Turkeys and Thanksgiving

Pelican Cove Short Story Series #1

by Leena Clover

Pelican Cove is gearing up for a grand Thanksgiving. Local amateur sleuth Jenny King and the Magnolias are busy planning the big dinner, salivating over pumpkin pie and turducken.

When an eccentric old man turns up at the Boardwalk Cafe moaning about his missing turkey, Jenny doesn't have the heart to turn him away. This time, she even has the sheriff's blessing because the police can't be bothered to look for a missing bird.

Meanwhile, Jenny is also roped in to judge the big turkey competition in town. Can she juggle everything and still have time to make her special green bean casserole?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Thanksgiving, Ebooks, Fiction, Novella, Holiday

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2020

About the author

Leena Clover is a popular, bestselling author of cozy mysteries with heart.

You can expect fearless heroines, small town drama, quirky characters and friendships that last a lifetime in her books. Yummy food and a murder or two are guaranteed!

Visit her website at leenaclover.com to learn more.

Reviews

[Rebecca Rakes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am just going to say, wtf. This is supposed to be a cozy mystery.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a standalone short story in the Pelican Cover mystery series by this author, which I've not read but after this, I definitely will. The series is set on an island off the coast of Virginia - southern vibe, semi-isolated community where all know each other - a classic setting for many cozy mystery series. In this short story the pet turkey (named Tom of course) of an older man who is a bit of an eccentric has disappeared and while the police say they don't have the manpower to hunt for it, he beseeches Jenny, the chef at the island's cafe, who has acquired a bit of a reputation as an amateur detective to look for it. All of this happens just a few days before Thanksgiving, and it is against that background that Jenny pursues leads, ultimately solving the mystery during the town's Thanksgiving potluck and turkey cook-off on Thanksgiving Day. While the plot was a bit patchy here and there, the setting, secondary characters were vibrant, impressively so given this is only 48 pages. I will try out the actual series.

[Lynn McClelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Thanksgiving Mystery

This is the tale of Turkey Tom, a prize artisanal turkey whose owner hires Jenny, our amateur sleuth, when the bird goes missing weeks before Thanksgiving . She can't figure out why Mr. Harrison is so distraught over a turkey, but later learns he is truly one of a kind.

At first she refuses when her ladies' group, the Magnolias, decide to hold a community potluck for the holiday, because she will be busy with the preparations. But then Jenny takes on interviewing everyone she can think of who might be involved -- the owner's neighbors, past competition, old business partner, and even an old flame, but finds nothing.

Grab a cup of tea, relax for a couple of hours, and find out what happened to Turkey Tom.

[Maryann Skaritka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read holiday cozy novella book. The residents of Pelican Cove are preparing for Thanksgiving.
Local resident Harrison Webster asks Jenny, a chef at the Boardwalk Cafe to help him find his beloved pet an artisanal turkey named Tom.
Jenny and her friend group known as the Marigolds offer their ideas and suggestions, I found this group cliqueish and seemed more exclusive instead of inclusive.
The town decides to have a town turkey cooking contest with several local chefs and finds Jenny being asked to be a judge.
The residents are invited to join in a town wide pot luck meal following the contest.
There were multiple suspects and motives and the conclusion was one I never expected.

[Mona J. (MyameeGirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just a very short Cozy from the Pelican Cove Short Story Series. It apparently would take place between Books 2 & 3. It was a cute little mystery involving Tom, the missing turkey. lol
It gave me a chance to get a feel for the town, the residents, and the author. I thought it was fun and lighthearted and for such a short book it gave me a good feel for the vibe of the series. I'll pick up book 1 at some point.

[Kandi A. Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Storyteller

I can't believe I am saying this but this story brought out a bunch of emotions in me. So, the writer got 5 stars for the telling of the story, a good cozy mystery. I did have trouble keeping up with all the characters as I am not a reader of this series, but will consider becoming one based on this story. I also love a short story as it can be devoured in one sitting, which I like to be able to do as I

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wasn’t expecting to read a book about a kidnapped turkey and yet here we are. Without having read any of the other books in the series I’m not sure how I feel about it. The Magnolias seem a little mean and I don’t know why the cop has a cane. Also weird she was so excited to have her son home for thanksgiving and then once he arrived he disappeared from the story as if he never even showed up.

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very short cozy mystery about a missing turkey. I figured out where the turkey was before the end and it was no surprise to me who the culprit was. The story was basically lighthearted and fun, and gave me a chance to get to know the author, town and its residents. This is the second book in this series and makes me want to check out the first one.The only weird thing, that I didn't think about until I read someone else's review is that Jenny's son is coming home for Thanksgiving, they meet up when he is on his way home and then he is never mentioned again.

[Michelle Heyboer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tale was a light-hearted romp, a Thanksgiving-themed whodunit that promises a quick read, ensuring your turkey remains perfectly roasted. The stakes were charmingly low, with no peril befalling any character—save for the ill-fated turkey. While the characters might not have been deeply explored, the brevity of the story naturally calls for a lighter touch on development, focusing instead on delivering a delightful, festive experience.

[Franci · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very silly, Thanksgiving-themed cozy “mystery” short story. It’s part of a series that I don’t read, so it does seem as if the reader is dropped into a world that is full of strangers. There were far too many characters for a short story, and I couldn’t even remember who the main character was supposed to be. I was missing a lot of background information! Also, even in a very short story, there were typos and grammatical mistakes. It didn’t make me want to read more.

[Kim Loomer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The food made in this book is reason enough to love it, but the characters are great as well and as the first book in this series it is a great start. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series and seeing what else gets cooked up at the cafe and what happens on this small New England island.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the mystery itself was very cute and made for a fun holiday read, but I don’t think this worked well as a short story. To be fair, I think it also doesn’t make as much sense without having read the other books in the series. The ending felt very abrupt, and I would’ve loved to read this as a longer mystery story.

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐

didn't really care for the characters or story. maybe it's because i read it as a standalone instead of reading the earlier books in the series. the ending seemed pretty abrupt and there wasn't anything too special about the plot. just a short 'n easy read for the holidays and to finish your reading challenge quicker.

[Halle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like a Disney channel episode. I didn't love it,but didn't hate it. I haven't read anything else in the series and honestly didn't know it was a series,but I'm glad you can read this as a stand alone. I finished it in just a few hours and fairly enjoyed it. Also, wow how much this man loves his turkey.

[George Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, no, say it isn't so!

I chose this rating because it was a fun read for my wife. Ms. Clover is an excellent author who does not disappoint her readers. There is mystery, a hint of romance, good friends, good food, etc. You can enjoy a clean read every time.

[Gwendolyn A. Pack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Thanksgivings cosy murder mystery!

The author has done it again! I have been reading the Pelican Cove series for awhile. Even though the story timeline is last year’s, I still enjoyed the book. The author “packed a lot of punch”, in very few pages!

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny is at the café when a man approaches her & begs her to find his missing turkey, Tom. He’s a much loved companion and he’s been stolen, of that he is sure. The police are too busy to be bothered by it. Jenny does try to find Tom without any luck. But, she does solve the mystery eventually.

[Frank Carver · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonable cozy mystery with nothing special to recommend it. The plot was intriguing, centering on the hunt for a missing, presumed stolen, prize turkey, but some of the characters seemed a little like stereotypes rather than fully-fleshed out people in their own right.

[Bobbie N · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the town prepares for Thanksgiving, an eccentric old man comes to the cafe and asks Jenny to help find his missing turkey - not just any old turkey, but a pedigreed artisan bird.

A short story written between books 2 & 3 in the Pelican Cove mystery series.

[Avalon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely short mystery surrounding a beloved turkey at Thanksgiving. Answer quite obvious early on but still a lovely read with great characters

[Beatrice Drury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny is investigating the disappearance of an artisan turkey. It doesn't end well.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and easy read

Lovely mystery with a somewhat sad ending. I love all of Irena Clovers stories. Simple yet you don't guess the ending until the end!

[Janet Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute novella about a woman trying to find out what happened to a missing turkey. An enjoyable quick read. Highly recommended.

[Amy Webster-Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

not a 5 but cute, i think i would like more of hers, that dont involve a runaway turkey ,,lol

[Elizabeth F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the story. I thought it was amusing. Fun read. Highly recommend.

[sara metz · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute seasonal novella

It was a crude little story. I didn’t get to really know he characters and it wasn’t fully fleshed out. But overal. Cute quick read for the holidays

[Tara Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun plot

A short fun novella that keeps you engaged from the first page to the last sentence. A great little whodunit.

[Shaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing too deep or intricate. But a perfect way to spend an hour this Thanksgiving morning!

[Smixxon.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read

This was a short little cozy mystery. Perfect for around Thanksgiving to kill some time and set the seasonal mood.

[Sarah Woodhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute beginning to the series!