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Secondhand Sleuth #1
The Vintage Vendetta
Thrift shop til someone drops…
When she receives a strange invitation to her aunt’s midnight funeral in the cozy Minnesota town of Pine Grove, Jessica Braun’s life is going nowhere. Her marriage is over, and her dead-end job has run out of road.
Now she’s inheriting an old log house full of collected treasures and memories, and learns Aunt Daphne’s death was no accident. To make matters worse, Jess is the hopeless deputy’s prime suspect. After a second old-timer is silenced and a third may be in danger, she dives into her own investigation and the town’s worn-out secrets.
With the help of her salvaged cat and mystery-obsessed teen neighbor, Jess is determined to catch the killer and turn her cluttered garage into the Pine Grove Thrift Store.
Can Jess uncover the truth, and clean up her aunt’s mess, before it’s too late?
Introducing the fun new thrift store cozy mystery series: Secondhand Sleuth Mysteries! The Vintage Vendetta is full of clues and quirky characters, and some secondhand treasures too. Bonus collector’s guide included!
When she receives a strange invitation to her aunt’s midnight funeral in the cozy Minnesota town of Pine Grove, Jessica Braun’s life is going nowhere. Her marriage is over, and her dead-end job has run out of road.
Now she’s inheriting an old log house full of collected treasures and memories, and learns Aunt Daphne’s death was no accident. To make matters worse, Jess is the hopeless deputy’s prime suspect. After a second old-timer is silenced and a third may be in danger, she dives into her own investigation and the town’s worn-out secrets.
With the help of her salvaged cat and mystery-obsessed teen neighbor, Jess is determined to catch the killer and turn her cluttered garage into the Pine Grove Thrift Store.
Can Jess uncover the truth, and clean up her aunt’s mess, before it’s too late?
Introducing the fun new thrift store cozy mystery series: Secondhand Sleuth Mysteries! The Vintage Vendetta is full of clues and quirky characters, and some secondhand treasures too. Bonus collector’s guide included!
145 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2022
144 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 19, 2022
Really good debut! I recommend!
July 23, 2024
Not bad
July 9, 2022
A mystery solving trio you'll love!
I love this series - It's filled with mystery, humor family, quirky new friends and a sheriff you'll never believe! Jessica's life, after her divorce from her louse of a spouse, changes when she inherits her Aunt's home in small town Minnesota. Filled with all types of treasures, Jessica is determined to fulfill her Aunt's dream. Unfortunately, a murderer is standing between Jessica and her future.
Jessica is relatable and down to earth. Her crime solving "recruits" Freddie and Uncle Rick make the perfect team. I read the book in one setting because I had to know "whodunit" ! I can't wait for the next mystery!!
I love this series - It's filled with mystery, humor family, quirky new friends and a sheriff you'll never believe! Jessica's life, after her divorce from her louse of a spouse, changes when she inherits her Aunt's home in small town Minnesota. Filled with all types of treasures, Jessica is determined to fulfill her Aunt's dream. Unfortunately, a murderer is standing between Jessica and her future.
Jessica is relatable and down to earth. Her crime solving "recruits" Freddie and Uncle Rick make the perfect team. I read the book in one setting because I had to know "whodunit" ! I can't wait for the next mystery!!
May 9, 2022
Jessica's New Beginning . . .
Jessica Braun is awakened by the pounding on her door. She left her job and her ex-husband had left her for good this time, so she had been wallowing in self-pity for a few weeks now. A delivery boy handed her a message, when she finally admitted to being the “Mrs. Western” it was addressed to. It was a peculiar invitation to attend a midnight funeral for the late Ms. Daphne Marie Braun, her aunt, in Pine Grove. At the family estate? At midnight? She had lived in a log house, even though it was 3 stories high. No one had told her that her aunt was ill. But her family was very odd and no one of the few who were left would know where to find her. But someone did to send this invitation, apparently a lawyer who left a phone number. She also found 3 letters she had never opened. Apparently “her” house had been issued several citations, so she needed to make a trip to Minnesota and see what was going on.
The old log house had all kinds of old “treasures”. But Jessica finds out that her Aunt Daphne’s death was not an accident! Then another older person ends up dead. And a third could be in danger. It’s time for mystery-loving Jessica to start investigating, especially when the useless deputy suspects HER of the murder because she is living in the victim’s house! Can she and the new friends she makes track down the murderer? Will she get the opportunity to transform her cluttered garage into the Pine Grove Thrift Store? Maybe she has finally found the home she has been looking for. At least until her oddball mother called and said she and her young boyfriend were on their way there for a “visit”. Pretty soon, she would have a full house!
Jessica Braun is awakened by the pounding on her door. She left her job and her ex-husband had left her for good this time, so she had been wallowing in self-pity for a few weeks now. A delivery boy handed her a message, when she finally admitted to being the “Mrs. Western” it was addressed to. It was a peculiar invitation to attend a midnight funeral for the late Ms. Daphne Marie Braun, her aunt, in Pine Grove. At the family estate? At midnight? She had lived in a log house, even though it was 3 stories high. No one had told her that her aunt was ill. But her family was very odd and no one of the few who were left would know where to find her. But someone did to send this invitation, apparently a lawyer who left a phone number. She also found 3 letters she had never opened. Apparently “her” house had been issued several citations, so she needed to make a trip to Minnesota and see what was going on.
The old log house had all kinds of old “treasures”. But Jessica finds out that her Aunt Daphne’s death was not an accident! Then another older person ends up dead. And a third could be in danger. It’s time for mystery-loving Jessica to start investigating, especially when the useless deputy suspects HER of the murder because she is living in the victim’s house! Can she and the new friends she makes track down the murderer? Will she get the opportunity to transform her cluttered garage into the Pine Grove Thrift Store? Maybe she has finally found the home she has been looking for. At least until her oddball mother called and said she and her young boyfriend were on their way there for a “visit”. Pretty soon, she would have a full house!
August 15, 2023
This was a good story. I enjoyed the book. The main character was interesting and I look forward to reading the second book in this series.
Amazon synopsis:
When she receives a strange invitation to her aunt’s midnight funeral in the cozy Minnesota town of Pine Grove, Jessica Braun’s life is going nowhere. Her marriage is over, and her dead-end job has run out of road.
Now she’s inheriting an old log house full of collected treasures and memories, and learns Aunt Daphne’s death was no accident. To make matters worse, Jess is the hopeless deputy’s prime suspect. After a second old-timer is silenced and a third may be in danger, she dives into her own investigation and the town’s worn-out secrets.
With the help of her salvaged cat and mystery-obsessed teen neighbor, Jess is determined to catch the killer and turn her cluttered garage into the Pine Grove Thrift Store.
Can Jess uncover the truth, and clean up her aunt’s mess, before it’s too late?
Amazon synopsis:
When she receives a strange invitation to her aunt’s midnight funeral in the cozy Minnesota town of Pine Grove, Jessica Braun’s life is going nowhere. Her marriage is over, and her dead-end job has run out of road.
Now she’s inheriting an old log house full of collected treasures and memories, and learns Aunt Daphne’s death was no accident. To make matters worse, Jess is the hopeless deputy’s prime suspect. After a second old-timer is silenced and a third may be in danger, she dives into her own investigation and the town’s worn-out secrets.
With the help of her salvaged cat and mystery-obsessed teen neighbor, Jess is determined to catch the killer and turn her cluttered garage into the Pine Grove Thrift Store.
Can Jess uncover the truth, and clean up her aunt’s mess, before it’s too late?
September 27, 2022
Enjoyed the book alot.Jess was in a slump. She got a letter from a lawyer - ut oh, call them ASAP. So she did and ask what was this about. He told her there was a notice to clean up the property or the state would take the house. She lived in a apartment but then she found out her aunt just died after receiving a horrible card in the mail. Then found out she inherited her aunts home back in the town Jess grew up in.So she goes there. She couldnt see the house for the high grass and gnomes in the yard. She goes inside and there were boxes piled everywhere.For some reason she thought maybe according to what was happening someone may have murdered her aunt. Kate and Freddie , her daughter lived next door.Freddie helped Jess do some investigating around town. Was the death of the man next door a clue that her aunt was also murdered? PS I love shopping a thrift stores !!!
October 29, 2022
I enjoyed this cozy mystery story with all of the characters. The main character was Jessica Braun.
Jessica Braun received an invitation to her aunt's midnight funeral she is quite puzzled by this. The funeral will take place at her Aunt's house in the Pine Grove, Minnesota. Since her marriage she has not seen her family in a long time. Since her marriage is over she can go to the funeral. But when she get to her aunt's house she finds out that someone killed her aunt. So she decides to look into this. But while doing so another murder happens to.
This was a fun story to read. It has action, suspense, and adventure throughout. It had a few laughs within to. It was fun trying to solve the mystery within.
I received a complimentary copy via Booksprout. This is my honest unbiased opinions.
Jessica Braun received an invitation to her aunt's midnight funeral she is quite puzzled by this. The funeral will take place at her Aunt's house in the Pine Grove, Minnesota. Since her marriage she has not seen her family in a long time. Since her marriage is over she can go to the funeral. But when she get to her aunt's house she finds out that someone killed her aunt. So she decides to look into this. But while doing so another murder happens to.
This was a fun story to read. It has action, suspense, and adventure throughout. It had a few laughs within to. It was fun trying to solve the mystery within.
I received a complimentary copy via Booksprout. This is my honest unbiased opinions.
May 22, 2022
I was hooked from the first page. The descriptions of the land and the paranormal background added so much to the intrigue of the story line. This is a brilliant read! It pulled me in from beginning and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This novel has strong, well developed characters and an intriguing story line that keept you turning the pages. The Vintage Vendetta is a suspense novella that expertly brings the mystery to life. I recommend this novel and I plan to read more novels by this author. An excellent read. I received book from StoryOrigin. This is my true and honest review.
January 24, 2024
Jessica Braun is in the middle of a pity party after the end of her marriage and her job. When she discovers that her Aunt Daphne has died, she flies to Pine Grove, Minnesota to attend her funeral. It ends up that Jessica is the owner of Daphne's house along with an unimaginable amount of thrift store purchases. In order to avoid being the number one suspect in her aunt's murder, she enlists the help of her Uncle and her teenage neighbor in order to solve the mystery. She quickly decides to open a thrift store and stay in Minnesota. This cozy has interesting characters and entertaining animal sidekicks. With Jessica's mother set to visit, this series promises to be a lot of fun.
May 22, 2022
I'd read the prequel for this and just had to borrow this first book from KU. I loved the sleuthing duo of Jess and her neighbor's teen daughter Freddie! Rounding out the sleuthing team was the unlikely addition of Uncle Rick who proved to be pretty good at it.
After Aunt Daphne's death which seemed suspicious to everyone Jess ran into, the grumpy neighbor was killed too, so she and her sleuth posse set out to figure out what happened. I loved the showdown which was both a setup and a nail biter! These are such fun characters that I absolutely can't wait to borrow the next book!
After Aunt Daphne's death which seemed suspicious to everyone Jess ran into, the grumpy neighbor was killed too, so she and her sleuth posse set out to figure out what happened. I loved the showdown which was both a setup and a nail biter! These are such fun characters that I absolutely can't wait to borrow the next book!
May 26, 2022
I read this book and the prequel to the series. It is fun for the start of a new series. The main character, Jessica, gets a letter from a courier. In it is an invitation to her aunts funeral back in Minnesota. When she gets there she finds out that she's inherited her aunts home, which is full of her aunt's "treasure". Jessica decides to open a thrift shop in her aunts garage. The mystery element is that her aunts death may have not been an accident
August 13, 2022
2.5 stars!
Real good beginning and quite likable main character.
But the mystery wasn't really that good...It lacked in thrill and fun, there was simply no excitement. A bit bland. And suddenly it was solved. And I was like - huh? That's it?
With a good starting pace like that, I expected a bit more from this book...
But still, it was a pretty good read! Looking forward to check out the other books in the series!
Real good beginning and quite likable main character.
But the mystery wasn't really that good...It lacked in thrill and fun, there was simply no excitement. A bit bland. And suddenly it was solved. And I was like - huh? That's it?
With a good starting pace like that, I expected a bit more from this book...
But still, it was a pretty good read! Looking forward to check out the other books in the series!
May 8, 2023
I loved the idea of a book set in a Secondhand shop, but this one never quite came together for me. The main character lost my support when she took a child along with her to try to help her spy on a potential murderer. Teens are still children, and you DO NOT PUT CHILDREN AT RISK! No matter how "mature" they may seem, their brains do not yet fully understand danger and risk. It is up to the adults in their lives to protect them.
January 14, 2024
Loved it!
I want to read more😊
My first read from this author.
I stayed up all night to finish this.
Believable characters.
I love that there is a teen sleuth, and a no good uncle trying to do right for a change.
I’m excited to find out how the old house looks after it gets cleared out, and how the thrift store works out.
What will it be called?!
I too love antique, resale, thrift stores, or a garage sale looking for treasures.
I want to read more😊
My first read from this author.
I stayed up all night to finish this.
Believable characters.
I love that there is a teen sleuth, and a no good uncle trying to do right for a change.
I’m excited to find out how the old house looks after it gets cleared out, and how the thrift store works out.
What will it be called?!
I too love antique, resale, thrift stores, or a garage sale looking for treasures.
August 20, 2024
The Vintage Vendetta: A Thrift Shop Cozy Mystery (Secondhand Sleuth Mysteries Book 1), my first highly-enjoyable read from author Mel Morgan. “I received an Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with An Antique Alibi: A Thrift Shop Cozy Mystery (Secondhand Sleuth Mysteries Book 2) high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018.
November 3, 2024
Overall a good book. The story was nice. I felt there were a few over the top lines in it but other than that the writing was good. Quick read. I did it on audible. I will say downside to that was that the audiobook version uses a virtual narrator so there was a few times when words were spelled out like instead of saying led it said l e d. And there was a lack of inflection due to it being a virtual narrator. So overall good book, I just wish they had used a person to narrate it.
February 14, 2026
It was hard to start a new series after The Naturals because when I finished it, my life was too. But this first book was gentle to me, letting me in with such warmth and cozy feeling while still giving me the mystery and plot my brain needed. It let me take all the time in the world to enjoy the story while embracing me through it.
It was cozy, warm, funny, humoric, while still giving me the tense feeling of some mystery and plot twist. It was a lovely style of writing. And yes, I'm loving this, so I will obviously devour the series.
It was cozy, warm, funny, humoric, while still giving me the tense feeling of some mystery and plot twist. It was a lovely style of writing. And yes, I'm loving this, so I will obviously devour the series.
May 6, 2022
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. It is a very well done murder mystery with the killer not revealed until the end. The deputy and Sheriff are a bit strange but do the job in the end with help from Jessica, Freddie and her uncle Rick. Even the reason for the murders was a surprise.
June 12, 2022
Minnesota Cozy
A cozy set in Minnesota. The book is a quick read. The main character comes back to Minnesota when her aunt dies and leaves her her house. It turns out her aunt was murdered. When she reads her aunt's diary, she realizes why. The book had a lot of spelling errors. I recommend it.
A cozy set in Minnesota. The book is a quick read. The main character comes back to Minnesota when her aunt dies and leaves her her house. It turns out her aunt was murdered. When she reads her aunt's diary, she realizes why. The book had a lot of spelling errors. I recommend it.
July 21, 2025
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒃𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒍 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒛𝒚 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆!! 😊😊😊
𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒑 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎 , 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒌𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒗𝒊𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒛𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔!! 😄😄😄
𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒑 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎 , 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒌𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒗𝒊𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒛𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔!! 😄😄😄
May 14, 2022
This was a great beginning.
I love a small town setting with small town citizens. The good, the surly, the clueless and the future possibility. I can't wait to meet more of the citizens and have more mysteries to solve.
I love a small town setting with small town citizens. The good, the surly, the clueless and the future possibility. I can't wait to meet more of the citizens and have more mysteries to solve.
August 6, 2022
A very enjoyable debut novel for a new series. Jess has moved to her home town, after her Aunt's death. She has inherited the family home, and finds it filled with boxes of “stuff”. What was going on with her Aunt before her suspicious death?
August 10, 2022
I enjoyed this book. It begin with Jessica realizing that she needs a life. Surprise she inherits a house full of antiques only to be accused of killing her aunt. Follow Jessica as she has a strange journey to find the truth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2022
Enjoyable book
Loved the characters and the setting. Jess was shocked to hear that her aunty had died. This was the beginning of her stumbling into a murder, and getting two accomplices who were eager to help her.
Loved the characters and the setting. Jess was shocked to hear that her aunty had died. This was the beginning of her stumbling into a murder, and getting two accomplices who were eager to help her.
January 6, 2023
I can't wait for more in this series. I loved the animal aspects. I liked how Jessica honors her aunt. I am glad for decisions on Pine Grove. Finding out who the killer is was exciting. What is next for Jess and the gang?
September 27, 2022
No explicit violence or sex, just a good cozy mystery and a great start to this series.
October 2, 2022
a good read.
October 5, 2022
Love Minnesota
I loved the book. Not because I live in Minnesota. It was a great story...I loved how the store was in memory of her aunt.
I loved the book. Not because I live in Minnesota. It was a great story...I loved how the store was in memory of her aunt.
October 8, 2022
This is a great book to read withe interesting characters and a great setting! It contains another interesting way to kill someone and a sad reason to do it.
October 14, 2022
Back to Basics
The author needs a good editor. The frequent errors in sentence construction were distracting. There wasn’t much of a plot anyway.
The author needs a good editor. The frequent errors in sentence construction were distracting. There wasn’t much of a plot anyway.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews