Welcome to Cooper’s Cove Resort and Lake Covington. I’m Emmy Cooper. You’re here to take a tour, right? My parents, Paul and Claire, are busy with some personal matters in town. So, I’m helping out. I’m actually just here in Covington on a little respite for the next two weeks. I’ve been working as an interior designer in Chicago for the past five years, but I’ll admit, it’s been awfully nice being home…except for, well, never mind that right now. Would you like some sweet tea? I know it’s not a Wisconsin thing, but Mom is from Tennessee and makes it like her mama did.
This beautiful property has been in our family for almost one hundred years. It’s very special to us. That’s why my dad has fought so hard, along with other property owners, to keep this awful company, Lionheart Development, from buying everyone out. They want to build a monstrosity of a modern resort. Anyways, this is our lodge. Aren’t the log walls and fieldstone fireplace cozy? I love the big windows overlooking the lake. Guests enjoy sitting on the couches, grab a book, and relax. Trash-to-treasure projects are a passion of mine. Our Northwoods décor is made from pieces I’ve repurposed from garage sales and thrift stores.
Let’s go outside and see the cottages. We have twelve of different sizes, all with porches facing Lake Covington. They’re named after trees up here. See the little beach and the diving platform out in the water? Kids have a blast out there. It was pretty fun for my younger brother, Noah, and me growing up here.
Summers were the best. My lifelong bestie, Whitney, practically lived here. Then, Dean, a boy from Indiana about our age, visited relatives every summer, and we all hung out. We had so much fun! (I have to admit, I had the biggest crush on Dean…still do.)
Back to our tour. Over here are some of our cottages. They’re all decorated like cozy Northwoods cabins. The big white house up there is our family home. Those are our dogs in the yard, Chappy and Spooner and yes, they’re spoiled rotten.
You’re probably wondering about that yellow crime scene tape way down by the last cottage and marsh. Um, well…there was an, let’s say, “accident.” Remember that development firm I mentioned? Well, the accident happened to one of their head honchos. It’s been terrible. Don’t worry! Our guests here feel completely safe. The police are doing a great job. Which, get this…remember Dean? He’s moved here and is on our police department! (I’m so embarrassed. I hate blushing like this.)
If you’ve never visited Covington before, it’s an adorable little town with cute shops and restaurants. Whitney’s family owns Northwoods Diner. Picketts is a barbecue place with Southern flair. My buddy Marcus with the Mullet (yes, that’s what we call him!) works there, and his band plays there weekly. We also have a great bookstore, coffee shop, bakery…everything’s locally owned. That’s really important to us here in Covington. Funny, between college and work, I’ve lived away from Covington for nine years. But, I still feel like this is my town. There’s something special about this place.
I hope you’ve enjoyed visiting Cooper’s Cove! I’m sure everything here will be back to normal soon and all this murd…I mean, accident business will be resolved. Whitney, Marcus, and I are trying to make sure of it. Um, I probably shouldn’t have mentioned that. Oops! Well, I hope to see you again soon!
Resort to Murder, A Northwoods Mysteries Book #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: March 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
When Emmy Cooper’s life in Chicago is turned upside down, the young interior designer retreats to her family’s lake cottage resort in the beautiful Wisconsin Northwoods for a much-needed break. Hoping to clear her mind and gain a fresh perspective, she looks forward to enjoying the slower pace and the crisp, clean pine air at her beloved Cooper’s Cove Resort with her family, dogs, and her best friend, Whitney.
Unfortunately, her homecoming isn’t as calm as she’d hoped when Emmy finds out a ruthless development company is relentlessly pressuring Lake Covington property owners, including Emmy’s family, to sell their land so they can build an extravagant, modern resort that would ruin the quaint esthetic of the area. And things only get worse when Emmy finds the dead body of one of the developers floating in the lake—murdered!
Suddenly the police are involved, and since Emmy’s father was leading the fight to stop the shady development from getting approval, he’s quickly painted as the prime suspect. Now it’s up to Emmy to prove her father’s innocence, save the reputation of Cooper’s Cove, and find out who would resort to murder.
Meet the author
Annie McEwen is the author of the Northwoods Mysteries Series, set amongst the tall pines and sparkling lakes of northern Wisconsin, where she spent vacations as a kid. Because of a sweet love story between her youngest sister and a local Wisconsin boy, she’s still been able to keep on visiting the beautiful place that means so much to her. A former farm kid, Annie and her husband are empty nesters living in their rural Indiana home. Their son is married to his high-school sweetheart, and their daughter is married with two adorable toddler boys. Being grandparents is definitely the best gig ever! They also have four fur babies, one of whom is a very important character in her books. When Annie isn’t writing, playing with her grandsons, or gardening, she works as a radiological technologist, aka, she takes pictures of bones…you can’t hide much from her! Connect with Annie at her website, anniemcewenauthor.com.