Some legacies are lost to time. Others are waiting to be found.
Tammy Rumbelow never imagined her fresh start in small-town Michigan would lead her into decades-old mysteries. But beneath the cozy book readings and bakery scents, Willowcroft hides the tangled roots of betrayal, buried truths, and a heist that was never meant to be uncovered.
With the help of her cat and a mismatched team of amateur sleuths—including a bookseller and genealogist, a tech-savvy teen, a sharp-eyed retiree, and a former sheriff—Tammy stumbles upon a hidden past woven through dusty tunnels, long-lost letters, and the fading whispers of women history tried to forget.
Together, they’ll piece together a mystery that spans generations—one that may rewrite everything the town thought it knew.
My Thoughts
Skeletons, Secrets, and Speakeasies by Fran Heap is the second A Willowcroft Cozy Mystery. I have not read Murder, Mystery, & Mothers (nor the prequel Bears, Berries, & Beginnings) and I felt like I was missing vital information. I had trouble with the multiple points of view. I found it jarring as it bounced between the group of amateur sleuths and the main character. In addition, there was diverting internal dialogue. The characters lacked development. I especially felt that Tammy, as the main character, should have fleshed out more. I thought it was amusing that Tammy’s cat was the most realistic and developed character. The mystery was interesting.
I cannot resist a whodunit that involves
secret tunnels. I enjoyed the genealogical
and historical aspects. Each member of
the sleuthing group contributed to the investigation. I wish the pacing, though, had been peppier. There
was more talking than action. There were
times when I wondered if the mystery would ever get resolved. The story has good elements, but it needed
more fine tuning. Skeletons, Secrets, and Speakeasies is a leisurely story about missing money, a network of tunnels,
secret entrances, a murder board, a canny cat, an anxious teen, and a humorous
radio broadcast.
Skeletons, Secrets, and Speakeasies is available from Amazon. The first A Willowcroft Cozy Mystery is Murder, Mystery, and Mothers. Bears, Berries, and Beginnings is the prequel to A Willowcroft Cozy Mystery series. If you follow Fran Heap on Amazon, they will email you when she has a new book release. Thank you for popping by today. I will return on Tuesday, June 24 with Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L. Turner. If you enjoy stories with suspense, secrets, twists, and more, then you will enjoy the engaging Echoes of Darkness.
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This is the cat house that I purchased. It is a little bland. |
I am off to put together a cat house for the outdoor cats that visit me. I want them to have a safe space to eat and sleep. They are scared of the new screened porch (they will not go near the cat door), so I am hoping the cat house will be a good solution. I am going to add some cute details (any ideas for a mini doormat) and color. Take care and Happy Reading!
The Avid Reader
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.