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One Died Under the Cuckoo's Nest: A Hidden Bay Cozy Mystery Book One
It has been two years since Felicity Griffith last lived in the cozy seaside town of Hidden Bay - and she has no plans to return anytime soon. When her grandmother, the famous advice columnist “Dear Dolores”, asks for help expanding her business, Felicity has her doubts. After all, with a list of ex-boyfriends longer than a grocery store receipt and unable to pay last month’s rent, Felicity is the last person to give advice. But as the old adage when the going gets tough, run home to grandma! When a neighbor dies under suspicious circumstances by driving his car into her grandmother’s tree, Felicity stumbles into a murder investigation involving a zany family of suspects. With the aid of thirteen-year-old Simon, who acts and dresses like a 1930s gangster, and while trying to avoid her ex, who is now the chief of police, Felicity must use her quick wit and careful ear to figure out the mystery of who committed the murder. That is unless of course the killer gets to her first! Includes an archived letter from the syndicated column of “Dear Dolores”. A clean cozy mystery series with humor for all to enjoy.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2021
38 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 19, 2022
A crazy ride. Fun and fast paced. Looking forward to the next installment.
February 16, 2021
Delightfully Funny . . .
Felicity Griffith has been away from Hidden Bay for a couple of years now. Thoughts of returning never crossed her mind. But her grandmother, Dolores Nightingale, an advice columnist known as “Dear Dolores”, asked her to come home and help with her business. She’s not so sure that’s a good idea for two reasons. She had a long list of ex-boyfriends, and that alone meant she wasn’t a good one to ask for advice! But it was getting difficult to pay the rent, so maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea for now. So with her entire fortune -- $200 – she hopped on the bus to return to Hidden Bay. At least the view of the ocean was to die for…
As grandma, Simon, and Felicity chatted outside, a neighbor, Robert Haskins, a local attorney who thought he was perfect in every way, is slowly driving down the street in a new car. Without trying to stay on the road, the car comes right up grandma’s drive, rolls over Simon’s bike, and hits grandma’s tree. By the time they run to the car, Robert Haskins was dead and the circumstances were very suspicious. There were bubbles foaming on the side of his lips and a drink was in the cup holder. With the aid of 13-year-old Simon Harris, who acts and dresses like a 1930s gangster and calls her “Toots” and “Doll Face”, and while trying to avoid her ex-boyfriend, now the chief of police, Felicity throws herself into the murder investigation to figure out who killed the lawyer and why? That is unless the killer returns to kill her first!
I adored the crazy characters in this story! Grandma is definitely right up there for crazy-good status. Simon runs a close second. That boy is old beyond his years, and keeps the reader laughing every time he opens his mouth! When a teen on a bike asks who Felicity is and Simon tells her she’s his girl, he follows up the inevitable “too old” comment by saying, “She’s got some mileage on her, but she’s definitely built to last.” This is going to be a fun series, and I eagerly look forward to the next book!
Felicity Griffith has been away from Hidden Bay for a couple of years now. Thoughts of returning never crossed her mind. But her grandmother, Dolores Nightingale, an advice columnist known as “Dear Dolores”, asked her to come home and help with her business. She’s not so sure that’s a good idea for two reasons. She had a long list of ex-boyfriends, and that alone meant she wasn’t a good one to ask for advice! But it was getting difficult to pay the rent, so maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea for now. So with her entire fortune -- $200 – she hopped on the bus to return to Hidden Bay. At least the view of the ocean was to die for…
As grandma, Simon, and Felicity chatted outside, a neighbor, Robert Haskins, a local attorney who thought he was perfect in every way, is slowly driving down the street in a new car. Without trying to stay on the road, the car comes right up grandma’s drive, rolls over Simon’s bike, and hits grandma’s tree. By the time they run to the car, Robert Haskins was dead and the circumstances were very suspicious. There were bubbles foaming on the side of his lips and a drink was in the cup holder. With the aid of 13-year-old Simon Harris, who acts and dresses like a 1930s gangster and calls her “Toots” and “Doll Face”, and while trying to avoid her ex-boyfriend, now the chief of police, Felicity throws herself into the murder investigation to figure out who killed the lawyer and why? That is unless the killer returns to kill her first!
I adored the crazy characters in this story! Grandma is definitely right up there for crazy-good status. Simon runs a close second. That boy is old beyond his years, and keeps the reader laughing every time he opens his mouth! When a teen on a bike asks who Felicity is and Simon tells her she’s his girl, he follows up the inevitable “too old” comment by saying, “She’s got some mileage on her, but she’s definitely built to last.” This is going to be a fun series, and I eagerly look forward to the next book!
February 19, 2021
Love and family are not built in isolation
Community and family in a wide variety and compilation are part of the fabric of our lives.
Felicity has a dubious homecoming in the way of some relationship and career chaos. Her Grandmother might be thrilled to have her home, but she has a crazy tendency to mention her childbearing hips and curvy and luscious figure at any opportunity - and to potentially suitors from 12 to eighty
Her wacky hometown could really benefit from her investigative skills
Can Felicity survive her mostly well meaning friends, family and the ghosts of relationships past and present?
Fun to read mayhem and mysteries
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Community and family in a wide variety and compilation are part of the fabric of our lives.
Felicity has a dubious homecoming in the way of some relationship and career chaos. Her Grandmother might be thrilled to have her home, but she has a crazy tendency to mention her childbearing hips and curvy and luscious figure at any opportunity - and to potentially suitors from 12 to eighty
Her wacky hometown could really benefit from her investigative skills
Can Felicity survive her mostly well meaning friends, family and the ghosts of relationships past and present?
Fun to read mayhem and mysteries
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 17, 2021
Aptly named, this story is filled with zany antics and lots of people acting crazy. Main character Felicity seems to be the only sane person left in her home town but the actions of others could change that as well. I found the various modes of transport used to get Felicity from point A to point B very humorous and her side-kick developed nicely as the book progressed.
Overall a true cozy mystery with a feisty, independent heroine that all the eligible men (and some of the not so eligible ones) have a hard time keeping their hands off.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Overall a true cozy mystery with a feisty, independent heroine that all the eligible men (and some of the not so eligible ones) have a hard time keeping their hands off.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 3, 2021
This cozy murder mystery has everything you need to brighten your mood. Felicity returns home to help her grandmother. Her ex is the current sheriff and a thirteen year old who dresses and acts like a 1930s gangster (the comic relief for this story). Loved the quirky townspeople and the nosiness, which is typical for a small town. The mystery is well done with plenty of details linking it all together. Surprises and twists kept the pages turning. Loved the whole thing, start to finish. Can not wait for the next one from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 9, 2021
Cute story! Really like the characters. Mystery always seems to hit small towns-especially the one-stoplight locales. Enjoyable read-wasn’t predicable; and finished in a day. Only a 2 book series; so I’ll hit the next one up tomorrow. Some romance, but it’s not the main feature; thank goodness!
July 15, 2024
This was a zany read with a cast of zany characters who are very confusing. The best part of the book is 13 year old Simon who thinks he is a throwback to the smooth operators from the old silver screen era. He is very fun.
March 25, 2021
I read 20% of it & it is just another childish, supposedly a mystery, with unbelievable characters.
May 30, 2021
Trashy
Trashy. Not a cozy mystery. It's more about trashy stuff and that's not the kind of book I like to read.
Trashy. Not a cozy mystery. It's more about trashy stuff and that's not the kind of book I like to read.
July 3, 2024
You must pay attention to the actions and locations of all the characters. At one point in the story it was this person, then it was a different character. Good read.
September 26, 2022
Good Adventure
I liked the book it was a good mystery. And kept my interest. I liked the characters. Making you wonder who did the murderers.
I liked the book it was a good mystery. And kept my interest. I liked the characters. Making you wonder who did the murderers.
December 29, 2023
A new-to-me author and a delightful read. Coming home to Hidden Bay to help her grandmother with her Agony Aunt column, Felicity was not sure if she would be the correct person for the job, especially with her long list of failed relationships and she certainly did not need more admirers nor the dead body that landed in her grandma's garden on her first day back!
A fun read with lots of laugh out loud moments and great characters all wrapped up in a small town mentality. Her grandmother is brilliant, her friends are interesting, her possible beaus are interested and Simon, well, he's the best yet! An enjoyable read, and looking forward to more from Kelly.
A fun read with lots of laugh out loud moments and great characters all wrapped up in a small town mentality. Her grandmother is brilliant, her friends are interesting, her possible beaus are interested and Simon, well, he's the best yet! An enjoyable read, and looking forward to more from Kelly.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews