Murder, She Edited

Deadly Edits #4

by Kaitlyn Dunnett

As the hesitant new owner of a rundown property outside of sleepy Lenape Hollow, New York, freelance editor Mikki Lincoln must get her facts straight about an old murder on the premises--before the killer returns to meet the next deadline!

When Mikki inherits a nearby farm from a woman she hasn't seen in two decades, the unexpected arrangement comes with a big catch: forgotten diaries hidden in the neglected house must be recovered, edited, and published across the internet within one month. The lonely locale is like an untouched time capsule from the 1950s, and it was left behind for good reason

While searching for the mysterious memoirs and clues about the former owners, Mikki discovers that the once peaceful place was punctuated by an unsolved homicide and other rumored crimes. Worse, suspicious activity in the creepy, dilapidated barn suggests it really hasn't been abandoned at all...

In a remote farmhouse with only her observant calico cat, Calpurnia, keeping her company, Mikki must swiftly crack an eerie cold case from the past and stop a clever culprit from leaving red markups on anything other than pages of revised copy...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

279 pages, Hardcover

First published July 27, 2021

About the author

Kaitlyn Dunnett is a pseudonym used by Kathy Lynn Emerson, author of the Mistress Jaffrey Mysteries, the Face Down Mysteries featuring Susanna Appleton, 16th century gentlewoman, herbalist, and sleuth, the Diana Spaulding 1888 Quartet, and the award-winning How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries, plus an assortment of other books.

As Kaitlyn she writes the Liss MacCrimmon series set in Moosetookalook, Maine and the Deadly Edits series set in rural Sullivan County, New York.

She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and other professional organizations and blogs regularly with Maine Crime Writers.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, She Edited by Kaitlyn Dunnett is the fourth installment of the cozy Deadly Edits mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries each book of the series does contains it’s own mystery that is solved within so each can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There is however character development that carries over from book to book for those reading from the beginning.

In the first book of the Deadly Edits series readers were introduced to the main character of this series, Mikki Lincoln, who was in her sixties and starting over in her life after her husband’s passing. Mikki and her husband had lived in a remote area taking care of their land themselves for years but after losing her husband Mikki felt it was time to find an easier place to spend her retirement years so when she caught an ad for her childhood home in the Catskills she bought it sight unseen.

When Mikki found her new home needed more work than she expected she decided she would start up a side business to help with her finances. Since the move Mikki has been working as a freelance editor and settling into her new life making some new and seeing old friends. Now Mikki has gotten news that she will inherit a farm from an old friend if she does an editing job on some old diaries hidden on the property. Mikki soon finds news of an old murder that happened on the farm and does her best to discover what happened.

The Deadly Edits mystery series is another that I have followed from the beginning and always enjoy each new installment. I love that the main character is an older retired lady with a bit of spunk and of course this falls into my humorous and quirky style that I enjoy the most. Always fun to chase down a mystery with a huge grin on my face along with the characters!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and visiting Mikki again in upstate New York! I appreciate that the protagonist and her closest friends are seniors who act on both a lifetime accumulation of wisdom and knowledge gained throughout their careers. Luke, her much younger cousin, is also quite intelligent, and in many ways a great help to her. I am glad that Luke chose to make his home in Lenape Hollow after meeting and spending time with Mikki. Yes, Mikki and best friend Darlene are like family, but I think she genuinely enjoys having him there. Mikki lost her beloved husband several years earlier. She is a retired teacher and has a small business editing manuscripts.

Mikki may receive a most unusual inheritance if she meets the even more unusual terms. Tessa was a lifelong friend of Mikki’s late mother and recently passed away at 102. Mikki learned later that Tessa had updated her will only a year ago. She will inherit the family farm if she finds diaries in the farmhouse, transcribes and edits them, then publishes them online to web pages Tessa cited in her will. Transcribing and editing have a deadline of one month from the day she met with the elderly attorney, Mr. Featherstone. Two weeks after that, the diaries must be published as noted. If she does not meet the terms of the will, someone else will inherit the property, but the attorney refuses to reveal who it would be. Perhaps that person already found a way to get in and searched the house to take them.

Finding the diaries is the seemingly impossible task. The elderly attorney takes her to see the farmhouse, telling her that Tessa and her sister moved out after their stepmother’s death. It is cleaned regularly and watched by a security company. He claims to have no knowledge of how many diaries are or where they are located. The information he gives her is very limited, and his receptionist claims he is too busy to talk with her or meet with her after the meeting.

It appears that nothing was removed from the house when the sisters left, including their personal items. It is furnished and decorated exactly as it was in the 1950’s when inhabited. The attorney failed to tell Mikki that the stepmother was murdered in the home on an evening when the sisters were out, and the killer had never been caught. Mikki has sufficient challenges finding the diaries, yet she is curious whodunit.

This mystery has many elements I like, including history of the area and homebuilding as seen in a living history museum and old documents from the library. The characters are well defined through actions and behaviors. I also enjoyed Mikki’s editing work as well as the tips at the end of the novel. I was unable to easily determine whodunit and was surprised at the full resolution to the mysteries. I highly recommend this to people who like unusual environments, cold cases, senior sleuths, and wordsmiths.

From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mikki inherits a farm from a woman she met decades ago on the condition she find the diaries and edit them. She finds out that there was a murder committed on the farm. She also can’t find the diaries so might lose her inheritance. The lawyer won’t tell her what happens to the farm if she can’t find the diaries. After attempts on her life she really tries to figure things out.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mikki is enjoying life when an unexpected inheritance falls in her lap. She is now the owner of a farm that is located near to where she lives, it bestowed upon her by a friend.of her mothers. She hasn't seen said woman in more years than she can count and doesn't really understand why she left the farm to her. When Mikki finds out that the inheritance comes with stipulations she isn't sure if she is up to the task. The late owner wants her to take.the diaries she left behind and not.only edit them but to publish them too. She soon learns this task is going to take quite a bit of time because no one seems to know the location.of.said diaries. While at the farm searching odd things begin happening especially in the barn. Mikki doesn't think the place is as deserted as she once believed. She soon begins to more and more about the farms past and those who lived there. Follow along as Mikki tries to figure out what happened to the family that once lived there and if the secrets it holds will remain just that secrets.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Micki, Darlene, Luke, and Ellen are back for another adventure. This time, Micki has unexpectedly inherited a vintage property, but of course there is a catch. She must find, edit, and publish a set of diaries to take possession of her inheritance. The search is fun to follow, and a cold murder case quickly appears. A side story relates to a different editing job, adding comic relief at times; however, the plot line does become a bit disjointed with its addition. Overall, this installment of Deadly Edits is a solid return to familiar characters and locations with enough of a new twist to keep readers engaged throughout and looking forward to the next one.

Thank you to Kaitlyn Dunnett, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cozy mystery and the grammar lessons!

Mikki Lincoln (71) has taken on a post-retirement job as a freelance editor. When Bella Trent, a super fan of an author Mikki personally knows, attacks Mikki over two typos in the latest novel, Mikki finds herself being stalked. Adding to paying editing jobs, Mikki also produces the local library's monthly newsletter. When Mikki inherits property from her mom's old friend, it comes with strings attached and a mystery for Mikki to solve. Yes there are a few plots to follow and they are well executed.

Not the best in this series but it was entertaining and I loved the grammar lessons at the back of the book. Waiting for the next in this senior cozy.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thought while reading this, "Just find the d@mn things, and get on with the story!" The book was drawn out, repetitive (for word count?) and boring. I didn't expect it to be a wildly exciting ride, but c'mon. The author felt a need to name drop, which irks me. And, don't even get me started on the ending. Boo.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/17/2021 Had its moments, but the nonsense about protests and boycotts not being free speech made me roll my eyes so hard. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/m...

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

I am so happy to have found this series, as each mystery is better than the one prior! I especially enjoyed this one, due to a bit of history, searching a home that was a 1950’s time capsule, and a cold case. Mikki, a retired teacher who does freelance editing for authors, has always been fascinated by puzzles. Since returning to her hometown of Lenape Hollow, NY after losing her husband and retiring, she has helped solve a few murder cases. The concerns this time were a conundrum, but she persevered even when it meant possibly putting herself in danger. Mikki is 71 and a likeable, intelligent woman in great health.

Mikki is notified of a surprising inheritance. Tessa, a childhood friend of her late mother, recently passed away at the age of 102. It had been decades since Mikki had seen her, so she was stunned to learn she inherited the farm. There are unusual conditions that she must meet first. Tessa’s will said that within 30 days of notification, Mikki would need to find, transcribe, and edit diaries in the home. Within two more weeks, she needs to publish them on certain specified web sites so the truth would come out.

There were a few little things that the approximately 80-year-old attorney failed to tell Mikki. He took her to the property to walk through the farmhouse and advised that nobody had lived in the home since Rosanna, stepmother to Tessa and her sister Estelle, passed away in the 1950’s. A cleaning service had kept the inside of the home somewhat spic-and-span, and a security company kept tabs on the exterior. Leland, the attorney, didn’t tell her where to find the diaries or how many there might be. He also didn’t tell her how Rosanna died and claimed to either not know or was unable to disclose whatever Mikki asked about. He then made himself almost completely unavailable to talk with Mikki again.

Mikki’s best friend Darlene is a retired librarian who loves to do research and excels at finding answers. She found that Rosanna had been murdered, probably by a burglar. Tessa and Estelle had been at a movie, finding her when they returned home. They could never face entering the house again. Why they didn’t sell it was a mystery for another day, as is that they left everything behind, including their clothing, hairbrushes, and photographs.

Searching for the diaries was frustrating. Mikki’s young cousin, Luke, and his girlfriend and police officer, Ellen, spent a day helping her. They did learn that someone had structurally shored up the inside of the barn and put in prefab storage lockers that would not have even been available in the 50’s. They looked through other outbuildings and the second-floor rooms used as summer rentals. Time was rushing by, and Mikki didn’t like admitting defeat.

In the meantime, a kooky woman named Bella kept harassing Mikki. Bella blamed Mikki for two typos in her favorite author’s latest novel and was furious that she “ruined” it. She didn’t even believe that Mikki didn’t edit the novel but was an early reader! When she learned the famous romance writer and Mikki were friends, she demanded, begged, and cajoled, wanting to meet her.

The characters are very well defined. I really enjoy Mikki, her friends, and Luke. She can act the dotty older woman just as easily as being the highly educated and intelligent woman she is. I liked seeing her thought processes as she ponders what happened at the farmhouse, where the diaries might be, and how to get Bella out of her life. Luke and Ellen have been great additions to the series.

This novel has been very well plotted and executed, and I admit this puzzle was quite a poser. It was fun to see how touring a living history site could give insight into similar homes of that era and area to Tessa’s family home. It was frightening when someone tried to kill Mikki. I tried to guess where the diaries might be and was surprised when they were revealed. I was also surprised at the full resolution of the mysteries; it was more complex than I had anticipated. I highly recommend this novel and series; each mystery can be enjoyed as a standalone.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mikki is at it again! In Murder, She Edited, she manages to find an unsolved murder to solve and an editing job that sends her on a treasure hunt. Mikki may be older than the average sleuth, but no one can hold a candle to her tenaciousness or her ability to find hidden clues. She edits her way into readers’ hearts and gives them a sense of well-being as she follows the evidence and tracks a killer. With Calpurnia, her faithful feline furry friend, by her side, Mikki leads readers down a path of intrigue and oftentimes, danger. Inheriting an old abandoned farmhouse seems innocent enough, but nothing is at it seem when Mikki is involved.

The characters in this series are all older and wiser. They have a sense of humor, are filled with knowledge, and are easy for readers to enjoy. Hunting for old diaries in a farmhouse almost proves fatal, but Mikki is lucky to have some great friends and a very helpful cousin who are always there when she needs them. Even though her life isn’t filled with non-stop action all the time, when it is, she and Calpurnia manage to get in and out of trouble at the drop of a hat. A killer is hoping to prevent Mikki from making those diaries public and reveal a murder that took place fifty years ago. The twists come fast in the end, and just when you think you have the mystery solved, you turn the page and realize you don’t. No amount of edits will help Mikki corner a killer, but they help her solve the case.

This series has never been about action or relationships. It has always been about Mikki’s everyday life, the highs, lows, and good and evil. Although this type of cozy may not appeal to everyone, those who enjoy them know how Mikki feels and why she is vital to the genre. Mikki is no spring chicken, but neither is she ready for the grave. She edits everything from books to school papers to social media posts. She lives the way she wants, on her terms. Murder investigation comes naturally to her, and every time she has to track down a killer, she uses intellect and research to find the clues, but she is also cautious and willing to ask for help. Calpurnia is always there to help no matter how insignificant that help is and makes certain Mikki knows who is in charge.

There is action in Murder, She Edited, and readers will have a few tense moments while Mikki is in danger. The story is unfolded slowly and with detail. The edits Mikki makes to fulfill her inheritance are methodical and precise. The suspects are few but complicated. The evidence is all there, but readers may need to think things through alongside Mikki. The resolution to the mystery brings smiles. Mikki and Calpurnia will go on, and Mikki’s job making edits to help writers and readers will have fans taking a better look at their own writing, even if it’s just their grocery list. This is not a fast-paced story; readers who enjoy cozies that are character-based will love this series and Mikki.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, She Edited by Kaitlyn Dunnett is the 4th A Deadly Edits Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Mikki Lincoln is surprised when she learns she has inherited a house and some land from an old friend of her deceased mother. Of course, there is a catch to the bequest. She must locate and publish diaries hidden in the old farmhouse within a specified time period or the inheritance will pass on to another individual. Mikki has a feeling there is something the lawyer is not disclosing. Entering the old farmhouse is like stepping back in time. Nothing has been changed since the 1950s. As Mikki expected, the lawyer failed to tell her about the murder that occurred in the house. When Mikki learns the case was never solved, she sets out to unravel the case. I like that Mikki Lincoln is a mature protagonist. She is a retired schoolteacher who now does freelance editing. Mikki is a friendly, relatable character. She is smart, meticulous, and cautious. Mikki pays close attention to details and does her research (well, her friend Darlene does the heavy lifting in that area). She is not afraid to ask for help when she needs it plus Mikki does not put herself into dangerous situation without taking precautions. I like how she talks to her cat, Calpurnia. There are some great, developed characters in the series that includes Mikki’s best friend, Darlene. I enjoy the humor sprinkled throughout the story. Mikki’s anecdotes about grammar missteps had me chuckling. The mystery was interesting and well-plotted. I like that it was a cold case. In addition to the 1950s murder, Mikki wonders who made some recent modifications to the barn. I like how everything tied together with a complete resolution. There was action toward the end that spiced things up. This is not an action-packed cozy series (just to let you know). This series focuses on Mikki (her life, job, family, and friends) who stumbles upon the occasional mystery. There is a secondary storyline involving a fan of author who blames Mikki for typos in her latest book. The woman is relentless. It will take a special solution to resolve this problem. The ending left me smiling. If you like Jessica Fletcher cozy mysteries, then check out Murder, She Edited. Murder, She Edited is a charm filled cozy mystery with grammar gaffes, a faithful feline, hidden diaries, a fanatical fan, and a bizarre bequest.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Kaitlyn Dunnett's Murder, She Edited, the 4th installment in the Deadly Edits cozy mystery series, this newest caper leaves you hooked and enthralled with one juicy tale. Michelle Lincoln is a 70-year-old freelance editor and beta reader to a famous historical romance writer. It all started for her when she received a phone call from a lawyer saying she inherited a farm from one of her mother's closest friends Tessa Swarthout in her will upon her death. And that it had a very special request: to find them and edit the journals before publication. This send her on a wild goose chase while she looked for the diaries and read the disturbing details on how Tessa's stepmother Rosanna had died 50 years ago. While she worked on her library's newsletter, she dealt with a stalking number one fan of Illyana Dubonnet who requested to speak to herself and filed an editorial complaint, and the runaround from Leland Fairweather's law firm to get answers. As she tried to dodged this fan, she unearthed new clues when she found one diary and dug deeper. The closer she'd gotten closer to the truth, her life became endangered when she had a deadline to fulfill before time ran out of her on who really committed the crime way back when.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th release in the Deadly Edits series by cozy author Kaitlyn Dunnett. I love this series and it is a cozy series I always enjoy returning to. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own.

Murder She Edited finds Mikki involved in a mystery she has a deadline to solve. Her inherited a old farm and home from a distant acquaintance has strict stipulations. She must find the women's diaries and publish them online within a month time. The house has been neglected since the 1050's and finding the diaries leads Mikki to a mystery she never expected to uncover.

I loved this story ! The sleuth was so well defined it kept me guessing clue after clue. Mikki is a favorite protagnist and a smart savvy investigator as a former editor. I love the setting and the supporting charcters who all added to the story. A highly enjoyable addition to a wonderful cozy

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Widowed, freelance editor and retired teacher Mikki in hermits a small farm from her mothers childhood friend who passed on at 102 of age. There r is a caveat, Mikki must find, edit, and publish the diaries that are in the house with in a set amount of time or the house will revert to a residual legatee who allegedly doesn’t know he is in line to inherit. When Mikki tours the property with the elderly lawyer she discovers that the step mother of the girls living there was murdered in the house in the 50’s. The girls moved out and never set foot in the house again leaving all their possessions behind. On first view there isn’t a single book in the entire house. Mikki enlists the aid of her nephew and his girl friend and a more thorough search is done not just of the house but of the outbuildings as well where they find storage lockers have been constructed in the barn sometime in the recent past and have been emptied recently. The police are called and the area gone over by drug dogs, thankfully there is no evidence drugs having been on the premises. The mysteries get deeper and even though the diaries are found they give no incites into the murder. A very convoluted tale and a good read.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free-lance editor Mikki is surprised when she's told she will inherit a decrepit farm from a woman who was her mother's friend for many years, but whom she has not seen in many years. But there's a condition: She must find diaries hidden in the farmhouse and publish them on the internet first. At the same time, she's being plagued by a crazy fan who wants an introduction to a friend of Mikki's, who is a pseudonymous, reclusive author. While Mikki finds the diaries with a little help from her friends, and satisfies the fan, ditto, some of the questions are never quite answered. I generally like this series, but felt Mikki indulges in cliches--though usually flagging them--a bit much for an expert in improving people's writing style.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite in the series so far! I love cold cases entwined with what's going on currently. Mikki Lincoln is older, savvier, and smarter than the average sleuth and it makes for great reading. While I love the characters she surrounds herself with, she does most of her sleuthing alone, but makes sure she lets people know, saving us all from the TSTL (too stupid to live) moments that annoy me. The ending turned out to be a little predictable but with so many twists that you still didn't see it coming. I will definitely continue with this series.

I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mikki Lincoln is about my age, a retired teacher, currently a freelance proofreader/editor to augment her pension, widowed, and must find/edit/publish some hidden diaries in an old house in order to inherit. The previous owner has died at 102 but has not been back to the house since the 1950s when her stepmother was murdered. Good sleuthing, some danger, red herrings and plot twists abound. Held my interest beginning to end and the characters are all believable. Loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first adventure into the Deadly Edits series and it was a pretty smooth transition. I instantly felt at home with the main character Mikki and loved hearing about her life and her new role as freelance editor.  This book was especially unique because it involved a very cold case from the 1950s and a search for mysteriously missing diaries. I quickly felt connected with Mikki and those in her inner circle and at home with her and her furry companion Cal. The writing was so smooth and easy to read with short chapters, which kept me turning the pages past bedtime. I was quite shocked by many of the twists and how the ending unfolded.  Though there was no romance, I enjoyed the savvy main character and learning about her past life adventures. This was a delight and I can't wait to read more of this series!

[Anjananana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, She Edited by Kaitlyn Dunnett

Mikki inherits a farm from her mother’s friend on a condition. She needs to find diaries located in the farm house, edit and publish them to the world. After further exploring, she realizes that her mother’s friend’s stepmother was found murdered in the house back in 1950’s. Trying to dig up the past, Mikki finds herself in danger while unveiling the truth of what happened all those years ago.

This is my first book by this author and I was thrilled. This book is truly a cozy mystery. I was going through a particularly stressful week when I was reading it and I found escaping into the world Dunnett created therapeutic. Mikki is strong, observant and brilliant woman who never lost her spunk (can I be friends with her?!). I can’t wait to read more in the Deadly Edits series.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feisty, impatient protagonist, a bizarre bequest from a long forgotten person, and a 70 year old cold case all conspire to make a delightfully fun and oddly tense mystery! Huzzah to the Deadly Edits series!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as cozy‘s go, this was actually pretty well written. Nothing overly fluffy and no stupid characters. The main, Mikki, is in her 70’s, retired and working as a freelance editor. Mikki inherits a farmstead that belong to her mother‘s best friend. It comes with stipulations. She must find diaries that were left there, edit them, and have them available for publication through all forms of media. It is not known to whom the diaries belong or what they may contain. It comes to light that there was a murder that occurred in the home that may or may not be the reason behind the diaries. The home has been vacant for decades, but maintained through a trust. Soon, it is evident that somebody does not want her to succeed in finding whatever secrets are held in the as yet to be found pages.

Unfortunately, this was number four in the series, so I missed a lot of backstory, but it certainly stands well on its own.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great mystery with lost diaries and an unsolved mystery from the past. I enjoyed the interactions between our older gal sleuth, whom I love, and the police. I hope this series continues!

[Laura Salas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first title I've read in this series, and I'd give it 3-1/2 stars out of 5. I enjoyed the character of Mikki and the set-up of the mystery. But for a good portion of the book, not a whole lot happens. In chapter 41, Mikki (the narrator) states, "I'd done nothing but wait for something to happen for days." Too true, and that doesn't make for a can't-put-down story. The characters and what plot does happen are engaging, but the pacing feels very slow to me, with too much just passing time.

Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my local library.
The story was okay. I think it could have been cut in half. The story dragged on for way to long in my opinion. The mystery part was not really anything special.
If I had a crazy stalker coming up on my porch and looking through windows and sleeping on my porch I tell you what I would have had her arrested.
Also to put down women who were house wives and didn't have a career is so insulting. You can tell this author is a feminist.

[Emma Diercks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been an intriguing read but I kept getting so distracted from the narrative explanations that had nothing to do with the actual plot. It's like the author had a word count she had to meet or something.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

not for me

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mikki Lincoln is back, just living her life as a freelance book editor and occasionally getting accosted in the grocery store parking lot by author superfans who accuse her of missing two spelling errors in the latest book. Even though she tries to explain that she was not responsible for the book’s final proofreading, the superfan won’t leave her alone about it.

And then there’s the letter from the lawyer. Mikki is informed that she has inherited some property from a friend of her mother’s. She only visited Tessa once with her mother, but she still remembers the big hours where the family would take in boarders in the summer. Living in the shadow of the Catskill Mountains, lots of families of that time would take in boarders during the summer.

But that visit had been decades ago. Mikki is surprised that Tessa thought to bequeath her the family estate, but then she added an even more puzzling mandate. Mikki has 30 days to find and edit any journals she finds in the house, or she will forfeit the inheritance. Tessa’s attorney, Leland Featherstone, takes her out to the house to show her around, but Mikki feels like he is ducking some of her questions. But that’s okay—her best friend is a retired librarian, and Darlene knows her way around research.

The first thing Mikki and Darlene learn about is the murder. Rosanna, Tessa’s stepmother, had been murdered in the house 50 years ago. No one was ever arrested. Many were questioned, including a young couple who were living in an apartment over the barn at that time, the last boarders of the season. The police could find no evidence that they had done it though, so they decided it had been a burglary gone wrong. But Mikki wondered if the journals Tessa wanted her to find would have more definitive answers.

Mikki’s first attempt at locating journals in the house nets her nothing. A more thorough search does the same. When she brings her cousin Luke and his girlfriend Ellen, a police officer, they search not only the main house but also the outbuildings. That’s when they find out that someone has been using the barn. There are lockable storage units that have been built in the last few decades. Since Tessa and her sister haven’t been to the house in 50 years, clearly someone else has been up to something.

But still, no journals.

The clock is ticking for Mikki. She has a limited amount of time to find and edit the journals (and there could be a dozen of them, for all she knows), and she just keeps hitting road blocks. The more she learns about the sisters, the more questions she has. And then, she finds the journals, but they actually raise more questions than they answer. As the days go by, will Mikki be able to edit the journals and post them online in time, or will she have to forfeit her inheritance, after all the work she’s put in? And once the barn goes up in flames, will Mikki forfeit not just the property, but also her life?

Author Kaitlyn Dunnett is back with another Deadly Edits mystery in Murder, She Edited. Retired teacher and freelance editor Mikki Lincoln has a knack for getting herself in trouble, but she also has a bunch of friends who help her get back out of it. And, of course, her cat, Calpurnia, who will be there with a comforting paw or just a friendly reminder that it’s time to feed the cat.

I really enjoy these books. Editor Mikki has a way of adding some fun to grammar while solving crimes with her friends. One thing I especially appreciated about this novel is the main murder they were investigating was a cold case. Anyone who is sensitive to even the mild violence of a cozy novel will find this one refreshing for that reason. Also, did I mention that there’s a cat?

Egalleys for Murder, She Edited were provided by Kensington Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this 3 stars because I liked the denouement, but I almost put it down way before that.

This was a cozy mystery with a theme of editing. The main character styles herself after Jessica Fletcher, as you can tell from the title. She is so self-aware that she actually mentions the show at one point. Which was just *eyeroll*. She also seems fixated on her age, and is picky about where her luddite tendencies lie. She is techie enough to publish an ebook, but won't text? Still has a landline, but can edit and convert a newsletter to pdf on the fly (in her car)? I wouldn't even want to do that. I am addicted to my external keyboard and my two monitors! And she uses track changes, which I hate.

The main character is pretty well fleshed out, but most of the other characters are not. I got the nephew and the young lawyer mixed up at one point. I forgot who they even were. I kept forgetting what Darlene was supposed to be doing. And then there is an old lawyer, a librarian, a cop, a detective, and a weird stalker lady. Oh, and a romance author - that part was kind of fun. So both a lot of characters, and not that many. They just ran together. The stalker was a bit much - no WAY would this go on in reality.

The problem I had with this, and why I kept groaning, was the sheer amount of detail. I do NOT need to know that you chewed your food. Or every meal you ate (hey, did you mean to say that you ate the soup and sandwich on the night of the library event before anyone arrived? Or that you were sitting down to it in your robe and slippers?) That you closed your program, then shut down your laptop. Every single movement of your cat. There were so many places where we were given step by step movements that I am sure this would have been a much shorter book otherwise. Which may have been okay, because it kind of sagged in the middle.

There was also, ironically, a lot of places where a comma was used in place of a semicolon. I'm kind of in love with the semicolon myself, and I cannot stand to see this kind of abuse. But here we have a story about an EDITOR, mind you, and it was just edited poorly. Transposed words, extra words, etc. Oh, but at the end we are given a kind of cheat sheet/glossary of common grammar mistakes and why they are wrong. Ha.

The ending was, however, surprisingly satisfying, and all the threads came together very well. It's just a pity that the path to that was so rocky. I like a good cold case as much as the next person, and this one had a couple of interesting twists.

I picked this up off the featured shelf at my library, which I have found lately is a fun way to be surprised. However, I'd say that there are many other mysteries to read that are better written and not quite so self aware, and I am going to spend my time on them, and not finish this series.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mikki Lincoln is a retired teacher who now edits manuscripts for others from her home in Maine. When she receives a call from an attorney who tells her that she's been left a bequest, she can't imagine what her mother's old friend might have done. But when she learns she now owns an old farmhouse, barn, and the land surrounding it, she's more than surprised. But not as much as learning that she needs to find some old diaries that are hidden somewhere in the house, edit them, and publish them on the internet.

When Mikki visits the place, it's like stepping back into the 1950s. No one has lived there for decades, and everything has been left just as it was -- along with the ravages of time. But Mikki is determined to find the diaries, because she's curious to know what's in them, and what is so important that the woman wants them published. Unfortunately, someone else is looking for them, too...and they won't stop even if it takes murder to find them...

I have to be honest and say that I really tried to get through the first in this series but just could not. I found it boring. However, first in a series aren't easy to write because you're still figuring our your characters and your places. I will say that I am glad I decided to pick up this one and try again. It was delightful.

I love mysteries that have old cold cases within them, so this one was right up my alley. You don't even need to read the first in the series to figure everything out; the author has crafted her characters well and you can enjoy the story from the first page without feeling lost along the way.

Mikki is determined to find out the truth of why the house was abandoned so many years ago, even if she's not getting any help from the attorney or his assistant in doing so. But she's driven, and she's got the help of her friend Darlene who's more than willing.

Unfortunately, she's also being stalked by a woman who blames her for something trivial, and she's having to constantly dodge the woman. Life is not a bowl of cherries for Mikki, and she's got a lot on her plate to handle. Hopefully, she'll be able to find the diaries and get rid of the woman all at the same time. But when she finds out there's more at stake than that -- meaning her life -- will she be able to figure it all out in time?


I loved the book enough to finish it in one sitting, and I loved the plot. There are a few more subplots thrown in, but you will have to read the book to find out. I will say that the ending took me by complete surprise, and when Mikki put it all together, it was definitely a dropped bomb. This alone made it worth reading. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but it in no way influenced my review.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Murder, She Edited is the 4th book in the Deadly Edits cozy mystery series by Kaitlyn Dunnett. Released 27th July 2021 by Kensington, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a small town cozy series which has really found its stride and is always fun to revisit. Protagonist Mikki is a retiree, part time freelance editor, and full time amateur sleuth. I like it very much that she's authentic as she is; she uses hearing aids, her joints plague her sometimes, and she has the same realities as the rest of us. Despite a sometimes-uncooperative physical body, she's very much in love, she's romantic, she's intelligent, and she's whimsical. I also like it that the author hasn't played into the cynical snarky irascible old lady trope, and I for one am thankful.

This whole series has been a fun and diverting read. There is a fair bit of peripheral editing and writing information woven into the narrative and the ensemble cast of returning characters are mostly appealingly quirky and fun. The small town politics and interactions provide a lot of color and atmosphere. The author also weaves mentions of other series and authors into the story and I found some good suggestions for series which were previously unknown to me. (I really like it when books lead me to other books).
The language is clean, the murder is off-scene, there's no sexual content, and this is a light cozy in a consistent series. There is enough back story interwoven into this one that it does work well enough as a standalone although plot elements written in here as backstory will spoil the previous books if read out of order. I have enjoyed the rest of the series, so it is probably worth picking up the earlier books.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.