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The Inn at Holiday Bay #9

Proof in the Photo

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A heartwarming cozy mystery series about losing everything, taking a chance, and starting again.

After suffering a personal tragedy Abby Sullivan buys a huge old seaside mansion she has never even seen, packs up her life in San Francisco, and moves to Holiday Bay Maine, where she is adopted, quite against her will, by a huge Maine Coon Cat named Rufus, a drifter with her own tragic past named Georgia, and a giant dog with an inferiority complex named Ramos. What Abby thought she needed was alone time to heal. What she ended up with was, an inn she never knew she wanted, a cat she couldn't seem to convince to leave, and a new family she'd never be able to live without.

In book 9 in the series, a newly engaged couple rents out the entire inn for their engagement party. As part of their 'making memories' theme they asks guests to take photos and share them with the group. Everyone is having a wonderful time until one of the guests turns up dead.

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2020

1515 people are currently reading
351 people want to read

About the author

Kathi Daley

321 books1,791 followers
Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.

Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).



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5 stars
1,487 (57%)
4 stars
744 (28%)
3 stars
280 (10%)
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44 (1%)
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11 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,463 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2020
This was another delightful addition to this series by Kathi Daley. The characters are likable and I always feel like I'm surrounded with friends while visiting the inn. I like the fact that Abby works alongside Chief Wilder and never puts herself or her friends into dangerous situations while helping the police to solve the mystery.
Profile Image for Leane.
537 reviews34 followers
July 4, 2022
Maybe 3.5 stars. I thought the mystery was a little complicated (all over the place).
Profile Image for Robin Leslie Coxon.
171 reviews51 followers
March 19, 2020
This is number 9 in Kathi Daley's new series, The Inn at Holiday Bay. A continuation of the story involving Abby Sullivan and the beautiful old mansion she bought and had refurbished into a lovely bed and breakfast. We continue to see the development of the characters who round out her staff and friends. Abby is questioning how her relationship with Police Chief Colt Wilder since their earlier plans are postponed due to the investigation the Chief has had on his blotter.

In this ninth book of the series, reservations have been made by a newly engaged couple of well means. They have planned to hold a pre-wedding party for individuals who are in their wedding. Orders for special liquor as well as a schedule of what they want to have available on their weekend of fun. That included a color printer so each person attending could take pictures and later memory boards to present at the reciption. Everyone is pretty much paired off except the sisters of the couple. When one of the party is missing the next morning, everyone assumes he has decided to split the party. Abby, Georgia and Jeremy, all step in to assist Chief Wilder get answers.

I enjoyed the stories and characters in this series but the endings have left me hanging. This may be Kathi Daley's approach to giving the reader an urge to want the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Deanie Nelder.
1,131 reviews24 followers
April 4, 2021
Mystery writer Abby Sullivan and her business partner, up-and-coming chef Georgia Carter, are hosting a wedding at their Inn at Holiday Bay when tragedy strikes, and one member of the wedding party is found dead.

This is another good installment in The Inn at Holiday Bay series. I like the characters, though the plot in this book doesn't seem as compelling as some of the others. Still, Abby is interesting, the pets are adorable, and the supporting characters add a lot to the novel. But overall, this novel seems a bit bland to me.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
1,189 reviews
March 13, 2020
Proof In The Photo ( The Inn At Holiday Bay-#9 )
By: Kathi Daley
Proof In The Photo is book nine in the series The Inn At Holiday Bay. The book is well written and the characters well developed. The Inn is rented out to an engaged couple who is celebrating with their friends. There are lots of photos each day, missing person, and a murder. Is all the people invited to this celebration not friends? Could someone from the outside be a killer? Abby and her friends all have their hands full on this one. Love this cozy mystery and was not disappointed.
Profile Image for Christine Goodnough.
Author 4 books18 followers
March 28, 2020
I've read and liked the books in this series so far, but this one seems to move a little slow, maybe because the story was divided between two distinct sites: the Inn and the Chadwick House Lonnie and Lacey are redoing, with very little happening at either place. I guess you could call it a mild mystery, seeing the characters react so mildly to a death in their midst.

The opening dialogue where we get a list of all the engagement party guests, first by Georgia and then all repeated by Abby, swamped me a bit. A person should make a list of all those names and relationships for reference. The story overall was interesting, but not very lively, especially with the party guests mostly hung over and dragging around, or gone for the day.

In this story Sherrif Colt doesn't seem to have much to do and can usually come whenever Abby calls him over, and/or give her updates on everything he discovers. While Abby is the main character in this series and therefore must be involved, the amount of sharing he does is hardly professional. I think the writer could sharpen him up on that.
Profile Image for Mystereity Reviews.
778 reviews50 followers
July 9, 2020
I can't believe this is book 9 already. When a new one is published, I can't wait to get my greedy hands on it. In this one, a bride-and-groom-to-be rent out the inn for an engagement party, bringing along a motley crew of old friends. When one of the group is found dead, and no one in the group seems to be particularly put out, Abby is on the case and finds betrayal, lies and painful secrets.

I love this series, from the wonderful characters to the beautiful setting to the rich descriptions of everything that make me feel like I'm right there. This was a great plot, too and I would never have guessed in a million years the motive or the killer. And the "cold case" omigod a hidden room? *swoon* Nothing sucks me in faster than a hidden room and I have to wait to see what's in it? Hurry up with the next book, I gotta know!

A great entry in a great series that shows no signs of slowing down and I'm already refreshing Goodreads to see when the next book will be released.
Profile Image for Sandy Bartles.
1,395 reviews38 followers
March 12, 2020
A bride-to-be and her fiancé rent the entire inn so they can throw themselves a big party to celebrate. Which would be wonderful if one of the guests didn’t find themselves murdered. In the background there is another story that feels like it will be continued to the next book. Fun to have one story end and another begin!
Profile Image for Lorraine.
1,161 reviews87 followers
September 22, 2022
Holiday Bay, Maine. Present day. Kathi Daley’s Proof in the Photo (The Inn at Holiday Bay, #9) finds the Inn booked completely for an engagement party, and the ones who booked the Inn are the ‘newly engaged’ couple. Their theme for this party is ‘making memories’, and the couple has requested all attendees to take lots of pictures so they can “share” them with everyone. This group consists of bridal party members and close friends. Or are they? The bride-to-be is from a wealthy family as are
most of the invitees, but some dates and some family members as well as a last minute addition. After all arrive and check in, they begin to party. And they party hard if the amount of empty alcohol bottles are any indication. The next morning the group trickle down late. Many look extremely hungover. When heads are counted, it appears that one guest is missing. Abby met all the guests, but she did not have ‘good vibes’ about one, Alvin, and now Alvin is missing. The group continue with their plans. Abby picks up on one fact. Not everyone is in favor of this marriage as Fiona is ‘old money’ and Carson is a plumber. Finally, Alvin is found dead. Who? Why? Colt gets involved, but after all have left to return home, Abby notices the photos. Could the weekend pics present a clue that was missed? This edition just did not have the pep I associate with this author. The story and the characters felt bland. I could have missed this story, and I would have been just fine with me. 3 stars.
Profile Image for RO G'ma.
1,061 reviews43 followers
March 10, 2020
Proof in the Photo is the ninth book in Kathi Daley’s heartwarming The Inn at Holiday Bay series. The writing style flows smoothly, and the book is a clean and easy read. The author is very talented in descriptive writing, and much of the time I was reading, I felt like I was right in the midst of the activities taking place and sharing the characters’ tragedies and joys. The mystery is well-plotted and complex, with lots of twists and red herrings to keep the reader engaged and guessing. The setting is charming, and the well-developed characters are affable, compassionate, and caring. I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries.

Abby Sullivan’s life was dramatically changed when she lost her husband and their infant son in a tragic accident, but since moving to Holiday Bay, Maine, and opening the Inn at Holiday Bay, she’s made a new life for herself and found a home and a family. Georgia Carter, the inn’s talented cook/baker and manager, and her dog, Ramos, live with Abby, Rufus, a Maine Coon, and Molly, a terrier mix, in a cottage located on the property. Georgia’s cooking show, Cooking with Georgia, which airs on local cable, is doing quite well, and her ten-episode trial contract has been extended. Jeremy Slater, who lives in the inn’s basement apartment with his young niece, Annabelle, is a valuable asset as he helps Georgia with the day-to-day operations of the inn.

Fiona Arlington, who comes from a long line of multimillionaires, and her fiancé, Carson Devonshire, booked the inn for their engagement party. Fiona told Georgia that she chose their inn because it was quaint and commonplace, and would stand out from the elaborate affairs thrown by her friends. Her party will definitely be remembered since one of the guests, Alvin Connor, a groomsman, was murdered. People find Abby easy to talk to, so as she discovers things, she shares that information with her friend, Chief of Police Colt Wilder, as he tries to solve this baffling case. Meanwhile, Lonnie Parker and his wife, Lacy, have been hired by Baron Chadwick to refurbish the huge summer house built in Bar Harbor by Ozzie Chadwick in eighteen eighty-four. Abby finds herself caught up in the history of the Baron’s relatives and the possibility that she and Lacy may have discovered a secret room.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,209 reviews60 followers
March 30, 2020
Proof in the Photo earns 5/5 Rocky Cliffs...Engaging Fun!

Brilliant! Again, Kathi Daley has provided plenty of “proof” she can take readers on an entertaining journey. The last murder mystery ruined of Abby’s Valentine’s Day plans and romantic getaway with Colt, but life goes on with the weekend engagement festivities for bride Fiona Arlington, daughter of a multimillionaire, preparations. The bride is looking for something more “quaint and commonplace,” so she thought the inn is is the perfect venue. With all the special accommodations set, Abby and BFF Georgia join BFF-2 Lacy on a buying trip for a renovation and decorating project her and her husband are hired to complete. The summerhouse Baron Chadwick inherited from his grandfather is in need of lots of working to be a full-time residence for him and his family. But, several fascinating mysteries, a century past, surround the house and family sparking both Georgia’s and Abby’s interest: two unsolved suspicious accidents, letters found locked in an old safe, evidence of an illicit affair...oooh, a juicy mystery! But it’s the engagement gathering that causes the most concern...a missing person turns into a dead body!

This series set at the Inn at Holiday Bay is a personal favorite; I greatly enjoyed the cold case, originally determined accidental or felony left unsolved. Using a first-person narrative, Abby’s perspective gives me a vicarious role. I enjoyed her thoughts and discoveries of the history and background of the Chadwick family, connections of characters, and past and present clues uncovered and discussed often with input from law enforcement to make it very realistic. Kathi’s writing style illustrated a clear picture of the setting and characters, as well as tone and personalities through the dialogue. However, when the Inn is at full capacity there’s a lot of names to keep track of and with several names somewhat similar, I’m really double checking; it’s easier with my eBook copy. Both mysteries are very entertaining rich with twists, secrets, revelations, and very satisfying conclusions. I read this series for the mystery or two trying to guess the ending, but I like the budding romance between Abby and Colt and enjoy the realistic hits and misses. I really recommend this series, and while so much has transpired over the nine books, newbies can join in here!
Profile Image for Taryn.
1,114 reviews32 followers
March 21, 2020
In this next book of the series an engagement party is taking over the Inn. The happy couple have rented out the whole Inn and are looking forward to some pre-wedding fun with a mixture of both the bride's and grooms friends and family. The first night the group parties with endless drinks and things get a bit rowdy amongst the guests. The next day or looks like a guest has disappeared sometime during the night Abby does a search around the property. Not a single one of the guests seems to be worried about the missing man, not even his girlfriend. When the man is found dead Abby realizes that the murderer has to be one of the party but figuring out who and why won't be easy. Follow along as Abby and her friends interview the guests, search the property, and look into everyone's pasts to figure out who the killer could be. This is a wonderful series filled with great characters, a lovely location, and a mystery that is always fun to try and figure out!
540 reviews1 follower
March 13, 2020
Too Many Characters

I always enjoy this series of books as the characters seem quite real and familiar, however, this story was not as exciting as the other books in the series to me. Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but it just was not my favorite (and I have read every book in this series). I think my big problem was so many characters. I got confused as to who was who. I also was not enamored with the guests at the inn this time. They just did not seem to come to life like many characters in the past books. There were also a couple of other mysteries going on and neither one was concluded in this book. While cliffhangers are something for the reader to anticipate, I do hope that is what they are and do get fully explored in future books and not be just a fuller in this one. I think for me, this book was just not as fulfilling as previous books in the series, this the rating.







Profile Image for Deborah Almada.
1,254 reviews40 followers
March 21, 2020
An ok read, not the greatest mystery, not a lot of real connections with and between the main characters, usually my favorite part of this series. Seemed a bit dialed in without the usual depth.
Profile Image for Helen Drake.
984 reviews15 followers
March 22, 2020
The latest edition in this series has an engaged couple rent out the inn for a weekend getaway with their wedding party and plus ones. The bride to be is rich and comes from old money while her chosen husband is a member of the working class. Is it the clash of the classes or are there other factors that lead to the murder of one of the guests?

Abby and the rest of the gang join together to help Colt solve the case. It’s somewhat hard to keep track of all the characters in the wedding party. Although some major secrets are revealed, all parties leave the inn before the murder is solved. An FBI agent later questions the person Colt and the others feel are responsible for the murder of the person no one liked.

Although this was an enjoyable read, I was disappointed that the culprit was arrested away from the Inn in a passive way. I prefer the murderers to be apprehended at the place where the story takes place.

As a side story, Lonnie has obtained a job to renovate a huge summer home and Lacy is helping restore and replace valuable period pieces. Abby is interested in the library and journals she finds there to learn more about the family history and one of it’s mysteries. I’m sure we’ll read more about this in future books in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Laura.
3,205 reviews348 followers
March 13, 2020
Abby, Georgia and friends have a chance to see how the upper crust parties when a bride-to-be rents the entire inn for a pre-wedding party. Expense is no option. All is not as glamorous or priveledged as we would assume. One of the guests goes missing and no one sems very bothered by it, until his body is found. When the sister of the bride is implicated, it seems like the evidence was too easily uncovered. Could she be being framed?
Mean while, Lacy and Lonnie have agreed to take on a huge challenge ~ a long neglected mansion requiring a total renovation. Abby tags along to view the house, discovers some old journals and possibly another mystery.
Two intriguing mysteries in one. One seems like a classic house party murder mystery but there are plenty of red herrings salted throughout. Grab your white board for this one.
The other has us questioning if it is truly a mystery or an assortment of circumstances requiring more investigation and observations. We may have to wait for the next book in this series to understand all the implications.
Strongly plotted with great characters and many twists, this series quickly grabs you and becomes a favorite.
Profile Image for Darla Taylor.
1,858 reviews
February 21, 2020
Abby Sullivan is doing well in Holiday Bay, Maine where she went to start over after losing her husband and infant son. Her inn is very successful and she has a new 'family' of friends. The inn is completely booked by a newly engaged couple and their bridal party along with a few 'plus ones'. The bride and one of her bridesmaids are from old money in New York and the bride will soon learn that it comes with a lot of heartache. When one of the groomsmen disappears on the first night an dis later found murdered, Colt has his hands full getting a straight story from everyone since some of them have secrets they don't want to come out.

I really enjoyed this book and this series is one of my favorites from Kathi Daley. It's well-written and I love the interactions between all the characters. Abby and Colt make a great team as do Abby and Georgia. There's plenty of intrigue and I was kept hooked from beginning to end. I highly recommend both the book and the series which I suggest you read in order.
72 reviews
March 16, 2020
Proof in the Photo is the ninth book in the fabulous The Inn at Holiday Bay cozy mystery series by Kathi Daley. The elements of a cozy mystery are present including suspense, danger, romance, humor, love, friends and family, and a sense of community. In this story, the entire inn is booked for an engagement party, and one of the guests turns up missing. Later a body is found. Again, Abby and friends work to find answers to this mystery. Also, I look forward to more mystery surrounding the Chadwick house in Bar Harbor as renovations continue. I love the way Ms. Daley writes in a continuing saga fashion with hints and clues to stories in the future (and red herrings). I love that not all questions are resolved in each book. As always, Ms. Daley’s writing flows smoothly, and her setting and relatable characters make for an extremely enjoyable read. I really look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Natalie.
71 reviews5 followers
May 27, 2021
I Just Love Abbey and the Gang

Another event, another mystery for the gang at The Inn at Holiday Bay. What I liked most about this installment is that while there was a murder, another mystery was brewing in an old house that Lonnie and his wife Lacey are restoring. Abbey is really looking into the the people who once lived there once she found a journal in the home. So it's fun to have two separate mysteries at the same time. Although the true mystery is who killed one of the Inn's guests during an engagement party weekend. This one has a lot of suspects, but as always Colt is there to solve the murder.

While reading this mystery series I've found many quotes that have stuck with me, and this one is no different. I leave you with this quote, for I think many of us can relate, "...at some point, you have to let go of your ideas relating to how things should have been and open yourself up to how things might be in the future.”
691 reviews2 followers
August 15, 2022
Great book!!!!

I love this series!!!!
Abby and Georgia are preparing for a pre-wedding party of a very well known woman of great wealth of old money. She had rented the whole Inn for the whole weekend, Thursday thru Sunday.
Fiona and Carson had brought 9 others with them. Fiona had arranged everything with Georgia. She had paid for all activities and meals.
The first night everyone had overdone on the drinking, and the next day were supposed to go into town. When people were getting ready to leave someone is missing, they assumed he was pouting after an abrupt argument with his girlfriend.
As the day and evening wore he never turned up until he was found on the property.
He was not a nice person and used people very badly. Blackmail, forced favors, drugged people to frame them.
Which of the nine guests? Why?
You have to get this book to find out! You are in for a treat!!!!
Profile Image for Amanda Jane.
1,337 reviews10 followers
July 19, 2021
Bridal party

Fiona and Carson are chalk and cheese the rich girl fashion designer and the poor boy mechanic but they are getting married and despite family objections they seem to be very much love and set to last.

With them are family and close friends from the bridal party along with a few of their partners. When one of them, Alvin a wealthy although unconnected stockbroker, goes missing and turns up dead in the garage the finger of suspicion sets itself on Naomi the bride's sister but did she really kill Alvin and what reason could she have?

As Colt searches for the truth Abby is digging into a mystery in the house Lonnie is pricing for a huge renovation job. With Lacy restoring the furniture Abby is desperately keen to dig further into the diaries of a fifteen year old girl who hints at intrigue and impending disaster.
Profile Image for Lea.
2,850 reviews59 followers
May 23, 2021
3.75 stars rounded up - I love this series and Abby and Georgia. This installment is set mostly in March and ends in May. We have an old money rich pre wedding party where one of members is murdered. It’s a good mystery because there’s really no suspects. It could have gone a bit faster for me, I felt like we weren’t given many clues there for awhile.
There’s a secondary mystery building that I believe is covered in the next book about a mansion Lonnie and Laney are renovation for another rich family. Abby seems to be wanting a mystery where there isn’t one but enough clues were dropped that we know something is brewing.
Colt and Abby seem to have paused their relationship, which is a bummer, I enjoyed that aspect previously.
1,016 reviews8 followers
August 13, 2021
The inn is fully booked with an engagement party. The bride's family is wealthy and they are sparing no expense to celebrate the happy occasion. One member of the wedding party disappears. Strangely enough, the others don't seem very concerned as they continue on with their planned activities. Later, Alvin's body is discovered in a shed on the inn's property. Photos taken by all the guests were supposed to be made into a memory album for the bride and groom instead provide essential clues as to who the murderer was. There were a lot of potential suspects in this book. The guests were driven out to the inn by a hired limousine so no one had their own transportation back into town. Who would have killed a member of the wedding party, and why?
Profile Image for Sandra Hernandez.
717 reviews4 followers
October 21, 2020
I love this series due to how quick of a read they are and the characters this time I was really hoping for progress with Abby and Colt but slow and steady still. They didn’t get that getaway like planned nor have a Valentine’s Day together but he did hold her hand.
At the inn a whole wedding party is there and one of the guests turned up dead we do find out who the killer is but I feel this ended to quickly did the couple marry did the siblings make amends so many questions. Lonnie had a new renovation for some mansion and his wife Lacy is in charge of restoring the furniture I’m curious to see if any mystery occurs. Oh Abby where are we headed next.
Profile Image for Donna Mork.
2,145 reviews12 followers
July 21, 2021
I hope this author keeps writing this series, I'm enjoying getting to know the characters and see them grown and change. Another murder associated with the inn but it seems like it was a well-deserved. Couldn't have happened to a nice guy. Lots of theories abound as to who-dun-it but in the end Cole figures it out. But other mysteries are hinted at in an old mansion with a hidden room. We are waiting to hear the answer to that (in the next book I hope). Also the authors dialogue seems to be improving with each book I'm so glad to see. Wish there was more about the Newfie, as I love my Newfies.
Profile Image for Loretta TheMoodyRedhead.
1,055 reviews4 followers
November 28, 2021
Cute read, but I started it the day before Thanksgiving, so it took me 4 days to read. Normally I can read one or two of the books in this series in just one day. It was difficult for me to keep up with everything that was going on. My suggestion would be to read this all in one sitting or at least read quickly because there are so many little clues in these reads that it’s easy to lose track.

I can’t wait to hear about the secret room in the house Lonnie and Lacy are working on and possible romance from the journals. Guess all this will be in the next book somewhere.

Next book is the 10th of 18 - The Inn at Holiday Bay: Gossip in the Garden
Profile Image for KathleenWH.
190 reviews4 followers
January 13, 2023
Deeper and more complex than the previous volume

I’m sure it isn’t easy to produce a series of cozy mysteries; I’m sure some must be more satisfying to write than others.

For myself, I will say that this volume captured my imagination and brought me more insight into the plot and the extended “family” that calls the Inn home.

There is a good, complex mystery at the core of this work, and Ms Daley adds interesting interpersonal details to the extended “family,” with the result that one can come way from this volume caring deeply about the characters and wanting to learn more.
Profile Image for Jane Firebaugh.
Author 7 books99 followers
March 16, 2020
An engagement party for a wealthy (old money) socialite and her down-to-earth, working class fiance is being held at the inn, and the guests are mostly checking in at the inn, though a few are staying in hotels in town and just coming to the inn for the parties.

Mystery and murder seem destined to follow Abby, and once again, she finds herself in the middle of a puzzler, this one right on her property.

Abby, Colt and friends have their work cut out for them with this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Denota.
153 reviews2 followers
March 16, 2020
I was lucky to win a free book of my choice from Kathi Daley. If you haven't signed up for her newsletter yet, you are missing some great give away opportunities. Back to this book. It was great. The main characters were likeable and felt like people if enjoy. The mystery was hard to figure out and the solving was not what I expected,but it was life like which I appreciated. Over all with the beautiful setting and her story telling ability it was a bit with me. I hope you take the time to read and enjoy it as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews

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