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Stanley Waters #1
Murder Under Blue Skies
Folksy appeal . . . like a story told from a front-porch rocker. -- "Publishers Weekly"
Willard Scott, America's most beloved weatherman, and acclaimed mystery writer Bill Crider team up to bring readers an engaging new mystery series starring Stanley Waters. In his first outing, Stanley is hosting a gala opening of his bed-and-breakfast -- a lifelong dream fulfilled -- when one of his guests drops dead, apparently poisoned. In an effort to maintain his reputation, Stanley, an ex-weatherman and budding innkeeper goes after a cunning killer.
Willard Scott, America's most beloved weatherman, and acclaimed mystery writer Bill Crider team up to bring readers an engaging new mystery series starring Stanley Waters. In his first outing, Stanley is hosting a gala opening of his bed-and-breakfast -- a lifelong dream fulfilled -- when one of his guests drops dead, apparently poisoned. In an effort to maintain his reputation, Stanley, an ex-weatherman and budding innkeeper goes after a cunning killer.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
3 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 1, 2014
Picked it up for light entertainment. Enjoyed the story for its locale, the Virginia side of Washington, DC. Not the best writing. Most annoying thing was that the main character's name, Stanley, was mentioned in almost every paragraph and sometimes twice in the same sentence when "he" would have sufficed.
July 27, 2016
I enjoyed the book! A good mystery-light and entertaining. The plot has a few twists and turns, a little bit of romance, and a a story line of re-inventing yourself in a second career, and a few of the pitfalls of being an amateur sleuth. (and yes, love book sales too-just to find books like this)
March 29, 2014
What a fun book! Willard Scott, of all people, is the co-author of this entertaining mystery. I look forward to finding and reading more of his stories. I love finding books at library book sales. I never would have known that this one existed if I hadn't found it at our Coupeville Library sale.
October 16, 2020
Hold your horses I found a good book. I don’t know who’s more shocked you or I.
Who knew that a former weatherman (Willard Scott) could write mystery books
‘Murder Under Blue Skies’ by Willard Scott (and Bill Crider)
It’s a cute mystery about a retried weatherman (shocking I know) who opens a bed & breakfast in a small town. But of course, that would be boring so let’s toss in a murder he has to help solve. He’s no Jessica Fletcher that’s for sure but if you’re sick and tired of all these books nowadays that push an agenda this is the book for you. In fact, the opening scene had me laughing way too hard.
And if your a cat lover well his three cats pop up a number of times.
Cheers to whoever created the cover because that’s why I grabbed this book and maybe you should too.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
Who knew that a former weatherman (Willard Scott) could write mystery books
‘Murder Under Blue Skies’ by Willard Scott (and Bill Crider)
It’s a cute mystery about a retried weatherman (shocking I know) who opens a bed & breakfast in a small town. But of course, that would be boring so let’s toss in a murder he has to help solve. He’s no Jessica Fletcher that’s for sure but if you’re sick and tired of all these books nowadays that push an agenda this is the book for you. In fact, the opening scene had me laughing way too hard.
And if your a cat lover well his three cats pop up a number of times.
Cheers to whoever created the cover because that’s why I grabbed this book and maybe you should too.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
April 27, 2018
Great book.
April 17, 2019
Fun small town mystery with several quirky characters. I felt like the main character was Willard Scott himself.
general-fiction
September 5, 2019FIC
SCO
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January 29, 2020
Good job, Willard Scott! I loved this mystery, written from the viewpoint of a famous weatherman! (Wonder where he got that idea!) :) Totally enjoyed this book. I hope there are more out there.
July 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and will be looking forward to reading more things by this author.
April 17, 2021
Pleasant cozy. Revenge and jealousy left over from high days result in practically a whole town being suspected of murder.
July 16, 2016
Murder Under Blue Skies by Willard Scott and Bill Crider is the first book of the Stanley Waters mystery series set in contemporary Virginia. Stanley Waters, nationally famous as a television weatherman, left his television career to pursue a dream. Since childhood he was fascinated with a 1910-era house in his home town; now he has restored it as a bed-and-breakfast "Blue Skies".
The restoration seems delightful: a veranda wraps around 3 sides, furnished with antique rockers; each guest room is named for a US President, and has the President's picture on the wall; rooms have fireplaces, and quilts on the beds; the property extends to the nearby creek, and includes an extensive garden and a barn. Stanley hired 'the best cook in town' to prepare 3-meals-a-day for his guests. For a homey atmosphere, he calls his evening meal 'supper', as opposed to 'dinner' that you go out to eat in a restaurant. Too bad the town and B&B are fictitious.
Blue Skies grand opening celebration is marred by the death of a local woman. Unhappy with the slow progress of the police investigation, and in danger himself from the killer, Stanley is compelled to solve the case. True to the cozy mystery genre, Stanley systematically considers each suspect one-by-one. Stanley has known most town residents all his life, but he was away for many years; now he learns more secrets about his old acquaintances than he wants to know. He rules each suspect out, until finally only the killer remains for Stanley to confront.
The plot moves at a steady pace. Between chapters are cute "weather sayings"; the author explains in a foreword they are not necessarily true all of the time, but are sure to be true some of the time!The story is fast and easy reading, with simple sentence structures as in YA fiction. The sequel to Murder Under Blue Skies is Murder in the Mist.
The restoration seems delightful: a veranda wraps around 3 sides, furnished with antique rockers; each guest room is named for a US President, and has the President's picture on the wall; rooms have fireplaces, and quilts on the beds; the property extends to the nearby creek, and includes an extensive garden and a barn. Stanley hired 'the best cook in town' to prepare 3-meals-a-day for his guests. For a homey atmosphere, he calls his evening meal 'supper', as opposed to 'dinner' that you go out to eat in a restaurant. Too bad the town and B&B are fictitious.
Blue Skies grand opening celebration is marred by the death of a local woman. Unhappy with the slow progress of the police investigation, and in danger himself from the killer, Stanley is compelled to solve the case. True to the cozy mystery genre, Stanley systematically considers each suspect one-by-one. Stanley has known most town residents all his life, but he was away for many years; now he learns more secrets about his old acquaintances than he wants to know. He rules each suspect out, until finally only the killer remains for Stanley to confront.
The plot moves at a steady pace. Between chapters are cute "weather sayings"; the author explains in a foreword they are not necessarily true all of the time, but are sure to be true some of the time!The story is fast and easy reading, with simple sentence structures as in YA fiction. The sequel to Murder Under Blue Skies is Murder in the Mist.
June 1, 2012
This is book #1 of the Stanley Waters series. Stanley has purchased an inn in his old hometown in Virginia as a retirement property. He is having an opening day celebration when a local woman dies head-first in the salsa.
Stanley gets involved both with the investigation as an amateur sleuth - upsetting his friends and creating chaos for the local police...and, he ends up involved with the local police chief, Marilyn Tunney, his old high school sweetheart as well.
Mr. Scott has created a fun cozy read with enjoyable characters. Higgins, Virginia, sounds like a place I would like to visit and Bue Skies Bed and Breakfast Inn a place I would like to stay.
Stanley gets involved both with the investigation as an amateur sleuth - upsetting his friends and creating chaos for the local police...and, he ends up involved with the local police chief, Marilyn Tunney, his old high school sweetheart as well.
Mr. Scott has created a fun cozy read with enjoyable characters. Higgins, Virginia, sounds like a place I would like to visit and Bue Skies Bed and Breakfast Inn a place I would like to stay.
September 16, 2013
Cute story...the main character didn't appeal to me very much, but it was a decent mystery. One thing that jumped out at me (once a history teacher, always a history teacher) was a comment that Robert E. Lee did not own slaves - wrong....he had a bunch of slaves at Arlington. They may have originally belonged to his wife; but when he married her they became his property. Otherwise this was a quick, easy read that I didn't figure out!
May 10, 2016
This is the first book in a two book series about a weatherman/innkeeper/sleuth. Willard Scott is given the credit, but Bill Crider is the ghost writer, and you can see Crider's craft on every page.
A woman collapses face first into a bowl of salsa at the Grand Opening of celebrity weatherman's Stanley Waters's inn. Waters decides to investigate, finding a love interest in the female sheriff.
A pretty good small town mystery.
A woman collapses face first into a bowl of salsa at the Grand Opening of celebrity weatherman's Stanley Waters's inn. Waters decides to investigate, finding a love interest in the female sheriff.
A pretty good small town mystery.
August 23, 2016
This novel is by Willard Scott (yes, the famous weatherman). It's good, as cozy mysteries go: former TV personality opens a B&B in a small town, and, during the grand opening, someone falls over dead in the salsa--on camera. It was humorous with a good plot/mystery. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town and food, and the characters were interesting enough to hope for a sequel.
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August 13, 2011This was the first one Willard Scott wrote and it wasn't great. Thought the character of Stanley was rather dim-witted and insecure about himself and his relationship with Marilyn. Needed better character development all around. A quick read though!
April 8, 2013
Excellent short story! If this is the first book that Mr Scott has attempted- t is a doggone good one. I read it in one day. It was a light, pleasant story. I have thoroughly enjoyed it! I will look forward to the next ones as well! Good job to you both, Mr Scott and Bill Crider!
March 29, 2008
Good read.
December 26, 2010
Very enjoyable to read! I LOVE Willard Scott and being a native Virginian myself, I could really relate to this book!!
January 9, 2011
This was okay for a first mystery but I had no desire to read the next one.
September 16, 2012
It was an easy and fast read but a good story.
July 29, 2013
Very light, entertaining read. Characters are straight out of a typical "cozy" line-up. I cannot help but see Willard Scott as the main character!!!
October 9, 2014
Retired weatherman starts a B&B, someone is poisoned, borax in the salsa.
Cute and light.
Cute and light.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews