An aspiring suspense novelist lands in the middle of a real crime in the first Writer’s Apprentice mystery. Lena London’s literary dreams are coming true—as long as she can avoid any real-life villains… Camilla Graham’s bestselling suspense novels inspired Lena London to become a writer, so when she lands a job as Camilla’s new assistant, she can’t believe her luck. Not only will she help … can’t believe her luck. Not only will she help her idol craft an enchanting new mystery, she’ll get to live rent-free in Camilla’s gorgeous Victorian home in the quaint town of Blue Lake, Indiana.
But Lena’s fortune soon changes for the worse. First, she lands in the center of small town gossip for befriending the local recluse. Then, she stumbles across one thing that a Camilla Graham novel is never without—a dead body, found on her new boss’s lakefront property.
Now Lena must take a page out of one of Camilla’s books to hunt down clues in a real crime that seems to be connected to the novelist’s mysterious estate—before the killer writes them both out of the story for good…
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I liked this book, but I prefer her Undercovered Dish Mysteries so much more ! I am not crazy about Lena London and her choice of Sam West as her boyfreind. The story and setting were very well done, and the mystery is a interesting tale.
Enjoyed reading this book. Great plot and well developed characters. Warm freindships develop.
I will read more of this author. I completely enjoyed this book.
Her writing (about writers) is imaginative and entertaining
Good book easy to read.
I felt that this book was so beautifully written that I am still thinking of the book and imagining whole pages of it and their conversations throughout
Enjoyable
A dark and stormy murder pulled me in on the first page. This page Turner was a delightful mystery that made it extremely hard to put down. I enjoyed the way Lena and Camilla worked together on Camilla’s book as well as the mysteries they untangled. Thanks Julia Buckley can’t wait to read the next book.
This is a 3 1/2 star review for me. I liked the premise of this cozy series. Lena is working as an assistant for her idol Camilla Graham, an author of romantic suspense novels. Shortly after arriving she discovers a dead body of a local young man. Together Camilla and her set out to solve the murder. I liked it that they worked with local police in solving the murder. This mystery was good and the solution made sense. I liked the Blue Lake setting and Camilla’s house. There is also a secondary mystery involving a neighbor of Camilla’s. Sam West is a recluse who is suspected of killing his wife. This mystery is not resolved by the end of the book and the story leaves the reading hanging. I am not a fan of the cliffhanger ending which is why I gave the book 3 stars.
The thing I love most about cozies is that they portray lives I wish I could lead. Julia Buckley’s Lena London is everything I could ever want in a cozy mystery heroine. A writer, living her dream by working with her idol and hero, all while experiencing life in a picturesque small town — which of course, involves solving a mystery. A total dream!
I loved these books at first, thought the main character had found an ideal job, but then they got crazy with the plots and everyone was like a Stepford person, so nice to each other that it was totally sickening.
Great
This is one of my top ten cozy series. (I read about fifty cozy series.)
Likable characters, even when the lead is being foolish (she’s 26 and doesn’t act a day older). The story kept my attention. There’s a lot going on besides the mystery, which usually annoys me, but this time the story didn’t drag.
Interesting new series
Lena London is a huge fan of Camilla Graham – so much so that Camilla is Lena’s inspiration to become a writer. When Lena is offered a job working with Camilla, she is over the moon. Lena moves to Camilla Graham’s estate in Indiana where she not only gets to work her dream job, but all amenities are paid for my Camilla, as well. She can’t believe her luck. That luck runs out shortly after accepting the job and taking up residence with Camilla. Lena becomes the subject of small-town gossip and then stumbles over a real dead body in Camilla yard. Lena and Camilla learn firsthand what it takes to locate clues, fit them together, and hope they don’t become the next victims.
A Dark and Stormy Murder is the first book in the Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. The author sets the tone for the series with likable characters, a solid foundation, and a continued plot line that carries over into at least the next book. I always enjoy mysteries that have more than just the main problem or theme. This story includes another storyline that is almost as strong as the main murder mystery and I loved how the author wove it all together. Separate, yet smoothly written, the two events co-exist without overshadowing each other or falling flat.
The character development and world building had me befriending the characters and feeling like I was right there with them. I enjoyed the idea of Lena, as an aspiring writer, getting to not only meet the author who inspires her, but also becoming said author’s apprentice. I really enjoyed the mystery-in-a-mystery concept and because I waited to so long to start the series (which I regret) I don’t have to wait to read the next book. Cliffhanger be darned! This is a series I will be continuing.
I was given a copy of this book to read.
An aspiring writer accepts an offer from one of her favorite authors to assist with the writing of her latest gothic suspense novel. Staying with the author in her beautiful home is part of the package. Very soon, unfriendly characters, murder, and a missing person create more drama. My favorite part was trying to figure out what happened to the missing person.
What happens when you get the job of your dreams working for your idol in writing and you find a corpse? Who wouldn’t want to make it a mission to find out who is the murderer before someone else is written out of their own life!
Poorly written and the most important mystery in the book isn’t solved. Very disappointed.
Quick candy read. A bit Mary Sue, but I enjoyed it enough to keep reading. I probably won’t continue the series.