Dru’s Short Musing:
The author did a great job in staging this fun whodunit, that I could not put down, quickly becoming a page-turner.
This well-written drama grabbed my attention immediately with the introduction of a varied and quirky cast of characters, each with their own idiosyncrasies that included Amber, her grandmother and the residents of Seven Ponds. The mystery was delivered with a panache of intermingling chapters and a comfortable tone making it easy to enjoy what is happening on the page. The dynamics of the characters, the engaging dialogue, and those they interacted with established the roles they were playing and how it factored in how well the mystery was set up where the more you read, the more the author’s direction led you to another possibility. When all was said and done, the outcome brought it all home to a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed this book, and I look forward to more adventures with Amber and her friends.
Name of Series: A Seven Ponds Mystery | Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: April 29, 2025
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link
Book Synopsis:
Amber thought she had troubles before her grandma was arrested for murder…
Former PI-in-training Amber Winslow has decided to flee her life in the dead of night, carrying nothing but the clothes on her back. Down on her luck and with no other choice, she heads to the sunny state of Arizona to the luxury accommodations of her grandmother’s retirement community. Never mind that Amber’s never actually met her estranged and eccentric Grandma Jade.
As soon as she sneaks her things into Seven Ponds (a place she technically doesn’t qualify for and definitely can’t afford), she’s shocked to learn that George Vincent, a.k.a. the Admiral, was found dead the very night of her arrival. What’s even more shocking is that no one seems particularly distraught over the news of the Admiral’s death or the disappearance of his prize pet tortoise. All anyone can talk about is a missing Vincent family heirloom, and they’re quick to blame Jade for both the Admiral’s murder and the theft of the priceless ring.
Amber doesn’t want to admit the woman she’s just met―and who accepted her without question―could be behind the Admiral’s death, and she’s determined to clear her grandmother’s name no matter the cost.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.