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Katy Cross Cozy Mystery #1
Moonlight, Murder, and Small Town Secrets
Katy Cross is more than Skeeterville's favorite home health nurse, she's also the lead guitarist for her weekend band, The Moonlighters. Katy and the band land their biggest gig yet at the annual Peanut Patch Festival, but things hit a sour note when she stumbles across a body during mic check. When the investigation strikes the wrong chord, Katy is determined to find the real killer before anyone else is forced to join the heavenly choir.
Katy Cross is perfectly content to live her life and mind her own business, which is sometimes harder than you'd think in the small town of Skeeterville, where gossip and sweet tea are town staples. But when she finds the body of Jessa Williams, a newcomer to the area with the reputation of a troublemaking flirt, under the Peanut Patch Festival stage, she's compelled to step out of her comfort zone and snoop around.
Since a murder has not occurred in their town in over three decades, the local sheriff is more accustomed to catching jaywalkers than killers. His arrest of a local easy-going, hard-working neighbor sets tongues a-wagging. Will Katy's sharp eye, keen wit, and a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time help the sheriff and his bumbling, good-natured deputy catch the real culprit before more lives are lost?
This humorous cozy mystery has no graphic gore, bad language or sexual content, but is filled with lots of laughs, intrigue, and heart. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths and small towns!
Katy Cross is perfectly content to live her life and mind her own business, which is sometimes harder than you'd think in the small town of Skeeterville, where gossip and sweet tea are town staples. But when she finds the body of Jessa Williams, a newcomer to the area with the reputation of a troublemaking flirt, under the Peanut Patch Festival stage, she's compelled to step out of her comfort zone and snoop around.
Since a murder has not occurred in their town in over three decades, the local sheriff is more accustomed to catching jaywalkers than killers. His arrest of a local easy-going, hard-working neighbor sets tongues a-wagging. Will Katy's sharp eye, keen wit, and a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time help the sheriff and his bumbling, good-natured deputy catch the real culprit before more lives are lost?
This humorous cozy mystery has no graphic gore, bad language or sexual content, but is filled with lots of laughs, intrigue, and heart. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths and small towns!
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
815 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Hart
25 books137 followersKC Hart, author of Christian Contemporary Small Town Romance with a southern twist and Christian Cozy mysteries, has been married to Mr. Wonderful for thirty-nine years. She has three daughters, three grandsons, and one beautiful granddaughter.
KC sincerely believes that well-written Christian fiction can change lives. When a novel has strong Christian principals woven intricately into a well-written plot, the reader bonds with lifelike characters who struggle with trials, temptations, and struggles that the reader identifies with. The reader identifies with these characters because she’s been there. Everyone has fallen. That’s why everyone needs a Savior.
Then, when these same characters turn to Christ the Savior to bring them through these dark moments, the reader finds hope. KC believes the story reminds the reader why she must lean on the Lord in her trying situations. Through the book’s structure showing Christianity as the positive light for good that KC knows to be true, the reader also sees why she needs to be the hands and feet of Christ to others.
KC strives to show how the Lord uses situations, people, and His Word to bring the lost to Him, and mold, prune and grow His children. She tackles challenging situations, powerful emotions, and spiritual warfare through engaging stories and true-to-life characters.
All of KC's books are free of sex, gore and foul language. Her books are full of small town charm and share the light of Christ in a way that is natural to the story.
KC sincerely believes that well-written Christian fiction can change lives. When a novel has strong Christian principals woven intricately into a well-written plot, the reader bonds with lifelike characters who struggle with trials, temptations, and struggles that the reader identifies with. The reader identifies with these characters because she’s been there. Everyone has fallen. That’s why everyone needs a Savior.
Then, when these same characters turn to Christ the Savior to bring them through these dark moments, the reader finds hope. KC believes the story reminds the reader why she must lean on the Lord in her trying situations. Through the book’s structure showing Christianity as the positive light for good that KC knows to be true, the reader also sees why she needs to be the hands and feet of Christ to others.
KC strives to show how the Lord uses situations, people, and His Word to bring the lost to Him, and mold, prune and grow His children. She tackles challenging situations, powerful emotions, and spiritual warfare through engaging stories and true-to-life characters.
All of KC's books are free of sex, gore and foul language. Her books are full of small town charm and share the light of Christ in a way that is natural to the story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 26, 2020
Great Mystery
I rated this 5 stars because it was a very easy to read book but it kept you wondering all through the book who the killer was. and I could not figure out who the killer was ahead of time which I normally can do in a book and I really like that. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good clean mystery. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
I rated this 5 stars because it was a very easy to read book but it kept you wondering all through the book who the killer was. and I could not figure out who the killer was ahead of time which I normally can do in a book and I really like that. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good clean mystery. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 7, 2021
I enjoyed this clean cozy mystery. The humor in the character interactions as well as the mystery kept my attention.
May 11, 2021
wow! I loved this story so much that I just bought the rest of the books in this series! This author really can write a fun interesting read! I am so happy that I found KC Hart! The quirky and complex characters and the twists and turns in the story make this a page turner and a must read! I cannot wait to get on to the next book!
September 8, 2021
Katy Cross, a sweet middle-aged Nurse and guitar-playing band member of the Moonlighters, lives in the small Mississippi town of Skeetersville and uses prayer and her sleuthing skills to help uncover several murders.
Two women turn up dead. One under the stage at the local peanut festival and another on the floor of her own bedroom. Are the murders connected, and if so, is the culprit a jealous lover, a greedy family member, or someone hell-bent on revenge? Following the trail of clues, Katy discovers the truth and in doing so puts herself in danger.
This down-home mystery pulses with heartwarming and unforgettable characters and with each chapter increases the readers’ longing to discover who the murderer is. With plenty of suspense in all the right places, Moonlight, Murder, and Small Town Secrets will keep readers turning the pages to reveal the truth.
Hart has a natural, easy writing style that leaves a reader feeling like they just sat down on Katy’s front porch in Skeetersville to enjoy a glass of sweet iced tea and a large helping of her peach cobbler. Weaving faith into mystery in a skillful way, Hart portrays a depth that many mysteries lack and will leave readers coming back for more of her Southern charm.
Two women turn up dead. One under the stage at the local peanut festival and another on the floor of her own bedroom. Are the murders connected, and if so, is the culprit a jealous lover, a greedy family member, or someone hell-bent on revenge? Following the trail of clues, Katy discovers the truth and in doing so puts herself in danger.
This down-home mystery pulses with heartwarming and unforgettable characters and with each chapter increases the readers’ longing to discover who the murderer is. With plenty of suspense in all the right places, Moonlight, Murder, and Small Town Secrets will keep readers turning the pages to reveal the truth.
Hart has a natural, easy writing style that leaves a reader feeling like they just sat down on Katy’s front porch in Skeetersville to enjoy a glass of sweet iced tea and a large helping of her peach cobbler. Weaving faith into mystery in a skillful way, Hart portrays a depth that many mysteries lack and will leave readers coming back for more of her Southern charm.
July 11, 2021
KC Can Tell a Story!
As a storyteller myself, it's all about the story. You can tell one, or you can't. It's just that simple. KC tells a story. I'm blessed with the ability to read a book for the story and not be nit-picky about the structure of a first-time author. In KC’s case, Story Trumps Structure!
Welcome to Skeeterville, Mississippi, a quaint, quirky southern town with quaint and certainly quirky characters. If you've ever lived in a small town, you know them, and you're right at home as KC brings them into your life. She tells the story with humor, wit, and the polite southern charm lacking today's world.
Keep an eye on KC Hart—she’s good.
As a storyteller myself, it's all about the story. You can tell one, or you can't. It's just that simple. KC tells a story. I'm blessed with the ability to read a book for the story and not be nit-picky about the structure of a first-time author. In KC’s case, Story Trumps Structure!
Welcome to Skeeterville, Mississippi, a quaint, quirky southern town with quaint and certainly quirky characters. If you've ever lived in a small town, you know them, and you're right at home as KC brings them into your life. She tells the story with humor, wit, and the polite southern charm lacking today's world.
Keep an eye on KC Hart—she’s good.
November 4, 2020
Never Saw that Coming!
This is my first book by KC Hart and she is a great writer!! Normally, when I think of a cozy mystery it's easy to figure out who done it. Not this book. Y'all will enjoy to the very end. ! liked her characters, atmosphere, delicious food they ate, like I'll take a bag of boiled peanuts please! So get the book and start reading.
This is my first book by KC Hart and she is a great writer!! Normally, when I think of a cozy mystery it's easy to figure out who done it. Not this book. Y'all will enjoy to the very end. ! liked her characters, atmosphere, delicious food they ate, like I'll take a bag of boiled peanuts please! So get the book and start reading.
June 27, 2020
Good Read!
This book had it all: suspense, humor, mystery... all while remaining clean and tasteful! I loved every second of it!
This book had it all: suspense, humor, mystery... all while remaining clean and tasteful! I loved every second of it!
October 26, 2020
Fantastic characters that kept the story real. I loved trying to figure out who done it and was thrown for a loop at who it was. Great action that will have you on the edge of your seat. Some of the moments in the story are funny but there are also some very heart felt moments too. This a hard book to put down and is clean with Christian morals and beliefs that I absolutely loved! I will definitely be reading every book I can get my hands on by KC Hart.
June 2, 2021
This was the first time I have read anything from this author and I must say, I really enjoyed it. I love murder, mystery and especially when they are clean. This is very well done. Looking forward to the next book.
October 11, 2020
First time reading this author ... loved the book ... kept me guessing until the end about who the killer was and why it happened. Will definitely be reading the next book.
October 7, 2020
Good Book
This is my first book by this author,but it won't be my last. Fun read, with lots of mystery and toward the end suspense. I really enjoyed the characters and the town. Loved the tender love of Katy and John, such a pleasure reading about such love between a husband and wife.
This is my first book by this author,but it won't be my last. Fun read, with lots of mystery and toward the end suspense. I really enjoyed the characters and the town. Loved the tender love of Katy and John, such a pleasure reading about such love between a husband and wife.
May 6, 2021
I enjoyed the first book in K. C. Hart's mystery series. Moonlight, Murder, and Small Town Secrets stars middle-aged Katy Cross of Mississippi. She is a home health nurse in Skeeterville. She is also guitarist for The Moonlighters. The band is getting ready to perform their bluegrass and gospel music at the annual Peanut Patch Festival. While her nephew, Todd, a deputy sheriff, helps her get ready to go on stage one evening, they discover a dead woman. Jessica Williams, another entertainer, has been murdered! Katy immediately goes into sleuth mode and as she gathers information, she shares it with Todd. I liked the fact that the main character in this series is middle aged. I liked that she is a nurse/guitarist and not the usual baker or book store owner. I liked that the murder happened at the beginning of the book. This book is a well written clean mystery and I look forward to reading about the likable characters in future books in the series.
January 23, 2021
Enjoyable
I like when I am not able to guess who the culprit is, early into a book. I had no clue, which kept me engrossed to the end.
I like when I am not able to guess who the culprit is, early into a book. I had no clue, which kept me engrossed to the end.
March 4, 2021
This is my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. I started this book with a little bit of reluctance. It just didn’t seem to grab me for some reason. But somewhere after a few chapters I fell in love with Katy Cross and the plot. I’m glad I stuck with it because I really did enjoy this book.
The characters were very real and the mystery was very well done. I kept guessing “who done it” and was shocked when all was revealed. Being an older lady myself, it was nice to read a book about older individuals and they were just so real.
This is a clean novel, with no bad language. Katy and her husband, John, are Christians and they just live out their faith. So, there was no preaching, no sermons, just sweet conversations and living out their faith.
I’m looking forward to getting started with Book 2 and see what trouble Katy Cross finds herself in now!
The characters were very real and the mystery was very well done. I kept guessing “who done it” and was shocked when all was revealed. Being an older lady myself, it was nice to read a book about older individuals and they were just so real.
This is a clean novel, with no bad language. Katy and her husband, John, are Christians and they just live out their faith. So, there was no preaching, no sermons, just sweet conversations and living out their faith.
I’m looking forward to getting started with Book 2 and see what trouble Katy Cross finds herself in now!
May 3, 2021
This is the first in a series of small town mysteries, and judging by the first one, it should be a wonderful series all the way through! The main character in this book was so relatable, with a great sense of humor, a kind heart, and a knack for putting together clues to solve a mystery. Her Christian faith was evident throughout the story, as well. I really enjoyed the entire book, and can highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, cozy mystery!
July 30, 2021
Small town home health nurse and band member discovers a body under the stage just before the festival open for the night.
This is a very slow paced book that has not held my attention at all.
I keep putting it down to do other things.
The final straw for me is even though she's a nurse talking to another nurse.
The other nurse has no problem sharing the deceased patients medical problems and history that was diagnosed by the office physician.
Ever hear of HIPPA?
That conversation would have never happened.
Even though I enjoy fiction books including a lot of cozies.
I still like to have them reality based.
I won't be finishing this one.
This is a very slow paced book that has not held my attention at all.
I keep putting it down to do other things.
The final straw for me is even though she's a nurse talking to another nurse.
The other nurse has no problem sharing the deceased patients medical problems and history that was diagnosed by the office physician.
Ever hear of HIPPA?
That conversation would have never happened.
Even though I enjoy fiction books including a lot of cozies.
I still like to have them reality based.
I won't be finishing this one.
July 3, 2022
What a fun read! As an older nurse, I was able to identify with the main character. A bit more background would be nice and will hopefully be forthcoming in future stories. The murderer was not easily identified which is always a plus. FYI, it is Christian based if that bothers you.
February 5, 2022
DNF Just wasn't my kind of story. I couldn't get into it. Probably more me than the actual story.
1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure
1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure
February 22, 2022
I found this to be a great mystery with down to earth characters. I loved the fact that the main characters were Christian and lived out their faith.
The mystery kept me going...every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist came along. 🙃
Definitely looking forward to the next book of the series!
The mystery kept me going...every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist came along. 🙃
Definitely looking forward to the next book of the series!
October 22, 2020
Too many text errors
The plot was fine, though the book was l-o-ong. But the grammatical mistakes, spelling, and punctuation errors were so rampant that the storyline was impaired. The author needs a proofreader.
The plot was fine, though the book was l-o-ong. But the grammatical mistakes, spelling, and punctuation errors were so rampant that the storyline was impaired. The author needs a proofreader.
November 1, 2020
Greed Doesn't Look Good
This is the first book by this author that I have ever read. I definitely will be reading more as the red herrings keep you guessing. I had part of it correct by boy did I certainly miss the rest. Book two is in my future ~
This is the first book by this author that I have ever read. I definitely will be reading more as the red herrings keep you guessing. I had part of it correct by boy did I certainly miss the rest. Book two is in my future ~
January 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I never could figure out who the killer was until the very end. I also appreciated how K.C. Hart explained to us how everything was tied together without making us feel stupid. It was a fun book to read and I will be reading the next one in the series.
September 27, 2021
K C Hart has hit this story out of the ballpark! Excellent development of main and minor characters. The small small town setting fits perfectly with the drama and murders, which the author cleverly portrays. It will hold your interest right to the very end.
March 16, 2022
A cozy murder mystery with Southern charm, this novel has everything from well developed characters to funny moments to suspense. Be sure to pick up your copy to unravel who dunnit. You won't be disappointed. I personally like how the main character displayed her faith.
April 13, 2021
Great, I have purchased all in the series paper back for my keeper shelf. Looking forward to the next that was mentioned.
Eb
Eb
May 20, 2021
Cozy mystery
I liked the characters and the twist at the end. I appreciate the sense of community and faith that wove through the story.
I liked the characters and the twist at the end. I appreciate the sense of community and faith that wove through the story.
July 3, 2021
Funny and Intense
Really enjoyed the humor and the mystery of the story. Katy had a very logical mind for putting clues together. Also liked the spiritual part of the story.
Really enjoyed the humor and the mystery of the story. Katy had a very logical mind for putting clues together. Also liked the spiritual part of the story.
August 3, 2021
Wonderful escape read!
This is the perfect fit for a lazy afternoon with a glass of icy sweet tea. Just discovered this writer. I’m looking forward to reading book two!
This is the perfect fit for a lazy afternoon with a glass of icy sweet tea. Just discovered this writer. I’m looking forward to reading book two!
August 9, 2021
a delightful mystery! whole lot of characters to keep track of, but fun to read.
August 10, 2021
cute - very Southern and well-written mystery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews