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Garden Cove Library #1
Digging Up Murder
A quaint seaside New England town. A historic library. And a mystery to solve.
Elly Hockette returns to her hometown of Garden Cove, Massachusetts, just in time to help her librarian grandmother with last-minute preparations for the historic library’s Halloween festivities. Determined to forget her recent past and start anew, she spends the rest of her free time doing something that always brought her joy—gardening.
But when she makes a grisly discovery, her world is flipped upside down. It isn’t until the local authorities point to her grandma as their number-one suspect that she needs her old friends—and some new furry ones—to help her crack the case.
Can Elly solve the mystery and clear her grandma’s good name? Or will she go too far and put her own life in jeopardy?
This fun-filled and clean librarian cozy mystery will have you guessing until the very end.
Elly Hockette returns to her hometown of Garden Cove, Massachusetts, just in time to help her librarian grandmother with last-minute preparations for the historic library’s Halloween festivities. Determined to forget her recent past and start anew, she spends the rest of her free time doing something that always brought her joy—gardening.
But when she makes a grisly discovery, her world is flipped upside down. It isn’t until the local authorities point to her grandma as their number-one suspect that she needs her old friends—and some new furry ones—to help her crack the case.
Can Elly solve the mystery and clear her grandma’s good name? Or will she go too far and put her own life in jeopardy?
This fun-filled and clean librarian cozy mystery will have you guessing until the very end.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2022
387 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Penny Brooke
46 books66 followersPenny Brooke has been reading mysteries for as long as she can remember. When not penning her own stories, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, crocheting, and cozying up with her pups and a good novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 14, 2022
I really enjoyed the first in this new series! I’ve liked everything I’ve read in the author’s other series, so I was eager to read this when it came out. It was just as fun as the other series and I love these characters and pets!
Since I wasn’t totally sure whodunit but knew there was someone I hoped did, I enjoyed reading as Elly and her high school bestie Claire got reacquainted and did their sleuthing. It’s super handy to have a best friend who’s a 911 dispatcher lol. I can see a sweet future for Nathan and Elly and was glad there was no bickering between them like some couples have when they meet after some years apart. I loved how Elly and Lucky (Nathan’s sweet Golden Retriever) helped with the showdown. I can’t wait to borrow the next in KU when it comes out!
Since I wasn’t totally sure whodunit but knew there was someone I hoped did, I enjoyed reading as Elly and her high school bestie Claire got reacquainted and did their sleuthing. It’s super handy to have a best friend who’s a 911 dispatcher lol. I can see a sweet future for Nathan and Elly and was glad there was no bickering between them like some couples have when they meet after some years apart. I loved how Elly and Lucky (Nathan’s sweet Golden Retriever) helped with the showdown. I can’t wait to borrow the next in KU when it comes out!
December 13, 2022
An enjoyable and fun read, looking forward to the next
February 14, 2024
Garden Grove
Mystery set in small town. Elly comes home to help her Grams in the library. It's the beginning of a delightful series. Grams is arrested when a hand is found buried in her back garden. Elly and friends investigate and quickly find several suspects. I loved the clever ending.
Mystery set in small town. Elly comes home to help her Grams in the library. It's the beginning of a delightful series. Grams is arrested when a hand is found buried in her back garden. Elly and friends investigate and quickly find several suspects. I loved the clever ending.
July 19, 2022
A "Lucky" Guess ? . . .
Elly Hockette came back to her hometown in Garden Cove so she could help her grandmother in preparing for the Halloween events at the library. To relax and enjoy the day, Elly goes outside to putter around in the garden, only to find a severed hand buried in the soil!
When Sheriff Alburn arrives and arrests her grandmother, Elly must gather her friends and round up her animal cohorts to find out who really committed this crime. And when Lydia Delfino goes missing while grandma is still in jail, Elly can’t convince the Sheriff to let her grandmother go yet. But after searching the woods for Lydia, they walk back to the police car and let Lucky, the golden retriever, out to relieve himself before the trip back. Lucky instead carries a fresh cigarette butt with a distinctive blue star etched on the paper around the filter and drops it in Elly’s hand. Could the bad guy have left this? Elly suddenly thinks she knows whose it might be, and where Lydia is!
But the suspect Elly points the police to demands a search warrant before they can investigate. And having to go get one would give him time to hide any evidence. Could Lucky perhaps once again help? Had she guessed correctly? Would they find proof to clear her grandmother’s name? Or would she be attracting trouble that may come after her as well?
Elly Hockette came back to her hometown in Garden Cove so she could help her grandmother in preparing for the Halloween events at the library. To relax and enjoy the day, Elly goes outside to putter around in the garden, only to find a severed hand buried in the soil!
When Sheriff Alburn arrives and arrests her grandmother, Elly must gather her friends and round up her animal cohorts to find out who really committed this crime. And when Lydia Delfino goes missing while grandma is still in jail, Elly can’t convince the Sheriff to let her grandmother go yet. But after searching the woods for Lydia, they walk back to the police car and let Lucky, the golden retriever, out to relieve himself before the trip back. Lucky instead carries a fresh cigarette butt with a distinctive blue star etched on the paper around the filter and drops it in Elly’s hand. Could the bad guy have left this? Elly suddenly thinks she knows whose it might be, and where Lydia is!
But the suspect Elly points the police to demands a search warrant before they can investigate. And having to go get one would give him time to hide any evidence. Could Lucky perhaps once again help? Had she guessed correctly? Would they find proof to clear her grandmother’s name? Or would she be attracting trouble that may come after her as well?
July 17, 2022
All the ingredients for a cosy, easy read.
This is the first in a new series, but the author sets it up very nicely. Small close-knit community with tourists and incomers. Woman with personal problems retreating to childhood haunts and helping her grandmother. Said grandmother at heart of community and with legitimate reason to meet and know everyone. Conflict with cad from school and awkwardness of letting friendships lapse. Handsome, helpful old flame who just happens to own adorable dog. Our heroine acquires cute kitten.
All this in a plot where her grandmother is the main suspect for divorcing a hand from the rest of the body. Our heroine has allies and exposes the real culprit thus exonerating her mother. I liked the use of technology along with old fashioned ingenuity in our heroine accomplishing this. The clues were all there and I had worked out the solution, but it was satisfying in the way it tied together.
The ending was not a cliffhanger, but it is clear this cast will have more escapades. I look forward to reading them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the first in a new series, but the author sets it up very nicely. Small close-knit community with tourists and incomers. Woman with personal problems retreating to childhood haunts and helping her grandmother. Said grandmother at heart of community and with legitimate reason to meet and know everyone. Conflict with cad from school and awkwardness of letting friendships lapse. Handsome, helpful old flame who just happens to own adorable dog. Our heroine acquires cute kitten.
All this in a plot where her grandmother is the main suspect for divorcing a hand from the rest of the body. Our heroine has allies and exposes the real culprit thus exonerating her mother. I liked the use of technology along with old fashioned ingenuity in our heroine accomplishing this. The clues were all there and I had worked out the solution, but it was satisfying in the way it tied together.
The ending was not a cliffhanger, but it is clear this cast will have more escapades. I look forward to reading them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 26, 2023
After her dastardly fiance cleans out her bank account and skives off, Elly returns home to Garden Cove, just in time to help her grandmother get the town's historic library ready for the annual Halloween festival. In between assisting at the library, Elly is hunting for a place to rent, reconnecting with friends (and some foes), and diving into the work that needs to be done in her grandmother's garden. When Elly unearths a human hand, the police arrest her grandmother on suspicion of murder. Elly refuses to sit idly by while her beloved grams sits in the local jail. With the help of old friends and some curious pets, she launches her own investigation. Elly knows she's closing in on the truth when her own safety is jeopardized. However, Hockette women are tough, and Elly isn't about to back down.
This was a pleasant read, but there wasn't much to set it apart from other cozy mysteries. I liked Elly, and other characters were portrayed well. I would have liked more back story, and the villain was rather easy to guess. What really got my hackles up was (SPOILER!!!) the fact that the police arrested Elly's grandmother mere hours after the discovery of the hand. First of all, they had no idea who the victim was. Second, what evidence they found was circumstantial. We all watch enough TV/read enough books to know that motive, method, and opportunity are paramount when building a case against a murderer. The police in this one had none of those to pin on Marie. I could see them bringing her in for questioning, but an arrest? No.
An enjoyable story; however, its cookie cutter similarity to standard cozies means it doesn't earn more than an average score.
This was a pleasant read, but there wasn't much to set it apart from other cozy mysteries. I liked Elly, and other characters were portrayed well. I would have liked more back story, and the villain was rather easy to guess. What really got my hackles up was (SPOILER!!!) the fact that the police arrested Elly's grandmother mere hours after the discovery of the hand. First of all, they had no idea who the victim was. Second, what evidence they found was circumstantial. We all watch enough TV/read enough books to know that motive, method, and opportunity are paramount when building a case against a murderer. The police in this one had none of those to pin on Marie. I could see them bringing her in for questioning, but an arrest? No.
An enjoyable story; however, its cookie cutter similarity to standard cozies means it doesn't earn more than an average score.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2022
Fun Cozy Mystery in Seaside New England Town!!!
Digging Up Murder is the first book in A Garden Cove Library Cozy Mystery Series.
Elly Hockette returns to her hometown of Garden Cove, Massachusetts, to help her librarian grandmother getting ready for the historic library’s Halloween festivities. When her gardening and digging in her grandma's garden lead to the finding of a body part and the Sheriff has their sight on her grandma as the main suspect and put her grandma in jail for murder, Elly need to work fast to find the real killer to clear her grandma's name and get her out of jail.
This book is a fun, lighthearted, enjoyable quick read with delightful characters, It's well written with backdrop of beautiful scenery and setting of a quaint seaside New England town; the plot is full of mystery, romance, twists and turns that keeps me entertained as I tried to figure out the mystery and the murder. I really enjoy it and I look forward to reading more of this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Digging Up Murder is the first book in A Garden Cove Library Cozy Mystery Series.
Elly Hockette returns to her hometown of Garden Cove, Massachusetts, to help her librarian grandmother getting ready for the historic library’s Halloween festivities. When her gardening and digging in her grandma's garden lead to the finding of a body part and the Sheriff has their sight on her grandma as the main suspect and put her grandma in jail for murder, Elly need to work fast to find the real killer to clear her grandma's name and get her out of jail.
This book is a fun, lighthearted, enjoyable quick read with delightful characters, It's well written with backdrop of beautiful scenery and setting of a quaint seaside New England town; the plot is full of mystery, romance, twists and turns that keeps me entertained as I tried to figure out the mystery and the murder. I really enjoy it and I look forward to reading more of this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 10, 2025
Great book!!!!
I !I've the start of this series!!!!
Elly comes back home to Garden Cove, from a bad break up and to help her grandmother out with her garden, as she has a blast from the past with all her high school classmates from years ago.
After staying with her grandmother for awhile Elly has to get a job and move out on her own. Marie her grandmother connects Elly with the realtor to help, Elly finds the perfect place.
After they get her moved into Elly's place, they go back to Marie's house to tackle her garden to get ready for spring planting, and find a very shocking object that definitely doesn't belong and have to call the police.
And Marie becomes the #1 and only suspect. The evidence is very strong and gets arrested, now Elly has to find the criminal fast.
With her friends and handsome neighbor/landlord Nathan and Cooper his dog to find answers.
You have to vet this book to find out all the other surprises along the investigation!!!!!
I !I've the start of this series!!!!
Elly comes back home to Garden Cove, from a bad break up and to help her grandmother out with her garden, as she has a blast from the past with all her high school classmates from years ago.
After staying with her grandmother for awhile Elly has to get a job and move out on her own. Marie her grandmother connects Elly with the realtor to help, Elly finds the perfect place.
After they get her moved into Elly's place, they go back to Marie's house to tackle her garden to get ready for spring planting, and find a very shocking object that definitely doesn't belong and have to call the police.
And Marie becomes the #1 and only suspect. The evidence is very strong and gets arrested, now Elly has to find the criminal fast.
With her friends and handsome neighbor/landlord Nathan and Cooper his dog to find answers.
You have to vet this book to find out all the other surprises along the investigation!!!!!
September 1, 2022
Elly Hockette has moved back to her hometown of Garden Grove Massachusetts to get her life back together after a bad relationship. She moved back in with her grandmother temporarily and is working at the library with her. While helping with the gardening at her grandmother’s house, Elly makes a gruesome discovery. As usual in a small town, the police don’t have a lot of experience with murder investigations and they arrest Granny, the town librarian, for murder. Even with the annual Halloween festivities going on, Elly is determined to find the real killer and get her grandmother out of jail. Will she be successful or will she find herself in over her head? Penny Brooke is a new author to me and I love her quirky characters and her very well written first book in the Garden Cove Library Cozy Mystery series. I definitely will be reading more by her!
July 23, 2022
A new cozy mystery series by an author who I've read books from many times before.
In this new series, Elly returns to her home town of Garden Cove after her relationship ends. She's there to work with her Grandmother in the library until she can work out what to do next.
When her Grandmother is accused of murder, Elly does all she can to find the real murderer and clear her family name.
Of course, there's a romantic interest too, as well as an adorable dog and cute kitten.
I loved this book and can't wait to read the next book in the series. If you liked this book, try the Seabreeze Bookshop series by the same author.
In this new series, Elly returns to her home town of Garden Cove after her relationship ends. She's there to work with her Grandmother in the library until she can work out what to do next.
When her Grandmother is accused of murder, Elly does all she can to find the real murderer and clear her family name.
Of course, there's a romantic interest too, as well as an adorable dog and cute kitten.
I loved this book and can't wait to read the next book in the series. If you liked this book, try the Seabreeze Bookshop series by the same author.
August 21, 2022
I enjoyed this first book in a new series so much, I can't wait for the next installment.
I enjoyed the small-town setting, and the relationships between the characters. The mystery was a good one and left me puzzled about why someone would go to the trouble to try to frame someone else for the killing. I didn't guess the outcome, and it left me wondering right up to the end, when it all came together.
I have read other series by this author, and enjoyed her writing in those, so I decided to give this new series a try.
I enjoyed the small-town setting, and the relationships between the characters. The mystery was a good one and left me puzzled about why someone would go to the trouble to try to frame someone else for the killing. I didn't guess the outcome, and it left me wondering right up to the end, when it all came together.
I have read other series by this author, and enjoyed her writing in those, so I decided to give this new series a try.
July 15, 2022
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Elly returning to her hometown to help her grandmother is soon embroiled in trying to clear her grandmother after a hand is discovered in her garden. It was a surprise in who was responsible and the reason why. The reason for the discovery was something that was to provide safety for Elly and those helping her plus Elly following her gut.
July 17, 2022
Digging Up Murder is the first book in the Garden Cove Library Cozy Mystery series and is a great start to this new series. The characters are likable and the storyline is enjoyable and has twists and turns to unravel.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 21, 2022
This book pulled you in from the first sentence and held you entranced until the very last sentence. The book was so vivid in the descriptions because I always felt like I was in the scene with elly and her grandma.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 24, 2022
a bit of gardening, intended to be relaxing, turns into the basis for a murder investigation- with someone near and dear falling under suspicion
Can she clear her friends and family with the help of friends, four legged and two legged?
whodunnit and small town mysteries.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Can she clear her friends and family with the help of friends, four legged and two legged?
whodunnit and small town mysteries.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 14, 2022
This is a great small town/cozy mystery.. I enjoyed it.. It is clever and fun-to-read, with interesting characters and story..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 17, 2022
This is a great start to a new series. This book, has a fast paced storyline which is filled with adventure and intrigue. I can't wait for the next book. I received this book as a FREE ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.
July 17, 2022
A good new read with good characters and story. Elle moves back home to restart her life and ends up with a mystery and murder. I would recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 13, 2022
Very Enjoyable!
This was a really good clean mystery with very interesting characters and a sweet dog and cute kitty; also a fast read. I will definitely read more and recommend to all.
This was a really good clean mystery with very interesting characters and a sweet dog and cute kitty; also a fast read. I will definitely read more and recommend to all.
January 4, 2023
short and easy
Girl returns home to which she’d sworn never return after problems send her running back to the security of grandma’s home. An apparent murder and she turns detective. Typical cozy plot. Pleasant reading for a dreary morning.
Girl returns home to which she’d sworn never return after problems send her running back to the security of grandma’s home. An apparent murder and she turns detective. Typical cozy plot. Pleasant reading for a dreary morning.
July 20, 2023
Fun Read
Elly returns to her hometown after a breakup and reconnects with her grandmother and some friends. When a severed ha nd is found in her grandmother's garden, she is arrested and Elly is determined to prove her innocent. This was a fun cozy read.
Elly returns to her hometown after a breakup and reconnects with her grandmother and some friends. When a severed ha nd is found in her grandmother's garden, she is arrested and Elly is determined to prove her innocent. This was a fun cozy read.
June 16, 2024
Perfect light summer read
Cute book. Loveable characters. Just a hint of possible romance without seeming like a Hallmark movie. I would read books from Penny Brooke in the future.
Cute book. Loveable characters. Just a hint of possible romance without seeming like a Hallmark movie. I would read books from Penny Brooke in the future.
July 7, 2024
An enjoyable quick cozy
A quaint town and old friends with a dead body. Amateur sleuth who doesn’t feel she’s smarter than the police but who helps weed out the killer. Fun all the way around
A quaint town and old friends with a dead body. Amateur sleuth who doesn’t feel she’s smarter than the police but who helps weed out the killer. Fun all the way around
August 24, 2022
Whose hand is it??? They may have gotten away with it if they hadn’t tried to blame Elly’s grandmother!!! I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
November 9, 2022
Really cute book
The same day a woman returns to her hometown after years away, her grandmother is arrested for murder. I enjoyed this storyline and the interesting characters.
The same day a woman returns to her hometown after years away, her grandmother is arrested for murder. I enjoyed this storyline and the interesting characters.
November 13, 2022
DIGGING UP MURDER is a really good, clean, cozy mystery. The plot is well laid out, the characters are finely drawn, and the dialogue is realistic. I very much enjoyed this entertaining read!
November 20, 2022
plot twists
Interesting book with a great plot twists. I would recommend for young adults and be read the middle of October to see the Halloween mood.
Interesting book with a great plot twists. I would recommend for young adults and be read the middle of October to see the Halloween mood.
January 12, 2023
Great cozy
Enjoyable read and fun characters. Mystery was decent as well. Will definitely read more in the series. Glad I found it.
Enjoyable read and fun characters. Mystery was decent as well. Will definitely read more in the series. Glad I found it.
February 6, 2024
Great read
Great mystery. An unexpected ending. Would recommend to all who love reading and love an unpredictable ending. Story grabbed my attention from the very first chapter.
Great mystery. An unexpected ending. Would recommend to all who love reading and love an unpredictable ending. Story grabbed my attention from the very first chapter.
May 7, 2024
Ok
I generally don't read cosy mysteries, but this wasn't to bad. The storyline was ok and the characters were alright.
I generally don't read cosy mysteries, but this wasn't to bad. The storyline was ok and the characters were alright.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews