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Little Tombstone Cozy Mysteries #1
The Good, the Bad, and the Pugly
When Emma Iverson's great aunt Geraldine leaves her a rundown roadside attraction in rural New Mexico, the inheritance comes with strings attached.If Emma wants to take possession of Little Tombstone's motel, cafe, curio shop and Museum of the Unexplained, then she has to agree to "Love, Honor and Cherish" Earp, her late aunt's ancient and irritable pug. It says so, right there in the will.What Aunt Geraldine's will conveniently omits to mention are the bodies buried underneath the trailer The book was sold briefly under the title Upon my Death.
About the Little Tombstone Cozy
These quirky, light-hearted cozies are set in rural New Mexico and feature a collection of endearing residents from the village of Amatista and its main attraction, a dilapidated roadside tourist stop called Little Tombstone.Little Tombstone is a truncated version of its namesake, Tombstone, Arizona, and is home to a variety of sweet but eccentric characters.Cast of Recurring Our sleuth and heir to Little Emma's ancient and irritable pug, inherited from her Great Aunt Earp's porcine companion.Juanita Proprietress of the Bird Cage Emma's cousin and Georgia's precocious six-year-old sonMarcus Veteran and undercover stock-picking genius.Hank Curator of the Museum of the Unexplained and conspiracy theory Hank's longtime Resident Mail carrier and mother to Waitress at the Bird Cage.Jason Amatista's only lawyer and most eligible Resident handiman and Austrailian transplant.Nancy Neighboring rancher and mayor of Amatista.Freddy Amatista's devout barber and lay preacher.
About the Little Tombstone Cozy
These quirky, light-hearted cozies are set in rural New Mexico and feature a collection of endearing residents from the village of Amatista and its main attraction, a dilapidated roadside tourist stop called Little Tombstone.Little Tombstone is a truncated version of its namesake, Tombstone, Arizona, and is home to a variety of sweet but eccentric characters.Cast of Recurring Our sleuth and heir to Little Emma's ancient and irritable pug, inherited from her Great Aunt Earp's porcine companion.Juanita Proprietress of the Bird Cage Emma's cousin and Georgia's precocious six-year-old sonMarcus Veteran and undercover stock-picking genius.Hank Curator of the Museum of the Unexplained and conspiracy theory Hank's longtime Resident Mail carrier and mother to Waitress at the Bird Cage.Jason Amatista's only lawyer and most eligible Resident handiman and Austrailian transplant.Nancy Neighboring rancher and mayor of Amatista.Freddy Amatista's devout barber and lay preacher.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2019
186 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Celia Kinsey
27 books20 followersCelia writes quirky cozy mysteries.
Visit celiakinsey.com to sign up for periodic updates and get sneak peeks at Celia's upcoming books.
The Little Tombstone Mysteries:
The Good, the Bad, and the Pugly
Rebel Without a Claus
Lonesome Glove
Something Borrowed, Something Chewed
Tamales at High Noon
The Trifleman (Newsletter Bonus)
The Felicia's Food Truck One Hour Mysteries:
Fit to Be French Fried
Hamburger Heist
Pizza Pie Puzzler
Hotdog Horrors
Stand-Alone Short Mysteries:
Gnome for Christmas
Visit celiakinsey.com to sign up for periodic updates and get sneak peeks at Celia's upcoming books.
The Little Tombstone Mysteries:
The Good, the Bad, and the Pugly
Rebel Without a Claus
Lonesome Glove
Something Borrowed, Something Chewed
Tamales at High Noon
The Trifleman (Newsletter Bonus)
The Felicia's Food Truck One Hour Mysteries:
Fit to Be French Fried
Hamburger Heist
Pizza Pie Puzzler
Hotdog Horrors
Stand-Alone Short Mysteries:
Gnome for Christmas
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 22, 2022
Emma is going though a messy divorce when she learns that her great aunt Geraldine has left her property in Little Tombstone, NM, with the proviso that she care for her aunt's elderly pug, Earp. Since she hasn't seen her aunt in 3 years she is surprised, but even though the town is dilapidated, it is her new home, unless her unscrupulous cousins are successful in contesting the will. I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery with a Southwestern setting. Three and a half stars.
June 29, 2020
Great fun, great writing!
I enjoy and old fashioned Who Done It, especially when it's updated creatively, and professionally edited. The characters are diverse and I think deliberately not fully developed as I think it's meant to grow with the series. Looking forward to the next book.
I enjoy and old fashioned Who Done It, especially when it's updated creatively, and professionally edited. The characters are diverse and I think deliberately not fully developed as I think it's meant to grow with the series. Looking forward to the next book.
February 28, 2021
Clean, fun and easy. I liked the MC, and although the mystery could've used a bit more suspense, it was the quintessential cozy. Perfect for a rainy day.
June 30, 2022
Outstanding
The Good, The Bad, and The Pugly.
It's a delightful cozy mystery with great suspense and many unexpected twists and turns. There's humor, thrill, fun and adventure. Author Celia Kinsey has done such a wonderful job of maintaining the momentum of the story that I actually chewed my nails in anticipation of what would follow in the upcoming pages.
A yet-to-be-divorced Emma Iverson visits Jason Wendell, the lawyer and the executor of her deceased great aunt Geraldine in Amatista, near Santa Fe. She's surprised to learn that her Great Aunt had left almost all of her possessions to her, instead of her own daughter Abigail and her twin daughters, Frieda and Georgia. Her greatest inheritance is the estate of Little Tombstone, Bird's Cage Cafe and her bank balance, leaving only a few items for her own heir. The condition of receiving her inheritance is that she has to look after Earp, her aunt's pet pug. Problems start cropping in her life as her cousins, Frieda and Georgia, threaten to contest the will. Emma starts receiving threatening letters warning her to leave Little Tombstone. The sender carries out the threat by severing the water connection near one of Her aunt's tenants, Ledbetter's trailer, followed by a freak fire mishap in the kitchen of The Cafe, as Juanita, her aunt's friend and trusted employee raises an alarm and Hank Edwards, Her great aunt Geraldine's special friend and the proprietor of Little Tombstone’s Curio Shop and the Museum of the Unexplained) is attacked by bees.
She digs through her Great aunt's possessions and discovers some hidden secrets. Some very interesting clippings containing the unsolved mysterious disappearance of The Halversons couple and the theft of gold coins from the Stagecoach in the 1800's fascinates Emma.
Earp, the dog digs out skeletons near another trailer occupied by Morticia. More scary incidents follow and Frieda, her evil cousin, is found dead. Wow! The story is so intriguing that I couldn't stop reading for hours together. Who wants Emma out of the race for a fortune? What are Her Great Aunt, Geraldine's secrets? If you are looking for a perfect entertainer, this is just the perfect book. Highly recommended.
The Good, The Bad, and The Pugly.
It's a delightful cozy mystery with great suspense and many unexpected twists and turns. There's humor, thrill, fun and adventure. Author Celia Kinsey has done such a wonderful job of maintaining the momentum of the story that I actually chewed my nails in anticipation of what would follow in the upcoming pages.
A yet-to-be-divorced Emma Iverson visits Jason Wendell, the lawyer and the executor of her deceased great aunt Geraldine in Amatista, near Santa Fe. She's surprised to learn that her Great Aunt had left almost all of her possessions to her, instead of her own daughter Abigail and her twin daughters, Frieda and Georgia. Her greatest inheritance is the estate of Little Tombstone, Bird's Cage Cafe and her bank balance, leaving only a few items for her own heir. The condition of receiving her inheritance is that she has to look after Earp, her aunt's pet pug. Problems start cropping in her life as her cousins, Frieda and Georgia, threaten to contest the will. Emma starts receiving threatening letters warning her to leave Little Tombstone. The sender carries out the threat by severing the water connection near one of Her aunt's tenants, Ledbetter's trailer, followed by a freak fire mishap in the kitchen of The Cafe, as Juanita, her aunt's friend and trusted employee raises an alarm and Hank Edwards, Her great aunt Geraldine's special friend and the proprietor of Little Tombstone’s Curio Shop and the Museum of the Unexplained) is attacked by bees.
She digs through her Great aunt's possessions and discovers some hidden secrets. Some very interesting clippings containing the unsolved mysterious disappearance of The Halversons couple and the theft of gold coins from the Stagecoach in the 1800's fascinates Emma.
Earp, the dog digs out skeletons near another trailer occupied by Morticia. More scary incidents follow and Frieda, her evil cousin, is found dead. Wow! The story is so intriguing that I couldn't stop reading for hours together. Who wants Emma out of the race for a fortune? What are Her Great Aunt, Geraldine's secrets? If you are looking for a perfect entertainer, this is just the perfect book. Highly recommended.
January 12, 2024
Having recently filed for divorce from her cheating husband, screenwriter Emma Iverson is at a loss as to her next steps. When she learns her beloved great-aunt Geraldine passed and left her everything, Emma travels to Little Tombstone AZ. Little Tombstone is a roadside attraction, but it's in desperate need of repair. Luckily, Geraldine left behind a small fortune in addition to Little Tombstone, and she also left Earp, her ancient pug, in Emma's care. While Emma is puzzling out how her aunt amassed such wealth, her twin cousins, Freida and Georgia, notify her they intend to contest their grandmother's will. Not long after, Emma begins receiving threatening notes, and Little Tombstone is bedeviled by acts of sabotage. As if that wasn't enough to deal with, Earp unearths a human skull, and Hank, one of the oldtimers, claims that aliens are visiting Little Tombstone. It leaves Emma wondering if she's inherited a blessing or a curse.
What an interesting story! I became engrossed in it. There was so much going on and so many odd and quirky characters that I was enthralled. Freida was a nasty piece of work, and I loved how old Earp would bristle and growl at her each time she came around. I figured some things out as the story went along, but others caught me by surprise.
Delightful fun! Five stars!
What an interesting story! I became engrossed in it. There was so much going on and so many odd and quirky characters that I was enthralled. Freida was a nasty piece of work, and I loved how old Earp would bristle and growl at her each time she came around. I figured some things out as the story went along, but others caught me by surprise.
Delightful fun! Five stars!
September 9, 2020
Series start
When Emma inherits a rundown roadside attraction from her great aunt (the actual term should be grand aunt), she is filled with mixed reactions. The attraction, Little Tombstone, is a place filled with childhood memories for her but it is in extremely bad shape. She also got quite a shock to find out that their a lot of money willed to her. But she is confused why her great aunt cut her own daughter and granddaughters almost completely out of the will. As she settled into her new life, someone keeps trying to drive her out. Will the answers she seek give her comfort of being old secrets back to light?
This is not the typical murder cozy mystery. Someone does die but that isn't the real focus. There are plenty of other questions that need to be answered though. The book seems to ramble on places but all of it ties together in the end. There are plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing. One thing that does go along with most cozy mysteries is that there is a good cast of slightly wacky characters that you quickly come to like.
I really liked this first book and look forward to more on the series.
When Emma inherits a rundown roadside attraction from her great aunt (the actual term should be grand aunt), she is filled with mixed reactions. The attraction, Little Tombstone, is a place filled with childhood memories for her but it is in extremely bad shape. She also got quite a shock to find out that their a lot of money willed to her. But she is confused why her great aunt cut her own daughter and granddaughters almost completely out of the will. As she settled into her new life, someone keeps trying to drive her out. Will the answers she seek give her comfort of being old secrets back to light?
This is not the typical murder cozy mystery. Someone does die but that isn't the real focus. There are plenty of other questions that need to be answered though. The book seems to ramble on places but all of it ties together in the end. There are plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing. One thing that does go along with most cozy mysteries is that there is a good cast of slightly wacky characters that you quickly come to like.
I really liked this first book and look forward to more on the series.
May 30, 2019
Hellfire and damnation
A really good read. Okay it would have been enhanced (at least for me) if Earp had had more of a role. But the plot was a clever one as was the sleuthing even though it was fairly obvious who the 'baddies' were. Good down to earth characters and the family dynamics are incorporated well into the story.
She was surprised that her Great Aunt had left everything to her but even more so that she had left a sizable amount in the bank. Especially considering the dilapidated state of her estate and cafe. More than that she was surprised that her elderly pug was still alive and part of the behest. She knew that her aunt and cousin's wouldn't accept it but that was a fight for another day. Rocks through windows, a law suit, a flood, arson, bees, skeletons and an old buried treasure all rear their heads and culminating in the death of the evil cousin. Who killed her and why? What is she going to do about the skeletons now that she has worked out who killed them? And what will happen to the treasure and the saboteur?
A really good read. Okay it would have been enhanced (at least for me) if Earp had had more of a role. But the plot was a clever one as was the sleuthing even though it was fairly obvious who the 'baddies' were. Good down to earth characters and the family dynamics are incorporated well into the story.
She was surprised that her Great Aunt had left everything to her but even more so that she had left a sizable amount in the bank. Especially considering the dilapidated state of her estate and cafe. More than that she was surprised that her elderly pug was still alive and part of the behest. She knew that her aunt and cousin's wouldn't accept it but that was a fight for another day. Rocks through windows, a law suit, a flood, arson, bees, skeletons and an old buried treasure all rear their heads and culminating in the death of the evil cousin. Who killed her and why? What is she going to do about the skeletons now that she has worked out who killed them? And what will happen to the treasure and the saboteur?
November 17, 2022
Emma Iverson’s great aunt Geraldine leaves almost everything to her thereby upsetting Geraldine’s granddaughters, Emma’s twin cousins Frieda and Georgia. Frieda is really evil and very manipulative; Georgia not so much. Georgia has grown up. But everyone is afraid of Frieda who sets out to inherit Tombstone, a tourist attraction that was owned by Emma’s grandmother and great-aunt. Emma has also inherited her pug, Earp. Earp has begun digging up human bones from under Ledbetter’s trailer. When the water main under the trailer breaks and they are digging it up to replace, they find parts of 2 skeletons- the missing parts are, you guessed it, the ones Earp has been digging up.
Emma is continually going around trying to smooth everything over and make it all fair. She wants everyone to be friends. But somebody kills Frieda - they didn’t want to be friends……
Emma seems almost too perfect, but this is fiction —
Emma is continually going around trying to smooth everything over and make it all fair. She wants everyone to be friends. But somebody kills Frieda - they didn’t want to be friends……
Emma seems almost too perfect, but this is fiction —
July 11, 2022
I enjoyed this book very much. - Emma was Geraldines Grand Niece, Geraldine passed away. She was call to Little Tombstone for the reading of he will. She hadnt seen her in awhile and did not know she was ill. Well her aunt left everything to her. It was a small run down town with a store and a few other businesses. Geraldine had a daughter with 2 girls Frieda and Georgia , which none of them received anything. Frieda was one Emma didnt trust. Oh and she also inherited the pug dog named Earp. Weird things started happening fires , windows broke, gun stolen issues with the plumbing and other things. Then Emma started receiving threatning messages left on the door. She started to find out interesting stories about Geraldines life. She wondered where she got all that money she had left her. Why didnt she fix the town up with it all. Lots more happening till the truth finally came out.
June 23, 2022
Emma Iverson's inheritance from her great aunt is a small hamlet. While the windfall seems unusual since the woman's child and grandchildren are still alive, their objectionable personalities hint toward a possible family rift. Feeling somewhat rootless after her husband's betrayal, Emma settles into renewing the somewhat derelict settlement despite her cousins' threats to contest the will. And it looks like they are ready to play dirty until someone ends up dead...
From the title, I was expecting a cutesy story and thankfully this is nothing like that. Emma has what an older generation might have described as strength of spirit. Though the legacy was timely, I suspect that she would have found something else to take on if life hadn't thrown her this bequest. I was hooked from the first page and grew more intrigued as the story progressed.
The Good, the Bad and the Pugly is, I hope, the beginning of a bright new series. At this time, it can be read as a stand-alone as all the loose ends are neatly wrapped up at the end of the book.
From the title, I was expecting a cutesy story and thankfully this is nothing like that. Emma has what an older generation might have described as strength of spirit. Though the legacy was timely, I suspect that she would have found something else to take on if life hadn't thrown her this bequest. I was hooked from the first page and grew more intrigued as the story progressed.
The Good, the Bad and the Pugly is, I hope, the beginning of a bright new series. At this time, it can be read as a stand-alone as all the loose ends are neatly wrapped up at the end of the book.
December 20, 2022
This is the first Celia Kinsey book I've read/listened to. It's a cute short cozy. Emma Iverson is left Little Tombstone a roadside attraction in rural New Mexico. In order to take possession of the bequest from her Great Aunt Emma must Love Honor and Cherish her Great Aunts aged and irritable Pug Earp since the little dog loves Emma it is not hard for her to do... In the taking over of the businesses making up the attraction Emma comes across clues to a long ago mystery, and finds that her great aunt was rolling in money when everyone assumed she was near penniless. The clues bother Emma until she begins to unravel them and tries to finally put an end to the mystery.... Still not a fan of AI narration but the story is readable.
July 1, 2022
Great start
Wasn't sure what to expect with pug in the title but happy to say the story was not all about the dog. Emma was interesting. A very fair and honest person. Many called her nosy but when odd things start to happen and human remains are found, who wouldn't be curious? To top things off, when you inherit anything and others feel entitled, well it is amazing to see what they'll stoop to in order to get their piece of the pie.
With more than one mystery to solve, Emma decides that things would go a whole lot smoother if some closure was had.
Wasn't sure what to expect with pug in the title but happy to say the story was not all about the dog. Emma was interesting. A very fair and honest person. Many called her nosy but when odd things start to happen and human remains are found, who wouldn't be curious? To top things off, when you inherit anything and others feel entitled, well it is amazing to see what they'll stoop to in order to get their piece of the pie.
With more than one mystery to solve, Emma decides that things would go a whole lot smoother if some closure was had.
June 4, 2025
This story was a joy to read. The blend of humor, small town desert life, Western, and UFO themes was highly entertaining, particularly the reference to my all-time favorite movie, Sergio Leone’s *The Good, the Bad and the Ugly*. The dog named Earp, cracked me up! I loved the amazing setting and the interesting mix of colorful characters which made for a great whodunit. This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I look forward to the next in the series. This is perfect for fans of humorous tourist town mysteries.
June 30, 2019
Funny
This cozy was different than anything I have read before. The writing is funny, the murder situation while fairly straight forward was also revealed at a good pace. The pug Earp was too funny and played a huge roll in the story. Entertaining and basically a book I could not put down. I hope to read more in the series.
This cozy was different than anything I have read before. The writing is funny, the murder situation while fairly straight forward was also revealed at a good pace. The pug Earp was too funny and played a huge roll in the story. Entertaining and basically a book I could not put down. I hope to read more in the series.
January 6, 2020
A surprise read
I really liked this story. In a way I wished it was a little longer but only because I was really enjoying it. It was very interesting, the characters and scenery was well described and there was a lot going on. Hopefully there are more books to the series. To think, I only got this book after reading an excerpt in a free book on Amazon. I am so glad I did!
I really liked this story. In a way I wished it was a little longer but only because I was really enjoying it. It was very interesting, the characters and scenery was well described and there was a lot going on. Hopefully there are more books to the series. To think, I only got this book after reading an excerpt in a free book on Amazon. I am so glad I did!
January 10, 2020
Awesome
I discovered this mystery by accident and was pleasantly surprised. It's a good cozy mystery with a group of supporting characters that aren't over-the-top quirky as in some cozies. The main character was very likeable. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!!!
I discovered this mystery by accident and was pleasantly surprised. It's a good cozy mystery with a group of supporting characters that aren't over-the-top quirky as in some cozies. The main character was very likeable. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!!!
July 28, 2020
This is a decent, light cozy mystery and good for when you are not interested in reading "Great Literature."
It evidently is the beginning of a series set in Little Tombstone, with an eccentric cast of characters. I'll be interested in seeing where this series goes. It is off to a promising start.
It evidently is the beginning of a series set in Little Tombstone, with an eccentric cast of characters. I'll be interested in seeing where this series goes. It is off to a promising start.
May 3, 2021
Fabulous Cozy Mystery
I like that there are multiple mysteries going on in this story. Earl is essential to finding clues and Emma has her Little Tombstone family to help her solve them all. Very enjoyable read! If you need a story to relax with, this is your book. The characters are endearing and the ramshackle place is going to get a spruce-up!
I like that there are multiple mysteries going on in this story. Earl is essential to finding clues and Emma has her Little Tombstone family to help her solve them all. Very enjoyable read! If you need a story to relax with, this is your book. The characters are endearing and the ramshackle place is going to get a spruce-up!
June 19, 2022
4 1/2
Very different cozy and fun! I liked the main character's voice and her forthright attitude. Dty humor, excellect action, and interesting secondary characters. I liked the way the story unfolded and ended - a small but nice full circle moment. I'll be checking out the next titles!
Very different cozy and fun! I liked the main character's voice and her forthright attitude. Dty humor, excellect action, and interesting secondary characters. I liked the way the story unfolded and ended - a small but nice full circle moment. I'll be checking out the next titles!
June 3, 2019
Being a great lover of pugs, I couldn't wait to read this book. I was a bit disappointed that Earp didn't have a bigger part but the scenes he was in were spot on in terms of behavior when compared to most of the pugs I've known. A fun read !
October 15, 2019
Good book.
The author of this book has a talent for painting a picture with her words. You will feel as if you know the book's characters by the time you get to the end. The main character's moral compass is impressive too.
The author of this book has a talent for painting a picture with her words. You will feel as if you know the book's characters by the time you get to the end. The main character's moral compass is impressive too.
February 28, 2020
Good story...but
This was quite a good story really with engaging characters and a good plot. What let’s it down greatly is the contradictions in the story, spelling errors..that sort of thing. It was very off putting. I’m not going to bother with more from this authour.
This was quite a good story really with engaging characters and a good plot. What let’s it down greatly is the contradictions in the story, spelling errors..that sort of thing. It was very off putting. I’m not going to bother with more from this authour.
June 6, 2020
The characters are eccentric and interesting. The story line was engaging to a point. The author heavily telegraphed several key plot events, which made the eventual confab a little anti climactic. It's a book I mostly enjoyed reading, but I have no desire to read more in the series.
December 29, 2020
A run down western town
A down and out motel, trailer park and duo museum are the scene of this mystery. Bones found under one of the trailers leads to a long ago death. Who, why and when are the gist of this story.
A down and out motel, trailer park and duo museum are the scene of this mystery. Bones found under one of the trailers leads to a long ago death. Who, why and when are the gist of this story.
July 11, 2021
Just ok
Convoluted story, mixing inheritances, of murder and family secrets. Not too interesting. Started skimming as i couldn’t wait for it to be done. Didn’t really care about the people or who killed whom.
Convoluted story, mixing inheritances, of murder and family secrets. Not too interesting. Started skimming as i couldn’t wait for it to be done. Didn’t really care about the people or who killed whom.
June 21, 2022
Cute Little Mystery
I found myself drawn in and unable to put the book down. Earp is a cute little pug full of character who drives changes while Emma is just trying to do the best she can. Definitely worth the read
I found myself drawn in and unable to put the book down. Earp is a cute little pug full of character who drives changes while Emma is just trying to do the best she can. Definitely worth the read
July 6, 2022
I bought this story purely because of the title.
This was a cute story.
It was a little silly in places but well written
and had good descriptions and characters.
There is also a nice mystery that's solved satisfactorily.
This was a cute story.
It was a little silly in places but well written
and had good descriptions and characters.
There is also a nice mystery that's solved satisfactorily.
September 23, 2022
Fun story
The heroine is surprised when she inherited her great aunt's motel in the middle of nowhere along with an elderly pug. Water damage,fire, bees and murder threaten her ability to settle in
The heroine is surprised when she inherited her great aunt's motel in the middle of nowhere along with an elderly pug. Water damage,fire, bees and murder threaten her ability to settle in
February 5, 2024
If you have ever wanted to inherit a property from your relatives, this book might make you rethink that wish. This is a very well written story full of an interesting town of characters. Plenty of adventures and mysteries ensue. With a pug who digs up clues, what's not to like?
December 4, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this sweet, clean, fun book. It’s a cute little cozy mystery full of suspense and unexpected turns all the way through. You will find humor, thrills, fun, adventure, and more. Also don’t forget a sweet little PUG!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews