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A Journaling Mystery #1
Journaled to Death
Journaling vlogger Mandy Meadows strives to preserve her hyper-organised life while searching for her cousin's killer in this twisty mystery: first in a brand-new series.
Divorced single mom Mandy Meadows scrapes by working as a barista and receiving payments from her cousin, Ryan, who rents her basement apartment. At night, she and her teenage daughter Vellum run a successful home business creating journaling content on their popular social media channels.
But Mandy's carefully organized world is about to come crashing down. While filming their latest journaling tutorial, Mandy and Vellum hear a loud noise on the basement stairs, and Mandy is horrified to find Ryan dead on the landing. The police quickly start to treat the death as a murder - with Mandy and Vellum as chief suspects. Why would someone murder Ryan? Determined to clear their names and find Ryan's killer, Mandy soon discovers he wasn't the man she thought he was . . .
Divorced single mom Mandy Meadows scrapes by working as a barista and receiving payments from her cousin, Ryan, who rents her basement apartment. At night, she and her teenage daughter Vellum run a successful home business creating journaling content on their popular social media channels.
But Mandy's carefully organized world is about to come crashing down. While filming their latest journaling tutorial, Mandy and Vellum hear a loud noise on the basement stairs, and Mandy is horrified to find Ryan dead on the landing. The police quickly start to treat the death as a murder - with Mandy and Vellum as chief suspects. Why would someone murder Ryan? Determined to clear their names and find Ryan's killer, Mandy soon discovers he wasn't the man she thought he was . . .
224 pages, Hardcover
Published February 4, 2020
5 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Heather Redmond
14 books468 followersHeather Redmond is an author of commercial fiction and also writes as Heather Hiestand. First published in mystery, she took a long detour through romance before returning. Though her last known British ancestor departed London in the 1920s, she is a committed anglophile, Dickens devotee, and lover of all things nineteenth century.
She has lived in Illinois, California, and Texas, and now resides in a small town in Washington State with her husband and son. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she has achieved best-seller status at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Her 2018 Heather Redmond debut, A Tale of Two Murders, has received a coveted starred review from Kirkus Reviews.
She has lived in Illinois, California, and Texas, and now resides in a small town in Washington State with her husband and son. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she has achieved best-seller status at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Her 2018 Heather Redmond debut, A Tale of Two Murders, has received a coveted starred review from Kirkus Reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 25, 2020
Journaled to Death by Heather Redmond is the debut of A Journaling Mystery series. Amanda “Mandy” Meadows is newly divorced, and she has custody of her fifteen year old daughter, Vellum. Her ex-husband has quit working (living off his rich parents) so he can pay minimal (i.e.—no) child support which means Mandy has gone from stay-at-home mom to working as a barista at the coffee bar at the University of Seattle Hospital. Mandy with help from her daughter posts vlogging tutorials online and sells related materials (stickers for example). She also rents out her basement apartment to her cousin, Randy who helped her obtain the position at the hospital. Vellum and Mandy are recording their April vlog when they hear a loud thumping noise. Mandy hurries to investigate, and she finds her cousin dead at the bottom of the stairs with one of her journals under his leg. Mandy is shocked when the police determine the death is a homicide. Mandy finds herself investigating when her daughter moves out because she does not feel safe at home. I thought Mandy was a likeable and realistic character. She is a divorced mother struggling to pay her bills. I like that she came up with a creative and unique solution with her bullet journal vlog and online sales. Her daughter, Vellum acts like a typical teenager (angst, food, money). Mandy is lucky to have her widowed mother living across the street and a good neighbor in Linda who bakes brownies daily. Linda helps Mandy with some of her sleuthing. I like the unusual topic of journaling for a cozy mystery. I have no clue about bullet journals or vlogging, but I can tell that the author does. I enjoyed finding out more about the process and I admire Mandy’s creativity. I did not like Reese and did not understand why Mandy would spend time with her. The woman is jealous of Mandy’s online success and her criticisms got on my nerves (I would avoid Reese instead of going out to eat with her). The mystery had several viable suspects along with red herrings. There are good clues to help the reader solve the crime. While I wished Mandy focused more on sleuthing, real life intervened. Mandy has a lot going on in her life and she does not have as much time to investigate as other amateur (fictional) sleuths. Just keeping up with her vlog and sales is a full-time job. I could certainly understand how she can be exhausted at the end of the day (making varieties of coffee, baking cookies for shop, planning vlog, recording vlog, preparing orders, plus her household chores). I enjoyed reading Journaled to Death, and I look forward to the next book in A Journaling Mystery series. Journaled to Death is a charming cozy with drafting drawings, selling stickers, creating a variety of videos, seeking suspects, daughter drama, a cousin killer, and a bounty of baked brownies.
January 30, 2020
One of the reasons I enjoy reading cozies is because it’s a great way to learn about new hobbies, cultures, or foods. I wanted to read Journaled to Death by Heather Redmond because I know journaling is really popular right now, if all the photos I see on Instagram is any indication. I’ve tried journaling my thoughts in the past but it only lasts for a month or two before I stop, but I’m in awe of all the great artwork and lettering people are doing.
Journaled to Death is the first book in The Journaling Mysteries, and one of the things that I think Redmond did a fantastic job writing was the relationships between the women in the book. Mandy and Vellum’s interactions feel so real, and I love the strong female vibe I feel between Mandy and her mom, and Mandy and her neighbor, Linda. Mandy also has a strange relationship with one of the nurses, Reese, who works at the hospital where Mandy is a barista. It starts off tense, but I’m interested to see it blossom in future books.
There are kind of two mysteries in this book, but they blend together. You have who killed Ryan, which I saw coming about half way through, but it was still enjoyable. And then you have one of the doctor’s being a jerk and weird things happening at the coffee house. I thought it was going to go one direction that way, but it went a different way and combined perfectly with the main mystery.
I was annoyed with Mandy at times in regards to her lack of backbone. She’s a single mother who gets income through her online journaling business, Mandy’s Plan, and she works in the coffee house at the hospital. Mandy’s job starts accusing her of stealing money, daring to disrespect of doctor (even though she really isn’t), trying to sabotage a doctor, and getting some nurses sick. I would have been looking for a new job after being accused of stealing! I hope after having solved a murder case and almost dying she has more moxy in future books. :)
And then, of course, we have the romantic aspect. I have a feeling there will be two different men via for her attention in future books. It might become really hot or really awkward since one of them is living with her by the end of the book!
If you enjoy cozies, journaling, or strong female relationships, you should give Journaled to Death a read.
Journaled to Death is the first book in The Journaling Mysteries, and one of the things that I think Redmond did a fantastic job writing was the relationships between the women in the book. Mandy and Vellum’s interactions feel so real, and I love the strong female vibe I feel between Mandy and her mom, and Mandy and her neighbor, Linda. Mandy also has a strange relationship with one of the nurses, Reese, who works at the hospital where Mandy is a barista. It starts off tense, but I’m interested to see it blossom in future books.
There are kind of two mysteries in this book, but they blend together. You have who killed Ryan, which I saw coming about half way through, but it was still enjoyable. And then you have one of the doctor’s being a jerk and weird things happening at the coffee house. I thought it was going to go one direction that way, but it went a different way and combined perfectly with the main mystery.
I was annoyed with Mandy at times in regards to her lack of backbone. She’s a single mother who gets income through her online journaling business, Mandy’s Plan, and she works in the coffee house at the hospital. Mandy’s job starts accusing her of stealing money, daring to disrespect of doctor (even though she really isn’t), trying to sabotage a doctor, and getting some nurses sick. I would have been looking for a new job after being accused of stealing! I hope after having solved a murder case and almost dying she has more moxy in future books. :)
And then, of course, we have the romantic aspect. I have a feeling there will be two different men via for her attention in future books. It might become really hot or really awkward since one of them is living with her by the end of the book!
If you enjoy cozies, journaling, or strong female relationships, you should give Journaled to Death a read.
April 20, 2020
This was a short enjoyable mystery with a good plot. It was fast moving
And involved numerous people. Mandy Meadows is a divorced single mom
with a fifteen year old daughter.
Ryan is Mandy’s cousin and lives in the basement apartment. One night
They hear a noise and Ryan is found dead on the landing.
Mandy works in the hospital as a barista and at night she and her daughter
Vellum run a successful home business creating journaling on social media
Channels. The murder and trouble at work are tied together. How can she
Clear her name and find the killer.
The book is filled with twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
I recommend this book and author.
And involved numerous people. Mandy Meadows is a divorced single mom
with a fifteen year old daughter.
Ryan is Mandy’s cousin and lives in the basement apartment. One night
They hear a noise and Ryan is found dead on the landing.
Mandy works in the hospital as a barista and at night she and her daughter
Vellum run a successful home business creating journaling on social media
Channels. The murder and trouble at work are tied together. How can she
Clear her name and find the killer.
The book is filled with twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
I recommend this book and author.
January 22, 2020
This creative and edgy cozy mystery had many unique elements to it. I thought the idea of a journaling v-logger was creative. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that in a protagonist before. Mandy is easy to identify with – she struggles with a lot of things we all do. I also enjoy the relationship she has with her daughter. This book was an easy and enjoyable read over the weekend.
March 12, 2020
Journaled to Death is a good solid enjoyable story. Not high literature, and not flawless writing, but interesting and engaging, in an appealing setting, with characters with whom I could relate and a mystery that kept me guessing. I am not a huge fan of cozy mysteries, but I actually did enjoy this one. I think it's partly because it felt more probable/ less far-fetched than many cozy mysteries. For the most part, Mandy is a mature and responsible protagonist, who investigates the unfortunate murder using conversations and relationships, not risky sleuthing and blatant violation of direct police instructions. And she does all this while being a working single mom with a time consuming side gig, who maintains mostly healthy relationships with friends and family in the free time she does have.
As mentioned, the setting and the characters are interesting. Seattle doesn't seem like a very common location for book I've read, surprisingly, but it makes for a diverse and appealing setting. Mandy has friends, colleagues, and neighbors of different ethnic and religious origins. Her frenemy Reese is Hindu Indian-American, as is her friend Linda's ex-husband. Her boss Fannah is a gorgeous Ethiopian American who wears a head covering (I kept picturing Ilhan Omar.). Her cousin Ryan's friends are Asian and Russian. One of the characters is even eventually revealed to have been bisexual and in a menage relationship. The diversity felt organic, not forced, and helped create a sense of the multicultural setting of the book.
I also appreciated the subtle themes of girl power throughout the book. There are plenty of Bechdel test-passing conversations between Mandy and her friends and family members. Her relationship with teenage daughter Vellum is surprisingly strong and sweet, as is Mandy's relationship with her own mother. Mandy makes a point of being able to live on her own financial terms, despite having been recently and unexpectedly divorced by her irresponsible ex, who can't even be relied on for child support, much less alimony. Mandy certainly notices which men around her are attractive and to her taste, and enjoys flirting and looking attractive herself. But the focus of this book isn't romance, refreshingly, but on Mandy's day to day life and the solving of her cousin's murder. Mandy even has to deal with some unwanted romantic attention, and what entitled men can be like when angry because their desires have been thwarted, all of which was handled in a light-handed way that never got preachy.
Mandy's tight finances are another aspect of the story that I could identify with. I understand what it's like to work in retail and/or food service. To work side gigs to try to make ends meet. Mandy is responsible and resourceful and doing what it takes to provide for her daughter and herself. Her tenant/ landlord relationship with her cousin Ryan is definitely an arrangement similar to what many of my friends and family have had to do to make ends meet. Sharing meals and household chores, splitting rent. It all felt familiar and real. Mandy's investigations into the murder were constrained by her own work schedule, as well as the journaling vlog business on the side. No wealthy dilettantes investigating murders for fun here.
Because even the murder felt real. Messy and sad and seemingly pointless at first. Tragic and personal. Something that leaves family with unsettling questions and dredges up dirty secrets. (and that leaves Mandy locked out of her own house for days, and needing to clean it up afterwards.) But Mandy's cousin Ryan was a real character too, all the more fascinating as his secrets are revealed. We get to see Mandy grieve the loss of a loved family member as well as a roommate, as she tries to find out why he died. Since most of the suspects were in her own social orbit, the investigation consisted mostly of having conversations with those people, and listening to what they said and didn't say, as well as keeping an ear out for relevant gossip. Mandy isn't sneaking around in the dark doing breaking and entering, or violating the privacy of others, and I'm here for a believable investigation and a cordial relationship with the investigating officers.
I also found the gimmick of this book, the little niche field, of Mandy's work with her journaling and art vlog, to be really fascinating. This is something about which I knew nothing prior to reading the book, and I was fascinated by all the work that goes into those videos (that I admittedly never watch) on YouTube. To read about the profit margins of successful vlogs, about the products Mandy and Vellum made, the ways they made their brand unique (like always making sure to have cute manicures to be featured in their journaling/ art demonstrations), and promoted their brand--it was all really interesting and gave me a lot more respect for, if not interest in, the work that online influencers have to do to earn their income.
There are honestly not many aspects of this book of which I felt critical. I don't care for the cover--I get that it is meant to echo Mandy and Vellum's journal art, but it looks tacky, cheap, and unattractive. I think Mandy's version of this would have looked much nicer and more professional. I thought Mandy's daughter's name (Vellum) was pretty cheesy, and I doubted whether Mandy's husband and uptight in-laws would have ever allowed her to name her daughter something that unconventional without a fight. Also, I occasionally rolled my eyes at Mandy's relationship with her frenemy Reese, because I don't understand the concept or appeal of frenemies in general. But their relationship grew on me, as I believe it is meant to do.
The biggest criticism I had was that there were a couple of descriptions of characters that bordered on fat-phobic. A character can be both bad AND obese. Those two aren't automatically connected, and using body shape as a way to insult someone makes me uncomfortable. For the most part, the book was relatively respectful of diversity and differences, so those negative comments (comparing someone to a beached whale, or describing their body as squishy, for example) were even more unappealing by contrast to the rest of the book.
But overall I found this book engaging and interesting, with enough original aspects to the story to keep me interested and guessing. I liked the protagonist and her family. I found the mystery challenging but believable. All in all, it was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to trying more books by the author in the future.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for sharing an #advancedcopy of #JournaledtoDeath with me. This is my honest opinion.
As mentioned, the setting and the characters are interesting. Seattle doesn't seem like a very common location for book I've read, surprisingly, but it makes for a diverse and appealing setting. Mandy has friends, colleagues, and neighbors of different ethnic and religious origins. Her frenemy Reese is Hindu Indian-American, as is her friend Linda's ex-husband. Her boss Fannah is a gorgeous Ethiopian American who wears a head covering (I kept picturing Ilhan Omar.). Her cousin Ryan's friends are Asian and Russian. One of the characters is even eventually revealed to have been bisexual and in a menage relationship. The diversity felt organic, not forced, and helped create a sense of the multicultural setting of the book.
I also appreciated the subtle themes of girl power throughout the book. There are plenty of Bechdel test-passing conversations between Mandy and her friends and family members. Her relationship with teenage daughter Vellum is surprisingly strong and sweet, as is Mandy's relationship with her own mother. Mandy makes a point of being able to live on her own financial terms, despite having been recently and unexpectedly divorced by her irresponsible ex, who can't even be relied on for child support, much less alimony. Mandy certainly notices which men around her are attractive and to her taste, and enjoys flirting and looking attractive herself. But the focus of this book isn't romance, refreshingly, but on Mandy's day to day life and the solving of her cousin's murder. Mandy even has to deal with some unwanted romantic attention, and what entitled men can be like when angry because their desires have been thwarted, all of which was handled in a light-handed way that never got preachy.
Mandy's tight finances are another aspect of the story that I could identify with. I understand what it's like to work in retail and/or food service. To work side gigs to try to make ends meet. Mandy is responsible and resourceful and doing what it takes to provide for her daughter and herself. Her tenant/ landlord relationship with her cousin Ryan is definitely an arrangement similar to what many of my friends and family have had to do to make ends meet. Sharing meals and household chores, splitting rent. It all felt familiar and real. Mandy's investigations into the murder were constrained by her own work schedule, as well as the journaling vlog business on the side. No wealthy dilettantes investigating murders for fun here.
Because even the murder felt real. Messy and sad and seemingly pointless at first. Tragic and personal. Something that leaves family with unsettling questions and dredges up dirty secrets. (and that leaves Mandy locked out of her own house for days, and needing to clean it up afterwards.) But Mandy's cousin Ryan was a real character too, all the more fascinating as his secrets are revealed. We get to see Mandy grieve the loss of a loved family member as well as a roommate, as she tries to find out why he died. Since most of the suspects were in her own social orbit, the investigation consisted mostly of having conversations with those people, and listening to what they said and didn't say, as well as keeping an ear out for relevant gossip. Mandy isn't sneaking around in the dark doing breaking and entering, or violating the privacy of others, and I'm here for a believable investigation and a cordial relationship with the investigating officers.
I also found the gimmick of this book, the little niche field, of Mandy's work with her journaling and art vlog, to be really fascinating. This is something about which I knew nothing prior to reading the book, and I was fascinated by all the work that goes into those videos (that I admittedly never watch) on YouTube. To read about the profit margins of successful vlogs, about the products Mandy and Vellum made, the ways they made their brand unique (like always making sure to have cute manicures to be featured in their journaling/ art demonstrations), and promoted their brand--it was all really interesting and gave me a lot more respect for, if not interest in, the work that online influencers have to do to earn their income.
There are honestly not many aspects of this book of which I felt critical. I don't care for the cover--I get that it is meant to echo Mandy and Vellum's journal art, but it looks tacky, cheap, and unattractive. I think Mandy's version of this would have looked much nicer and more professional. I thought Mandy's daughter's name (Vellum) was pretty cheesy, and I doubted whether Mandy's husband and uptight in-laws would have ever allowed her to name her daughter something that unconventional without a fight. Also, I occasionally rolled my eyes at Mandy's relationship with her frenemy Reese, because I don't understand the concept or appeal of frenemies in general. But their relationship grew on me, as I believe it is meant to do.
The biggest criticism I had was that there were a couple of descriptions of characters that bordered on fat-phobic. A character can be both bad AND obese. Those two aren't automatically connected, and using body shape as a way to insult someone makes me uncomfortable. For the most part, the book was relatively respectful of diversity and differences, so those negative comments (comparing someone to a beached whale, or describing their body as squishy, for example) were even more unappealing by contrast to the rest of the book.
But overall I found this book engaging and interesting, with enough original aspects to the story to keep me interested and guessing. I liked the protagonist and her family. I found the mystery challenging but believable. All in all, it was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to trying more books by the author in the future.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for sharing an #advancedcopy of #JournaledtoDeath with me. This is my honest opinion.
December 10, 2019
Who knew blogging could lead to murder!
For the mother and daughter duo, it seems harmless enough until someone gets murdered.
When the duo becomes the top suspects it’s time for them to put on their sleuthing caps and find the answers.
For the mother and daughter duo, it seems harmless enough until someone gets murdered.
When the duo becomes the top suspects it’s time for them to put on their sleuthing caps and find the answers.
Read
October 28, 2019My first cozy mystery! It's out on Thursday in the UK and February 4, 2020 in the US!
February 4, 2020
I really like the character of Mandy, who is in a hard place, through no fault of her own. She is a mother struggling to hold things together, after her shiftless husband has cheated on her, by holding down two jobs and caring for a teenage daughter, Vellum.
If you are looking for a no-holds-barred, action-filled adventure, then this one isn’t for you. After the first shocking discovery of the murder victim, this is a slow, steady accretion of clues and facts with a number of possible suspects being examined before being ruled out. However, if, like me, you really do like your whodunnit’s to be something of a mystery, then I do recommend this one. I obviously had guessed who the perpetrator was, before I discovered that I had got it completely wrong.
Apart from the well-handled murder mystery aspect, I was also engrossed in Mandy’s everyday life as a barista in a coffee shop at a local hospital, while also working on her online business. Redmond vividly depicts the struggle of so many people who are working in low-paid jobs with precious little security and a constant fear of losing their earnings. I was impressed that this wasn’t shown with any huge flourish or self pitying drama, but as a day-to-day struggle that needed to be endured – so much more realistic. Despite Mandy’s struggles, this isn’t a gloomy book. She is largely a strong, determined and optimistic character. However, I was glad to see that the victim’s death exacted a real toll on those around them. This isn’t a mystery where we really don’t care, and it was interesting to learn about the character after he’d died.
Any niggles? While I felt Mandy was very well portrayed and I loved the characterisation of nearly all the characters, I did feel that Vellum was just a little too good to be true as a fifteen-year-old with parents who had recently split up. But perhaps that was because she was also fully involved in her mother’s business with part of the responsibility of its success, which gave her a sense of agency, enabling her to behave in such a mature way.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and was impressed with the quality of the writing and the murder. I will be looking out for more books from this author. Highly recommended for fans of engrossing murder mysteries where there really is a real mystery.
8/10
If you are looking for a no-holds-barred, action-filled adventure, then this one isn’t for you. After the first shocking discovery of the murder victim, this is a slow, steady accretion of clues and facts with a number of possible suspects being examined before being ruled out. However, if, like me, you really do like your whodunnit’s to be something of a mystery, then I do recommend this one. I obviously had guessed who the perpetrator was, before I discovered that I had got it completely wrong.
Apart from the well-handled murder mystery aspect, I was also engrossed in Mandy’s everyday life as a barista in a coffee shop at a local hospital, while also working on her online business. Redmond vividly depicts the struggle of so many people who are working in low-paid jobs with precious little security and a constant fear of losing their earnings. I was impressed that this wasn’t shown with any huge flourish or self pitying drama, but as a day-to-day struggle that needed to be endured – so much more realistic. Despite Mandy’s struggles, this isn’t a gloomy book. She is largely a strong, determined and optimistic character. However, I was glad to see that the victim’s death exacted a real toll on those around them. This isn’t a mystery where we really don’t care, and it was interesting to learn about the character after he’d died.
Any niggles? While I felt Mandy was very well portrayed and I loved the characterisation of nearly all the characters, I did feel that Vellum was just a little too good to be true as a fifteen-year-old with parents who had recently split up. But perhaps that was because she was also fully involved in her mother’s business with part of the responsibility of its success, which gave her a sense of agency, enabling her to behave in such a mature way.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and was impressed with the quality of the writing and the murder. I will be looking out for more books from this author. Highly recommended for fans of engrossing murder mysteries where there really is a real mystery.
8/10
July 12, 2025
I enjoyed the writing style of this, it felt very easy to read and even though it wasn't exciting enough to make me want to read it in one sitting, it held my attention effortlessly until the end. I like that it had realistic scenarios of a newly single mom struggling to make ends meet by working two jobs to support her daughter while trying to solve her cousin's murder. The amount of potential suspects made it interesting enough to not be obvious who the killer was from the start but easy enough to figure out as you read on. I'm glad the author didn't turn the story into a romance by having Mandy pair up with O'Hottie or Tristan but left it open in the end for the reader to assume there might be something that could develop in the future with Justin. I also liked how Mandy discovered so many unknown things about her cousin after his passing and then the reason for the murder being a drug scheme, but not because her cousin was doing drugs and at a low point in life like she thought but because he was trying to get out of it and do better because she was a positive influence on his life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2020
Mandy is going through hard times and money is very tight. Keeping the mortgage paid up to date and taking care of her teenage daughter while working at the Seattle hospital cafe as a barista for not so great wages pushes her to find other ways to pay those bills. Two things make it possible - video blogging with her daughter about journaling and renting out the living space in their basement to her cousin. Life is manageable - until, that is, she and her daughter Vellum, hear noises from the basement and discover Ryan murdered. Yes, his past was a bit sketchy but what was so bad about it that it got him killed? Especially in an occupied house when discovery could happen at any moment?
Mandy has a very real stake in uncovering the killer and is feeling the loss of Ryan's rent money.
I enjoyed the setting, the pace of the mystery and, most of all, I liked the characters of Mandy and Vellum. They may be mother and daughter and Vellum is a teenager but they come across as two strong women in it together. That this tough time will pass and life will get better. The mystery is a good puzzle and the flow is slow and steady but not boring or tedious. The perfect read for a rainy weekend. I hope there will be a sequel - I'm holding a space on my TBR list for it.
My thanks to the publisher Severn House and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Mandy has a very real stake in uncovering the killer and is feeling the loss of Ryan's rent money.
I enjoyed the setting, the pace of the mystery and, most of all, I liked the characters of Mandy and Vellum. They may be mother and daughter and Vellum is a teenager but they come across as two strong women in it together. That this tough time will pass and life will get better. The mystery is a good puzzle and the flow is slow and steady but not boring or tedious. The perfect read for a rainy weekend. I hope there will be a sequel - I'm holding a space on my TBR list for it.
My thanks to the publisher Severn House and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 19, 2021
An interesting crafting cozy! Mandy is a journaling vlogger with her teenage daughter, Vellum, as well as working a day job in the hospital coffee shop. While filming a journaling video, Mandy hears a noise and finds her cousin, Ryan, dead at the bottom of the basement stairs. Mandy investigates and finds put a lot of disturbing information about Ryan along the way. In addition to the murder, there have been instances of doctors and nurses taking drugs illegally. Are the two related? I found this to be an interesting book. I enjoyed the relationship between Mandy and her daughter. The journaling was also interesting and something I wish I could have seen examples of. I look forward to reading more of this series.
July 24, 2020
This was a short enjoyable mystery with a good plot. It was fast moving
And involved numerous people. Mandy Meadows is a divorced single mom
with a fifteen year old daughter.
Ryan is Mandy’s cousin and lives in the basement apartment. One night
They hear a noise and Ryan is found dead on the landing.
Mandy works in the hospital as a barista and at night she and her daughter
Vellum run a successful home business creating journaling on social media
Channels. The murder and trouble at work are tied together. How can she
Clear her name and find the killer.
The book is filled with twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
And involved numerous people. Mandy Meadows is a divorced single mom
with a fifteen year old daughter.
Ryan is Mandy’s cousin and lives in the basement apartment. One night
They hear a noise and Ryan is found dead on the landing.
Mandy works in the hospital as a barista and at night she and her daughter
Vellum run a successful home business creating journaling on social media
Channels. The murder and trouble at work are tied together. How can she
Clear her name and find the killer.
The book is filled with twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
April 20, 2020
Cute enough cozy mystery, but a couple of times what felt like a lack of editing pulled me out of the story. From people going up the same stairs twice in two pages (when they didn’t walk back down them) to some tiny plot holes, I just feel like it could have a been a...neater? book.
Nothing really outstanding about this one. The social media influencer angle was kind of interesting, but the actual mystery felt “meh” and the characters were all kinda wooden for me.
Nothing really outstanding about this one. The social media influencer angle was kind of interesting, but the actual mystery felt “meh” and the characters were all kinda wooden for me.
February 13, 2020
Divorced mother Mandy works two jobs and rents her basement apartment to her cousin Ryan when her ex-husband refuses to pay child support for Vellum, age 15. For her insurance, she works at the coffee shop in a hospital; for her pleasure, and an increasing part of her income, she does vlogging on journaling. When Ryan is murdered, it upsets her financial status, but more than that, she feels fear and grief--grief for her oldest friend, fear because a murderer was in her house and she may be a suspect. The handsome police detective soon realizes that she's innocent, but she may be able to provide him with insights on Ryan's job as a hospital maintenance man. Besides, the policeman is looking for a new apartment...
May 23, 2021
Fun. Good number of suspects. The reviews on the book cover referenced "history buffs", "mixes history" and "historical details in Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries" are misleading, or I totally missed the historical references. Takes place in modern day coffee shop and suburbia. Characters B, Plot B, Writing B. Overall, B.
February 20, 2022
This is my first book by this author, but I am going to try her other series of historical mystries and the second one in this series. I found the characters and their problems realistic and the mystery set in the coffee bar of a nearby hospital and the main character's home absorbing. The backstory of journaling and video blogging is also interesting
February 5, 2025
This book just wasn’t it for me. The FMC associated/spent time with a lot of people that didn’t really make sense and also seemed super judgmental as well as put out her cousins business even though she claimed they had a close relationship. It just wasn’t the book for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2020
I liked this cozy mystery! Well written, likeable characters, plot line good, just enough danger and menace. Quick read, look forward to reading more from this author.
June 11, 2020
I found the journaling part interesting. Everything else seemed unrealistic. And there was just too much weird focus on characters’ appearance.
August 26, 2020
It was kind of a hallmark movie in written form, but I was ok with that.
Read
October 1, 2022Miniseries
A Journaling Mystery
A Journaling Mystery
January 9, 2023
Loved her other series. This one is great as well. I Could not put this book down. Fun, Fresh new story, Something new to read. Great characters and story line.
May 25, 2023
This was a random book that caught my eye at the library.
It was a fun, light-hearted read, and I liked the mother and daughter relationship between Mandy and Vellum.
It was a fun, light-hearted read, and I liked the mother and daughter relationship between Mandy and Vellum.
August 25, 2023
Great book! Kept me on my toes. Mandy is trying to figure out who killed her cousin. Can’t wait to dive in to the second book!
February 4, 2020
This was an interesting story. While as a mystery, I found it very easy to solve, I was surprised by the use of journaling as a way to make a living on social media.
Or not. Mandy Meadows and her daughter are becoming more highly ranked on a video social media platform (you can guess which one, though the author never said so.) For all the followers that they have, they are making only a few hundred dollars a month. Kind of puts making your fortune on social media in the right perspective.
There is a murder and Mandy is a suspect. She goes from doing her videos and selling stickers to her job as a barista at a hospital to trying to scrounge enough money to keep heart and home together.
Her has-been ex-husband has quit his job so he doesn’t have to pay child support. This forced Mandy to become a landlord to her cousin Ryan. As he is the one who becomes the murder victim, she is not only a suspect but also out the monthly rent.
Mandy makes a lot of emotional decisions that get her into trouble. Journaling as part of the mystery takes a backseat but it does make an appearance every now and then.
As a first in a series, it was a good read.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.
Or not. Mandy Meadows and her daughter are becoming more highly ranked on a video social media platform (you can guess which one, though the author never said so.) For all the followers that they have, they are making only a few hundred dollars a month. Kind of puts making your fortune on social media in the right perspective.
There is a murder and Mandy is a suspect. She goes from doing her videos and selling stickers to her job as a barista at a hospital to trying to scrounge enough money to keep heart and home together.
Her has-been ex-husband has quit his job so he doesn’t have to pay child support. This forced Mandy to become a landlord to her cousin Ryan. As he is the one who becomes the murder victim, she is not only a suspect but also out the monthly rent.
Mandy makes a lot of emotional decisions that get her into trouble. Journaling as part of the mystery takes a backseat but it does make an appearance every now and then.
As a first in a series, it was a good read.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.
February 9, 2020
Even if it's a bit slow at times I found this cozy mystery an enjoyable and entertaining read.
I think it's a good start for a new series and was fascinating by the descriptions of journaling and Mandy web activities.
The mystery was solid, full of read herrings and twists, and the solution came as a surprise.
I look forward to reading other stories by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I think it's a good start for a new series and was fascinating by the descriptions of journaling and Mandy web activities.
The mystery was solid, full of read herrings and twists, and the solution came as a surprise.
I look forward to reading other stories by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
February 4, 2020
Review to come
January 21, 2020
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review is my own.
I was so enchanted by this fun new cozy series. I loved the fact it is different from the usual cozy setting and features journaling. It was fun to read about how the journals are made and all the details that go into a journal making.
Newly single divorced single Mom Mandy is trying to make ends meet for her daughter and herself. She has her cousin Randy move in to help with the rent. Randy has a shady past but they have always been friends as well as close cousins. He even helped her get a part time job locally to help support herself. She also does vlogging with her daughters help. I like that Mandy is featured as a hard working independent woman right away and not dependent on family or a man. She is starting over on her own and standing on her own two feet. This is endearing as most cozy protagonist depend on men or family money. When Randy is found dead she decides she wants to investigate on her own to determine what was going on his life that led to his death. The plot gets very interesting the more she digs into his past with some help from her co workers and friends.
I like this new cozy series for the new subject of journaling , the likable charcters and the fun sleuth that was pleasing to conclusion. A very fun read !
I was so enchanted by this fun new cozy series. I loved the fact it is different from the usual cozy setting and features journaling. It was fun to read about how the journals are made and all the details that go into a journal making.
Newly single divorced single Mom Mandy is trying to make ends meet for her daughter and herself. She has her cousin Randy move in to help with the rent. Randy has a shady past but they have always been friends as well as close cousins. He even helped her get a part time job locally to help support herself. She also does vlogging with her daughters help. I like that Mandy is featured as a hard working independent woman right away and not dependent on family or a man. She is starting over on her own and standing on her own two feet. This is endearing as most cozy protagonist depend on men or family money. When Randy is found dead she decides she wants to investigate on her own to determine what was going on his life that led to his death. The plot gets very interesting the more she digs into his past with some help from her co workers and friends.
I like this new cozy series for the new subject of journaling , the likable charcters and the fun sleuth that was pleasing to conclusion. A very fun read !
March 6, 2020
I reviewed Journaled to Death at Read and Buried and I was EXACTLY its audience. Stationery nerdery and cozy mysteries? Sign me up!
January 26, 2020
Mandy's keeping it together for herself and her daughter Vellum; rent from her cousin Ryan helps pay their bills. They enjoy v-logging about journaling (I learned something as a result). They hear something loud while they're working one evening and find Ryan dead! Cozy readers know that there was more to Ryan than Mandy knew and that she will investigate to find the truth behind his murder. The interaction between Mandy and Vellum is nice, the setting is well done, and the mystery just twisty enough. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. A nice start to a new series.
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