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Claire Andersen Murder for All Seasons #1
Murder at the Snowed Inn
Murder in the cozy snow-capped mountains
And heart-warming romance to boot!
Heartbroken after her beloved husband’s death, Claire Andersen—proud foster mom, dog mom, and culinary artisan—decides to try her hand at a new beginning, renovating an old B&B in idyllic Galway, Maryland on the edge of the enchanted Appalachian Mountains. She knew her fresh start would be exciting, but she never expected it to be tinged with enthralling adventure, romance that’s sweet as sweet can be … and murder!
Adorable and resilient, former NYC chef Claire Andersen is no stranger to second chances. She and her stock trader husband George had decided long ago to trade in their life of ambition for one of quaint & quiet adventure—by opening up a cozy neighborhood coffee shoppe on the ground floor their Brooklyn brownstone. He was the coffee-connoisseur, she was the baker extraordinaire. Claire was so happy, she could just die. But fate had other plans—it came for her husband instead.
After George’s passing, Claire decides (with a nudge from her doting foster daughter Al) to trade in her life of brews and baked goods for breakfast—bed and breakfast, that is! And what better setting in which to start over than Galway, Maryland—a charming, snowy mountain town (and favorite cross-county ski destination of Claire’s youth).
All is well in Claire’s new B&B venture—and with her new oven constantly in use, it’s mouth-watering, even—until her first guest is murdered in-house. It’s not long until one of the suspects Claire questions about the murder winds up dead, too. Suddenly, Claire finds herself starting over yet again—and trading in her hostess hat (she’d just dusted it off, too!) for a secret life as an amateur sleuth.
But it’s not all B&B business and bodies: Claire also finds herself in the throes of not one, but two potential romances—each more toe-curling and butterflies-in-the-stomach inducing than the other.
Alongside her trusty new pal Evelyn (who’s feisty enough to make anyone blush) and her faithful bloodhound Rupert, Claire races the clock to get to the next victim—before the killer does. And she knows she’d better hurry. Because if the killer catches her first, she might run out of second chances.
Author's Note: This book contains a non-binary character whose preferred pronouns are they/them. If the notion of a non-binary character (and its resultant use of grammar) is offensive, then this book is not for you!
And heart-warming romance to boot!
Heartbroken after her beloved husband’s death, Claire Andersen—proud foster mom, dog mom, and culinary artisan—decides to try her hand at a new beginning, renovating an old B&B in idyllic Galway, Maryland on the edge of the enchanted Appalachian Mountains. She knew her fresh start would be exciting, but she never expected it to be tinged with enthralling adventure, romance that’s sweet as sweet can be … and murder!
Adorable and resilient, former NYC chef Claire Andersen is no stranger to second chances. She and her stock trader husband George had decided long ago to trade in their life of ambition for one of quaint & quiet adventure—by opening up a cozy neighborhood coffee shoppe on the ground floor their Brooklyn brownstone. He was the coffee-connoisseur, she was the baker extraordinaire. Claire was so happy, she could just die. But fate had other plans—it came for her husband instead.
After George’s passing, Claire decides (with a nudge from her doting foster daughter Al) to trade in her life of brews and baked goods for breakfast—bed and breakfast, that is! And what better setting in which to start over than Galway, Maryland—a charming, snowy mountain town (and favorite cross-county ski destination of Claire’s youth).
All is well in Claire’s new B&B venture—and with her new oven constantly in use, it’s mouth-watering, even—until her first guest is murdered in-house. It’s not long until one of the suspects Claire questions about the murder winds up dead, too. Suddenly, Claire finds herself starting over yet again—and trading in her hostess hat (she’d just dusted it off, too!) for a secret life as an amateur sleuth.
But it’s not all B&B business and bodies: Claire also finds herself in the throes of not one, but two potential romances—each more toe-curling and butterflies-in-the-stomach inducing than the other.
Alongside her trusty new pal Evelyn (who’s feisty enough to make anyone blush) and her faithful bloodhound Rupert, Claire races the clock to get to the next victim—before the killer does. And she knows she’d better hurry. Because if the killer catches her first, she might run out of second chances.
Author's Note: This book contains a non-binary character whose preferred pronouns are they/them. If the notion of a non-binary character (and its resultant use of grammar) is offensive, then this book is not for you!
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2020
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1003 people want to read
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December 26, 2023
Una bonita historia de misterio
Claire decide cambiar su vida y mudarse a un pequeño pueblo de montaña. Ahí compra una vieja posada y la rehabilita. Pero su primer huésped aparece muerto en la habitación, y desde ahí comenzó a intentar averiguar quién lo hizo y por qué. Junto con sus amigos nuevos y viejos, Claire buscará la respuesta, esperando satisfacer su curiosidad.
Es un libro sencillo de misterio, la prota se supone que es una viuda mayor, pero con mucha energía, pero más de una vez parecía una joven, sobre todo por los enamoramientos que tenía con otros hombres.
El misterio dió muchas vueltas para resolverse, y al final fue el que parecía al principio. El fin, es un libro para pasar el rato, quizás en otro momento siga con esta serie.
Claire decide cambiar su vida y mudarse a un pequeño pueblo de montaña. Ahí compra una vieja posada y la rehabilita. Pero su primer huésped aparece muerto en la habitación, y desde ahí comenzó a intentar averiguar quién lo hizo y por qué. Junto con sus amigos nuevos y viejos, Claire buscará la respuesta, esperando satisfacer su curiosidad.
Es un libro sencillo de misterio, la prota se supone que es una viuda mayor, pero con mucha energía, pero más de una vez parecía una joven, sobre todo por los enamoramientos que tenía con otros hombres.
El misterio dió muchas vueltas para resolverse, y al final fue el que parecía al principio. El fin, es un libro para pasar el rato, quizás en otro momento siga con esta serie.
December 27, 2023
Kindle freebie at time of download.
Claire Anderson, a 50-year-old widow, has turned over the reins of her Brooklyn coffee shop to her foster daughter Al and moves to Galway, Maryland, a sleepy Appalachian town, to fulfill her dream of opening an inn. It's winter and tourists are trickling in to ski. Claire enjoys the company of her first guest, James Matthews, who has come to town to check on his rental properties. Even her trusty Bloodhound, Rupert, who has been depressed since the death of Claire's husband, likes James. When James fails to come down to breakfast or check out, Claire discovers James has checked out permanently - as in he's dead. Police suspect murder but it's nearly impossible to find a motive or a good suspect. When a second death occurs, the sheriff believes Ben, a young man who works at the ski rental, is the culprit. Claire and her new friend Evelyn work behind the scenes to find out who the murderer is and why. When Claire discovers a third body and an unlikely suspect is arrested, her world is shattered. Can she figure out the truth and save her heart from being broken again? Should she accept a date with an old flame who has been cold and hot with her? There's one thing Claire does know and that is lots of baking is involved before she makes a decision!
This story was just OK for me. I didn't like that it was set in the real world with a reference to 9/11. This story had a high body count for a cozy and the motive for murder was ridiculous and very tragic. I never guessed any of it. There were no clues there at all. The writing style isn't bad but the story slogged on and on and I wasn't that into it. I skipped to the end to find out whodunit it, realized I missed a dead body and a motive. I went back later and finished the rest and it still didn't click. I didn't understand why Claire constantly referred to cream as crème, a ridiculous affectation showing she was a fancy chef maybe? Also, she refers to eyeglasses as "spectacles." Claire is 50 not 150 and her friend Emma randomly breaks out into French for no reason. Perhaps author is not a native English speaker?
I also didn't care for the older, widowed sleuth. I relate more to younger, single sleuths in their late 20s and 30s. Claire is crazy. She's mourning the loss of her husband to cancer and not fully living her life. Her daughter is the one pushing her to make a change. Claire doesn't do change easily. It takes her a bit to understand her daughter's friend's pronouns "they/them" and what that means. It's not hard to be polite and refer to someone by their preferred pronouns. It doesn't take her too long to figure it out but she kind of rolls her eyes at it. Claire also makes herself seem old and racist by confusing O.J. with Kanye on someone's shirt. While wearing Kanye is nearly as bad, 50 year olds know who Kanye is. I don't know why Claire sounds so old.
She spontaneously moves to this small town in winter and opens a B&B. She was a professional chef so she may have some business experience but she has no experience running an inn or in customer service. She doesn't have much to do, just cook and clean one guest room which seems a little unrealistic. She immediately makes a new BFF and they start nosing around. She asks nosy and intrusive questions of suspects and puts herself in danger. Her investigation is not well thought out or planned. I think she has too much time on her hands. Of course I'd want to know how a guest died so I'd probably poke around online and maybe talk to people who knew him but then I'd encourage the gossips to go to the police. GOOD cozy mystery heroines work WITH the police, not against them or ahead of them.
Rupert is a sweet doggo. He's intuitive and knows things Claire does not. I also liked Al, Claire's daughter. Al is funny and sounds like she would be fun to hang around with. She's managing the coffee shop well but is there for her mom when Claire needs her. She knows when her mom is hurting by how much her mom has baked. I appreciate the good mother/daughter relationship. I really like Al's friend Ry. They're even funnier than Al and appreciate good baked goods. I'd read a series featuring Al and Ry sleuthing and working at the coffee shop. Ev, from the post office, is Claire's new BFF. Claire trusts easily, maybe too easily, and becomes Ev's ride or die. Ev is way too nosy for my tastes especially since she works at the post office! She takes advantage of her situation sometimes and doesn't really care. She's incurably nosy and not in a good way. She thrives on gossip and knowing everything that is going on. I absolutely hate people like that. Claire's BFF in Brooklyn is similar. Emma is worse, actually. She thinks life is like Downton Abbey or another show or book. Emma loves gossip but doesn't seem interested in sleuthing the way Ev does. Only online.
James Matthews was charming, friendly and kind to Claire and Rupert. Rupert really enjoyed having a man around the house again. Claire seemed quite taken with James and happy to make a new friend. His death was shocking and devastating. A locked room murder! Who could have killed him and why?
Nina Delacroix is the first person Claire meets in town. Nina runs the only inn in town until Claire opens hers. Nina is a high maintenance and low work sort of person. She's not friendly, curious or warm in any way shape or form. She's one of those women desperate to cling to their youth and have men flatter them so they feel younger than their age. Nina and James used to be married and their split is NOT acrimonious. They seem to bring out the worst in each other and she loathes him. I can see her murdering him in revenge but not now. Why now?
Dale Duke is an acquaintance from way back when Claire and George used to come to Galway to ski. Dale is a gentle soul, kind and friendly to everyone. His nephew, Ben, works at the ski rental place too and Ben seems lost. He's living with a young woman he doesn't seem to be in a relationship with but they don't seem to get along well. Ben and Leslie have a lot of problems and maybe shouldn't be living together. Ben has issues from his past that may affect his present. Leslie is hiding something she's upset about and of course she won't share with strangers/nosy older women. She's a sneaky sort and I think she's just desperate to move on and up in life and uses any means necessary even if those means are unnecessary. We don't get to know her well enough to know if she would resort to murder though. I don't think she did it but I think she was either involved with James or suspects she knows who did it or both.
Claire flirts with two men and feels guilty about it. She's still attracted to Henry Castle, an old crush, who now looks like Robert Redford. (Eew!) He's been cold and hot with her off and on. Nothing happened with him in the past because he seemed brusque and brushed Claire off. I suspect he's a shady businessman from his personality and what Al discovers online seems to confirm it. Of course he would deny it to Claire. He wants to charm her now she's a prominent widow. Ray Hamilton is the Galway handyman. He's older, handsome and handy. Claire acts like a ninny around him. She loses her brains, her strength and common sense. It's one thing to flirt and another to act like a damsel in distress. Some of the things she could learn to do herself. Ray is a great listener and remembers what Claire tells him. He too lost a beloved spouse so they understand one another. I like him a lot but I don't think Claire should date anyone right now. She needs to grow a brain first.
Sheriff Sellers is nice but he's a country sheriff. He's portrayed as kind of slow and simple like a country sheriff should be. He does his job but there are no clues to follow. He doesn't seem overly concerned with arresting the right person. He's not too bright and acts on an anonymous tip without looking into it first.
I really should not download free cozies unless I've already read and enjoyed the author. I won't be reading any more in this series even if they are free.
Claire Anderson, a 50-year-old widow, has turned over the reins of her Brooklyn coffee shop to her foster daughter Al and moves to Galway, Maryland, a sleepy Appalachian town, to fulfill her dream of opening an inn. It's winter and tourists are trickling in to ski. Claire enjoys the company of her first guest, James Matthews, who has come to town to check on his rental properties. Even her trusty Bloodhound, Rupert, who has been depressed since the death of Claire's husband, likes James. When James fails to come down to breakfast or check out, Claire discovers James has checked out permanently - as in he's dead. Police suspect murder but it's nearly impossible to find a motive or a good suspect. When a second death occurs, the sheriff believes Ben, a young man who works at the ski rental, is the culprit. Claire and her new friend Evelyn work behind the scenes to find out who the murderer is and why. When Claire discovers a third body and an unlikely suspect is arrested, her world is shattered. Can she figure out the truth and save her heart from being broken again? Should she accept a date with an old flame who has been cold and hot with her? There's one thing Claire does know and that is lots of baking is involved before she makes a decision!
This story was just OK for me. I didn't like that it was set in the real world with a reference to 9/11. This story had a high body count for a cozy and the motive for murder was ridiculous and very tragic. I never guessed any of it. There were no clues there at all. The writing style isn't bad but the story slogged on and on and I wasn't that into it. I skipped to the end to find out whodunit it, realized I missed a dead body and a motive. I went back later and finished the rest and it still didn't click. I didn't understand why Claire constantly referred to cream as crème, a ridiculous affectation showing she was a fancy chef maybe? Also, she refers to eyeglasses as "spectacles." Claire is 50 not 150 and her friend Emma randomly breaks out into French for no reason. Perhaps author is not a native English speaker?
I also didn't care for the older, widowed sleuth. I relate more to younger, single sleuths in their late 20s and 30s. Claire is crazy. She's mourning the loss of her husband to cancer and not fully living her life. Her daughter is the one pushing her to make a change. Claire doesn't do change easily. It takes her a bit to understand her daughter's friend's pronouns "they/them" and what that means. It's not hard to be polite and refer to someone by their preferred pronouns. It doesn't take her too long to figure it out but she kind of rolls her eyes at it. Claire also makes herself seem old and racist by confusing O.J. with Kanye on someone's shirt. While wearing Kanye is nearly as bad, 50 year olds know who Kanye is. I don't know why Claire sounds so old.
She spontaneously moves to this small town in winter and opens a B&B. She was a professional chef so she may have some business experience but she has no experience running an inn or in customer service. She doesn't have much to do, just cook and clean one guest room which seems a little unrealistic. She immediately makes a new BFF and they start nosing around. She asks nosy and intrusive questions of suspects and puts herself in danger. Her investigation is not well thought out or planned. I think she has too much time on her hands. Of course I'd want to know how a guest died so I'd probably poke around online and maybe talk to people who knew him but then I'd encourage the gossips to go to the police. GOOD cozy mystery heroines work WITH the police, not against them or ahead of them.
Rupert is a sweet doggo. He's intuitive and knows things Claire does not. I also liked Al, Claire's daughter. Al is funny and sounds like she would be fun to hang around with. She's managing the coffee shop well but is there for her mom when Claire needs her. She knows when her mom is hurting by how much her mom has baked. I appreciate the good mother/daughter relationship. I really like Al's friend Ry. They're even funnier than Al and appreciate good baked goods. I'd read a series featuring Al and Ry sleuthing and working at the coffee shop. Ev, from the post office, is Claire's new BFF. Claire trusts easily, maybe too easily, and becomes Ev's ride or die. Ev is way too nosy for my tastes especially since she works at the post office! She takes advantage of her situation sometimes and doesn't really care. She's incurably nosy and not in a good way. She thrives on gossip and knowing everything that is going on. I absolutely hate people like that. Claire's BFF in Brooklyn is similar. Emma is worse, actually. She thinks life is like Downton Abbey or another show or book. Emma loves gossip but doesn't seem interested in sleuthing the way Ev does. Only online.
James Matthews was charming, friendly and kind to Claire and Rupert. Rupert really enjoyed having a man around the house again. Claire seemed quite taken with James and happy to make a new friend. His death was shocking and devastating. A locked room murder! Who could have killed him and why?
Nina Delacroix is the first person Claire meets in town. Nina runs the only inn in town until Claire opens hers. Nina is a high maintenance and low work sort of person. She's not friendly, curious or warm in any way shape or form. She's one of those women desperate to cling to their youth and have men flatter them so they feel younger than their age. Nina and James used to be married and their split is NOT acrimonious. They seem to bring out the worst in each other and she loathes him. I can see her murdering him in revenge but not now. Why now?
Dale Duke is an acquaintance from way back when Claire and George used to come to Galway to ski. Dale is a gentle soul, kind and friendly to everyone. His nephew, Ben, works at the ski rental place too and Ben seems lost. He's living with a young woman he doesn't seem to be in a relationship with but they don't seem to get along well. Ben and Leslie have a lot of problems and maybe shouldn't be living together. Ben has issues from his past that may affect his present. Leslie is hiding something she's upset about and of course she won't share with strangers/nosy older women. She's a sneaky sort and I think she's just desperate to move on and up in life and uses any means necessary even if those means are unnecessary. We don't get to know her well enough to know if she would resort to murder though. I don't think she did it but I think she was either involved with James or suspects she knows who did it or both.
Claire flirts with two men and feels guilty about it. She's still attracted to Henry Castle, an old crush, who now looks like Robert Redford. (Eew!) He's been cold and hot with her off and on. Nothing happened with him in the past because he seemed brusque and brushed Claire off. I suspect he's a shady businessman from his personality and what Al discovers online seems to confirm it. Of course he would deny it to Claire. He wants to charm her now she's a prominent widow. Ray Hamilton is the Galway handyman. He's older, handsome and handy. Claire acts like a ninny around him. She loses her brains, her strength and common sense. It's one thing to flirt and another to act like a damsel in distress. Some of the things she could learn to do herself. Ray is a great listener and remembers what Claire tells him. He too lost a beloved spouse so they understand one another. I like him a lot but I don't think Claire should date anyone right now. She needs to grow a brain first.
Sheriff Sellers is nice but he's a country sheriff. He's portrayed as kind of slow and simple like a country sheriff should be. He does his job but there are no clues to follow. He doesn't seem overly concerned with arresting the right person. He's not too bright and acts on an anonymous tip without looking into it first.
I really should not download free cozies unless I've already read and enjoyed the author. I won't be reading any more in this series even if they are free.
January 12, 2023
I struggled to finish this book. All the constant cooking for me took it away from the story. The plot I found thin and I only finished it because a book has to be no stars in my view to not do so. I like a cosy mystery but this one just didn't do it for me.
December 20, 2025
I really enjoyed this very, very cosy crime with its tongue in cheek banter and high body count murders. I'm definitely reading the whole series!
Claire needs a new adventure, widowed and looking for something new she decides to head off from NYC and open a BnB in a quiet little town.
Soon, she finds herself cooking up a storm for her guests as she delights them with her baking and cooking but also investigating the mysterious death of one of her guests...
My only advice is don't read this whilst hungry! The food Claire cooks had my stomach rumbling!
Also, big shout out to her brilliant canine and feline chums! Rupert and Nightmare were a sweet add to the story.
Claire needs a new adventure, widowed and looking for something new she decides to head off from NYC and open a BnB in a quiet little town.
Soon, she finds herself cooking up a storm for her guests as she delights them with her baking and cooking but also investigating the mysterious death of one of her guests...
My only advice is don't read this whilst hungry! The food Claire cooks had my stomach rumbling!
Also, big shout out to her brilliant canine and feline chums! Rupert and Nightmare were a sweet add to the story.
February 28, 2021
Snowed Inn
Loved the book. A quaint village with some nice people. Would recommend this book to others that enjoy a mystery.
Loved the book. A quaint village with some nice people. Would recommend this book to others that enjoy a mystery.
December 15, 2023
Nope, not for me
January 17, 2024
2.5 rounding up. I liked all the supporting characters (and dog) much more than the MC. I'll read the next in the series to see if I warm up to Clair.
December 28, 2022
not my cup of tea
This book started off well but got increasingly annoying. Evelyn and Ry were just strange characters. Claire can’t make up her mind whether to grieve her dead husband or fall for any man who looks her way. Her motive for looking into the murders was unclear and it does seem odd that she moves to Appalachia while extolling the virtues of New York every chance she gets. Using the word crème instead of cream was just the final straw
This book started off well but got increasingly annoying. Evelyn and Ry were just strange characters. Claire can’t make up her mind whether to grieve her dead husband or fall for any man who looks her way. Her motive for looking into the murders was unclear and it does seem odd that she moves to Appalachia while extolling the virtues of New York every chance she gets. Using the word crème instead of cream was just the final straw
February 7, 2025
My biggest issue with the main character, Claire, is that she’s only 50 years old but she acts like she’s an old lady.
I also got annoyed by Rupert the dog’s constant “hrmphs”
This story just got on my nerves I guess.
I also got annoyed by Rupert the dog’s constant “hrmphs”
This story just got on my nerves I guess.
November 13, 2025
Claire, a widow, decides to buy an old house and turn it into a B&B. It all goes great until her first guest, James, is murdered by poisoning. Claire, at first a suspect, decides to investigate with her new BFF Evelyn. Suspects include surly Nina, who is James’s ex wife, Henry, a local business man who had partnered with James on some real estate deals, Ben, local ski bum who is arrested because his girlfriend, Leslie, died under suspicious circumstances, and Evelyn herself, who shot her ex husband in self defense. The killer was Henry. He and James had been lovers for over 2 decades and Henry was tired of keeping it a secret. He then had to Lille Leslie because she saw him poison James’s drink and was threatening to expose their relationship. A quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2024
First book by this author
Good book, did not figure out who the killer was right away. But the book was a little slow going. Not one that you just can not put down, but still a good book.
Good book, did not figure out who the killer was right away. But the book was a little slow going. Not one that you just can not put down, but still a good book.
July 7, 2020
I liked the general idea of this book with a widow who just turned 50 taking on a bed and breakfast, but some of the characters just took awhile for me to warm up to. I liked Evelyn immediately and knew she'd be a good new friend for Claire, a NY transplant who was said widow with the B&B. Her teen foster daughter Al who stayed behind in NYC was pretty cool, and even her friend Ry grew on me a little bit. I liked it well enough to be interested in reading the next book when it's out.
Pay attention to the prologue of this book. The old lady mentioned turned out to be very useful as did sweet Rupert, Claire's lovable but faithful friend and guard dog. I kept thinking I guessed the killer, but then they'd turn up dead or being a red herring. It was an intense but not terribly long showdown which is always better for the nerves lol. It'll be interesting to see what Claire, her new friend Ev and her old friend Emma get into next.
Pay attention to the prologue of this book. The old lady mentioned turned out to be very useful as did sweet Rupert, Claire's lovable but faithful friend and guard dog. I kept thinking I guessed the killer, but then they'd turn up dead or being a red herring. It was an intense but not terribly long showdown which is always better for the nerves lol. It'll be interesting to see what Claire, her new friend Ev and her old friend Emma get into next.
February 13, 2021
Murder at the Shower Inn
Oh my goodness, what a fun read! This woman was a detective, but didn't intend to be. She could unravel anything she put her mind too. Taking on an old house to remodel and make into a bed and breakfast took a lot of doing, but she loved doing it. Experimenting with new recipes for her guests and lovingly coming up with new recipes as well! Murder was something that started popping up unexpectedly, but she also put her keen mind into help solving those as well! What a kick I got out of this book. It's a must read for sure!
Terrie Stamey
Oh my goodness, what a fun read! This woman was a detective, but didn't intend to be. She could unravel anything she put her mind too. Taking on an old house to remodel and make into a bed and breakfast took a lot of doing, but she loved doing it. Experimenting with new recipes for her guests and lovingly coming up with new recipes as well! Murder was something that started popping up unexpectedly, but she also put her keen mind into help solving those as well! What a kick I got out of this book. It's a must read for sure!
Terrie Stamey
March 1, 2023
I'm not sure why why anyone would accept Claire's interrogation. She was new to the town with no background whatsoever in crime solving. I can't imagine a b&b owner hanging out with the guests, so intrusive. She walked miles in the snow with an elderly dog and constantly left him out in the cold. No wonder he whined all the time. But what Really got to me was Claire's teenaged, blushing reaction to any male attention. Hard to believe she was a 50 year old widow who was still mourning her husband. I will not be continuing with this series. It's a miracle I finished this one.
December 21, 2024
Needs a competent editor. Story is okay, but the mistakes were enough to pull me out of it.
December 20, 2022
cute but not epic
Decent book, author likes to use the same phrases repeatedly. Think that poor puppy Rupert spent the book hrmph-ing at every thing and one. Least I didn’t know the murderer by page two.
Decent book, author likes to use the same phrases repeatedly. Think that poor puppy Rupert spent the book hrmph-ing at every thing and one. Least I didn’t know the murderer by page two.
December 28, 2022
The book is quite unreadable. So many unnecessary words and descriptions that are off-putting. I couldn't read past page 15 before i dumped it
December 14, 2023
This book is hard to rate. I liked the story and the mystery, and I loved Rupert, the bloodhound, but there were two things that really annoyed me as I read. First, there are far too many 'asides' contained in the narrative, with Claire, the MC making extraneous comments that have little to nothing to do with the actual story. Example : Why would a person (no matter how neighborly) prune an ugly old vine (no matter how valuable) at midnight in the middle of December? And that's just on the first page!
The second irritation was the way some characters' dialog was written. They were fixin' to do something, which isn't too bad but "If'n they don't work for ya now... had me shaking my head. Friends who hail from Maryland do NOT speak like this, so I'm not sure where that speech pattern is supposed to have come from. If I were a Marylander, I'd be upset to be portrayed in such a way.
The mystery was good, with a few twists as the book progressed. I was totally wrong about the identity of the killer, so the motive was a surprise as well.
Because I always need books by I authors, I'll probably give the next book in the series a shot - just not any time soon.
The second irritation was the way some characters' dialog was written. They were fixin' to do something, which isn't too bad but "If'n they don't work for ya now... had me shaking my head. Friends who hail from Maryland do NOT speak like this, so I'm not sure where that speech pattern is supposed to have come from. If I were a Marylander, I'd be upset to be portrayed in such a way.
The mystery was good, with a few twists as the book progressed. I was totally wrong about the identity of the killer, so the motive was a surprise as well.
Because I always need books by I authors, I'll probably give the next book in the series a shot - just not any time soon.
September 12, 2022
Love the Location
Not a bad first book. A little unbelievable that suspects would spill their guts to a nosey B&B owner. Loved the fact that the setting of the story was obviously Western Maryland. Backbone Mountain, Savage and Cheat River are all in Garrett/Alleghany County, MD. Beautiful area. I'm biased since I'm a Marylander. The author also describes small art galleries which are prevalent in this area. It's also interesting to note that two main characters own real estate in the area. Anyone who knows this place are aware of numerous vacation cabins, not to mention big money homes. It's also the only place in Maryland where there is consistent snowfall. The author has either been here or did her research. Even the dialect was spot-on. Made me laugh. I was waiting for someone to say Ba'more.
Not a bad first book. A little unbelievable that suspects would spill their guts to a nosey B&B owner. Loved the fact that the setting of the story was obviously Western Maryland. Backbone Mountain, Savage and Cheat River are all in Garrett/Alleghany County, MD. Beautiful area. I'm biased since I'm a Marylander. The author also describes small art galleries which are prevalent in this area. It's also interesting to note that two main characters own real estate in the area. Anyone who knows this place are aware of numerous vacation cabins, not to mention big money homes. It's also the only place in Maryland where there is consistent snowfall. The author has either been here or did her research. Even the dialect was spot-on. Made me laugh. I was waiting for someone to say Ba'more.
July 24, 2021
This was a rather entertaining book, once one gets past the "move from NY to rural MD, buy a B&B, and successfully open it within weeks" technique. Obviously authors haven't run businesses!
Two things gave it 3 stars rather than more.
First, a dozen or more instances of word misuse, fact, or incongruence. A few more of what I'd call errors in comma use, but that is sometimes a stylistic disagreement rather than an error.
The final clue: a contrived situation of "I just know". This reader found it unbelievable. Sure, I can believe the murderer is correctly identified, but the method just doesn't work for me.
Two things gave it 3 stars rather than more.
First, a dozen or more instances of word misuse, fact, or incongruence. A few more of what I'd call errors in comma use, but that is sometimes a stylistic disagreement rather than an error.
The final clue: a contrived situation of "I just know". This reader found it unbelievable. Sure, I can believe the murderer is correctly identified, but the method just doesn't work for me.
January 13, 2023
This is the first in the series. The main character Claire. Claire's husband dies and she has a hard time looking forward. Her daughter sends out to find new interests now and she ends up buying a B&B in a small town where she use to ski before marriage. Her first customer is murdered in her B&B and then a young girl is murdered. Different ways but maybe a connection ? She starts to ask a lot of questions. She runs back home to see her daughter and best friend, tells all that is going on. After a few days she heads back and within a day there is a new body, again in her new home. Can she figure out what is going on before it's too late for her ?
December 13, 2023
Great first book in series
This is a solid beginning to a series. Claire moves from New York to start a b-and-b in a touristy ski town. Her first guest is murdered and he’s not the last victim. Evelyn becomes Claire’s first friend in town and together they begin to investigate. Finding a motive is most difficult, but there are plenty of suspects. And there are a cat, a dog, and available men in town for romantic interest. And lots of food references. And it made me want to read the next book.
This is a solid beginning to a series. Claire moves from New York to start a b-and-b in a touristy ski town. Her first guest is murdered and he’s not the last victim. Evelyn becomes Claire’s first friend in town and together they begin to investigate. Finding a motive is most difficult, but there are plenty of suspects. And there are a cat, a dog, and available men in town for romantic interest. And lots of food references. And it made me want to read the next book.
January 12, 2024
Nothing inherently wrong with this book, it’s a good story with a twist at the end. I can’t see myself reading anymore from this series though.
There are several LGBTQIA+ characters in this so good representation, and from my (hetro) perspective seemed to be written ok. There is a *warning* at the beginning telling people there’s a non binary character who used they/them pronouns and if you don’t like it don’t read it which seemed odd and then the main character mentions a couple of times being confused with the pronouns which seemed unnecessary.
There are several LGBTQIA+ characters in this so good representation, and from my (hetro) perspective seemed to be written ok. There is a *warning* at the beginning telling people there’s a non binary character who used they/them pronouns and if you don’t like it don’t read it which seemed odd and then the main character mentions a couple of times being confused with the pronouns which seemed unnecessary.
January 12, 2024
Delightful
Gotta love a fifty-something woman adventurous enough to start over away from friends and family. Claire Anderson was a delightful character; whimsical, bright, courageous, and blushing like a schoolgirl when complimented by a handsome man.
Claire's purchase of a B&B in a tiny mountain town brings her into contact with a whole compliment of new personalities who turn out to be major players in the small-town drama she finds herself embroiled in.
Take the time to spend an afternoon with Claire in this hilarious romp.
Gotta love a fifty-something woman adventurous enough to start over away from friends and family. Claire Anderson was a delightful character; whimsical, bright, courageous, and blushing like a schoolgirl when complimented by a handsome man.
Claire's purchase of a B&B in a tiny mountain town brings her into contact with a whole compliment of new personalities who turn out to be major players in the small-town drama she finds herself embroiled in.
Take the time to spend an afternoon with Claire in this hilarious romp.
December 19, 2022
Surprisingly good
I'm always a bit wary over self-published books found on Kindle Unlimited, but this was on the list of "you might also like"s so I figured I would give it a shot. Besides, it looked like it might fit my whole murder and mayhem theme for December. I was pleasantly surprised at how wrapped up I became in the story and the characters and I'm going to have a difficult time holding off until Spring for the next seasonal murder.
I'm always a bit wary over self-published books found on Kindle Unlimited, but this was on the list of "you might also like"s so I figured I would give it a shot. Besides, it looked like it might fit my whole murder and mayhem theme for December. I was pleasantly surprised at how wrapped up I became in the story and the characters and I'm going to have a difficult time holding off until Spring for the next seasonal murder.
December 15, 2023
Just alright
This was an easy quick read for a chilly afternoon. I found it a bit pretentious what with all the French spellings of word such as crème for cream etc but that can be overlooked. I didn’t develop an affinity for any of the characters which I think means they weren’t particularly fleshed out but I did like the dog Rupert. The ending came very quickly without much foreshadowing and then all was well that ended well.
This was an easy quick read for a chilly afternoon. I found it a bit pretentious what with all the French spellings of word such as crème for cream etc but that can be overlooked. I didn’t develop an affinity for any of the characters which I think means they weren’t particularly fleshed out but I did like the dog Rupert. The ending came very quickly without much foreshadowing and then all was well that ended well.
January 18, 2025
Claire's husband recently passed away and she has
gone to a small town for some skiing. She decides
to buy a house an start a Bed and Breakfast. He daughter
decided to stay in NewYork.
One of her guests is found dead in her home. The police
are called and the investigation begins . However before
they get this one solved, more happen.
This is a "who done it" with lots and lots of twists
and turns.
gone to a small town for some skiing. She decides
to buy a house an start a Bed and Breakfast. He daughter
decided to stay in NewYork.
One of her guests is found dead in her home. The police
are called and the investigation begins . However before
they get this one solved, more happen.
This is a "who done it" with lots and lots of twists
and turns.
July 10, 2020
A campy romp
I enjoyed this fun and lighthearted read
I want to give the author extra credit for bringing positive LBGT characters to life.
I am a sucker for red herrings and there were plenty in this snowy romp
With that being said, I wish the book was edited for grammar and spelling with as much care as she placed into her characters and story.
I enjoyed this fun and lighthearted read
I want to give the author extra credit for bringing positive LBGT characters to life.
I am a sucker for red herrings and there were plenty in this snowy romp
With that being said, I wish the book was edited for grammar and spelling with as much care as she placed into her characters and story.
August 31, 2020
In the beginning of the story, I enjoyed it, however, once I got into it there were just too many characters to follow. I find it quite distracting when a story involves too many characters. I did find the main character interesting because she was a baker and used to baking to escape her problems.
September 12, 2020
Pretty good
It took a long time to get into the mystery part. There’s a lot of explaining every little thing. It just wasn’t holding my interest but I did finish the whole book. Also a lot of extra words not making any sense & spelling mistakes, I highlighted in the last few chapters.
It took a long time to get into the mystery part. There’s a lot of explaining every little thing. It just wasn’t holding my interest but I did finish the whole book. Also a lot of extra words not making any sense & spelling mistakes, I highlighted in the last few chapters.
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