Starred Review on Library Journal! USA Today bestselling author and Agatha Award winner Amanda Flower brings charm and intrigue to her first cozy mystery for Hallmark. Darby Piper is in shock. A seasoned female detective, she worked with Samantha Porter at the Two Girls Detective Agency. Now, Samantha is dead, and it doesn’t look like an accident. In fact, evidence is pointing toward Darby. … accident. In fact, evidence is pointing toward Darby.
Darby had expected to inherit Samantha’s half of the agency, but Samantha had recently changed the will to leave it to Tate Porter, her nephew, who returns to town.
Tate is no private eye. He’s a world traveler and a veteran whose military past is also something of a mystery. But as he helps Darby delve into secret histories and real estate development plans, he proves to be a talented amateur sleuth. Will the agency have a future…even if Darby can solve this murder mystery in time?
This first in series cozy mystery includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Berry Trifle.
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I have come to the conclusion that the more books I read by Amanda Flower the more I absolutely adore her. I hope this is the start of a long series. The characters were likable and real. The twists and turns kept me guessing even when I thought I knew what was happening, I found myself stumped and shocked at the outcome. A fun and exciting read that has me wanting more and more.. Romy the feisty cat who always finds his way in the tree. LOL Thank you Amanda for the start of another amazing series!
Dead-End Detective is the first in a new series by Amanda Flower, a Piper and Porter mystery. Darby Piper is a private detective. Along with her partner, Samantha Porter, she runs the Two Girls Detective Agency, at least until the day that Samantha reveals she is quitting, leaving for a job at a nearby, high-end resort. The problem is many-fold. Samantha has been her mentor; she owns 60% of the business as well as the building it is housed in, which is also where Darby lives. Darby is beyond heart-broken, even when Samantha indicates she has obtained employment a the resort for Darby as well as their secretary, Nat. None of it seems right and comes to a head when at 4 am, her ex-boyfriend, on-again, off-again for the past ten years, local cop, Austin Caster, arrives at her front door to tell her there has been a car accident and Samantha is dead. DEAD! Things move quickly from there, with Darby emerging as the primary suspect, for several reasons.
Darby is a clever and caring thirty year old who can hold her own with almost anyone. She is kind; she climbs trees to rescue cats, for crying out loud. The murder is solved in the end, after almost getting both Darby, and her new partner; Tate killed, with help from many, including her librarian mother, and Romy, the cat in the tree. There are many facets to the first in a series: many people and places to introduce, the long-term scenario to determine, and the setting to establish. Flower has done that well and is promising a terrific new series with hints of romance, friendship, and yes, mystery in a small-town setting. She is a terrific character and her new partner, Tate Porter, promises to be on as well. Flower is an expert at writing the cozy mystery and so her readers have high expectations. It looks as if her new mystery series will live up to them. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Dead-End Detective by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #deadenddetective
This was the first book I have read by Amanda Flower but not the last. Two female detectives, Samantha and Darby, are friends and partners in a detective agency. That caught my attention right away. Around the same time Samantha is murdered, her nephew Tate enters and inherits his aunt’s part of the business. Tate is former military and has been traveling the world. Together they solve his aunt’s murder. I liked Tate’s carefree attitude contrasted with Darby’s more organized personality. There was a bit of a love triangle among Darby, Tate, and Darby’s ex Austin, a police officer. Mrs. Berger, one of the residents of Herrington was an absolute hoot and enhanced the story as a colorful, fearless resident. I was engaged throughout the whole story and figured out who did it near the end. Doing so only enhanced my enjoyment of the story as I waited to see when they would figure it out. I can’t wait for the next Piper and Porter mystery.
I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book from Hallmark Publishing for an honest review.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Repost of my original review at Goodreads.com.
This was a good book, definitely a mystery, who-done-it and I enjoyed it. When Two Girls Detective Agency co-owner Darby Piper’s friend and business partner is killed Darby becomes the #1 suspect. Determined to prove her innocence, while dealing with surprises her partner left, a neighborhood cat intent on making her life difficult, and multiple questionable suspects, Darby will pair up with the one person, Tate Porter, she never expected to prove her innocence and bring a killer to justice. So who is framing Darby for murder?
Don’t expect a romantic twist in this book. I kept expecting something more between Darby and Tate and was a bit disappointed there wasn’t one. There is a hint that there could be more mystery books with Darby Piper and Tate Porter from the title.
I received an ARC and voluntarily offer this review.
Private Investigator Cozy Mystery in the Finger Lakes Region of New York
This is a great story and hopefully the first in a series. It takes place in a small town in the Finger Lakes region of New York. This is a cozy mystery that takes some great turns as the story develops. Then, in the end, it takes a left turn with a surprise development. I have read many of this author’s books. This is the best by far. Does it have something to do with Hallmark Publishing? Perhaps because it is worthy of becoming a Hallmark Mystery Movie. I will be watching for more from this author. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
this is a page turning story, she is partner in a pi firm. bur Sam is going to close the firm and Darby does not know what is going on then sam is killed and the clues point at Darby. then Sam’s nephew shows up and they find out he is now the owner of Sam’s shares of the firm. if you like suspense and some romance you will enjoy reading the book. i was given a copy of the book but this is an honest review well written
I am a new reader of this author, and I have to say this was a delightful experience.
Darby Piper is part owner of a detective firm. Her partner and friend Samantha was killed in a car accident or was it? Fingers are being pointed towards Darby.
Complicating matters, Tate Porter, Samantha’s nephew, shows up. Not only is Darby under suspicion, but she’s not the heir to Samantha’s half of the business, but rather Tate.
Tate might not be a private detective, but his talent might just be what Darby needs to prove her innocence.
This was a well written story, with well developed characters. The secondary characters were just as good, especially Darby’s parents.
This story leaves the reader wanting to spend more time with these P.I.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Hallmark Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
I truly enjoyed reading this book.
It’s a heartwarming & intriguing story.
I normally do not Cozy Mysteries,
but if there is a Book 2 for A Piper
& Porter mystery, I would difinitely
read it. Great characters.
It will hook you from the first page to the
last, wanting to know what happens next.
A Must Read Story!!
Make Mine A Cowboy is the third book in author A. J. Pine’s Meadow Valley Ranch series. Dr. Charlotte North receives a call that her grandmother has taken a fall breaking both her wrist and ankle. She quickly arranges for a two month leave of absence to return home to Meadow Valley, CA from her New York City practice. She knows her grandmother will need her help not only to recuperate but also to run her inn. With her jet lagged arrival at the hospital she encounters Ben Callahan snoozing in a waiting room chair. What is her one week fling doing here?
When a bleary eyed Ben awakens, they have a few words and then Charlotte is taken to recovery to see her grandmother, inadvertently leaving her suitcase with Ben. The following day, Ben takes Charlotte’s suitcase to her, but she has already decided she has no time for distractions, she is there simply to help her grandmother.
Charlotte and Ben decide to be friends only, surely they can do that. But when her recovering grandmother begins playing matchmaker with all the eligible men in town, Charlotte cooks up a plan of her own and knows just who to enlist as her fake boyfriend, her new best friend Ben.
This is a sweet story of second chances and finding one’s true place to belong. These varied characters are well drawn and the plot has enough twists to keep the readers on their toes. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
Darby Piper is in shock. Samantha Porter—her mentor and business partner at Two Girls Detective Agency—has died in a car crash, and it doesn’t look like an accident. In fact, evidence is pointing toward Darby.
Darby had expected to inherit Samantha’s half of the agency, but Samantha had recently changed the will to leave it to Tate Porter, her nephew, who returns to town.
Tate is no P.I. He’s a veteran, a world traveler, and something of a mystery himself. But as he helps Darby delve into secret histories and real estate development plans, he does seem to have a knack for the job. Will the agency have a future…even if Darby can prove her innocence in time?
This is a typical Hallmark story. A good clean book with no foul language or sex scenes. The mystery is who killed Samantha Porter. Darby her partner in Two Girls Detective Agency is the prime suspect. She has to prove her innocence with the help of Tate Porter, Samantha’s nephew. But can she trust him. He hasn’t been in town for years and showed up just before Samantha was killed. This is a good beach read or to set by the fireplace and enjoy a good book.
I was given this book by Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any ay.
Thank you Netgalley and Hallmark Publishing for an ARC of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
A detective agency is run by two long time friends. As sometimes happens one individual is not happy and wants to leave the Agency. But before she can, she is murdered.
Amanda Flower has taken a departure from her other mysteries and has written this new series. It is an excellent start and I look forward to reading the next book.
cozy-mystery, murder, private-investigators, greed, family-dynamics, friendship, law-enforcement, exmilitary, small-business, small-town
It was the start of a very bad week for Darby. First she finds out that her best friend and business partner of over ten years has sold the business out from under her. Then said friend is dead, Darby is chief suspect, then finds out that their earlier agreement on passage of ownership goes to the nephew, and it was absolutely stunning. What more could go wrong?! Great characters and plot twists made this a really fun read that kept me guessing to the end. Loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
This time Dreamscape Media and NetGalley allowed me to listen to the audio performed by . She does a great job of adding to her tone so that it fits the character. She does an inspired job with the narration and dialogue. Great voices that are distinct and consistent, but the male voices need more work. Even so, I think that the story is better in audio. Besides, it is hard to read print while doing mindless things!
Dead-End Detective is the first book in a new cozy series by Amanda Flowers.
Darby and Samantha are business partners at Two Girls Detective Agency, as well as friends.
When Samantha is killed in a car accident, Darby becomes the prime suspect.
Wonderful characters, twists and turns will keep you turning the pages.
Thank you NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.