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Sophie Parker Coupon Mystery #3
Death of a Miser
It's the holiday season and Sophie Parker's life is good, that is until her great-aunt Rose's nemesis Carl Jackson drops dead from a poisoned pie.
Sophie Parker has hung up her waitress uniform months ago and now works full time sharing her beloved folklore and fairy tales as the library's children's program coordinator. She's getting along with all the members of her coupon group, including her high school nemesis, Vivie Danner.
There are only two blips in Sophie's life; the first is her airplane repo boyfriend, AJ Devlin, who over the last few months has cancelled more dates than he's kept making Sophie wonder if perhaps their relationship is coming to an end.
The second is her great aunt Rose who enters her locally famous pie into the Winter Jamboree's pie contest. While Aunt Rose nearly always wins, contest judge Carl Jackson always has something negative to say about her pies. This time is no different when Carl criticises her pie for being too sweet and then steals it. It's an insult Aunt Rose can't let pass. Unfortunately, while she's fussing at Carl, he drops dead.
Carl's death is assumed to be from natural causes, until the medical examiner determines that he was poisoned, and all eyes turn to Aunt Rose as his most likely killer.
Sophie knows her aunt would never use one of her prized pies to murder, so she sets out to keep her aunt out of prison. It doesn't take long for Sophie to learn that the charming Carl Jackson was actually a greedy, sometimes cruel, miser, who had many enemies. As she learns more about Carl and those who had reasons to want him dead, Sophie creates problems in her coupon group, between her and AJ, and with a murderer bent on stopping her and Rose from celebrating the holidays ever again.
Sophie Parker has hung up her waitress uniform months ago and now works full time sharing her beloved folklore and fairy tales as the library's children's program coordinator. She's getting along with all the members of her coupon group, including her high school nemesis, Vivie Danner.
There are only two blips in Sophie's life; the first is her airplane repo boyfriend, AJ Devlin, who over the last few months has cancelled more dates than he's kept making Sophie wonder if perhaps their relationship is coming to an end.
The second is her great aunt Rose who enters her locally famous pie into the Winter Jamboree's pie contest. While Aunt Rose nearly always wins, contest judge Carl Jackson always has something negative to say about her pies. This time is no different when Carl criticises her pie for being too sweet and then steals it. It's an insult Aunt Rose can't let pass. Unfortunately, while she's fussing at Carl, he drops dead.
Carl's death is assumed to be from natural causes, until the medical examiner determines that he was poisoned, and all eyes turn to Aunt Rose as his most likely killer.
Sophie knows her aunt would never use one of her prized pies to murder, so she sets out to keep her aunt out of prison. It doesn't take long for Sophie to learn that the charming Carl Jackson was actually a greedy, sometimes cruel, miser, who had many enemies. As she learns more about Carl and those who had reasons to want him dead, Sophie creates problems in her coupon group, between her and AJ, and with a murderer bent on stopping her and Rose from celebrating the holidays ever again.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2022
11 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Harte
25 books197 followersI've always had a romantic streak. Even as a kid, my favorite characters on TV were almost always happily married and as a twelve year old, I'd write stories about them (this was before fan fiction or the Internet were invented).
I love to read romantic suspense or mystery, but am disappointed that romances don't follow up on the happily ever after and mysteries rarely provide the sexy, romantic elements I enjoy. So I decided to write my own with the Valentine Mysteries.
When I'm not telling stories, I work by day as romance ghostwriter and run an online community for romance writers at WriteWithHarte.com. I'm an empty nester in central Virginia living my HEA with my hubby and a nutty cat.
I love to read romantic suspense or mystery, but am disappointed that romances don't follow up on the happily ever after and mysteries rarely provide the sexy, romantic elements I enjoy. So I decided to write my own with the Valentine Mysteries.
When I'm not telling stories, I work by day as romance ghostwriter and run an online community for romance writers at WriteWithHarte.com. I'm an empty nester in central Virginia living my HEA with my hubby and a nutty cat.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 15, 2022
Who Killed Carl Jackson ? . . .
This is a clever cozy mystery with a story line that flows well and keeps the reader guessing while trying to figure out the mystery. Sophie’s great-aunt Rose was a well-known pie champion in the Winter Jamboree's pie contest. So when she and Carl Jackson, a contest judge, have an argument, Rose becomes the primary suspect when Carl Jackson drops dead from eating a poisoned pie. However, Carl had many more enemies than people were aware of and who might have wanted him dead. But is it Carl they were after? Or is the real target Rose?
And what’s going on with AJ Devlin, who has cancelled many dates with Sophie and seems evasive. Is their relationship suddenly on shaky ground? Will they be splitting up over something she is not aware of yet?
Drama, mystery, turmoil, and suspense will keep the reader turning the pages in this mystery. The series is well-written and well-paced, able to hold the reader’s attention from beginning to end. So grab your copy and follow the clues along with Sophie.
This is a clever cozy mystery with a story line that flows well and keeps the reader guessing while trying to figure out the mystery. Sophie’s great-aunt Rose was a well-known pie champion in the Winter Jamboree's pie contest. So when she and Carl Jackson, a contest judge, have an argument, Rose becomes the primary suspect when Carl Jackson drops dead from eating a poisoned pie. However, Carl had many more enemies than people were aware of and who might have wanted him dead. But is it Carl they were after? Or is the real target Rose?
And what’s going on with AJ Devlin, who has cancelled many dates with Sophie and seems evasive. Is their relationship suddenly on shaky ground? Will they be splitting up over something she is not aware of yet?
Drama, mystery, turmoil, and suspense will keep the reader turning the pages in this mystery. The series is well-written and well-paced, able to hold the reader’s attention from beginning to end. So grab your copy and follow the clues along with Sophie.
August 15, 2022
Aunt Rose was a long time pie champion. when things go amiss for a judge, Rose comes under suspicion
despite the challenges to the health and safety of Sophie and Miss Rose, an investigator has Rose in his sites.
Can the ladies survive the lethal holiday festivities?
Will her relationship with AJ survive his no shows, failures to call, suspicions and jealousies?
This could be a code blue Christmas for Sophie and Aunt Rose
intense intrigue, drama, action and whodunnit.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
despite the challenges to the health and safety of Sophie and Miss Rose, an investigator has Rose in his sites.
Can the ladies survive the lethal holiday festivities?
Will her relationship with AJ survive his no shows, failures to call, suspicions and jealousies?
This could be a code blue Christmas for Sophie and Aunt Rose
intense intrigue, drama, action and whodunnit.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 11, 2022
I liked most of the characters (Sofie's got 2 so called friends she needs too drop). I loved Bull.
The story was entertaining but I felt it dragged a bit. This was in part because she repeated things. How many times do we need to be reminded she just came back 6 months ago? I was also a little disappointed that neither our amateur sleuths nor the police were suspicious of the events the night of the fire.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my opinion
The story was entertaining but I felt it dragged a bit. This was in part because she repeated things. How many times do we need to be reminded she just came back 6 months ago? I was also a little disappointed that neither our amateur sleuths nor the police were suspicious of the events the night of the fire.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my opinion
August 16, 2022
This cozy mystery will keep you guessing and then guessing again. The plot is well thought out and the story is well written and flows smoothly through the pages. The characters are fun to get to know as they work to solve the mystery. An entertaining, cozy mystery to add to your summer reading list.
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.
August 21, 2022
4.5 Stars!
I enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were well written. The twists and turns kept me turning the page. I received an ARC from BookSprout and this is my honest opinion.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were well written. The twists and turns kept me turning the page. I received an ARC from BookSprout and this is my honest opinion.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 30, 2022
I enjoyed this cozy mystery!! It was the first time reading this author and this series. Even though it was book number 3, I wasn't lost. This book was filled with twists, suspense and humor...everything I look for in a cozy mystery!!
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November 3, 2023Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
A Sophie Parker Coupon Mystery
Miniseries
A Sophie Parker Coupon Mystery
June 15, 2024
Sweet story with lovable characters. Plus, I'm on vacation near Charleston where its set.
August 13, 2022
This book was a page Turner I had a hard time putting the book down. The person who did the murders and set their house on fire. I liked the way the story ended.
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.
August 27, 2022
A 5 star read! This story has everything I look for - romance, suspense, and a fun humor. I have really enjoyed this series and am so sad that this is the last installment! While this was a lovely conclusion for them, I want more Sophie and AJ! I really loved how their relationship progressed in this book, and the ending was perfection. The mystery here was top notch and definitely kept me guessing. Such a fun series, and I'm still secretly hoping for more! Even just a bonus epilogue!
May 30, 2025
This was a really fun book that I very much enjoyed reading. I would definitely read others by this author or in this series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews