A Country Gift Shop Collection

Country Gift Shop #1-3

by Vivian Conroy

The perfect cosy crime bundle, featuring all three Country Gift Shop mysteries.

Glen Cove is a rather murderous place.

Dead to Begin With

Vicky Simmons is looking for the simple life. She’s ready to trade in London for a slower pace by opening a British Country Gift Shop in her old hometown on the coast of Maine.

All is looking rosy until Vicky finds herself face-to-face with a dead body and Michael is the prime suspect. When the sheriff links the motive for murder to the unsolved disappearance of a teenage girl twenty years ago, Vicky must turn amateur sleuth. She’ll stop at nothing to save Michael…and unmask the real killer!

Grand Prize: Murder!

Inviting the bestselling cozy crime author Bella Brookes to town is going to be the best business move Vicky Simmons has made yet. Not only is Bella going to sign her books to kick off Glen Cove’s annual One-Mile Book Market, but she’s also running her famous scavenger hunt right in town. That’s sure to win over the townsfolk!

All is going to plan until a dead body is discovered, drawing Vicky straight to the scene of the crime. After the last murder Vicky had vowed to stay out of Sheriff Cash’s way, but when death comes to town she finds herself embroiled in the investigation.

Written into the Grave

Vicky Simmons’s life was supposed to be relaxing after she moved back home to the coast of Maine, but instead of baking bread and gardening she’s been chasing down killers and it’s time to stop. Vicky is ready to slow down again and vows to start focusing more on her roses than solving crime.

That is until she reads the new serial in the paper over breakfast, describing a brutal murder that takes place on a cliff top road just above a beach. Only to find herself moments later, walking Coco and Mr. Pug, face to face with a dead body on the sand. The murder victim described exactly as he was in the story…

Genres: Mystery

778 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2018

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to be approved for this collection of mysteries, Dead to Begin With, Grand Prize: Murder!, and the third in the collection, Written into the Grave. These mysteries are fun, quick reads all set in a coastal town in Maine, Glen Cove. Vicky Simmons is the main character who comes back to her hometown to open a cute little gift shop and finds herself revisiting the town’s unsolved murder from years ago, when new information comes to light. In a small town everyone is looking for information on the murder.
In the second and third book, the mysteries continue with more murders in this little town. I enjoyed continuing the series with Vicky Simmons and her doggies, Coco and Pug, as I was much more familiar with the characters in Glen Cove. These books are great for a rainy day read all snuggled up on the sofa!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, HQ Digital and the author Vivian Conroy for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have read two out of these three books when they were initially released as individual books but I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading them and the third book. They all feature Vicky Simmons who is the person acting as detective in each of these enthralling murder mystery stories. The stories are well plotted, leaving the reader with plenty of clues which sometimes are red herrings, leading you astray but that always make total sense when you know who really did it! The whole area is portrayed brilliantly, brought to life in the imagination of the reader. I can’t recommend this series - and this collection- highly enough. If you enjoy “cosy” murder mystery stories make sure you don’t miss this brilliant series - and anything by this very talented author. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by her and can’t wait to read anything new she writes in future.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

[Jéssica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't the first novel I have read from this author, but I was as excited as the first book. This novel has three mysteries in it, because one is never enough and this is a collection novel.

Each story has a quick and entertaining read with a mystery that was fun and interesting, and has we follow Vicky Simmons I couldn't help but feel as if I was her assistant in a way. I was trying to figure out things, I was learn about the other characters and I was enjoying the scenery in this novel.

With Vicky returning to her hometown and an old unsolved murder resurfaces with another crime, I knew things would be interesting. And the next mystery was just as good! I can't really say which story was my favourite, because since I couldn't stop reading the novel, I just went to one mystery to the other, to the other... And I liked it quite a lot!


Of course it's very important that I got intrigued by the murders and the mystery surrounding them, but it was really important to me as well, seeing the characters' relationships and interactions, because of all the information there, and that also made me connect with the characters involved as if I was part of the town and the storyline.

Overall, it was an amazing novel. each story had its positive points, and was unique and funny in it's own way. And I liked that, because that made each mystery unique and I didn't felt like I was reading a repeat story after the other.

I was already excited about Vivian Conroy's storytelling and books, and this one just solidified that thought.

[I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Vivian Conroy and HQ Digital via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]

[Katrina Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great series. It flowed from book to book within the series. Perhaps the ending of each became predictable by the last one, but still loved the ending.

[Patricia Bello · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of 3 stories about the Vicky, who comes home to Glen Cove after living in London for years to set up a British-themed gift shop, and the murders and mysteries she encounters.

All the stories were interesting. In the first story, I didn't know what to expect with Michael also home and everyone getting agitated about the revival of an old murder that was never solved. With so many characters in this town, it was a little difficult at first to keep track of them all. In the second story, Bella definitely didn't make it easy for herself which was a little irritating. The last story, well, I liked the story published in the paper.

I was lucky enough to be granted a copy of this book. And this was the first time I've read a story from this author. Sad to say, though, it took me quite a long time to finish this book. Though I wasn't quite sure each time who did it, and the ideas of the stories really was good, it was well...a little dull. And VIcky was a little dull. Cash was interesting. Michael was interesting. Vicky was a little dull. Other than that, it's a good set for those who enjoy cozy mysteries.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to review this book set. My opinion is my own.
I was pleased to receive this set as requested . I am a fan of the author's writing. This is a set of 3 mysteries set in Maine in a pleasing small town atmosphere.
The stories included in this set are the following: Dead To Begin With
Grand Prize: Murder!
Written Into The Grave.
These are the "Country Gift Shop mysteries'" which are all set in small town Glenn Cove, Maine. The author has a talent for descriptions of settings for her mysteries and this setting was written to perfection.

Vicky has returned to her home town of Maine from her busy former life in London. She is setting up her British gift shop and looking forward to living a more quiet life. She soon finds that murder has found her and she must dive into the investigation. She is a good savvy amateur sleuth and soon in each book, she is on the right track to finding the right set of clues and suspects to track down the killer.
This is 600 pages and such a enjoyable read. I found the charcters likable and the mysteries enjoyable with twist and turns to keep me guessing. This is a fun group of cozy mysteries i highly recommend.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first admission is that I've only read the first of this collection; as I read the others, I will review them separately. 

Heading back to her home town of Maine from the busy metropolis of London, Vicky Simmons intends to use her experience of life abroad to open a British Country Gift shop, and enjoy a slower pace of life than the one she's had recently. What she doesn't expect is to bump into past friends and acquaintances who have also returned, and she certainly doesn't expect to be involved in finding a dead body!

I so enjoy Vivian Conroy's writing, and it is an absolute pleasure to begin a new series by her. I am a great fan of her other cosy mysteries, and she weaves a fine tale with enough twists and turns to keep her readers glued to the page, whilst also including plenty of lighter details to keep up the entertainment level. Dead To Begin With has everything I expected of it and more, and it's only due to unfortunate personal circumstances that I haven't read the other two books in this collection yet, and I intend to rectify this as soon as possible. A sheer joy to read, and a definite recommendation to all those who love a lighter mystery.

My thanks to HQ Digital for my copy via NetGalley. This is, of course, my own opinions.

[Leith Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read the first two books in this series already and liked them, and I enjoyed the third as well. Vicky Simmons comes home to open a gift shop that specializes in British goods and it's a success. Unfortunately, she has to solve a few murders to protect her friends and family.

These are classic cozy mysteries and I recommend them. Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[ABCme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three entertaining cozy mysteries in one.
Glen Cove is a pleasant community set in pretty surroundings. The local gossip machine assists the police in solving crimes and provides the daily newspaper with exciting stories. The main meeting point for our sleuths is a newly opened store in Britisch products, that looks and smells so wonderful I would hop the pond to visit!
All three books are well written, fast paced and fun reads.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of cozy mystery and this was a great discovery.
I loved the style of writing, the cast of likeable characters and the setting.
The mysteries were good, full of twists and turns, and kept me guessing till the end.
It was an entertaining and engaging read that kept me hooked till the last page.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this ARC

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bringing together all three of Vivian Conroy’s Country Gift Shop cozy mysteries, A Country Gift Shop Collection offers fun, easy reads, perfect to cosy up with by the fire or by the pool.

In the one bundle are; Dead to Begin With, sees Vicky Simmons return to her childhood home of Glen Cove, Maine, to open her own gift shop with a British twist, only for a twenty year old murder mystery to resurface and turn simple shop owner into sleuth. In Grand Prize: Murder!, a cosy crime writer is in town but how will Vicky cope when life becomes deadlier than fiction? Then lastly, Written into the Grave, Vicky reads a grisly installment in the local newspaper serial at breakfast and before lunch there are police cars at the cliffs just as the story predicted.

Conroy captures suspense with the best of them, and the mysteries are quite good and well thought-out. They’re not so difficult that you feel cheated when the killer is revealed (side point: I did find it a bit odd that a town with a low crime rate suddenly had three consecutive murders immediately following Vicky’s arrival), but not so obvious that you get bored three chapters in because you’ve already worked the mystery out. They compare well with the Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton, and if you like those you will definitely like these.

Conroy also has an obvious talent for location descriptions, however, sometimes I found she indulged a little and that could distract from the story. For example, mid mystery, not shortly after a heated exchange with the town sheriff, our attention is directed instead to how soaps are packaged at the giftshop. Such info would have made sense at the beginning of the story, establishing the calm before the storm so to speak, but it did mess up the pace a little. Same with the characters, even Vicky meandered a little - one minute suggesting that the sheriff treat a suspect with more caution, only for the next chapter to open with her appealing for compassion.

Of course there are bits that are slightly cheesy but these are cosy mysteries, if there wasn’t a bit of melodrama I would think I’d picked up the wrong book!

I admit, these books probably weren’t for me (with that in mind take my rating with a large pinch of salt), and I admit, perhaps that was because I read all three one after another and may have reached - and crossed - my own upper limit for the genre. Regardless, if you like your cozy mysteries sweet and fun, A Country Gift Shop Collection is well worth treating yourself to, perfect for holiday reading or sneaking a chapter or two over the weekend.


A Country Gift Shop Collection is published by HQ Digital, and available for Kindle and Kobo.

I received my copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review, all opinions my own etc etc

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