A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron
Cozy mystery author, Ellen Byron, brings us yet another series debut – and it’s out NOW! A Very Woodsy Murder is the first installment of her Golden Motel Mystery series, and this, too, is a winner!
Cozy fans who love nature, the wilderness and of course, a pesky murder, are sure to enjoy this new book featuring a woodsy and remote setting at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Dee Stern is fed up with her old career. She’s on a road trip with her BFF, Jeff Cornetta to “get away from it all.” Along the way, Dee spies an old mid-century motel, complete with retro charm, but in “serious” need of some heavy duty TLC. It’s called the Golden Motel and it’s up for sale!
Dee gets the feeling that this is “what she’s been looking for” – a new start, a new life, a new town. Housed in the small town (and I do mean “small”) of Foundgold, population 68, she envisions the Golden Motel flourishing with tourists passing through the mountains to go to the nearby national park. She runs the idea by Jeff, who is not only her trusted friend, but also happens to be her ex-hubby! And she’s mighty quick to plant the seed that “they” should become partners in this new enterprise!
At first Jeff isn’t so sure. But then he realizes that he’s up for a new game plan himself. Plus he’s a tech guy and he can still bring in income working remotely (figuratively and literally) while they get the place up and running for what they hope will be, an influx of guests. Green light – it’s a “go!”
But just as the motel is starting to show solid motel reservations, a high-profile guest is murdered. When word gets out, booking drops faster than the stock market on a bad tech day! Even worse, two warring law enforcement officers are looking at Dee and Jeff as possible suspects! Uh oh — time for Dee and Jeff to take sleuthing matters into their own hands!
Ellen Byron gives us a down-to-earth setting. An elite Hollywood agent, his wife, and Stoney the bear, mix nicely with Foundgold’s down-home characters. Next town over is Lostgold, with some “not so nice, uppity folks.” Interweaving the two towns and the murder together with unique residents, make for a solid mystery for readers to solve.
QUESTION: How on earth does Ellen Byron do it? Yet another new mystery series that’s both charming and delightful? ANSWER: Beats the heck out of me, but I’m just glad she can!!!
Grab yourself a copy of A Very Woodsy Murder. In no time at all, you’ll want to be taking a road trip and checking into The Golden Motel!
A copy of this book and cover photo were provided by: Kensington Publishing.