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Pancake House Mystery #7
A Room with a Roux
Pancake house owner Marley McKinney takes a break from the Flip Side for a romantic getaway. But soon, instead of mixing batter, she’s mixed up with murder . . .
Marley and her new husband Brett need some quality couple time before the holiday madness, so they drive up into the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula to charming Holly Lodge. Before long they’re enjoying snowshoe excursions, hot chocolates, and cuddling in front of a roaring fire. Despite some barely concealed marital tension between the owners of the lodge, they’re finally able to unwind . . .
Until one morning when they notice a glove sticking out of a snowbank outside of the lodge. Inside the glove is a hand connected to a frozen corpse buried beneath the snow—lodge owner Kevin Manning has been murdered. Presented with a stack of suspects and eventually stranded at the lodge by a blizzard, Marley has to catch the cold-hearted killer before someone else gets iced . . .
Marley and her new husband Brett need some quality couple time before the holiday madness, so they drive up into the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula to charming Holly Lodge. Before long they’re enjoying snowshoe excursions, hot chocolates, and cuddling in front of a roaring fire. Despite some barely concealed marital tension between the owners of the lodge, they’re finally able to unwind . . .
Until one morning when they notice a glove sticking out of a snowbank outside of the lodge. Inside the glove is a hand connected to a frozen corpse buried beneath the snow—lodge owner Kevin Manning has been murdered. Presented with a stack of suspects and eventually stranded at the lodge by a blizzard, Marley has to catch the cold-hearted killer before someone else gets iced . . .
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2021
70 people are currently reading
926 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Fox
23 books733 followersSarah Fox, writer of cozy mysteries, was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she developed a love for mysteries at a young age. When not writing novels or working as a legal writer she is often reading her way through a stack of books or spending time outdoors with her English Springer Spaniel.
Sarah is the author of the Literary Pub Mysteries, the Pancake House Mysteries, and the Music Lover's Mysteries.
Sarah is the author of the Literary Pub Mysteries, the Pancake House Mysteries, and the Music Lover's Mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
February 14, 2021
Coming in at #7 in a series is not really the best thing to do but I was so tempted by the blurb and that pretty cover that I decided to give it a go.
I could tell straight away that I was well into an ongoing series because the MC, Marley, was happily settling into a new marriage. I can imagine the first six books have been building up to this. The Pancake House of the title belongs to Marley and she is well established and happy there too.
In A Room with a Roux the author moves Marley away from home as she and her husband have a couple of days rest and relaxation in a mountain retreat. Unfortunately a body is discovered in the snow and Marley begins her own little investigation to discover "who dunnit".
This was a very easy book to read and it was no problem to get involved in all the Christmas preparations and the wonderful food. The author writes nicely and she gives us a few recipes to try at the end as well.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I could tell straight away that I was well into an ongoing series because the MC, Marley, was happily settling into a new marriage. I can imagine the first six books have been building up to this. The Pancake House of the title belongs to Marley and she is well established and happy there too.
In A Room with a Roux the author moves Marley away from home as she and her husband have a couple of days rest and relaxation in a mountain retreat. Unfortunately a body is discovered in the snow and Marley begins her own little investigation to discover "who dunnit".
This was a very easy book to read and it was no problem to get involved in all the Christmas preparations and the wonderful food. The author writes nicely and she gives us a few recipes to try at the end as well.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 26, 2021
Forse non proprio un punteggio pieno, ma la lettura è stata davvero piacevole, il cast mi piace, l'ambientazione ancor di più e stavolta non ero proprio riuscita a capire chi fosse il colpevole. Forse sono stata un pochino distratta prima dalle scene in montagna e poi da quelle lungo la spiaggia: non saprei in quale dei due posti mi piacerebbe vivere di più....
July 17, 2021
“But sometimes the most unlikely person turns out to be a killer.”
My first foray into cozy mysteries, A Room with a Roux did not disappoint. No problems with diving into the seventh book in the Pancake House Mystery series, this was an ideal light, easy read complete with delicious recipes and holiday cheer. Pancake House owner Marley has a knack for getting involved with investigating murder mysteries. On a winter vacation up in the mountains with her new husband Brett, Marley finds herself at the center of the case of the death of Holly Lodge's co-owner Kevin who the couple finds buried in a snowbank.
Everyone is a suspect including Kevin's wife/partner Rita as well as all of the current guests and staff at the lodge. I had my own suspicions and questioned everyone with my opinion changing throughout. I loved that one of the guests was a popular mystery and romance writer while another was a poet with beautiful work, as I always appreciate a literary twist in a case. I also loved that the book evolved into a locked room mystery with everyone stranded at the lodge following a blizzard with a killer trapped among them.
There were plenty of well-placed secondary characters in the story, all of whom added the perfect level of complexity to the plot with their side stories. Among them, little Emily's story added a mystery of its own, both poignant and heartbreaking. The only issue I had with the book was the legend of Henrietta Franklin's ghost. While interesting, I didn't care for how it was incorporated into the story and felt it was rather unnecessary.
The way in which Marley finally discovers the identity of the killer could not have been more satisfying and it wrapped up the book wonderfully. I would not hesitate to read another one of Sarah Fox's cozy mysteries and would recommend this one to all fans of the genre.
** Special thanks to Goodreads Giveaways for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC. **
My first foray into cozy mysteries, A Room with a Roux did not disappoint. No problems with diving into the seventh book in the Pancake House Mystery series, this was an ideal light, easy read complete with delicious recipes and holiday cheer. Pancake House owner Marley has a knack for getting involved with investigating murder mysteries. On a winter vacation up in the mountains with her new husband Brett, Marley finds herself at the center of the case of the death of Holly Lodge's co-owner Kevin who the couple finds buried in a snowbank.
Everyone is a suspect including Kevin's wife/partner Rita as well as all of the current guests and staff at the lodge. I had my own suspicions and questioned everyone with my opinion changing throughout. I loved that one of the guests was a popular mystery and romance writer while another was a poet with beautiful work, as I always appreciate a literary twist in a case. I also loved that the book evolved into a locked room mystery with everyone stranded at the lodge following a blizzard with a killer trapped among them.
There were plenty of well-placed secondary characters in the story, all of whom added the perfect level of complexity to the plot with their side stories. Among them, little Emily's story added a mystery of its own, both poignant and heartbreaking. The only issue I had with the book was the legend of Henrietta Franklin's ghost. While interesting, I didn't care for how it was incorporated into the story and felt it was rather unnecessary.
The way in which Marley finally discovers the identity of the killer could not have been more satisfying and it wrapped up the book wonderfully. I would not hesitate to read another one of Sarah Fox's cozy mysteries and would recommend this one to all fans of the genre.
** Special thanks to Goodreads Giveaways for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC. **
December 11, 2020
Newlyweds Brett and Marley decide to take a vacation from the Flip Side and work to take a vacation up to a quaint mountain lodge recommended by their friend, neighbor, and B&B owner Patricia. What could be better than a romantic getaway, with winter adventures during the day and snuggled up by a fire at night? At least that's Brett and Marley's plans. Unfortunately, their winter adventures take a wrong turn when they accidentally come across the body of one of the lodge owners. Suddenly, the winter vacation takes a wrong turn.
I enjoy this series and this book was a little bit different. The first 1/3 takes place at the lodge, and the mystery seems to follow them a bit back to Wildwood Cover, with the finale of the book going back to the lodge. Fans of the series will notice that Marley does not spend a lot of time at the Flip Side and as a result, many of the secondary characters that fans have grown to love are sidelined in this book. That said, I liked how the books focused on Brett and Marley solving the mystery this time around, with a little help from Chloe.
There are two parallel mysteries - one involving the murder and one involving the theft of ornaments from the Christmas trees at the Holiday Festival. For me, trying to figure out who killed the lodge owner was a bit difficult as the characters are all new and I felt clues were sparse. I loved how the theft of the ornaments was discovered and resolved. That one has a feel-good ending.
This was a nice holiday read and a good addition to the series. I will say, I'm looking forward to having the regular cast of secondary characters back as they support Marley's future sleuthing.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington Books, through Netgalley.
I enjoy this series and this book was a little bit different. The first 1/3 takes place at the lodge, and the mystery seems to follow them a bit back to Wildwood Cover, with the finale of the book going back to the lodge. Fans of the series will notice that Marley does not spend a lot of time at the Flip Side and as a result, many of the secondary characters that fans have grown to love are sidelined in this book. That said, I liked how the books focused on Brett and Marley solving the mystery this time around, with a little help from Chloe.
There are two parallel mysteries - one involving the murder and one involving the theft of ornaments from the Christmas trees at the Holiday Festival. For me, trying to figure out who killed the lodge owner was a bit difficult as the characters are all new and I felt clues were sparse. I loved how the theft of the ornaments was discovered and resolved. That one has a feel-good ending.
This was a nice holiday read and a good addition to the series. I will say, I'm looking forward to having the regular cast of secondary characters back as they support Marley's future sleuthing.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington Books, through Netgalley.
February 12, 2021
A Room With A Roux
Pancake House Mystery, Book #7
Sarah Fox
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Pancake house owner Marley McKinney takes a break from the Flip Side for a romantic getaway. But soon, instead of mixing batter, she’s mixed up with murder . . .
Marley and her new husband Brett need some quality couple time before the holiday madness, so they drive up into the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula to charming Holly Lodge. Before long they’re enjoying snowshoe excursions, hot chocolates, and cuddling in front of a roaring fire. Despite some barely concealed marital tension between the owners of the lodge, they’re finally able to unwind . . .
Until one morning when they notice a glove sticking out of a snowbank outside of the lodge. Inside the glove is a hand connected to a frozen corpse buried beneath the snow—lodge owner Kevin Manning has been murdered. Presented with a stack of suspects and eventually stranded at the lodge by a blizzard, Marley has to catch the cold-hearted killer before someone else gets iced . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
Marley and Brett think they are going to have a romantic getaway but things do not go as planned. They find a dead body in a snowbank, one of the lodge owners. Now Marley has to try to figure out who the killer is before someone else dies.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. The Flip Side staff gets along really well and they feel like a big family. They help Marley try to solve the mystery as best they can. I enjoy watching the interaction between Marley and her staff.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and that brought the book to life in my mind’s eye. Whether describing the lodge, the blizzard or the romantic getaway, I could see it and feel like I was experiencing it first hand. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and it was not easily solved. I like the fact that the book took place in two different settings, that brought another level to the story, in my opinion.
I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what is next for Marley and her gang.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Pancake House Mystery, Book #7
Sarah Fox
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Pancake house owner Marley McKinney takes a break from the Flip Side for a romantic getaway. But soon, instead of mixing batter, she’s mixed up with murder . . .
Marley and her new husband Brett need some quality couple time before the holiday madness, so they drive up into the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula to charming Holly Lodge. Before long they’re enjoying snowshoe excursions, hot chocolates, and cuddling in front of a roaring fire. Despite some barely concealed marital tension between the owners of the lodge, they’re finally able to unwind . . .
Until one morning when they notice a glove sticking out of a snowbank outside of the lodge. Inside the glove is a hand connected to a frozen corpse buried beneath the snow—lodge owner Kevin Manning has been murdered. Presented with a stack of suspects and eventually stranded at the lodge by a blizzard, Marley has to catch the cold-hearted killer before someone else gets iced . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
Marley and Brett think they are going to have a romantic getaway but things do not go as planned. They find a dead body in a snowbank, one of the lodge owners. Now Marley has to try to figure out who the killer is before someone else dies.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. The Flip Side staff gets along really well and they feel like a big family. They help Marley try to solve the mystery as best they can. I enjoy watching the interaction between Marley and her staff.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and that brought the book to life in my mind’s eye. Whether describing the lodge, the blizzard or the romantic getaway, I could see it and feel like I was experiencing it first hand. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and it was not easily solved. I like the fact that the book took place in two different settings, that brought another level to the story, in my opinion.
I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what is next for Marley and her gang.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
December 20, 2021
This was my pick for the Winter Wonderland square on Holiday Book Bingo. I've read the earlier books and liked them and this one was perfect for the square.
Newlyweds Marley and Brett are headed for a wintery weekend getaway at Holly Lodge, a retreat in the mountains but all is not happy at the lodge. Owners Rita and Kevin are at odds over expanding the business and a real estate tycoon is pressuring them to sell the lodge to him. After witnessing a few tense moments over the two days they were there, Marley and Brett are stunned to find Kevin's body buried in the snow, dead. Eek! I enjoyed this one, I liked that the murder occurred pretty early (something you can only say in a book review without raising eyebrows) and I wondered how Marley was going to solve it, as they cut their stay short, and I liked how the investigation continued in Wildwood Cove before return to the scene of the crime for the big conclusion. There wasn't a lot of investigating in this one, mostly because of the different locations, so most of it was just asking a few questions and chewing on the facts. But the Merry Christmas-y vibe, especially with the side mystery of the ornament thefts made for a light and enjoyable read.
Newlyweds Marley and Brett are headed for a wintery weekend getaway at Holly Lodge, a retreat in the mountains but all is not happy at the lodge. Owners Rita and Kevin are at odds over expanding the business and a real estate tycoon is pressuring them to sell the lodge to him. After witnessing a few tense moments over the two days they were there, Marley and Brett are stunned to find Kevin's body buried in the snow, dead. Eek! I enjoyed this one, I liked that the murder occurred pretty early (something you can only say in a book review without raising eyebrows) and I wondered how Marley was going to solve it, as they cut their stay short, and I liked how the investigation continued in Wildwood Cove before return to the scene of the crime for the big conclusion. There wasn't a lot of investigating in this one, mostly because of the different locations, so most of it was just asking a few questions and chewing on the facts. But the Merry Christmas-y vibe, especially with the side mystery of the ornament thefts made for a light and enjoyable read.
February 9, 2021
This series never disappoints. Every book has been a delightful reading experience.
January 6, 2021
"A Room With A Roux" the 7th instalment in the "Pancake House" Mystery series by Sarah Fox. I really like this series its an entertaining easy read.
Being that this is set in the pacific northwest where i am from rather than an eastern state i can relate to the setting easier. I enjoyed the part where they were up in the mountains at a remote lodge, seeing Marley out of her usual setting was a nice change. But the story seemed to pick up when it got back to Wildwood Cove.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters of Marley, Brett, and Sienna but lets not forget the loveable furbabies. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Being that this is set in the pacific northwest where i am from rather than an eastern state i can relate to the setting easier. I enjoyed the part where they were up in the mountains at a remote lodge, seeing Marley out of her usual setting was a nice change. But the story seemed to pick up when it got back to Wildwood Cove.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters of Marley, Brett, and Sienna but lets not forget the loveable furbabies. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 21, 2021
The Pancake House Mystery series is a fun one and this seventh outing is another winner. Of course there is a murder, but this one does not occur in town, but at The Holly Lodge, a resort in the Olympia Mountains. Newlyweds Brett and Marley had a few days to get away and after a recommendation from a local business owner, this winter holiday seems to be just what they are looking for. Unfortunately, death follows them and they find the owner of the resort dead and buried in a snowdrift. When they return to Wildwood Cove, several of the suspects end up there as well, allowing Marley to continue poking around. There is also a secondary mystery involving the theft of ornaments on the trees decorated for the Festival of trees. This mystery is more lighthearted and brings out the quaint feel to the town and we see some of the secondary characters that were not a large part of this story. The murder mystery was a bit more difficult to solve as the actual crime was committed elsewhere. Marley, Brett and Chloe followed what clues they had, asked lots of questions and poked around until they figured out whodunnit. There wasn't a big reveal or any danger, so it was a bit anti-climactic. While I enjoyed the setting of the mountain lodge, this was not my favourite in this series. The narration by Marguerite Gavin was pleasant and easy to listen to. Her tone and pacing were right on and her voice for Marley was recognizable. She narrated the last book in the series I had listened to, so it was nice to hear her again on this one. I received a copy of this book from the publisher upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
January 27, 2021
This is the seventh book in a series by Sarah Fox about Marley McKinney who started over in Wildwood Cove, Oregon, as a breakfast restaurant owner, following her uncle's passing and is hugely successful. With her business, Flip Side, booming, Marley and her new husband, Brett are taking a well-deserved break. Arriving in the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula at the quaint Holly Lodge, they’re enjoying their romantic getaway, the snow-themed excursions, hot chocolates, and cuddles in front of a roaring fire. Whilst enjoying the peace and quiet at the enchanting hotel, they decide to try out the hot tub before dinner and overhear arguing between members of the hotel management and another man. Then a body is discovered, partially buried in the deep snow...
I thoroughly enjoyed A Room with a Roux and found it extremely compelling. I've read a novel from a different series (Literary Pub Mystery) by Sarah Fox and although I haven't yet read any of the other instalments from this Pancake House Mystery series this did not mar my appreciation for A Room with a Roux as it was easy to read. The author's fabulous use of descriptive language painted a clear picture to me of the mountain resort and brought the snowy, freezing weather, the scent of pine and the twinkly lights directly into my lounge. The dialogue was engaging and showcased the cast's colourful and varying personalities really well. I thought protagonist Marley was a great character as she was personable, and warmhearted, though many of the characters were endearing and vibrant.
The mystery itself included more than enough twists and variety to keep me guessing and turning the pages. This is a great, very high quality, fun read, and I intend to catch up with the other books in the series. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Marley. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Room with a Roux and found it extremely compelling. I've read a novel from a different series (Literary Pub Mystery) by Sarah Fox and although I haven't yet read any of the other instalments from this Pancake House Mystery series this did not mar my appreciation for A Room with a Roux as it was easy to read. The author's fabulous use of descriptive language painted a clear picture to me of the mountain resort and brought the snowy, freezing weather, the scent of pine and the twinkly lights directly into my lounge. The dialogue was engaging and showcased the cast's colourful and varying personalities really well. I thought protagonist Marley was a great character as she was personable, and warmhearted, though many of the characters were endearing and vibrant.
The mystery itself included more than enough twists and variety to keep me guessing and turning the pages. This is a great, very high quality, fun read, and I intend to catch up with the other books in the series. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Marley. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 12, 2021
A ROOM WITH A ROUX, the seventh entry in the delightful Pancake House Mystery series, finds newlyweds Marley and Brett leaving The Flipside restaurant and Wildwood Cove, Oregon, to spend a romantic weekend in the mountains. They find Holly Lodge to be a charming winter wonderland, and everything is ideal…until they discover the body of one of the lodge owners murdered and hidden in a snowbank. Marley is glad to leave the lodge and the murder behind, but she continues to be drawn into the mystery.
The Holly Lodge sounds wonderful, and I would love to visit. Sans murder, of course. Author Fox invokes a perfect backdrop for this almost closed-room murder mystery. All of the guests and employees, and even one of Marley’s customers at the restaurant, seem to have good motive and opportunity to commit the crime. The clues kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was surprised when the killer’s ultimate motive.
This book is a bit of a divergence from the others in the series since a good portion of it does not take place in Wildwood Cove. As a result, some of the recurring characters are not featured, and longtime fans will miss them. That said the new characters are interesting and varied. Even though the story focuses on the murder of Kevin, there is also a minor secondary mystery concerning the theft of Christmas tree ornaments that adds local color and a feel good holiday season resolution.
I really enjoy my time with Marley, and A ROOM WITH A ROUX is a captivating escape from the troubles of real life. I cannot wait to read more. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the author and Kensington Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
The Holly Lodge sounds wonderful, and I would love to visit. Sans murder, of course. Author Fox invokes a perfect backdrop for this almost closed-room murder mystery. All of the guests and employees, and even one of Marley’s customers at the restaurant, seem to have good motive and opportunity to commit the crime. The clues kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was surprised when the killer’s ultimate motive.
This book is a bit of a divergence from the others in the series since a good portion of it does not take place in Wildwood Cove. As a result, some of the recurring characters are not featured, and longtime fans will miss them. That said the new characters are interesting and varied. Even though the story focuses on the murder of Kevin, there is also a minor secondary mystery concerning the theft of Christmas tree ornaments that adds local color and a feel good holiday season resolution.
I really enjoy my time with Marley, and A ROOM WITH A ROUX is a captivating escape from the troubles of real life. I cannot wait to read more. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the author and Kensington Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
January 12, 2021
A Room with a Roux is the 7th book in the Pancake House Mystery series by Sarah Fox and another great installment. Marley and Brett decide to go on a romantic weekend getaway to Holly Lodge, they are expecting rest and relaxation before the busy holiday season, what they get, is murder.
I liked the change in locale, and having the murder committed at Holly Lodge, the poor residents of Wildwood Cove have had their fair share of murder!
I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to any cozy lover looking for an entertaining read. It can be read as a stand alone, but for maximum enjoyment I would suggest reading the entire series.
I would like to express my thanks to Kensington, Netgalley and Sarah Fox for an ARC for which I voluntarily reviewed.
I liked the change in locale, and having the murder committed at Holly Lodge, the poor residents of Wildwood Cove have had their fair share of murder!
I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to any cozy lover looking for an entertaining read. It can be read as a stand alone, but for maximum enjoyment I would suggest reading the entire series.
I would like to express my thanks to Kensington, Netgalley and Sarah Fox for an ARC for which I voluntarily reviewed.
January 20, 2021
A Room With a Roux earns 5/5 Cocoas by the Fire...Engaging Fun!
It’s beautiful here,” I said... “And it looks like we’ll get the peace and quiet we’re after.” Famous last words...Marley and Brett’s lack of a real honeymoon precipitated a wintery getaway. Holly Lodge is much more in reality than any photo could capture with its snow-covered mountain, an evergreen fragrance, and a view of the lake rumored to be...haunted! But the idea of a haunting is overshadowed by friendly owners, interesting guests, and a delicious dip in the hot tub and hot cocoa by the fire. Until...an overheard disagreement, eavesdropped mention of “publicity,” a cloaked stranger “crunching” in the snow, and a redhead seen disappearing into the woods. Their hopes for “peace and quiet” are completely shattered when a dead body is discovered hidden in the snow.
Wow! Sarah has once again “flipped” me over with an exciting seventh book in her Pancake House Mystery series with an unfamiliar environment to contend with outside of Brett’s uncle and county sheriff’s jurisdiction along with several unknown quantities piling up on a suspect list. Sarah’s writing style is a first-person narrative with Marley’s “I” perspective...Don’t tell me you don’t relish in the vicarious inclusion, like me...I am Marley! Additionally, Sarah’s use of descriptive language painted a clear picture of the mountain resort and brought the snowy weather and relaxing by the fire into my living room. The dialogue was engaging and illustrated well the various personalities from friendly to snarky, helpful to distant, open to secretive. I enjoyed that the investigation by our duo played out on the pages with discreet questioning, eavesdropping, and brainstorming suspects and motives with only some adversarial banter with law enforcement. I loved it! It’s a good length, well-plotted, and steady-paced with talk about Christmas festivities back in Wildwood Cove and romantic gestures along with all the possible suspects and motives swirling around like the snow, a storm locking them in with a killer, and a bit of peril that ruined my manicure. I did have the killer and motive high on my radar, however I greatly enjoyed the journey and highly recommend this book and series. Newbies...joining in here is fine, but you’ll be encouraged to read the previous books!
Also! Delicious recipes are added straight from The Flip Side’s kitchen with everything for a quiet Sunday breakfast or a family brunch: my favorite Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze, Cinnamon Pancakes, and Gingerbread muffins. Also enjoy a peek at “The Malt in Our Stars,” book three in her Literary Pub Mystery series, for which I give high praise!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington/Lyrical thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
It’s beautiful here,” I said... “And it looks like we’ll get the peace and quiet we’re after.” Famous last words...Marley and Brett’s lack of a real honeymoon precipitated a wintery getaway. Holly Lodge is much more in reality than any photo could capture with its snow-covered mountain, an evergreen fragrance, and a view of the lake rumored to be...haunted! But the idea of a haunting is overshadowed by friendly owners, interesting guests, and a delicious dip in the hot tub and hot cocoa by the fire. Until...an overheard disagreement, eavesdropped mention of “publicity,” a cloaked stranger “crunching” in the snow, and a redhead seen disappearing into the woods. Their hopes for “peace and quiet” are completely shattered when a dead body is discovered hidden in the snow.
Wow! Sarah has once again “flipped” me over with an exciting seventh book in her Pancake House Mystery series with an unfamiliar environment to contend with outside of Brett’s uncle and county sheriff’s jurisdiction along with several unknown quantities piling up on a suspect list. Sarah’s writing style is a first-person narrative with Marley’s “I” perspective...Don’t tell me you don’t relish in the vicarious inclusion, like me...I am Marley! Additionally, Sarah’s use of descriptive language painted a clear picture of the mountain resort and brought the snowy weather and relaxing by the fire into my living room. The dialogue was engaging and illustrated well the various personalities from friendly to snarky, helpful to distant, open to secretive. I enjoyed that the investigation by our duo played out on the pages with discreet questioning, eavesdropping, and brainstorming suspects and motives with only some adversarial banter with law enforcement. I loved it! It’s a good length, well-plotted, and steady-paced with talk about Christmas festivities back in Wildwood Cove and romantic gestures along with all the possible suspects and motives swirling around like the snow, a storm locking them in with a killer, and a bit of peril that ruined my manicure. I did have the killer and motive high on my radar, however I greatly enjoyed the journey and highly recommend this book and series. Newbies...joining in here is fine, but you’ll be encouraged to read the previous books!
Also! Delicious recipes are added straight from The Flip Side’s kitchen with everything for a quiet Sunday breakfast or a family brunch: my favorite Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze, Cinnamon Pancakes, and Gingerbread muffins. Also enjoy a peek at “The Malt in Our Stars,” book three in her Literary Pub Mystery series, for which I give high praise!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington/Lyrical thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
December 18, 2020
I love this series [and not just because the setting is in a pancake house either! ;-) ]; Marley and Co. are a great group of characters and you can see the growth of them as the books progress. And while Marley has some quirks that totally annoy me [therapy anyone?], for the most part, she is a really great MC and I love her interaction with the people in town and the ones in her life, including Sienna [the teen who shares her love of mysteries]. And the town is a fun little town that really loves is residents and that is heartwarming.
THAT being said...I guessed the who and the why at 24%. I even sent a photo to the bestie saying that I knew the who and the why. And then I told my mom that I knew. And she asked if I was going to continue reading or just skip to the end, and in a SHOCKED voice, I said I most certainly was going to continue reading. ;-) Because here's the thing...even though I knew the what and why and who [and for those inquiring minds, I was right. All the way down to the little details], I was in no rush to find out if I was right. Why? Because of the story in the middle. Yes, Marley hunts for clues and such, but she also lives her life. She DOES HER JOB [because she OWNS A BUSINESS AND THAT IS WHAT ONE DOES WHEN ONE OWNS THEIR OWN BUSINESS. Yes, this is a pet peeve with me and the current trope in newer cozies where the MC refuses to do their job]. She interacts with her community, takes part in different activities [this time it was a Christmas tree decorating contest] and also work with families that are struggling [the mini-mystery surrounding stolen ornaments will keep you guessing and then totally break your heart] as well as enjoying being a newlywed [though one would hope that after only being married for a few months, one would still get that butterfly feeling with the one they married, but again, that goes into the "things that Marley says and does that bug me" column]. So even when you know the who and why and the reveal isn't really huge for you, the story that gets you there IS worth it. But it does mean that it isn't a 5 star read. Because even though the knowing doesn't really bother me, the knowing so EARLY kinda does. ;-)
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Fox and Kensington Publishing/Lyrical Underground Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THAT being said...I guessed the who and the why at 24%. I even sent a photo to the bestie saying that I knew the who and the why. And then I told my mom that I knew. And she asked if I was going to continue reading or just skip to the end, and in a SHOCKED voice, I said I most certainly was going to continue reading. ;-) Because here's the thing...even though I knew the what and why and who [and for those inquiring minds, I was right. All the way down to the little details], I was in no rush to find out if I was right. Why? Because of the story in the middle. Yes, Marley hunts for clues and such, but she also lives her life. She DOES HER JOB [because she OWNS A BUSINESS AND THAT IS WHAT ONE DOES WHEN ONE OWNS THEIR OWN BUSINESS. Yes, this is a pet peeve with me and the current trope in newer cozies where the MC refuses to do their job]. She interacts with her community, takes part in different activities [this time it was a Christmas tree decorating contest] and also work with families that are struggling [the mini-mystery surrounding stolen ornaments will keep you guessing and then totally break your heart] as well as enjoying being a newlywed [though one would hope that after only being married for a few months, one would still get that butterfly feeling with the one they married, but again, that goes into the "things that Marley says and does that bug me" column]. So even when you know the who and why and the reveal isn't really huge for you, the story that gets you there IS worth it. But it does mean that it isn't a 5 star read. Because even though the knowing doesn't really bother me, the knowing so EARLY kinda does. ;-)
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Fox and Kensington Publishing/Lyrical Underground Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2022
Even on vacation, murder follows Marley and Brett. Newlywed and taking some time away to just enjoy being together, Brett and Marley journey to a mountain lodge for a romantic weekend away. In addition to the lodge being the residence of a suspected ghost, Brett and Marley overhear the owners of the lodge arguing. Soon after one of them is dead! Dun dun dunnn
In this book, the secondary characters from the Flipside Diner are not prominently featured as Marley spends most of her time at the lodge, at home, or at the Senior center helping with a Christmas tree contest. Brett is also more prominently featured in helping Marley solve this mystery.
There are a lot of clues to shift through, a parallel mystery involving stolen ornaments to solve, suspects to rule in or out and a dastardly murderer to sus out.
In this book, the secondary characters from the Flipside Diner are not prominently featured as Marley spends most of her time at the lodge, at home, or at the Senior center helping with a Christmas tree contest. Brett is also more prominently featured in helping Marley solve this mystery.
There are a lot of clues to shift through, a parallel mystery involving stolen ornaments to solve, suspects to rule in or out and a dastardly murderer to sus out.
January 6, 2021
A Room with a Roux by Sarah Fox is the 7th book in A Pancake House Mystery Series, and another great addition. Marley McKinney is the owner of The Flip Side, a pancake house in beautiful Wildwood Cove, located on the west coast. Marley and her new husband, Brett head to Holly Lodge for a romantic getaway. Unfortunately Marley and Brett find the body of the Holly Lodge co owner in a snowbank. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. There are a lot of twists and turns that kept me reading. There is a wonderful mixture of mystery, suspense, friendship, and romance for a well-balanced story. I can not wait until the next book in the series comes out. If you love cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book, and the whole series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 24, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/a...
A Room with a Roux
Pancake House Mystery #7
By Sarah Fox
ISBN 9781516110889
Author’s website: authorsarahfox.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Pancake house owner Marley McKinney takes a break from the Flip Side for a romantic getaway. But soon, instead of mixing batter, she’s mixed up with murder . . .
Marley and her new husband Brett need some quality couple time before the holiday madness, so they drive up into the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula to charming Holly Lodge. Before long they’re enjoying snowshoe excursions, hot chocolates, and cuddling in front of a roaring fire. Despite some barely concealed marital tension between the owners of the lodge, they’re finally able to unwind . . .
Until one morning when they notice a glove sticking out of a snowbank outside of the lodge. Inside the glove is a hand connected to a frozen corpse buried beneath the snow–lodge owner Kevin Manning has been murdered. Presented with a stack of suspects and eventually stranded at the lodge by a blizzard, Marley has to catch the cold-hearted killer before someone else gets iced.
Review:
What do a ghost, a snowdrift, and a Christmas tree have in common?
I was happy that this mystery, like the rest of this series, caught my attention from the beginning and was hard to put down. While the series is enjoyable if read in order, each novel can easily be read as standalones. The settings are gorgeous, including the mountain lodge the couple goes to for a short getaway. The characters are endearing and vibrant, and the mystery kept me guessing.
Marley is the owner of a breakfast restaurant, The Flip Side, in Willowood Cove. She inherited that and the beautiful oceanside Victorian home from her cousin less than two years earlier, and she loves her life there. She and her husband Brett are still newlyweds and will soon celebrate their first Christmas as husband and wife. Marley seems to either find the remains of murdered people or get pulled into cases, but she does not pursue either. This delicious mystery includes fabulous foods served at The Flip Side, the breakfast restaurant Marley owns, and recipes are included.
Marley and Brett take a much-needed break and go to Holly Lodge in the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula. They are instantly at ease when they see the gorgeous scenery and comfortable furnishings of the lodge. Kevin and Rita are the owners and managers and are excellent hosts except for the disagreement they are having being overheard. The next morning, they learn Kevin has been missing since late the night before. They go snowshoeing around the lake and see a red-haired woman flitting through the woods in a long green dress that does not look adequate for the cold and snow. They later learn that the lake is haunted by the ghost of a woman who disappeared nearly a century earlier.
Later, they see something odd sticking out of a snowdrift; it looks like the fabric of the jacket Kevin had worn the day before. They hurriedly look deeper into the snow drift and are horrified to find the dead body of the missing man. After the sheriff arrives and investigates, it is determined that Kevin was murdered.
The lodge has lost its appeal, so Brent and Marley return to Willowood Cove the next day. Active in their community, Marley and Brett begin to help with the Festival of Trees, in which The Flip Side is decorating a tree with special ornaments. All the money raised in the festival will go to charity, and they hope it will become an annual tradition. When ornaments begin to go missing from trees decorated by the vendors, however, it could keep people from wanting to participate again. Marley also runs into two of the people who had been guests at Holly Lodge. One had recently moved to Willowood Cove, and the other was at the B&B owned by one of Marley’s friends, and is doing research for her next novel.
Marley and her friends are people I would enjoy having as neighbors. They genuinely care about each other and their community, from the festival that will benefit local charities to a single mom new in town. I enjoyed seeing the balance in the lives of the newlyweds; their life is included without weighing down the story.
The mysteries in this novel are very well plotted. Each one presents a challenge, especially the murder. It seems that Marley can’t escape that mystery, especially when Lily, the novelist, receives a threatening note. They return to Holly Lodge to pay respects at Kevin’s memorial service to find everyone who had been present the night of the murder. Being snowed in with a ghost and a murderer was not in their plans. I enjoyed watching the events unfold, from the community gatherings to Marley’s days at The Flip Side, to the people Marley talks with about the murder. The conclusion was completely satisfying; I highly recommend this cozy mystery and series!
A Room with a Roux
Pancake House Mystery #7
By Sarah Fox
ISBN 9781516110889
Author’s website: authorsarahfox.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Pancake house owner Marley McKinney takes a break from the Flip Side for a romantic getaway. But soon, instead of mixing batter, she’s mixed up with murder . . .
Marley and her new husband Brett need some quality couple time before the holiday madness, so they drive up into the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula to charming Holly Lodge. Before long they’re enjoying snowshoe excursions, hot chocolates, and cuddling in front of a roaring fire. Despite some barely concealed marital tension between the owners of the lodge, they’re finally able to unwind . . .
Until one morning when they notice a glove sticking out of a snowbank outside of the lodge. Inside the glove is a hand connected to a frozen corpse buried beneath the snow–lodge owner Kevin Manning has been murdered. Presented with a stack of suspects and eventually stranded at the lodge by a blizzard, Marley has to catch the cold-hearted killer before someone else gets iced.
Review:
What do a ghost, a snowdrift, and a Christmas tree have in common?
I was happy that this mystery, like the rest of this series, caught my attention from the beginning and was hard to put down. While the series is enjoyable if read in order, each novel can easily be read as standalones. The settings are gorgeous, including the mountain lodge the couple goes to for a short getaway. The characters are endearing and vibrant, and the mystery kept me guessing.
Marley is the owner of a breakfast restaurant, The Flip Side, in Willowood Cove. She inherited that and the beautiful oceanside Victorian home from her cousin less than two years earlier, and she loves her life there. She and her husband Brett are still newlyweds and will soon celebrate their first Christmas as husband and wife. Marley seems to either find the remains of murdered people or get pulled into cases, but she does not pursue either. This delicious mystery includes fabulous foods served at The Flip Side, the breakfast restaurant Marley owns, and recipes are included.
Marley and Brett take a much-needed break and go to Holly Lodge in the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula. They are instantly at ease when they see the gorgeous scenery and comfortable furnishings of the lodge. Kevin and Rita are the owners and managers and are excellent hosts except for the disagreement they are having being overheard. The next morning, they learn Kevin has been missing since late the night before. They go snowshoeing around the lake and see a red-haired woman flitting through the woods in a long green dress that does not look adequate for the cold and snow. They later learn that the lake is haunted by the ghost of a woman who disappeared nearly a century earlier.
Later, they see something odd sticking out of a snowdrift; it looks like the fabric of the jacket Kevin had worn the day before. They hurriedly look deeper into the snow drift and are horrified to find the dead body of the missing man. After the sheriff arrives and investigates, it is determined that Kevin was murdered.
The lodge has lost its appeal, so Brent and Marley return to Willowood Cove the next day. Active in their community, Marley and Brett begin to help with the Festival of Trees, in which The Flip Side is decorating a tree with special ornaments. All the money raised in the festival will go to charity, and they hope it will become an annual tradition. When ornaments begin to go missing from trees decorated by the vendors, however, it could keep people from wanting to participate again. Marley also runs into two of the people who had been guests at Holly Lodge. One had recently moved to Willowood Cove, and the other was at the B&B owned by one of Marley’s friends, and is doing research for her next novel.
Marley and her friends are people I would enjoy having as neighbors. They genuinely care about each other and their community, from the festival that will benefit local charities to a single mom new in town. I enjoyed seeing the balance in the lives of the newlyweds; their life is included without weighing down the story.
The mysteries in this novel are very well plotted. Each one presents a challenge, especially the murder. It seems that Marley can’t escape that mystery, especially when Lily, the novelist, receives a threatening note. They return to Holly Lodge to pay respects at Kevin’s memorial service to find everyone who had been present the night of the murder. Being snowed in with a ghost and a murderer was not in their plans. I enjoyed watching the events unfold, from the community gatherings to Marley’s days at The Flip Side, to the people Marley talks with about the murder. The conclusion was completely satisfying; I highly recommend this cozy mystery and series!
January 11, 2021
What a delight to be back in Willowood Cove on the Olympic Peninsula! I have loved this series from the beginning, and this one is no exception. First, I love the cover with Flapjack – the feline, not the food! The novel and characters invited me in from the start, and the descriptions of the ocean, town, and mountain lodge are beautifully enticing. Whodunit was a puzzle, a mystery that wouldn’t leave Marley alone even when back at their oceanside Victorian home.
Marley owns the Flip Side, a breakfast restaurant in Willowood Cove, and in the winter, Brett works for a contractor who does remodels. Their friend and neighbor recommended Holly Lodge in the mountains for a gorgeous, peaceful getaway for the still-newlywed couple. The drive into the mountains is harrowing, but once they arrive at the lodge, they are captivated by the splendor of the lake and surrounding woods. The lodge is everything they could hope for, and they look forward to their time there. Tension between owners Rita and Kevin, and between Kevin, and a guest, Wilson, are evident, but won’t spoil their stay. Two of the guests are writers. Ambrose is a poet and Lily an author of both romance novels and mysteries, and Lily says they are kindred spirits. During the night, Marley saw a man walking towards the lodge in snowshoes even as she hears someone walking in the hall outside their room.
The next morning, Kevin is missing; Rita has not seen him since late the previous night. It is not like him to go anywhere without telling Rita or Harvey, their groundskeeper and the man Marley saw outside during the night. Not long afterwards, when returning from taking photos, Marley spotted fabric that looked like that of Kevin’s jacket poking out of a snowdrift. She and Brett begin to scoop through the snow with their bare hands only to make the terrible discovery. Kevin was dead, buried in the snowdrift, and he appears to have had a head injury. The following day, Marley and Brett returned to Willowood Cove and began to prepare for Christmas festivities.
Marley didn’t forget about the murder, but she was happy to not be involved in another mystery. At least until Lily arrived at their neighbor Patricia’s B&B to continue research for her next novel. Ambrose actually lives in Willowood Cove, having moved there a short time ago. It seems this case isn’t going to leave her alone.
Plot twists kept bringing the mystery to Marley, and she and her friends talked through what they learned about it. Just when I thought I knew whodunit, there was another surprise, and someone I had briefly considered earlier took top spot. There are some heart-pounding scenes and surprises throughout, including the real motive for Kevin’s death. I was very satisfied with the ending, and I highly recommend it to those who like challenging cozy mysteries, engaging, personable characters, the best of oceanside and mountain settings, and delicious recipes.
From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Marley owns the Flip Side, a breakfast restaurant in Willowood Cove, and in the winter, Brett works for a contractor who does remodels. Their friend and neighbor recommended Holly Lodge in the mountains for a gorgeous, peaceful getaway for the still-newlywed couple. The drive into the mountains is harrowing, but once they arrive at the lodge, they are captivated by the splendor of the lake and surrounding woods. The lodge is everything they could hope for, and they look forward to their time there. Tension between owners Rita and Kevin, and between Kevin, and a guest, Wilson, are evident, but won’t spoil their stay. Two of the guests are writers. Ambrose is a poet and Lily an author of both romance novels and mysteries, and Lily says they are kindred spirits. During the night, Marley saw a man walking towards the lodge in snowshoes even as she hears someone walking in the hall outside their room.
The next morning, Kevin is missing; Rita has not seen him since late the previous night. It is not like him to go anywhere without telling Rita or Harvey, their groundskeeper and the man Marley saw outside during the night. Not long afterwards, when returning from taking photos, Marley spotted fabric that looked like that of Kevin’s jacket poking out of a snowdrift. She and Brett begin to scoop through the snow with their bare hands only to make the terrible discovery. Kevin was dead, buried in the snowdrift, and he appears to have had a head injury. The following day, Marley and Brett returned to Willowood Cove and began to prepare for Christmas festivities.
Marley didn’t forget about the murder, but she was happy to not be involved in another mystery. At least until Lily arrived at their neighbor Patricia’s B&B to continue research for her next novel. Ambrose actually lives in Willowood Cove, having moved there a short time ago. It seems this case isn’t going to leave her alone.
Plot twists kept bringing the mystery to Marley, and she and her friends talked through what they learned about it. Just when I thought I knew whodunit, there was another surprise, and someone I had briefly considered earlier took top spot. There are some heart-pounding scenes and surprises throughout, including the real motive for Kevin’s death. I was very satisfied with the ending, and I highly recommend it to those who like challenging cozy mysteries, engaging, personable characters, the best of oceanside and mountain settings, and delicious recipes.
From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
May 7, 2021
Marley somehow always gets herself in the middle of a harrowing experience no matter what or where she is or who she is with. In A Room With A Roux, nothing has changed. Even with her new husband and their first chance to get away since the wedding, she can’t seem to keep away from murder. The pancake house, Flip Side, can wait while Marley solves not just one mystery but two.
When one of the owners of the lodge that Marley and Brett are staying at ends up dead, and all of the suspects are staying together, it makes for some interesting situations. Evidence is buried under ice and snow, and there appear to be several people who have an excellent motive to want Kevin dead. Still, finding out who the culprit is takes everything Marley can cook up, including pancakes. Before long, all of the pieces come together, and a killer is revealed. For some readers, the identity of the murderer may be surprising. The other mystery in the book, who is stealing ornaments from the tree e decorated by the local businesses, was easily solved, the motive understandable.
Marley is a strong character, and the length of this series proves this. Unfortunately, this time the backup crew readers have come to love are not as helpful as they have been in previous books. The Flip Side is, in fact, a side dish and plays no significant role. Even Brett takes a back seat. This aside, the story was compelling and added a fresh location instead of the same places Marley visits all the time. Readers who enjoy this series will like A Room With A Roux, even in the middle of summer.
When one of the owners of the lodge that Marley and Brett are staying at ends up dead, and all of the suspects are staying together, it makes for some interesting situations. Evidence is buried under ice and snow, and there appear to be several people who have an excellent motive to want Kevin dead. Still, finding out who the culprit is takes everything Marley can cook up, including pancakes. Before long, all of the pieces come together, and a killer is revealed. For some readers, the identity of the murderer may be surprising. The other mystery in the book, who is stealing ornaments from the tree e decorated by the local businesses, was easily solved, the motive understandable.
Marley is a strong character, and the length of this series proves this. Unfortunately, this time the backup crew readers have come to love are not as helpful as they have been in previous books. The Flip Side is, in fact, a side dish and plays no significant role. Even Brett takes a back seat. This aside, the story was compelling and added a fresh location instead of the same places Marley visits all the time. Readers who enjoy this series will like A Room With A Roux, even in the middle of summer.
December 6, 2020
I look forward to the latest Pancake House Mystery but this one was a bit of a let down.
Marley & Brett are newlyweds taking a week vacation at a mountain lodge. Marley finds one of the owners dead, which sends them back to Wildwood Cove earlier than expected. Good for the readers because their lives at the Flip Side and Brett's contracting business are much more entertaining. The town hosts a Christmas Tree decorating contest which has some great decorating ideas.
A cozy read with some good looking recipes, and great lead and supporting characters. .
4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
Marley & Brett are newlyweds taking a week vacation at a mountain lodge. Marley finds one of the owners dead, which sends them back to Wildwood Cove earlier than expected. Good for the readers because their lives at the Flip Side and Brett's contracting business are much more entertaining. The town hosts a Christmas Tree decorating contest which has some great decorating ideas.
A cozy read with some good looking recipes, and great lead and supporting characters. .
4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
January 20, 2021
This series is up there with some of my absolute favorites. Okay so I have a million favorites, but this series is up there. This series has everything, mystery, romance, sadness, joy, and a few twists that will keep you guessing. A very interesting feature in this series, there is often another mystery in the background. I have enjoyed that a few books in the series have mysteries from the past pop up or we are presented with cold cases.
Protagonist, Marley McKinney, inherits an old Victorian home and a Pancake House restaurant on the Pacific Coast when her uncle passes away. Needing a change, Marley uproots her city life to start over and accept her inheritance. Marley makes some great friends and finds love but she also finds dead bodies.
In this installment, Marley and Brett go on a romantic getaway, but what they cannot get away from is murder. When everyone is a suspect, can Marley and Brett figure this out before there is another victim?
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley as well as having the audio version narrated by Marguerite Gavin. I highly recommend this series.
Protagonist, Marley McKinney, inherits an old Victorian home and a Pancake House restaurant on the Pacific Coast when her uncle passes away. Needing a change, Marley uproots her city life to start over and accept her inheritance. Marley makes some great friends and finds love but she also finds dead bodies.
In this installment, Marley and Brett go on a romantic getaway, but what they cannot get away from is murder. When everyone is a suspect, can Marley and Brett figure this out before there is another victim?
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley as well as having the audio version narrated by Marguerite Gavin. I highly recommend this series.
March 8, 2024
I enjoyed this mystery. It starts and ends at a lodge in the winter which is very atmospheric and adds an element of suspense. I love how Sienna is involved in this mystery. I missed that the other characters were in this one as much. It was mainly Marley, Brett, and Chloe. There was another mystery too in Wildwood Cove involving Christmas ornaments. I couldn’t figure out either mysteries. On to book 8.
February 12, 2021
I adore these characters and their dynamics within each other. While Marley tends to get on my nerves sometimes (there's zero way her approach to investigating murders as a civilian, would fly), the story is still cozy and engaging, worth picking up.
Thank you Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2021
Nice light reading, or should I say listening, since I listened to the audio version.
July 3, 2023
Almost caught up on this series… wooo!
Read
December 3, 2025This was the most exciting book in this series so far! The perfect cozy Christmas read.
January 12, 2021
A Room with a Roux is Book 7 in the Pancake House Mystery Series by Sarah Fox.
I really LOVE this series and so excited that Marley and Brett have finally gotten married and they are off for a romantic weekend that doesn't exactly go as plans and a murder occurs.
This was a refreshing take on the series with a new location. I do love the Pancake House but it was great to be in a new locale. But Marley being Marley, she still got involved.
I really enjoyed this book . It definitely can be read as a stand alone book, but definitely check out the rest of the books in the series.
I really LOVE this series and so excited that Marley and Brett have finally gotten married and they are off for a romantic weekend that doesn't exactly go as plans and a murder occurs.
This was a refreshing take on the series with a new location. I do love the Pancake House but it was great to be in a new locale. But Marley being Marley, she still got involved.
I really enjoyed this book . It definitely can be read as a stand alone book, but definitely check out the rest of the books in the series.
January 12, 2021
I was absolutely thrilled to have book number seven in the series to read. I am guaranteed a great read from this series, I am never disappointed!
I missed reading about the usual gang of characters (besides Marley and Brett), but I enjoyed the premise of this latest offering.
As always, a well written whodunit, which kept me guessing and engaged right until the reveal.
I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I missed reading about the usual gang of characters (besides Marley and Brett), but I enjoyed the premise of this latest offering.
As always, a well written whodunit, which kept me guessing and engaged right until the reveal.
I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
December 10, 2020
Rec'd digital version via #GoodReadsGiveaway.
It's always hard when you see such a cute cover & the blurb explaining a book sounds intriguing. I am constantly on the prowl for new authors; in addition to enjoying long-time favorites. I also have not been in a Whodunit mood; but when through a phase years ago where I couldn't get enough. I got that optimistic tingle when I researched Fox's series Pancake House Mystery. After all, an author who makes it to book #7 has to be good, right?
She is. Fox is a VERY good writer...the mechanics of her books are superb. It's the content that left me puzzled. I understand the concept of a Cozy Mystery. But while this was a mystery, it wasn't very 'cozy'. It was... boring. So much of the book described, in minutiae, the lodge, Marley's decisions what to eat, what she had to shop for, and the small town that I felt like she was no longer setting a scene, but padding the book. Page after page of Christmas trees & decorations... ugh.
Even then, the hallmark of a mystery is to tantalize the reader with sufficient clues & misdirects to engage them into solving the mystery. You simply HAVE to figure out who the murderer is~
Frankly, I could have cared less about who killed Kevin. The only thing that kept me reading was actually who stole all the ornaments. While parallel mysteries generally makes a plotline more interesting, it is usually part of a misdirect. In this case, it was a side story. And probably the most interesting part. If only because FINALLY a character showed genuine emotion.
Marley, Brett & pretty much everyone they come into contact with are flat. Marley's first person narrative was annoying for that very reason. First person to me has always been a lazy author's tool. It narrows down what the reader is allowed to think and feel. Marley's emotions were staid. Even interacting with Brett, she had the emotional response of an 80 year old who'd been married 50 yrs. There was no Spark. (a peck on the cheek here & there, or him catching her hand to provide her comfort from time to time!) ~ and supposedly they were newlyweds! Even a clean read has to have something to engage the reader emotionally.
It is very hard not to provide spoilers. There were so many examples of times where a good editor could have livened things up and suggested connections instead of treating them as afterthoughts. Perhaps cut down on the mundane descriptions of the environment & focused more on building realistic characters and connecting actions or events.
Fox's writing talent is evident; but her ability to execute a plot is still shaky. I would have to go back and read bk #1 to get a better idea of her talent. In the meantime, the cozy mystery genre is filled with authors and at this point, other than the book covers, I cannot see where Fox stands out.
It's always hard when you see such a cute cover & the blurb explaining a book sounds intriguing. I am constantly on the prowl for new authors; in addition to enjoying long-time favorites. I also have not been in a Whodunit mood; but when through a phase years ago where I couldn't get enough. I got that optimistic tingle when I researched Fox's series Pancake House Mystery. After all, an author who makes it to book #7 has to be good, right?
She is. Fox is a VERY good writer...the mechanics of her books are superb. It's the content that left me puzzled. I understand the concept of a Cozy Mystery. But while this was a mystery, it wasn't very 'cozy'. It was... boring. So much of the book described, in minutiae, the lodge, Marley's decisions what to eat, what she had to shop for, and the small town that I felt like she was no longer setting a scene, but padding the book. Page after page of Christmas trees & decorations... ugh.
Even then, the hallmark of a mystery is to tantalize the reader with sufficient clues & misdirects to engage them into solving the mystery. You simply HAVE to figure out who the murderer is~
Frankly, I could have cared less about who killed Kevin. The only thing that kept me reading was actually who stole all the ornaments. While parallel mysteries generally makes a plotline more interesting, it is usually part of a misdirect. In this case, it was a side story. And probably the most interesting part. If only because FINALLY a character showed genuine emotion.
Marley, Brett & pretty much everyone they come into contact with are flat. Marley's first person narrative was annoying for that very reason. First person to me has always been a lazy author's tool. It narrows down what the reader is allowed to think and feel. Marley's emotions were staid. Even interacting with Brett, she had the emotional response of an 80 year old who'd been married 50 yrs. There was no Spark. (a peck on the cheek here & there, or him catching her hand to provide her comfort from time to time!) ~ and supposedly they were newlyweds! Even a clean read has to have something to engage the reader emotionally.
It is very hard not to provide spoilers. There were so many examples of times where a good editor could have livened things up and suggested connections instead of treating them as afterthoughts. Perhaps cut down on the mundane descriptions of the environment & focused more on building realistic characters and connecting actions or events.
Fox's writing talent is evident; but her ability to execute a plot is still shaky. I would have to go back and read bk #1 to get a better idea of her talent. In the meantime, the cozy mystery genre is filled with authors and at this point, other than the book covers, I cannot see where Fox stands out.
November 23, 2020
My Recommendation
I was so excited to catch up with newlyweds Marley and Brett. They are such a fun couple and I love how they work together to solve this mystery.
There’s always something intriguing about a murder investigation set during a blizzard. The side story with the Festival of Trees and the missing ornaments was really cute and I liked how Marley made it work without making anyone feel bad.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this fun series.
I was so excited to catch up with newlyweds Marley and Brett. They are such a fun couple and I love how they work together to solve this mystery.
There’s always something intriguing about a murder investigation set during a blizzard. The side story with the Festival of Trees and the missing ornaments was really cute and I liked how Marley made it work without making anyone feel bad.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this fun series.
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