different from other cozy mysteries. The characters are well written. Sasha is stubborn and loyal to her family. The secondary cast of characters is diverse and made up of family members, employees and towns people. The mystery kept me guessing until the end. The victim was not liked in the town so this gave the author plenty of suspects and motives for the reader to choose from. I wasn't surprised at the identity of the killer because the person was one of the many potential suspects, but I didn't think that they were actually the killer.
This book is expected to be published on May 30th. I enjoyed the story, characters and the mystery and will be back for book two.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
August 11, 2017
Bearly Departed is the first book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear series. The Silver Bear Shop and Factory, a family owned teddy bear factory, founded in Silver Hollow, Michigan by T. R. Silverman is the setting for this new story. Sasha and Maddie Silverman are getting ready for the Labor Day weekend and the Teddy Bear Picnic hosted by the Silver Bear Shop and Factory. When Will Taylor the company’s salesman and P.R. expert returns from a convention attended with Maddie and Sasha’s parents, he relays information that jobs will be cut and production is being sent overseas. The women as well as their father’s brother, Uncle Ross, cannot believe that this is true. An inability to reach their parents has them looking for avenues to find them, even down to Sasha reaching out to her ex-husband. Add to this information a death in the factory and you will be kept on your toes trying to figure out what will happen next.
I enjoyed this new series and the family aspect of it. It was also great to see a family owned business fight for their employees and products when so many businesses are only looking at profits. I am looking forward to see what other avenues this new series can branch out in.
I enjoyed this new series and the family aspect of it. It was also great to see a family owned business fight for their employees and products when so many businesses are only looking at profits. I am looking forward to see what other avenues this new series can branch out in.
April 26, 2017
**I voluntarily reviewed this ARC**
This was an amazing first in series. I really liked the characters, and the teddy bears were just adorable. The ending surprised me, and it was also a little more bittersweet than I was expecting. I definitely can't wait for the next book.
This was an amazing first in series. I really liked the characters, and the teddy bears were just adorable. The ending surprised me, and it was also a little more bittersweet than I was expecting. I definitely can't wait for the next book.
April 19, 2017
Bearly Departed by Meg Macy is a good start to a new series.
Having a book set in this environment is unique and sets it apart for cozy mysteries.
Sasha Silverman is the protagonist of the series and she is a likeable character. She works as the shops manager and leader of the Teddy Bear Picnics.
Will Taylor is the shop's sales manager and he has plans to take the small factory & store to new heights. While it sounds like a good idea, his plans are nefarious and will cause upset to the residents who rely on the factory for their income.
When somebody takes out Will, it's up to Sasha to dig deep and find the truth, especially since it's her Uncle Ross who is the prime suspect.
This adorable book makes its debut on May 30, 2017.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Books & NetGalley
Having a book set in this environment is unique and sets it apart for cozy mysteries.
Sasha Silverman is the protagonist of the series and she is a likeable character. She works as the shops manager and leader of the Teddy Bear Picnics.
Will Taylor is the shop's sales manager and he has plans to take the small factory & store to new heights. While it sounds like a good idea, his plans are nefarious and will cause upset to the residents who rely on the factory for their income.
When somebody takes out Will, it's up to Sasha to dig deep and find the truth, especially since it's her Uncle Ross who is the prime suspect.
This adorable book makes its debut on May 30, 2017.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Books & NetGalley
May 23, 2017
Synopsis:
"You'll fall in love with this delightful debut mystery." --Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder in Morningside Heights
The Silver Bear Shop and Factory might be the cutest place around, but there's nothing warm and fuzzy about murder . . .
As manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory, thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well, except for the part about being a single divorcee with a ticking biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that's just kid's stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who's set on making drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch--with or without Sasha's approval . . .
But before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from shock, Sasha's hit with more bad news--police suspect her hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle would never do such a thing, and she's launching her own little investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will's biggest rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can't get too comfy--or she'll become the next plaything for a killer . . .
"A twisty mystery tale with a likable protagonist and a colorful supporting cast. Sure to be a very enjoyable series!"--Livia J. Washburn, bestselling author of Black and Blueberry Die
"Cute and cuddly on the outside, murder and mayhem on the inside--I love this book!!! Totally adorable."--Duffy Brown, bestselling author of Braking for Bodies (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Sasha is a strong smart woman who is not afraid of hard work. She manages The Silver Bear Shop and Factory along with her sister, Maddie. It’s a family business and she also has help from her Uncle Ross. I enjoyed meeting all of them and I liked spending time with them. There are a lot of neighbors and people from the community that we were also introduced to and at times I felt like there were a few too many characters in this book. I had a hard time keeping all of them straight in my mind. That is only my opinion and other readers may not agree with me.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there watching all the action taking place. I felt like I was right there in the factory, watching the bears come to life. The mystery was carried on well throughout the book and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it made figuring out the killer difficult.
One thing I really liked about the book is that the premise of the book was unique. I really liked that the book revolved around bears and all the things that went with the manufacturing and selling of the bears. It was interesting and different. I also really enjoyed the fact that Sasha was not in a relationship or had a love interest. Most of the cozy that I read have the protagonist being involved with someone so I found this rather rare and enjoyable. The book was more about Sasha and her family and I liked that.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and getting to know the characters a little better. This was a good start to the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to that NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
"You'll fall in love with this delightful debut mystery." --Victoria Thompson, bestselling author of Murder in Morningside Heights
The Silver Bear Shop and Factory might be the cutest place around, but there's nothing warm and fuzzy about murder . . .
As manager of the family teddy bear shop and factory, thirty-one-year-old Sasha Silverman leads a charmed life. Well, except for the part about being a single divorcee with a ticking biological clock in small-town Silver Hollow. And that's just kid's stuff compared to Will Taylor, the sales rep who's set on making drastic changes to the business her parents built from scratch--with or without Sasha's approval . . .
But before Will digs his claws in, someone pulls the stuffing out of his plan . . . and leaves his dead body inside the factory. Reeling from shock, Sasha's hit with more bad news--police suspect her hot-tempered Uncle Ross may have murdered him. Sasha knows her uncle would never do such a thing, and she's launching her own little investigation to expose the truth. As she tracks Will's biggest rivals and enemies for clues, Sasha can't get too comfy--or she'll become the next plaything for a killer . . .
"A twisty mystery tale with a likable protagonist and a colorful supporting cast. Sure to be a very enjoyable series!"--Livia J. Washburn, bestselling author of Black and Blueberry Die
"Cute and cuddly on the outside, murder and mayhem on the inside--I love this book!!! Totally adorable."--Duffy Brown, bestselling author of Braking for Bodies (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Sasha is a strong smart woman who is not afraid of hard work. She manages The Silver Bear Shop and Factory along with her sister, Maddie. It’s a family business and she also has help from her Uncle Ross. I enjoyed meeting all of them and I liked spending time with them. There are a lot of neighbors and people from the community that we were also introduced to and at times I felt like there were a few too many characters in this book. I had a hard time keeping all of them straight in my mind. That is only my opinion and other readers may not agree with me.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there watching all the action taking place. I felt like I was right there in the factory, watching the bears come to life. The mystery was carried on well throughout the book and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it made figuring out the killer difficult.
One thing I really liked about the book is that the premise of the book was unique. I really liked that the book revolved around bears and all the things that went with the manufacturing and selling of the bears. It was interesting and different. I also really enjoyed the fact that Sasha was not in a relationship or had a love interest. Most of the cozy that I read have the protagonist being involved with someone so I found this rather rare and enjoyable. The book was more about Sasha and her family and I liked that.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series and getting to know the characters a little better. This was a good start to the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to that NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 31, 2017
Bearly Departed is the first book in the A Teddy Bear Mystery series.
I’m going to be looking forward to more visits to The Silver Bear Shop and Factory and getting to know Sasha and Maddie and the residents of Silver Hallow.
Sasha and Maddie, along with Uncle Ross are running the family business and while sales could be better they are holding their own but could be better along with profits. Their sales manager, Will Taylor, acts like he is the CEO and is constantly complaining about the cost of production, the number of bears donated to needy causes. Upon arriving from a sales trip to the East Coast, he calls for a company meeting. At the meeting, he outlines a plan to send the production overseas and claims to have the backing of Sasha and Maddie’s father. That evening when Sasha and Maddie return home, they are nearly hit by a car speeding away from the parking lot behind the factory. They go to investigate why Taylor is still there, but instead, they find his dead body lying on the production floor.
Knowing that a death at their factory could have a negative effect on business, they begin their own investigation. They end up with quite a few suspects, including his wife who he doesn’t pay a lot of attention too, he was suspected of having an affair or two and there is also that it might be a drug deal that went bad.
This book is well written with a very interesting mystery, as well as an exciting cast of believable characters.
Also included is a link for a Coats & Clark crochet pattern for Rita The Beach Bear. A real cutie.
I will be watching for the next book in this entertaining new series.
I’m going to be looking forward to more visits to The Silver Bear Shop and Factory and getting to know Sasha and Maddie and the residents of Silver Hallow.
Sasha and Maddie, along with Uncle Ross are running the family business and while sales could be better they are holding their own but could be better along with profits. Their sales manager, Will Taylor, acts like he is the CEO and is constantly complaining about the cost of production, the number of bears donated to needy causes. Upon arriving from a sales trip to the East Coast, he calls for a company meeting. At the meeting, he outlines a plan to send the production overseas and claims to have the backing of Sasha and Maddie’s father. That evening when Sasha and Maddie return home, they are nearly hit by a car speeding away from the parking lot behind the factory. They go to investigate why Taylor is still there, but instead, they find his dead body lying on the production floor.
Knowing that a death at their factory could have a negative effect on business, they begin their own investigation. They end up with quite a few suspects, including his wife who he doesn’t pay a lot of attention too, he was suspected of having an affair or two and there is also that it might be a drug deal that went bad.
This book is well written with a very interesting mystery, as well as an exciting cast of believable characters.
Also included is a link for a Coats & Clark crochet pattern for Rita The Beach Bear. A real cutie.
I will be watching for the next book in this entertaining new series.
June 10, 2017
For this being the first book in a series, I was so beary impressed with author Meg Macy’s writing, I couldn’t bear put the book down!
Talk about cozy! How cozier can a mystery get than one set in a teddy bear factory, and stuffed with furry goodness? When I first heard of BEARLY DEPARTED, book one in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series, I knew it was one I had to read.
I enjoyed the way BEARLY DEPARTED started off. In the teddy bear store, and then with a tour of the teddy bear factory. It was fascinating to read how the bears for protagonist Sasha Silverman and her family’s store were made. It’s very clear the author did her research, and it made for educational, informative, fun reading.
Ms. Macy put herself in my favor by making her murder victim a most unlikeable person, so I was happy to see him go! Don’t worry, the scene wasn’t too grizzly. ;-) Like him or not, I still wanted to know why he was killed and whodunit, and author Macy complied by sending me on a winding, twisting conveyer belt ride of suspects and clues.
I’m already looking forward to the next book in this wonderful new series, BEAR WITNESS TO MURDER!
Talk about cozy! How cozier can a mystery get than one set in a teddy bear factory, and stuffed with furry goodness? When I first heard of BEARLY DEPARTED, book one in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series, I knew it was one I had to read.
I enjoyed the way BEARLY DEPARTED started off. In the teddy bear store, and then with a tour of the teddy bear factory. It was fascinating to read how the bears for protagonist Sasha Silverman and her family’s store were made. It’s very clear the author did her research, and it made for educational, informative, fun reading.
Ms. Macy put herself in my favor by making her murder victim a most unlikeable person, so I was happy to see him go! Don’t worry, the scene wasn’t too grizzly. ;-) Like him or not, I still wanted to know why he was killed and whodunit, and author Macy complied by sending me on a winding, twisting conveyer belt ride of suspects and clues.
I’m already looking forward to the next book in this wonderful new series, BEAR WITNESS TO MURDER!
September 23, 2019
A really cute, cozy mystery with bears abound! Sasha is the manager of the Silver Bear Shop for her parents . When Will Taylor, a sales rep begins trying to make changes to the business and is found murdered in their factory, Sasha's Uncle Will becomes the main suspect. Sasha knows this can't be possible so she is determined to find the real killer. I really enjoyed this mystery and look forward to more books in this series. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 16, 2017
Cute teddy bears, cute cast of characters, cute tourist town, and a cozy mystery plot all nicely wrapped up at the end. This book was the perfect cozy mystery. I look forward to reading the next book in this new series.
October 15, 2019
Cute cover, but dear lord, this was boring. Also, when will authors learn that making their leading ladies not carry their cellphones because they’re absent minded or not tech savvy does not make them adorable? It makes them look absolutely stupid.
September 22, 2017
Absolutely loved this book. Everything about it was perfect! One of my new favorite series.
September 17, 2019
I read about 45% then skimmed through and read the ending. For a short book it feels like it goes on forever. There was definitely not enough plot carry it, and the killer was unsurprising.
September 23, 2017
Meg Macy really has some clever thinking! This was a great book. I'm very excited for the second in the series. It has a lot to offer.
June 6, 2018
Cute cozy with some interesting twists and turns. It did take me awhile to warm up to it, though, and there were way too many named characters, often introduced in a bunch, making it confusing to sort out who was who (and who was actually important to the story).
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