Hook, Line, and Murder
(The Sweet Tooth Murder Mystery)
by GG Calpo
About Hook, Line, and Murder
Hook, Line, and Murder (The Sweet Tooth Murder Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York
Publisher : Wild Rose Press
Publication date : February 9, 2026
Print length : 276 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 : 150926406X
ISBN-13 : 978-1509264063
Digital
ISBN-13 : 978-1509264070
ASIN : B0G2YT1P7B
What does Meg, a retired kindergarten teacher, do when the killer of her husband and only child still walks free a year after dirt had covered their graves? Go rogue, of course!
When the detective responsible for Meg’s nightmares takes over the murder investigation of her former student, Meg hunts the killer down with help from her friends. Their cozy lunches at Sweet Buns Café turn into tactical meetings while these retired grade school teachers get themselves in trouble better suited to those in their twenties. And to put the icing on their cream scones, someone is after Meg. Is it the killer? Or has Meg uncovered secrets better left buried with her loved ones?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Sweet Buns Cafe has become the unofficial clubhouse for retirees from Whitman’s Port Post Elementary School. Arriving at the cafe following their morning walk, they notice a ruckus at the nearby park. One of the fishermen has caught something, but it is not a fish. He has pulled in a hand. A hand wearing a signet ring that retired kindergarten teacher Meg Brightbook recognizes.
Meg shutters when Detective Jonathan Storm arrives on the scene. A man whom she feels bungled the investigation into her husband and only child’s deaths. She doesn’t trust him to get justice for one of her former students. Soon, Meg and her fellow retirees, Barbara, Liz, Stefan, and Edna, are beginning their own investigation. It’s a good thing because Detective Storm decides one of their own is guilty. When Meg is targeted, she fears the killer is on her tail, or is it the killer of her husband and her son?
Ms. Calpo introduces a wonderful cast of characters in this first Sweet Tooth Murder Mystery—a group of retired schoolteachers, each with their own strengths and interests. Seriously, after handling classrooms of children for all those years, they are ready, willing, and able to take on anything together. They are joined by Meg’s daughter-in-law, Dora, her grandson, Archer, and housekeeper, Rosita. Each plays a vital part in the story. I felt all the characters developed well within the story, while leaving room for growth as the series continues.
The mystery was very well-plotted. The victim wasn’t well-liked, and she really didn’t care. She was out for herself and piled up a good stack of enemies. The senior sleuths worked through the clues, always meeting up at the Sweet Buns Cafe to share their results. They eliminated suspects and pulled in new ones. It was quite entertaining following along as they worked toward the truth. I appreciated how Meg and her grandson worked together to find more evidence that advanced the case. In a story filled with twists, the last one was a shocker.
Hook, Line, and Murder is a layered story with a twisty mystery filled with emotional moments that pull at your heart. It has set this series off to a terrific start. I am looking forward to Book 2.
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 GG Calpo
GG Calpo is a retired lawyer and accountant who traded contracts and numbers for the far more enjoyable chaos of fictional crime. Now she writes cozy whodunits featuring warm-hearted golden-aged sleuths who’ve seen it all, heard it all, and will investigate a murder with zero hesitation. She loves stories where the stakes are personal, family, and friendships are paramount, with characters who refuse to follow the outline and endings that pull the rug out. When not plotting twisty crimes—on paper only, of course—she spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows, and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She lives in Central New Jersey with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget. Visit her at www.ggcalpo.com.
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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.
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