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Harley Henrickson #1
The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek
A book-loving whiskey distiller’s life is upended when a famous rock star moves to town and murders start occurring.
Whiskey distiller and nerdy wallflower Harley Henrickson's life is changed when she discovers a disoriented stranger in the ditch, mumbling about a lost boy, a boy who was "innocent." When the man disappears into the woods, Harley is left with many unanswered questions. Who was the mysterious man, and what happened to the innocent boy?
As she digs deeper, she discovers the stranger, in reality, was no stranger at all, and had ties to many highly-esteemed citizens in town. When one of those citizens, a wealthy history professor, is murdered, Harley decides to investigate. What she discovers is a multitude of secrets, lies, and sins, dating back decades, and revolving around a handsome and brooding rock star who has chosen Notchey Creek as his new home.
Filled with humor, heart-rending moments, and a charming small town setting in the Great Smoky Mountains, The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek is sure to please fans of cozy mysteries.
Editorial Reviews:
"Andrews—like her heroine—mixes up a tasty cocktail out of appealing ingredients….The complex plot is intelligently managed and full of surprises….Characters, too, are multilayered. Keeps readers guessing—with humor and romance balancing the whodunit."
-Kirkus Reviews
The mystery's plot is enhanced by the author's skillful use of imagery and a parade of complex and eccentric characters. I found it impressive that Andrews was able to simultaneously weave a plot that kept me guessing while conjuring visual images that made me laugh. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. "
-Online Book Club (4/4 stars)
Whiskey distiller and nerdy wallflower Harley Henrickson's life is changed when she discovers a disoriented stranger in the ditch, mumbling about a lost boy, a boy who was "innocent." When the man disappears into the woods, Harley is left with many unanswered questions. Who was the mysterious man, and what happened to the innocent boy?
As she digs deeper, she discovers the stranger, in reality, was no stranger at all, and had ties to many highly-esteemed citizens in town. When one of those citizens, a wealthy history professor, is murdered, Harley decides to investigate. What she discovers is a multitude of secrets, lies, and sins, dating back decades, and revolving around a handsome and brooding rock star who has chosen Notchey Creek as his new home.
Filled with humor, heart-rending moments, and a charming small town setting in the Great Smoky Mountains, The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek is sure to please fans of cozy mysteries.
Editorial Reviews:
"Andrews—like her heroine—mixes up a tasty cocktail out of appealing ingredients….The complex plot is intelligently managed and full of surprises….Characters, too, are multilayered. Keeps readers guessing—with humor and romance balancing the whodunit."
-Kirkus Reviews
The mystery's plot is enhanced by the author's skillful use of imagery and a parade of complex and eccentric characters. I found it impressive that Andrews was able to simultaneously weave a plot that kept me guessing while conjuring visual images that made me laugh. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. "
-Online Book Club (4/4 stars)
242 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 10, 2019
Charming and engrossing.
Y'all know me. Not only am I a proud southern belle but I was also raised in the great tradition of Tennessee Whiskey families. My mother's family is originally from Lynchburg and is heavily connected to our distiller's roots. So when I picked up this book, I came at it with a bit of wariness.
What if the author got the setting all wrong? What if the traditions don't make sense? What if y'all is spelled ya'll?
All of those fear were unfounded.
This book is a clever and unique cozy mystery set in a charming small Appalachian town with all of the intrigue and character that you could possibly want. The mystery unfolded slowly but carefully and it wasn't like there was just randomly a lot of problems happening. Everything had a reason and I was completely on board for that!
I am 100% ready for the next book to come out. It said Fall 2019 on Amazon and I am impatient.
Y'all know me. Not only am I a proud southern belle but I was also raised in the great tradition of Tennessee Whiskey families. My mother's family is originally from Lynchburg and is heavily connected to our distiller's roots. So when I picked up this book, I came at it with a bit of wariness.
What if the author got the setting all wrong? What if the traditions don't make sense? What if y'all is spelled ya'll?
All of those fear were unfounded.
This book is a clever and unique cozy mystery set in a charming small Appalachian town with all of the intrigue and character that you could possibly want. The mystery unfolded slowly but carefully and it wasn't like there was just randomly a lot of problems happening. Everything had a reason and I was completely on board for that!
I am 100% ready for the next book to come out. It said Fall 2019 on Amazon and I am impatient.
January 26, 2019
An excellent cozy mystery and so much more. A wonderful protagonist, a beautifully painted setting, a puzzling mystery (that floored me), humor, and a cast of complex and eccentric characters. The thoroughly satisfying denouement was the icing on the cake.
I immediately fell in love with the book's protagonist, the book-loving whiskey distiller, Harley Henrickson. She is sensitive, hardworking, compassionate, and giving, and though she carries some insecurities from her past, she doesn't let them define her. As with the book's other compelling characters, she isn't perfect and is on a character arc to become something more, a refreshingly different lead character, one who is a bit of a contradiction. At first glance, she appears to be rough-around-the-edges, a tomboy of sorts, but, in reality, she is quite lady-like, well-read, articulate, and smart. She is not the stereotypical bombshell heroine and not every man falls in love with her, thank goodness.
Other characters of note are:
Beau Arson: A hard rock/ heavy metal musician with a tragic past and a sensitive side
Sheriff Jed Turner: A retired NFL player who suffers from lost dreams and the struggle to become a good sheriff
Harley's best friend, Tina Rizchek: a rhinestone and stiletto-wearing caterer who is a force in her own right
Savannah Swanson: A former beauty queen who is looking for more in her life
Hazel Moses: A retired school teacher who suffers from unfulfilled ambitions and unrequited love
Eric Winston: The handsome and accomplished county medical examiner who has returned to his hometown
Patrick Middleton: A history professor, who is kind, genteel, and cultured, but is haunted by his past
Harley's Great-Aunt, Wilma True: Truly Southern and always a treat with her hair emergencies and overbearing, but loving nature.
Harley's Great-Uncle, Tater: This one you'll just have to see for yourself... :)
I can't wait to see where these characters and others go in future books as Harley works to solve the mysteries of Notchey Creek.
I immediately fell in love with the book's protagonist, the book-loving whiskey distiller, Harley Henrickson. She is sensitive, hardworking, compassionate, and giving, and though she carries some insecurities from her past, she doesn't let them define her. As with the book's other compelling characters, she isn't perfect and is on a character arc to become something more, a refreshingly different lead character, one who is a bit of a contradiction. At first glance, she appears to be rough-around-the-edges, a tomboy of sorts, but, in reality, she is quite lady-like, well-read, articulate, and smart. She is not the stereotypical bombshell heroine and not every man falls in love with her, thank goodness.
Other characters of note are:
Beau Arson: A hard rock/ heavy metal musician with a tragic past and a sensitive side
Sheriff Jed Turner: A retired NFL player who suffers from lost dreams and the struggle to become a good sheriff
Harley's best friend, Tina Rizchek: a rhinestone and stiletto-wearing caterer who is a force in her own right
Savannah Swanson: A former beauty queen who is looking for more in her life
Hazel Moses: A retired school teacher who suffers from unfulfilled ambitions and unrequited love
Eric Winston: The handsome and accomplished county medical examiner who has returned to his hometown
Patrick Middleton: A history professor, who is kind, genteel, and cultured, but is haunted by his past
Harley's Great-Aunt, Wilma True: Truly Southern and always a treat with her hair emergencies and overbearing, but loving nature.
Harley's Great-Uncle, Tater: This one you'll just have to see for yourself... :)
I can't wait to see where these characters and others go in future books as Harley works to solve the mysteries of Notchey Creek.
January 19, 2019
A haunting read that has vibes of Maeve Binchy
What a wonderful read. However if you are just expecting a normal cozy - this isn't it. The plot itself weaves back and forth through time and the lives of a small community who are changed by the actions of two people. One acting on purpose and the other by what fate throws at them. Beautifully detailed characters that entrap you and make you live their story. This is full of emotion from heartbreaking loneliness to laughter.
She had come back the save the distillery and now although not yet cash rich it was doing well. When her BFF calls her and says she wrecked her van and found a body in a ditch it sets in motion effects that lead to murder, lies, attempted murder and for the residents of the community not only to look back on their own actions but also those of others. Will our introvert heroine manage to untangle the web that has caused two recent deaths and entwined the privileged with their more normal partners? Will she be able to stand up for her beliefs even when ridiculed? Will she remember the lessons she learned as a heartbroken child from another lonely heartbroken teen? Will she ensure that the guilty pay and pay publicly for their actions and bring peace to the ghosts of the past?
What a wonderful read. However if you are just expecting a normal cozy - this isn't it. The plot itself weaves back and forth through time and the lives of a small community who are changed by the actions of two people. One acting on purpose and the other by what fate throws at them. Beautifully detailed characters that entrap you and make you live their story. This is full of emotion from heartbreaking loneliness to laughter.
She had come back the save the distillery and now although not yet cash rich it was doing well. When her BFF calls her and says she wrecked her van and found a body in a ditch it sets in motion effects that lead to murder, lies, attempted murder and for the residents of the community not only to look back on their own actions but also those of others. Will our introvert heroine manage to untangle the web that has caused two recent deaths and entwined the privileged with their more normal partners? Will she be able to stand up for her beliefs even when ridiculed? Will she remember the lessons she learned as a heartbroken child from another lonely heartbroken teen? Will she ensure that the guilty pay and pay publicly for their actions and bring peace to the ghosts of the past?
February 1, 2021
"I'm finding that so many of my beliefs," she said, "about people, about situations...about memories...aren't at all what I thought."
This was cute but somehow just didn't click with me. There was a big cast of characters and a plot that had a few lines going - a few that kept distracting me from the story and, I think, losing me a little.
But if you like cozy mysteries, go ahead and give this one a try. Many others loved it.
This was cute but somehow just didn't click with me. There was a big cast of characters and a plot that had a few lines going - a few that kept distracting me from the story and, I think, losing me a little.
But if you like cozy mysteries, go ahead and give this one a try. Many others loved it.
January 13, 2019
GNA The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek was a nice fast read. Liz Andrews brings us Harley Henrickson, hopefully a series, who is a book reading wallflower whiskey distiller in the very small Appalachian community of Notchey Creek, Tennessee. This was an interesting peek into small town USA with a mountain flair, and a multifaceted mystery hidden among complicated relationships and coincidences.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley and Liz Andrews. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Nov 26, 2018
rec Dec 5, 2018
Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
Mystery & Thrillers , Women's Fiction
Not available at B&N
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley and Liz Andrews. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Nov 26, 2018
rec Dec 5, 2018
Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
Mystery & Thrillers , Women's Fiction
Not available at B&N
January 7, 2019
‘She had returned. Was she aware that her existence had been lost to time, to history, to memory?’
Pennsylvania author Liz S. Andrews makes her literary debut with this fine little ‘cozy mystery’ that seems to make the beginning of a promising career. Liz is a native of East Tennessee and grew up near the Great Smoky Mountains. She currently lives in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh.
Liz has that gift for creating a setting for a story that matches the tenor of the characters and the events to come. We enter her world and concepts for a mystery from her first word – ‘The mist had fallen again. It was midnight and Dr. Patrick Middleton lay alone in silence. His was the silence of regret. Whispers had woken him, whispers in restless dreams from the mouths of ghosts not yet buried. They whispered to him of the past, of his wife now dead for over thirty years, and of others, those he’d abandoned, abandoned yet never forgot. For memories are not mere illusions. They are alive and well in the minds of haunted men. His eyes tired from chasing shadows on the moonlit ceiling, he rose from his bed. He plucked his glasses from the side table and perched them instinctively on the bridge of his nose. Over the last forty years, those tired blue eyes had poured over countless texts, recording the lives of men long dead, their actions immortalized in the taps and rings of his typewriter. And like the man who tempted fate, he tied his housecoat about his waist, and he ventured out into the autumn night, a lantern in his hand. He had to see her. On the hillside, his three-hundred-year-old mansion stood like a brick fortress, the kitchen lights aglow like the eyes of a watchman, awoken by an old man’s guilt. A brood of dark clouds eclipsed the October moon, muting his green lawn to a sea of charcoal, dappled in hues of silver starlight. To the east, tucked in the quiet folds of the foothills, lay the small town where he’d spent the last thirty years of his life, only a few slivers of light peering from the curtained windows. What moonlight remained illuminated the surrounding apple orchards and pumpkin patches and hay fields as they rolled eastward toward the mountains, where the blue-gray peaks of the Smokies melded, stack by stack, toward the night sky. The heavens were dark. God and his angels always seemed to abandon him on his darkest of nights. And from those mountains, cresting from a vein of the Tennessee River, Notchey Creek wound its way like a snake toward Patrick, the mist hanging heavily over its dark waters, gathering a pale blanket of fog on the creek bank. He could hear her now. She was calling to him.’
Within this setting Liz introduces her chief character Harley Henrickson, the titular character of this most likely ongoing series. Harley was raised by her grandfather relinquished her option to enter Harvard when her grandfather’s cancer required her presence. Harley inherits the family distillery and the town’s perception of her changes. In the story there is an autumn festival where a strange man is discovered in a ditch – not dead as he first appears but rises and disappears in the woods. That same day a famous rock star moves to Notchey Creek, and soon after, a history professor and long-time resident of the town is murdered. As Harley investigates the murder, memories from her own childhood begin to surface, and she discovers a dark secret connected to the town’s more prominent citizens.
Mystery as enacted by a superbly crafted new character in Harley Henrickson signals the arrival of a fine new writer in the mystery/thriller genre. Watch her grow.
Pennsylvania author Liz S. Andrews makes her literary debut with this fine little ‘cozy mystery’ that seems to make the beginning of a promising career. Liz is a native of East Tennessee and grew up near the Great Smoky Mountains. She currently lives in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh.
Liz has that gift for creating a setting for a story that matches the tenor of the characters and the events to come. We enter her world and concepts for a mystery from her first word – ‘The mist had fallen again. It was midnight and Dr. Patrick Middleton lay alone in silence. His was the silence of regret. Whispers had woken him, whispers in restless dreams from the mouths of ghosts not yet buried. They whispered to him of the past, of his wife now dead for over thirty years, and of others, those he’d abandoned, abandoned yet never forgot. For memories are not mere illusions. They are alive and well in the minds of haunted men. His eyes tired from chasing shadows on the moonlit ceiling, he rose from his bed. He plucked his glasses from the side table and perched them instinctively on the bridge of his nose. Over the last forty years, those tired blue eyes had poured over countless texts, recording the lives of men long dead, their actions immortalized in the taps and rings of his typewriter. And like the man who tempted fate, he tied his housecoat about his waist, and he ventured out into the autumn night, a lantern in his hand. He had to see her. On the hillside, his three-hundred-year-old mansion stood like a brick fortress, the kitchen lights aglow like the eyes of a watchman, awoken by an old man’s guilt. A brood of dark clouds eclipsed the October moon, muting his green lawn to a sea of charcoal, dappled in hues of silver starlight. To the east, tucked in the quiet folds of the foothills, lay the small town where he’d spent the last thirty years of his life, only a few slivers of light peering from the curtained windows. What moonlight remained illuminated the surrounding apple orchards and pumpkin patches and hay fields as they rolled eastward toward the mountains, where the blue-gray peaks of the Smokies melded, stack by stack, toward the night sky. The heavens were dark. God and his angels always seemed to abandon him on his darkest of nights. And from those mountains, cresting from a vein of the Tennessee River, Notchey Creek wound its way like a snake toward Patrick, the mist hanging heavily over its dark waters, gathering a pale blanket of fog on the creek bank. He could hear her now. She was calling to him.’
Within this setting Liz introduces her chief character Harley Henrickson, the titular character of this most likely ongoing series. Harley was raised by her grandfather relinquished her option to enter Harvard when her grandfather’s cancer required her presence. Harley inherits the family distillery and the town’s perception of her changes. In the story there is an autumn festival where a strange man is discovered in a ditch – not dead as he first appears but rises and disappears in the woods. That same day a famous rock star moves to Notchey Creek, and soon after, a history professor and long-time resident of the town is murdered. As Harley investigates the murder, memories from her own childhood begin to surface, and she discovers a dark secret connected to the town’s more prominent citizens.
Mystery as enacted by a superbly crafted new character in Harley Henrickson signals the arrival of a fine new writer in the mystery/thriller genre. Watch her grow.
February 11, 2019
I’ll be honest, the reason I requested this book is because it is set in my backyard. While I like cozy mysteries, I usually only choose one when I need a respite from my favorite thriller genre. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It is a cozy mystery, but it is so much more.
Notchey Creek is a town full of secrets. Seeminly idyllic, the town is stunned when a wealthy local history professor turns up dead. Lovable Harley Henrickson is determined to get to the bottom of his death but every corner she turns only brings up more questions.
Full of likeable characters, pet pigs, a rock star, and life lessons, this book is an excellent read. I did not expect the ending and I will be honest, I shed a tear.
I hope that this is the first of many Harley Henrickson novels. I plan to read them all!
#TheMistRisesOverNotcheyCreek #NetGalley
Publication Date: November 28, 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Cover: Perfect
Rating: 5 stars
Source: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!
Notchey Creek is a town full of secrets. Seeminly idyllic, the town is stunned when a wealthy local history professor turns up dead. Lovable Harley Henrickson is determined to get to the bottom of his death but every corner she turns only brings up more questions.
Full of likeable characters, pet pigs, a rock star, and life lessons, this book is an excellent read. I did not expect the ending and I will be honest, I shed a tear.
I hope that this is the first of many Harley Henrickson novels. I plan to read them all!
#TheMistRisesOverNotcheyCreek #NetGalley
Publication Date: November 28, 2018
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Cover: Perfect
Rating: 5 stars
Source: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!
January 14, 2019
Small town mystery
It seems that writers are using gore and vivid detailing more and more to capture a reader’s attention in mystery novels. The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek doesn’t do that. It goes back to the basics of compelling characters and a well structured plot line to captivate readers. The main character, Harley, is a small town girl who readers will instantly feel drawn to like the girl next door. Her main journey is about the mysterious deaths in her small town but it spirals with a clever twist. Also in the background the stage is being set for a romance (which I’m anxious to follow in book 2). A very well done novel!
It seems that writers are using gore and vivid detailing more and more to capture a reader’s attention in mystery novels. The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek doesn’t do that. It goes back to the basics of compelling characters and a well structured plot line to captivate readers. The main character, Harley, is a small town girl who readers will instantly feel drawn to like the girl next door. Her main journey is about the mysterious deaths in her small town but it spirals with a clever twist. Also in the background the stage is being set for a romance (which I’m anxious to follow in book 2). A very well done novel!
June 1, 2020
Harley Henrickson lives in Notchey Creek with her Aunt & Uncle (& her pet pig Matilda). She is a whisky distiller & helps run the family business. Life is pretty quiet in Notchey Creek until Harley is called to pic up her friend who, distrcted by the mattress store's Halloween display (a Steven Tyler scarecros sitting on a mattress holding a 'Dream On' sign), wrecks her van in the ditch next to an unresponsive man. And so the mystery & upheaval of this small town begins.
Murder, secrets, schemes, love, dreams, shattered lives and shocking truths are revealed! Great book!
Murder, secrets, schemes, love, dreams, shattered lives and shocking truths are revealed! Great book!
December 22, 2018
Not what I expected!
I'm not certain what I did expect but it was not even close to what I read. What a terrific story! It is so much more than a story about people who live in the Smokie Mts. It's life and death, love and hate, sacrifice and greed, flawed character and bring true to who you are.
I'm not certain what I did expect but it was not even close to what I read. What a terrific story! It is so much more than a story about people who live in the Smokie Mts. It's life and death, love and hate, sacrifice and greed, flawed character and bring true to who you are.
January 6, 2019
Mystery
Great read did not see the ending coming and was spellbound reading every word trying to figure the ending out. Looking for more by this author.
Great read did not see the ending coming and was spellbound reading every word trying to figure the ending out. Looking for more by this author.
February 3, 2019
Loved this book! Well-written, excellent characters, beautiful.
January 12, 2019
Southern mystery .
Wonderful characters and story plot. Would love to read more about Harley and her adventures. A must read for a true glimpse of southern life.
Wonderful characters and story plot. Would love to read more about Harley and her adventures. A must read for a true glimpse of southern life.
January 19, 2019
I couldn't help to identify with Harley Henrickson, as so many of her traits are also mine :P
But that fact aside, the book is truly amazing. Ms. Andrews writing style is beautiful, even poetic, and yet fast-paced and with a perfectly rounded plot. The mystery hooked me from the beginning, and, all in all, this is the kind of book that makes you promise yourself that you will keep an eye open from future books by this author.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
But that fact aside, the book is truly amazing. Ms. Andrews writing style is beautiful, even poetic, and yet fast-paced and with a perfectly rounded plot. The mystery hooked me from the beginning, and, all in all, this is the kind of book that makes you promise yourself that you will keep an eye open from future books by this author.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
May 25, 2020
Very enjoyable read!
This was a very enjoyable book. The characters were very real with emotions. Take a chance and read this book - you won't be sorry!
This was a very enjoyable book. The characters were very real with emotions. Take a chance and read this book - you won't be sorry!
February 19, 2019
What a good mystery this was! And it stars one of the most unusual detectives it has ever been my pleasure to meet, Harley Hendrickson. Harley is a young woman in her twenties who owns a whiskey store in the town of Notchey Creek. She inherited it from her grandfather who raised her after her mother and grandmother died when she was young. When her grandfather became ill and the Hendrickson distillery was failing, Harley gave up her scholarship to Harvard and stayed in Notchey Creek, using her life savings to save the distillery and care for her grandfather. She was sad to have missed out on college but she knew she had made the right decision.
Nowadays, Harley runs the distillery with her Aunt Wilma and Uncle Buck and mans the store in town where she sells whiskey that can only be made in the hills of Appalachia. She creates colorful cocktails for people to try, both in the store and at the catering jobs she does with her best friend, Tina, who runs a bakery down the street. At night she goes home to her 300 lb. Pet pig Matilda (who is a walking destruction machine, trying to eat everything she sees) and her books. Much to her Aunt Wilma's disappointment, romance has no place in Harley's life. She knows she is plain, not pretty, because everyone in town tells her so on a daily basis.
Harley is known by just about everyone in Notchey Creek and admired for her brain as much as she is derided for her daily costume of overalls, flannel shirt, camouflage hat and barn jacket. So when one of the most beloved entrepreneurs in Notchey Creek if found dead in the creek in his back yard, Harley knows she will have to help the sheriff out and find out who did this, She does just that but along the way she airs some secrets of the townspeople and brings some astonishing tidbits of history to the forefront of the investigation.
I really liked this mystery and, you can be sure, I will be looking for some other Harley Hendrikson mysteries to read in the future because although Harley is no beauty and she doesnn't dress well, she doe get under your skin and she is a brilliant detective when she sets her mind to it. I think you should give her a chance as well. Enjoy!
Nowadays, Harley runs the distillery with her Aunt Wilma and Uncle Buck and mans the store in town where she sells whiskey that can only be made in the hills of Appalachia. She creates colorful cocktails for people to try, both in the store and at the catering jobs she does with her best friend, Tina, who runs a bakery down the street. At night she goes home to her 300 lb. Pet pig Matilda (who is a walking destruction machine, trying to eat everything she sees) and her books. Much to her Aunt Wilma's disappointment, romance has no place in Harley's life. She knows she is plain, not pretty, because everyone in town tells her so on a daily basis.
Harley is known by just about everyone in Notchey Creek and admired for her brain as much as she is derided for her daily costume of overalls, flannel shirt, camouflage hat and barn jacket. So when one of the most beloved entrepreneurs in Notchey Creek if found dead in the creek in his back yard, Harley knows she will have to help the sheriff out and find out who did this, She does just that but along the way she airs some secrets of the townspeople and brings some astonishing tidbits of history to the forefront of the investigation.
I really liked this mystery and, you can be sure, I will be looking for some other Harley Hendrikson mysteries to read in the future because although Harley is no beauty and she doesnn't dress well, she doe get under your skin and she is a brilliant detective when she sets her mind to it. I think you should give her a chance as well. Enjoy!
January 4, 2019
4 stars
Harley Henrickson gets an hysterical telephone call from her friend Tina. She has crashed her car and oh by the way there’s a dead man in the ditch. When Harley gets there, she discovers that the man is not dead. He gets up and staggers away into the woods after he says something about a boy being innocent. Sheriff Jed Turner arrives at the scene, but his deputies cannot locate any sign of the man and he has received no reports of a missing boy.
When a murder occurs, Harley takes on the investigation. She carefully follows the clues and trails her suspect. In an exciting scene, Harley unmasks a killer.
This cozy little mystery is well written. It has humor, tragedy, secrets, old murders and new and lies as Harley seeks the truth behind the stranger she met in the ditch (who turns out not to be a stranger at all), and the murder of a local history professor. I liked Harley and her friend, the irrepressible Tina. What makes their relationship work is the fact that they are so different in personality types. Harley is laid back, almost shy and Tina is – well Tina. I hope to read more about Harley in the future.
I want to thank NetGalley and IBPA, Members’ Titles for forwarding to me a copy of this nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.
Harley Henrickson gets an hysterical telephone call from her friend Tina. She has crashed her car and oh by the way there’s a dead man in the ditch. When Harley gets there, she discovers that the man is not dead. He gets up and staggers away into the woods after he says something about a boy being innocent. Sheriff Jed Turner arrives at the scene, but his deputies cannot locate any sign of the man and he has received no reports of a missing boy.
When a murder occurs, Harley takes on the investigation. She carefully follows the clues and trails her suspect. In an exciting scene, Harley unmasks a killer.
This cozy little mystery is well written. It has humor, tragedy, secrets, old murders and new and lies as Harley seeks the truth behind the stranger she met in the ditch (who turns out not to be a stranger at all), and the murder of a local history professor. I liked Harley and her friend, the irrepressible Tina. What makes their relationship work is the fact that they are so different in personality types. Harley is laid back, almost shy and Tina is – well Tina. I hope to read more about Harley in the future.
I want to thank NetGalley and IBPA, Members’ Titles for forwarding to me a copy of this nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.
March 11, 2019
This book didn't start out great for me as personally I strongly dislike seeing the death itself unless the main character is present. However, this author did do a good job in not revealing details of the crime in the scene. That risk of revealed details is a big piece of why I dislike that type of opener. I prefer to only know what the sleuth knows so I can puzzle out the clues.
The other issue I often have with this technique is that many times it's used to artificially create tension and hook early in the story, relying on the reader expecting the murder to happen to provide and carry suspense through an otherwise slow opening.
Sadly, that seems to be the case here. The sleuth is collecting clues before the fact, so there are important details involved and not just the stage setting I've often experienced, but it just felt slow. I think the fact that the murder hadn't happened and the incidents had no motivation contributed to the overly slow pace. She wasn't sleuthing. She just happened to be experiencing things that later ended up useful. So the story in that section lacks agency and that impacts the investigation as a whole.
The other issue I often have with this technique is that many times it's used to artificially create tension and hook early in the story, relying on the reader expecting the murder to happen to provide and carry suspense through an otherwise slow opening.
Sadly, that seems to be the case here. The sleuth is collecting clues before the fact, so there are important details involved and not just the stage setting I've often experienced, but it just felt slow. I think the fact that the murder hadn't happened and the incidents had no motivation contributed to the overly slow pace. She wasn't sleuthing. She just happened to be experiencing things that later ended up useful. So the story in that section lacks agency and that impacts the investigation as a whole.
January 20, 2019
Notchey Creek is a small town in Tennessee where everybody pretty much knows everyone (or at least knows who they are related too) and Haley Henrickson is no exception. She is a Whiskey distiller, a book worm and an introvert and her life follows predictable patterns that she is very comfortable with. However, once a murder happens in town, and a handsome and famous stranger moves to town, her curiosity is piqued, and she decides to snoop around a little to figure out just what is going on. This is a small-town mystery with plenty of chemistry between characters (good and bad) and the main character Haley is extremely relatable. I could see myself doing half the things she did, so kudos to the author in bringing a character to vivid life in his story. The book was well written, and the ending was not really predictable even though I was able to guess some plot points. Still, a very good book to get lost in and devour.
June 12, 2024
Nothing like I expected.
I don't believe I ever read that I considered an unpolished gem. It came at me from corners I never would have thought too explore before today. I felt as if my soul was alive and well and waiting for another dose of Notchy Creek.
I don't believe I ever read that I considered an unpolished gem. It came at me from corners I never would have thought too explore before today. I felt as if my soul was alive and well and waiting for another dose of Notchy Creek.
October 7, 2024
Beautiful writing. Wonderful story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
December 22, 2021
Murder Comes to Notchey Creek by Liz S. Andrews
Book #1: Harley Henrickson Series
Source: Purchase
Rating: 4½/5 stars
Harley Henrickson has spent her life being underestimated, dismissed, or simply scorned. An orphan at an early age, Harley was raised by her beloved whiskey-distilling grandfather, her aunt Wilma and Uncle Tater. Harley is intelligent beyond compare, but life has kept her from pursuing a college education and realizing her true intellectual potential. With all the said, Harley wouldn’t change one thing about her life and has learned to fully accept her place in town as the nerdy girl with virtually no friends.
Harley’s best friend is the high-strung yet supremely talented local bakery owner, Tina Rizchek. Most of Tina’s phone calls to Harley begin with some form of shrieking, but in this instance, the shrieking is completely justified. When Harley makes her way to Tina, the two friends find an unconscious man in a ditch with no identification and no means of conveying to the women how he got there and in such a state. What’s more, in a small town like Notchey Creek, everyone knows everyone else and neither Tina nor Harley recognizes the poor man.
Though Harley certainly feels for the man, once he disappears, she assumes her role in the whole mess is over. Harley has every been so wrong. What transpires over the next days and weeks is a roller coaster ride of emotions, actions, and reactions that has everyone in town confused, hurt, and simply shocked by the secrets that are coming to light. Somehow, Harley has found herself smack dab in the center of the entire mess and if she can’t solve the mystery others are most certainly going to suffer.
Harley’s inherent intelligence and ability to mentally organize a load of information at a time are two of her greatest strengths. Her other strength lies in the fact that the people who truly know her, trust Harley and are willing to help her with information. Every person Harley talks to gives her a bit more information and with the help of the local library, Harley discovers a truth that has been buried for more than 20 years. Exposing the truth will alter the lives of a number of people as well as bring closure to several others. One thing is certain, no matter what Harley does, Notchey Creek is going to be forever changed.
Despite seemingly always being on her own, Harley finds herself surrounded by people as she investigates the various mysteries wrapped around the mystery man in the ditch. Perhaps the loudest and most obnoxious is town sheriff, Jed Turner. Once upon a time, Harley and Jed were good friends, but circumstances beyond their control tore them apart and now the two have something of a contentious relationship. Harley being far better at Jed’s job than he is certainly earns her no good will. What Jed simply can’t wrap his brain around is the fact Harley wants no recognition for her work, only the satisfaction of knowing she has righted several wrongs and genuinely helped people in distress.
The Bottom Line: It’s only April but I’m going to call this one of my favorite books of the year. What a wonderful new cozy mystery series for me and one I am very excited about sharing with others. The characters in this book really are wonderfully weird, quirky, and varied. From the delightful Aunt Wilma and Uncle Tater to the arrogant (though with a heart?) sheriff, I took such great pleasure in learning about each of these characters and how they fit into Harley’s life. For as much as I loved the characters, I loved the amount of history and backstory found in this book. So much about the local history, legends, and families is dealt with in this book and it was a delight to see it all play out and come together as it should, in the end. I found the plot to be just a smidge darker than the average cozy mystery, but this only enhanced the read further for me. In all, this is a very exciting new series well worth adding to your TBR.
Book #1: Harley Henrickson Series
Source: Purchase
Rating: 4½/5 stars
Harley Henrickson has spent her life being underestimated, dismissed, or simply scorned. An orphan at an early age, Harley was raised by her beloved whiskey-distilling grandfather, her aunt Wilma and Uncle Tater. Harley is intelligent beyond compare, but life has kept her from pursuing a college education and realizing her true intellectual potential. With all the said, Harley wouldn’t change one thing about her life and has learned to fully accept her place in town as the nerdy girl with virtually no friends.
Harley’s best friend is the high-strung yet supremely talented local bakery owner, Tina Rizchek. Most of Tina’s phone calls to Harley begin with some form of shrieking, but in this instance, the shrieking is completely justified. When Harley makes her way to Tina, the two friends find an unconscious man in a ditch with no identification and no means of conveying to the women how he got there and in such a state. What’s more, in a small town like Notchey Creek, everyone knows everyone else and neither Tina nor Harley recognizes the poor man.
Though Harley certainly feels for the man, once he disappears, she assumes her role in the whole mess is over. Harley has every been so wrong. What transpires over the next days and weeks is a roller coaster ride of emotions, actions, and reactions that has everyone in town confused, hurt, and simply shocked by the secrets that are coming to light. Somehow, Harley has found herself smack dab in the center of the entire mess and if she can’t solve the mystery others are most certainly going to suffer.
Harley’s inherent intelligence and ability to mentally organize a load of information at a time are two of her greatest strengths. Her other strength lies in the fact that the people who truly know her, trust Harley and are willing to help her with information. Every person Harley talks to gives her a bit more information and with the help of the local library, Harley discovers a truth that has been buried for more than 20 years. Exposing the truth will alter the lives of a number of people as well as bring closure to several others. One thing is certain, no matter what Harley does, Notchey Creek is going to be forever changed.
Despite seemingly always being on her own, Harley finds herself surrounded by people as she investigates the various mysteries wrapped around the mystery man in the ditch. Perhaps the loudest and most obnoxious is town sheriff, Jed Turner. Once upon a time, Harley and Jed were good friends, but circumstances beyond their control tore them apart and now the two have something of a contentious relationship. Harley being far better at Jed’s job than he is certainly earns her no good will. What Jed simply can’t wrap his brain around is the fact Harley wants no recognition for her work, only the satisfaction of knowing she has righted several wrongs and genuinely helped people in distress.
The Bottom Line: It’s only April but I’m going to call this one of my favorite books of the year. What a wonderful new cozy mystery series for me and one I am very excited about sharing with others. The characters in this book really are wonderfully weird, quirky, and varied. From the delightful Aunt Wilma and Uncle Tater to the arrogant (though with a heart?) sheriff, I took such great pleasure in learning about each of these characters and how they fit into Harley’s life. For as much as I loved the characters, I loved the amount of history and backstory found in this book. So much about the local history, legends, and families is dealt with in this book and it was a delight to see it all play out and come together as it should, in the end. I found the plot to be just a smidge darker than the average cozy mystery, but this only enhanced the read further for me. In all, this is a very exciting new series well worth adding to your TBR.
February 18, 2021
I love this book.
Murder comes to Notchey Creek review.
I am in love with this book.
When I first started reading it, I thought I wasn't going to like it. Which was weird to think, even to myself, considering the opening hook was so beautifully written. But it felt like a sleepy autumn night; I could literally smell the hovering fog, feel the cool misty air on my skin, see the waters reflection dancing before my eyes as if I were right there. Not exciting but calm, as soft quiet feeling, as if nothing were to happen. And then the creases started to unfold. Fold up again, this way and that way. And it begun. It kept you thinking you knew what was going to pop up next, what shape would take hold, who was behind it all. But you'd be proven wrong within pages, and just as excited that you've failed, the same as if you'd outted the mystery instead.
I loved Harley's no fuss-no-muss, this is what you get, this is who I am, attitude. I also loved that she could make a mean drink and her best friend seemed to be crazy wild, her family was full of genuine colorful people, and underneath it all she was a little bit loanly; drowning in all her untapped potential and loveless disposition. I hope in the books to come, she finds what will truly make her whole.
I want to hug Beau, I felt sorry for Savannah's lack of courage and I even felt sorry for Patrick Middleton. I sort of want a pig now too lol
Oh and the end! The final twist. Let's just say, I cried from the overwhelming pressure, caused by the array of chaotic emotions it instilled. I would have never picked this book for myself, so glad a friend suggested it! Smart, quarky, twisted and emotional. Read it! Four stars
Murder comes to Notchey Creek review.
I am in love with this book.
When I first started reading it, I thought I wasn't going to like it. Which was weird to think, even to myself, considering the opening hook was so beautifully written. But it felt like a sleepy autumn night; I could literally smell the hovering fog, feel the cool misty air on my skin, see the waters reflection dancing before my eyes as if I were right there. Not exciting but calm, as soft quiet feeling, as if nothing were to happen. And then the creases started to unfold. Fold up again, this way and that way. And it begun. It kept you thinking you knew what was going to pop up next, what shape would take hold, who was behind it all. But you'd be proven wrong within pages, and just as excited that you've failed, the same as if you'd outted the mystery instead.
I loved Harley's no fuss-no-muss, this is what you get, this is who I am, attitude. I also loved that she could make a mean drink and her best friend seemed to be crazy wild, her family was full of genuine colorful people, and underneath it all she was a little bit loanly; drowning in all her untapped potential and loveless disposition. I hope in the books to come, she finds what will truly make her whole.
I want to hug Beau, I felt sorry for Savannah's lack of courage and I even felt sorry for Patrick Middleton. I sort of want a pig now too lol
Oh and the end! The final twist. Let's just say, I cried from the overwhelming pressure, caused by the array of chaotic emotions it instilled. I would have never picked this book for myself, so glad a friend suggested it! Smart, quarky, twisted and emotional. Read it! Four stars
December 14, 2019
Liz S. Andrews’ writing is beautiful in this book. I loved how The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek evokes the sense of being in a place, of experiencing a place, of living in a place, and of knowing and understanding people (not just characters). You can tell she loves words and loves the place she is writing about. It is really a fun, remarkable read.
This is the story of Harley Henrickson, a 27-year-old woman, who is living in the town she grew up in and running her family’s whiskey distillery and shop. She is caught up in the middle of a complicated murder mystery and must navigate trying to live her life, run her business, work with the colorful people in her town, and figure out what is happening all at once.
There are some very predictable story beats and some that seemingly come out of nowhere. Overall, however, the story is strong and the writing even stronger. As I mentioned earlier, it really is a beautifully written and rich novel. I was very quickly drawn in and loved the town and the people in this story.
This is a good mystery novel and a lot of fun to read. I bought the second one before I even finished the first one and am excited to read the third one coming out sometime next year. If you enjoy mysteries, you can’t go wrong with this book. If you love beautiful writing and and engrossing setting, you also can’t go wrong with this book.
This is the story of Harley Henrickson, a 27-year-old woman, who is living in the town she grew up in and running her family’s whiskey distillery and shop. She is caught up in the middle of a complicated murder mystery and must navigate trying to live her life, run her business, work with the colorful people in her town, and figure out what is happening all at once.
There are some very predictable story beats and some that seemingly come out of nowhere. Overall, however, the story is strong and the writing even stronger. As I mentioned earlier, it really is a beautifully written and rich novel. I was very quickly drawn in and loved the town and the people in this story.
This is a good mystery novel and a lot of fun to read. I bought the second one before I even finished the first one and am excited to read the third one coming out sometime next year. If you enjoy mysteries, you can’t go wrong with this book. If you love beautiful writing and and engrossing setting, you also can’t go wrong with this book.
January 7, 2019
The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek (Harley Henrickson Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Liz Andrews draws on the subtle power of southern charm in a cozy mystery that is both suspenseful and funny. The town of Notchey Creek is so well described by the author, you will want to move there. With all of its quirky characters from Tina, who is Harley's best friend to Jed, the ex-athlete newly elected sheriff, this town and the people in it, are wildly entertaining and intriguing. Harley works in her family's whiskey distillery business, and is seen as the nerd in town; she is quiet and unassuming. When she and her friend Tina (Notchey Creek's best cupcake purveyor) happen upon what they think is a body in a ditch, the action and mystery ramps up. Harley takes it upon herself to delve further into the mystery, as the man in the ditch disappears. Strong recommendation for this fun, engaging, and suspenseful book.
May 30, 2019
Harley Hendrickson is a whiskey distiller having inherited both the skill and the local distillery from her late grandfather. She is living a quiet life in Notchey Creek, Tennessee, but things get upended when first she and her bestie Tina find a disoriented drifter, a famous rock musician moves to town, and then a wealthy professor is found murdered. Somehow those three things tie in together, but Harley is not sure how. She decides to put her sleuthing cap on, much to the annoyance of ex-professional football player and now the local sheriff, Jed Turner. He doesn’t particularly like Harley, her interference, nor her pet pig Matilda.
Get ready for a madcap adventure filled with humor, a quirky and eccentric cast of characters, mystery, suspense, and a race to find a killer. The perfect blend of everything to make a cozy mystery that fans will definitely enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Get ready for a madcap adventure filled with humor, a quirky and eccentric cast of characters, mystery, suspense, and a race to find a killer. The perfect blend of everything to make a cozy mystery that fans will definitely enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 19, 2019
A fascinating story in which there are so many events that, while reading a book, time runs very quickly, because it is so difficult to stop reading when it’s interesting to know what happens next. I enjoyed reading very much, and I definitely decided for myself that I would get acquainted with other author's works.
After reading about the main character Harley, I found many similarities in character with mine. She seemed close and very familiar to me. Harley, on the one hand, is an introvert, a quiet and calm girl, but on the other hand, she has shown herself to be very clever, inquisitive and with strong character. Harley loved to read and she lived in peace, but the city festival shatters calm and mysteries and adventures started.
The book The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek deserves your free time, and you certainly will not be disappointed in reading. Highly recommended!
After reading about the main character Harley, I found many similarities in character with mine. She seemed close and very familiar to me. Harley, on the one hand, is an introvert, a quiet and calm girl, but on the other hand, she has shown herself to be very clever, inquisitive and with strong character. Harley loved to read and she lived in peace, but the city festival shatters calm and mysteries and adventures started.
The book The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek deserves your free time, and you certainly will not be disappointed in reading. Highly recommended!
February 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Along with a good mystery, there are many quirky characters, funny moments, and regional dialogue. The story takes place in Notchey Creek. Harley grew up here. Almost everyone in the story is from Notchey Creek. When Harley's best friend Tina finds a dead body, Harley gets herself involved in the investigation, questioning the locals, and the locals don't appreciate it. Especially Sheriff Jed who Harley grew up with. Lots of humorous scenes with Matilda, Harley's pig she has raised, Aunt Wilma and Uncle Buck, Wilma's brother Tater, and Tina (Harley's best friend) whose bakery delivery truck has a giant cupcake named Rosie on the top. The description of the Smokey Mountains and the land is great. The ending was a surprise. Looking forward to the next book.
I received a free book.
I received a free book.
March 17, 2019
A fantastic read containing murder, mystery, community spirit, and much more. If you are one for murder mysteries without the blood, guts, and gore, then this book is for you. New author Lizz Andrews has created a brilliant page-turner. The story follows many paths rather than sticking to one theme, but in this case, it definitely pays off. When reading the ending, I was pleasantly surprised. For me, a good ending means a whole lot. If the main part of the story is good, but the ending is lacking, it ruins the entire story. But, in the case of The Mist Rises Over Notchey Creek, the ending made the story that much better. It wasn't a cheesy everyone lives happily ever after ending, and it also didn't leave you with too many unanswered questions. It was a perfect way to end the current affairs while leaving you thinking and excited for future releases.
June 2, 2019
This book does take a little bit to get into and I did struggle to work out what time it is set in until a bit in also but once you get a clearer picture of things you get right into the story and characters. I liked how Harley just bucked the trend and was herself no matter what ..well apart from the matching costume part lol but you could see why as much as people seemed to have no time for her they also knew she was a solid and reliable person. I really enjoyed how things unfolded, along with the twists and hints at things that slowly fall into place, there are some great surprises as well as sad scenes and they way it ends ..ugh loved it and really want to read the next in the series so hopefully we don't have to wait too long!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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