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Word Has It
She wants to help her nephew, the cop.
She needs to restore her reputation.
And she had better watch out!
Wanda Warner enjoys having her nephew back home and their regular games of Scrabble on Thursday mornings, his day off from his new position at the Scrub Oak Police Department. While she would never consider herself a gossip, their chats help her keep tabs on her small Texas town. But then strange words like perp, jewels, escape, and lying show up in their game. And then Wanda learns of the possibility of jewel thieves in the vicinity.
Even though her nephew reminds her that her meddling has gotten her into trouble before, Wanda persuades her friends to help her investigate. It’s the neighborly thing to do, right?
Until someone is shot . . .
She needs to restore her reputation.
And she had better watch out!
Wanda Warner enjoys having her nephew back home and their regular games of Scrabble on Thursday mornings, his day off from his new position at the Scrub Oak Police Department. While she would never consider herself a gossip, their chats help her keep tabs on her small Texas town. But then strange words like perp, jewels, escape, and lying show up in their game. And then Wanda learns of the possibility of jewel thieves in the vicinity.
Even though her nephew reminds her that her meddling has gotten her into trouble before, Wanda persuades her friends to help her investigate. It’s the neighborly thing to do, right?
Until someone is shot . . .
- GenresCozy Mystery
264 pages, Paperback
Published February 10, 2021
About the author
Julie B. Cosgrove
26 books50 followersEven before Julie B Cosgrove became a multi-published, award-winning novelist, she’d developed a passion for words at a young age. She solved the word games in the daily newspapers. She and her mother shared many fun hours playing Scrabble. Then, another passion developed― whodunnits. She loved the Charlie Chan, Sherlock Holmes, and Hercule Perot movies that played on Saturday afternoons on TV. Nancy Drew and the romantic mystery novels of the late Mary Stewart kept her eyes dancing over the pages through her school years. Now, she has mysteries stacked up on her watchlist on Britbox and a long list of cozies on her ereader’s to-be-read list.
Later in her adult life, her passion for Christ spurred her to write faith-based fiction and devotionals for several publications, which she has been doing since 2009. Her blog, Where Did You Find God Today? now has readers in over fifty countries.
But her passion remains mystery, the cozier the better. When her sister asked her, “Why don’t you write them?”, she pondered it and decided to give it a go. Her first, Dumpster Dicing, won Best Mystery by the Texas Association of Authors in 2017. Since then, she has been contracted to write a total of 12 mysteries, nine of which have been published as of early 2021. She has three series―The Bunco Biddies Mysteries, The Relatively Seeking Mysteries, and the Wordplay Mysteries.
You can find all of her fiction and nonfiction books as well as her blog's link on her website, www.juliebcosgrove.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 7, 2021
I've read several cozies by this author, and I have to say, Ms. Cosgrove has made me a cozy mystery fan! This first book in a new series is her best one yet!
The MC Wanda, a very active widow living in a small Texas town, is loveable and very human, but she always means well. She has a reputation for being nosy and jumping to conclusions, but after a burglary in a nearby city is convinced her sleepy little town needs a neighborhood watch program, especially when several suspicious goings-on point to the possibility that the burglars are hiding out right under their noses!
Complicating the situation is Wanda's beloved nephew Todd, who is a rookie cop in town. Their close relationship is threatened by Todd's concern that Wanda's meddling will either get him fired or get her in serious trouble. There are many fun and relatable characters, including Wanda's best friend and many other townspeople. Even with all the names, it was easy to keep them straight because the author has done such a great job of making each one memorable!
The title comes from the shared love of Scrabble that Wanda and Todd share, and the initial game in which they play several apparently unrelated words that turn out to be clues to the mystery of the burglars. I love the use of a Scrabble tile for the scene breaks! And most of all, I loved the slice of small town life which made me homesick (in a good way) for the one I had to leave behind.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, Scrabble, or just enjoy a good read with characters who will become new friends, check out Word Has It! Though it's a standalone novel, the author has left room for further adventures of Wanda and her friends in the new neighborhood watch program. As a bonus, there are recipes included from the tea party that had to be cancelled. I hope there will be another opportunity for the widowed friends to have their party!
The MC Wanda, a very active widow living in a small Texas town, is loveable and very human, but she always means well. She has a reputation for being nosy and jumping to conclusions, but after a burglary in a nearby city is convinced her sleepy little town needs a neighborhood watch program, especially when several suspicious goings-on point to the possibility that the burglars are hiding out right under their noses!
Complicating the situation is Wanda's beloved nephew Todd, who is a rookie cop in town. Their close relationship is threatened by Todd's concern that Wanda's meddling will either get him fired or get her in serious trouble. There are many fun and relatable characters, including Wanda's best friend and many other townspeople. Even with all the names, it was easy to keep them straight because the author has done such a great job of making each one memorable!
The title comes from the shared love of Scrabble that Wanda and Todd share, and the initial game in which they play several apparently unrelated words that turn out to be clues to the mystery of the burglars. I love the use of a Scrabble tile for the scene breaks! And most of all, I loved the slice of small town life which made me homesick (in a good way) for the one I had to leave behind.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, Scrabble, or just enjoy a good read with characters who will become new friends, check out Word Has It! Though it's a standalone novel, the author has left room for further adventures of Wanda and her friends in the new neighborhood watch program. As a bonus, there are recipes included from the tea party that had to be cancelled. I hope there will be another opportunity for the widowed friends to have their party!
March 1, 2021
When Wanda Warner and nephew, Todd, spell out enticing clues during a Scrabble game, she knows they’re on to something.
Wanda recruits her friends and eventually most of their small community to solve a jewelry store robbery in a neighboring town. Much of this is done to the embarrassment of Todd who is also on the police force.
Will Wanda solve the mystery, and furthermore, will Scrub Oak ever be the same?
Ms. Cosgrove writes a well thought out and captivating cozy mystery. The characters are well developed helping advance an interesting plot.
Wanda recruits her friends and eventually most of their small community to solve a jewelry store robbery in a neighboring town. Much of this is done to the embarrassment of Todd who is also on the police force.
Will Wanda solve the mystery, and furthermore, will Scrub Oak ever be the same?
Ms. Cosgrove writes a well thought out and captivating cozy mystery. The characters are well developed helping advance an interesting plot.
February 19, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Word Has It" by Julie B. Cosgrove, the first book in her new Wordplay mystery series.
The author took a clever idea - the words on the main character's Scrabble board leading her to solve a mystery - and used it to create an entertaining cozy featuring interesting characters, a small town setting and an intriguing plot.
The author took a clever idea - the words on the main character's Scrabble board leading her to solve a mystery - and used it to create an entertaining cozy featuring interesting characters, a small town setting and an intriguing plot.
July 31, 2022
Clever
Lots of twists, interesting clues, who would think a game of scrabble would solve a crime? Lots of fun threads to unravel. Very good indeed.
Lots of twists, interesting clues, who would think a game of scrabble would solve a crime? Lots of fun threads to unravel. Very good indeed.
September 2, 2022
Great book!
August 21, 2024
Love that it's a Christian mystery!
September 22, 2026
What a fun mystery!
Julie Cosgrove’s “Word Has It” kept me curious from the very beginning. Following the clues with Wanda proved fascinating. I loved Wanda‘s reliance on God. I loved her relationship with her nephew, which was strained from time to time. A surprising and very satisfying ending. I highly recommend this book to any cozy mystery lover.
Julie Cosgrove’s “Word Has It” kept me curious from the very beginning. Following the clues with Wanda proved fascinating. I loved Wanda‘s reliance on God. I loved her relationship with her nephew, which was strained from time to time. A surprising and very satisfying ending. I highly recommend this book to any cozy mystery lover.
May 14, 2021
I totally enjoyed this cozy mystery. Wanda, the main character is endearing—even if she is a busy body. Then there’s her nephew, Todd, the rookie cop who does not want to get in trouble due to his aunt’s meddling, He also doesn’t want her to get hurt. But suspected robbers might be hiding nearby after a jewelry heist in another town. Wanda intends to be helpful when she sets up a neighborhood watch organization and her friends are all involved in the effort. It’s just delightful to see how supportive they are for each other. The clues for solving the jewelry heist and finding the robbers seem to come from the words in the Scrabble game Wanda plays with Todd. All in all, this was a good mystery and Ms. Cosgrove is a very talented author.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews