A Very Woodsy Murder

by Ellen Byron

This cozy mystery is full of quirky characters, some likable, some not so much. Very few are welcoming to Dee when she lands in tiny Foundgold describing her and her business partner as citiots (i.e. idiots from the city). Jeff and Dee were married quite young. The marriage didn’t last, but the friendship did. She is suffering the loss of her mother and a declining career as a sitcom writer. Who knew that was a job you could age out of? Jeff is in tech and can work from anywhere; he could use his skills with webpages, etc. to attract guests.

There is a lot to be done to renovate the Golden Motel and the closest town is the tourist town of Goldsgone where there is an unofficial dress code of the Old West. The residents even speak like they are from another place and time, and it isn’t long before Dee and Jeff are saying things like “hankerin’ for a sarsaparilla.” 

The motel is in bad shape and needs a lot of renovation. They plan on fixing up a few rooms at a time to financially support future renovations. Their first guest oddly is Dee’s nemesis from L.A. Things go from bad to worse with this guest. Dee and Jeff become murder suspects and must investigate on the side to clear themselves by finding out who actually committed the crime. Unfortunately, there are more crimes, and Dee is hurt several times. In the process she discovers friends among the locals and has her first run-in with Stoney, a large black bear with a nose for food.

I had a great time with this crazy cozy mystery and I’m looking forward to reading more in the series as they are published. 

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #1 in the Golden Motel Mystery Series

    2. 2 recipes included

      3. Dee also adopts the previous (deceased) owner’s dog, Nugget. He should have a place in the character list.

Publication:  2024—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

“I drove in the north end of the park, but I drove out the south end. I rounded the bend and there it was. The For Sale sign was like a sign to me.” She tapped her chest. “It’s the one-eighty career change I’ve been looking for.”

What was bucolic in daylight now seemed ominous and threatening. “I didn’t know how dark it can get out here in the country. It’s, like, really, really dark.”

Elmira might be the world’s worst baker, but the woman knew her way around side dishes. If cooking was an art, while baking was chemistry, the All-in-One proprietor was an artist, but no chemist.