A Pine Cove Mystery: Book 1
Publication Date: June 17, 2024
After a life-changing injury, Mel O’Rourke trades in her badge for bed sheets, running a B & B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. Her peaceful life is interrupted when an old frenemy, the notorious and charismatic cat burglar, Poppy Phillips, shows up on her doorstep, claiming she’s been framed for murder. While she’s broken plenty of laws, Mel knows she’d never kill anyone. Good thing she’s a better detective than she is a cook as she sets out to prove Poppy’s innocence.
The situation gets complicated, however, when the ruggedly handsome Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks flirts with Mel, bringing him dangerously close to the criminal she’s hiding. And just when her friendship with café owner Jackson Thibodeaux blossoms into something more, he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime in New Orleans. Should she encourage him to go, or ask him to stay? Who knew romance could be just as hard to solve as murder?
Framed for Murder by Marla A. White is the second book in the Pine Cove Mysteries series. There was enough background information in this book that it was easy to follow what I missed since I have not yet had the pleasure of reading The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder. I do hope to read it and fill in some of the details of what I was able to piece together.
Mel is the owner of a bed and breakfast that she owns with her family after getting injured on the job as a police officer in Los Angeles. It’s an inn her family visited when she was younger. It is located in a small mountainous town with lots of winding and narrow roads. But she knows nothing about running an inn, not even how to cook or make a decent cup of coffee. With Mel’s family’s help, even from a distance, she’s learning as she goes.
We’re introduced to many characters, and many of them are quirky and dysfunctional. Family and friends, as well as her friend’s dog, Chewie, are front and center at various times, but none more so than her new friend Poppy, who was a cat burglar and has many secrets.
Mel’s grandmother and brother are sent to help get the inn in better shape. Her grandmother turns out to be a computer whiz, helping Mel and the police with her research. We get to know some of the small businesses and business owners in town, as well as the local police. Multiple stories are told and woven together nicely.
This cozy mystery has crimes committed as well as injuries sustained. There are several murders, thefts, lots of clues, multiple suspects, and Mel “helping” the local police solve the crimes, much against everyone’s wishes. There are some twists and turns to the story, as well as some romance and love interests for several characters. The story has a good flow with some laugh-out-loud moments. There is some closure and a cliffhanger, but the epilogue didn’t go far enough for me.
I look forward to returning to Pine Cove and seeing what Mel, Poppy, and the others are up to next.
Framed for Murder is a cozy mystery with many crimes to be solved and clues to be sifted through as suspects are added and/or ruled out. Enjoy this small town’s mountain air and the friendly people as you figure out whodunnit!
Marla White is an award-winning novelist who prefers killing people who annoy her on paper rather than in real life. Her first full-length mystery novel, “Cause for Elimination,” placed in several contests including Killer Nashville, The RONE Awards, The Reader’s Favorite, and finishing second in the Orange County Romance Writers for Romantic Suspense. Originally from Oklahoma, she lived in a lot of other states before settling down in Los Angeles to work in the television industry. She currently teaches at UCLA Extension and gives seminars about the art of script coverage. When she’s not working on the next book, she’s out in the garden, hiking, cheering on the LA Kings, or discovering new craft cocktails.
June 17 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
June 17 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
June 18 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
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June 19 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
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June 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
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June 21 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
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June 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 24 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading – REVIEW
June 25 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
June 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 26 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
June 27 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
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June 28 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
June 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 30 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
Thanks for hosting me and I’m glad you enjoyed the characters! Good luck to everyone in the drawing.
[…] Framed for Murder is a cozy mystery with many crimes to be solved and clues to be sifted through as suspects are added and/or ruled out. Enjoy this small town’s mountain air and the friendly people as you figure out whodunnit!~Novels Alive […]