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Piper Green Exeter Mysteries #1
Dead on Deadline
Just as her journalism career in the city is taking off, Piper Greene returns to her tiny New England hometown to care for her beloved aunt, Gladys. She takes a job at the Exeter Independent, where her days are filled with stories of church bazaars, runaway turkeys, and news from the garden club.
Piper assumes her assignment to cover the American Independence Festival, honoring her town’s role in the Revolutionary War, is just another mundane event. But when a body dressed in a Red Coat soldier jacket is found hanged from the top of the historic Town Hall, Piper finds herself in the middle of a murder. The victim is her news editor, Charlotte Campbell, and there is no shortage of people who would be glad to see her dead.
Suspicion quickly lands on the paper’s photographer, who was fired the day before, but Piper cannot believe he is capable of murder. With the help of her high school crush, now a detective, her best friend at the bakery, and the town historian, Piper sets out to prove her friend’s innocence. But as she persists, she learns that unearthing small-town secrets is harder than she thought—and that some parts of local history can be deadly.
Piper assumes her assignment to cover the American Independence Festival, honoring her town’s role in the Revolutionary War, is just another mundane event. But when a body dressed in a Red Coat soldier jacket is found hanged from the top of the historic Town Hall, Piper finds herself in the middle of a murder. The victim is her news editor, Charlotte Campbell, and there is no shortage of people who would be glad to see her dead.
Suspicion quickly lands on the paper’s photographer, who was fired the day before, but Piper cannot believe he is capable of murder. With the help of her high school crush, now a detective, her best friend at the bakery, and the town historian, Piper sets out to prove her friend’s innocence. But as she persists, she learns that unearthing small-town secrets is harder than she thought—and that some parts of local history can be deadly.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2021
25 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Lara Bricker
5 books45 followersLara Bricker is the author of the true crime book Lie After Lie: The True Story of a Master of Deception, Betrayal and Murder (Berkley November 2010).
Lara is a freelance writer in Exeter, New Hampshire with over a decade of experience writing and reporting on crime and justice issues. Her work has appeared in the Portsmouth Herald, the Exeter News-Letter, the Hampton Union, Woman’s World magazine, and The Boston Globe. In 2008, she covered the first death penalty case to go to trial in New Hampshire in almost fifty years for the Associated Press.
As a news reporter, she has received numerous awards from both the New Hampshire Press Association and the New England Newspaper & Press Association for her crime and investigative reporting. Bricker is currently a private detective in New Hampshire where she works as a criminal defense investigator. She also writes a parenting blog for the Seacoast Media Group called Mom’s the Word at http://blogs.seacoastonline.com/seaco...
Lara is a freelance writer in Exeter, New Hampshire with over a decade of experience writing and reporting on crime and justice issues. Her work has appeared in the Portsmouth Herald, the Exeter News-Letter, the Hampton Union, Woman’s World magazine, and The Boston Globe. In 2008, she covered the first death penalty case to go to trial in New Hampshire in almost fifty years for the Associated Press.
As a news reporter, she has received numerous awards from both the New Hampshire Press Association and the New England Newspaper & Press Association for her crime and investigative reporting. Bricker is currently a private detective in New Hampshire where she works as a criminal defense investigator. She also writes a parenting blog for the Seacoast Media Group called Mom’s the Word at http://blogs.seacoastonline.com/seaco...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 7, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut cozy mystery! I'm a huge fan of the amazing CWO podcast, which is where I became familiar with Lara Bricker. When she announced her book I pre-ordered the Kindle version for me and a print copy for my mom. Cozy isn't the sub-genre that I read most, however I was hooked from the start with Dead on Deadline. The characters were fun and the story was intriguing and engaging from start to finish. Loved the Easter eggs from CWO podcasts sprinkled throughout--I won't give them away here, readers will have to seek them out themselves! Great read. Can't wait to see what Piper gets mixed up in next! A tip o' the deerstalker to Lara Bricker!
October 22, 2021
I know Lara, and the newsroom and areas she is writing about, so I enjoyed this on several levels. Even if you don't know Lara, read this. It's fun
September 1, 2021
I hope there are many more books in this series! I've never been a small town girl but this book made me want to move to New Hampshire so I can solve crimes with my new best friend Piper. So many twists and turns, hurry up Hallmark and make the movie already!
October 18, 2021
This book is so delightful.
February 6, 2022
This was a cute cozy mystery and I enjoyed it, the characters were fun and I never guessed who the murderer was so that is a good thing!
January 5, 2022
This was a fun book to read. This book was written by an author from my hometown who used to write for the newsletter in my hometown. I was never too keen on her as a writer for the newsletter, but this book was a page turner. I think I probably enjoyed it more than most due to the fact that the book took place in my hometown and I could picture every single scene in the book. The front cover of the book is a view of downtown from the side of the river I played on a lot as a kid. I can see the building that I took Driver's Ed in, and the alleyway where I walked with my high school crush after Driver's Ed. I was not smooth. My Dover friends call me Dr. Lumpy.
This book takes place during the Revolutionary Days and the book starts with a Redcoat plopping off the side of the town hall. Dead as hell. Like really dead, not reenactment dead. I am sorry that is a spoiler a little bit, but only if you were planning on just reading the first two pages of the book and then stopping. Which would make you kind of weird. So buzz off. But anyways I laughed. A LOT. What a fun way to start the book. I remember telling my mother in law about it, as she bought me the book(thanks :) ) and me telling her that a confederate soldier had been thrown off the roof and she was like, umm, didn't know there were Civil War battles up here. Woopsiess. Redcoats. Tories. And Whigs. That war. And basically the rest of the book is a whodunnit, and only like a tiny bit of a twist, which is why I wasn't like doing backflips over the book and gave it three stars. But I read it in two days basically. It really was a page-turner. I could see her doing a follow up book on something strange happening at the UFO Festival. My brother-in-law would LOVE that. See, my hometown has a famous UFO incident named after it from like the 1960s. Little known fact. It wasn't actually in my hometown but the tiny farm town next to it. In a field I used to drive by almost daily in high school to my buddy's house, a UFO supposedly almost decked this kid walking home. So now they have a UFO festival in my hometown. We crazy. But that's her next book. Calling it.
This book takes place during the Revolutionary Days and the book starts with a Redcoat plopping off the side of the town hall. Dead as hell. Like really dead, not reenactment dead. I am sorry that is a spoiler a little bit, but only if you were planning on just reading the first two pages of the book and then stopping. Which would make you kind of weird. So buzz off. But anyways I laughed. A LOT. What a fun way to start the book. I remember telling my mother in law about it, as she bought me the book(thanks :) ) and me telling her that a confederate soldier had been thrown off the roof and she was like, umm, didn't know there were Civil War battles up here. Woopsiess. Redcoats. Tories. And Whigs. That war. And basically the rest of the book is a whodunnit, and only like a tiny bit of a twist, which is why I wasn't like doing backflips over the book and gave it three stars. But I read it in two days basically. It really was a page-turner. I could see her doing a follow up book on something strange happening at the UFO Festival. My brother-in-law would LOVE that. See, my hometown has a famous UFO incident named after it from like the 1960s. Little known fact. It wasn't actually in my hometown but the tiny farm town next to it. In a field I used to drive by almost daily in high school to my buddy's house, a UFO supposedly almost decked this kid walking home. So now they have a UFO festival in my hometown. We crazy. But that's her next book. Calling it.
December 3, 2021
I read all day at work; so when I read for fun, my brain needs a vacation. Especially when I have a few days off work, lately I’m most drawn to easy mysteries and thrillers.
In that realm, Lara Bricker’s release is a breath of fresh air. Not all books in this genre have the best writing, even if the plot is entertaining. This one is well-written with more thought put into its characters and setting.
For anyone who’s worked in a newsroom, especially a smaller one, it has the added benefit of capturing the mood of a quickly changing industry. Piper’s life mimics that of some of us who’ve spent hours scrolling through microfilm and cranked out stories to fill space in print. We’ve consoled our colleagues who lost their jobs and kept fighting to cover our communities. We’ve written things that are a complete waste of our talents, but felt good about it because it brightens the day for one group of people. We’ve been yelled at by irate community members and hid from them when they show up at the front desk (and we’ve felt unsettled about the ease with which irate community members can hunt us down). We’ve had to drop interesting research to run to take a lame photo because we don’t have a photographer available. You can’t cover a murder case if you have to cover three other beats. Lara perfectly and comically encapsulates newsroom archetypes in a way that might seem off the wall to those who don’t know that her depiction of a small-town newsroom is so close to reality all over the U.S.
For non-journalists, maybe this look at a small-town paper experience will enlighten them about why it’s important to support local news, and why it’s so easy to be corrupt in small town government when no one is watching. But this review isn’t a push for supporting dying local news. It’s a comment on Lara’s ability to capture that mood in an entertaining way alongside an intriguing story, with vibrant characters and a unique setting that she’s suited to recreate for fiction. And it effortlessly sets the scene for future stories. Looking forward to more!
In that realm, Lara Bricker’s release is a breath of fresh air. Not all books in this genre have the best writing, even if the plot is entertaining. This one is well-written with more thought put into its characters and setting.
For anyone who’s worked in a newsroom, especially a smaller one, it has the added benefit of capturing the mood of a quickly changing industry. Piper’s life mimics that of some of us who’ve spent hours scrolling through microfilm and cranked out stories to fill space in print. We’ve consoled our colleagues who lost their jobs and kept fighting to cover our communities. We’ve written things that are a complete waste of our talents, but felt good about it because it brightens the day for one group of people. We’ve been yelled at by irate community members and hid from them when they show up at the front desk (and we’ve felt unsettled about the ease with which irate community members can hunt us down). We’ve had to drop interesting research to run to take a lame photo because we don’t have a photographer available. You can’t cover a murder case if you have to cover three other beats. Lara perfectly and comically encapsulates newsroom archetypes in a way that might seem off the wall to those who don’t know that her depiction of a small-town newsroom is so close to reality all over the U.S.
For non-journalists, maybe this look at a small-town paper experience will enlighten them about why it’s important to support local news, and why it’s so easy to be corrupt in small town government when no one is watching. But this review isn’t a push for supporting dying local news. It’s a comment on Lara’s ability to capture that mood in an entertaining way alongside an intriguing story, with vibrant characters and a unique setting that she’s suited to recreate for fiction. And it effortlessly sets the scene for future stories. Looking forward to more!
September 29, 2022
Piper Greene feels like she's taken a bit of a step backwards in her life. She loves her tiny town of Exeter, NH, but she wasn't expecting to be back living there again. But her beloved aunt Gladys needs her help, and luckily there's a place for her at the town newspaper, even if it's writing all fluff pieces. When her news editor ends up dead in a Revolutionary War outfit and her coworker is one of the suspects, Piper can't stop herself from trying to find out what happened.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery from Lara Bricker, one of the crime writers of the podcast "Crime Writers On". She deftly captures the feel of small town New England, from the quirky residents to the nosy neighbors to the distrust of strangers. The mystery is well-woven, not letting you figure it out too far ahead of Piper. The second book is coming out next month, and I am looking forward to reading it!
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery from Lara Bricker, one of the crime writers of the podcast "Crime Writers On". She deftly captures the feel of small town New England, from the quirky residents to the nosy neighbors to the distrust of strangers. The mystery is well-woven, not letting you figure it out too far ahead of Piper. The second book is coming out next month, and I am looking forward to reading it!
September 10, 2021
Perfect cozy mystery!
I love cozy mysteries, and this has quickly become one of my favorites. This story is the best modern version of Miss Marple and Murder She Wrote that I've read, with just enough romantic tension thrown in to keep things interesting.
Some cozies fall into the same traps, spending too much time on ridiculous romance storylines, inane dialogue, and the like. Bricker does none of those things, and excellently crafts a story that has me wanting to visit Exeter, try a raspberry white chocolate scone, and maybe watch a duck race.
I can't wait for the next book in this series.
I love cozy mysteries, and this has quickly become one of my favorites. This story is the best modern version of Miss Marple and Murder She Wrote that I've read, with just enough romantic tension thrown in to keep things interesting.
Some cozies fall into the same traps, spending too much time on ridiculous romance storylines, inane dialogue, and the like. Bricker does none of those things, and excellently crafts a story that has me wanting to visit Exeter, try a raspberry white chocolate scone, and maybe watch a duck race.
I can't wait for the next book in this series.
July 25, 2022
I'm a fan of the CWO podcast on which Lara is one of the team which rates crime-related and other programming. Living in NH, I attended a live airing of the podcast a few years ago and even bought my copy of the book at Lara's hometown bookstore. So I totally enjoyed meeting Piper Greene and following her adventures in Exeter. The town characters were brought to life and showed how a small town can have all kinds of people - and drama! I'm looking forward to the next installment of Piper Greene's adventures!
October 6, 2021
Piper Greene moves back to her quaint hometown in New Hampshire to take care of her aunt and work at the local newspaper. When a dead body falls at her feet, she finds herself in the middle of her own whodunnit! The town and the book are packed full of colorful characters who keep every page interesting. Can you solve the mystery before Piper unravels the story? This was a quick and light cozy mystery read that is perfect for fans of Murder She Wrote.
October 18, 2022
I don't know when the last time I read fiction. Probably before November 8, 2016. This was a very gentle re-entry into reading for enjoyment again. It's the most gentle murder mystery set in the coziest, quaintest surrounds (Jessica Fletcher, eat your heart out). A very fun, very fast read. I think it may be self published and I'm usually a little leery of self-published tomes, but this was absolutely enjoyable
June 26, 2023
Lara Bricker's "Dead on Deadline" is an enjoyable mystery, so well-written that I easily imagined walking the streets of Exeter, exploring the cleverly named shops, and observing the cast of characters. I smiled when I read Lara's witty remark about Piper, "my brain moved miles ahead of my mouth and I blurted out thoughts that were too blunt , , , it was a struggle to keep my lips zipped." You can't help but like Piper but Gladys is my favorite.
November 27, 2021
This cozy murder mystery was such a fun read! I enjoyed “meeting” Piper Greene and her cast of characters. I felt like an Exeter insider and I’ve already looked into local B&Bs so I can visit and perhaps pick up a white chocolate raspberry scone. I can’t wait for the next book so I can immerse myself in this cozy town and read along while trying to solve whodunnit!
March 18, 2022
I love Lara Bricker on CWO and was so excited to read this book. I enjoy this kind of mystery where a likable character moves around an appealing town interacting with people and collecting information without any true danger. My only issue was the Kindle version I read needed some better editing.
October 18, 2021
Fun cast of characters that I look forward to reading about again. Took my time reading because I know there will be a wait for the next installment in the series.
And it’s great to have an autographed book from Lara Bricker.
And it’s great to have an autographed book from Lara Bricker.
January 3, 2022
Quick cozy mystery set in a fictitious version of Exeter, NH. It was great to meet the people of the town and I am looking forward to more of Piper’s adventures in solving murders while she works at the paper.
February 27, 2022
A happy ending mystery. I can't wait to read the next book in this delightful (I hope) series. The writing is discriptive and full of current references. Lara made me feel that I was right there with Piper, her positive attitude main character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2022
I wasn't expecting much from this cozy mystery, but I was really charmed by the writing and the characters. The author often describes her hometown of Exeter, NH as "quaint AF" and that sentiment is aptly captured here.
October 10, 2023
I loved this cozy mystery. I could hear Lara’s voice in the story and that made it so fun. The twist, was unexpected, which is what makes a good story. Good character development.
Piper is a younger version of Murder She Wrote :-)
Piper is a younger version of Murder She Wrote :-)
September 22, 2021
This is fun with colourful characters.
A good, easy read.
A good, easy read.
November 4, 2021
Enjoyed the characters in the book and interesting to see the portrayal of Exeter as it always seemed so different from the other towns in southeastern NH.
November 23, 2021
True rating is probably 3.5 stars. This book is the definition of a cozy mystery. I really enjoyed it and even laughed out loud a few times. Aunt Gladys is my favorite!
December 23, 2021
A really fun and sweet small town Murder mystery with lively characters, delicious food descriptions and an enjoyable plot. It was a great, cozy read.
March 2, 2022
Enjoyed it.
May 16, 2022
A very good cozy mystery. Fun & quick read.
June 14, 2022
The book started slow but definitely picked in the last 1/3. I guessed the killer fairly early on, which is something I rarely do. It was a great lay-by-the-pool read. Looking forward to the sequel.
December 4, 2022
Sorry, but this is really poorly written. I made it through to the end, but it was painful to slog through this. I would not recommend it and will not read the next in this series.
January 29, 2023
Cozy mystery that kept me engaged and guessing to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews