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Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles #1
Death Wears a Crimson Hat
Secrets, gossip, and a murder that could reveal all.
Harry Thurgood just wants a quiet life, and to leave his past in the past. And he thinks he’s found the perfect place in sleepy Magnolia bluff, Texas. Until the murder of a prominent citizen threatens to let the skeletons out of his closet.
Quiet and unassuming, the Reverend Ember Cole wants nothing more than to be a good pastor to her congregation. And when her friendship with Harry threatens her job, she has to choose between friendship and the church.
However, when the murder is pinned on Ember, Harry decides he and Ember have to find the real killer to keep Ember out of jail and Harry’s past in the past.
But when Harry and Ember are almost killed in a hit and run, they realize the killer will stop at nothing to avoid being found. Even if he has to kill again.
Death Wears a Crimson Hat by CW Hawes is the first book in the new multi-author crime series: The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Each book in the series will be written by one of The Undergound Authors and will feature action, suspense, humor, and, of course, murder.
Get in on the action today, and see if you can solve the mystery!
Harry Thurgood just wants a quiet life, and to leave his past in the past. And he thinks he’s found the perfect place in sleepy Magnolia bluff, Texas. Until the murder of a prominent citizen threatens to let the skeletons out of his closet.
Quiet and unassuming, the Reverend Ember Cole wants nothing more than to be a good pastor to her congregation. And when her friendship with Harry threatens her job, she has to choose between friendship and the church.
However, when the murder is pinned on Ember, Harry decides he and Ember have to find the real killer to keep Ember out of jail and Harry’s past in the past.
But when Harry and Ember are almost killed in a hit and run, they realize the killer will stop at nothing to avoid being found. Even if he has to kill again.
Death Wears a Crimson Hat by CW Hawes is the first book in the new multi-author crime series: The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Each book in the series will be written by one of The Undergound Authors and will feature action, suspense, humor, and, of course, murder.
Get in on the action today, and see if you can solve the mystery!
- GenresMystery
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2022
85 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
C.W. Hawes
51 books49 followersI was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and have lived in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota for the past forty-five years, with occasional sojourns here and there. My interests range far and wide, but
I don't do windows and I'm not a good dancer. I do like to cook, though, and am especially fascinated by steam power, sailing ships, airships, streamlined locomotives and automobiles, and all things streamline moderne.
I don't do windows and I'm not a good dancer. I do like to cook, though, and am especially fascinated by steam power, sailing ships, airships, streamlined locomotives and automobiles, and all things streamline moderne.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 23, 2023
C.W. Hawes is a seasoned author. I've read several of his books and I appreciate his diversity and creativity. From metaphysical science to steampunk, to paranormal, to private investigative mysteries, he now has written a wonderful cozy mystery. One of nine underground writers, Hawes kicks off the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles, Death Wears a Hat.
Magnolia Bluff, Texas, is small. The kind where gossip flies like honeybees to a nectarous flower. The main character Harry Thurgood is easy-going and leads a simple life, though he stands guard over a dark past he chooses to protect. He develops a strong relationship with the lovely Reverend Ember Cole and becomes a guardian angel over her when one of the Red Hat Society members is murdered, and shortly thereafter, the leader of the society, Mary Lou Fight, is run down. Ember and Harry become suspects. The two are committed to finding the killer and absolving themselves from any suspicion.
Hawes has painted a wonderful, detailed mystery with colorful, well-fleshed-out characters. The plot will keep you guessing to the end. A book that deserves a five-star rating. Good work C.W.
Magnolia Bluff, Texas, is small. The kind where gossip flies like honeybees to a nectarous flower. The main character Harry Thurgood is easy-going and leads a simple life, though he stands guard over a dark past he chooses to protect. He develops a strong relationship with the lovely Reverend Ember Cole and becomes a guardian angel over her when one of the Red Hat Society members is murdered, and shortly thereafter, the leader of the society, Mary Lou Fight, is run down. Ember and Harry become suspects. The two are committed to finding the killer and absolving themselves from any suspicion.
Hawes has painted a wonderful, detailed mystery with colorful, well-fleshed-out characters. The plot will keep you guessing to the end. A book that deserves a five-star rating. Good work C.W.
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November 27, 2023Featured on Lone Star Book Blog Tours.
January 12, 2024
Fantastic! Everyone needs to visit Magnolia Bluff!
August 31, 2022
Having read and enjoyed several of this author’s books, I couldn’t wait to delve into this book in this new multi-author crime series. Just as Hawes’s other reads, I was immediately drawn into the story.
In Magnolia Bluff, the Crimson Hat Society has a prominent place in the town’s society. But as exists in most groups, there are power struggles, grudges, and yes, secrets. Oh, yes … and did I mention murder? And attempted murder?
Harry Thurgood, who has left his past behind for a quiet life, has deep feelings for the Reverend Ember Cole … who has also left her past behind. Caring about her as he does, there’s no way he’s going to let her take the fall when a member of the Hat society is murdered and another is run down by a car.
What I really enjoyed about this book was the author’s sharp storytelling and how adeptly he created a world of crafty and fascinating people. While these characters are so far from people I know, as humans, we still have much in common. Emotions, fears, unresolved anger, jealousy, and much more … can be life-changing. Few people can truly leave the past behind … and many cannot cope with the present.
The tension in Magnolia Bluff stayed with me throughout the story … and as the characters revealed more and more about themselves, the intrigue grew … and I lost count of the number of surprises that revealed themselves. I loved the main characters and I know they have amazing stories untold in this novel. I hope to read them one day.
An excellent book!
In Magnolia Bluff, the Crimson Hat Society has a prominent place in the town’s society. But as exists in most groups, there are power struggles, grudges, and yes, secrets. Oh, yes … and did I mention murder? And attempted murder?
Harry Thurgood, who has left his past behind for a quiet life, has deep feelings for the Reverend Ember Cole … who has also left her past behind. Caring about her as he does, there’s no way he’s going to let her take the fall when a member of the Hat society is murdered and another is run down by a car.
What I really enjoyed about this book was the author’s sharp storytelling and how adeptly he created a world of crafty and fascinating people. While these characters are so far from people I know, as humans, we still have much in common. Emotions, fears, unresolved anger, jealousy, and much more … can be life-changing. Few people can truly leave the past behind … and many cannot cope with the present.
The tension in Magnolia Bluff stayed with me throughout the story … and as the characters revealed more and more about themselves, the intrigue grew … and I lost count of the number of surprises that revealed themselves. I loved the main characters and I know they have amazing stories untold in this novel. I hope to read them one day.
An excellent book!
April 22, 2022
Magnolia Bluff is a quiet, little community tucked back into the Texas Hill Country, not far from the shores of Barnet Reservoir. It is a portrait of almost any small town in America with its Pioneer and Victorian homes and its village green. Everyone knows everyone, and no one completely trusts a stranger who happens to wander into their midst and have the audacity to settle down. It’s calm and it’s peaceful, but Magnolia Bluff is a town with a lot of secrets, some of them deadly.
Acclaimed author CW Hawes knows. He’s been hanging around Magnolia Bluff for a while. He listens to the gossip. He picks up the rumors. He knows who’s mad at whom and why. And, within the pages of Death Wears a Crimson Hat, he ushers us into book one of a multi-author series that deals with the Crime Chronicles of Magnolia Bluff.
The ladies of the Crimson Hat Society are collectively the face of high society in town. And the most important Crimson Hat of all belongs to Mary Lou Fight. Receiving an invitation to join her social group is the greatest honor any woman in town can receive. But there are secrets better forgotten lurking within the Crimson Hats that threaten to tear the organization apart.
Mary Lou loves tradition. It’s tradition, she believes, that holds Magnolia Bluff together, and she is not at all pleased that a woman, the lovely Reverend Ember Cole, has come to town as pastor of the Methodist Church. That’s not right, she thinks. That’s not the way it’s done. Ember Cole has to go, and Mary Lou herself will lead the fight to have her thrown out of church and town.
As CW writes, Ember “smoothed her skirt, cast a glance at the Hats, and saw Mary Lou looking at her. She smiled at the Queen of the Magnolia Bluff Society of Gossips, Backbiters, and Character Assassins. Once outside, she stopped, took hold of the cross that hung on a chain around her neck, and whispered. ‘Anytime, Lord. Anytime.’”
There’s nothing as vicious as a woman scorned unless it’s the woman doing the scorning, the one guilty of digging up dirt on someone.
Alas, murder strikes in Magnolia Bluff and one of the fabled Crimson Hats is dead. Mary Lou blames Ember. Mary Lou accuses Ember Cole of murder, and she has a good chance for making the charge it stick. After all, the reverend is new in town. She’s virtually a stranger. She will, Mary Lou says, do anything to keep her pastorate.
Ember has few who will support her, at least in public. But Harry Thurgood will. He’s determined to prove her innocence. Harry is the owner of the Really Good Wood-Fired Coffee Shop. He’s new in town as well. He’s rich. He’s not selling a lot of coffee. He’s a man of mystery. No one knows his past, and Harry would prefer to keep it that way.
CW Hawes cleverly opens old wounds and reveals dark secrets as his story sets Magnolia Bluff on fire, and we watch it burn and smolder as a small-town police force struggles to solve a crime that has everyone baffled. CW has masterfully written a wonderful old-fashioned mystery that works its way through a town full of fascinating and eccentric characters, a place where nothing is as it appears to be, including the murderer. CW’s Magnolia Bluff is definitely a place you’ll want to visit again and again.
Acclaimed author CW Hawes knows. He’s been hanging around Magnolia Bluff for a while. He listens to the gossip. He picks up the rumors. He knows who’s mad at whom and why. And, within the pages of Death Wears a Crimson Hat, he ushers us into book one of a multi-author series that deals with the Crime Chronicles of Magnolia Bluff.
The ladies of the Crimson Hat Society are collectively the face of high society in town. And the most important Crimson Hat of all belongs to Mary Lou Fight. Receiving an invitation to join her social group is the greatest honor any woman in town can receive. But there are secrets better forgotten lurking within the Crimson Hats that threaten to tear the organization apart.
Mary Lou loves tradition. It’s tradition, she believes, that holds Magnolia Bluff together, and she is not at all pleased that a woman, the lovely Reverend Ember Cole, has come to town as pastor of the Methodist Church. That’s not right, she thinks. That’s not the way it’s done. Ember Cole has to go, and Mary Lou herself will lead the fight to have her thrown out of church and town.
As CW writes, Ember “smoothed her skirt, cast a glance at the Hats, and saw Mary Lou looking at her. She smiled at the Queen of the Magnolia Bluff Society of Gossips, Backbiters, and Character Assassins. Once outside, she stopped, took hold of the cross that hung on a chain around her neck, and whispered. ‘Anytime, Lord. Anytime.’”
There’s nothing as vicious as a woman scorned unless it’s the woman doing the scorning, the one guilty of digging up dirt on someone.
Alas, murder strikes in Magnolia Bluff and one of the fabled Crimson Hats is dead. Mary Lou blames Ember. Mary Lou accuses Ember Cole of murder, and she has a good chance for making the charge it stick. After all, the reverend is new in town. She’s virtually a stranger. She will, Mary Lou says, do anything to keep her pastorate.
Ember has few who will support her, at least in public. But Harry Thurgood will. He’s determined to prove her innocence. Harry is the owner of the Really Good Wood-Fired Coffee Shop. He’s new in town as well. He’s rich. He’s not selling a lot of coffee. He’s a man of mystery. No one knows his past, and Harry would prefer to keep it that way.
CW Hawes cleverly opens old wounds and reveals dark secrets as his story sets Magnolia Bluff on fire, and we watch it burn and smolder as a small-town police force struggles to solve a crime that has everyone baffled. CW has masterfully written a wonderful old-fashioned mystery that works its way through a town full of fascinating and eccentric characters, a place where nothing is as it appears to be, including the murderer. CW’s Magnolia Bluff is definitely a place you’ll want to visit again and again.
May 2, 2022
Fans of the good old-fashioned whodunit are in for a real treat with C W Hawes ‘Death Wears a Crimson Hat.’ Set in the sleepy town of Magnolia Bluff, Texas, this delightful tale will keep you amused and entertained on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
The stars of the show and newcomers to the town are Harry Thurgood and the Reverend Ember Cole whose whimsical name is a testament to C W Hawe’s wit. And who else but Hawes could come up with a name like The Really Good Wood-Fired Coffee Shop for Harry Thurgood’s cafe? It is here that The Crimson Hat Society - a little coterie of Magnolia Bluff’s well-heeled women - meet up to create their mischief; their sole aim being to gossip and perform character assassinations on unfortunate individuals they happen to dislike.
Queen of the Hats is Mary Lou Fight who wastes no time in sullying the Rev Ember Cole’s reputation, determined to rid the town of her presence. She has made sure that Ember’s relationship with Harry is a hot topic, despite it being no more than platonic. Harry would like to take things further, but Ember is reluctant to do so and he has to content himself with her friendship. Whatever Ember’s reasons, the pair engage in a lot of playful banter and Harry feels protective towards her.
When one of the Hats is murdered, rumours abound and Mary Lou Fight is swift to point the finger at the Reverend. Given her now tainted reputation and the fact that newcomers aren’t easily accepted within the close-knit community, she becomes the main suspect and Harry immediately springs to her defence. Together, they take on the role of Amateur sleuths. Their efforts to solve the mystery are thrown into disarray following an attempt on Harry’s life and more murders that ensue in this quiet backwater. The fun part of this cosy mystery is pitting your wits against the pair as they unearth the clues, the author doing a good job of keeping the reader guessing.
There is a delightful, light-hearted humour at play that sweeps through the pages like a breath of fresh air. I loved the characters of Scarlett and Jessamine with their irrepressible sexual appetites and amusing innermost thoughts. Harry Thurgood is such a likeable guy that I wanted to visit The Really Good Wood-Fired Coffee Shop and chat to him while drinking one of his exotic coffees.
This is the first book in a multi-author collection, entitled ‘The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles’ and C W Hawes has certainly kicked the series off to a great start. The storytelling is superb and he has a wonderful easy-flowing style. It’s worth noting that his books are always meticulously edited, making them a pleasure to read.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable bit of escapism and the start of what promises to be an entertaining series. 5*
The stars of the show and newcomers to the town are Harry Thurgood and the Reverend Ember Cole whose whimsical name is a testament to C W Hawe’s wit. And who else but Hawes could come up with a name like The Really Good Wood-Fired Coffee Shop for Harry Thurgood’s cafe? It is here that The Crimson Hat Society - a little coterie of Magnolia Bluff’s well-heeled women - meet up to create their mischief; their sole aim being to gossip and perform character assassinations on unfortunate individuals they happen to dislike.
Queen of the Hats is Mary Lou Fight who wastes no time in sullying the Rev Ember Cole’s reputation, determined to rid the town of her presence. She has made sure that Ember’s relationship with Harry is a hot topic, despite it being no more than platonic. Harry would like to take things further, but Ember is reluctant to do so and he has to content himself with her friendship. Whatever Ember’s reasons, the pair engage in a lot of playful banter and Harry feels protective towards her.
When one of the Hats is murdered, rumours abound and Mary Lou Fight is swift to point the finger at the Reverend. Given her now tainted reputation and the fact that newcomers aren’t easily accepted within the close-knit community, she becomes the main suspect and Harry immediately springs to her defence. Together, they take on the role of Amateur sleuths. Their efforts to solve the mystery are thrown into disarray following an attempt on Harry’s life and more murders that ensue in this quiet backwater. The fun part of this cosy mystery is pitting your wits against the pair as they unearth the clues, the author doing a good job of keeping the reader guessing.
There is a delightful, light-hearted humour at play that sweeps through the pages like a breath of fresh air. I loved the characters of Scarlett and Jessamine with their irrepressible sexual appetites and amusing innermost thoughts. Harry Thurgood is such a likeable guy that I wanted to visit The Really Good Wood-Fired Coffee Shop and chat to him while drinking one of his exotic coffees.
This is the first book in a multi-author collection, entitled ‘The Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles’ and C W Hawes has certainly kicked the series off to a great start. The storytelling is superb and he has a wonderful easy-flowing style. It’s worth noting that his books are always meticulously edited, making them a pleasure to read.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable bit of escapism and the start of what promises to be an entertaining series. 5*
May 5, 2022
Author CW Hawes knows how to open a mystery with some odd ingredients. Key characters start with Ember, and Harry Thurgood, a female reverend, and the new owner of Really Good Wood-Fired Coffee Shop. Who would have thought to start in this small Texas town with probably the most unlikely couple as your centerpiece? CW does a great job of character development through sparse but succinct dialog that has your imagination painting characters mentally like crazy.
For example, this opening sequence of the relationship between Harry and Ember sets the tone for the friendship, banter, and even a light trust, before everything turns upside down.
Ember began eating, and, after a moment, Harry said, “So why is it you come here every morning instead of going to the Silver Spoon or the Flower? Everyone’s there. You’d have the low down on what’s going on around town in five minutes flat. Wait. Don’t tell me. It’s my coffee.” He gave her a big grin.
“I didn’t order a side of ham.”
Harry laughed, and then became serious. “Is it the coffee?”
Ember smiled. “In part. You brew up some pretty exotic stuff.” She paused, then continued, “To tell the truth, I feel out of place over there at the Spoon. All men. They clam up when they see me. And it’s no better at the B and B. We’re outsiders, you and me. Small towns don’t trust outsiders.”
“No, they don’t.”
“And they especially don’t trust women ministers.”
There is outstanding attention to detail, characters, and snappy dialogue. The interconnected situations and events make one feel like the whole town is a stage for this murder mystery. You become immersed in the intrigue, backstabbing, character assassination, adult conversations, and some murders that build fast. My biggest complaint about the story was that I couldn’t do my day job because I kept turning pages.
CW proves you can create the idyllic small town without the big-city bustle. However, you can still let loose the emotionally disturbed with their hidden psychopathic hostilities to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting town folk. The surprising twists and turns keep readers guessing about the killer to the end.
This story engages the readers from start to finish. Magnolia Bluff is a town with interesting people and stories galore. If you enjoy book one of the series, you'll need to grab the subsequent books delivered by members of The Underground Authors. You won’t want to miss even one of these stories.
I’ve enjoyed other works by CW Hawes, but this series is sizzling hot. I highly recommend this cozy mystery because of the readable writing style, excellent character development, and zigs and zags that compel you to keep reading. Well done, Mr. Hawes; thanks for a great read.
For example, this opening sequence of the relationship between Harry and Ember sets the tone for the friendship, banter, and even a light trust, before everything turns upside down.
Ember began eating, and, after a moment, Harry said, “So why is it you come here every morning instead of going to the Silver Spoon or the Flower? Everyone’s there. You’d have the low down on what’s going on around town in five minutes flat. Wait. Don’t tell me. It’s my coffee.” He gave her a big grin.
“I didn’t order a side of ham.”
Harry laughed, and then became serious. “Is it the coffee?”
Ember smiled. “In part. You brew up some pretty exotic stuff.” She paused, then continued, “To tell the truth, I feel out of place over there at the Spoon. All men. They clam up when they see me. And it’s no better at the B and B. We’re outsiders, you and me. Small towns don’t trust outsiders.”
“No, they don’t.”
“And they especially don’t trust women ministers.”
There is outstanding attention to detail, characters, and snappy dialogue. The interconnected situations and events make one feel like the whole town is a stage for this murder mystery. You become immersed in the intrigue, backstabbing, character assassination, adult conversations, and some murders that build fast. My biggest complaint about the story was that I couldn’t do my day job because I kept turning pages.
CW proves you can create the idyllic small town without the big-city bustle. However, you can still let loose the emotionally disturbed with their hidden psychopathic hostilities to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting town folk. The surprising twists and turns keep readers guessing about the killer to the end.
This story engages the readers from start to finish. Magnolia Bluff is a town with interesting people and stories galore. If you enjoy book one of the series, you'll need to grab the subsequent books delivered by members of The Underground Authors. You won’t want to miss even one of these stories.
I’ve enjoyed other works by CW Hawes, but this series is sizzling hot. I highly recommend this cozy mystery because of the readable writing style, excellent character development, and zigs and zags that compel you to keep reading. Well done, Mr. Hawes; thanks for a great read.
April 19, 2022
The thought of small, southern towns can evoke a sense of coziness. When I picture living in one, I imagine a less complicated, easy-going life. I think about meeting friendly folk and going to a local bakery that serves lots of yummy pastries. The fictional town of Magnolia Bluff does have an excellent bakery, and there are good people living there. However, there’s also an element that makes it less then desirable. That element is made up of southern ladies. They call themselves the Crimson Hat Society and are often referred to as the Hats.
The Hats are led by a clever woman named Mary Lou who has an aptitude for finding out the secrets others want to bury. She also uses insinuation and rumor to turn residents of Magnolia Bluff against whomever Mary Lou deems unacceptable. Seemingly safe to say and do as she pleases, Mary Lou uses her knowledge and her tongue to control and punish in whatever way she sees fit. As her power to inflict her will on others grows, whoever she chooses as her next victim better be prepared for a venomous attack. Some will be forced to pack their bags and leave Magnolia Bluff.
The Reverend Ember Cole becomes that perfect victim. Targeted by the Hats, she knows her position as a minister will be short lived. As she and her close friend, Harry, try to find a way to foil Mary Lou’s group, a member of the group is murdered. When Ember becomes a prime suspect, she and Harry are desperate to uncover the true murderer.
“Death Wears A Crimson Hat” is a well-written mystery. It’s filled with characters, especially members of the Hats, who are deeply flawed and very believable. Mary Lou’s unprincipled character is one that evokes both dread and disgust. So, I’d have to say that the author, CW Hawes, definitely elicited an emotional response in this reader. Hawes also used character personalities, dialog and action in a way that kept me completely engaged throughout the book. Great job, Mr. Hawes! This is a story that I can highly recommend.
It’s also the first in a series called Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Each book is being written by a different author. I’m very excited to read the second book, “Eulogy in Black and White” by Caleb Pirtle. CW Hawes has snagged my curiosity, and I can’t wait to know what Magnolia Bluff’s unsavory citizens are up to next.
The Hats are led by a clever woman named Mary Lou who has an aptitude for finding out the secrets others want to bury. She also uses insinuation and rumor to turn residents of Magnolia Bluff against whomever Mary Lou deems unacceptable. Seemingly safe to say and do as she pleases, Mary Lou uses her knowledge and her tongue to control and punish in whatever way she sees fit. As her power to inflict her will on others grows, whoever she chooses as her next victim better be prepared for a venomous attack. Some will be forced to pack their bags and leave Magnolia Bluff.
The Reverend Ember Cole becomes that perfect victim. Targeted by the Hats, she knows her position as a minister will be short lived. As she and her close friend, Harry, try to find a way to foil Mary Lou’s group, a member of the group is murdered. When Ember becomes a prime suspect, she and Harry are desperate to uncover the true murderer.
“Death Wears A Crimson Hat” is a well-written mystery. It’s filled with characters, especially members of the Hats, who are deeply flawed and very believable. Mary Lou’s unprincipled character is one that evokes both dread and disgust. So, I’d have to say that the author, CW Hawes, definitely elicited an emotional response in this reader. Hawes also used character personalities, dialog and action in a way that kept me completely engaged throughout the book. Great job, Mr. Hawes! This is a story that I can highly recommend.
It’s also the first in a series called Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Each book is being written by a different author. I’m very excited to read the second book, “Eulogy in Black and White” by Caleb Pirtle. CW Hawes has snagged my curiosity, and I can’t wait to know what Magnolia Bluff’s unsavory citizens are up to next.
November 29, 2023
“All I know is that there are good people, bad people, and a whole lot in between.”
Death Wears a Crimson Hat by CW Hawes is part of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series. This modern Texas crime fiction has a bit of an old-fashioned vibe typically found in noir detective stories, with an occasional Holmesian flair. Harry Thurgood often spends late evenings smoking a pipe and sipping a Corpse Reviver No. 1 while ruminating on the facts of the current mystery and his ‘just friends’ relationship with the good Reverend Ember Cole.
“There’s nothing wrong with being old-fashioned. In fact. I think it’s rather charming.”
Magnolia Bluff, Texas, is filled with the standard small-town hijinks, including plenty of gossip and backstabbing, but it does have a women's club that seems to have gone off the rails. The Crimson Hat club consists of several ladies who seeming do more conniving and gossiping than anything good for the community, especially with malevolent Mary Lou Fight at the helm. When one of the ladies is brutally murdered and another lands in the hospital after a hit and run, newcomer to the town Reverend Ember Cole finds herself in the hot seat.
“As I see it, Ember Cole is the epicenter of this little earthquake. Everything flows back to her.”
The author keeps the reader guessing, all while introducing more layers to the overall mystery. Both Harry and Ember have pasts they want to remain hidden, but as the mystery heats up, Detective Reece Sovern does what he does best: He asks a lot of questions.
In this wildly entertaining whodunit, the author introduces some interesting characters and a plot that is not so easily unraveled. While the murder and attempted murders are eventually solved, that plot aspect is often surpassed by a few underlying subplots, such as with Effie Snyder and John Paul. As with any noir fiction, the dark side of humanity kicks in with a vengeance, with the occasional violence, sexuality, covetousness, and spite providing the necessary secrecy and motive for murder.
If you desire a cozy mystery that often crosses over to the dark side, Murder Wears a Crimson Hat will be a perfect choice, and then check out all the other books in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles while you're at it.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Death Wears a Crimson Hat by CW Hawes is part of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series. This modern Texas crime fiction has a bit of an old-fashioned vibe typically found in noir detective stories, with an occasional Holmesian flair. Harry Thurgood often spends late evenings smoking a pipe and sipping a Corpse Reviver No. 1 while ruminating on the facts of the current mystery and his ‘just friends’ relationship with the good Reverend Ember Cole.
“There’s nothing wrong with being old-fashioned. In fact. I think it’s rather charming.”
Magnolia Bluff, Texas, is filled with the standard small-town hijinks, including plenty of gossip and backstabbing, but it does have a women's club that seems to have gone off the rails. The Crimson Hat club consists of several ladies who seeming do more conniving and gossiping than anything good for the community, especially with malevolent Mary Lou Fight at the helm. When one of the ladies is brutally murdered and another lands in the hospital after a hit and run, newcomer to the town Reverend Ember Cole finds herself in the hot seat.
“As I see it, Ember Cole is the epicenter of this little earthquake. Everything flows back to her.”
The author keeps the reader guessing, all while introducing more layers to the overall mystery. Both Harry and Ember have pasts they want to remain hidden, but as the mystery heats up, Detective Reece Sovern does what he does best: He asks a lot of questions.
In this wildly entertaining whodunit, the author introduces some interesting characters and a plot that is not so easily unraveled. While the murder and attempted murders are eventually solved, that plot aspect is often surpassed by a few underlying subplots, such as with Effie Snyder and John Paul. As with any noir fiction, the dark side of humanity kicks in with a vengeance, with the occasional violence, sexuality, covetousness, and spite providing the necessary secrecy and motive for murder.
If you desire a cozy mystery that often crosses over to the dark side, Murder Wears a Crimson Hat will be a perfect choice, and then check out all the other books in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles while you're at it.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
May 6, 2022
I have read and enjoyed several books by CW Hawes. When I heard about the new Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series, I couldn’t wait to dig in. This is a multi-author series where each book will be penned by a different member of the Underground Authors, with Hawes at the helm for the first book in the series.
Being the first also means the author had the weight on his shoulders of establishing the small town of Magnolia Bluff, Texas as the backdrop for all the books to come. Not an easy task with so many different authors, each gifted with their own unique style of writing. But Hawes pulls it off flawlessly. We are introduced to the uniqueness of small-town living which can be both comforting and sometimes difficult. Especially if you are not home-grown or native to the town, making it hard at times to be accepted. Such is the case for Harry Thurgood and the Reverend Ember Cole. Both are fairly new to Magnolia Bluff, and both have a past they’d rather not have dredged up by any of the locals. And both find themselves being accused of murder.
As a fan of mysteries, I love a solid storyline that keeps the reader guessing until the end. And because of that, I will not provide a recap of the story other than to say that there is murder and mayhem and enough possible suspects to muddy the waters for the detective trying to solve the crime. Throw in a colorful cast of local characters who are involved in backstabbing, sordid love affairs, and a closeness that can only be found in a town small enough where everyone knows everyone else’s business, and you have the ingredients for the perfect murder mystery. One has to read and savor this whodunit as it unfolds within the pages to really appreciate the underlying complexity of this small town and its residents. The author has made sure to pepper us with enough clues and red herrings throughout, making this a very entertaining read.
Hawes is a wonderful writer who knows how to draw the reader into a story. And The Underground Authors are a group of extremely talented writers who trusted CW Hawes with the first book to kick off this series. That alone speaks volumes as to the talent of Hawes as a wordsmith worthy of providing a top-notch mystery to open what will undoubtedly be a top-notch crime series.
Being the first also means the author had the weight on his shoulders of establishing the small town of Magnolia Bluff, Texas as the backdrop for all the books to come. Not an easy task with so many different authors, each gifted with their own unique style of writing. But Hawes pulls it off flawlessly. We are introduced to the uniqueness of small-town living which can be both comforting and sometimes difficult. Especially if you are not home-grown or native to the town, making it hard at times to be accepted. Such is the case for Harry Thurgood and the Reverend Ember Cole. Both are fairly new to Magnolia Bluff, and both have a past they’d rather not have dredged up by any of the locals. And both find themselves being accused of murder.
As a fan of mysteries, I love a solid storyline that keeps the reader guessing until the end. And because of that, I will not provide a recap of the story other than to say that there is murder and mayhem and enough possible suspects to muddy the waters for the detective trying to solve the crime. Throw in a colorful cast of local characters who are involved in backstabbing, sordid love affairs, and a closeness that can only be found in a town small enough where everyone knows everyone else’s business, and you have the ingredients for the perfect murder mystery. One has to read and savor this whodunit as it unfolds within the pages to really appreciate the underlying complexity of this small town and its residents. The author has made sure to pepper us with enough clues and red herrings throughout, making this a very entertaining read.
Hawes is a wonderful writer who knows how to draw the reader into a story. And The Underground Authors are a group of extremely talented writers who trusted CW Hawes with the first book to kick off this series. That alone speaks volumes as to the talent of Hawes as a wordsmith worthy of providing a top-notch mystery to open what will undoubtedly be a top-notch crime series.
May 1, 2022
Harry Thurgood and Ember Cole, independently, have come to the small Texas Hill Country town of Magnolia Bluff to get away from their past. And while they like each other, they are kept apart by the secrets from their past lives. Yet this delightful little town has its own secrets. One powerful woman is capable of imposing her will on others, and often her will is to harm someone not in her inner circle. But someone objects to this and that leads to a person being killed and another almost dying.
Ember, now the Reverend Ember Cole, is accused of murder. Forgetting their own hidden history, Harry and Ember must work together to keep Ember from being arrested for the murder. The problem is, as they begin to make headway in finding the murderer, they become the new targets for the killer.
Author CW Hawes has drawn several interesting characters with such careful work that you begin to believe they are your long-time friends. You are drawn not only into the charming town but also into the lives of these characters. If you like a good mystery and great characters, grab a copy of Death Wears a Crimson Hat. You won’t be disappointed.
Another interesting thing about this book is that it is book 1 of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. But each succeeding book will be written by a different author. Same town, many of the same characters, but each a different take. As we are told on the cover and in the notes at the end of this novel, these authors are members of the Underground Authors. Last year, we were treated to an anthology of short stories by these talented authors. This year, it’s an anthology of novels. I look forward to a new book each month.
C.W. Hawes
Ember, now the Reverend Ember Cole, is accused of murder. Forgetting their own hidden history, Harry and Ember must work together to keep Ember from being arrested for the murder. The problem is, as they begin to make headway in finding the murderer, they become the new targets for the killer.
Author CW Hawes has drawn several interesting characters with such careful work that you begin to believe they are your long-time friends. You are drawn not only into the charming town but also into the lives of these characters. If you like a good mystery and great characters, grab a copy of Death Wears a Crimson Hat. You won’t be disappointed.
Another interesting thing about this book is that it is book 1 of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. But each succeeding book will be written by a different author. Same town, many of the same characters, but each a different take. As we are told on the cover and in the notes at the end of this novel, these authors are members of the Underground Authors. Last year, we were treated to an anthology of short stories by these talented authors. This year, it’s an anthology of novels. I look forward to a new book each month.
C.W. Hawes
April 26, 2022
Small town gossip can lead to death
CW Hawes, a master storytel!er and a memher of The Underground Authors, introduces readers to Magnolia Bluff. His is the first book in the crime series.
In his Death Wears a Crimson Hat, Hawes very cleverly guides Harry Thurgood down several rabbit trails as he works to prove the Reverend Ember Cole innocent of the murder of two women. After all, she is the woman he loves. But insists that despite the rumors about their relationship circulating around town she and he are only good friends. Both Harry and Ember have pasts they prefer no one ever uncovers which begs the question: What are they hiding?
The members of the Crimson Hatters are controlled by their Queen Mary Lou, who knows all of their sins. They do her disreputable bidding to ensure Mary Lou's keeping quiet about their personal business. Mary Lou runs not only her "girls" but also tries to run Ember Cole out of the pulpit.
Mary Lou's vendetta against the minister lays the foundation for all of the fatal misconduct of the good citizens of Magnolia Bluff. Malicious gossip, false accusations, promiscuous behavior, murders, and attempted murders follow. The fast pace of gossip provokes the reader's curiosity so much so that it's difficult to stop reading until the Crimes are solved.
CW Hawes, a master storytel!er and a memher of The Underground Authors, introduces readers to Magnolia Bluff. His is the first book in the crime series.
In his Death Wears a Crimson Hat, Hawes very cleverly guides Harry Thurgood down several rabbit trails as he works to prove the Reverend Ember Cole innocent of the murder of two women. After all, she is the woman he loves. But insists that despite the rumors about their relationship circulating around town she and he are only good friends. Both Harry and Ember have pasts they prefer no one ever uncovers which begs the question: What are they hiding?
The members of the Crimson Hatters are controlled by their Queen Mary Lou, who knows all of their sins. They do her disreputable bidding to ensure Mary Lou's keeping quiet about their personal business. Mary Lou runs not only her "girls" but also tries to run Ember Cole out of the pulpit.
Mary Lou's vendetta against the minister lays the foundation for all of the fatal misconduct of the good citizens of Magnolia Bluff. Malicious gossip, false accusations, promiscuous behavior, murders, and attempted murders follow. The fast pace of gossip provokes the reader's curiosity so much so that it's difficult to stop reading until the Crimes are solved.
August 7, 2022
Outsiders Beware
Small towns have much in common. There’s the gossip and there’s the wish to keep outsiders apart. That Magnolia Bluff also has a Crimson Hat society with a leader who savours character assassination is another weird attraction to this small town in Texas Hill County.
Harry Thurgood of the Really Good Wood-fired Coffee Shop is an outsider with a past.
Ember Cole is the new reverend of the Methodist Church. She too guards a secret.
All in all, these two make the ideal targets when a spate of murders occurs, and their only chance is to turn into amateur sleuths.
If you’ve read one or more books by CW Hawes, you know what to expect. Wit and quirky characters, an intelligent plot that you might not be able to figure out before he lands the only possible mystery solution. The one you never saw coming.
Death Wears a Crimson Hat is the first in a series of nine books written by nine authors, members of the Underground Authors. Every month for nine months a new book will dazzle its readers. Hold on to your hats and make a visit or nine to Magnolia Bluff. In my opinion, you won’t regret it.
Small towns have much in common. There’s the gossip and there’s the wish to keep outsiders apart. That Magnolia Bluff also has a Crimson Hat society with a leader who savours character assassination is another weird attraction to this small town in Texas Hill County.
Harry Thurgood of the Really Good Wood-fired Coffee Shop is an outsider with a past.
Ember Cole is the new reverend of the Methodist Church. She too guards a secret.
All in all, these two make the ideal targets when a spate of murders occurs, and their only chance is to turn into amateur sleuths.
If you’ve read one or more books by CW Hawes, you know what to expect. Wit and quirky characters, an intelligent plot that you might not be able to figure out before he lands the only possible mystery solution. The one you never saw coming.
Death Wears a Crimson Hat is the first in a series of nine books written by nine authors, members of the Underground Authors. Every month for nine months a new book will dazzle its readers. Hold on to your hats and make a visit or nine to Magnolia Bluff. In my opinion, you won’t regret it.
April 19, 2022
As a long-time fan of CW Hawes, I am always ready to gobble up whatever he has on offer. Hawes’ significant intelligence tends to manifest in whatever genre he writes. This has led to excellent work in classic mystery, dystopian world building, and weird fiction. Now he is up as a member of the Underground Authors, delivering the first of nine crime novels over nine months, set in the small town of Magnolia Bluff, in central Texas. Death Wears a Crimson Hat sets the bar high. Ember Cole is a local pastor. Harry Thurgood, a man with a past, runs a coffee shop. They are drawn to each other, but life gets complicated quickly after a member of the local Crimson Hat society is murdered. Against a background of plotting and behatted ladies mewing in the pews, they have to track down the killer before the crime is pinned on Ember, or they are murdered themselves. Death Wears a Crimson Hat is a crisply written, character driven thriller; as colorful as the title suggests. Highly recommended over a dark roast on a warm morning in Texas.
May 1, 2022
Harry Thurgood is an enigma. Polished, cultured, and new to Magnolia Bluff, Texas, he’s a man with a past, and he keeps his secrets close to his chest. Not only is Harry hiding his sins, so is a good portion of Magnolia Bluff. The Crimson Hat Society is a group of women in the town who do many charitable works for their community, but beneath the group’s surface bubbles a malignancy of lies and deceit that leads to death. CW Hawes’ characters are colorful and unforgettable—like the Reverend Ember Cole, preacher at the local Methodist Church. She moves around Magnolia Bluff dressed in ministerial black with a Saturno religious hat perched on her head. Despite her dour dress, Ember’s face is as angelic as her personality, and Harry is willing to go to hell and back to win her love. Someone in the town wants to make sure Harry and Ember never consummate their romance.
DEATH WEARS A CRIMSON HAT is a great romp of a read and earns five gold stars
DEATH WEARS A CRIMSON HAT is a great romp of a read and earns five gold stars
February 7, 2025
Marjorie Doering
5.0 out of 5 stars And so it begins!
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025
Verified Purchase
Having read several of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicle novels at random, I decided to start at the beginning. That would be this book: DEATH WEARS A CRIMSON HAT, by CW Hawes, a very talented author, indeed. This initial tale by CW involves the vivid and quirky characters of Magnolia Bluff, a small town set in the Texas Hill Country. He sets the reader up with a sense of eager anticipation for the next book in the series, then the next, and next, and so on. He introduces you to Harry Thurgood; Rev. Ember Cole; the saucy Scarlett Hayden, and more, making it fun getting to know them. He puts them all together, stirs the pot with mayhem and murder, challenging the reader to pinpoint the killer. And what fun it is!
5.0 out of 5 stars And so it begins!
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025
Verified Purchase
Having read several of the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicle novels at random, I decided to start at the beginning. That would be this book: DEATH WEARS A CRIMSON HAT, by CW Hawes, a very talented author, indeed. This initial tale by CW involves the vivid and quirky characters of Magnolia Bluff, a small town set in the Texas Hill Country. He sets the reader up with a sense of eager anticipation for the next book in the series, then the next, and next, and so on. He introduces you to Harry Thurgood; Rev. Ember Cole; the saucy Scarlett Hayden, and more, making it fun getting to know them. He puts them all together, stirs the pot with mayhem and murder, challenging the reader to pinpoint the killer. And what fun it is!
February 1, 2025
I’m excited to start a new series written by a group of twelve cozy mystery authors after hearing about their process from one of their group members. The Magnolia Bluff series is set in the fictional Texas Hill Country town of Magnolia Bluff, and the first book is written by CW Hawes. After a murder and an attempted murder, Reverend Ember Cole and her friend Harry Thurgood find themselves persons of interest and the favorite topic of the local gossips. Ember and Harry realize that the only solution is to track down the murderer themselves. This debut novel of the series reveals humorous characters, an interesting setting, unique relationships, and intriguing plot developments. I look forward to reading more of the escapades in Magnolia Bluff.
April 23, 2022
Death Wears A Crimson Hat is an outstanding, riveting, small town mystery; the best one I have read this year! Mr. Hawes has created two engaging, detailed characters - Harry Thurgood, coffee shop proprietor, and Ember Cole, pastor - and an interesting town, Magnolia Bluff, Texas. You have the blurb for the plot. I just want to say that once I started reading, nothing much else got done until I reached the end. There was more than one body, more than one attempted murder, and a one woman execution committee. Magnolia Bluff was not the peaceful town you might have been expecting! This book is awesome!
October 5, 2023
Death Wears a Crimson Hat Portrays Murder Lesser Fashionable
Characters were quirky, as life in small town Texas can be. Plot was strange, eve by small town Texas standards. But those standards are subject to odd characters, which small town Texas is more than populated with. So, even if the plot is not as glamorous as the reader would like, it is what it is. And even if the outcome is frustrating, it’s small town Texas. So you shake your head, and it becomes the subject of the favorite coffee watering hole. And I’ll read the next in the series….
Characters were quirky, as life in small town Texas can be. Plot was strange, eve by small town Texas standards. But those standards are subject to odd characters, which small town Texas is more than populated with. So, even if the plot is not as glamorous as the reader would like, it is what it is. And even if the outcome is frustrating, it’s small town Texas. So you shake your head, and it becomes the subject of the favorite coffee watering hole. And I’ll read the next in the series….
April 23, 2024
Sorry, in spite of all the rave reviews for this book, I found the characters wooden, the conversations stilted, and could not see the "love" between the two main characters. And to top it off, the quick resolution of the deaths and almost deaths wasn't believable. And I don't think they got the culprit, after all.
December 7, 2025
Didn't care for this one. I rate it 2 stars.
March 22, 2024
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Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles #1
My exposure to this series, written by several fine authors, was a novel later in the telling, but it introduced me to the fine folk of the Texas Hill Country, my second home, and the gentle folk of Magnolia Bluff. This is a series I am pleased to recommend to friends and family. The mystery is the center of the action, but only a small part of the tale - these folk are the story, and will keep you up nights.
REVIEWED on March 21, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available at Kobo.
Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles #1
My exposure to this series, written by several fine authors, was a novel later in the telling, but it introduced me to the fine folk of the Texas Hill Country, my second home, and the gentle folk of Magnolia Bluff. This is a series I am pleased to recommend to friends and family. The mystery is the center of the action, but only a small part of the tale - these folk are the story, and will keep you up nights.
REVIEWED on March 21, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available at Kobo.
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