Dru’s Short Musing:
This well-executed whodunit with its comfortable tone kept me on my toes from beginning to end.

The author knows how to tell a story that kept me immersed in all that was happening. Finding a dead body sets the stage in this engaging drama as Dawna sets out to investigate who is behind the murder. The mystery was nicely done with suspects, clues, and a few twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages as I tried to figure out what was going on. The narrative was visually descriptive, putting me in the middle of all the action. When I thought I had a handle on the culprit’s identity, the author changed directions all to enhance my reading pleasure. Boasting a great cast of characters and a small-town atmosphere, this was a charming read, and I hope there are more adventures with Dawna and her friends.

Series Name: A Hometown Hardware Mystery, Book 2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: January 28, 2025
Format: Digital
Purchase Link

Book Synopsis:
In the quaint mountain town of Pine Bluff, Oregon, fall has arrived and it’s time for the annual Timber Festival, complete with Lumberjack and Lumberjill contests, and booths serving spicy chili and creamy pumpkin pies. Widowed hardware store owner Dawna Carpenter is selling cookbooks at a booth in the park for a fundraiser her women’s group is running. She’s looking forward to soaking in all her favorite things about the season, including hoping to have a conversation with her deceased husband, who she thinks is still hanging around the house.

But when Dawna falls over the body of one of the lumberjacks, with his own throwing axe imbedded in his chest, her focus turns to murder. With the town in turmoil, Dawna takes Chief Dallas’s request to keep her ears open as a full license to snoop. She’d better watch her back, or Dawna might be the next one to get the axe.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the author.