What do you think?
Rate this book
Lily Dale Mystery #3
Dead of Winter
New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub returns to Lily Dale, an idyllic small town populated by mediums, in the third installment in her critically acclaimed mystery series.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2017
113 people are currently reading
1648 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Corsi Staub
81 books1,891 followersNew York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than ninety novels, best known for the single title psychological suspense novels she writes under her own name. Those books and the women’s fiction written under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also appeared on the USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookscan bestseller lists.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
October 10, 2017
Bella Jordan just happened by her window in her home, Valley View in Lily Dale, when a murderer was dumping a corpse in the remote lake close by. The killer spotted Bella and thinking he had been seen he heads straight to her door when he comes across a young boy chasing a black cat through the neighborhood. Getting scared away that he would be discovered Bella escapes the danger she didn't know was lurking outside her home.
Jiffy Arden, Bella's son's young friend, who had been searching for the roaming cat and had run into the mysterious man begins to have premonitions that he is going to be kidnapped during the season's first snowstorm. When that snowstorm arrives Jiffy disappears just as his vision suggested never arriving home after school when dropped off at the bus stop. The adults at first think Jiffy has just wandered off as he tends to do but Bella's son Max is determined Jiffy's vision has come true.
Dead of Winter by Wendy Corsi Staub is the third book in the Lily Dale Mystery series. This series seems to be a bit of a cozy mystery type of read that takes place in Lily Dale which seems to be inhabited by those that are psychics and mediums giving it a bit of a fantasy vibe to the books. I didn't realize that this one was part of a series when picking it up and to be honest felt a bit lost starting out as it jumps right in with characters that were probably introduced in earlier books so there was a lot of trying to figure out who was who and who had the ability to do what in the story which brought the enjoyment down a bit for me right from the start.
Once getting into the book I did enjoy what the author was trying to do with giving a twist to the story but it did often become a bit weird to have so many characters with visions and channeling and doing various other things. The story would sometimes seem a bit jumbled with all that was going on but I did begin to enjoy the characters as it went on so it kept my interest. If I'd started this one from book one it's possible I would have been completely hooked but as it was this one became one that ended up just being and OK read to me when it was all over.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Jiffy Arden, Bella's son's young friend, who had been searching for the roaming cat and had run into the mysterious man begins to have premonitions that he is going to be kidnapped during the season's first snowstorm. When that snowstorm arrives Jiffy disappears just as his vision suggested never arriving home after school when dropped off at the bus stop. The adults at first think Jiffy has just wandered off as he tends to do but Bella's son Max is determined Jiffy's vision has come true.
Dead of Winter by Wendy Corsi Staub is the third book in the Lily Dale Mystery series. This series seems to be a bit of a cozy mystery type of read that takes place in Lily Dale which seems to be inhabited by those that are psychics and mediums giving it a bit of a fantasy vibe to the books. I didn't realize that this one was part of a series when picking it up and to be honest felt a bit lost starting out as it jumps right in with characters that were probably introduced in earlier books so there was a lot of trying to figure out who was who and who had the ability to do what in the story which brought the enjoyment down a bit for me right from the start.
Once getting into the book I did enjoy what the author was trying to do with giving a twist to the story but it did often become a bit weird to have so many characters with visions and channeling and doing various other things. The story would sometimes seem a bit jumbled with all that was going on but I did begin to enjoy the characters as it went on so it kept my interest. If I'd started this one from book one it's possible I would have been completely hooked but as it was this one became one that ended up just being and OK read to me when it was all over.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
June 25, 2017
Lily Dale is a small community, unique in that most of the residents are psychics and mediums who all have such quirky personalities.
Bella Jordan happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time ... she hears a man's dying scream and then she sees his body floating in from the lake when he was dumped. The killer looks up and sees her in the window ... and he immediately thinks to silence her.
But Jiffy happens to be in the way of the killer and begins to have visions of being kidnapped. And during the first snowstorm of the season, Jiffy leaves school one day and disappears.
With all the psychics available, one would think they could "see" what happened to the boy. But that doesn't happen. Everyone seems to be frantic with worry and do everything in their power to find the boy.
As a part of the Lily Dale series, DEAD OF WINTER was somewhat disappointing. The premise was good, most of the characters were solid, but there were areas of repetitive conversation and a little boring. Max and Jiffy were wonderful ... how can you not like 2 very young boys with their energy and inquisitiveness. Add to them a couple of cats, maybe a dog and at least you walk away with a smile.
This is certainly not the best of this series, but I have read some of the author's earlier books and enjoyed them immensely.
Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Bella Jordan happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time ... she hears a man's dying scream and then she sees his body floating in from the lake when he was dumped. The killer looks up and sees her in the window ... and he immediately thinks to silence her.
But Jiffy happens to be in the way of the killer and begins to have visions of being kidnapped. And during the first snowstorm of the season, Jiffy leaves school one day and disappears.
With all the psychics available, one would think they could "see" what happened to the boy. But that doesn't happen. Everyone seems to be frantic with worry and do everything in their power to find the boy.
As a part of the Lily Dale series, DEAD OF WINTER was somewhat disappointing. The premise was good, most of the characters were solid, but there were areas of repetitive conversation and a little boring. Max and Jiffy were wonderful ... how can you not like 2 very young boys with their energy and inquisitiveness. Add to them a couple of cats, maybe a dog and at least you walk away with a smile.
This is certainly not the best of this series, but I have read some of the author's earlier books and enjoyed them immensely.
Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 7, 2022
I borrowed this because of the winter themed and went in unknowingly that it’s the third of a series. I might have missed the characters and friendship development in the first 2 books and ended up bored and lost in this story.
Even though it is set in a town full of mediums and psychics I felt that it was slow and there’s too many dialogues and characters that I got very confused. The flow of the book feels weird and the ending was inconclusive though the boy was found. I didn’t enjoy this book unfortunately.
Even though it is set in a town full of mediums and psychics I felt that it was slow and there’s too many dialogues and characters that I got very confused. The flow of the book feels weird and the ending was inconclusive though the boy was found. I didn’t enjoy this book unfortunately.
June 17, 2018
For those of you who have never been to Lily Dale; this series captures some of the calmness and the quirkiness of the tiny gated community; the murders, not so much. So, make Lily Dale a destination! What the author portrays as winter weather in Western New York can only be portrayed by a true Western New Yorker! The only thing she didn’t say is….if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes, it’s bound to change!
As always I found this fictional mystery about Lily Dale enchanting; murder enchanting? You ask. Well, knowing the area as well as I do, I love reading books that have a local setting!
Bella Jordan, a widowed mother of a young son is now the care taker of a guesthouse at Lily Dale; she arrived here by chance (and you will have to read the story to understand that pun). On a quiet winter evening, with Christmas nearing, Bella sees a light across the lake, and then hears a scream. While she does not realize that she has spotted a killer dumping a body, she also does not realize that the killer has spotted her silhouette in the window.
This all leads to the strange disappearance of a local child called Jiffy, best friend to Bella’s son; and even more bodies. Can the community o spiritualist gather enough messages from Spirit to edge the police in the right direction to capture a murderer and find a missing child, or will the residents o Lily Dale find they have to come together physically to solve this newest dilemma?
Absolutely a must read, especially for those who are Western New Yorker or those who travel to Lily Dale from around the world on a regular basis!
December 9, 2017
Dead of Winter by Wendy Corsi Staub is the third book in A Lily Dale Mystery series. The night before Bella Jordan heard a scream out on the lake and the next morning she discovers a dead body wrapped in a tarp on the shore. Then Max’s friend, Jiffy Arden (who manages to lose his belonging on a routine basis) disappears one day during snowstorm. To top it off, Misty Starr (Jiffy’s mom) disappears. What is going on in Lily Dale? Did Jiffy see something the night the body was dropped into the lake?
Dead of Winter is not a standalone novel. You need to read the first two books in the series prior to Dead of Winter. The story is told from multiple POVs which makes for a confusing story (and frustrating). It switches between Bella, Max, Jiffy, Misty, and the killer. Then there are the multiple townspeople who all seem to be psychic (but cannot find the missing kid or prevent him from being kidnapped). The paranormal elements are not believable (come across as contrived). I felt that Dead of Winter needed a rewrite and editing. There is a significant amount of repetition (the same details over and over). The story also jumps around (the multiple POV thing). Dead of Winter lacks flow and continuity (and it way too long). The ending was unfinished. Important details were left out (like what happened to the four stolen gold rings). The mystery is one that plays out and readers are not given a chance to solve the murder. I did not enjoy reading Dead of Winter (it was blah). This was the last A Lily Dale Mystery for me.
Dead of Winter is not a standalone novel. You need to read the first two books in the series prior to Dead of Winter. The story is told from multiple POVs which makes for a confusing story (and frustrating). It switches between Bella, Max, Jiffy, Misty, and the killer. Then there are the multiple townspeople who all seem to be psychic (but cannot find the missing kid or prevent him from being kidnapped). The paranormal elements are not believable (come across as contrived). I felt that Dead of Winter needed a rewrite and editing. There is a significant amount of repetition (the same details over and over). The story also jumps around (the multiple POV thing). Dead of Winter lacks flow and continuity (and it way too long). The ending was unfinished. Important details were left out (like what happened to the four stolen gold rings). The mystery is one that plays out and readers are not given a chance to solve the murder. I did not enjoy reading Dead of Winter (it was blah). This was the last A Lily Dale Mystery for me.
December 6, 2017
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway, thanks to Crooked and Goodreads for the opportunity. If there is such a thing as the perfect Christmas mystery, then this book might be it. This is the first book I have read in series and it drew me right in. There were a few references to plots from the previous books, but I didn't feel I had to stop and read them before this one. This had a paranormal aspect, but it didn't turn me off like another book I just read because it seemed more realistic and woven into the plot. Bella and Max along with Jiffy and the other cast of Lily Dale characters have made me interested in seeing where this series goes along with catching up with the first two books.
December 1, 2022
Dead of Winter by Wendy Corsi Staub is the third in the Lily Dale paranormal cozy mystery series.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Lily Dale is a small gated community in New York State, whose population predominantly consists of psychics. The energy in the town is known as Spirit, and if you are skeptical when you arrive, you won't be for long. In the summer season, it is a very busy place, as tourists from around the world come for readings, as well as physical, spiritual and emotional healing. Bella Jordan and her son Max ended up in the town while trying to return a cat to it's owner...who, it turned out was dead. Bella ended up not only looking after the dead woman's pregnant cat, but also her bed & breakfast, The Valley View Guesthouse.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It's almost Christmas. Although trying to be quiet, a man clumsily dumps a body into the lake behind Valley View Manor, just as Bella is looking out the window. She isn't really sure what she heard or saw. But the murderer doesn't know that. As he attempts to check out the Inn, he runs into a black cat, being chased by Jiffy. The murderer doesn't seem to be having any luck at all. When he decides to come back later, he turns around and his dinghy is gone. Then he discovers he has lost the gold rings somewhere along the way. He has a long walk ahead of him, but plenty of time to think about what he is going to do about any witnesses, and to find those rings.
Jiffy starts having premonitions about being kidnapped, and although it isn't the first time he's had those thoughts, this time he fails to arrive home from school in the middle of a snow storm. Max is sure that his friend has been taken, although others feel he just wandered off, which is quite normal for the boy. His mother, Misty, is beside herself, and goes off looking for him, and finds herself in more trouble.
When a second body is found, Bella is determined to find Jiffy. She feels the police are concentrating too hard to the murders, and not the six year old boy. While she still doesn't buy all the psychic stuff, even she is starting to wonder.
My Opinions:
LOL, well, this book turned out to be about my least favorite character - Jiffy. I have not liked this bratty little kid since the first book....and this book really didn't endear him to me, although it probably should have. Pandora is coming in a close second to my disliked characters in this series. I still like Bella, Drew and Luther.
I guess I should start by saying that you should really read these books in order to really understand the dynamics of the characters.
The plot was really good, and although some of the results were predictable, not all,
Overall, I still believe that the books in this series are a light, entertaining read, with enough mystery to keep me interested, and enough "lightness" that I don't have to think too hard.
For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 24, 2017
Just as a murderer dumps his corpse into the lake across Valley View in Lily Dale, Bella Jordan happens to be at her window, not quite realizing what she’s seeing. Unbeknownst to her, the killer spots her silhouette and prowls straight to her door. That is, until he’s interrupted by a black cat. A superstitious gambler, he takes off, but Bella’s seen too much, and he vows to return.
Jiffy Arden, a neighborhood kid looking for the black cat and stumbling across the killer, begins to have premonitions of being kidnapped during the season’s first snowstorm. Sure enough, when it strikes, he vanishes, never arriving home from the bus stop. While her son, Max, believes Jiffy has been kidnapped, Bella is convinced he’s just wandered off as he typically does… until a body shows up in the lake.
Now everyone is pulling out all the stops to find the missing child, identify the victim, and collar the killer. And fast, because he’s coming for Bella next in Dead of Winter.
My Thoughts: Bella Jordan is the central character in Dead of Winter, and as she continues to grieve the year-ago loss of her husband Sam, while trying to manage Valley View Inn, the ancient home she is renovating, she also must keep her six-year-old son Max safe.
Max���s best friend Jiffy is mischievous, unsupervised most of the time, and the kind of child who can pull another into his pranks.
When Jiffy goes missing, right after a body is found in the lake, it is easy to imagine that the killer stumbled upon him. Was he kidnapped by the killer, or is there more to the story?
Misty Starr, Jiffy’s mother, does readings, and some of her recent clients have had dark auras. She has also been fighting with her husband, Mike, a deployed soldier. Do any of these characters figure into the missing child scenario?
Lily Dale is an interesting village with quirky residents, including several who seem to connect to the Other Side. A quick read that kept me fascinated, this one earned 4.5 stars.
Jiffy Arden, a neighborhood kid looking for the black cat and stumbling across the killer, begins to have premonitions of being kidnapped during the season’s first snowstorm. Sure enough, when it strikes, he vanishes, never arriving home from the bus stop. While her son, Max, believes Jiffy has been kidnapped, Bella is convinced he’s just wandered off as he typically does… until a body shows up in the lake.
Now everyone is pulling out all the stops to find the missing child, identify the victim, and collar the killer. And fast, because he’s coming for Bella next in Dead of Winter.
My Thoughts: Bella Jordan is the central character in Dead of Winter, and as she continues to grieve the year-ago loss of her husband Sam, while trying to manage Valley View Inn, the ancient home she is renovating, she also must keep her six-year-old son Max safe.
Max���s best friend Jiffy is mischievous, unsupervised most of the time, and the kind of child who can pull another into his pranks.
When Jiffy goes missing, right after a body is found in the lake, it is easy to imagine that the killer stumbled upon him. Was he kidnapped by the killer, or is there more to the story?
Misty Starr, Jiffy’s mother, does readings, and some of her recent clients have had dark auras. She has also been fighting with her husband, Mike, a deployed soldier. Do any of these characters figure into the missing child scenario?
Lily Dale is an interesting village with quirky residents, including several who seem to connect to the Other Side. A quick read that kept me fascinated, this one earned 4.5 stars.
August 14, 2018
Sometimes looking out your window can lead to you seeing something that you can’t unsee. It can also lead to a murderous villan seeing you.
Dead of Winter, is set in a small community in Lily Dale, NY. It’s residents are made up of mediums and psychics.
Bella Jordan & her son are not psychics or mediums. Bella is the manager of Valley View.... a Bed & Breakfast. Their quirky and very likeable neighbors set the page turning pace for this cozy mystery.
This is the third installment in the series. While it can easily be read as a stand alone novel... I recommend beginning with the first in the series. It will be fun learning how Bella & Jordan happened upon Lily Dale & all the characters.
After reading this series, Lily Dale is on my bucket list. Also, another Lily Dale Book is on my wish list. Such an endearing series.
Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Dead of Winter, is set in a small community in Lily Dale, NY. It’s residents are made up of mediums and psychics.
Bella Jordan & her son are not psychics or mediums. Bella is the manager of Valley View.... a Bed & Breakfast. Their quirky and very likeable neighbors set the page turning pace for this cozy mystery.
This is the third installment in the series. While it can easily be read as a stand alone novel... I recommend beginning with the first in the series. It will be fun learning how Bella & Jordan happened upon Lily Dale & all the characters.
After reading this series, Lily Dale is on my bucket list. Also, another Lily Dale Book is on my wish list. Such an endearing series.
Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 29, 2017
I was lucky enough to be granted an advanced copy of this novel, which is part of the Lily Dale Mystery series. When I requested the book, I wasn’t aware it was a series’ entry. But it stands alone well so that wasn’t a problem. Bella and her young son live in a community inhabited by a large number of psychics, but she’s not one of them. One day Bella hears a weird noise and the next day a corpse in a bag washes up on shore. Then a series of inexplicable happenings plague the neighborhood. A little boy disappears, another body is found, and Bella hears things she can’t explain.
The book reads fast and smooth. Those who prefer series will be drawn in enough to read more of these books. The tension is straight up taut. Bella as a narrator works well.
The book reads fast and smooth. Those who prefer series will be drawn in enough to read more of these books. The tension is straight up taut. Bella as a narrator works well.
November 13, 2017
Dead of Winter by Wendy Corsi Staub is the third book in her Lily Dale series and was a captivating read. Bella and Max are enjoying their first winter in Lily Dale; and as Christmas approaches, Bella is trying to earn some new skills to make a little extra money for Max's Christmas presents. A smoothly paced plot that had more than one mystery evolving within the pages. I read the book in two days because I had to "know" what was going to happen next. I'm already looking forward to the next one in the series.
December 15, 2017
I slogged through to the end and I am so glad to be onto a different book! First, parts of it were fun. I enjoyed the spirits and mediums and the missing boy. I was bored silly with these women prattling on about nothing The two mothers kept getting mixed up in my mind and i found myself rereading parts of the story to remember who was who. I enjoyed the children and animals but this is just not my cuppa tea. This is the third book in a series and this may be part of the problem but I can't imagine having to read more about these people!
June 14, 2018
I read the first Lily Dale series years ago and loved them. I was happy to see that she is continuing the series about this town. These books have described the town in such detail that it makes me want to visit there. I really like the characters and will be watching for the next book in this series
December 19, 2017
Anti climatic by the end.
January 23, 2022
DEAD OF WINTER
Wendy Corsi Staub
Published in 2017 and only collecting 71 reviews should have given me a heads up, but I carried on anyway. The book reminded me of a cozy murder, as it is set in a strange and unique community, but only NOT in England, it is New York state.
There are some cute characters, if you are looking for cute, this might be your match! The six-year-old boys, Max, and Jiffy Arden are just as interesting and unique as the adult characters, Bella Jordan and her neighbors one of which is Misty Starr, mother to Jiffy. There is the required black cat that rattles the superstitious murderers who sort of bumble their way through the story.
Misty Starr reads people, and it seems that Jiffy has that power, but is unable at his young and tender age to tell who is and who is not dead. The dead doesn't scare him, so if you show up in an inappropriate place, he really can't tell, he just assumes you might be a spirit. This little fact plays to the plot and when he turns up missing, everyone is concerned about who might have kidnapped him. They really should be concerned about the welfare of the person who took him, he is a mess.
Max, believes Jiffy has been kidnapped, but his mom is sure Jiffy has just wandered off as he typically does… until a body shows up in the lake. Funny how Misty is not really concerned as much as the rest.
The problem is that none of them really know that the murderer is on his way to Bella's house believing that she has seen him when he dumped the body in her neighborhood lake. The community is Lily Dale, hence the series Lily Dale Mysteries. Cute idea, but not really one that drew me in to stay or become a devoted follower. Lots of fluff and fun if that is what is on your menu.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
Wendy Corsi Staub
Published in 2017 and only collecting 71 reviews should have given me a heads up, but I carried on anyway. The book reminded me of a cozy murder, as it is set in a strange and unique community, but only NOT in England, it is New York state.
There are some cute characters, if you are looking for cute, this might be your match! The six-year-old boys, Max, and Jiffy Arden are just as interesting and unique as the adult characters, Bella Jordan and her neighbors one of which is Misty Starr, mother to Jiffy. There is the required black cat that rattles the superstitious murderers who sort of bumble their way through the story.
Misty Starr reads people, and it seems that Jiffy has that power, but is unable at his young and tender age to tell who is and who is not dead. The dead doesn't scare him, so if you show up in an inappropriate place, he really can't tell, he just assumes you might be a spirit. This little fact plays to the plot and when he turns up missing, everyone is concerned about who might have kidnapped him. They really should be concerned about the welfare of the person who took him, he is a mess.
Max, believes Jiffy has been kidnapped, but his mom is sure Jiffy has just wandered off as he typically does… until a body shows up in the lake. Funny how Misty is not really concerned as much as the rest.
The problem is that none of them really know that the murderer is on his way to Bella's house believing that she has seen him when he dumped the body in her neighborhood lake. The community is Lily Dale, hence the series Lily Dale Mysteries. Cute idea, but not really one that drew me in to stay or become a devoted follower. Lots of fluff and fun if that is what is on your menu.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
May 11, 2019
Once I get caught up in a mystery series, it is hard not to pick up the next read. These mysteries do not disappoint. They are just fun to read. Solid mysteries, quirky characters, interesting setting and satisfying solutions make the Lily Dale mysteries great reads for me.
October 29, 2025
3.8 Stars
January 16, 2023
It took me a few chapters to get used to the authors style, but it’s a good story. It’s a good “who dunnit” with some fun, other-worldly appearances included in the detective work. Very engaging characters and a good story.
November 6, 2017
I love this mystery, and this series! From the first time I met Max and Bella, I found them endearing. Third in the Lily Dale Mystery series, each is better than the one previous. Most characters are small-town mediums – eccentric and well-defined. There is more than one mystery, which may or may not be related.
Bella and her six-year-old son Max have been in Lily Dale for months, and it now feels like home. The young widow is managing Valley View Manor, During the winter season, she is helping with renovations planned by the owner. Her husband died almost a year ago, and the winter skies seem to reflect her grief. Much healing has already occurred since her car broke down in the Dale. Less than two weeks before Christmas, Bella tries to eke out cash for gifts for Max. His best friend, Jiffy, continually talks about the snowboard Santa will bring him, and Max just has to have one, too. Jiffy’s dad is serving in the military.
Jiffy has been talking about something creepy – when the first big snowfall comes, he will be kidnapped. He is someone whose mother has the gift, and he does, also. The gift? Everyone in Lily Dale year-round is a psychic. Well, except for Bella. Before the big storm arrived, Bella had seen a boat on the not-quite frozen lake, and heard a horrible cry. The next day, she sees a huge bag or tarp at the shore. It was the body of a man who probably didn’t die from drowning.
Strangers are in the Dale, including two women who go to Misty’s, Jiffy’s mom, for a psychic reading, and a man who looks like Elvis. Then, as the snowstorm arrives, Max is home sick from school. Jiffy disappears between the bus stop and Misty’s, and nobody can find him in the blizzard. The only constant for Bella, other than next door neighbor Odelia, is Drew. The veterinarian helped with Chance’s kittens, especially Max’s Spidey, who needed round-the-clock feedings. Drew’s visits are more frequent and he and Bella are comfortable friends. Drew and Luther, a retired detective, are the ones doing the most to find Jiffy. There is one who knows exactly who took Jiffy, and he isn’t sharing – the one who plans to leave at least a couple more bodies on his way out of town.
The characters are well-defined and multidimensional. Even those new or visiting are depicted as well as possible. We continue to learn about Bella, Max, and Odelia, and begin to embrace Jiffy’s mother, Misty, who we knew little of until now. At first, the residents seem very eccentric but, as Bella has come to accept – that’s just Lily Dale.
The murders and kidnapping are horrifying to a young mother on her own. Bella has done all she can to protect Max. He seems to take Jiffy’s kidnapping much more calmly than the adults; he accepts what Jiffy told him, and awaits the text he will receive from his friend. I like the multiple mysteries; is there more than one bad guy, or just one? The thick snow only fuels Bella’s fear for Jiffy, the worry about the killer, and concern for where Misty is. Descriptions are excellent; I can almost feel the freezing temps, the panic in near whiteout conditions, and the emotions of Misty and Bella. The outcome is very satisfying – while I could figure out part of it, I didn’t. I highly recommend Dead of Winter; it can easily be read as a standalone but reading as part of the series is more satisfying.
From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Bella and her six-year-old son Max have been in Lily Dale for months, and it now feels like home. The young widow is managing Valley View Manor, During the winter season, she is helping with renovations planned by the owner. Her husband died almost a year ago, and the winter skies seem to reflect her grief. Much healing has already occurred since her car broke down in the Dale. Less than two weeks before Christmas, Bella tries to eke out cash for gifts for Max. His best friend, Jiffy, continually talks about the snowboard Santa will bring him, and Max just has to have one, too. Jiffy’s dad is serving in the military.
Jiffy has been talking about something creepy – when the first big snowfall comes, he will be kidnapped. He is someone whose mother has the gift, and he does, also. The gift? Everyone in Lily Dale year-round is a psychic. Well, except for Bella. Before the big storm arrived, Bella had seen a boat on the not-quite frozen lake, and heard a horrible cry. The next day, she sees a huge bag or tarp at the shore. It was the body of a man who probably didn’t die from drowning.
Strangers are in the Dale, including two women who go to Misty’s, Jiffy’s mom, for a psychic reading, and a man who looks like Elvis. Then, as the snowstorm arrives, Max is home sick from school. Jiffy disappears between the bus stop and Misty’s, and nobody can find him in the blizzard. The only constant for Bella, other than next door neighbor Odelia, is Drew. The veterinarian helped with Chance’s kittens, especially Max’s Spidey, who needed round-the-clock feedings. Drew’s visits are more frequent and he and Bella are comfortable friends. Drew and Luther, a retired detective, are the ones doing the most to find Jiffy. There is one who knows exactly who took Jiffy, and he isn’t sharing – the one who plans to leave at least a couple more bodies on his way out of town.
The characters are well-defined and multidimensional. Even those new or visiting are depicted as well as possible. We continue to learn about Bella, Max, and Odelia, and begin to embrace Jiffy’s mother, Misty, who we knew little of until now. At first, the residents seem very eccentric but, as Bella has come to accept – that’s just Lily Dale.
The murders and kidnapping are horrifying to a young mother on her own. Bella has done all she can to protect Max. He seems to take Jiffy’s kidnapping much more calmly than the adults; he accepts what Jiffy told him, and awaits the text he will receive from his friend. I like the multiple mysteries; is there more than one bad guy, or just one? The thick snow only fuels Bella’s fear for Jiffy, the worry about the killer, and concern for where Misty is. Descriptions are excellent; I can almost feel the freezing temps, the panic in near whiteout conditions, and the emotions of Misty and Bella. The outcome is very satisfying – while I could figure out part of it, I didn’t. I highly recommend Dead of Winter; it can easily be read as a standalone but reading as part of the series is more satisfying.
From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
November 15, 2017
I could not stop reading this book !!!! As soon as I started reading Dead of Winter by Wendy Corsi Staub I was hooked !!! Even though this is the third book in the Lily Dale Mystery series and the first one that I read, it didn't matter. I was introduced to everyone in town like it was the first book. Staub's writing allows the reader to pick up the book and before you even finish the first chapter you are at home in this little lakeside community with all its wacky residents !!
The main character focus is on Bella and her young son Max as they are new to Lily Dale (yes Lily Dale is the name of the area , it's not the name of a character). Bella and Max moved there recently after her husband passed away and she ends up running the Valley View Manor on the lake. They were brought to the Valley View Manor by Chance (a cat) and ended up staying.
One unique thing about Dead of Winter is that Lily Dale is full of spiritualists. Most of Bella's neighbors are mediums that see and talk to the dead..... even her son's 6 year old best friend, Jiffy. This doesn't give the reader a "spooky" feeling because the way that it is written is comical at times and, well, the rest just seems to make sense.
Don't get me wrong....there is a murder in the middle of the night and the killer dumps the victim over a rowboat in the lake....and Bella is caught looking out the window by the killer....and Jiffy just happens to run into the killer outside the Valley View Manor......and the victim just happens to be from a very impressive gang of theives.....and to make it all even better Lily Dale is hit with a tremendous snowstorm....
OMG I want to read it again !!! That's how good Dead of Winter is !! I sat on my couch reading it from start to finish !! Once you get to a certain point in the story (I won't tell you where...) you CANNOT put the book down.....you can't !! I challenge you to try !! Believe me when you get to that point, and you will know it when you get there, you mind as well cancel whatever you had planned for the rest of the day.
Dead of Winter is set in a very interesting lakeside community with such interesting people .... I could go on and on regarding the residents, dead and alive, but you should read it for yourself !!
After reading Dead of Winter, I can tell you that I will be going back and reading the rest of the Lily Dale series......
November 7, 2017
Dead of Winter by Wendy Corsi Staub is a leisurely-paced cozy mystery set in the psychic/medium enclave of Lily Dale. This third installment in the Lily Dale Mystery series can easily stand on its own, but I recommend the other novels in the series as well.
The day after observing a curious light on the lake and hearing an ominous scream, innkeeper and non-psychic Bella Jordan finds a corpse washed up on shore. The widowed mom of six year old Max is shaken by the discovery and when Max's friend Jiffy Arden goes missing, she is very worried about the little boy. She has little in common with his mother, medium Misty Starr, who is not the most attentive of parents. Although Bella empathizes with the young mom's concern for her missing son, she is also frustrated by Misty's reliance on her mystical powers to find Jiffy. When another victim is found and Misty also vanishes, Lieutenant John Grange hopes Max and Bella can help with the investigations.
Coming up on the one year anniversary of her husband Sam's death, Bella is busy getting ready for the holidays and trying to finish up the renovations she is doing for extra money. She keeps a rather close eye on both Max and Jiffy after her shocking discovery of the murdered man but she is distracted the day Jiffy disappears. Although somewhat skeptical of her neighbors' supernatural abilities, Bella cannot help but take some of their vague warnings to heart in the aftermath of Jiffy's kidnapping and Misty's troubling disappearance. Can the answers to the recent events in town somehow be related to the unexpected phenomena Bella is suddenly experiencing at the inn? Is Jiffy's disappearance related to the unsolved murders? And even more worrisome, where is Misty?
Despite the rather unhurried pacing, Dead of Winter is an engaging mystery with a cast of quirky yet likable characters and a clever storyline. Bella is a wonderful protagonist who continues to evolve as the series progresses. The mystery element of the storyline is well-done and Wendy Corsi Staub brings the novel to an exciting conclusion. This latest release is another entertaining installment in the Lily Dale Mystery series that old and new fans will enjoy.
The day after observing a curious light on the lake and hearing an ominous scream, innkeeper and non-psychic Bella Jordan finds a corpse washed up on shore. The widowed mom of six year old Max is shaken by the discovery and when Max's friend Jiffy Arden goes missing, she is very worried about the little boy. She has little in common with his mother, medium Misty Starr, who is not the most attentive of parents. Although Bella empathizes with the young mom's concern for her missing son, she is also frustrated by Misty's reliance on her mystical powers to find Jiffy. When another victim is found and Misty also vanishes, Lieutenant John Grange hopes Max and Bella can help with the investigations.
Coming up on the one year anniversary of her husband Sam's death, Bella is busy getting ready for the holidays and trying to finish up the renovations she is doing for extra money. She keeps a rather close eye on both Max and Jiffy after her shocking discovery of the murdered man but she is distracted the day Jiffy disappears. Although somewhat skeptical of her neighbors' supernatural abilities, Bella cannot help but take some of their vague warnings to heart in the aftermath of Jiffy's kidnapping and Misty's troubling disappearance. Can the answers to the recent events in town somehow be related to the unexpected phenomena Bella is suddenly experiencing at the inn? Is Jiffy's disappearance related to the unsolved murders? And even more worrisome, where is Misty?
Despite the rather unhurried pacing, Dead of Winter is an engaging mystery with a cast of quirky yet likable characters and a clever storyline. Bella is a wonderful protagonist who continues to evolve as the series progresses. The mystery element of the storyline is well-done and Wendy Corsi Staub brings the novel to an exciting conclusion. This latest release is another entertaining installment in the Lily Dale Mystery series that old and new fans will enjoy.
November 6, 2017
Bella Jordan unwittingly sees a murderer dump a dead body into a lake across from the Valley View, the bed and breakfast she helps manager. The killer is scared off at that moment, but Bella could be in danger. Like Bella, her young son Max's best friend, Jiffy Arden, was also in the wrong place at the wrong time and has disappeared. Some feel the independent boy, who has a free-spirited mom, has just wandered off. However, Max is positive his friend has been kidnapped and the longer he's been gone, the more it looks like Jiffy, who had premonitions of the event, is also in grave danger.
"Dead of Winter" is the third in the author's Lily Dale series aimed at adults, which is separate from her young adult series. The book has a nice mixture of portraying ordinary small-town life, with the sense of community as well as the gossip, with the paranormal since many of the town's residents have psychic abilities. New readers will feel at home in Lily Dale and those who have read the prior two books will be happy to see the recently widowed Bella settling into her new life in Lily Dale and trying to move on with her life. I also enjoyed getting to know Jiffy's mother Misty better and like her much more after learning more about her.
The main plot about the murder and Jiffy's disappearance is suspenseful. I was frustrated that the investigation drug out more than it needed to because characters wouldn't listen to each other. I found it strange that in a town filled with psychics, there were so many skeptics when someone had a lead on the case based on their intuition. There was a side-plot with one of the town's psychics, Pandora, and her clients that could have served as nice comic relief, but became too over-the-top and got annoying. Luckily, that's a small part of the book, but the rest is interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed the book and hope this unique series continues.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
"Dead of Winter" is the third in the author's Lily Dale series aimed at adults, which is separate from her young adult series. The book has a nice mixture of portraying ordinary small-town life, with the sense of community as well as the gossip, with the paranormal since many of the town's residents have psychic abilities. New readers will feel at home in Lily Dale and those who have read the prior two books will be happy to see the recently widowed Bella settling into her new life in Lily Dale and trying to move on with her life. I also enjoyed getting to know Jiffy's mother Misty better and like her much more after learning more about her.
The main plot about the murder and Jiffy's disappearance is suspenseful. I was frustrated that the investigation drug out more than it needed to because characters wouldn't listen to each other. I found it strange that in a town filled with psychics, there were so many skeptics when someone had a lead on the case based on their intuition. There was a side-plot with one of the town's psychics, Pandora, and her clients that could have served as nice comic relief, but became too over-the-top and got annoying. Luckily, that's a small part of the book, but the rest is interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed the book and hope this unique series continues.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2017
I have been a fan of Wendy Corsi Staub for as long as I can remember and a Dead of Winter did not disappoint.
Dead of Winter is the third book in the adult Lily Dale Mystery series. I have not read the other two so at the beginning I was a little lost in trying to figure out who belonged to whom and who could do what but once I got that down pat the book took off. Bella, moved to Lily Dale with her son after her husband died. Lily Dale is a town centered around the world of mediums. Bella has a hard time believing in the world of mediums. On a cold, dark night as she is looking out her window at the lake, she sees a mysterious light and a few minutes later hears what thinks is a human scream. The next morning she finds a body wrapped in a tarp washed upon the shore in her backyard. Is the body a local? Who killed this person? Should she worry that the killer is still lurking around? Can Bella solve the crime before tragedy affects her family once again?
This was a toe-curling, gripping read. I am already looking for the first two books in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for a review in my own words.
Dead of Winter is the third book in the adult Lily Dale Mystery series. I have not read the other two so at the beginning I was a little lost in trying to figure out who belonged to whom and who could do what but once I got that down pat the book took off. Bella, moved to Lily Dale with her son after her husband died. Lily Dale is a town centered around the world of mediums. Bella has a hard time believing in the world of mediums. On a cold, dark night as she is looking out her window at the lake, she sees a mysterious light and a few minutes later hears what thinks is a human scream. The next morning she finds a body wrapped in a tarp washed upon the shore in her backyard. Is the body a local? Who killed this person? Should she worry that the killer is still lurking around? Can Bella solve the crime before tragedy affects her family once again?
This was a toe-curling, gripping read. I am already looking for the first two books in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for a review in my own words.
November 19, 2017
Dead of Winter is the third Lily Dale mystery and the seventh Lily Dale book by Wendy Corsi Staub. I have always loved her books so I was thrilled to be chosen to read this book. It is set just before Christmas in the middle of a blizzard in Lily Dale, NY, a town that was founded by psychics or spiritualists. Bella Jordan is the only person in town who cannot connect with Spirit. She and her son Max found there way there after her husband died the year before, She manages the Valley View Inn. Not much usually happens in Lily Dale in the winter. Of course Bella has a knack for finding dead bodies so this year is different. This book has all the usual Lily Dale quirky characters, several bad guys, several good guys, at least one good but not so nice guy, a few ghosts, some animals, and a little romance. There are a couple of mysteries that are wrapped up nicely before Christmas. What more could you want? I classify this as a cozy mystery and it is a good one, a fun read. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy for my review.
January 26, 2018
As Mentioned before i loved the Lilydale series in general, but im not loving the Bella ones. This book just irritated me and it got worse as i went through the book. Bella knows this, or hears this, or suspects that... and ALWAYS shes going to tell someone right away but then doesnt or gets distracted. This whole book story would have been solved in ANY other story line becuase they dont make the heroine so damn stupid. If this was real life she would be charged with obstruction of justice. I am not even finished this book, i have about 100 pages to go, but i had to stop and write this review because i was so over all the "tell them laters", now its something in a scrapbook photo of her guests that she recognized, but instead of just saying " oh look thats so and so" she ponders it and ponders what it means and then yet again gets distracted and thinks to herself she will tell them later. At this point i have forgotten all of the things shes going to "tell so and so later" Freaking ANNOYING!!!
August 29, 2017
I am new to the Lily Dale series, but I was fascinated by the characters and their interactions with each other and with Spirit. In this story, Bella unknowingly becomes witness to a murderer disposing of his victim's body in the lake. But the murder isn't the only thing happening in the town. Bella's son, Max, spends most of his time with his best friend, Jiffy, a child that Bella feels is largely left unsupervised by his mother, Misty, a professed psychic. And when the unimaginable happens and Jiffy disappears, the police just assume that he has run away. But Misty is sure that he was kidnapped...at least that seems to be the message that Spirit has sent Misty. And Bella is starting to wonder if there is any connection with the murder, especially after another dead body turns up. There is a lot happening in this story, including possible ghostly messages to Bella...the biggest nonbeliever in the town. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley.
July 8, 2017
Set in the village of Lily Dale, where most residents are mediums, a body is found in the lake and a little boy goes missing during a blizzard. Bella lives in the Valley View inn with her son Max, but doesn't really believe in the mediums. But then she starts hearing music and a cat meowing...when none is there. Max's best friend, Jiffy, is the child who disappears. He sees the Spirit and tells Max that he will be kidnapped during a snowstorm. Has Jiffy simply wandered off? Or has he been kidnapped? Is his disappearance related to the murders? Bella is coming to terms with the death of her husband the last Christmas, and dealing with moving on. A good addition to the Lily Dale mysteries.
January 11, 2018
Wendy Corsi Staub is one of my favorite authors. I will read anything she writes, and I am particularly addicted to her Lily Dale series. Staub brings just enough paranormal into the series to take it up a notch from being just another mystery, yet keep even non-believers questioning if this medium stuff could be real. You will love any book in the series, even if you have not read the others. Her characters are engaging and entertaining. The story moves quickly. There is danger. There is romance. There is internal conflict, external conflict. There are quirky characters. There are intelligent, responsible characters. There are surprises. There are conversations with the dead. What's not to love?
January 30, 2018
I loved this little idealistic village full of psychics with some normal people mixed in. This was my second book in the Lily Dale series and I was so glad to return. I thoroughly loved it.
A close knit village where everybody looks out for one another and wherein several psychics have taken up residence. A very small village with four single women living in nearby cottages. A lead in that tends to lend itself to all kinds of drama at times. Let's make that "cozy drama".
A cute, cozy mystery that has everything. Charm, charms, laughter, great characters and a great story. I look forward to reading more about the ladies in Lily Dale.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
A close knit village where everybody looks out for one another and wherein several psychics have taken up residence. A very small village with four single women living in nearby cottages. A lead in that tends to lend itself to all kinds of drama at times. Let's make that "cozy drama".
A cute, cozy mystery that has everything. Charm, charms, laughter, great characters and a great story. I look forward to reading more about the ladies in Lily Dale.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
January 30, 2018
This book is the third book in the "Lily Dale" mystery series. It easily can be read as a stand-alone novel. Lily Dale is a small unique community in New York, with most of its resident being psychics and mediums. Bella Jordan, a widow, and her young son, Max, recently moved to Lily Dale to manage Valley View Inn, a Bed & Breakfast. Two murders and a little boy missing, has the whole village involved trying to help. The characters are quirky, lovable, and entertaining. The mysteries are nicely wrapped up before Christmas with everyone's help. This is a fun, cozy mystery with lots of suspense. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the first two "Lily Dale" novels. I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews