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Up North Murder
A phone call can change your life forever...Abigail Williams gets that phone call. Gordon Dorcey, Abby’s uncle and last living relative has drowned in the lake on his property, and Abby is his sole heir.There are a few complications, however.Abby’s inheritance is a trout farm in Michigan, but she’s a city girl from Phoenix, Arizona.In addition, Abby doesn’t believe the official story of her uncle’s death.And the biggest complication... the four-legged furry owner of the farm who seems to have her own ideas about how things should be run.Culture shock is the least of her worries.Up North Murder is the first in the Up North Michigan Cozy Mystery series.
226 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2016
15 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl F. Taylor
6 books22 followersCheryl Taylor was raised in northeastern Michigan and pursued a degree in agriculture communications from Michigan State University. In 1986, Taylor moved to Arizona where she worked in publishing and advertising in the livestock industry, then eventually moving into teaching in 1998 after receiving a masters in education from Northern Arizona University.
"Gone to Ground" is Taylor's first book and explores how an apocalyptic event might look in the Arizona ranch land. "Breaking Free," a sequel to "Gone to Ground" is currently in the works.
In addition, Taylor is working on several cozy mystery series, including the Up North Michigan series, which takes place on a trout farm in the northeastern part of the state where she was raised, and the Rock Shop mystery series, which takes place in northern Arizona.
Taylor currently resides in northern Arizona with her family of horses, cattle, dogs and birds.
"Gone to Ground" is Taylor's first book and explores how an apocalyptic event might look in the Arizona ranch land. "Breaking Free," a sequel to "Gone to Ground" is currently in the works.
In addition, Taylor is working on several cozy mystery series, including the Up North Michigan series, which takes place on a trout farm in the northeastern part of the state where she was raised, and the Rock Shop mystery series, which takes place in northern Arizona.
Taylor currently resides in northern Arizona with her family of horses, cattle, dogs and birds.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 18, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Abigail Williams leaves Arizona for Upper Michigan after she receives word that her uncle, Gordon Dorsey, has passed away. She doesn’t get many details, just that her last living relative has drowned. A terrible accident. They had mainly remained in contact by cards and letters and she knows he retired to a farm but she didn’t realize it was a TROUT FARM complete with a young caretaker and a very special canine. Not long after she arrives she starts to think her uncle’s death may not have been an accident. Now she just has to prove it!
I was drawn in by Abigail Williams immediately. She jumped right into her inheritance with both feet, willing to learn everything she could about the farm and the business her uncle had created. Her uncle left her the place not just because she was his only surviving relative but because he believed she was a country girl at heart. Could he be right? Could she be happy in a place with spotty cell service, no Starbucks, miles to a store of any kind? She had time to figure that out but first she needs to know if her uncle really was murdered and who would have killed him. I enjoyed the way she did her investigation. She jumped right into that as well.
The author does an excellent job of setting the scene. It was super easy to picture the lake, the house, the barn, and the land in my mind. I was traipsing right along with Abigail for every step. I learned a bit about trout farming too.
The story was very well written, the characters well drawn and authentic. The dialogue was genuine. The story had a slow build as Abby came up with several suspects and motives. As she worked to eliminate them the pace picked up. While the actual killer was one of my top suspects the climatic ending was surprising and scary.
I am so excited to know this is going to be a series. I just wish the next story was already available because the ending of this book had me rushing to Amazon to see if it was available. I would have purchased it right away.
This is a great start for this series.
Abigail Williams leaves Arizona for Upper Michigan after she receives word that her uncle, Gordon Dorsey, has passed away. She doesn’t get many details, just that her last living relative has drowned. A terrible accident. They had mainly remained in contact by cards and letters and she knows he retired to a farm but she didn’t realize it was a TROUT FARM complete with a young caretaker and a very special canine. Not long after she arrives she starts to think her uncle’s death may not have been an accident. Now she just has to prove it!
I was drawn in by Abigail Williams immediately. She jumped right into her inheritance with both feet, willing to learn everything she could about the farm and the business her uncle had created. Her uncle left her the place not just because she was his only surviving relative but because he believed she was a country girl at heart. Could he be right? Could she be happy in a place with spotty cell service, no Starbucks, miles to a store of any kind? She had time to figure that out but first she needs to know if her uncle really was murdered and who would have killed him. I enjoyed the way she did her investigation. She jumped right into that as well.
The author does an excellent job of setting the scene. It was super easy to picture the lake, the house, the barn, and the land in my mind. I was traipsing right along with Abigail for every step. I learned a bit about trout farming too.
The story was very well written, the characters well drawn and authentic. The dialogue was genuine. The story had a slow build as Abby came up with several suspects and motives. As she worked to eliminate them the pace picked up. While the actual killer was one of my top suspects the climatic ending was surprising and scary.
I am so excited to know this is going to be a series. I just wish the next story was already available because the ending of this book had me rushing to Amazon to see if it was available. I would have purchased it right away.
This is a great start for this series.
December 17, 2016
Great read!
I didn't think I'd like it, but it hooked me in! Enjoyed immensely! Good characters and never knew the guilty person until almost the end.
I didn't think I'd like it, but it hooked me in! Enjoyed immensely! Good characters and never knew the guilty person until almost the end.
January 13, 2022
While I was kind of skeptical on reading this book, as I am a Yooper in the U.P., I thought I’d give it a try.
“Up North Murder” is a murder mystery that occurs in Michigan’s northern part of the Lower Peninsula. The story starts with Abigail Williams who lives and works in Phoenix, AZ. One day she receives a phone call that her Uncle and last living relative has drowned in a lake on his property, and Abby is his sole heir!
Being a city girl, she embarks to where her Uncle had lived, in order to make funeral arrangements, as well as take care of all the inheritance paper work that goes along with it. But there are a few complications as Abby’s inheritance is a trout farm. She, also, discovers the biggest complication…. The four-legged furry owner of the farm who seems to have her own ideas about how things should be run. Abby discovers that she now has some cattle, chickens, goats, a cat plus the dog to take care of along with the trout. After arriving at the farm and being introduced to some of the locals, she learns she has a tenant Adam and his live-in girlfriend who live in a house on the property who help with chores.
After she reads and hears how her Uncle died, she doesn’t believe what she has been told. So if you want to find out what all occurs and how this mystery is solved, I guess you’ll have to do what I did and read it!
You won’t be disappointed as you learn about those who are and are not involved. It’s a very good read and hard to put down….so enjoy!
“Up North Murder” is a murder mystery that occurs in Michigan’s northern part of the Lower Peninsula. The story starts with Abigail Williams who lives and works in Phoenix, AZ. One day she receives a phone call that her Uncle and last living relative has drowned in a lake on his property, and Abby is his sole heir!
Being a city girl, she embarks to where her Uncle had lived, in order to make funeral arrangements, as well as take care of all the inheritance paper work that goes along with it. But there are a few complications as Abby’s inheritance is a trout farm. She, also, discovers the biggest complication…. The four-legged furry owner of the farm who seems to have her own ideas about how things should be run. Abby discovers that she now has some cattle, chickens, goats, a cat plus the dog to take care of along with the trout. After arriving at the farm and being introduced to some of the locals, she learns she has a tenant Adam and his live-in girlfriend who live in a house on the property who help with chores.
After she reads and hears how her Uncle died, she doesn’t believe what she has been told. So if you want to find out what all occurs and how this mystery is solved, I guess you’ll have to do what I did and read it!
You won’t be disappointed as you learn about those who are and are not involved. It’s a very good read and hard to put down….so enjoy!
March 22, 2025
Up north Michigan
The author has set the scene in rural Michigan just north of Alpena where so many down state residents travel in summer to enjoy the cooler weather and the small lakes near Lake Huron. Author has done a great job at describing the area and then setting up a murder mystery that keeps you guessing almost to the end. The only thing I disliked about the book was when Josh showed up at the end. So unnecessary even is you plan sequels.
The author has set the scene in rural Michigan just north of Alpena where so many down state residents travel in summer to enjoy the cooler weather and the small lakes near Lake Huron. Author has done a great job at describing the area and then setting up a murder mystery that keeps you guessing almost to the end. The only thing I disliked about the book was when Josh showed up at the end. So unnecessary even is you plan sequels.
June 30, 2019
I was attracted to reading this book because of the setting in Michigan - a place where I was born and visit every summer. The main character has been called out from her home in Phoenix to her uncle's farm - he has suddenly died and SURPRISE he has left his farm to his estranged niece. The plot is not completely original, but the writing is excellent, the character development is strong and I loved this book! I look forward to book 2, 3, 4, 5, and 100! Keep up the great work from this starting line, Cheryl!
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July 5, 2021I wasn’t sure about this book from KU but liked the northern MI setting. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Abby moves from Phoenix to a farm in northern MI that her uncle left her. The workings of the farm- especially the trout farm part- were really interesting, I liked the characters and there were lots of suspects to choose from. And I loved Max!!!!
January 18, 2022
Relaxing read
The book was fun to read, partly because it was set in Michigan. Not a heavy plot or too much mystery of drama. I finished it in one sitting. The ending was.quote abrupt, and I'm wondering g of there was supposed to be a sequel to this book in which that would have been explained.
The book was fun to read, partly because it was set in Michigan. Not a heavy plot or too much mystery of drama. I finished it in one sitting. The ending was.quote abrupt, and I'm wondering g of there was supposed to be a sequel to this book in which that would have been explained.
March 20, 2021
This was a fun read for me as I live in this beautiful area. There are many books written which take place on the western side of Northern Michigan but few take place here on the 'sunrise' side of the state. Hoping there will be a follow-up to this story soon.
September 28, 2017
This is the first book in the series. it has likeable characters and just the right amount of suspense and mystery. I look forward to reading the next book!
October 30, 2019
Great read
If you like murder/mystery books this is for you. Right from the beginning it held my interest. Great story! 5 star!
If you like murder/mystery books this is for you. Right from the beginning it held my interest. Great story! 5 star!
July 24, 2025
Too predictable. Bland characters. The only interesting part was that the dog was smarter than any of the humans.
April 20, 2023
I’m ready for the next book!
This is great, especially since I live in the area of this setting. It was fun reading local towns and familiar land. Good plot.
This is great, especially since I live in the area of this setting. It was fun reading local towns and familiar land. Good plot.
April 5, 2017
Very good story. The first clue to the killer comes at dinner.
April 15, 2017
Great Northern Michigan Story
Cheryl has written a very fine mystery. Being a Michigander (spelling?- Sorry),,
It was fun to look up where places were on the Michigan map. A northeastern
Michigan trip is in the planning.
Her characters are very likeable, and easy to visualize, especially Max.
I hope there are many more books in this "Up North Michigan" series.
Thanks for writing this book, Cheryl.
Cheryl has written a very fine mystery. Being a Michigander (spelling?- Sorry),,
It was fun to look up where places were on the Michigan map. A northeastern
Michigan trip is in the planning.
Her characters are very likeable, and easy to visualize, especially Max.
I hope there are many more books in this "Up North Michigan" series.
Thanks for writing this book, Cheryl.
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May 21, 2017It was easy to figure out the killer.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews