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Twister Sisters #1
Hippie Wagon Homicide
Cordelia Davis lives with no regrets, despite her life changing drastically a half century ago when a tornado altered the destiny of the little Ozark town of Willow Lane. The town grew back stronger and more beautiful, and Cordelia, her sister, Pamela, and her best friend, Wanda, built a life to treasure.
As Willow Lane honors the memory of those lost and celebrates all that has been achieved, tragedy refuses to remain in the past. News of murder rocks the pastoral countryside when Cordelia discovers a body on her farm, beneath her beloved willow tree. And while the police make an immediate arrest, Cordelia finds herself untangling a web of lies and long-ago secrets.
With suspects in every nook of her cozy town—and an old flame knocking on her door—it will take all Cordelia’s tenacity to face the past and to weather the mysteries of Willow Lane.
As Willow Lane honors the memory of those lost and celebrates all that has been achieved, tragedy refuses to remain in the past. News of murder rocks the pastoral countryside when Cordelia discovers a body on her farm, beneath her beloved willow tree. And while the police make an immediate arrest, Cordelia finds herself untangling a web of lies and long-ago secrets.
With suspects in every nook of her cozy town—and an old flame knocking on her door—it will take all Cordelia’s tenacity to face the past and to weather the mysteries of Willow Lane.
474 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2022
306 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Mildred Abbott
56 books370 followersMildred Abbott writes twisty cozy mysteries filled with humorous and complex characters. Whether brimming with magic or simply an above average dose of curiosity, Mildred's amateur sleuths solve murders with the cutest sidekicks ever.
Fifteen years as a special education teacher and a lifetime of loving rescue dogs results in creating adventures with a ton of heart and the need for lint rollers.
Connect with Mildred Abbott’s Cozy Mysteries on Facebook to catch the latest release and find fellow addicts of books, coffee, and corgis.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MildredAbbot...
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Email: mildredabbottauthor@gmail.com
Newsletter Signup: http://www.mildredabbott.com/contact-...
Fifteen years as a special education teacher and a lifetime of loving rescue dogs results in creating adventures with a ton of heart and the need for lint rollers.
Connect with Mildred Abbott’s Cozy Mysteries on Facebook to catch the latest release and find fellow addicts of books, coffee, and corgis.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MildredAbbot...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mildredabbott/
Email: mildredabbottauthor@gmail.com
Newsletter Signup: http://www.mildredabbott.com/contact-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 12, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Willow Lane has handled a lot of drama in its past. A tornado 50 years ago not only changed the town but its residents as well. They rebuilt the town and tried to leave the past in the past but now the mayor wants to celebrate and memorialize the event that took 22 lives. Cordelia Davis allows her wonderful farm to be the site to kick off the event.
The party seemed to have gone off without a hitch but the next morning Cordelia finds a dead body against her very special willow tree. The police quickly wrap up their case with an arrest but Cordelia feels they have made a huge mistake. She decides to investigate the murder herself and she opens up a huge can of worms that opens up new wounds and old before everything is revealed.
I was a little leary about reading a cozy mystery that was almost 500 pages long but I have wanted to read books by this author for quite a while and this new series was my opportunity. After I started reading I quickly understood the length of the story. The author introduces a huge cast of characters, including 2 dogs and a goat named Breakfast. Every chapter brings a new face or two and the greatest thing is that each chapter starts with a picture of the character featured in the chapter. No imagination is necessary the characters are there in living color or black and white depending on which device or format you are reading.
Cordelia Davis is the main character and together with her sister Pamela and their friend Wanda, they are the TWISTER SISTERS. They cater events and deliver meals to the elderly and shut-ins of Willow Lane in their tricked-out Hippie Wagons. Each old Volkswagen van is personalized especially for its owner. Cordelia’s has flowers, Pamela’s has hearts, and Wanda’s has stars. Each woman is as unique as their van.
I think we meet almost every other resident of Willow Lane. Keeping all their connections and their histories straight was a little tough at first but I broke out my little notebook until I made my way further into the story. It is a diverse cast that comes alive within these pages. They are each unique, realistic, and well-developed for the first book in the series, hence the extra pages.
The mystery flowed at a slower pace than I am used to but that pace soon felt very comfortable amidst everything else taking place within these pages. There was the perfect balance between mystery and everyday life. The story is very well-plotted with some terrific twists. I loved the tie-in to the Wizard of Oz. I was also happy to see that the town really learned from its past when rebuilding. I wonder if more towns are doing the same thing.
Hippie Wagon Homicide was a great start for this series and a very entertaining read and I am looking forward to returning to Willow Lane again soon!
Willow Lane has handled a lot of drama in its past. A tornado 50 years ago not only changed the town but its residents as well. They rebuilt the town and tried to leave the past in the past but now the mayor wants to celebrate and memorialize the event that took 22 lives. Cordelia Davis allows her wonderful farm to be the site to kick off the event.
The party seemed to have gone off without a hitch but the next morning Cordelia finds a dead body against her very special willow tree. The police quickly wrap up their case with an arrest but Cordelia feels they have made a huge mistake. She decides to investigate the murder herself and she opens up a huge can of worms that opens up new wounds and old before everything is revealed.
I was a little leary about reading a cozy mystery that was almost 500 pages long but I have wanted to read books by this author for quite a while and this new series was my opportunity. After I started reading I quickly understood the length of the story. The author introduces a huge cast of characters, including 2 dogs and a goat named Breakfast. Every chapter brings a new face or two and the greatest thing is that each chapter starts with a picture of the character featured in the chapter. No imagination is necessary the characters are there in living color or black and white depending on which device or format you are reading.
Cordelia Davis is the main character and together with her sister Pamela and their friend Wanda, they are the TWISTER SISTERS. They cater events and deliver meals to the elderly and shut-ins of Willow Lane in their tricked-out Hippie Wagons. Each old Volkswagen van is personalized especially for its owner. Cordelia’s has flowers, Pamela’s has hearts, and Wanda’s has stars. Each woman is as unique as their van.
I think we meet almost every other resident of Willow Lane. Keeping all their connections and their histories straight was a little tough at first but I broke out my little notebook until I made my way further into the story. It is a diverse cast that comes alive within these pages. They are each unique, realistic, and well-developed for the first book in the series, hence the extra pages.
The mystery flowed at a slower pace than I am used to but that pace soon felt very comfortable amidst everything else taking place within these pages. There was the perfect balance between mystery and everyday life. The story is very well-plotted with some terrific twists. I loved the tie-in to the Wizard of Oz. I was also happy to see that the town really learned from its past when rebuilding. I wonder if more towns are doing the same thing.
Hippie Wagon Homicide was a great start for this series and a very entertaining read and I am looking forward to returning to Willow Lane again soon!
March 4, 2022
Great start to a new series. I enjoy this author and look forward to anything she writes.
March 17, 2022
Small town life should be easy and relaxing, sure there is gossip, but usually nothing too exciting usually happens. But in the little town of Willow Lane, it has unfortunately had its share of tragedies starting with a tornado which hit and damaged the town fifty years ago.
Each year the town memorializes the event by having a town service, although if you asked Cordelia Davis, there is no reason to remind everybody about what they all lived through that night. And Cordelia knows because it changed her life forever.
Cordelia, her sister Pam and their best friend Wanda, called the “twisted sisters” have been part of the town forever. They help with the activities and bake casseroles daily for those who need some comfort food or who just want some comfort.
So, when Pastor Jim is found dead the day after the memorial, crushed by Cordelia’s van on her property, needless to say the townspeople are not only stunned, but the gossip mill begins to go crazy.
Who would want to kill the beloved pastor? Cordelia and her twisted sisters decide to look into the killing, although there is one person the whole town suspects was the pastor’s killer. But Cordelia thinks there could be too many eggs in that one basket. As she begins to make her rounds, she discovers to her surprise there were some people who were not too thrilled with Pastor Jim’s tactics.
On top of this tragedy weighing on Cordelia, she has just discovered that the love of her life who left town fifty years ago has suddenly reappeared in town and has his eyes set on her. But is it possible for someone who is proud to live her life with regrets, possibly have a future with a man who left her all those years ago?
As the suspect list begins to dwindle and new and old secrets emerge, Cordelia begins to see what could possibly have been the impetus to the killing. That’s the thing about small towns. There are so many skeletons from the past, that sometimes they rear their ugly heads into the present from time to time.
Willow Lane seems like a lovely cozy town where everybody knows everybody and everybody’s business, but they all consider each other family and they take care of each other.
Cordelia and the Hippie Wagon Homicide is a warm, enjoyable mystery with a great deal of heart, soul and love.
Thank you, Mildred Abbott, for sending me the copy of this lovely story.
Each year the town memorializes the event by having a town service, although if you asked Cordelia Davis, there is no reason to remind everybody about what they all lived through that night. And Cordelia knows because it changed her life forever.
Cordelia, her sister Pam and their best friend Wanda, called the “twisted sisters” have been part of the town forever. They help with the activities and bake casseroles daily for those who need some comfort food or who just want some comfort.
So, when Pastor Jim is found dead the day after the memorial, crushed by Cordelia’s van on her property, needless to say the townspeople are not only stunned, but the gossip mill begins to go crazy.
Who would want to kill the beloved pastor? Cordelia and her twisted sisters decide to look into the killing, although there is one person the whole town suspects was the pastor’s killer. But Cordelia thinks there could be too many eggs in that one basket. As she begins to make her rounds, she discovers to her surprise there were some people who were not too thrilled with Pastor Jim’s tactics.
On top of this tragedy weighing on Cordelia, she has just discovered that the love of her life who left town fifty years ago has suddenly reappeared in town and has his eyes set on her. But is it possible for someone who is proud to live her life with regrets, possibly have a future with a man who left her all those years ago?
As the suspect list begins to dwindle and new and old secrets emerge, Cordelia begins to see what could possibly have been the impetus to the killing. That’s the thing about small towns. There are so many skeletons from the past, that sometimes they rear their ugly heads into the present from time to time.
Willow Lane seems like a lovely cozy town where everybody knows everybody and everybody’s business, but they all consider each other family and they take care of each other.
Cordelia and the Hippie Wagon Homicide is a warm, enjoyable mystery with a great deal of heart, soul and love.
Thank you, Mildred Abbott, for sending me the copy of this lovely story.
June 15, 2023
This was book 1 in the
"Twister Sisters Mysteries"
series. Cordelia Davis lives with no regrets. A tornado altered the destiny of the little Ozark town of Willow Lane. The town grew back stronger and more beautiful, and Cordelia, her sister, Pamela, and her best friend, Wanda, built a life to treasure. As Willow Lane honors the memory of those lost and celebrates all that has been achieved, tragedy refuses to remain in the past. News of murder rocks the pastoral countryside when Cordelia discovers a body on her farm, beneath her beloved willow tree. And while the police make an immediate arrest, Cordelia finds herself untangling a web of lies and long-ago secrets. This was a really good read that I liked but I did find it long at times. I liked all of the characters in this book. The three women are called Twisted Sisters and they run a business together. This was my first time reading this author. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
February 9, 2022
While I wasn't as immediately taken by this book as a previous series, it shows promise. Interesting characters with equally interesting back stories and experiences, plus an intriguing cast of characters. It took me a bit to find the rhythm of the book but once I did, I was intrigued. The Twister Sisters' business, hippie wagons, generosity and friendship all blend together and make them who they are and as I got to know them better, I found myself nodding with approval at the new series. True, I somehow expected a corgi to make an appearance but the resident dog we've met sounds like a winner, too. The illustrations were an added touch, giving life to the people within. There's even romance brewing. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
February 12, 2022
Hippie Wagon Homicide
I love cozy mysteries and this author is great at them. I struggled with this book. I think the issue for me was there was no slow intro, there was just tons of character and history that was hard for me to keep straight. Sometimes the first book in a series is an info dump which is hard for me. I look forward to the next book because it shouldn’t be as much new info.
I love cozy mysteries and this author is great at them. I struggled with this book. I think the issue for me was there was no slow intro, there was just tons of character and history that was hard for me to keep straight. Sometimes the first book in a series is an info dump which is hard for me. I look forward to the next book because it shouldn’t be as much new info.
March 11, 2024
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Hippie Wagon Homicide by Mildred Abbott is the first in a new series that is well-plotted and keeps you guessing.
Can Cordelia figure out why all these bad things keep happening around the same time every 25 years?
Cordelia Davis and the Twister Sisters
Cordelia Davis is our main sleuth and the oldest Davis sibling in town. She lives on her family ranch with her dog, nephew and his husband, and another family on the farm that helps out. Cordelia has lived a beautiful happy life in her small town of Willow Lane. She wouldn't change any of her decisions, and she helps out whenever she can when any of her fellow townspeople need assistance. I love Cordelia as a character and a sleuth. Cordelia, I feel like, puts people at ease when talking to her until she pushes too many buttons. My favorite quote with Cordelia is:
Cordelia also has the help of her two other Twister Sisters. Pamela Price, Cordelia's younger sister, came up with their business plan. The last member is Wanda Williams, the owner of a diner in town, and she keeps everything organized for the Twister Sisters inventory and orders. Pamela and Wanda sort of helped Cordelia solve the mystery because they don't think that the person the police suspects did it.
The Mystery
Cordelia Davis' yard where the Willow trees are, gave the town their name of Willow Lane. She allows the townsfolk to do their fiftieth-anniversary celebration of the giant tornado storm. They spin it as a good thing that happened to their town in videos and have planned a good party. The following day Cordelia goes out to her willow trees to get her morning going to find a dead body smashed against her tree. Cordelia happens to get sucked into solving the mystery because it is personal. The murderer used her van and her willow tree to do this heinous act so near the date of the tornado that destroyed their small town. All I have to say is that Ms. Abbott does a fabulous job setting up all the red herrings, even though one of them was so obviously a red herring. I never thought who actually did it would have done it.
Four Stars
My rating for Hippie Wagon Homicide by Mildred Abbott is four stars, and I recommend it to anyone who loves seeing an older lady be a sleuth like Jessica Fletcher. Hippie Wagon Homicide by Mildred Abbott is definitely different than the Cozy Corgi series of Ms. Abbott's, but I liked it all the same. Ms. Abbott does a great job on everything in this book.
Don't forget to check out her Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe in the back of the book. It also includes a way to make homemade egg noodles.
Twisted Sisters Mysteries
Prize: (5) $10 AMAZON GIFT CARD
Can Cordelia figure out why all these bad things keep happening around the same time every 25 years?
Cordelia Davis and the Twister Sisters
Cordelia Davis is our main sleuth and the oldest Davis sibling in town. She lives on her family ranch with her dog, nephew and his husband, and another family on the farm that helps out. Cordelia has lived a beautiful happy life in her small town of Willow Lane. She wouldn't change any of her decisions, and she helps out whenever she can when any of her fellow townspeople need assistance. I love Cordelia as a character and a sleuth. Cordelia, I feel like, puts people at ease when talking to her until she pushes too many buttons. My favorite quote with Cordelia is:
"Now, Eugene." I gave him a wink. "You said yourself, I've known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper. Do I make promises I can't keep?" - Cordelia Davis at the end of chapter 18
Cordelia also has the help of her two other Twister Sisters. Pamela Price, Cordelia's younger sister, came up with their business plan. The last member is Wanda Williams, the owner of a diner in town, and she keeps everything organized for the Twister Sisters inventory and orders. Pamela and Wanda sort of helped Cordelia solve the mystery because they don't think that the person the police suspects did it.
The Mystery Cordelia Davis' yard where the Willow trees are, gave the town their name of Willow Lane. She allows the townsfolk to do their fiftieth-anniversary celebration of the giant tornado storm. They spin it as a good thing that happened to their town in videos and have planned a good party. The following day Cordelia goes out to her willow trees to get her morning going to find a dead body smashed against her tree. Cordelia happens to get sucked into solving the mystery because it is personal. The murderer used her van and her willow tree to do this heinous act so near the date of the tornado that destroyed their small town. All I have to say is that Ms. Abbott does a fabulous job setting up all the red herrings, even though one of them was so obviously a red herring. I never thought who actually did it would have done it.
Four Stars
My rating for Hippie Wagon Homicide by Mildred Abbott is four stars, and I recommend it to anyone who loves seeing an older lady be a sleuth like Jessica Fletcher. Hippie Wagon Homicide by Mildred Abbott is definitely different than the Cozy Corgi series of Ms. Abbott's, but I liked it all the same. Ms. Abbott does a great job on everything in this book.
Don't forget to check out her Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe in the back of the book. It also includes a way to make homemade egg noodles.
Twisted Sisters Mysteries
Hippie Wagon Homicide is available on #KindleUnlimited. The other two books are available for preorder.
Prize: (5) $10 AMAZON GIFT CARD
Additional Prize: 1 Kindle Copy of your choice from Mildred Abbot's Cozy Corgi Mystery Series
Just drop a comment below, and I will pick a winner on March 15th.
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Thank you for dropping by! What do you think of Hippie Wagon Homicide by Mildred Abbott?
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Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
February 10, 2022
A great first book for this new series
Quite simply, I loved this book. Perfect length considering it introduces, and beautifully illustrates, the main characters in this little town. The threads of the plot are woven and interwoven with grace and an unsuspected ending. I look forward to many more adventures with the Twister Sisters.
Quite simply, I loved this book. Perfect length considering it introduces, and beautifully illustrates, the main characters in this little town. The threads of the plot are woven and interwoven with grace and an unsuspected ending. I look forward to many more adventures with the Twister Sisters.
February 10, 2022
Loved this book!
I found this story kept me guessing to the end. I enjoyed getting to know each character. I look forward to future books in this series.
I found this story kept me guessing to the end. I enjoyed getting to know each character. I look forward to future books in this series.
February 6, 2022
Loved the story, the characters, the description of Willow.
February 5, 2022
A new series from the wonderful writer Mildred Abbott. What a great way to begin a new series!!!! Love it!!!!
March 21, 2022
You know how when talking about real estate, everyone says location, location, location..... Well when people discuss the Twister Sisters Mysteries series by Mildred Abbott the main word they should be using is secrets, secrets, SECRETS !!!
Hippe Wagon Homicide is the first book in this series and it sets the stage beautifully !!! Before you even start reading this book Abbott has provided family trees for the three main characters, Cordelia, Wanda and Pamela as well as a map of the main part of the town and where this first book focuses on.
In Hippe Wagon Homicide the town of Willow Lane is getting ready for the 50th year anniversary of the tornado that damaged the town and left 22 residents dead. The town is getting ready to remember that time as well as the people they lost and and have a gathering at Cordelia's farm. Unfortunately the next morning when Cordelia goes to the area by the willows where the party was held she finds youth pastor Jim Asher pinned between her favorite willow tree and her volkswagon hippie van and hes dead. It is obvious that someone murdered Jim but who would have wanted to kill a youth pastor and so violently ?
Cordelia starts asking a lot of questions.....mainly because it happened on her property and included her vehicle but also because this was her community and she loves her town and its residents and could not tolerant a murderer walking around freely. Little does she know that by asking questions she is about to uncover a town full of secrets and it looks like some secrets are so deep they are worthy of killing over !!
As you follow Cordelia around town and get to know the people of Willow Lane you will find yourself drawn to them and want to find Jim's murderer also. You will become protective of the town and people as much as Cordelia is and you will turn those pages as fast as you can to resolve things.
Another aspect of Hippe Wagon Homicide that readers will love is the rekindling love story that Cordelia and her childhood boyfriend Charlie dance around when he returns home after being away for 50 years. And you will giggle like a sixteen year old when you read about them getting to know each other again and realize that they still have feelings for each other.
Hippie Wagon Homicide is the perfect first book in the Twister Sister Mysteries series as it introduces you to the town and people of Willow Lane and allows you to fall in love with them and want to return to the town as soon as you can. Abbott provides a nice arrangement of people with just the right amount of mystery and intrigue to insure that you will be a fan !!!
March 24, 2022
It took me days to get through this book which is fairly unusual for me. I just could not get into this book at all and I love her other series, The Cozy Corgi. The book is told from the perspective of Cordelia Davis and she includes her close friend Wanda and her sister Pamela in her narrative too. They are the Twister Sisters of the series title having lived through a tornado (the twister) long ago.
This book lays out the beginnings of a new series, which is pretty darn tedious. Not only does she have to lay out the entire backstory of the town, all the people living in the town, but many of the deceased and how they fit into the town’s story. How the town was before the twister 50 years prior but the tragedy that befell one of their own 25 years after that first twister that shaped the town. It is a lot to keep track of that’s for sure.
As I was struggling along I actually went back to Amazon to read the reviews for this book and was pretty surprised to see so many 5-star reviews. Am I the only one who found this book tedious? What are they reading that they enjoy so much? I did not like this book but thought I would give it a fair shake by rating it in the middle. It was just ok. Not a story I would ever read more than once and I have no desire to read any of the upcoming sequels (of which there are two already available on Amazon).
The characters just did not draw me in like they should have. And the church back drop was a real turn off for me. The slimy youth pastor who gets killed, the mean pastor who is trying to protect her hoodlum of a teenage son, the almost cult-like followers all lend themselves to making the town just too creepy and self-righteous. The old secrets that come into play to solve the murder. Just too much happening for a first book.
This book lays out the beginnings of a new series, which is pretty darn tedious. Not only does she have to lay out the entire backstory of the town, all the people living in the town, but many of the deceased and how they fit into the town’s story. How the town was before the twister 50 years prior but the tragedy that befell one of their own 25 years after that first twister that shaped the town. It is a lot to keep track of that’s for sure.
As I was struggling along I actually went back to Amazon to read the reviews for this book and was pretty surprised to see so many 5-star reviews. Am I the only one who found this book tedious? What are they reading that they enjoy so much? I did not like this book but thought I would give it a fair shake by rating it in the middle. It was just ok. Not a story I would ever read more than once and I have no desire to read any of the upcoming sequels (of which there are two already available on Amazon).
The characters just did not draw me in like they should have. And the church back drop was a real turn off for me. The slimy youth pastor who gets killed, the mean pastor who is trying to protect her hoodlum of a teenage son, the almost cult-like followers all lend themselves to making the town just too creepy and self-righteous. The old secrets that come into play to solve the murder. Just too much happening for a first book.
March 8, 2022
Hippie Wagon Homicide is book one in the Twister Sister Mystery Series. The series is written by Mildred Abbot. This is the first book that I have read by the author. We meet the Twister Series in this book. They are three women who had survived a devastating tornado awhile ago in their town. Two of them are actual sisters, the third is a best friend.
They have a catering business which I thought was pretty cool. Not only are they running a business, they give out casseroles to those in need. The town is getting ready to remember those that were lost in the tornado. Cordelia allows them to use her land for the remembrance. However the next day, they find the youth pastor dead under the willow tree.
The author did a good job creating a mystery. Would the secrets from the past become uncovered as they look for the killer? Or will Cordelia be the next victim?
I enjoyed the author's writing style. She created real feeling characters. The storyline was unique and engaging. I hope to read the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours - all thoughts are my own.
They have a catering business which I thought was pretty cool. Not only are they running a business, they give out casseroles to those in need. The town is getting ready to remember those that were lost in the tornado. Cordelia allows them to use her land for the remembrance. However the next day, they find the youth pastor dead under the willow tree.
The author did a good job creating a mystery. Would the secrets from the past become uncovered as they look for the killer? Or will Cordelia be the next victim?
I enjoyed the author's writing style. She created real feeling characters. The storyline was unique and engaging. I hope to read the next book in the series.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours - all thoughts are my own.
March 14, 2022
Cordelia Davis, her sister, Pamela, and her best friend, Wanda make up the Twisted Sisters in this new series from author Mildred Abbott. I don't think I have ever read a cozy mystery that was almost 500 pages long but don't let that put you off. The story does start off slowly, as we are introduced to a whole village of characters! What I loved was the authors chapter headings, I don't think I have seen this done or rather I haven't come across it as of yet - but at the start at of each new chapter we are greeted with a illustration of the character who will be featured in that chapter, I loved that I could see them and instantly envision them as I read on.
This story is quite an info dump with all the backstories and histories of the characters (which I why I think it was so long) but it does make you feel more attached to them. Once the pace picked up we are treated to a murder mystery that sees Cordelia turn sleuth as she tried to find out who murdered the youth pastor since her van was used to do the deed!
A large ensemble of characters, a wonderful little town and a murder mystery. What more can you ask for?
4 stars
This story is quite an info dump with all the backstories and histories of the characters (which I why I think it was so long) but it does make you feel more attached to them. Once the pace picked up we are treated to a murder mystery that sees Cordelia turn sleuth as she tried to find out who murdered the youth pastor since her van was used to do the deed!
A large ensemble of characters, a wonderful little town and a murder mystery. What more can you ask for?
4 stars
February 18, 2022
Keep Reading!
To all of you who say, "this is not like the Cozy Corgi, or I am not sure who these characters/people are, or I was lost after the first chapter"......KEEP READING. You will be rewarded with Mildred Abbott's usual excellent character development. You will meet many new people--and you will definitely get to know them better. This series is totally different than the Cozy Corgi. You may have known people in real life, just like the characters in this book...especially if you grew up in a small town. I was a bit lost in the beginning too! I kept reading. I am glad I did!
To all of you who say, "this is not like the Cozy Corgi, or I am not sure who these characters/people are, or I was lost after the first chapter"......KEEP READING. You will be rewarded with Mildred Abbott's usual excellent character development. You will meet many new people--and you will definitely get to know them better. This series is totally different than the Cozy Corgi. You may have known people in real life, just like the characters in this book...especially if you grew up in a small town. I was a bit lost in the beginning too! I kept reading. I am glad I did!
June 8, 2022
So Happy it's Over
I've never been happy that a book was over. There was so much going on in this story that I was constantly going back to see what I missed. I missed nothing, I felt like most of the plot and backstory was none of my business. As soon as the murderer was found I was done and skipping pages to get to the end. I'm not interested in reading any more in this series. I did really like the pictures of the characters at the beginning of each chapter, that was unique. I loved Mildred Abbott's Corgi series, but will not read any others.
I've never been happy that a book was over. There was so much going on in this story that I was constantly going back to see what I missed. I missed nothing, I felt like most of the plot and backstory was none of my business. As soon as the murderer was found I was done and skipping pages to get to the end. I'm not interested in reading any more in this series. I did really like the pictures of the characters at the beginning of each chapter, that was unique. I loved Mildred Abbott's Corgi series, but will not read any others.
March 31, 2025
Willow Lane is getting ready to celebrate an event that happened 25 years ago when a tornado hit the small town and killed some of the residents and did some damage. It's always a bittersweet moment for the towns people who remember it. There is also a murder that happens during the event.
It was a cute read but I thought it was pretty wordy. You get to know all the characters who are somehow friends of the Twister Sisters. There are cute portraits beginning each chapter so you can put a face to who is being talked about.
It was a cute read but I thought it was pretty wordy. You get to know all the characters who are somehow friends of the Twister Sisters. There are cute portraits beginning each chapter so you can put a face to who is being talked about.
February 7, 2023
The longest book ever
I love the corgi series. This one I do not.
After slogging through the first half and trying to remember all the gazillion characters, I am calling it quits. So many back stories that are dished out by the letter, I had to continually refer to the family trees. Sometimes that didn't even help because out of the blue new people joined in the fray. Kinda bummed as I really like the author. Just think this was overdone.
I love the corgi series. This one I do not.
After slogging through the first half and trying to remember all the gazillion characters, I am calling it quits. So many back stories that are dished out by the letter, I had to continually refer to the family trees. Sometimes that didn't even help because out of the blue new people joined in the fray. Kinda bummed as I really like the author. Just think this was overdone.
July 10, 2024
An interesting cozy mystery with likable characters and long-buried secrets. When the local youth pastor is found dead on her property, Cordelia and her closest friends are drawn into the investigation.
The story is well written and full of twists, but I was distracted by the constant intrusion of church matters and bible verses. This wasn’t listed as Christian fiction, but it certainly felt like it.
I prefer my mysteries to be more intrigue and less preaching.
The story is well written and full of twists, but I was distracted by the constant intrusion of church matters and bible verses. This wasn’t listed as Christian fiction, but it certainly felt like it.
I prefer my mysteries to be more intrigue and less preaching.
February 6, 2022
Great start to new series!!
Loved, absolutely loved, the character pictures! It added so much to the story to have the visual and the map. Loved that main characters were near my age and still active, with possible romance. Took off a star because it seemed to me to repeat a little too much in spots. Can't wait for book 2!
Loved, absolutely loved, the character pictures! It added so much to the story to have the visual and the map. Loved that main characters were near my age and still active, with possible romance. Took off a star because it seemed to me to repeat a little too much in spots. Can't wait for book 2!
February 23, 2022
Hippo wagon homicide
Mildred Abbot knows how to tell story! She smoothly blends the story around and around until your head is spinning. Her characters blend easily, old friends loving to gossip.A true small Midwestern town, occasionally disturbed by Tornadoes. I will say no more about the story. It was an enjoyable read. Even though their wasn't my favorite Corgi init.
Mildred Abbot knows how to tell story! She smoothly blends the story around and around until your head is spinning. Her characters blend easily, old friends loving to gossip.A true small Midwestern town, occasionally disturbed by Tornadoes. I will say no more about the story. It was an enjoyable read. Even though their wasn't my favorite Corgi init.
February 25, 2022
Good read, again!
The book started slow as the characters were being introduced. And there are a lot of characters! I kept waiting for the same format as the cozy corgies books. Fortunately that did not happen . This book was more than I expected. I really can't say more with out giving somethings away. But I will say I can't wait til the next book comes out!
The book started slow as the characters were being introduced. And there are a lot of characters! I kept waiting for the same format as the cozy corgies books. Fortunately that did not happen . This book was more than I expected. I really can't say more with out giving somethings away. But I will say I can't wait til the next book comes out!
February 25, 2022
New
This was not what I expected. I am so glad. The characters are as believable and real as the inhabitants of Estes Park. The story is not derivative. The book has a slower and more mellow pace but the mystery is every bit as compelling as you would expect. This is a new town with a new cast of characters to get to know.
This was not what I expected. I am so glad. The characters are as believable and real as the inhabitants of Estes Park. The story is not derivative. The book has a slower and more mellow pace but the mystery is every bit as compelling as you would expect. This is a new town with a new cast of characters to get to know.
March 7, 2022
Nice cozy murder mystery
I really enjoyed Hippie Wagon Homicide. Thought I would as I adore her Cozy Corgi mysteries. In fact, that got me interested in the other series Mildred Abbott creates. Her work isn’t just writing, it’s the creation of the characters in her stories which is so clear I find myself visualizing them.
Read the book! You will be glad you did!
I really enjoyed Hippie Wagon Homicide. Thought I would as I adore her Cozy Corgi mysteries. In fact, that got me interested in the other series Mildred Abbott creates. Her work isn’t just writing, it’s the creation of the characters in her stories which is so clear I find myself visualizing them.
Read the book! You will be glad you did!
February 16, 2022
Wonderful mystery
Another wonderful series from Mildred Abbott. This mystery did not disappoint my guess who done it brain. Twists and turns every chapter. Love the characters in this series. Anxious for next book. A definite must read.
Another wonderful series from Mildred Abbott. This mystery did not disappoint my guess who done it brain. Twists and turns every chapter. Love the characters in this series. Anxious for next book. A definite must read.
March 30, 2022
Fun new series
This series has heart, if each book is as good as the first . Once I got swept up in the people who live in the town I fe!t a part of the book. Can't wait to read the next.
This series has heart, if each book is as good as the first . Once I got swept up in the people who live in the town I fe!t a part of the book. Can't wait to read the next.
April 30, 2022
Hippie Wagons
A welcome "blast from the past" with an intriguing storyline . I enjoyed meeting the residents of Willow Lane and will be visiting again, as soon as possible for their next adventure!
A welcome "blast from the past" with an intriguing storyline . I enjoyed meeting the residents of Willow Lane and will be visiting again, as soon as possible for their next adventure!
May 21, 2022
Yay! Mildred Abbott
This is the first of Mildred Abbott's books that I've read. I totally enjoyed the story. I like the fact that, I had totally missed the the real perp. I will be reading more of these books.
This is the first of Mildred Abbott's books that I've read. I totally enjoyed the story. I like the fact that, I had totally missed the the real perp. I will be reading more of these books.
November 2, 2022
As Good As Expected
I feel like I've come home to a new but completely familiar host of family and friends. Small town Missouri is part of my history. Ms. Abbott does an impeccable job bringing Willow Lane to life. It's definitely coming home to something both old and new.
I feel like I've come home to a new but completely familiar host of family and friends. Small town Missouri is part of my history. Ms. Abbott does an impeccable job bringing Willow Lane to life. It's definitely coming home to something both old and new.
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