Emma

Notebook Mysteries #1

by Kimberly Mullins

In 1881 Chicago, 16-year old Emma Evans is restless and bored, working at her family bakery. She sees the delivery boys having adventures and convinces her Papa to let her work on the delivery wagons. She dresses as a boy for convenience and safety. Her adventures begin and soon she is involved in cases ranging from robbery to murder. She utilizes her skills with knives and self-defense to find her way through.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical

ebook

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

Kimberly Mullins is the author of a series of books called “Notebook Mysteries”. She also writes Adult historical fiction under the name K. R. Mullins. She holds a BS in biology and a Masters in business. Her favorite classes were in history. She lives in Texas with her husband and son. When she is not writing she works as a Process Safety Engineer at a large chemical company. You can connect with her on her website at kimberlymullinsauthor.com, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Reviews

[Kelly Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notebook Mysteries: Emma, is written in an endearing style and quickly draws the reader into the lives of 16-year-old Emma, her elder sister, father, extended family, and friends. Emma's mother, Mary had died tragically in the Chicago fire of 1871. Emma works in the family bakery, but dreams of more exciting work. Emma's habit of writing her observations down in her black notebooks leads to adventure, danger, and the unearthing of dark secrets. The author thoughtfully included recipes for the bakery treats referenced throughout the story. This teen/YA historical mystery novel was a delightful read!

[Jay Batista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful historical novel filled with romance, mystery and exciting adventure!

Notebook Mysteries—Emma is a brilliant cozy mystery set 10 years after the great Chicago fire of 1871, focused on a second-generation German immigrant family and their bakery business. Two young sisters face the challenges of a turn-of-the Century Boarding House life with pluck and determination, the oldest navigating affairs of her heart an running their rooms-to-let, while the younger Emma learns from special tutors and matures into an effective amateur sleuth, facing the rough streets of Chi-town, its mobsters and corrupt officials. Overcoming a tragic backstory, Emma seeks adventures, and she finds them, establishing herself as an endearing character and providing a grand start to a wonderful series.

Be sure not to read this book on an empty stomach! This debut novel is not only a creative and well-penned effort, the author has also included the German bakery recipes to taunt our tastebuds—the companion works are clearly meant to be baked and served, and frankly sound delicious!

This is definitely a fun read, and as the start to the series, should provide many more entertaining episodes. I truly enjoyed it and would recommend it for anyone who like historical fiction or cozy mysteries.

[Angela Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Evans is working within her family's bakery but is fed up and bored, seeing the things the delivery boys get up to she convinces her father to go into the delivery side and that's when it all explodes into action.

So, as she goes into the underworld of Chicago she gets caught up with gangsters and corruption which she decides to investigate and throws her deeper into the dark world, but can she save herself and solve the crime in the end, you will need to read to find out.

What can I say other than I loved this adventure, this is the first book in the series and although I have read the others in this series, I thought I would go back to where it all starts and was not disappointed. It was brilliant to see the interaction between Emma and her family and to see the start of the strong, witty character was great to read.

The story is full of the action and great writing within the other books, and you get to see Emma as the young woman just starting find her feet and confidence, as always, her spirit and gumption is there fully to see. The flow of the story was great and a brilliant mix of tension and action, plus the dotted receipts of the German delights was a lovely thought also. I can't wait to read more.

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
Notebook Mysteries ~ Emma (Notebook Mysteries Book 1) by Kimberly Mullins



Notebook Mysteries ~Emma is the first book in the Notebook Mysteries Series. I’m a huge fan of Historical Cozy Mystery and this author knocked it out of the park. I was pulled in from the beginning and found myself lost in the pages of this wonderfully written mystery. Emma is a young woman who works at the family bakery but what she really wants is something more adventurous. When a opportunity presents for her to help the boys on the delivery wagons she takes it. Emma finds herself being pulled into case after case each one seems more complicated than the last. What will happen when her family gets pulled in? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I look forward to reading many more books by this author.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Emma is the first book in the Notebook Mysteries series by Kimberly Mullins. This is an historical mystery series featuring plucky teenager Emma whom we follow as she investigates various crimes and mysteries, here, and throughout the series. She has a knack for solving crime and this is the book that starts it all.
With adventure, drama, danger, secrets, corruption, and more- made for an intriguing read.
Happy Reading!

Thank you, Kimberly Mullins!

[Elise Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely developed characters and an entertaining, well paced story to pass a day's reading. There was story tension from the outset, and finding an 80 year-old lady teaching a teenage girl knife-throwing in a 19th century setting was a pleasant surprise. Mystery and danger were promised in the opening pages and this book delivered both. I found Emma to be a realistic, relatable adventurer after my own heart.
The book also features yummy sounding recipes throughout (fitting, seeing as Emma’s family are bakers), so you may want to read this one with post it notes on hand to try your favourite recipes later.

[~lil maso~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1881, ten years after the great fires of Chicago Emma, a sixteen-year-old girl who is extraordinarily observant, helps to unravel many local crimes but it is about a lot more too.

I loved reading about this era but even more so how modern thinking Emma and her family are, her father in particular. The ‘specialists’ he employed to teach Emma are a fantastic touch. Emma is a great character, she is confident in herself and her abilities and shows compassion for others too. The characters generally were great and the ‘evil ones’ depicted well.

This is a different story where there are stories within a story. I thoroughly enjoyed the concept, the change of genre, and the trip back in time. As a new author to-me, I am keen to explore more books by her, she has tickled my fancy for some good old-fashioned detecting!

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

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[Robyn Corcoran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1881, ten years after the great fires of Chicago Emma, a sixteen year old girl who is extraordinarily observant, helps to unravel many local crimes but it is about a lot more too.

I loved reading about this era but even more so how modern thinking Emma and her family are, her father in particular. The ‘specialists’ he employed to teach Emma are a fantastic touch. Emma is a great character, she is confident in herself and her abilities and shows compassion for others too. The characters generally were great and the ‘evil ones’ depicted well.

This is a different story where there are stories within a story. I thoroughly enjoyed the concept, the change of genre and the trip back in time. As a new author to me I am keen to explore more books by her, she has tickled my fancy for some good old fashioned detecting!

[Marika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! Not my usual genre but very interesting.
We follow a family, with dad, Emma and her sister.
Emma is a very peculiar 16 years old. She notices everything and has a knack for finding out things she shouldn't concern herself with, especially crimes and other situations. It also takes place in 1881.
I never read a book quite like this before. It's a mystery but it's also a family saga.
What I found interesting was how her family was so open about a girl her age investigating and getting into a lot of dangerous situations, especially considering the years she lived in.
There is a very small romance but I don't even know if I should call it that since it's very much platonic for lack of a better word.
What I disliked was the ending..it felt abrupt to me,but since there is another book coming maybe we will get more and that's why.
I will certainly read the next book cause I like the plot, the characters and the writing style.

[Amy Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I am talking about! I have read a couple other installments in this series, and was blown away by the authors ability to teach the reader a thing or two of the history of Chicago, New York, and a few other places and things throughout the creative stories of Emma, Dora, Tony, Tim, and Papa of course. I love the narrative in which their stories and the novel is told, and because of all this, I find this series to be a very healthy addiction, to say the least.

Now that I know the true beginnings of this family, and what occurred to have Emma develop within the other installments, it makes me want to read the entirety of the series over again, as I am thoroughly enjoying her character, am able to relate to their family, the character development and world building is very well done, as always, and it makes me want more. I look forward to spending more time cuddled up in blankets learning, and aching for these folks over and over again. Will be recommending to those looking for a solid historical mystery!

[Devon Pulliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart hurt for Emma learning exactly how and why her mom died. You can tell this family is tight knit and that they'd do anything for each other. I love the happy ending to her last case she was involved in. With Emma and Dora both finding closeness again with that case bringing them together. Even Tim and Tony being such a huge part of their lives and becoming family in the process.

Finding the newspaper articles from her mom, I knew something fishy was going on when the writer pushed her out of his office without giving her anything.

I was relieved when the "watcher " was revealed and it was someone who was protecting her from the same people that hurt her mom. She is very aware of everything and I loved how she made and left baskets of food for her “watcher”. Like he thought he was all sneaky and not being seen.

Since I did read these out of order I am glad this book gave some back story that I was missing out on from reading a later book first.

This is such a great series to read to suck you into the mysteries of Emma’s life. I also loved on this one how the “narrator and Dear One” chime in with some input to give more back story when needed.

[D Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed notebook mysteries. The main character Emma was engaging, with spirit and a keen eye for detail that kept you guessing. The story had elements of romance, adventure and baking, which in my opinion is a great mix. I am definitely going to attempt to bake some of the deserts in the book and will be looking out for another notebook mystery in the future.

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma is a young woman is 1881 who lives in Chicago, she has always had an analytical and logical mind, but it goes into overdrive when tragedy strikes the family during a large fire in the centre of the city ten years before. As Emma struggled to cope with the loss and even though it was over a decade ago, she still remembers what happened that night.

Nowadays she is older and working in her families bakery, she enjoys the works, even though it is hard and has some early starts, but she also is also wants more adventure in her life and so she asks to go out on the delivery wagons with the boys. Her father reluctantly agrees and she goes out with two of the ones her family trusts the most, but as she goes on the rounds and notes down her observations in her faithful notebook, she starts to notice patterns emerging, the patterns show everything from robberies to murders and eventually, she acts on these inconsistencies and makes the business owners aware of what she has discovered and then leaves it up to them to do their own investigations.

However, she can’t leave certain ones alone, especially when she gets closer than her family would like and finds that all the individual observations lead to something which endangers not only herself, but her family as well. Will Emma be able to solve the case using her skills and smarts, or will danger come in and sweep the investigation and maybe even her life away? This is a mystery with a female detective who is reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes and not afraid to get her hands dirty to solve the cases she becomes involved with, it is a story which will captivate all audiences and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

[Julie McComas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you just imagine what a second-generation German bakery must smell like? Sixteen-year-old Emma works in her family’s bakery, and the way the desserts are described makes me long for a scratch-n-sniff right there on the page. They make German Chocolate Cake, German Butter Cake with Egg Liquor, Berliner Pfannkuchen, Snickerdoodles, and more. Honestly, I had to look up a few of the desserts named in the book to get a visual. Kimberly Mullins was even nice enough to put the recipes in the back of the book!

Look at me jumping to the food. Let me tell you about this brilliantly engaging story of Emma and her escapades. Emma is very observant, and smart. She writes in her little black notebooks of all the happenings of each day. She has someone following her every move, and that is when that mystery grabbed my attention. When she is not working in the bakery, she is helping with the deliveries, and this is where another mystery begins. Let me just say that this story is full of other stories. There are mysteries (yes, plural), a bit of romance, an eighty-year-old that teaches her to throw knives to protect herself, and family secrets that come to light.

You cannot go wrong with this book! Please excuse me while I go get the second book in this series.

[Keeleigh wilbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an exciting and riveting book to read. I enjoyed the adventurous Emma, who’s character was well thought out. The complexity of the cases was what drew me in. I thoroughly enjoyed the history that was also included in this book.

[kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

My 14 year old and I both read this book. It was a very good story that we both enjoyed. My daughter loves to bake so loved the added bonus of the recipes.
She is looking forward to reading the next one.
I would recommend this book for you girls in their teens.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. I read the other books and didn't realize I was missing book 1. So thankfully I was able to get it. Although I had read the others before this, I never felt like I was missing anything. I loved every minute of this book. The character development was excellent, and the story line kept me hooked the entire time. I can't wait to see what else is next!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely and endearing story and one that I really enjoyed. The author transported me back in time with her beautiful writing and descriptive language. Emma is a great character to read about, so inquisitive for her age. I enjoyed reading about her. The author really does have a wonderful writing style that keeps you engaged the whole way through the book. The characters were well thought out and I think this was really evident with Emma’s character, she was so much more than just your average 16 year old from that time period. She was really refreshing to read about and I loved that about her.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Anantha Rusum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is quite interesting to me, as I read 2nd,3rd and 4th books in sequence before and finally came to read the first one. So I have seen Emma at her helm as a matured woman who is quite independent and solves mystery cases, and now come back to read where it all began.
So it was good to see Emma, who along with her sister were bored in the bakery. Emma, training under special tutors and finally Emma taking on dangers head on.
I really enjoyed “the becoming” very much. This book was more like a prequel to me, and the foundation is set very right for the series which it would be in the next three books.

[Dahnielle Hibbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in post civil war Chicago this fun, adventurous novel is the first in this series. I have read several of the books in this series and decided after the last one that I should go back and read them in order and include the beginning of Emma’s story in that. I absolutely love this series! The characters are very well developed (even the secondary characters) and you will love, hate, laugh and cry with them. If you haven’t read this series it is so worth your time and if you have read some in this series but not in order it is so worth your time to go back and do it in order!

[Zoe Piengkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma is Awesome! A character that is easy to love and her adventures are interesting, a bit scary, mixed with some laughs and perfect for 16 yr old detective in the making. Her world is interesting, friends and family are great and the book moves along at a quick pace.
This is my first book from this author and I will be grabbing the next one. Definitely recommend.

[Heidi Sturgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma works in the family bakery but she’s hungry for more and for adventure but as a girl back in the 1800’s her options and rights were very limited fortunately she manages to twist her fathers “ rubber arm” to join the delivery wagons and start her adventures ….


This was a read that attracted me for various reasons . Emma’s spirit reminds of my youngest daughter who is fearless and it feels like Mulan vs Nancy Drew going back time , that’s how I described it some of the girls who asked me about what I was reading

I must just say thank you for adding the most delectable and mouthwatering recipes🤗

I’m looking forward to some more fun and adventure ❣️📕

[Paula Sayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read to begin this series. In this book, we meet Emma who is a sixteen year old girl like none other. Emma has been trained how to protect herself and finds herself constantly solving mysteries. Emma carries her black notebook everywhere she goes. Emma is constantly taking notes and discovering things that others miss.

[Alison Risher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read other books in this series, and they are all wonderful! Having finally read the first of the series, I am still firmly a fan of this author. I enjoyed the setting of the story- Chicago in the post Civil War era. Characters struggle to right wrongs amidst Chicago’s infamous corruption. Our protagonist also learns that she must trust people, and not always rush to judgment.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notebook Mysteries: Emma
By: Kimberly Mullins
5*

This story takes place in 1881. Emma’s mother has died in the Great Chicago Fire and her family is picking up the pieces the best she can. They are also carrying on the legacy of her mother’s bakery. Her cousin is running the bakery, but she has a desire for more. Truthfully, she has always had a desire for more. She is fashion conscious and very observant. She goes nowhere without the red hat on her head and her skirts, while still following the dress code, have a long slit in them. Emma also is incredibly observant. She goes nowhere without her trusty notebook, which is where she records all her observations. With her desires for a larger, more adventurous life, she asks her father for permission to ride along with the delivery boys. He agrees with the caveat that she stay safe and careful. To agree with her father’s wishes, she decides the best way to do this is to dress like a delivery boy, with her hair braided on top of her head, underneath her hat. While on her delivery routes, she finds that her keep observance will come in handy. She is able to solve many crimes and mysteries throughout the city. Including a possible robbery. She is definitely trying to stay safe, however, she hopes that the lessons her father has given her will help her if needed.
This book is full of twists and turns. I truly enjoyed it and it kept me guessing. I cannot recommend this book enough!

[Mandy Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars

Notebook Mysteries ~ Emma by Kimberly Mullins

This is another fantastic book I've read by the author. Emma is the first book in the Notebook Mysteries Series. It doesn't need to be read first, but it is nice to know how her story started.

Emma is trying to figure out her life and where she wants it to go. She finds her mother's journal and finds that her mom was trying to solve a case. She finishes the case for her mom and finds out what really happened to her. The quote I chose for Emma is: “You know my name is Emma. My full name is Emma Evans. I work as an investigator occasionally. Someone I know asked me to look into your family. It wasn’t meant to be malicious, they were worried about you. I will continue if that is alright.”

Highly recommended for YA Cozy Mystery lovers.

[Terri McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an inspiring series for young readers. Emma is a forward-thinking young woman. She enjoys learning about engineering from her father and especially loves detailing her observations in her black notebook. This leads to Emma actually recording observations of illegal activities and getting her in the middle of some very dangerous situations. Again, an inspiring story, I highly recommend it.

[Jamie Truex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Notebook Mysteries series. It begins the series with Emma's start as a young amateur sleuth. Her mother was tragically lost in the 1871 fire in Chicago, where she ran the family bakery. Her family continued to run it after they rebuilt. But Emma wants to do more exciting things with her life. This book has great character development. It was also a fun read. I loved having recipes that I can make at home. I can't wait to read the next book!

[Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this series with book two, but this one was every bit as good. Emma is working in the family bakery but finds herself wanting some adventure. When one of the cases she is looking into turns serious she must decide what will happen with her family. How will she be able to keep them safe? This book is easy to read. I myself had a little difficulty getting used to the style of writing, but the story flowed well and of course the characters were great.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has always been very entertaining. This is book 1. You can read them stand alone but I recommend reading them in order. Emma is a very courageous and independent young woman. She may have some fear but she doesn't show it. She'll get to the bottom of mysteries. In this one, she's working to figure out what happened to her momma. I love the characters. They are so well-written. Dora, Jeremy, Tony, etc. are relatable and feel like they could be your family. Some delicious recipes are also included with this book. The plot can get you right in the heart because it will get all your emotions. This is Emma's family mystery that we are solving. A wonderful book that will be a classic. Meant for the younger crowd but the older people will love it too.