Dearly Departed

Patty Byrne Cozy Mysteries

by Carly Winter

The year is 1965 and Patty Byrne is flying high as stewardess… until her life crashes when she finds her neighbor murdered.While cooperating with the police, she meets FBI agent Bill Hart, who shows an interest in both her and the victim's activities. When he asks Patty to introduce him to a couple of the suspects she knows, she immediately agrees, harboring groovy visions of leaving her stewardess job behind and becoming the first female FBI agent.

But as they dive deeper into the case, it only becomes more confusing. When Patty's life is threatened, she realizes murder investigations aren’t for the faint of heart. Can she untangle the web of clues to find the killer, or will she be the next victim?  

One-click this historical 1960s cozy mystery today!

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Ebooks

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2021

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Carly Winter writes fun, small town cozy mysteries, always with a dash of humor and quirky characters. When not writing, you can find her spending time with her family, on a Pilates reformer or enjoying the fantastic Arizona weather (except summer - she doesn't like summer). She does like dogs, wine and chocolate and wishes Christmas happened twice a year.

Reviews

[Samsboeken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Carly Winter and it will not be the last!
I'm so excited about this book. It's a murder mystery like Agatha Christie would have written.
It has everything. Proper introduction of every character and suspects, hidden tips of who the killer could be and in the end everything makes sense.
The story has the right suspence, everybody is your head suspect as reader, at least once. A true pageturner!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a bit of campy fun. It brings the 60’s alive in all their uniqueness. Patty is sweet, smart and stronger than she realizes even though she’s dismissed as just a pretty face due to her job as a stew. She gets caught up in a murder investigation when her neighbor and friend is killed and she keeps searching even when the police and FBI give up. There’s a hint of romance, lots of wacky neighbors and a dear friend with some issues all contributing to a richly created world. I enjoyed sleuthing along with Patty and can honestly say I never would have suspected the identity of the culprit. But it absolutely makes for a doozy of a surprise twist! Great start to a new series!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vickie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about a murdered neighbor and how the stewardess figured it out.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a stewardess based in 1960s San Francisco, Patricia Byrne is living her dream life. Sure, the anti-war demonstrations get noisy, and the counterculture movement is somewhat incomprehensible. However, her home, shared with a fellow stewardess and her cat, is made cosy by the friendship she has with her neighbour, Charles. When she returns from a flight and finds him murdered, Patty vows to find his killer, even as the police seem to be doing a half-hearted job.

I loved this book on two levels. On the one hand, the story was fascinating; following Patty as she tried to track down a murderer was enticing, and I was completely involved with the action. On the other hand, I adored the time machine trip, which gave me the chance to experience life in the 60s.

Since most people aren't as geeked out as I am about the anthropological aspects, I'll focus my remaining thoughts on the storytelling, which was outstanding. Patty makes a great detective because, while she's very observant (especially concerning people and their quirks), she's also the least likely to be an investigator, something she uses to her advantage. The plot flowed well, and when the killer was finally revealed, I felt somewhat vindicated for Patty, as she had proven that she is a competent and brave individual.

What a fantastic start to a new series! I look forward to more adventures with Miss Patricia Byrne.

Thank you to Carly Winter and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.

[Holly Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book and these are my thoughts. As a teenager in the 60s it was fun to read and remember earlier times. The smoking on planes, meal service for all, the ridiculous constraints on the stewardesses are a thing of the past. And so are the ridiculous physical constraints on the women. Pretty misogynistic to feel for girdles, demand girdles and a force weight goals. I am so glad the party favors for men is now gone, at least in the air.

The story wends its way from air trip preparation to a murder. Along the way are demonstrations against the Vietnam war, the treatment of our soldiers doing their duty, and the life of a stew. 3.5 stars.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book entertaining enough, but I had a few doubts about the historical accuracy in some places. I don't remember the era myself, but unless the author is using a really old bio photo, she probably doesn't, either. The main character, after all, would be in her 80s these days. The thing is, although I'm aware that San Francisco was in the vanguard of the era's countercultural movements, I can't find any evidence that anti-war protests were that prevalent in 1965. There's also mention made of bell bottoms becoming more common, but again, I think 1965 was a bit early for this. They existed, true, but were still something that was relatively unknown. Where things really went off the rails, though, was with the details about Charles. His PTSD is described as if he were a combat veteran, but he is also said to have been discharged from the military 3 years prior to the events of the story, so 1962. This is several years before ground troops were deployed.

In a historical novel such as this one (mystery or otherwise), I really appreciate the author providing some end material that at least outlines some of the research they put in and addresses any seeming anomalies. It's possible that Charles could have been a military advisor, although that isn't the impression the book gives and I'm not sure if the author really thought things through to that extent. In the absence of any insight into the issue in the form of an authorial statement, it gives the impression that she just picked a random date in the middle of the decade, not knowing that most of those 60s cliches she was relying on were more prevalent toward the end of the decade. Again, I could be wrong in that it's possible that 1965 in San Francisco was like 1968 in the rest of the country, but I couldn't find any proof of this. If the author did uncover such proof in her research, I would really have appreciated her disclosing it. If not, she should have either picked a different year or omitted those particular details and made the necessary changes such as having Charles be a Korean War vet who'd been discharged back in the 50s and was still suffering from PTSD. That would have been entirely plausible, and in fact, it's what I assumed from the synopsis. I was somewhat confused when it was revealed that he was a Vietnam vet, and really skeptical regarding the author's knowledge of the era once the discharge was dated to 1962.

[Stavroula Kalantzis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Carly Winter's latest novel, "Dearly Departed", I couldn't help but feel charmed with the goings-on of her main characters notably Patty, Donna, Mrs. Wilson, Karen (Charles's fiancée), and Charles's ex-wife whose name I forget, who all play a part in the novel's storyline. The novel is a very light reading with no goriness factor but it does give us a charming glimpse into the travelling adventures of a flight attendant although at that time, during the 60s era, they were known as air stewardesses. I was certainly in admiration of the way that Patty was portrayed: a woman of nonsensical attitude, hardworking, caring, and very dedicated to her job who also was not hesitant in conveying her forthright views to anyone so inclined in disputing with her. She took on a take-charge attitude especially after a tragic incident involving her neighbor, Charles and her plight consequently evoked my sympathy as she was embroiled in a case that took her unawares. The introduction of the handsome FBI agent in the evolving storyline was certainly an interesting one - as a reader, I had anticipated a possible romantic moment or two between the two characters and there were certainly clues to indicate that they were going to have these moments; their witty banter was extremely fascinating and their investigations into the affairs of the neighbors was a delight especially with the scene involving the peace-loving nudist. The novel is utterly cozy, charming, humorous, with a touch of drama and mystique to entice the reader into further reading. I could not help but cheer Patty's continual attempts to resolve the situation which by the end of the novel, was a satisfying one but at the same time, one could not help but feel that a possible continuation of Patty's adventures will ensue in a forthcoming sequel. I look forward to reading this author's future books as she has wonderfully crafted a novel with all the right mix of literary elements and hope that Patty does emerge in the next book. Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity in reading this book and reviewing it on your website. I recommend Dearly Departed to anyone who loves a light-hearted mystery crime novel.

[Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it !! what a great start for this new series set in San Francisco during the 60's... a different time yet... the unpopular Vietnam war and the soldiers that came home with PTSD... the hippies... and women had their place and that was making babies and staying home... enter Patty the stewardess.. young , beautiful and underestimated... thought and told repeatedly that she is stupid... she wanted to go to college but, didn't have the means... she's sweet, brave and has a funny way to remember names like Mr. Coffee and sweaty Sam... she has a roommate Donna , also, a stew and very beautiful.. also, a party girl... Ringo their cat... and Charles, the vet with horrible PTSD, though there was no name for it and no treatment.. they were left to fend for themselves.. he was Ringo's pet sitter and friend... Mrs. Wilson, a widow and in her 60's also, a neighbor.. she knows what's going on in the building... on this occasion, Patty comes home from a flight, goes to collect Ringo, and finds Charles murdered... shocked and saddened... this is the start of everything... the dismissive police... and later, Mr. Coffee, Bill with the FBI... this is a wonderful fast paced murder mystery... I really loved it !!! and can't wait for the next stories in this series !!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes we all have to bear witness to other people's pain."

Patty Byrne, stewardess in the 1960s ( note: I remember that time and my cousin met his wife when she was a"stew") when things were really fit from today. The world was different in those days, more formal down to how people dressed on airplanes. And stewardess were glorified maids. But it could be glamorous which is why Patty chose to be one and have a chance to explore the world if she was lucky.

Returning home from a flight she discovered her neighbor's body and gets wrapped up in the case. None of the police seemed to be worried about it. However, she couldn't let it go. Could the "dumb stewardess" solve the case?

Having read other cosy mysteries by this author I knew what I was getting into. Having grown up in the 60s I knew how women were treated. Carly Winters may have "rewritten" this book to make it fit the time better as she admits but I think she's done a great job with a classic whodunit. Recommended 4/5

[ Disclaimer: I received this book from Book Sirens. However in no way did it affect my reading or reviewing]

[Karelisse Poventud · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of Agatha Christie books and your typical whodunit mystery novels. It's a nice cozy mystery novel.

I like the FMC. I think she fits the type of woman during that era but also in today's time too. A woman who wants a career first before settling down.

I didn't much care for the FBI agent. In my opinion I think the story would have been fine with out him and his so called "multiple killer" case. I think maybe the author was trying to go some kind of way with his character, but for me, i don't think it fully came through.

I also think it could have been stronger if Donna was more involved with helping Patty investigate the murder. Double female lead solving murders, heck yeah!

I'm pretty sure Ringo is the star of this book. What cozy mystery is without an interesting pet!

The suspect list is a curious bunch and when you find out whodunit, you may be surprised on the who and their motive to do it.

Overall I enjoyed it and it makes for a quick read.

Thank you Booksirens and Carly Winter for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

[Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Carly Winter mysteries, and it looks like this series set in the 1960s has good possibilities. The 60s are really hard to write about because the social vibe changed radically from the early 60s to the end of the decade. I think the author conveyed the dichotomy well from women seeking their "Mrs. degree", to Betty Friedan's seminal Femine Mystique mid decade to major antiwar protests later. The setting of this book was San Francisco where antiwar sentiments may have begun before Colorado where I spent my college years and early married life. I had to keep reminding myself that the FMC Patty had only inklings of feminism and was appalled by the protests and hippie lifestyles she encountered. She had to put up with sexism in her job as a stewardess (girdle checks and weight reqirements). I remember the pervasive smoking (even on airplanes) and still wonder how anyone survived!

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dearly Departed is an outstanding introduction to Ms. Winter's 1960s historical series. Ms. Winter effectively sends the reader back to the 60s when cigarette smoke was everywhere, stewardesses were expected to look and act like not intelligent, Barbie wannabes, and protests against the war in Vietnam were a daily occurrence. Against this backdrop, Patty Byrne is a breath of fresh air! She is smart, hardworking, has goals and refuses to let the murder of her friend and neighbor become a cold case. I loved watching her work with the FBI agent. (Will Bill appear in future books?) Ultimately her ability to read people leads to successfully unmasking the killer. This well plotted book has much in common with classic mysteries of the 60s and kept me reading far too long since I did not want to put it down!

[Angela Ybarra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to consider myself an armchair detective, and I was happy to read this book. The book can take you back in time to a time when women were accessories to everyday life. Close your eyes, and you can almost use the book's gritty, detailed, and fashion-forward descriptions to place yourself smack in the middle of the story. The backdrop of San Francisco during the post-war America and hippie protesting sets the mood for an unlikely crime solver and an even more "I did not see that coming" murder to create a page turner.

I will say that the ending was a bit of something to be desired but I am a one and done reader so this perhaps is what the reader should expect in the first book of a series.

If you are looking for a teaser mystery, have a few hours to fill or just want to shut off the noise and tune out then this is the book that can do that.

[Lorieh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dearly Departed is a charming, cozy mystery that blends an engaging storyline with a cast of interesting characters. From the start, the plot pulls you in and maintains a steady sense of curiosity, making it hard to put the book down. The 1960s setting adds an extra layer of enjoyment and reminders of how society has changed in some ways and not in others. Patty, in particular, is a charming and relatable protagonist, caught up in unraveling who killed her neighbor, Charles. Her perspective encourages you to think more carefully about the clues and suspects, making the mystery feel interactive and satisfying. Overall, it’s a delightful and easy read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Carly, Winter, and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

[Bette Reith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun cozy. All about a stewardess back in the 1960's. Love the details of what flying was like, what the stewardesses had to go through, and how different groups treated them.

Patty comes home after a long day. She goes next door to get her cat, who was visiting with a neighbor, and finds her friend dead from a knife wound. The police arrive, do their thing, but they don't seem very interested in pursuing the case, so she decides to solve it herself. Armed with nothing more than her training as a problem-solver and people-watcher, she starts inching towards the truth. Early on, an FBI agent sent to see if this is part of a larger crime spree helps her decipher clues. She starts receiving threatening letters, but from which of the many suspects are they being written? Can she solve this before she becomes a victim herself? Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC of this book.

[Karen Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I debated between giving Dearly Departed four or five stars, but ultimately settled on four. I’ve read a lot of cozy mysteries, so I naturally compare each one to the very best in the genre.

I enjoyed the characters, although I wish the wife and girlfriend had been developed more fully, especially since both were murder suspects. I also found the glimpse into a flight attendant’s life in the 1960s interestingly. The backdrop of the Vietnam War protests added depth to the story, and the disrespect many veterans faced during that era was heartbreaking to read about.

Overall, this was an enjoyable mystery that kept me interested from beginning to end, and I always looked forward to picking it up again. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tammy Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a blast, set in the sixties around the time of when the Vietnam war was going on and the protests against it. We follow Patty Byrne a stewardess who finds her neighbour Charles dead by a stab wound. A vet of the Vietnam war, was he killed by an anti-war proteser, or was it his his ex wife who wanted a divorce, maybe his girlfriend when finding out about the unsigned divorce papers. Patty decides she has to look into this as she feels the cops aren't taking the murder seriously, along the way she meets a cute FBI agent who believes a repeat killer might be the culprit. This was a great light hearted , with some tension, it also gives a taste of life as a sixties air stewardess. I was just as shocked as Patty by who the killers was and didn't guess it till Patty pointed out the reasons. Can't wait for the next one.

I received a free copyright of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a fan of Carly Winter. Her characters are realistic and relatable, and her mysteries are full of twists and turns that make them very entertaining. Dearly Departed had all of those attributes. However, it wasn’t as good as her other books. There was a lot of repetition. I lost track of how many times Patty patted her bob and made sure her curls were in place. There was a lot of “I’m not just a pretty face. I have a brain too,” in the book.
All in all, it was entertaining, but not one of her best books. I believe it was one of her earlier books that she’s republished, so that might be why it’s not as good as her newer stuff.
I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Pat Trattles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy mystery in which stewardess, Patty Byrne, finds her neighbor murdered in his apartment. Dismissed as an airhead stewardess, neither the FBI nor the local police are interested in her take on what might have happened. They are convinced a drug abusing friend is the culprit, an allegation Patty vehemently opposes. Unwilling to let it go, she sets out to find the killer on her own. Along the way we meet an FBI agent who seems to take an interest in Patty, her elderly neighbor, the building super, a hippie couple and many more. The characters were well drawn and although I guessed the culprit early on, it was an enjoyable read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book!

I'm a fan of this author's writing. I didn't love this quite as much as some of her other series, but it was still a fun and enjoyable book. It was really interesting to be reminded of what things were like in the 1960s when this series takes place.

Patty is a stewardess (aka stew) who discovers her neighbor dead in his apartment. She really wants to help solve the mystery, though she is certainly caught up in the way women were thought of back then - pretty much not as intelligent as men, and definitely not in certain professions.

The book's well written with great characters and a good story-line, as with the author's other books. There's a potential romance happening that I hope continues in the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mrs LIR Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read, the mystery was interesting but the whole story of Patti in San Francisco in the height of the Vietnam war and the Counter youth anti war mouvement was fascinating. Also the descriptions of how the Stewardesses on the flights had to look and act a certain way (girdles!!!!) and how they had weekly weigh ins….. were brilliant. I was a teen in the 70s and I realize how much I owe to the ladies who defied the destiny of be at home spouses.

I certainly will look out for more stories in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Teri Radogna-linquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, little cozy mystery with a decent story arc. The main character, Patty is likable but the era of misogyny was difficult to get through, making the female characters seem somewhat one sided. The main male character, FBI agent, Bill was hard to like although he did redeem himself as Patty saved the day by solving the unsolvable mystery. I have high hopes for these characters and look forward to another chapter in any upcoming stories.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for allowing me the opportunity to review this new historical cozy mystery. I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kymm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know whenever I read something by Carly Winter it's going to be a good time and Dearly Departed was no different. When Patty the stewardess finds her neighbor and friend dead in the apartment next door and the police aren't giving it the attention it deserves, she only takes a second to determine if anyone's going to solve this crime, it's going to have to be her. Such a fun story with both funny mishaps and suspect people that kept the pages turning. I did notice a hint of another Patty the stewardess cozy book coming in the future and I'm all in for however long this fun new series goes. Happy Reading!

[Linbur0100 · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours, it was unfortunately a bit too on the nose for a cozy mystery, and that led me to a lower rating. Honestly it's a 3.5 or even 3.75, but that's not an option on this platform and with how blatantly obvious the whodunnit was, I can't justify a 4. But if it were possible to make the mystery a bit more, well, mysterious, that would take it up to at least a 4.

As far as the experience of reading it, it was lovely. I really enjoyed the travel/flight attendant theme and would be very interested in reading more with this theme and FMC.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carole Craddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book because I love this author's work and am working my way through all her books. This one was a total joy to read! The main character showed she had both brains and beauty at a time in history women were not taken seriously. It was very interesting feeling like I was a part of history, living in a very hard time for women, the perils of war, and how different things really were back in the 1960s. I could not find another book in the series but I sure hope one will surface!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 1 in Winter's new Patty Bryne Cozy Mysteries series. A great start to a new series. I love this takes place in the 60's and remembering or reading about things that are no longer commonplace. Main character Patty Byrne shines. I adored her intelligence and determination. I loved how this book kept me guessing until the reveal. A great cozy mystery that has me eager for more in this series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenia Tortora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book set in the 1960s when things were already transitioning from traditional values to more modern ones. Patty sets out to solve the murder of her dear friend and boy oh boy was it fun. She’s got friends and a cast of characters that add to this literary world. Now our dearest and most dashing FBI agent adds another layer that I believe will help this series continue while adding even more fun and adventure.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jessica Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so thrilled that I picked this book up. Not only do I love a good murder mystery (the identity of the killer blew me away), but the 1960's atmosphere was amazing to get myself lost in. I've always been more of a hippie than anything, so it was also fun to get to see things through the eyes of a stewardess instead. Patty is a great character to follow, and it's wild how so many people underestimate her. Hopefully I get to read more books with her solving mysteries soon!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lorraine O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rewrite of a book from 2021 by Carly. Patty is a stewardess, as is her roommate Donna. Donna is the part girl and Patty is the polar opposite. Patty is injured on a flight by a drunken passenger and laid up at home recuperating. She finds her neighbor murdered when she goes to pick up her cat. It is nice book. It's interesting to hear how different airports and flights were back then. Patty spends her time sleuthing. Enjoyable read. I was fairly sure who did it early on, see how long it takes you to figure it out.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new series by Carly Winter. I have read some of her other series and, like those, it is a good cozy mystery. This series takes place in the ‘60s, and it is interesting to me to be reminded of those days, when people smoked in planes, being a stewardess was based on looks, women had very few career choices, and there was a lot of unrest due to the Vietnam War. I look forward to more of this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.