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Rooftop Garden Cozy Mysteries #1
Murder Between the Lines
Fall is the most beautiful time of the year . . .
Until it turns deadly.
Blue Valley, Tennessee, buzzes with excitement every October with the return of colorful autumn leaves, chilly air, and the wave of tourists who arrive for the annual Fall Festival.
This year, Alice Maguire, owner of The Paper Owl bookshop on Main Street, is planning the festival with a little help from her best friends, Franny and Owen. All three live in tiny apartments above their shops.
The trio of friends share a charming rooftop garden, where they meet in the mornings for coffee from Franny's coffee shop, and sweets from Owen's bakery. When a new yoga studio, Bliss, opens up across the street, Alice reluctantly agrees to take a class to promote relaxation in her life, and it actually works, much to her relief.
A fire breaks out in town, resulting in a tragic death, and Alice's brother, Blue Valley PD Officer Ben Maguire, and newcomer, Detective Luke Evans—who has an irritating way of making Alice blush—lead the investigation. When it is determined that the death was no accident, Alice, Franny, and Owen get pulled smack dab into investigating the case.
Will they solve it before you do?
Until it turns deadly.
Blue Valley, Tennessee, buzzes with excitement every October with the return of colorful autumn leaves, chilly air, and the wave of tourists who arrive for the annual Fall Festival.
This year, Alice Maguire, owner of The Paper Owl bookshop on Main Street, is planning the festival with a little help from her best friends, Franny and Owen. All three live in tiny apartments above their shops.
The trio of friends share a charming rooftop garden, where they meet in the mornings for coffee from Franny's coffee shop, and sweets from Owen's bakery. When a new yoga studio, Bliss, opens up across the street, Alice reluctantly agrees to take a class to promote relaxation in her life, and it actually works, much to her relief.
A fire breaks out in town, resulting in a tragic death, and Alice's brother, Blue Valley PD Officer Ben Maguire, and newcomer, Detective Luke Evans—who has an irritating way of making Alice blush—lead the investigation. When it is determined that the death was no accident, Alice, Franny, and Owen get pulled smack dab into investigating the case.
Will they solve it before you do?
123 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2020
281 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 4, 2021
Ich habe seit Jahren endlich einmal wieder ein Buch auf Englisch gelesen (Danke, Britta! :-))
Es hat zwar länger gedauert, da ich mein Englisch wieder ein bisschen auffrischen muss, aber es hat mir trotzdem viel Spaß gemacht und ich habe wohl gleich ein richtig gutes Buch erwischt. Ein schöner Cozy-Krimi, wie ich ihn mag. Es war spannend, humorvoll und trotz Mord einfach eine Wohlfühl-Atmosphäre.
Ich hoffe sehr, ich kann meine Motivation nun beibehalten und weitere englische Bücher lesen.
Es hat zwar länger gedauert, da ich mein Englisch wieder ein bisschen auffrischen muss, aber es hat mir trotzdem viel Spaß gemacht und ich habe wohl gleich ein richtig gutes Buch erwischt. Ein schöner Cozy-Krimi, wie ich ihn mag. Es war spannend, humorvoll und trotz Mord einfach eine Wohlfühl-Atmosphäre.
Ich hoffe sehr, ich kann meine Motivation nun beibehalten und weitere englische Bücher lesen.
September 25, 2020
Murder Between the Lines by Thea Cambert is a cute cozy mystery that pulled me in from the first chapter. Ms. Cambert has developed a lovely small town with likable characters. Alice, Franny and Owen are best friends and share a building where their businesses are on Main Street and their apartments are above their shops. The rooftop gardens that they have created sounded heavenly. I enjoyed every minute I spent in Blue Valley, Tennessee and will returning soon.
November 23, 2025
didn't like it, the writing was meh, characters were okayish, plot was meh. not worth continuing the series.
October 19, 2024
The small town of Blue Valley, Tennessee is getting ready for their annual Fall Festival and Alice Maguire is in charge. Alice owns the local bookshop on Main Street. This year she is asked to organize the festival. She recruits her two best friends, fellow Main Street shop owners, to lend a helping hand. They have their work cut out for them.
Then, tragedy strikes. One of the Main Street shops is on fire, and it results in a death. When the police declare this is murder, Alice is the main suspect. Alice, along with her friends Franny and Owen, investigates. They are determined to prove her innocence.
This is the first book in the Rooftop Garden Cozy Mystery series and it’s off to a delightful start. I immediately fell in love with the setting. It’s a quaint tourist type town with small shops on Main Street. Each shop has a rooftop garden. It’s the perfect place for a cup of tea, a good book and a cozy mystery.
The cast of characters are all written well, very lively and vibrant. Sometimes first books are stiff as we are introduced to the cast, but not this one. I thought the author did very well in bringing the characters to life.
The storyline is fast-paced and keeps you guessing. I kept changing my mind as to who I thought was the culprit. There are several different possibilities, and I had my suspicions about all of them. There’s even a little romance thrown into the mix.
It’s a short read and a great way to spend an afternoon. I will definitely be reading the next one in the series.
Then, tragedy strikes. One of the Main Street shops is on fire, and it results in a death. When the police declare this is murder, Alice is the main suspect. Alice, along with her friends Franny and Owen, investigates. They are determined to prove her innocence.
This is the first book in the Rooftop Garden Cozy Mystery series and it’s off to a delightful start. I immediately fell in love with the setting. It’s a quaint tourist type town with small shops on Main Street. Each shop has a rooftop garden. It’s the perfect place for a cup of tea, a good book and a cozy mystery.
The cast of characters are all written well, very lively and vibrant. Sometimes first books are stiff as we are introduced to the cast, but not this one. I thought the author did very well in bringing the characters to life.
The storyline is fast-paced and keeps you guessing. I kept changing my mind as to who I thought was the culprit. There are several different possibilities, and I had my suspicions about all of them. There’s even a little romance thrown into the mix.
It’s a short read and a great way to spend an afternoon. I will definitely be reading the next one in the series.
July 15, 2020
This is the first book in the new series, Rooftop Gardens Cozy Mysteries. It is a wonderful book with three friends whose businesses/apartments share a rooftop garden, where they spend much of their time after work. This is a fabulous author who kept me waiting to see what was going to happen next. I loved the ending and really look forward to the next book in the series!
August 13, 2020
A great start to a series!
Blue Valley will never be the same when friends Alice, Franny and Owen decide to solve a mysterious death of a yoga studio owner in their small town.
I loved the cozy setting and the rooftop gardens were charming! The mystery kept me reading and guessing. Each of the characters owns a business - Alice a bookstore, Franny a coffee shop and Owen owns a bakery. All the perfect cozy settings! I love how their sleuthing planning sessions take place in their connected gardens.
The book has everything I love in a cozy - great mystery, fun characters, a charming setting, a bit of romance and humor. I can't wait to read the second book!
Blue Valley will never be the same when friends Alice, Franny and Owen decide to solve a mysterious death of a yoga studio owner in their small town.
I loved the cozy setting and the rooftop gardens were charming! The mystery kept me reading and guessing. Each of the characters owns a business - Alice a bookstore, Franny a coffee shop and Owen owns a bakery. All the perfect cozy settings! I love how their sleuthing planning sessions take place in their connected gardens.
The book has everything I love in a cozy - great mystery, fun characters, a charming setting, a bit of romance and humor. I can't wait to read the second book!
June 30, 2022
Veloce e piacevole lettura. Con un innamoramento un pochino troppo rapido, ma va bene. Mi piace l'idea del giardino sul tetto dove si ritrovano la protagonista e i suoi amici.
October 6, 2022
The rooftop gardens are in a tiny town named Blue Valley, nestled in the Smoky* Mountains of Tennessee. As "Murder Between the Lines" opens, it is almost time for the 3-day Fall Festival that culminates on Halloween.
I was enthralled by the description of the gardens, from the beauty of the atmosphere to the rooftop views of Blue Valley to the pleasurable times shared by the trio of friends. There's Alice Macquire of Paper Owls (bookstore), Franny Brown of Joe's (coffee), and Owen James of Sourdough (bakery). All 3 are busy young entrepreneurs, so conveniently, their shops are on street level, with apartments on the 2nd floor and rooftop gardens that express their individuality or could enjoy the luxury of a larger space.
I loved almost everything about this cozy, from cover to cover! There are endearing relationships of friends and a brother and sister with loving family ties. The setting becomes a place one wishes it was possible to visit. Adept at being amateur sleuths and entrepreneurs with sparks of romance in their connections to law enforcement, the future seems open to many possibilities. I can't wait to read more of this series!
My one serious moment of dismay was reading,
*Please note: I have always spelled the Smoky Mountains without the "e," but the author spells Smokey Mountains with the "e," which led me to read a fun and interesting article, "The Smoky Mountains vs. the 'Smokey Mountains': Who's Right?" available at:
https://www.visitmysmokies.com/blog/s...
I was enthralled by the description of the gardens, from the beauty of the atmosphere to the rooftop views of Blue Valley to the pleasurable times shared by the trio of friends. There's Alice Macquire of Paper Owls (bookstore), Franny Brown of Joe's (coffee), and Owen James of Sourdough (bakery). All 3 are busy young entrepreneurs, so conveniently, their shops are on street level, with apartments on the 2nd floor and rooftop gardens that express their individuality or could enjoy the luxury of a larger space.
"There was a railing around the roof where her building adjoined both Franny's and Owen's shops—and the two of them had followed suit, creating their own garden spaces. They fashioned gates in the railings between their gardens so that all in all, it felt like one big haven."It makes one dream about a flat roof, especially if one could follow Alice, Franny, and Owens's example of meeting for breakfast in the mornings and relaxing with wine in the evenings.
I loved almost everything about this cozy, from cover to cover! There are endearing relationships of friends and a brother and sister with loving family ties. The setting becomes a place one wishes it was possible to visit. Adept at being amateur sleuths and entrepreneurs with sparks of romance in their connections to law enforcement, the future seems open to many possibilities. I can't wait to read more of this series!
My one serious moment of dismay was reading,
"She (Angela)...cracked open a half-eaten pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and snuggled into bed, giving Poppy the lid to lick."Chocolate can be lethal to cats. The toxic agent in chocolate is theobromine. Eating chocolate can cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death. So please, cat owners and friends with cats, do NOT follow this example in real life.
*Please note: I have always spelled the Smoky Mountains without the "e," but the author spells Smokey Mountains with the "e," which led me to read a fun and interesting article, "The Smoky Mountains vs. the 'Smokey Mountains': Who's Right?" available at:
https://www.visitmysmokies.com/blog/s...
February 6, 2021
Alice owns a bookshop Paper Owl, Granny owns a coffee shop Joe's Coffe shop and Owen owns a bake shop Sourdough. They have been friends for a long time. The shops are right be each other. It is October and Alice has been elected to do Fall Festival this year. She and her friends are planning a painting booth, pumpkin cotest, pumpkin carving and will have pumpkin treats. Someone new moves in the shop around they're shops. It is a Yoga place. People seem not to like the new yoga instructer. There are some mysterious about Kiria the new yoga instructor.BUt when something happens to her who really is the one that knew her most. This was 198 pages I just wish there was more to the plot. Is was 3 stars to me
May 6, 2023
This is like The Famous Five but for adults.
Nice little book to relax and to practice reading in english.
I had fun and learned a few new words like ajar and gazebo.
I will probably continue with the series from time to time.
Nice little book to relax and to practice reading in english.
I had fun and learned a few new words like ajar and gazebo.
I will probably continue with the series from time to time.
January 2, 2021
A good cozy
This is definitely a cozy quaint mystery. It’s small town with good friends and they end up allying the mystery but there’s no violence or language etc. it was very enjoyable.
This is definitely a cozy quaint mystery. It’s small town with good friends and they end up allying the mystery but there’s no violence or language etc. it was very enjoyable.
October 15, 2020
Love this book, and wish I could visit Blue Valley. :)
May 27, 2021
Very simplistically written. Feels like more for young readers. If you want a more intellectually stimulating read, this is not it. It was a cute story though.
August 29, 2022
I’m so glad I chose this series! As a lover of the Garden Girls books by Hope Callaghan, I figured I’d probably like this Rooftop Garden Series also. I was right. I like the togetherness of the base friends in this series and the small town they live in. Their rooftop gardens are a story in themselves. It just all seems so warm and fuzzy.
Luke the new Detective is introduced and it is Alice who is immediately attracted to him. Alice is who the stories point of view is from. Alice lives above, runs, and owns The Paper Owl - a bookshop.
Alice’s brother Ben is a deputy and he is attracted to Franny, but is too scared to approach her as anything more than his little sister’s close friend. Franny owns, runs, and lives above Joe’s - a coffee shop. Sorry, THE coffee shop.
Then there’s Owen…he’s a puzzle. He owns, runs, and lives above Sourdough and even though I originally pictured a plump older man, I later discovered he’s in his 30’s and is actually tall and lanky. He also enjoys sparkle and is a bit on the feminine side…rather he is in touch with his feminine side (he bedazzled his can of mace, for gosh sakes!)
All three owners of the shops I mentioned have gardens on their rooftop decks. Alice started the whole garden thing 7 years ago. Alice, Franny, and Owen often get together to drink coffee, eat, and gossip on their rooftop decks. Ben often joins them.
It’s all so quaint and I love it! I’m excited that there are numerous books in this series for me to get to. I’ll enjoy every minute. This story was an autumn one and included Halloween and it’s pumpkin carving and dress up. I’m sure the next book will take place during Christmas. I can’t wait!
Next is book 2 of 16 “Murder Sets the Stage”.
Luke the new Detective is introduced and it is Alice who is immediately attracted to him. Alice is who the stories point of view is from. Alice lives above, runs, and owns The Paper Owl - a bookshop.
Alice’s brother Ben is a deputy and he is attracted to Franny, but is too scared to approach her as anything more than his little sister’s close friend. Franny owns, runs, and lives above Joe’s - a coffee shop. Sorry, THE coffee shop.
Then there’s Owen…he’s a puzzle. He owns, runs, and lives above Sourdough and even though I originally pictured a plump older man, I later discovered he’s in his 30’s and is actually tall and lanky. He also enjoys sparkle and is a bit on the feminine side…rather he is in touch with his feminine side (he bedazzled his can of mace, for gosh sakes!)
All three owners of the shops I mentioned have gardens on their rooftop decks. Alice started the whole garden thing 7 years ago. Alice, Franny, and Owen often get together to drink coffee, eat, and gossip on their rooftop decks. Ben often joins them.
It’s all so quaint and I love it! I’m excited that there are numerous books in this series for me to get to. I’ll enjoy every minute. This story was an autumn one and included Halloween and it’s pumpkin carving and dress up. I’m sure the next book will take place during Christmas. I can’t wait!
Next is book 2 of 16 “Murder Sets the Stage”.
April 21, 2023
This cozy mystery is a winner in my book! The trio of friends all add something to the plot. You have the main character, Alice, who runs a bookshop, Franny who owns the local coffee shop, and Owen who owns the town's bakery. I really love Owen's energy! He is fun and lively! This is not too say that Alice or Franny fall short!
The author did an incredible job at immersing me into the small town, and I really felt like I was experiencing autumn! I could conjure the sights and smells. As for the mystery itself, I found it entertaining and logical.
When the owner of the new yoga studio is murdered, Alice becomes the prime suspect. To clear her name, she and her friends work to unravel the puzzle and find the real killer. Just when they think they have it figured out, they realize they don't, but they are just close enough that it puts one of them in danger.
I can highly recommend this book, and if the rest of the series is this good, it's definitely one lovers of cozy mysteries will want to check out.
The author did an incredible job at immersing me into the small town, and I really felt like I was experiencing autumn! I could conjure the sights and smells. As for the mystery itself, I found it entertaining and logical.
When the owner of the new yoga studio is murdered, Alice becomes the prime suspect. To clear her name, she and her friends work to unravel the puzzle and find the real killer. Just when they think they have it figured out, they realize they don't, but they are just close enough that it puts one of them in danger.
I can highly recommend this book, and if the rest of the series is this good, it's definitely one lovers of cozy mysteries will want to check out.
December 6, 2023
This was better than I thought it was gonna be, even for such a short cozy mystery! This is the first book I've read by Thea Cambert, and this little book was really packed. The story was well-written, well-paced, and entertaining. Worth the time to read. I'm hoping my library obtains other books written by this author.
November 16, 2020
Great book!!!!
This my first time reading this author and i can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I love the characters in this book, i felt like i was right there with them. I am a sucker for bookshops, coffee cafes, and pastries. Especially rooftop gardens overlooking great views.
What a twisted mess Alice, Franny and Owen got into. Alice's brother Ben on the police force and a new homicide detective Luke Evans.
It started going to a yoga class to help a friend out expanding her business, got caught in a tangled web of deceitful people.
You have to read this book, you will really enjoy it!!!!
This my first time reading this author and i can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I love the characters in this book, i felt like i was right there with them. I am a sucker for bookshops, coffee cafes, and pastries. Especially rooftop gardens overlooking great views.
What a twisted mess Alice, Franny and Owen got into. Alice's brother Ben on the police force and a new homicide detective Luke Evans.
It started going to a yoga class to help a friend out expanding her business, got caught in a tangled web of deceitful people.
You have to read this book, you will really enjoy it!!!!
August 11, 2020
This was just the perfect cozy mystery! I love the small Tennessee valley town, and all those little shops with their rooftop gardens that let the owners watch the world go by (or just enjoy the mountain scenery) sounded pretty awesome. I really liked that there were little to no personal conflicts with the main character and the guy who likes her, aside from the obvious when Alice was a murder suspect. The guy works with her brother the cop, so hey he's already got the brother stamp of approval lol. Franny and Owen were such fun friends. Owen cracked me up with how he'd get himself into doing something he really didn't want to, like running.
There were a decent amount of suspects in the story, and it was to the point where I wasn't totally sure, so the author did a good job of fooling me at least. The showdown was epic with friends and family on board. I'm definitely borrowing the next one from KU too. I have a feeling that Alice is going to be somehow conned into running their Christmas festival too! She did an amazing job with the Fall Festival, and I'm anxious to see how the Christmas festivities go--and if Owen really does the 5K he was talking about!
There were a decent amount of suspects in the story, and it was to the point where I wasn't totally sure, so the author did a good job of fooling me at least. The showdown was epic with friends and family on board. I'm definitely borrowing the next one from KU too. I have a feeling that Alice is going to be somehow conned into running their Christmas festival too! She did an amazing job with the Fall Festival, and I'm anxious to see how the Christmas festivities go--and if Owen really does the 5K he was talking about!
July 25, 2020
Great start to this series. Thea Cambert came up with great characters and setting that stand out from other books.
Alice and her friends are gearing up for fall festival when things take a turn. Alice and the gang are determined to find the killer before kickoff of the festival that Alice planned so well.
Alice and her friends are gearing up for fall festival when things take a turn. Alice and the gang are determined to find the killer before kickoff of the festival that Alice planned so well.
October 25, 2020
This was a fun read! I enjoyed the story and meeting the characters, the ending was really funny!! I am looking forward to reading book 2! Delighted that I may have found a new cozy author to follow!
July 20, 2020
Great new series
This is the first book in the Rooftop Garden Cozy series by Thea Cambert. It is an excellent book and a great start. I can't wait for the next book
This is the first book in the Rooftop Garden Cozy series by Thea Cambert. It is an excellent book and a great start. I can't wait for the next book
September 25, 2022
light and cozy
Easy read. Does not require a lot of thinking to keep up. Lighthearted fun. I will read the others in the series.
Easy read. Does not require a lot of thinking to keep up. Lighthearted fun. I will read the others in the series.
September 9, 2021
Alice Maguire, owner of The Paper Owl bookstore, is chosen to run the local Fall Festival by the town council, courtesy of her friends Franny and Owen. While she's not completely displeased, she enlists the help of those two, considering they were the ones who nominated her. But when things get to be a bit stressful for Alice, Franny signs the two of them up for a yoga class at Bliss, a new studio across the street. Once the class is over, Alice tells the owner, Kira Om, that it did help her, and they leave. Later on, Alice decides to welcome Kira to town and leave her a gift. But when she enters the studio, no one is around, and she leaves a note with the chocolates she's given on the desk. Then, when she leaves the studio, she runs right into the new detective in town, Luke Evans, which embarrasses her.
But that evening there's a fire at the studio, and a body is found. When it's discovered that the person was murdered, Alice is a main suspect. Determined to prove her innocence, she tasks her friends to help her, and the three of them together make plans. But will it end in finding a killer or Alice being the next target?...
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were given a bit of depth, and even though they didn't seem to spend much time in their respective businesses, it was explained away; yet I do hope to see them do so in the future. Another thing I really liked is that there is no 'evil nemesis' in the picture. I absolutely abhor that. It's not needed to write a good mystery or create tension; the story should stand on its own without that or my other peeve, the eternal Love Triangle. How trite and overused it is, and again, not needed.
Thankfully, this story had nothing but a good, old-fashioned cozy mystery that allowed you to fall into the season with the characters and get geared up for the upcoming holidays which will be upon us soon. (Hard to believe, but yes); and descriptions of the gardens were just lovely. I can almost imagine the three gardens connecting to each other, and being able to see the town from their rooftops, and the beautiful Smoky Mountains beyond. That alone would destress anyone.
When we get closer to figuring out who the murderer is, it only comes as a bit of a surprise (only because I read a lot of mysteries and knew who it was ahead of time) but we also learn that it is believable, if rather sad all the way around. I did like the characters quite a bit, and I would like to see more of Poppy (because I love animals), and learning more about Alice and her friends. Hopefully, they will continue to evolve as the series goes on. Highly recommended.
But that evening there's a fire at the studio, and a body is found. When it's discovered that the person was murdered, Alice is a main suspect. Determined to prove her innocence, she tasks her friends to help her, and the three of them together make plans. But will it end in finding a killer or Alice being the next target?...
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The characters were given a bit of depth, and even though they didn't seem to spend much time in their respective businesses, it was explained away; yet I do hope to see them do so in the future. Another thing I really liked is that there is no 'evil nemesis' in the picture. I absolutely abhor that. It's not needed to write a good mystery or create tension; the story should stand on its own without that or my other peeve, the eternal Love Triangle. How trite and overused it is, and again, not needed.
Thankfully, this story had nothing but a good, old-fashioned cozy mystery that allowed you to fall into the season with the characters and get geared up for the upcoming holidays which will be upon us soon. (Hard to believe, but yes); and descriptions of the gardens were just lovely. I can almost imagine the three gardens connecting to each other, and being able to see the town from their rooftops, and the beautiful Smoky Mountains beyond. That alone would destress anyone.
When we get closer to figuring out who the murderer is, it only comes as a bit of a surprise (only because I read a lot of mysteries and knew who it was ahead of time) but we also learn that it is believable, if rather sad all the way around. I did like the characters quite a bit, and I would like to see more of Poppy (because I love animals), and learning more about Alice and her friends. Hopefully, they will continue to evolve as the series goes on. Highly recommended.
March 14, 2021
Murder Between the Lines, by Thea Cambert is a 190-page contemporary cozy murder mystery. It is written from a third-person POV, one-sided.
I give this book a 3/5.
I do read other things other than romance. It's just rare...lol. This is the first book in a series of "Rooftop Garden Cozy Mysteries". If you aren't adept with what cozy mysteries are let's start with what they are and the top components that make one up.
The protagonist is usually a woman and is some role that allows her to have easy access to gossip, thing Miss Marple from Agatha Christie novels. She's a knitting granny. The protagonists also usually has access to law enforcement in some way
It is usually set in a small town or village
Any violence and sex (yes sex) are behind closed doors
And usually there are silly red herrings to throw the reader and the protagonist off.
Alice owns a bookstore and on either side of her, her best friends own a bakery and a coffee shop. And together they make the 'A-Squad' (get it?..Alice...). Anyway, they all live above their shops (which sounds like it smells delicious) and they share a rooftop garden where they meet on the daily and have a 360 degree panoramic view of the fictional town Blue Valley, Tennessee.
Lucky for Alice, not only did she find the body, her brother is the sheriff of the town. The book itself was pretty fast paced and the author did a good job with setting up the stage for the murder as well as all the clues and tidbits she left behind.
General Thoughts:
1. It's cute. I'll most likely continue the series if I'm looking for an easy, quick read.
2. The book is well paced and the author set up the book for the protagonist up with the new detective that recently moved to town.
3. I don't usually find cozy mysteries to have insane character growth or development because they are usually series that will span for awhile (think Hercule Poirot...yes I read a lot of Agatha growing up)
4. There were some subplots that didn't get answered, so that was annoying. Like, why did the former prom queen even return to the town? She seemed to hate it, but returned anyway
5. Cozy mysteries are usually fun because you can figure out who the antagonist is before the end and this book didn't disappoint. It was pretty easy to figure out who the murderer was.
I give this book a 3/5.
I do read other things other than romance. It's just rare...lol. This is the first book in a series of "Rooftop Garden Cozy Mysteries". If you aren't adept with what cozy mysteries are let's start with what they are and the top components that make one up.
The protagonist is usually a woman and is some role that allows her to have easy access to gossip, thing Miss Marple from Agatha Christie novels. She's a knitting granny. The protagonists also usually has access to law enforcement in some way
It is usually set in a small town or village
Any violence and sex (yes sex) are behind closed doors
And usually there are silly red herrings to throw the reader and the protagonist off.
Alice owns a bookstore and on either side of her, her best friends own a bakery and a coffee shop. And together they make the 'A-Squad' (get it?..Alice...). Anyway, they all live above their shops (which sounds like it smells delicious) and they share a rooftop garden where they meet on the daily and have a 360 degree panoramic view of the fictional town Blue Valley, Tennessee.
Lucky for Alice, not only did she find the body, her brother is the sheriff of the town. The book itself was pretty fast paced and the author did a good job with setting up the stage for the murder as well as all the clues and tidbits she left behind.
General Thoughts:
1. It's cute. I'll most likely continue the series if I'm looking for an easy, quick read.
2. The book is well paced and the author set up the book for the protagonist up with the new detective that recently moved to town.
3. I don't usually find cozy mysteries to have insane character growth or development because they are usually series that will span for awhile (think Hercule Poirot...yes I read a lot of Agatha growing up)
4. There were some subplots that didn't get answered, so that was annoying. Like, why did the former prom queen even return to the town? She seemed to hate it, but returned anyway
5. Cozy mysteries are usually fun because you can figure out who the antagonist is before the end and this book didn't disappoint. It was pretty easy to figure out who the murderer was.
July 20, 2020
I loved this book from the first line to the very last. I enjoyed it so much I considered starting it over again!
Franny, Alice and Owen are the three musketeers. Their businesses share the same building and they have turned their roofs into lovely gardens. They spend a lot of time up there visiting. Alice's brother Ben spends a lot of time there as well. When the empty building across the street is purchased and turned into a yoga studio, they try and make a show of it by welcoming the new neighbor. They even take a yoga class with her. Alice decides to ask her if she will teach a class at the festival so she goes over the evening of their class. She walks in and overhears an argument. As she rushes out of the building, she plows right into the new detective in town. Naturally, the yoga teacher turns up dead and Alice is the prime suspect. She, along with the help of Franny and Owen, dig into the murder to get Alice off the hook before the festival starts.
I hope, there are many, many more of this series
Franny, Alice and Owen are the three musketeers. Their businesses share the same building and they have turned their roofs into lovely gardens. They spend a lot of time up there visiting. Alice's brother Ben spends a lot of time there as well. When the empty building across the street is purchased and turned into a yoga studio, they try and make a show of it by welcoming the new neighbor. They even take a yoga class with her. Alice decides to ask her if she will teach a class at the festival so she goes over the evening of their class. She walks in and overhears an argument. As she rushes out of the building, she plows right into the new detective in town. Naturally, the yoga teacher turns up dead and Alice is the prime suspect. She, along with the help of Franny and Owen, dig into the murder to get Alice off the hook before the festival starts.
I hope, there are many, many more of this series
July 16, 2020
Loved, loved, loved this book! A new author and first book in what promises to be a stellar series. The characters are people I’d love to count as friends and the story is tightly plotted and keeps you guessing.
A new yoga studio opens across from the bookshop, coffee shop, and bakery. There are free first classes so Franny signs Alice and herself up. That evening the owner of the studio is dead and it wasn’t accidental! Now in addition to running her business and being in charge of the town fall festival, Allie has a murder to solve.
As the Allie, Franny, and Owen meet for morning coffee and evening wine in their rooftop gardens they work on unraveling the clues with a little help from Allie’s brother Ben and Luke the new detective in town.
A new yoga studio opens across from the bookshop, coffee shop, and bakery. There are free first classes so Franny signs Alice and herself up. That evening the owner of the studio is dead and it wasn’t accidental! Now in addition to running her business and being in charge of the town fall festival, Allie has a murder to solve.
As the Allie, Franny, and Owen meet for morning coffee and evening wine in their rooftop gardens they work on unraveling the clues with a little help from Allie’s brother Ben and Luke the new detective in town.
August 1, 2023
Things are just a little too perfect in this series introduction. I do like the idea of the rooftop gardens where friends gather, but the town itself seems less than believable. In a small town such as this, there's no way someone could change her name and move back to town without *everyone* knowing. A small-business owner can mistakenly retail candles with such a distinctive aroma and no one, including herself, notices? I also found the dialog to be clumsy and awkward.
Still, cozy mysteries often have these flaws, and those in itself aren't enough to stop me from reading them. And this one only had one homonym-noted flaw, using "pouring" when she meant "poring" unlike many in the genre.
Apparently, proofreaders are no longer required before publishing.
Still, cozy mysteries often have these flaws, and those in itself aren't enough to stop me from reading them. And this one only had one homonym-noted flaw, using "pouring" when she meant "poring" unlike many in the genre.
Apparently, proofreaders are no longer required before publishing.
Read
September 23, 2025I don't know how to rate this so I think I just won't.
It's extremely light, in tone, but more so in content. I don't think I ever read something quite like this before. I'm not sure how else to put it other than that it is the outline of a story, rather than a finished book.
I didn't dislike it or anything, and I pretty much expected this when picking it up but it is the very definition of surface level. It doesn't get more simplistic than that.
It's unfortunate because it's a great setup: a lovely small town with adorable stores and rooftop gardens, a fun friend trio, a cute cat. Unfortunately nothing is developed nor given any substance.
Well, I was here for the cosy fall vibes and a quick read, and it worked for that.
It's extremely light, in tone, but more so in content. I don't think I ever read something quite like this before. I'm not sure how else to put it other than that it is the outline of a story, rather than a finished book.
I didn't dislike it or anything, and I pretty much expected this when picking it up but it is the very definition of surface level. It doesn't get more simplistic than that.
It's unfortunate because it's a great setup: a lovely small town with adorable stores and rooftop gardens, a fun friend trio, a cute cat. Unfortunately nothing is developed nor given any substance.
Well, I was here for the cosy fall vibes and a quick read, and it worked for that.
November 27, 2023
Murder Between the Lines, the first book in the Rooftop Garden cozy mystery series, is well written and introduces some fun characters. Alice Maguire, Fanny Brown, and Owen James are friends who own businesses in Blue Valley, Tennessee. It is October and Alice is in charge of this year's Fall Festival. Unfortunately Alice needs her police officer brother Ben, and Luke Evans the newly hired police detective to solve the murder of Kim Om the owner of the yoga studio-Bliss, so crime scene tape won't scare people away. This is a great start to a new series. The characters are likable and interesting and I am anxious to see what happens next.
July 18, 2020
Rooftop fun
I loved this new series Coffee books pastries yoga in the mountain of Tennessee, Alice, Fanny and Owen own thier shops of Main Street and live in the apts above and have created roof top garden where they meet for coffee in the am and wine in the pm. Fall is in full force and a festival is in the works as well as murder in one of the new shop owners yoga shop . The crew is on the hunt to nail the murderer before the fall festival . Let’s add romance via cops and detectives, and mystery.. Great read ready to visit again soon...
I loved this new series Coffee books pastries yoga in the mountain of Tennessee, Alice, Fanny and Owen own thier shops of Main Street and live in the apts above and have created roof top garden where they meet for coffee in the am and wine in the pm. Fall is in full force and a festival is in the works as well as murder in one of the new shop owners yoga shop . The crew is on the hunt to nail the murderer before the fall festival . Let’s add romance via cops and detectives, and mystery.. Great read ready to visit again soon...
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