The Sign of the Calico Quartz (The Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries)
by Jan Drexler
Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am so happy to share my thoughts about
The Sign of the Calico Quarts today!
About The Sign of the Calico Quartz
The Sign of the Calico Quartz (The Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – South Dakota
Swift Wings Press (May 20, 2022)
Paperback : 276 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8986137803
Digital Swift Wings Press (May 25, 2022)
Print length : 242 pages
ASIN : B09ZNDM1VL
Emma Blackwood’s favorite pastime is solving literary murder mysteries…until the body in her living room makes everything a little too real.
When Emma comes to the Black Hills to work at her Aunt Rose’s B&B, the Sweetbrier Inn, she is hoping for a quiet break from the corporate treadmill. But she hadn’t expected murder and intrigue to mar this peaceful setting.
As she wades through too many clues to identify the murderer, she soon finds that the culprit isn’t stopping at only one homicide and may even have placed Emma herself on the list of targets. With the help of her friend Becky and a deputy sheriff who grudgingly lets them join in on the investigation, Emma tracks down the killer. But will it be in time to save the next victim?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Emma Blackwood’s Aunt Rose has asked her to come to the Black Hills to help with The Sweetbrier Inn, her B&B that is really starting to take off. Emma is happy to help as she is just getting out of a bad relationship and could use a diversion from the corporate grind too. But she never expected that diversion to be a murder investigation with her at the top of the suspect list. Okay, the dead body was found in her suite, but she has no idea who the man is until she is informed he had been hired to take some of the guests prospecting. While Emma does her best to sort out a myriad of clues she learns her Aunt Rose is being threatened. Then another guest is strangely ill and another goes missing. Can Emma find a way to corner the killer or will she be the next victim?
First, I have to compliment that cute book cover. The cat is named Tim and Emma is his person. The Corgi is Thatcher and he belongs to Rose. The cover was all the push I needed to want to read and review this book.
I liked Emma immediately. She is smart and funny and ready to help her aunt in any way she can. Aunt Rose has an interesting past but she is totally in her element when chatting up the guests and telling them about things to do in the area. Wil, Rose’s chef, and partner has big ideas for the inn but Rose is pretty happy with how things are. Becky delivers baked goods to the inn every morning and she and Emma become fast friends. Deputy Cal Cooper entered the scene when the dead body is found and immediately put Emma in the hot seat. These characters are interesting and develop well over the course of the story.
Readers are introduced to several new characters in the form of the guests at the inn. Rose’s long-time friend Clara is booked for a two-week stay. Montgomery, a friend from Rose’s past has also checked into the inn to do a little research. Ghost hunter Paul Peterson hopes to film an episode at the inn or in the area. His assistant, Mary Walters is at his beck and call. Fans Roger and Annie would love to be part of his ghost hunting team. Sam Nelson and his wife Nora have checked in and are excited to do a little prospecting. It’s an eclectic group and I loved that Emma used mnemonics to keep all the guests straight and that helped me as a reader too.
Emma was clearly being framed so she had to mine through a lot of clues to solve this mystery. She teams up with Becky to make a crime board to try to put some order to the information they have so far. I will say the guilty party was on my personal suspect list but I was mystified for quite a while as to their motive. I loved following along with Emma as she continued her investigation but Deputy Cal knows she may have pushed the killer too far. Of course, that sets up a very entertaining reveal.
I also enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the Black Hills. Back in the 1980’s my husband and I along with our infant son traveled through South Dakota and saw all the sights. We even panned for a little gold. I had never heard of “calicoes” but I found the information fascinating.
The Sign of the Calico Quartz
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About Jan Drexler
Jan Drexler lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband, where she enjoys hiking and spending time with her expanding family. She is the author of several historical romance novels, including the award-winning Mattie’s Pledge
Author Links
Purchase Link –
Amazon
Find more books by Jan Drexler here.
Great Escapes Praise for The Sign of the Calico Quartz (The Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries)
by Jan Drexler
The Sign of the Calico Quartz is a charming cozy with the beautiful Black Hills, a cute corgi, a murdered man, scrumptious scones, cagey guests, cowboy Cal, and enquiring Emma.
~The Avid Reader
The Sign of the Calico Quartz is an entertaining start to a new cozy mystery series! If you’re looking for a great mystery to cozy up with this weekend, grab a copy and enjoy!
~Reading is my Superpower
What an adorable mystery! I loved these characters and thought that this was a wonderful start to a brand new series.
~Moonlight Rendevous
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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.”
