A Vintage Death (A Keepsake Cove Mystery)
by Mary Ellen Hughes
About the Book
A Vintage Death (A Keepsake Cove Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Maryland
Midnight Ink (November 8, 2018)
Paperback: 264 pages
ISBN-10: 0738752274
ISBN-13: 978-0738752273
Digital
ASIN: B0795RTP2B
As the new music box store owner and resident of Keepsake Cove, a quaint town full of collectible shops on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Callie Reed is eager to get more involved in her community. She volunteers to plan the Fall street decorations and welcome a visiting author who’s come for a special book signing. But the celebratory mood is cut short when the local B&B owner is found dead, killed by a pair of vintage scissors.
Suspicion is cast on the victim’s estranged wife, Dorothy, who owns Keepsake Cove’s vintage sewing shop. Callie is sure Dorothy is innocent, and the visiting author agrees. Together, they begin their own investigation, only to discover that many people in Keepsake Cove have secrets. Secrets that are worth killing to keep quiet.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I am so happy to return to Keepsake Cove and just in time for a big event too. Callie is starting to feel at home and is getting involved. She has volunteered to head up the committee decorating the town for Fall and helping with a big book signing for author Lyssa Hammond. Lyssa and Callie become fast friends after Callie delivers a welcome basket to the B&B where the author is staying. She also meets the owner of the B&B, Clifford Ashby. He is a strange individual who makes both Callie and Lyssa uncomfortable so Lyssa is happy to spend time away from the place with Callie. They can both understand why he and his wife, Dorothy, are living apart.
But when the creepy man is found dead the focus turns directly to his wife. She owns the vintage sewing shop and the murder weapon was a pair of vintage sheers. Callie knows Dorothy couldn’t kill anyone and decides to prove it. Lyssa is by her side as they start to uncover secrets that may have sealed Clifford’s fate. When another person is killed, the choice of weapon connects the cases and also proves even more clearly Dorothy is not the murderer. Now they just need to find the real killer and get them to sing a melody that lands them in the slammer.
Keepsake Cove is my kind of place, a collector shopper’s dream come true. Ms. Hughes brings the place to life with her words. All the unique shops, the town square, the music boxes that fill the shelves of Callie’s shop and more. The set up for the author signing was fun and Halloween themed right down to the author’s arrival. I loved it!
The characters were already well developed in the first book, A Fatal Collection
Secrets are the keys to this mystery and the author draws readers in with an expert hand. She opens the door to a much longer suspect list than I had imagined and she twists things up in a way that I was just following along without doing my normal thing of trying to solve the mystery before the protagonist. The ending was suspenseful and surprised me. I really enjoyed the way this story was written and played out. I would have finished the book all in one sitting but my eyes just would not cooperate.
Another wonderful read from this author for this series. I truly can’t wait for the next installment, my fingers and toes are crossed hoping for another visit to Keepsake Cove.
You can read my review of Book 1, A Fatal Collection here.
About the Author
Mary Ellen Hughes is the bestselling author of the Pickled and Preserved Mysteries (Penguin), the Craft Corner Mysteries, and the Maggie Olenski Mysteries, along with several short stories. A Fatal Collection is her debut with Midnight Ink. A Wisconsin native, she has lived most of her adult life in Maryland, where she’s set many of her stories. Visit her at www.MaryEllenHughes.com.
Author Links – Facebook – Pinterest – Twitter – GoodReads
Purchase Links
As the new music box store owner and resident of Keepsake Cove, a quaint town full of collectible shops on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Callie Reed is eager to get more involved in her community.Amazon B&N Midnight Ink
Also by Mary Ellen Hughes
Praise for A Vintage Death (A Keepsake Cove Mystery)
by Mary Ellen Hughes
A Vintage death a pleasing cozy mystery that with its quaint town, charming shops and friendly characters.
~The Avid Reader
The mix of town life, the shops, and murder flows smoothly making for an enjoyable story with a touch of charm. Great for fans of cozies.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Like knotted thread, unraveling the true truth wasn’t an easy task. But author Hughes expertly ties everything together in a reveal that had me riveted to my seat . . . I give A VINTAGE DEATH 5 out of 5 stars. Heck, I give it 10 out of 5 stars!
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews
History, deceit and betrayal all are behind the scenes as Callie attempts to solve one murder while trying to become more involved in community activities. A second murder is so not what this town needs!
~Laura’s Interests
A Vintage Death was a delightfully entertaining mystery and I wanted to visit Callie’s shop so I could pick out my own music box. Callie is a fun, smart heroine and I absolutely loved her amazing personality.
~Moonlight Rendezvous
The mystery had a lot of characters – and potential suspects. I am an avid mystery reader but did not solve this one before Callie did! I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot.
~View from the Birdhouse
The descriptive writing of the author pulled me into the story from the very beginning and pulled me along for a great read.
~MJB Reviewers
If you’d like to relax with a heartwarming traditional cozy mystery, A Vintage Death is a great choice. It has that perfect blend of enchanting setting, characters that you enjoy spending time with, and a well-crafted mystery.
~The Power of Words
Even in a delightful and scenic location like Keepsake Cove, Maryland, human greed, cupidity, and anger still flourish.
~Mallory Heart’s Cozies
A fun and cozy read that will draw you in making you wish you were there.
~My Reading Journeys
This book is such a great add on to the series.
~Community Bookstop
These characters are strongly visualized and each unique. As I’ve always found with a cozy mystery, the well-plotted storyline engages the reader with red herrings and plot twists.
~Rosepoint Publishing
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 7 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
November 7 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
November 7 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 7 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
November 8 – The Book Diva’s Reads – GUEST POST
November 8 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, Sissy, & Too! – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
November 9 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 9 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
November 9 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
November 9 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
November 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 10 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 10 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
November 10 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 11 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW
November 11 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 11 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT*
November 12 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
November 12 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
November 12 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT
November 13 – Valerie’s Musings – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 13 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
November 13 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW
November 14 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
November 14 – Jane Reads – REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 14 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
November 15 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
November 15 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW
November 16 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
November 16 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
November 16 – Here’s How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I’m with you Lori. Keepsake Cove sounds like my kind of place too. Have to win the lottery before I visit though!
This story has a great setting.
Thank you for your review on “A Vintage Death” by Mary Ellen Hughes. Can’t wait to get my hands on this one. Sounds like a great book. Love the cover!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
That is an intriguing book cover.
This is a new series for me, I look forward to reading it!
What a wonderful book and series! Great cover too. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the giveaway and review. Love her books!
love vintage kitchens and books about them
Not sure how I have missed this author to date.