Boarding with Murder

Sierra Pines B&B mystery

by Kathryn Long

Take one quaint B&B, two kind but quirky caretakers, a dead aunt, a murdered friend, and you have mystery. Ali Winston finds she's inherited trouble along with her aunt's B&B, but can she reveal the killer before the curtain closes?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2021

About the author

Kathryn Long’s passion is writing mysteries, creating the intricate details and weaving them into the clues which the reader will enjoy collecting to solve the crime. However, she’s worn many hats over the years – bookseller, teacher, mom, wife, and author.

To date, readers can find her self-published cozy Lilly M Mysteries, and her traditionally published work, romantic suspense, A Deadly Deed Grows, traditional mystery Buried in Sin, and cozy mystery Boarding with Murder at online retailers.
As Bailee Abbott, she writes the Paint by Murder Mysteries. A Brush with Murder will release October 12, 2021.

Kathryn lives in the City of Green located in northeast Ohio with her husband and little pooch, Max.

Learn more at www.kathrynlongauthor.com

**Represented by Dawn Dowdle at Blue Ridge Literary Agency

Reviews

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific new cozy debut with great energy in the writing! Protagonist Ali Winston inherits a house from her Great Aunt Julia and travels to picturesque Sierra Pines, CA to decide whether to keep the property, or sell it. While there, she volunteers to help a production company filming a movie by building and painting props. When one of the actors is murdered, Julia’s trusted employees, Gladys and Ollie, fall under suspicion.

I truly enjoyed the plot of “Boarding with Murder.” The friends that Ali makes in the short time she’s been there step up to help her form a sleuthing team to strategize and have eyes and ears everywhere searching for clues to the killer. I often chuckled at the dialogue and circumstances, and Ollie really tickled me sometimes! I enjoyed the references to old movies and Blackbeard, the parrot. The sheriff is nice boyfriend material for Ali. I narrowed my suspect list down to two people and it definitely made sense as to which one turned out to be the crazy perpetrator. I’m really looking forward to visiting this town and characters again in the next story.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Ali Winston arrives at her Great Aunt Julia’s B&B to find that she has passed away. She is greeted by Julia’s friends, siblings Gladys and Ollie Bellwethers just arriving home after the funeral. The Bellwethers have worked with Julia at the B&B for years. That’s a good thing because there are guests staying there that need attention. Gladys also has questions about Julia’s death but no one takes her seriously until they find another dead body. Ali takes on a volunteer job her aunt was working on prop and set design for a movie production being filmed nearby. Maybe if she keeps her eyes and ears open she can find the murderer because the local police seem to be focused on Gladys and Ollie.

_______

All the characters in this story have a show-biz connection. Julia was an actress the worked with Cary Grant and Errol Flynn before opening her B&B. Ali’s parents are theater actors, Ali recently lost her job as a researcher for a television show, many others are connected to the movie being filmed. We get to know Ali and the Bellwethers well because they are pretty well fleshed out by the end of the story, leaving plenty of room for growth. There are a lot of other characters introduced as alternative suspects and residents of Sierra Pines. I made myself a character list to keep everyone straight at first. As we get farther into the story the characters become more defined.

The mystery itself is very complicated because Ali doesn’t know any of the suspects and they all seem to be hiding something. I found it hard to focus on one certain person or another just for that reason. I was totally kept guessing right up to the very end. I loved when a major clue was revealed and how it brought everything together. The story was very well-plotted and written with plenty of drama to keep those pages flipping.

I enjoyed the setting of the story as well. Sierra Pines sounds like a beautiful place and the historical victorian B&B would be a wonderful place to stay, without the dead bodies, of course. I loved the author’s descriptions –

Sunlight burst from behind a cloud and played its beam across the pavement. Fallen autumn leaves in rustic colors splashed along the sidewalk, giving the scene a warm glow. In the distance, the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains outlined the majestic background.

Doesn’t that sound like a great place to visit or live.

Boarding with Murder was an intriguing and entertaining read. Ms. Long has given the series a nice start. I want to get to know several characters better so I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the sequel.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable first entry in the series. It was the typical life changing decisions that had to be made by the MC after her aunt dies and leaves her her B&B. I enjoyed the mystery and the setting that also involved a movie set. Some of the characters used to be in the movie business so it was fun hearing about stars from Hollywood's golden age. Over all I enjoyed this and I always want to read book 2 when book 1 is so much about changing the MC's life, I want to see how things settle down and in this case I want another murder so I can spend some more time with the hunky sheriff.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love embarking on a new series from the very start, and this one certainly intrigued me enough to do just that.

Alexis Winston (Ali to those who know her) has lost her job. She's from a family of actors and theatre people and with some time on her hands, she returns to Sierra Pines to visit her Great-Aunt Julia who owns a B & B, a quaint Victoria structure with three storeys and numerous bedrooms. Sierra Pines is a town nestled in the California Sierra Nevada mountains and on her arrival, Ali is met by Julia's dearest friend, Gladys Bellwether who delivers some shocking news... Great-Aunt Julia is dead. Gladys firmly believes that Julia's death is suspicious and that someone else is involved, that someone being Thaddeus Beale and she manages to convince Ali to investigate further.

Kathryn Long has created and fleshed out some marvellous characters in this compelling cozy. Twenty-eight-year-old Ali has lost her job twice now - once, as a screenwriter, and again, a few years later, when she was an assistant researcher for a TV show that needed a ratings boost and decided to reduce the number of researchers they had. Her Great-Aunt Julia was a volunteer on the set of a movie being filmed near the B & B. Ali knows a thing or two about prop design as she dual majored in the subject at university and demonstrates her helpfulness when she offers to volunteer in place of Julia on the set of the movie. I loved Ali's determination to get to the bottom of what happened to her great aunt, and her self-doubt she displayed about whether or not she has was it takes to run the B & B made her realistic and endearing.

Other memorable characters were Gladys, Ollie, Quint and Blackbeard the parrot. The spirited Gladys added a great deal to this intriguing tale and I loved her relationship with her food-loving brother Ollie. Quint Sterling, the town's sheriff, had a habit of popping up all over the place but came across as an amenable, gentlemanly guy and Ali certainly, seemed keen on him, in spite of his repeated warnings to stay out of his investigation and to let the police do their stuff and follow procedures. Their repartee had me chuckling away and I liked Great-Aunt Julia's apple-eating parrot, Blackbeard.

The mystery itself was fairly complex in the beginning as a horde of characters were introduced made up of B & B guests, cast members, residents of Sierra Pines and others, resulting in a wide choice of suspects and motives. Initially, it was difficult to keep everyone straight but as the story develops, the characters become more defined. Most had their secrets, big or small and I was kept guessing until close to the end. All told, Boarding with Murder is a well-plotted, drama-filled, compulsive start to the Sierra Pines B & B Mystery series and I'm eagerly awaiting my return to Ali's B & B and catching up with the folk in Sierra Pines.

Thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, Kathryn Long and Camel Press for a complimentary copy of Boarding with Murder at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Kathryn Long, but I hope it’s not my last! I enjoyed meeting Ali, Gladys, Ollie, and swoonilicious Quint – and I look forward to spending more time with them as the series progresses.

Poor Alexis (Ali) – she’s just lost her job and heads from New York to California to spend some much-needed time with her aunt Julia. Only to discover upon arrival that Julia has passed away – and her best friends (and caretakers of her B&B) think she was murdered. When there really is a murder on the premises a couple days later, those caretakers – quirky and endearing sibling pair Gladys and Ollie – are the prime suspects, though sheriff Quint tries his best to put off the inevitable as long as possible. The plot is full of potential suspects, and while I had my suspicions as to the correct culprit, my certainty wavered more than once as everything unfolded. The author did a great job with twists, turns, and red herrings, and it solidly held my attention from beginning to end.

The romance factor in Boarding With Murder is a bit more of a focus than it usually is in a cozy mystery but you won’t hear me complaining! Did I mention how yummy Quint is – and his kisses? He moved pretty fast but that’s understandable considering how many sparks flew whenever he and Ali were in the same room. I loved everything about this smoldering sheriff with his amused grins and romantic side.

Bottom Line: Boarding With Murder by Kathryn Long is a delightful start to a new cozy mystery series with quirky characters, old Hollywood charm, a lovely setting & a dash of romance. I enjoyed Ali’s first person narrative – and getting to know her character better through it. I also have a feeling that readers will fall for the Bellwether siblings, Gladys & Ollie, as much as I did. Their interactions with each other and various other characters added plenty of smiles to the story, as did swoony sheriff Quint (and the romantical possibilities for his character & Ali’s). The mystery, though loaded down with possible suspects, gets sharper as it unfolds and this complexity kept me guessing throughout. Loved the classic Hollywood nods too!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I didn't want it to end. Kathryn writes the town so beautifully it didn't take much to transport myself to Sierra Pines while I read! Ali is amazing, recovering from losing her job, now her aunt, having some overbearing parents and now she's got a lot of work to do and huge decision to make! The Bellwethers are perfect sidekicks full of quirks. Multiple suspects that keeps you guessing until the end and there is even a touch of romance, which I love in my cozies! I find myself mourning poor Aunt Julia (not a spoiler) I can only imagine the amazing stories she had from her acting days! Cary Grant?! *SWOON* Hoping there is a next book so we can learn more about their pasts and old Hollywood!

[Laurie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up because I enjoyed the story, despite its flaws.

This is my first cozy mystery - a genre I've been curious about for a long time. I loved mysteries as a kid, before I got swept away by fantasy and historical fiction as I got older. I still love television mystery shows, so I knew I needed to get back to the genre. However, I am not a fan of violence, gore, excessive language or sexual content. So cozies seem like a perfect fit! And I did enjoy this one. However, I had major issues with the copy editing, or lack thereof. I hope that's not another trademark of the genre.

I'm a grammar nerd and a stickler for correct writing in my books. So I was apalled when I found a glaring word error on the second page of this book ("shudders" instead of window "shutters"). That didn't bode well. I was worried this would be a very bumpy ride and that I wouldn't be able to enjoy it. Unfortunately, the errors did indeed continue throughout the book, and much of the writing could have been smoothed out as well. There were many awkward descriptions, repetitive phrases, and clunky sentences.

However, since the book was short and the story was engaging, I kept with it. I'm glad I did. I enjoyed the setting of Sierra Pines and all the interesting characters who inhabited the story. The author really brought all the characters to life. The mystery was interesting, though I was able to identify the culprit fairly early on, and sometimes the characters' actions didn't seem logical or quite believable to me. Still, I enjoyed the time I spent with the story, and I'd like to read more about these characters, so I'll probably pick up the next book at some point. But I simply cannot give this one a higher rating with all the glaring copy issues.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I really enjoyed the story line and all of the characters. Ali has lost her job and decides to visit her aunt who has a B&B. When she gets there, she learns her aunt had passed. Now she needs to find out exactly what happened.

This one is well worth the read!

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why it took me so long to read this book. I enjoyed it so much, I had trouble putting it down. The elements of the movie business were described beautifully and Kathryn Long weaved them into the plot so well that I was enamored with every word of her story. If you'd like a peek into Old Hollywood with the twists and turns of a cozy mystery, this is the book for you!

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun , light cozy mystery

I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read anything by this author, and I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
The cast of characters, including Alexis, Gladys, Ollie, and Quit are sure to make your visit to Sierra Pines enjoyable.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boarding with Murder by Kathryn Long has Ali Winston arriving in Sierra Pines to learn that her Great-Aunt Julia is dead, and she left her bed-and-breakfast to her. Gladys Bellwether, Julia’s friend, insists that Julia was murdered, but she has no proof except a cryptic note. When Gladys’s number one suspect is found dead in Julia’s bed, Ali wonders if Gladys is right. Unfortunately, Gladys becomes Sheriff Sterling’s prime suspect. Ali with help from the movie production guests sets out to find the real killer. Boarding with Murder is the debut novel in A Sierra Pines B&B Mystery series. I just loved the description of Aunt Julia’s Victorian bed-and-breakfast. There is a fun cast of quirky characters. They all have a connection to show business (actors, set designers, producers, etc.). The author took the time to flesh out the three main characters: Ali, Gladys, and Ollie (Gladys’ brother). Gladys is an upbeat character who steals the show at times. I liked her and her brother, Ollie. It can be hard to keep track of all the characters (a cheat sheet is helpful). Sierra Pines sounds beautiful from the author’s graphic descriptions. The mystery had a variety of suspects, misdirection, and subtle clues. There is action that kept the whodunit moving forward to the resolution. I like how it all wrapped up at the end. Boarding with Murder is a lighthearted cozy with melodramatic actors, a sexy sheriff, a deceased thespian, unemployed niece, and a mysterious murderer.

Merged review:

Boarding with Murder by Kathryn Long has Ali Winston arriving in Sierra Pines to learn that her Great-Aunt Julia is dead, and she left her bed-and-breakfast to her. Gladys Bellwether, Julia’s friend, insists that Julia was murdered, but she has no proof except a cryptic note. When Gladys’s number one suspect is found dead in Julia’s bed, Ali wonders if Gladys is right. Unfortunately, Gladys becomes Sheriff Sterling’s prime suspect. Ali with help from the movie production guests sets out to find the real killer. Boarding with Murder is the debut novel in A Sierra Pines B&B Mystery series. I just loved the description of Aunt Julia’s Victorian bed-and-breakfast. There is a fun cast of quirky characters. They all have a connection to show business (actors, set designers, producers, etc.). The author took the time to flesh out the three main characters: Ali, Gladys, and Ollie (Gladys’ brother). Gladys is an upbeat character who steals the show at times. I liked her and her brother, Ollie. It can be hard to keep track of all the characters (a cheat sheet is helpful). Sierra Pines sounds beautiful from the author’s graphic descriptions. The mystery had a variety of suspects, misdirection, and subtle clues. There is action that kept the whodunit moving forward to the resolution. I like how it all wrapped up at the end. Boarding with Murder is a lighthearted cozy with melodramatic actors, a sexy sheriff, a deceased thespian, unemployed niece, and a mysterious murderer.

[Helen Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Kathryn Long and I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy. What made it special is the California small town location and the connection many of the characters had to Hollywood and the movie industry.

The lead character comes to visit her aunt in this California town after she loses her TV job in New York where her parents will soon be appearing in a play. Our protagonist needs a break and hopes to relax at her aunt’s B&B. Unfortunately her aunt passes away before she gets there.

After her aunt’s funeral she gets involved in community activities including taking over the volunteer job on the movie set her aunt had.

There is a murder at the B&B with the 80 year old brother and sister who are employees of the B&B as the main suspects.

There is a lot happening in this plot with plenty of smaller mysteries. I liked the way the main murder mystery was resolved.

The characters are mostly delightful with a few having some idiosyncrasies that can be annoying.

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[dnsyl57 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Boarding With Murder" is book #1 in the "Sierra Pines B&B Mysteries" series by Kathryn Long.

"Take one quaint B&B, two kind but quirky caretakers, a dead aunt, a murdered friend, and you have mystery. Ali Winston finds she's inherited trouble along with her aunt's B&B, but can she reveal the killer before the curtain closes?"

My thoughts:
Ali Winston gets a lot more than she bargained for when she travels to visit her aunt. The shock of learning her aunt died before she arrived is numbing but the elderly Bellweather siblings suspect there may have been foul play. Another death throws things off kilter even more. Ali fears her elderly friends are being framed but proving it to the Sherriff is another matter. The Sherriff is by the book but also seems to be developing a soft spot for Ali - who hasn't decided if she is going to stay and run the B&B after the killer is caught.

The book has numerous references to classic movies and actors from the golden age of Hollywood. The banter between Gladys and Ollie is rather enjoyable and Ollie does get some rather delightful lines! Ali and the Sheriff also engage in some interesting dialogue.

There were several potential suspects that may have had motive, means and opportunity to murder. Some well placed red herrings by Ms. Long kept the drama going even though I was pretty sure I knew who did it - I just wasn't sure why. The reveal and reasoning were well done. A juicy epilogue filled in a few more gaps.

This was a fun read and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series!

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love B&B cozy mysteries and Boarding With Murder gave me everything I enjoy reading from the beginning to end! The characters, suspense, surprises, is definitely worth the five stars!

[Jessica Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

A solid start to a new cozy series. We meet Ali as she lives in New York and she just lost her job. She is going to visit her Great Aunt Julia in California but plans go wonky once she arrives only to learn Julia has passed away. Inheriting the B&B helps one problem but when told about suspicions of murder regarding Julia she starts nosing around. Add in some older helpful assistance to get a fun story that draws you in. I especially adored the small town set in the mountains as it sounds charming. A fun read for cozy fans. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.