An obituary writer finds one of her neighbors dead before her time in this debut cozy mystery perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Eva Gates. Obituary writer Winter Snow is no stranger to grief, and writing obituaries for the citizens of Ridgefield, Connecticut, is her way of providing comfort to those who have been in her shoes. But funerals and eulogies are meant for the dead, so when the very much alive Leocadia Arlington requests her own obituary by the end of the week, Winter’s curiosity is piqued. Even more so when she finds Mrs. Arlington dead soon after. Officer Kip Michaels and his relentless partner Tom Bellini make it clear that Winter is under suspicion for the death.

Dru’s Short Musing:
When asked to write an obituary by a deadline, who knew the client would die sooner rather than later.

The is the premise of this whodunit that immediately grabbed my attention because I wanted to know the outcome. The author did a great job in detailing this well-executed mystery with an eclectic list of suspects, an amateur sleuth determined to solve her client’s murder and a cast of characters including her uncle and next-door neighbor who I adore, who all had pivotal roles in how this story was being told. Every step of the way, the drama kept me immersed in all aspects throughout, including a few twists and turns that added to the complexity of the murder investigation. When all was said and done, Winter took us to suspect after suspect where the clues and the motive became evident the closer she got to the person responsible. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to what happens next in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Series Name: Deadly Deadline Mystery Book #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: February 20, 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

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