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Reviewed by Donna Stevenson for Readers' Favorite
Penelope Paxton loves reading cozy mysteries. She prides herself on solving the whodunit before the author reveals the answer. Living in Willow Creek, a small town, gives her plenty of time to relax, read mysteries, join the local book club, and frequently discuss books with her friend, Evie, who owns The Reading Nook, the local bookstore. In Ashes & Alibis by Laura Ball, The Reading Nook catches fire. The worst thing about it is that a local mystery novelist, Vivian Thorne, has been discovered dead in the store’s back office, and it looks like she didn’t try to escape the fire. This sets Penelope on the road to investigate how the fire happened, why Vivian was in the store after hours, who murdered her, and why.
Ashes & Alibis by Laura Ball is a must-read for cozy mystery fans. This charming whodunit features a middle-aged amateur sleuth in the vein of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. The colorful characters provide humor, especially when they gossip about the bookstore and its owner. Ball does a good job of explaining the investigative process, and she deftly drops in clues throughout the plot. This challenged me as a reader and as a lover of murder mysteries. The secondary story about other criminal activities, including another murder, becomes enmeshed with the primary plot. The story is well-paced, but it is more than a murder mystery. The author educates us on the intricacies of small-town life, including why it’s important to appreciate this lifestyle and ensure it flourishes.
