New motel owner Dee Stern has checked out of the familiar comforts in the Studio City and checked in to the quaint village of Foundgold. Running a rustic getaway in the woods sure beats LA traffic—until murder ruins the peace and quiet . . .Down-on-her-luck sitcom writer Dee Stern is flipping the script. Twice divorced and wasting her talents on an obnoxious kids’ show, the lifelong Angeleno embraces the urge to jump in her car and keep driving.


Dru’s Short Musing:
Ellen, the prolific author that she is, delivers another whodunit that I could not put down until all was said and done. With her new business and reputation on the line, Dee begins her own investigation when an old nemesis is murdered on her new property.

This was a fun book to read. I enjoyed meeting the eclectic cast of characters that bring their own uniqueness to this tale. The author did a great job in presenting this story with a wickedly solid mystery, plenty of clues to keep me busy, and a few comedic moments that enhanced my reading pleasure. When I thought I had a good handle on the person responsible, the author changed direction which illustrated how well this story was being told. I had a good time following along with what the author intended with visually descriptive narrative, engaging dialogue, a fast-paced read and a comfortable tone that made me feel I’m there with Dee and her friends as they tried to put the pieces together. I love the camaraderie between the various characters, some of whom had pivotal roles in the apprehension of the killer. Ellen has a way of making you love what is happening on the pages and staying for the whole ride. This is a great beginning to a new series that I hope is here to stay for a long time.

Series Name: Golden Motel Mystery Book #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: July 23, 2024
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.