A VERY WOODSY MURDER is the first book in the brand-new Golden Motel Mystery series by Ellen Byron. With her trademark humor, the author has woven a laugh-out-loud tale with memorable and charming characters (Stoney the Bear!) and a mystery as twisty as mountainous roads. Protagonist Dee Stern, looking to get away from her flopped sitcom writing career, embarks on a road trip with her first ex-husband turned BFF, Jeff. After discovering an aging motel for sale, in the middle of the woods in the mountainous town of Foundgold, California, Dee decides to quit Hollywood and embark on a new career as a motel owner alongside Jeff. Ms. Bryon sets the scene perfectly with each word on the page. She brings the setting to life (and brings back my own memories of the smell of the woods) while weaving in the history and drama of the area and the residents. The relationship between Dee and Jeff is respectful and caring. I had expected some angsty or sarcastic attitudes between them given their failed marriage, but instead their kindness makes them people you’d enjoy spending time with.

Given that Dee and Jeff have invested their time and money into making the Golden Motel a success, and are counting on it to support themselves, having your very first guest murdered isn’t a promising start. I love how the author connects the victim to Dee’s past in L.A. and the cutthroat business of sitcom writing. As a former sitcom writer herself, Ms. Byron adds an insider’s view to make the story realistic. Naturally, Dee becomes a suspect and must delve into the past and present of the victim to find out who the murderer is. There are suspects aplenty and the pace is spot-on… I wanted to devour the entire book from start to finish in one setting. This is a delightful start to what I hope is a long-running series and I can’t wait to read the next book!

As Dee and Jeff settle in to becoming residents of Foundgold, they frequent Williker’s All-in-One General Store, owned by Elmira, the mayor of Foundgold. While Elmira is an excellent cook, she can’t bake to save her life. Still, no one wants to hurt her feelings and tell her, so they buy her baked goods and toss them in the trash later. Even Stoney the Bear isn’t desperate enough to eat Elmira’s Brookies. There are a couple of recipes at the back of the book, but Elmira’s attempts at baking Brookies got me craving some. I’ve created a recipe to share with you, and trust me, these are definitely NOT Elmira’s. With a bottom layer of brownies and a top layer of chocolate chip cookies, it’s no wonder my taste-testers gave them two thumbs up after devouring every crumb! Even Stoney the Bear would approve.

 

 

Amazon Synopsis

New motel owner Dee Stern has checked out of the familiar comforts in the Studio City and checked in to the quaint village of Foundgold. Running a rustic getaway in the woods sure beats L.A. traffic—until murder ruins the peace and quiet . . .

Down-on-her-luck sitcom writer Dee Stern is flipping the script. Twice divorced and wasting her talents on an obnoxious kids’ show, the lifelong Angeleno embraces the urge to jump in her car and keep driving. It’s a road trip with no destination—until she pulls into a mid-century motel filled with cobwebs and retro charm. Nestled in the shadow of a national park, it’s a time capsule of a place that, like her, could use some work. So, in the most impulsive move of her life, Dee teams up with best friend, Jeff Cornetta—who happens to be her first ex-husband—to transform the aging ranch into the Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains, a hiker’s oasis on the edge of the wilderness . . .

But Dee and Jeff soon realize there couldn’t be two people more unprepared for the hospitality business. There’s also the panic-inducing reality of prowling bears and a general store as the only shopping spot for miles. Living and working in the middle of nowhere takes some getting used to—especially when a disrespectful guest ends up murdered! Now, with the motel duo topping the suspect list, Dee must steer clear of a meddling park ranger, face her past in show biz, and determine if the killer is a local or tourist. Because as she quickly finds out, there are many things worse than a one-star review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Kensington Publishing for offering a print ARC copy of A VERY WOODSY MURDER to one lucky winner! Contest ends May 19, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.