Tag: A Murder and Maggie MacGill

A Murder and Maggie MacGill
by Rebecca Lee Smith

About A Murder and Maggie MacGill

A Murder and Maggie MacGill
Cozy Mystery
Stand Alone
Setting – A small southern mountain town called Wrenhaven, Tennessee.
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Rose Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 27, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1509262296
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509262298
Digital
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FC238LWX

When elementary art teacher Maggie MacGill finds the richest, most despised woman in town dead, then inherits her estate, life in the sweet mountain town of Wrenhaven, Tennessee, takes a greased ride downhill.

No one knows why Mrs. Grayson left her fortune to Maggie, but once her death begins to look like murder, and a series of unexplained pranks directed at the MacGill family turn nasty, Maggie must untangle a web of secrets and discover who has it in for her before it’s too late. Even if it means accepting help from the victim’s grandson, a man she’s loathed since high school but whose devastating grin and quick wit can still make her heart race.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Maggie MacGill is an elementary school teacher and budding artist in Wrenhaven, Tennessee. She had recently befriended Mrs. Grayson through their love of gardening. Mrs. Grayson’s extensive garden needed a lot of help, and Maggie volunteered to do her best to clean it up. Constance Grayson had her hands in several projects in Wrenhaven, but it turned out she had a pretty despicable side, and many despised the woman. So when Maggie finds Mrs. Grayson dead, the town doesn’t do much grieving.

Then, Maggie finds out she has inherited the bulk of Mrs. Grayson’s estate. Their relationship was unique, but not close. It’s a mystery why Maggie was even mentioned in the will, let alone inheriting. Why was almost everything bequeathed to her? When Mrs. Grayson’s death is ruled a murder, Maggie finds herself a suspect. Then some nasty happenings target Maggie and her family. Is someone trying to get them out of the picture, putting the will back in play? Maggie, with help from Mrs. Grayson’s grandson, Eli, whom she has hated for years, works hard to out a killer. Then she will have to address the issues her heart is having whenever that certain grandson is in her vicinity.

Maggie MacGill is a smart and stubborn woman facing what many towns/school districts are facing these days: budgets and not enough money. Sadly, arts and music programs are the first classes cut. Her father and brother have come to depend on her income for their own businesses; an inheritance would be a godsend. Losing her job gives her time to parse through the secrets and lies to help her discover why the victim changed her will shortly before her death and who gained the most by her untimely demise. Eli is an interesting man; he came to visit his grandmother after seventeen years, but it was too late.  He is invested in finding her killer and reconnecting with Maggie. He is more pragmatic, while Maggie rushes in before thinking things through. They make a good team. Maggie’s Pop is recovering from a work injury and has a girlfriend who leaves a lot to be desired. Her brother Jesse is a chef trying to make his restaurant a success. The characters are all well-crafted and feel true to life. The members of the supporting cast, including the suspects, are also well-crafted.

The mystery was very well-plotted and written. The author knows how to set a scene, blend plotlines, and lay out the information needed to follow along with the investigation without being overly wordy or repetitive. The story unfolded at a comfortable pace and ramped up measurably as the clues started to fall into place. Maggie chides herself for not figuring out everything before she found herself in a very troublesome position. She did try to think on her feet, but made a decision I found questionable, but I wasn’t the one trying to save my life. Just when you think the culprit is down, there’s another little twist before the satisfying final takedown.

A Murder and Maggie MacGill is a charming cozy mystery filled with relatable and interesting characters. There was romantic tension between Eli and Maggie that didn’t overtake the mystery. It played in harmony with funny moments until the final pages. I loved the ending to this story. This is written as a standalone story, so no cliffhanger, but I wouldn’t mind catching up with Maggie sometime in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.

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About Rebecca Lee Smith

Rebecca lives with her husband and a dog named Wilbur in the beautiful, misty mountains of East Tennessee, where the people are charming, soulful, and just a little bit crazy. She’s been everything from a tax collector to a stay-at-home-mom to a professional actor and director. She loves to travel the world but her Southern roots and the affectionate appreciation she has for the rural towns she lives near inspire the settings and characters she writes about.

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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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.