After the fireworks…Murder is afoot.It’s summer in picturesque Blue Valley, Tennessee, and that means it’s time for the Annual Independence Day Celebration at Blue Lake. Main Street is hopping with summer visitors, and amateur sleuth, Alice Maguire, is even busier than usual. Between ringing up sales at The Paper Owl, helping her dear friend Franny plan her wedding, and teaming up with her brother Ben for the yearly, highly competitive pedal boat race, she barely has time to take a breath. Her only respite comes in the form of cool summer evenings spent with her beau, Detective Luke Evans. When a body washes up on the shore of Blue Lake, Alice is shocked, as is the entire town, but not as shocked as she will be when she discovers the victim’s identity, and learns that the death was no accident. Luke lands squarely at the top of the suspect list, in a case that will prove to be Alice’s toughest yet.Will she catch a killer and save her fiancé?Find out in this edge-of-your seat Cozy Mystery!
Murder Rings a Bell by Thea Cambert pulled me in from the first page. I really do enjoy this clean cozy series. Alice, Franny, Owen, Ben and Luke are preparing for a Fourth of July celebration in Blue Valley when another murder happens. This time Luke is a suspect so Alice is determined to solve this case. A quickly paced plot with plenty of twists.
Each time I read a book in this series, I think it can’t get any better. However, I am happy to say I was wrong. There is a lot of excitement and fun in this cozy Murder mystery. So much so, it ends in fireworks!
I have a feeling this series might be a long-running one, and I definitely wanted to stay caught up, so I made sure I got to this latest installment that takes us to Blue Valley during their 4th of July celebration and annual Pedal Boat Regatta which sounded like fun. I love the lake setting and how Alice, Luke and their friends hung out there during the summer...when there was no murder to solve, that is!
Alice was determined to work harder than ever on this case, and her faithful friends Franny and Owen helped her as well, since her boyfriend Luke was the only suspect in the murder. Alice was surprised when she saw the body too. Those three really sleuthed well together as usual and were together during the showdown which nearly took out Alice! As always, I just loved the end part which featured all the friends together and completely wrapped up the mystery. The very ending was really sweet too! I'm anxiously waiting for the next book!
In small town Blue Lake, Tennessee, everyone is gearing up for the annual Independence Day Celebration. There is also a medical convention in town, and Alice Maguire, owner of bookstore The Paper Owl, learns to her dismay that one of the physicians is her boyfriend's ex-fiancé. Luke Evans discloses to Alice that the woman left him when her career became more important than their relationship. But Alice is twice as surprised when she finds that the woman is the same one who so rudely entered her shop and sized her up. Now she wonders if Luke is having second thoughts about it all..
But things take a nasty turn when a dead body is found in the lake by herself and her brother Ben, also a police officer. When the identity is discovered, Alice and her friends Franny and Owen are sure they can figure out who wanted this person dead. But they not only have to look at both locals and tourists alike, they also have to look at the doctors. Someone is a killer, and they won't have any qualms if they have to do it again...
This is the fourth book in the series and I have enjoyed them all. They are easy-to-read, fun mysteries that are well written and keep you guessing right up until the end. Just when you think you have the right suspect, the author proves you wrong once again, and it's enjoyable to try and figure out who the killer might be.
There is also the story of Alice and her friends, while we watch Franny and Ben (mostly Franny) prepare for her upcoming wedding, and the blooming relationship between Alice and Luke. You also get a bit of other townspeople in each book, and it makes the town of Blue Valley seem more realistic, which is very nice.
I love that the climax in every book is worth getting to the end for, and we also always have a teaser for the next in the series. This is one series that I am liking very much and I can't wait to revisit the town in the next book. Highly recommended.
Wow, a Doctor's convention and the July annual Independence Day weekend Celebration at the same time this year just happens to bring a mess to Blue Valley. This time Luke is in the thick of things and his past is back to haunt his quiet life. Which gets Alice, Ben, Franny and Owen in gear to solve this mysterious mess. Also planning Franny and Ben's wedding, Alice and Ben getting ready for the great Paddle Boat regatta race. The whole town is preparing for the weekend with all the out of towners in their town. The race is at Blue Lake, where Ben and Luke live around it. They have a few suspects to sift through to get the right answers and fast, before people leave town. You are going to have to read for details. You won't be disappointed!!!! I love this series, i feel like i am right there.
Now it's summer in Blue Valley. This time Alice is in charge of the Independence Day Celebration. Franny and Ben have gotten engated and Alice is helping Owen with the wedding planning along with her other duties. Plus she and Ben are entered in the annual paddle boat race, which they have run for the last 6 years. However, Luke has been a bit distant and has even broken off dates with her and she is not sure why. Her mind is taken off of that however when a body of a woman washes ashore. She is stunned to find out that the dead woman was once engaged to Luke and that's why he's been distant. Now she has to help solve the murder to get Luke off the hook.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series and this book only cements that feeling even more.
It's been a little while since I've read this series and when I picked this up, it was like I haven't missed a beat. There is nothing more comforting when reading a series than that feeling.
I absolutely adore this small town along with Alice, Franny, Owen, Luke, and Ben. I love that this friend group work together in conjunction with the not so always thrilled officers.
This mystery was definitely different and out of Alice's comfort zone. I always enjoy when there is a holiday and the group is able to come together to enjoy the holiday but also work together to solve what is going on!
This is another great book in a stellar series. The characters have depth and continue to evolve. The mystery was well plotted and the storyline was fun.
Owen, Franny, and Alice always take time to enjoy their rooftop gardens in the morning with coffee and pastry and in the to wrap up their day with a glass of wine. With a doctors convention in town and a holiday weekend their three shops are extra busy. It doesn’t stop them from doing cake testing for Frannys wedding cake or helping solve the murder of a doctor who just happens to be Luke’s former fiancée.
Another fantastic book about the three amigos!!! So happy about Alice and Luke. Owen needs to find a significant other for himself. The cake samples all sounded delicious and had me longing for a taste. I enjoyed the parts with Finn as well as the boat regatta. Can’t wait to read what will happen next in Blue Valley. There should be recipes listed for the baked goods.
It’s summertime and a body is washed up on the lake. Officer Luke is prime suspect and it will up to his girlfriend Alice to clear his name in between planning her friend Franny’s wedding.
It is never a dull moment as she tries to find the real killer. A delightful read.
Another enjoyable book in the series. When a murder occurs, there are several suspects and motives. Alice, Owen, and Franny set out to prove that Luke isn't the murderer. This series is full of likable characters, competent police, and enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
This has very quickly become one of my favorite series! I really enjoyed reading this book & the others in this series. I can't wait to see what happens next! What trouble will they get into before the wedding? I look forward to reading the book.
This struts just keeps getting better and better. I love everything about it. The characters work well together. I am looking forward to see what happens next.
I like how the stories in this series have a group of friends investigating the murders instead of an individual because I enjoy the interaction between the characters. I felt like the mystery in this one was a bit overshadowed by everything else that was going on.
Exactly what I expected, another hit out of the park. I love the friends who gather together and set about looking for the killer. It is also fun to see other people get into the sleuthing.
I was shocked when they said who the victim was! Then I remembered from a previous book and thought... This is going to be good! And it was! Lots of humor and lots of romance and a well-thought-out mystery that kept me guessing right to the end!
Alice and her friends in the midst of planning her best friend's wedding to her brother get pulled into a dead doctor's murder. Another great read by Thea Cambert about the friends who share their lives on the Rooftop Garden Mystery.
I absolutely love this series and haven't been able to put the books down, easily reading a couple of books a day, sometimes more.
Set in Blue Valley, Tennessee with 3 friends, Alice, Franny and Owen. Ben and Luke , Alice's brother and his friend and work colleague, both work for the local police department have also become part of the group. Ben is besotted with Franny and Luke is developing feelings for Alice.
The books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series.