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Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery #22
Cod Between a Shamrock and a Hard Place: A Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery
When the town librarian is an avid mystery and true-crime reader, the local law enforcement must need a book-smart assistant like her, right?
The month of March means two things for the Towne birthdays and St. Patrick’s Day. Mrs. Rebecca Towne is now the lucky stepmother to two bonnie young lasses, and this year’s birthday party theme is Megan’s choice since Melanie chose last year. Additionally, Rebecca and Kenny are ready to purchase a house together, finally uniting their clan under one roof.
The other property purchase concerning the Newfound Lake area is that of the local Irish pub, O’Flannaghan’s, which is up for auction. Potential buyers come out of the woodwork to bid, and the result isn’t what any of them expect. The fair market value for the pub is too high when Rebecca finds someone who pays with their life. Since discovering the criminal shenanigans, she feels responsible for investigating everyone involved in the final gavel price of the restaurant.
Will a four-leaf clover be required to figure out if the deceased was knocked down by a buyer green with envy or if the seller was really a mischievous little leprechaun?
The month of March means two things for the Towne birthdays and St. Patrick’s Day. Mrs. Rebecca Towne is now the lucky stepmother to two bonnie young lasses, and this year’s birthday party theme is Megan’s choice since Melanie chose last year. Additionally, Rebecca and Kenny are ready to purchase a house together, finally uniting their clan under one roof.
The other property purchase concerning the Newfound Lake area is that of the local Irish pub, O’Flannaghan’s, which is up for auction. Potential buyers come out of the woodwork to bid, and the result isn’t what any of them expect. The fair market value for the pub is too high when Rebecca finds someone who pays with their life. Since discovering the criminal shenanigans, she feels responsible for investigating everyone involved in the final gavel price of the restaurant.
Will a four-leaf clover be required to figure out if the deceased was knocked down by a buyer green with envy or if the seller was really a mischievous little leprechaun?
110 pages, Paperback
Published February 25, 2025
4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 28, 2025
In the charming town of Newfound Lake, Rebecca and Kenny Towne are basking in the glow of newlywed life. With Rebecca's stepdaughters, Megan and Melanie, spending more time with them, the couple is on a quest to find the perfect family home. However, the housing market seems as elusive as a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, leaving the Townes feeling a bit like they're chasing leprechauns. Just when hope seems to be slipping away, an unexpected opportunity arises: the local Irish pub, O’Flannaghan’s, is up for auction. Its owner is in a bit of a pickle, or perhaps a pot of shamrock stew, as she's in jail and looking to offload the property quickly to cover her legal fees. But when the auction turns into a kerfuffle, and long-time resident Cal Verrier's luck runs out most tragically, Rebecca finds herself donning her detective hat once more to unravel the mystery.
"Cod Between a Shamrock and a Hard Place" by Virginia Bennett is a delightful addition to the Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery series, and I couldn't help but get swept up in its charm. The story felt like a treasure trove of engaging characters, each with their own unique flair that I found utterly captivating. The community spirit in Newfound Lake was palpable to me, with everyone looking out for one another, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that I wanted to immerse myself in. Virginia Bennett’s knack for crafting enjoyable and authentic dialogue truly shone, especially through Rebecca's endearing ramblings that added a touch of humor and relatability to the narrative. The St. Patrick’s Day theme was woven throughout with delightful nods to Irish culture, including a mouthwatering Irish Cod Pie recipe at the end—a little culinary luck o' the Irish to try at home.
As I delved deeper into the plot, the cast of suspects was as varied as a field of clovers, keeping me on my toes and guessing who might be the culprit behind Cal Verrier's untimely demise. Even though I felt like I had a strong hunch about the murderer, the why and how remained cleverly obscured until the very end. This element of surprise is a hallmark of Virginia Bennett's writing, and it ensured that even I, a seasoned mystery reader, was left scratching my head in delightful puzzlement. The book's cover and title were as inviting as an open door to a cozy cottage, capturing the essence of the series and piquing my curiosity about the next adventure in Newfound Lake.
For anyone who finds joy in cozy mysteries like I do, "Cod Between a Shamrock and a Hard Place" is a pot of literary gold waiting to be discovered. Its blend of humor, intrigue, and community made it a perfect read for me as I escaped into a world where mysteries are solved with a touch of Irish charm and a lot of heart. As I turned the pages, I was swept up in the luck-filled journey of Rebecca and her friends, making it impossible not to eagerly anticipate the next installment, "The Deviled Easter Egg Hunt," which promises more delightful mysteries to unravel. Whether you're a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer like me, this book is sure to leave you feeling as lucky as finding a four-leaf clover.
Book Rating:
Originality: 4.75/5.0
Plot Structure: 4.75/5.0
Pacing: 5.0/5.0
Dialogue: 5.0/5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 4.5/5.0
Cover Design: 4.75/5.0 (Not averaged in the overall rating.)
Overall Rating: 4.8/5.0 (Rating will be rounded up due to platforms not allowing partial ratings.)
"Cod Between a Shamrock and a Hard Place" by Virginia Bennett is a delightful addition to the Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery series, and I couldn't help but get swept up in its charm. The story felt like a treasure trove of engaging characters, each with their own unique flair that I found utterly captivating. The community spirit in Newfound Lake was palpable to me, with everyone looking out for one another, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that I wanted to immerse myself in. Virginia Bennett’s knack for crafting enjoyable and authentic dialogue truly shone, especially through Rebecca's endearing ramblings that added a touch of humor and relatability to the narrative. The St. Patrick’s Day theme was woven throughout with delightful nods to Irish culture, including a mouthwatering Irish Cod Pie recipe at the end—a little culinary luck o' the Irish to try at home.
As I delved deeper into the plot, the cast of suspects was as varied as a field of clovers, keeping me on my toes and guessing who might be the culprit behind Cal Verrier's untimely demise. Even though I felt like I had a strong hunch about the murderer, the why and how remained cleverly obscured until the very end. This element of surprise is a hallmark of Virginia Bennett's writing, and it ensured that even I, a seasoned mystery reader, was left scratching my head in delightful puzzlement. The book's cover and title were as inviting as an open door to a cozy cottage, capturing the essence of the series and piquing my curiosity about the next adventure in Newfound Lake.
For anyone who finds joy in cozy mysteries like I do, "Cod Between a Shamrock and a Hard Place" is a pot of literary gold waiting to be discovered. Its blend of humor, intrigue, and community made it a perfect read for me as I escaped into a world where mysteries are solved with a touch of Irish charm and a lot of heart. As I turned the pages, I was swept up in the luck-filled journey of Rebecca and her friends, making it impossible not to eagerly anticipate the next installment, "The Deviled Easter Egg Hunt," which promises more delightful mysteries to unravel. Whether you're a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer like me, this book is sure to leave you feeling as lucky as finding a four-leaf clover.
Book Rating:
Originality: 4.75/5.0
Plot Structure: 4.75/5.0
Pacing: 5.0/5.0
Dialogue: 5.0/5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 4.5/5.0
Cover Design: 4.75/5.0 (Not averaged in the overall rating.)
Overall Rating: 4.8/5.0 (Rating will be rounded up due to platforms not allowing partial ratings.)
February 26, 2025
"Cod Between a Shamrock and a Hard Place (A Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery #22)" by Virginia K. Bennett is a bit St. Patrick's Day themed with most be focused on the sale of the local pub, since the current owner is facing some legal debt due to what they did in a previous book. Rebecca and Kenny are looking for a home big enough for them and the two girls when Rebecca decides to check out the pub auction their realtor mentions in passing to her.
This one kept me guessing. I didn't think of the culprit as a suspect until a couple paragraphs before the reveal. Right about when Rebecca and Kenny probably started thinking it.
This one kept me guessing. I didn't think of the culprit as a suspect until a couple paragraphs before the reveal. Right about when Rebecca and Kenny probably started thinking it.
March 11, 2025
Entertaining mystery listening 🐈😚
This kindle ebook novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 22 of 22
More to come? Rebecca and Kenny are looking for a house. They attend an auction for a restaurant in the area. Rebecca finds their real estate agent dead. Rebecca and Kenny keep asking questions leading to the killer.
I would highly recommend this series and author to readers of romantic family and friends relationship adventure thriller novels 🎶👩❤️💋👩 2025 😎😏
This kindle ebook novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 22 of 22
More to come? Rebecca and Kenny are looking for a house. They attend an auction for a restaurant in the area. Rebecca finds their real estate agent dead. Rebecca and Kenny keep asking questions leading to the killer.
I would highly recommend this series and author to readers of romantic family and friends relationship adventure thriller novels 🎶👩❤️💋👩 2025 😎😏
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews