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Mystic Springs #7
New Year in Mystic Springs
Join Connie Winters as she meets her in laws for the first time!
It's New Year, and Taylor Morton's family are gathering a manor house for a reunion nobody will forget.
Taylor warns Connie about his dysfunctional family, headed by bitter family matriarch Eliza. Surely, they can't be that bad, thinks Connie... and quickly realises she was wrong.
Taylor's three brothers and their competing spouses pass the time bickering and fighting. Old grudges are revealed, threats are made, and tension fills the air.
Not everyone will survive the famiy trip, and when the dead body is discovered, there's no shortage of suspects.
With Sheriff Taylor Morton unable to face investigating his own family, it's down to Connie to consider which of the awful in laws committed the crime.
Test your wits in this closed room cozy mystery! This is seventh in the Mystic Springs series but can be read as a standalone. Enjoy this clean read that is free from bad language, sex, and gore.
It's New Year, and Taylor Morton's family are gathering a manor house for a reunion nobody will forget.
Taylor warns Connie about his dysfunctional family, headed by bitter family matriarch Eliza. Surely, they can't be that bad, thinks Connie... and quickly realises she was wrong.
Taylor's three brothers and their competing spouses pass the time bickering and fighting. Old grudges are revealed, threats are made, and tension fills the air.
Not everyone will survive the famiy trip, and when the dead body is discovered, there's no shortage of suspects.
With Sheriff Taylor Morton unable to face investigating his own family, it's down to Connie to consider which of the awful in laws committed the crime.
Test your wits in this closed room cozy mystery! This is seventh in the Mystic Springs series but can be read as a standalone. Enjoy this clean read that is free from bad language, sex, and gore.
149 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2020
31 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 24, 2020
This book takes me back to a sort of Agatha Christie style whodunnit. Which is what I enjoy most about cozy reads; the different sets. This was a very grown-up type of setting, well thought out and one which takes place in a murder mystery weekend type of setting. Connie gets to meet Taylor's family and what a cranky bunch they are! Eliza is a particularly cantankerous old woman who hasn't a kind word to say about anyone or anything. Her rudeness knows no boundaries.
Aside from his mother, Eliza, Taylor's siblings, spouses and offspring are just about as odd a hostile motley crew as you'd ever meet. Rude, bitter and twisted. They are all the perfect suspects when things start to go horribly wrong and one of them is found dead. It wasn't who I thought it was going to be and things only go downhill for the family from that point.
Undeterred by their rudeness, Connie studies them all and makes it her mission to filter out fact from fiction when she questions the suspects one by one before coming to her conclusion. Has she worked out who has carried out murder and why? And what secrets does Eliza keep?
Aside from his mother, Eliza, Taylor's siblings, spouses and offspring are just about as odd a hostile motley crew as you'd ever meet. Rude, bitter and twisted. They are all the perfect suspects when things start to go horribly wrong and one of them is found dead. It wasn't who I thought it was going to be and things only go downhill for the family from that point.
Undeterred by their rudeness, Connie studies them all and makes it her mission to filter out fact from fiction when she questions the suspects one by one before coming to her conclusion. Has she worked out who has carried out murder and why? And what secrets does Eliza keep?
May 6, 2020
Every book in this series turns out better than the last. I don’t know how the author manages that. In this book we meet Taylor’s family. They aren’t pleasant..to each other or anyone else. They meet, though, at the request of the matriarch, perhaps the most unpleasant of all. You might think all this unpleasantness would make for dreary reading. You might be wrong.
I was fascinated by the family members. So much so that I ended up reading the book twice, back to back. I love analyzing people and their choices of behavior. So the first time reading, I kind of got hung up in analyzing each person. I was highly entertained. The second reading was more of a verification of my thoughts. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Yes, it has a paranormal aspect but it’s not large. Someone who is not into paranormal may find this book interesting. It’s slightly darker than the previous books, which I think made it stand out more. The last death mentioned literally had few tears being shed. People aren’t always how we think they are.
I am excited to see where we go from here. Please read the book. If you are new to the series, you will do fine. My recommendation is to read them all but you can enjoy this as a stand-alone.
I was fascinated by the family members. So much so that I ended up reading the book twice, back to back. I love analyzing people and their choices of behavior. So the first time reading, I kind of got hung up in analyzing each person. I was highly entertained. The second reading was more of a verification of my thoughts. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Yes, it has a paranormal aspect but it’s not large. Someone who is not into paranormal may find this book interesting. It’s slightly darker than the previous books, which I think made it stand out more. The last death mentioned literally had few tears being shed. People aren’t always how we think they are.
I am excited to see where we go from here. Please read the book. If you are new to the series, you will do fine. My recommendation is to read them all but you can enjoy this as a stand-alone.
August 21, 2025
A tale of the poisonous effects of power
Mrs Marple is such a wonderful, gifted author. She creates this atmosphere full of tangible tension. It was almost as if that tension could have leapt off the page right into my life and that was skillfully done! And what a lovely dedication!
This book is about Connie again, but no Sage, and I kind of missed Sage. This book is not as light-hearted as books 1-4 were. No Sage to liven things up, but that wouldn’t have fitted in this book anyhow. Taylor’s family. Connie’s first time to meet them. There is a lot of bickering going on. A lot of hate, anger, fighting. And it was great to see how those different personalities unfolded. A lot of psychology in this book. An interesting take on varying dispositions and I loved that! What does power do? What can power bring, or destroy?
A well-written book, that was easy-to-read and that I found hard to put down. There was a clever twist that I didn’t expect. The murder doesn’t happen until halfway through, but it needed that build-up. After that, the investigation was quick, but very satisfying. My favorite part of the book. Very enjoyable!
Mrs Marple is such a wonderful, gifted author. She creates this atmosphere full of tangible tension. It was almost as if that tension could have leapt off the page right into my life and that was skillfully done! And what a lovely dedication!
This book is about Connie again, but no Sage, and I kind of missed Sage. This book is not as light-hearted as books 1-4 were. No Sage to liven things up, but that wouldn’t have fitted in this book anyhow. Taylor’s family. Connie’s first time to meet them. There is a lot of bickering going on. A lot of hate, anger, fighting. And it was great to see how those different personalities unfolded. A lot of psychology in this book. An interesting take on varying dispositions and I loved that! What does power do? What can power bring, or destroy?
A well-written book, that was easy-to-read and that I found hard to put down. There was a clever twist that I didn’t expect. The murder doesn’t happen until halfway through, but it needed that build-up. After that, the investigation was quick, but very satisfying. My favorite part of the book. Very enjoyable!
April 25, 2020
When she finds herself in the midst of the backstabbing venom of the Thomson family, Connie tries to keep to herself as much as possible so as not to be caught in the crossfire. A strategy which works to a point. Until there's a dead body. And what purports to be a suicide. Except that Connie just knows it's not. While Taylor can't investigate his own family, Connie has no such reluctance and sets out immediately to find the truth. Not any easy task; and filled with wrong turns and misdirection. And maybe a little danger too?
New Year is an interesting tale. Family conflicts, resentments, long held grudges and fears; all play their part in the drama Marple skillfully unfolds. As with all of her work, I enjoyed this immensely and was sad when I reached the end. Highly recommend!
[Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This is my honest review, the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]
New Year is an interesting tale. Family conflicts, resentments, long held grudges and fears; all play their part in the drama Marple skillfully unfolds. As with all of her work, I enjoyed this immensely and was sad when I reached the end. Highly recommend!
[Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This is my honest review, the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]
April 30, 2020
New Year in Mystic Springs is a closed room whodunit. The build-up to the murder is a slow burn - but it needs to be so that we can get to know all the players. Once the murder occurs, the pacing is lightning fast with red herrings flying in all directions. I have to admit I fell for more than one and was surprised by who the killer was when all was revealed.
New Year in Mystic Springs focuses on Connie and her first time meeting Taylor's family. His family politics and rivalries were right up there with the most diabolical families in Imperial Rome. Poor Connie is left to sink or swim in a house full of man-eating sharks - and figure out who the killer is.
I really enjoyed New Year in Mystic Springs. Connie came into her own as a strong and clever woman. The only thing that would have made this book better would have been a cameo appearance by Sage.
New Year in Mystic Springs focuses on Connie and her first time meeting Taylor's family. His family politics and rivalries were right up there with the most diabolical families in Imperial Rome. Poor Connie is left to sink or swim in a house full of man-eating sharks - and figure out who the killer is.
I really enjoyed New Year in Mystic Springs. Connie came into her own as a strong and clever woman. The only thing that would have made this book better would have been a cameo appearance by Sage.
May 3, 2020
This may be my favorite Mystic Springs book. A locked "room" mystery. Eliza, the matriarch of the family has gathered all of her son's and their families at her home for New Years. They are sure there is an ulterior motive. She doesn't like anyone enough to just want to spend the holiday with family. When Lola, Christopher's wife is found dead by apparent suicide, Connie must convince the family it seems more like murder, and then discover who did it. Everyone is a suspect, literally. The family is constantly bickering and can't be in the same room for very long. They are more concerned about who is in Eliza's will then someone being murdered. I liked Connie's deductive skills, and all of the quirky personalities of the family members. Surprise ending.
I received a free copy and voluntarily provided this review.
I received a free copy and voluntarily provided this review.
May 2, 2020
Miss Marple did a wonderful job creating a cast of characters that you love to hate. Yet she managed to give each one a reason to sympathize with them. The clues are laid out like bread crumbs, and the reader is led to more than one empty bread box before the truth is reveiled. The reveil is done in classic Christy style, and you will be surprised at who the murderer is. I enjoyed the book, and only gave 4 stars because the beginning was a bit overwhelming as you were introduced to all the characters at once. Again, classice Christy style. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good "who-done-it"
April 26, 2020
I loved New Year in Mystic Springs! This is a closed room murder mystery. It is so interesting and fun. I really enjoyed getting to know Taylor's crazy family. I loved following Connie solve the crimes. This book and the style of the reveal have an Agatha Christie feel. The book is well written with detailed characters. I like the style of writing and how it is in multiple characters point of view. This is a fun and quick book to read. I really enjoyed it.
April 25, 2020
Connie has joined Taylor for a family New Year’s Eve get together. Taylor has 3 brothers who are married and have multiple children. Eliza the grande dame of the family has called them together. Connie finds that the family has a lot of baggage. No one gets along. When one of the wives is found dead, Connie takes the lead to solve the murder.
This was an interesting story. It’s essentially a locked room mystery. Connie manages to wade her way through the mess.
This was an interesting story. It’s essentially a locked room mystery. Connie manages to wade her way through the mess.
April 25, 2020
Another 5-star book by this wonderful author. Connie and Taylor have travelled to be with his family for the New Year weekend even though he knew how awful they are. She soon finds out how right he is. His mother admits to not liking anyone. She proclaims she will be dead before the weekend is over. There will actually be two people dead and Connie figures out who did it. But, will she be able to stop the culprit before someone else dies? Read this wonderful book and see what happens.
May 2, 2020
Another great book from Mona Marple! This book focuses on Connie and her relationship with love Taylor and his family. It’s a mesmerizing tale with many twists and turns as Connie attempts to solve a murder, which will keep you guessing to the end. All the characters are well-developed and we learn as Connie does how complex the familial relationships are in this family. Very good read!
May 4, 2020
This was an interesting book. It was almost like a clue movie. They are all in a house together and then the murder happens. There are so many unlikeable characters who all hold different secrets and makes them all likely suspects. It was a very different spin on the murder setup. I found it very entertaining.
May 1, 2020
This book evokes a golden age mystery where a family that does not get along are gathered together and then a body is discovered.
Secrets, betrayal and murder.
I could not put this down. Good twists and interesting characters.
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Secrets, betrayal and murder.
I could not put this down. Good twists and interesting characters.
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
April 29, 2020
Ms. Marple never fails to deliver a great story! The family dynamics for the character Taylor is shocking! Connie steps up and stands beside her man with grace and honour! Wow! The tangled webs some people weave! So many twists and turns left my head spinning! Well done!
May 1, 2020
Another excellent read by Mona Marple! This may be my most favorite one yet! Talk about an unpleasant group of in-laws! This book has unpredictable twists and great characters. It was an easy read and one that I could not put it down! Can you figure out whodunnit?!
May 3, 2020
Another fun book by Mona Marple. It's written in the sort of old school manner of Agatha Christie with the amateur sleuth revealing "whodunit" in the end, but with some interesting twists.
May 6, 2020
Family Reunion Turns Deadly
What's more fun than a family reunion for New Years Right? Wrong.
Taylor & Connie's visit with his crazy family is anything but fun. They all right & seem to dislike one another. They argue constantly & then not one but two family members end up dead. Is it murder? Who could kill their own family members? Can Connie figure it out before someone else is killed? The ending will surprise you. Pick up a copy to find out how it all plays out! Great addition to the series. I look forward to the next book.
What's more fun than a family reunion for New Years Right? Wrong.
Taylor & Connie's visit with his crazy family is anything but fun. They all right & seem to dislike one another. They argue constantly & then not one but two family members end up dead. Is it murder? Who could kill their own family members? Can Connie figure it out before someone else is killed? The ending will surprise you. Pick up a copy to find out how it all plays out! Great addition to the series. I look forward to the next book.
May 6, 2020
Connie has tried to keep an open mind when her husband tried to explain how dysfunctional his family is.. Well, maybe she should have listened. And then to add a murder into the mix. What a dandy way to start out the New Year... NOT!!! Which family member committed the murder or better yet, which one didn't? And how is Taylor, the sheriff, supposed to investigate his family when they all are probably guilty of something? Delightful reader and kudos to Ms. Marple for yet another wonderful read.
January 5, 2025
Wow what a story! Finally Connie gets to meet Taylors family and they are insane. To have such a large group who dislike each other thrown into one house together for a weekend, what could possibly go wrong? The plot of this book was well thought out and thought provoking. Every single one of the new characters is a suspect with a solid motive and opportunity. Connie had her job cut out for her. Then that ending was just icing on the cake! Absolutely adored Taylors cranky mom.
June 11, 2025
Nice one
I really enjoyed this story. Good old fashioned country house mystery, with a dysfunctional family this one,happens to be Tyler's. All of whom have secrets,scheme and are generally unpleasant company. When one of the wives is murdered Connie investigates. Well written and with interesting if a little cliched characters, a classic trope very well done. Great story. Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed this story. Good old fashioned country house mystery, with a dysfunctional family this one,happens to be Tyler's. All of whom have secrets,scheme and are generally unpleasant company. When one of the wives is murdered Connie investigates. Well written and with interesting if a little cliched characters, a classic trope very well done. Great story. Highly recommended.
May 6, 2020
Connie & Taylor off to see his not so loving family for New Year’s eve...maybe on yah outside the family is a typical loving family, yet a closer look they are anything but that...who knew there was so much psychologically going on in this magic world...WOW & 2 are dead before you know it...who did it??? We’ll pick up a copy today & find out...it’s definitely not who you would think.
May 14, 2020
Didn't finish
I love this author. every other book she wrote is amazing. Unfortunately this one fell short. I tried 3 times to finish it and couldnt. So many characters made it confusing and hard to follow. Sorry
I love this author. every other book she wrote is amazing. Unfortunately this one fell short. I tried 3 times to finish it and couldnt. So many characters made it confusing and hard to follow. Sorry
March 13, 2021
A great Agatha-Christie-style mystery! Connie and Taylor are visiting his extended family for the weekend when people start dropping like flies. Never fear, Connie's on the case and justice will be served!
June 26, 2020
If you think your family is dysfunctional, you should meet the Mortons! Taylor and Connie spend the Holiday weekend with Taylor's family. Taylor's 3 brothers and sister-in-laws gather with their mother for New Year's Eve. Bickering and old grudges begin. Then things turn serious, someone is dead! Was it suicide? Was it murder? What a read! Well written! Great Characters! Greed, Power and Affairs! This book has it all!
January 2, 2025
Perfect example of never judge a book by its cover.
Spoiler Alert : Not a fantasy novel
Spoiler Alert : Not a fantasy novel
January 11, 2025
Well written who done it mystery with lots of family drama. Loved the book. Love the author! Highly recommend!!
May 4, 2020
This book is a continuation of the Mystic Springs series, but it works fine as a standalone. I have always really enjoyed the characters of Connie and Taylor; in this book, we meet Taylor's very interesting family, and it's illuminating and a bit crazy. This story reminds me of some of Agatha Christie's work, with a huge cast of characters, all in a big house together for a period of time, and all suspects in the crime--all for individual reasons. But are there reasons we know nothing about? Connie is the amateur sleuth in this scenario, although I find it odd that her significant other, Taylor, doesn't participate, since he's a sheriff. Connie is in an odd role at this New Year's family reunion--she's meeting Taylor's family for the first time and since she's not married to him, they don't include her much as a part of the family. So she starts out taking a background role and doesn't try to insinuate herself into the family dynamics much at first, as she's meeting everyone and figuring out their personalities and family history. Once the first crime occurs, she's suddenly a bit over-bold in taking charge, questioning family members, choosing to eschew the best manners in favor of solving the crime--and later, crimes. She's extremely likable in the background role, but in this book, I found her taking charge of investigating a tiny bit rude at times. I very much enjoy all of the intricacies and red herrings, though, as well as the ultimate solution to everything that occurred. This was a very enjoyable read for me overall and the writing was great, as always. I was provided an arc of this story, but these opinions are my own.
April 30, 2020
I have only been following the Mystic Springs 'family' for the last few books. I don't don't know the full backstory for Connie and Taylor, but in the last few books I know they are a devoted couple, dealing with twins - yikes! So now we meet Taylor's family. The truly evil grandmother (to the twins, Taylor's mother) with her threats of will changing gathers all of her offspring and their families together at the family manse. Supposedly, the entire family knows that only married couples are eligible to inherit, so already Connie and Taylor are not all that invested in what appears to be the Matriarch's final holiday. But, for the 2 brothers who are married, things start to fall apart almost immediately when one spouse is murdered. In a closed-room mystery, Connie uses her powers of observation to pinpoint the murderer while trying to maintain a sense of humor in the midst of absurdity.
May 3, 2020
This book is a departure from other Mystic Springs books as we are introduced to Taylor's family. They're quite the bunch! Mona Marple has filled this book with well developed characters and a tangible angst.
The family gathers together following the demand of the matriarch who holds the purse strings to the fortune that her children wish to inherit. The tension between family members is high as they snipe, insult and berate each other, but the real question soon becomes who would actually decide to murder a family member and why?
Connie's keen ability to observe and piece together the truth really shine in this book. The story is almost a locked room mystery with plenty of villainous characters and lots of plot twists that lead to the conclusion.
The family gathers together following the demand of the matriarch who holds the purse strings to the fortune that her children wish to inherit. The tension between family members is high as they snipe, insult and berate each other, but the real question soon becomes who would actually decide to murder a family member and why?
Connie's keen ability to observe and piece together the truth really shine in this book. The story is almost a locked room mystery with plenty of villainous characters and lots of plot twists that lead to the conclusion.
May 7, 2020
Another adventure into the world of Mystic Springs. This time it is Taylor and Connie off to spend New Year's with his family. I felt for Connie as she meets Taylor's family and realizes why he wants nothing to do with them. Heartless and insensitive are a few words to describe Taylor's mother and the rest are no better. Fighting and backstabbing are just a few words to describe them but Connie seems to be navigating them just fine and this is before the murders. Connie is the outsider that everyone looks to to solve the crimes and she does not let us down.
This book had me to the very end. It can be read as a stand-alone but it is part of a series. Enjoyed!
This book had me to the very end. It can be read as a stand-alone but it is part of a series. Enjoyed!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews