Carried to the Grave & Other Stories by Leslie Budewitz
I’ve taken several trips to the quaint town of Jewel Bay, Montana – compliments of Leslie Budewitz, through her Food Lovers’ Village Mystery series. This series is filled with plenty of down-to-earth warmth, with characters as solid as the plots and, of course, the occasional dead body – every cozy lover’s dream!
The series features Erin Murphy. She’s back home in Montana, teaming up with her mom to run their century-old family business, Murphy’s Mercantile (the Merc). It’s a specialty food market housed in an antique building in northwest Montana.
Carried to the Grave & Other Stories is the 6th installment in this series and is a compilation of 5 mysteries and one novella. They are all set in Jewel Bay featuring many of the previous characters – plus some new ones. I loved these stories. Whether you’ve read the series or not, each story can stand alone. But for those who’ve read this series, Carried to the Grave & Other Stories will be the icing on the proverbial cake.
The short mysteries will give readers a special insight into the peaceful and tranquil town of Jewel Bay. And an assorted variety of stories it is – including The Christmas Stranger, a fine example of “good will toward men.”
In Carried to the Grave, a family funeral brings long-buried secrets to the surface – turning a time of grief into a time of anger. Another story finds someone driven to the ultimate act of revenge – murder in the first. In A Death in Yelapa, a husband and wife’s romantic “getaway” includes someone who almost “got-away” with murder!
The novella, An Unholy Death tells the complete story of the Merc from the very beginning and how it came to be. It’s a somber tale of the trials and tribulations facing newly married Kate and Paddy Murphy. Paddy knew the town of Jewel Bay needed a good supply house and country store. He sank all his money into his new business, Murphy’s Mercantile. But it went beyond the money. This was Paddy’s dream for a better life – a new business, a new town for his young bride – and eventually a place to raise a family.
It wasn’t easy for Kate, especially back in those days. While Paddy had a motor car, there were still plenty of folks riding horses and buggies. No phone, no tech – in fact, they had no indoor plumbing! But when a man of the cloth turns up viciously murdered, leaving behind a young child, Kate begins to wonder if this quaint, seemingly beautiful town is not a “jewel” after all.
As Kate learns first-hand how gossip can be deeply rooted and spiteful, she’s seeing some of the townsfolk in a totally different light – downright cruel (to be precise). She begins worrying if her new home is even safe as she finds herself getting drawn into a web of lies and murder.
I love compilations and novellas, and this one was a great read. The various short stories are the vehicle used to give you a detailed perspective into Jewel Bay. The novella is a great “tie-up” for the series, bringing readers an authentic story about Erin’s ancestors and how it all began. An Unholy Death leaves readers exhaling with delight, as Leslie Budewitz brings us her heartwarming ending plus a murderer brought to justice.
Want to find out more about this series? Then take a trip to Jewel Bay, Montana by visiting the “books/mystery” category on this site and read the reviews for As The Christmas Cookie Crumbles and Treble at the Jam Fest (as well as other cozy mystery reviews).