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Welcome Back to Scumble River #3
Come Homicide or High Water
THE FIRST IN A NEW COZY MYSTERY SERIES
From New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson comes Come Homicide or High Water, a cozy mystery full of twist and turns and small town charm! Because despite appearances, there's something fishy just below the surface of Scumble River...
You'll love getting to know this brand-new series from the author of the beloved Scumble River Mysteries. This book is:
A delightful small town cozy mysteryFull of quirky, lovable charactersPerfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Miranda JamesWelcome back to Scumble River! Skye Denison-Boyd is getting ready to return to work from her maternity leave and hoping for a peaceful year in her job as a school psychologist. But when an elderly woman disappears on her first day back and a disgruntled parent threatens to sue the school, Skye realizes that her return will be anything but quiet.
When the parent suing Skye's school is found dead and with the missing woman's case is still unsolved, Skye suspects the crimes are somehow linked. With her chief of police husband, Wally, at her side, Skye dives into the investigations. Now she and Wally barely have enough time for date night once the babies are asleep! But as tensions rise and Skye and Wally's suspect list lengthens, they start to wonder whether they'll be able to catch the guilty ones before tragedy strikes again.
From New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson comes Come Homicide or High Water, a cozy mystery full of twist and turns and small town charm! Because despite appearances, there's something fishy just below the surface of Scumble River...
You'll love getting to know this brand-new series from the author of the beloved Scumble River Mysteries. This book is:
A delightful small town cozy mysteryFull of quirky, lovable charactersPerfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Miranda JamesWelcome back to Scumble River! Skye Denison-Boyd is getting ready to return to work from her maternity leave and hoping for a peaceful year in her job as a school psychologist. But when an elderly woman disappears on her first day back and a disgruntled parent threatens to sue the school, Skye realizes that her return will be anything but quiet.
When the parent suing Skye's school is found dead and with the missing woman's case is still unsolved, Skye suspects the crimes are somehow linked. With her chief of police husband, Wally, at her side, Skye dives into the investigations. Now she and Wally barely have enough time for date night once the babies are asleep! But as tensions rise and Skye and Wally's suspect list lengthens, they start to wonder whether they'll be able to catch the guilty ones before tragedy strikes again.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 31, 2019
213 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Denise Swanson
69 books1,128 followersDenise Swanson lives in rural Illinois with her husband, classical composer David Stybr.
After 22 years as a practicing school psychologist, she's happiest sitting in her scree porch reading. However, when the weather turns too cold, she's willing to leave the Midwest to cruise the sunny Caribbean.
Denise is an animal lover, but her home is currently furless, since her kitty of 20 years passed away in August of 2016. Instead, she enjoys watching the wildlife out her office window.
After 22 years as a practicing school psychologist, she's happiest sitting in her scree porch reading. However, when the weather turns too cold, she's willing to leave the Midwest to cruise the sunny Caribbean.
Denise is an animal lover, but her home is currently furless, since her kitty of 20 years passed away in August of 2016. Instead, she enjoys watching the wildlife out her office window.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
January 11, 2020
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We return to Scumble River as work is almost complete on Wally and Skye’s new home. They are both looking forward to moving out of the RV and having plenty of room to spread out. Skye is also nearing the end of her maternity leave which means they have to hire a new nanny soon. During her leave, she has been going into the school when her intern replacement needs help dealing with school staff or parents. Right now she is trying to explain to a mother than her child is not as gifted as she thinks. The meeting takes a huge left turn that results in the mother threatening to sue the school. Oh boy, does Skye really want to return to all this drama?
Later the woman threatening to sue is found dead and Skye learns she was her contractor’s wife. Skye gets nervous that someone from the school could be responsible. She also worries that the death will halt construction on her home.
Wally has also asked Skye to assist him in the case of a missing woman. Could the two cases be connected? Could the killer be someone they know? Skye and Wally are determined to find out.
______
Denise Swanson is a remarkable storyteller. Her characters have become old friends and I couldn’t wait to get into the pages to see what they were up to this time.
I love the way Skye and Wally really compliment each other. They are excelling at parenting and working together too. Wally asks for Skye’s help and trusts her theories and opinions. They make a great team and I love that we get to see things from both Skye and Wally’s point of review. It is very refreshing to have a cozy mystery written in this way.
The main characters are surrounded by a great supporting cast as well. There is family to pitch in to help with the babies and to give their opinions on just about everything. Oh, May, you are such a treasure but there are times I want to reach in the book and tape your mouth shut 🙂
We have some quirky characters too. The Dooziers are doozies but always make me smile and sometimes laugh out loud. Friends, school staff and town residents round out the wonderful cast. The dialogues are crisp with a lot of humor. Very realistic for the midwest setting.
The main and subplots are very well-written and have a comfortable flow. The author packed the pages full of daily life and drama along with a nice bit of humor too. Twists, turns, red herrings, this story has them all. Ms. Swanson has given us quite an intriguing story. One of the mysteries wraps up in a delightful way. The other kept me guessing to the very end.
Come Homicide or High Water is a marvelous addition to this series. Entertaining characters wrapped in a delightful story that includes mysteries that are interesting and fun to try to solve. I can’t wait for my next trip to Scumble River.
This is the third book in the continuation of Denise Swanson’s Scumble Murder Mysteries. The change happened when the series was picked up by the new publisher. I had gotten behind on the series but was thrilled to jump back in with this new start. I love these characters and do plan to go back with the books I missed. Ms. Swanson has done an excellent job providing background so readers like me with a few books in arrears can pick up books in the continuation without feeling lost. I recommend new readers start with the first book in the continuation, Dead in the Water for maximum enjoyment. You will probably want to go back and read thm all.
We return to Scumble River as work is almost complete on Wally and Skye’s new home. They are both looking forward to moving out of the RV and having plenty of room to spread out. Skye is also nearing the end of her maternity leave which means they have to hire a new nanny soon. During her leave, she has been going into the school when her intern replacement needs help dealing with school staff or parents. Right now she is trying to explain to a mother than her child is not as gifted as she thinks. The meeting takes a huge left turn that results in the mother threatening to sue the school. Oh boy, does Skye really want to return to all this drama?
Later the woman threatening to sue is found dead and Skye learns she was her contractor’s wife. Skye gets nervous that someone from the school could be responsible. She also worries that the death will halt construction on her home.
Wally has also asked Skye to assist him in the case of a missing woman. Could the two cases be connected? Could the killer be someone they know? Skye and Wally are determined to find out.
______
Denise Swanson is a remarkable storyteller. Her characters have become old friends and I couldn’t wait to get into the pages to see what they were up to this time.
I love the way Skye and Wally really compliment each other. They are excelling at parenting and working together too. Wally asks for Skye’s help and trusts her theories and opinions. They make a great team and I love that we get to see things from both Skye and Wally’s point of review. It is very refreshing to have a cozy mystery written in this way.
The main characters are surrounded by a great supporting cast as well. There is family to pitch in to help with the babies and to give their opinions on just about everything. Oh, May, you are such a treasure but there are times I want to reach in the book and tape your mouth shut 🙂
We have some quirky characters too. The Dooziers are doozies but always make me smile and sometimes laugh out loud. Friends, school staff and town residents round out the wonderful cast. The dialogues are crisp with a lot of humor. Very realistic for the midwest setting.
The main and subplots are very well-written and have a comfortable flow. The author packed the pages full of daily life and drama along with a nice bit of humor too. Twists, turns, red herrings, this story has them all. Ms. Swanson has given us quite an intriguing story. One of the mysteries wraps up in a delightful way. The other kept me guessing to the very end.
Come Homicide or High Water is a marvelous addition to this series. Entertaining characters wrapped in a delightful story that includes mysteries that are interesting and fun to try to solve. I can’t wait for my next trip to Scumble River.
This is the third book in the continuation of Denise Swanson’s Scumble Murder Mysteries. The change happened when the series was picked up by the new publisher. I had gotten behind on the series but was thrilled to jump back in with this new start. I love these characters and do plan to go back with the books I missed. Ms. Swanson has done an excellent job providing background so readers like me with a few books in arrears can pick up books in the continuation without feeling lost. I recommend new readers start with the first book in the continuation, Dead in the Water for maximum enjoyment. You will probably want to go back and read thm all.
January 4, 2020
Skye Denison-Boyd is almost ready to return from maternity leave to her job as a school psychologist. Until she goes back, she’s lending a helping hand to the intern replacing her. She’s called in when an angry mother threatens to sue the school. Her husband, the chief of police, requests her help in locating a missing elderly woman. When the angry parent is found murdered, Skye can’t help wonder if the cases are somehow connected.
Skye and her husband set out to solve both of these mysteries. They suspect the guilty party could be someone they know.
This series originally began with the Scumble River Mystery series and blossomed to the Welcome Back to Scumble River Mystery series. I’m so glad they did. The Scumble River series was one of the first cozy mystery series I ever read, before I knew they were a genre unto themselves. This is the third book in the new series and I love seeing the way Skye has grown from a woman fighting for a career to a woman with a successful career and married with twins. This is why I always think it’s best to start a series from the beginning so you can appreciate the character growth.
However, the mystery itself is contained within this book. So, it can be read on its own. There are no cliffhangers. Still I recommend reading the whole series from the beginning.
This was a quick read for me. I could not put it down and loved every minute of it. The plot was fast-paced and the characters are well-developed. I didn’t see the ending coming at all. I was totally taken by surprise.
This is a wonderful addition to the series and I hope there will be many more to follow.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Skye and her husband set out to solve both of these mysteries. They suspect the guilty party could be someone they know.
This series originally began with the Scumble River Mystery series and blossomed to the Welcome Back to Scumble River Mystery series. I’m so glad they did. The Scumble River series was one of the first cozy mystery series I ever read, before I knew they were a genre unto themselves. This is the third book in the new series and I love seeing the way Skye has grown from a woman fighting for a career to a woman with a successful career and married with twins. This is why I always think it’s best to start a series from the beginning so you can appreciate the character growth.
However, the mystery itself is contained within this book. So, it can be read on its own. There are no cliffhangers. Still I recommend reading the whole series from the beginning.
This was a quick read for me. I could not put it down and loved every minute of it. The plot was fast-paced and the characters are well-developed. I didn’t see the ending coming at all. I was totally taken by surprise.
This is a wonderful addition to the series and I hope there will be many more to follow.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 24, 2019
It is nice to be back in Scumble River. I am a long time Denise Swanson reader and what hit me the most about this story is even after two decades with Skye Denison (now Denison-Boyd) is that the stories continue to be entertaining, intriguing and each with its own distinct story. The characters continue to develop and change enough to make it interesting and Earl Doozier is always good for a chuckle.
This is the third in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series and there are over twenty books featuring Skye Denison in Scumble River. Even if you have never read a Skye Denison-Boyd book Come Homicide or High Water could easily be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is the third in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series and there are over twenty books featuring Skye Denison in Scumble River. Even if you have never read a Skye Denison-Boyd book Come Homicide or High Water could easily be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
September 16, 2019
I really enjoy Denise's books. This is no exception. It's smoothly written and the characters are great. I was hooked on it from the very first and read it in one sitting. There's nothing that pulls you out of the story. A great book. #Come Homicide or High Water #NetGalley
December 31, 2019
In this third book of the series Skye is looking forward to having her new home finished, living in an RV has its challenges especially with two babies to care for. She is also getting prepared to return to work and isn't sure how she feels about leaving her babies, finding the right person to care for them hasn't been ideal. During her first trip back to the school she is met with an angry parent who is ready to sue and Wally ends up needing her help with a missing persons case. The next day Skye gets a panicked phone call and rushed to help but ends up finding a dead body instead. It looks like someone wasn't happy with the disgruntled parent and killed her. Skye can't help but get involved in looking for the killer, she wants to make sure the right person is caught. Follow along and see if she can gather up the proper clues that will help her come to the right conclusion. Will she be able to find a killer and will Wally ever figure out what happened to the missing woman?
October 4, 2021
4.5 stars. The school stuff started to bore me in this book .. but there was plenty of other story to keep me interested!
The killer was a surprise.
Enjoyed this one and glad that Wally, Skye and twins are in their big new house now.
(Covers are really good in this Welcome Back series .. but too many typos!)
The killer was a surprise.
Enjoyed this one and glad that Wally, Skye and twins are in their big new house now.
(Covers are really good in this Welcome Back series .. but too many typos!)
September 7, 2020
Come Homicide or High Water
Welcome Back To Scumble River, Book #3
Denise Swanson
5 Stars
Synopsis:
THE FIRST IN A NEW COZY MYSTERY SERIES
From New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson comes Come Homicide or High Water, a cozy mystery full of twist and turns and small town charm! Because despite appearances, there's something fishy just below the surface of Scumble River...
You'll love getting to know this brand-new series from the author of the beloved Scumble River Mysteries. This book is:
A delightful small town cozy mysteryFull of quirky, lovable charactersPerfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Miranda JamesWelcome back to Scumble River! Skye Denison-Boyd is getting ready to return to work from her maternity leave and hoping for a peaceful year in her job as a school psychologist. But when an elderly woman disappears on her first day back and a disgruntled parent threatens to sue the school, Skye realizes that her return will be anything but quiet.
When the parent suing Skye's school is found dead and with the missing woman's case still unsolved, Skye suspects the crimes are somehow linked. With her chief of police husband, Wally, at her side, Skye dives into the investigations. Now she and Wally barely have enough time for date night once the babies are asleep! But as tensions rise and Skye and Wally's suspect list lengthens, they start to wonder whether they'll be able to catch the guilty ones before tragedy strikes again. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. It would not matter to me if there was a mystery to solve or not, I just enjoy spending time with Skye and Wally. It is so refreshing to read about them working together, whether they are trying to figure out their family situation or trying to solve a mystery. It is great that Wally cares about her input and insights and really listens to Skye.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The descriptions held my interest and the action just kept coming. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. The mystery was challenging and not easily solved, which is a plus in my book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am waiting patiently for the next book to be written.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Welcome Back To Scumble River, Book #3
Denise Swanson
5 Stars
Synopsis:
THE FIRST IN A NEW COZY MYSTERY SERIES
From New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson comes Come Homicide or High Water, a cozy mystery full of twist and turns and small town charm! Because despite appearances, there's something fishy just below the surface of Scumble River...
You'll love getting to know this brand-new series from the author of the beloved Scumble River Mysteries. This book is:
A delightful small town cozy mysteryFull of quirky, lovable charactersPerfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Miranda JamesWelcome back to Scumble River! Skye Denison-Boyd is getting ready to return to work from her maternity leave and hoping for a peaceful year in her job as a school psychologist. But when an elderly woman disappears on her first day back and a disgruntled parent threatens to sue the school, Skye realizes that her return will be anything but quiet.
When the parent suing Skye's school is found dead and with the missing woman's case still unsolved, Skye suspects the crimes are somehow linked. With her chief of police husband, Wally, at her side, Skye dives into the investigations. Now she and Wally barely have enough time for date night once the babies are asleep! But as tensions rise and Skye and Wally's suspect list lengthens, they start to wonder whether they'll be able to catch the guilty ones before tragedy strikes again. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. It would not matter to me if there was a mystery to solve or not, I just enjoy spending time with Skye and Wally. It is so refreshing to read about them working together, whether they are trying to figure out their family situation or trying to solve a mystery. It is great that Wally cares about her input and insights and really listens to Skye.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The descriptions held my interest and the action just kept coming. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. The mystery was challenging and not easily solved, which is a plus in my book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am waiting patiently for the next book to be written.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
January 16, 2020
This book in the series continues the story of Skye, she is married with 3 month old twins. She is getting ready to go back to work at the school full time even though she has been helping out while on leave. The first day back an elderly woman goes missing and a parent threatens to sue the school. The lady is later found dead. Skye and her police chief husband work together to find out what is going on. They are also building their house, while living in an RV, after their home had been destroyed in a storm.
September 22, 2019
Skye Dennison-Boyd is one of my favorite protagonists. I've enjoyed every book in the series and this one is top notch.
A missing you and a murder are just a couple of the things Skye and her husband Wally are dealing with. Add twins, living in an RV and her over involved mother, and you will find Skye with her hands more than full.
Of course, we all know how independent and determined Skye is, so when she becomes embroiled in these investigations, we see her at her best. Of course, no book is complete without the wild antics of the Doosiers, and fans won't be disappointed with their shenanigans in Come Homicide Or High Water.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read this book.
A missing you and a murder are just a couple of the things Skye and her husband Wally are dealing with. Add twins, living in an RV and her over involved mother, and you will find Skye with her hands more than full.
Of course, we all know how independent and determined Skye is, so when she becomes embroiled in these investigations, we see her at her best. Of course, no book is complete without the wild antics of the Doosiers, and fans won't be disappointed with their shenanigans in Come Homicide Or High Water.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read this book.
January 13, 2020
School psychologist and police consultant Skye Denison-Boyd may still be on maternity leave, but she knows her intern needs help and clearly isn’t getting it from the horrible principal or the others who said they would help in Skye’s absence. Skye wants the young woman to succeed, so helps her out where she can. A disgruntled parent threatens to sue the school because her little girl wasn’t assigned to the school’s gifted program, and winds up dead. At the same time, an elderly woman who may have Alzheimer’s disappears from Scumble River. Skye thinks the two cases may be related, and she and her husband, Chief of Police Wally Boyd, set out to solve the mysteries.
I have enjoyed every single book in this series, from book 1 in the Scumble River Mysteries to this book 3 in the reboot. The reboot retains the same loveable, quirky (an in some cases, extremely annoying) characters, but moves them to present day, where the first part of the series was set in the 90s.
I find Skye to be highly relatable. She seems very real to me. And I love the relationship between her and Wally, who was her school-girl crush. She has insecurities about her appearance (she’s “plus” size, and sometimes wonders how someone so stunningly attractive would pick her), but she struggles to overcome them and feel worthy of the relationship. Wally respects her abilities as a psychologist and frequently seeks her opinions on cases. Plus, she can get people to talk, where he can’t. The secondary characters are multi-dimensional and add humor to the stories. The author perfectly captures the eccentricities of a small town and how everyone knows everyone else’s business.
Some long-running series grow stale for me, but not this one. The author manages to keep the situations and characters fresh and believable. I prefer mysteries that are character-driven, and like to find out whodunnit when the protagonist does. While I was hoping the killer would be a character I particularly dislike, the book took a left at the ending and I was surprised by the outcome. I also enjoyed that the author put a couple of secondary characters in the police sights; I thought this a nice change from the standard “bushy-haired stranger” or newcomer always being the guilty party.
I have the entire series (both the old one and the reboot) in paperback. I am always happy to see a new book arrive. I know I’m going to get a nicely balanced mystery/romance/day-to-day-life of favorite characters. The Scumble River books hold my interest and keep me thinking about the story when I’m not reading. When they’re done I’m always a little sad, as I feel like these character have become friends over the years. I eagerly await the next entry in this enjoyable series.
I have enjoyed every single book in this series, from book 1 in the Scumble River Mysteries to this book 3 in the reboot. The reboot retains the same loveable, quirky (an in some cases, extremely annoying) characters, but moves them to present day, where the first part of the series was set in the 90s.
I find Skye to be highly relatable. She seems very real to me. And I love the relationship between her and Wally, who was her school-girl crush. She has insecurities about her appearance (she’s “plus” size, and sometimes wonders how someone so stunningly attractive would pick her), but she struggles to overcome them and feel worthy of the relationship. Wally respects her abilities as a psychologist and frequently seeks her opinions on cases. Plus, she can get people to talk, where he can’t. The secondary characters are multi-dimensional and add humor to the stories. The author perfectly captures the eccentricities of a small town and how everyone knows everyone else’s business.
Some long-running series grow stale for me, but not this one. The author manages to keep the situations and characters fresh and believable. I prefer mysteries that are character-driven, and like to find out whodunnit when the protagonist does. While I was hoping the killer would be a character I particularly dislike, the book took a left at the ending and I was surprised by the outcome. I also enjoyed that the author put a couple of secondary characters in the police sights; I thought this a nice change from the standard “bushy-haired stranger” or newcomer always being the guilty party.
I have the entire series (both the old one and the reboot) in paperback. I am always happy to see a new book arrive. I know I’m going to get a nicely balanced mystery/romance/day-to-day-life of favorite characters. The Scumble River books hold my interest and keep me thinking about the story when I’m not reading. When they’re done I’m always a little sad, as I feel like these character have become friends over the years. I eagerly await the next entry in this enjoyable series.
December 28, 2019
Wally and Sky are anxiously awaiting getting into their new home, but the general contractor is taking his time. Sky is helping out some at the school, even before her maternity leave is up and a parent is insisting her child needs advanced classes. When the parent ends up murdered, with Earl Doozier finding the body, Sky is drawn in and helps Wally try to figure out who the murderer is - it could be the husband, also their general contractor, one of the principals of the school, or who knows? There is also a missing woman whose husband is demanding Wally find her. There is a lot happening in this book, but it all ties together. Love the characters, the plot is well done and the read is fun.
February 20, 2021
This is the 3rd instalment in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series and I would recommend you read the previous books first. I hadn’t and felt like I might of missed out on some things that lead up to where this story starts.
Welcome back to Scumble River! Skye Denison-Boyd is getting ready to return to work from her maternity leave and hoping for a peaceful year in her job as a school psychologist. But when an elderly woman disappears on her first day back and a disgruntled parent threatens to sue the school, Skye realizes that her return will be anything but quiet.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Welcome back to Scumble River! Skye Denison-Boyd is getting ready to return to work from her maternity leave and hoping for a peaceful year in her job as a school psychologist. But when an elderly woman disappears on her first day back and a disgruntled parent threatens to sue the school, Skye realizes that her return will be anything but quiet.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 28, 2020
Come Homicide or High Water by Denise Swanson is the third book in the author’s Welcome Back to Scumble River series. There are also 19 books in the original Scumble River series. This is the first of this author’s books that I’ve read. I was able to step right into this story but I definitely felt that I was missing a lot of the town/family history. This was a nice, easy cozy mystery. I will be looking for more books in this series.
December 27, 2019
Come Homicide or High Water by Denise Swanson is the 3rd book in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series, and another exciting addition. Skye and Wally are busy taking care of their twins, they make it sound so easy ha ha. There is so much going on in their lives, it's non stop action. Will there house ever get done? Will the grandparents ever give them so space? Will they find the killer? I highly recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers, weather your new to the series, or a long time follower.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Poison Pen Press. Thank you. And thanks for bringing the series back to us.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Poison Pen Press. Thank you. And thanks for bringing the series back to us.
November 6, 2019
This is the third book in the welcome back to scumble river series. Skye and Wally are still living in a rv while their house is being build. With two new babies the rv is feeling very cramped. She starts to worry that the project won't be finished before the holidays as the contractor continually shows up late. She is also dealing with a parent that intends to sue the principal of the high school. Skye soon realizes the the parent is the wife of their contractor. The wife turns up dead in her backyard not long after and Wally and Skye have a murder to investigate alongside a missing persons case they were previously looking into.
I always love to visit Scumble River. There are no shortage of quirky characters. How can you not love the Dooziers. I thought the mystery was well done and the different plotlines blended together wonderfully. I also like that we get to see both Skye and Wally's point of view. It is different than in the original Scumble River series where it was only written from Skye view. It is interesting to see. The one thing that i felt was missing was we really didn't see Skye's friend Trixie as much as we used to. I miss her and Skye sleuthing together. I would definitely recommend this series and plan to read more.
I always love to visit Scumble River. There are no shortage of quirky characters. How can you not love the Dooziers. I thought the mystery was well done and the different plotlines blended together wonderfully. I also like that we get to see both Skye and Wally's point of view. It is different than in the original Scumble River series where it was only written from Skye view. It is interesting to see. The one thing that i felt was missing was we really didn't see Skye's friend Trixie as much as we used to. I miss her and Skye sleuthing together. I would definitely recommend this series and plan to read more.
November 6, 2020
Come Homicide or High Water by Denise Swanson is the 3rd book in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series. Skye Dennison Boyd is preparing to return back to work as wellas move into their new house when their builders wife is murdered. One of my favourite series and I love how well Skye and Wally work together. The best part is catching up with everyone as they prepare for Thanksgiving. The Dooziers again have a crazy scheme and Loretta and Vince have a new baby. Another wonderful and entertaining book.
May 7, 2020
I really enjoy this series and it is one of the few that I'm current on and have to wait for new books to come out. I really like that Skye is a real character who has changed, developed and continues to new phases in her life. I liked the mystery in this one and it was full of surprises at the end.
January 1, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Come Homicide or High Water is the third book in the spinoff cozy mystery series by Denise Swanson. Released 31st Dec. 2019 from Poisoned Pen Press, it's 352 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is an odd cozy with an extremely quirky set of characters. There are some humorous moments and overall the whole is fluffy, humorous, and passably well written. There is a murder mystery wrapped in the disappearance of an elderly woman. Multiple disparate plot threads intertwine in the central murder and disappearance including house-building contractor woes, antagonistic counterproductive school administrators, and main character Skye trying to raise twins and keep her marriage on an even keel living in an RV on site where her house is being rebuilt.
I didn't find Skye a particularly sympathetic character, she's meant to be a school psychologist and has demonstrably bad impulse control and planning issues of her own. I found myself being yanked out of the story by eye-watering dialogue when any of the Dooziers show up. The buildup and denouement were just strange and 'off' to me.
I read this one as a standalone which undoubtedly contributed to my disorientation when reading. The reviews I've read are almost universally glowing. I think this would be a better fit for fans of 'wacky & whimsical' small town cozies. Bonus points for fans of the author's other work. The language was surprisingly strong (lots of cursing and adult themes) for a warm & fuzzy type cozy. The author (who was a school psychologist herself) also writes some characters who have mental health issues in a manner which seemed unnecessarily stereotyping.
Three and a half stars, rounded up because the prose really is quite good for the genre.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Come Homicide or High Water is the third book in the spinoff cozy mystery series by Denise Swanson. Released 31st Dec. 2019 from Poisoned Pen Press, it's 352 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is an odd cozy with an extremely quirky set of characters. There are some humorous moments and overall the whole is fluffy, humorous, and passably well written. There is a murder mystery wrapped in the disappearance of an elderly woman. Multiple disparate plot threads intertwine in the central murder and disappearance including house-building contractor woes, antagonistic counterproductive school administrators, and main character Skye trying to raise twins and keep her marriage on an even keel living in an RV on site where her house is being rebuilt.
I didn't find Skye a particularly sympathetic character, she's meant to be a school psychologist and has demonstrably bad impulse control and planning issues of her own. I found myself being yanked out of the story by eye-watering dialogue when any of the Dooziers show up. The buildup and denouement were just strange and 'off' to me.
I read this one as a standalone which undoubtedly contributed to my disorientation when reading. The reviews I've read are almost universally glowing. I think this would be a better fit for fans of 'wacky & whimsical' small town cozies. Bonus points for fans of the author's other work. The language was surprisingly strong (lots of cursing and adult themes) for a warm & fuzzy type cozy. The author (who was a school psychologist herself) also writes some characters who have mental health issues in a manner which seemed unnecessarily stereotyping.
Three and a half stars, rounded up because the prose really is quite good for the genre.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
December 30, 2019
Series: Welcome Back to Scumble River – Book 3
Author: Denise Swanson
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Amateur Sleuth
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Page Count: 352
Publishing Date: December 31, 2019
From Poisoned Pen Press comes the newest cozy book in the “Welcome Back to Scumble River” series by Denise Swanson comes the highly anticipated third book, Come Homicide or High Water.
In this new cozy book, Skye is happy with her life as a new mom of twins, a husband she adores, a job she is looking forward to getting back too but with a hint of regret about leaving the babies for most of the day. The occasional murder or missing person is troublesome, but she loves living in the town, and most of the residents are lovely, with a few exceptions. Her life is a far cry from when she first returned to Scumble River unhappy, broke, and out of options.
When a woman goes missing, and shortly after another woman is murdered. Skye helps her husband track down anyone who may have seen the missing woman, along with questioning the suspects to find the killer. It doesn’t take long for Skye and Wally to realize that people are lying and hiding information. This cozy book comes to an unexpected conclusion and will leave readers delighted with the outcome.
As with any cozy book, the killer is found, but may not be who readers have at the top of their suspect list. Clues are peppered throughout the story, and the characters lead readers on an adventure in family, friends, and co-worker's lives while piecing together the crime, the motive, and the outcome.
I found this cozy book to be entertaining, detailed enough to keep my interest and a fast-paced read. The writing is flawless; the plot easy to understand, and the characters delightful. I am happy to recommend Come Homicide or High Water.
Author: Denise Swanson
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Amateur Sleuth
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Page Count: 352
Publishing Date: December 31, 2019
From Poisoned Pen Press comes the newest cozy book in the “Welcome Back to Scumble River” series by Denise Swanson comes the highly anticipated third book, Come Homicide or High Water.
In this new cozy book, Skye is happy with her life as a new mom of twins, a husband she adores, a job she is looking forward to getting back too but with a hint of regret about leaving the babies for most of the day. The occasional murder or missing person is troublesome, but she loves living in the town, and most of the residents are lovely, with a few exceptions. Her life is a far cry from when she first returned to Scumble River unhappy, broke, and out of options.
When a woman goes missing, and shortly after another woman is murdered. Skye helps her husband track down anyone who may have seen the missing woman, along with questioning the suspects to find the killer. It doesn’t take long for Skye and Wally to realize that people are lying and hiding information. This cozy book comes to an unexpected conclusion and will leave readers delighted with the outcome.
As with any cozy book, the killer is found, but may not be who readers have at the top of their suspect list. Clues are peppered throughout the story, and the characters lead readers on an adventure in family, friends, and co-worker's lives while piecing together the crime, the motive, and the outcome.
I found this cozy book to be entertaining, detailed enough to keep my interest and a fast-paced read. The writing is flawless; the plot easy to understand, and the characters delightful. I am happy to recommend Come Homicide or High Water.
March 11, 2025
If you've gotten this far into the series, you know what to expect. Now, she's still good at surprising me when it comes to who the culprit is at the end.
However, Skye, our protagonist, seemed particularly...dumb in this one. As a psychologist who is very good at keeping her cool when speaking to people, she did not during this book. We could blame hormones, she just had twins, but she never caught herself later for it or self-reflected. She just constantly was spouting off far more than I am used to. She also ignored GLARING red flags around her.
This is a smart character, so watching her act like this was a bit frustrating.
However, Skye, our protagonist, seemed particularly...dumb in this one. As a psychologist who is very good at keeping her cool when speaking to people, she did not during this book. We could blame hormones, she just had twins, but she never caught herself later for it or self-reflected. She just constantly was spouting off far more than I am used to. She also ignored GLARING red flags around her.
This is a smart character, so watching her act like this was a bit frustrating.
March 20, 2020
Second book I've just read by this prolific author who has at least 2 new series that do share some references to at least 1 previous series about Scumble River (Illinois?). Quite enjoyed it, & may look for others once covid-19 crisis is over & library re-opens.
This protagonist is a school psychologist, a career shared by the author for over 20 years.
This protagonist is a school psychologist, a career shared by the author for over 20 years.
December 8, 2020
Well-plotted, pleasant enough read, if not particularly original. One star was deducted for the persistent use of the word "sneered" as a speech descriptor.
May 4, 2020
Meh. This book gives off strong "middle-aged white lady" vibes. There is some nice body positivity, but there's also some "people are too sensitive" talk and use of the word 'shyster', which is borderline at best. I liked the resolution of the missing person case, but the murderer felt too random for the other resolution to be satisfying.
November 18, 2019
This is the 3rd installment in the Welcome Back to Scrumble River and my first introduction to this series. Skye Denison-Boyd is a new mother of twins and she is married to the Chief of Police Wally. They are building a new house and are currently living in an RV. They are struggling with the contractor to get the work done before the holidays. Skye is also returning to work after her maternity leave as a school psychologist. She is hoping for a calm year but an irate parent is planning to sue the school and the parent is none other than the wife of the contactor who is working on their house. She ends up dead in her backyard and Skye becomes involved in the investigation. The town of Scrumble River is a very interesting place and it was a good mystery. I am planning to go back and get the first two in the series.
November 30, 2019
An intriguing mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. Come Homicide or High Water is a story that you'll enjoy reading ad the characters will win your heart over.
December 13, 2019
Come Homicide or Highwater by Denise Swanson in another of the Welcome Back to Scumble River series and brings us home to Skye and Wally and their adorable twins, who at three months of age are still living in the RV Wally's dad provided after a tornado leveled their house. Work is progressing on the new house and if their general contractor would arrive a little more consistently, life would be better. Wally continues as police chief and Skye, although she is still on maternity leave, usually goes in to work a time or two a week for a few hours, just to supervise the intern that had been left in charge. Life was good, only the disappearance of an older woman on the horizon until one day when the silence in the RV is broken by a call from Earl Dozier, pleading for assistance. Skye calls her father-in-law for last minute babysitting and takes off for the address Earl had given her. At first she sees nothing so she gets out of her car to investigate and comes upon Earl...in a turkey costume. He tells her there is a dead body but he did no killing and she discovers he's right! She immediately calls Wally at which point Earl takes off, only to be immediately escorted back by the security guys who had followed her at her father-in-law's behest. So the investigation begins. It is typical Scumble River.
Denise Swanson is the grand dame of the cozy mystery. This series has been running since 2000 and just gets better as our characters lives grow and change. Skye is still insecure although she is coming around, mainly thanks to Wally and his love for her. She has her family, something she though would never happen and she has Wally and will soon have a new house. Life has never been better. The fabulous thing about Scumble River is the peripheral characters that we have come to know and love, foremost the Doziers but Skye's mother, May, high school principal, Home Knapik, even mayor, Dante. All are unique and lovable in their own ways. The plot is interesting but not incredibly different than usual. Fun to read. Fun to return to Scumble River. I recommend it to readers who have followed the series for years and to new readers. This is a great place to begin.
I received a free ARC of Come Homicide or High Water from Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein in are solely my own. #netgalley #homicideorhighwater
Denise Swanson is the grand dame of the cozy mystery. This series has been running since 2000 and just gets better as our characters lives grow and change. Skye is still insecure although she is coming around, mainly thanks to Wally and his love for her. She has her family, something she though would never happen and she has Wally and will soon have a new house. Life has never been better. The fabulous thing about Scumble River is the peripheral characters that we have come to know and love, foremost the Doziers but Skye's mother, May, high school principal, Home Knapik, even mayor, Dante. All are unique and lovable in their own ways. The plot is interesting but not incredibly different than usual. Fun to read. Fun to return to Scumble River. I recommend it to readers who have followed the series for years and to new readers. This is a great place to begin.
I received a free ARC of Come Homicide or High Water from Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein in are solely my own. #netgalley #homicideorhighwater
January 1, 2020
NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press have helped make my day with Denise Swanson"s newest Scumble River mystery featuring Skye Denison-Boyd and the wonderful cast of characters she lives with.
Skye is still on maternity leave from her job as school psychologist for Scumble River schools. Between a missing elderly woman and the wife of her general contractor being found dead, Skye is again helping her husband Police Chief Wally Boyd try to find answers to both mysteries. Juggling the twins, helping Wally, getting ready to move, soon she hopes, into the new house and getting ready for the holidays, Skye is realizing life is going to be very different when she returns to work full time and has to find a Nanny with everything else happening. Lots of familiar faces and some new ones make this another must read for fans and newcomers to this series alike! I was guessing throughout the whole book and the answers surprised me when they were finally revealed! Happy reading!
Skye is still on maternity leave from her job as school psychologist for Scumble River schools. Between a missing elderly woman and the wife of her general contractor being found dead, Skye is again helping her husband Police Chief Wally Boyd try to find answers to both mysteries. Juggling the twins, helping Wally, getting ready to move, soon she hopes, into the new house and getting ready for the holidays, Skye is realizing life is going to be very different when she returns to work full time and has to find a Nanny with everything else happening. Lots of familiar faces and some new ones make this another must read for fans and newcomers to this series alike! I was guessing throughout the whole book and the answers surprised me when they were finally revealed! Happy reading!
October 13, 2019
This is another good one in the Scumble River series. Skye is managing her maternity leave and now a murder as well. She gets dragged into it by Earl Doozier of all people. It also involves her contractor that is building her new house. There is multiple mention of the tornado that came through town and destroyed their house as well as others. I realized that I had missed the previous book, so I will have to backtrack and read that one! The mystery rides along at a good pace and everything unfolds and makes sense. All of the favorite characters are back. I really appreciate that the author is still interested enough in Skye and the rest of Scumble River to put in a great effort to make the story interesting and not just phone it home as some have with long running series. This has been around awhile, and I hope that it will continue to delight us with tales of Scumble River.
September 17, 2019
I received a digital copy of this title from Edelweiss for an honest review.
Skye is settling into new motherhood, counting the days until her new home is finished so she can get out of a cramped trailer. She isn't back to work, officially, but she is stepping in from time to time to help the intern. But when a local woman goes missing and the mother of one of her students (who was in the process of suing the school) is found dead, she finds herself back in the center of a mystery again.
Come Homicide or High Water is yet another delightful entry in the Return to Scumble River series. Now with twins, we get to see how Skye adeptly juggles being a mom with all the other things she has to do, including solve mysteries. Fans of this series will love this newest entry.
Skye is settling into new motherhood, counting the days until her new home is finished so she can get out of a cramped trailer. She isn't back to work, officially, but she is stepping in from time to time to help the intern. But when a local woman goes missing and the mother of one of her students (who was in the process of suing the school) is found dead, she finds herself back in the center of a mystery again.
Come Homicide or High Water is yet another delightful entry in the Return to Scumble River series. Now with twins, we get to see how Skye adeptly juggles being a mom with all the other things she has to do, including solve mysteries. Fans of this series will love this newest entry.
September 24, 2019
Warning Red Herrings! so while I was able to spot some of the red herrings, I wasn't able to figure who did it. I enjoyed this book and Skye, Wally and family are great. Scumble River is a good place to visit, although I always wonder what Mayor Dante is up to.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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