Jill Gardner has left her book-and-coffee shop behind to spend Thanksgiving week in coastal Oregon with her cop boyfriend, her golden retriever Emma, and a crowd of friends and family. But before the feast can start, foul play interrupts their vacation . . . The rented house was supposed to be a relaxing getaway. But Jill and her companions feel a sense of danger instead. First, they learn that … instead. First, they learn that their hosts’ son had a fiancée, but her disappearance remains unexplained—and then they meet some menacing members of a local trail-riding club. When one of Jill and Greg’s friends finds human remains amid the dunes—with a diamond ring around one mummified finger—things start heating up fast, and they’ll be thankful just to survive through the long weekend . . .
Praise for The Tourist Trap Mysteries
“Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true.”
—Susan McBride, author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries
“Lynn Cahoon has created an absorbing, good fun mystery in Mission to Murder.”
—Fresh Fiction
more
A Very Mummy Holiday by Lynn Cahoon is A Tourist Trap Novella. It can be read on its own, but I recommend reading one of the full-length stories first. Jill Gardner and Greg King are off to enjoy a week in Oregon, but things do not go as planned. I like that Jill is an empathetic person. She will not stand idly by while a person gets railroaded. I thought the story was engaging with friendly, relatable main characters. I like Lynn Cahoon’s conversational writing style. A Very Mummy Holiday moves along at a fast clip and the mystery is well-plotted. When Caleb’s missing fiancé, Dania turns up in the sand dunes, Caleb is the target of the local police’s investigation. Jill does a little online sleuthing searching for clues about Dania’s life. I like that Greg does not discourage Jill and he helps Jill with her quest for the truth. Readers will have no problem identifying the guilty party in this whodunit. However, I thought the mystery suited the length of the novel and the storyline. Jill and Greg are a cute couple who are well suited. I like that Jill brought Emma along with her on the trip. The one thing I wondered, though, is why Jill and Greg went off with this couple that they hardly knew. It is especially odd since Jill has very little in common with Kathi (my mother said I was overthinking it). A Very Mummy Holiday is a chance to catch up with Jill and the gang. A Very Mummy Holiday is an engaging cozy mystery with an energized Emma, a forlorn fiancé, iniquitous individuals, a coastline cadaver and stuffing squabbles.
A Very Mummy Holiday
Tourist Trap Mystery, Book #11
Lynn Cahoon
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Jill Gardner has left her book-and-coffee shop behind to spend Thanksgiving week in coastal Oregon with her cop boyfriend, her golden retriever Emma, and a crowd of friends and family. But before the feast can start, foul play interrupts their vacation . . .
The rented house was supposed to be a relaxing getaway. But Jill and her companions feel a sense of danger instead. First, they learn that their hosts’ son had a fiancée, but her disappearance remains unexplained—and then they meet some menacing members of a local trail-riding club. When one of Jill and Greg’s friends finds human remains amid the dunes—with a diamond ring around one mummified finger—things start heating up fast, and they’ll be thankful just to survive through the long weekend . . .
Praise for The Tourist Trap Mysteries
“Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true.”
—Susan McBride, author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries
“Lynn Cahoon has created an absorbing, good fun mystery in Mission to Murder.” (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Jill has some great friends and I enjoy getting to spend time with them, especially at Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, murder seems to follow Jill and she cannot get a break from it, even during her holiday week.
The writing style flows smoothly and this novella is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the descriptions pulled me in from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and moved along at an even pace.
I would recommend this novella (and series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. You cannot go wrong reading this authors books.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Jill has taken some time off from her shop to spend Thanksgiving with some family and friends. They have rented a cabin and hope to enjoy a much needed getaway in a secluded area. The weather is nice and riding amongst the sand dunes is just one of the many things the group plans to do. All is going well until while out riding a member of the group gets stuck in a dune and ends up finding a well preserved mummy. Who could it be and how long have they been there are the immediate questions that everyone asks. They soon learn that the body is the fiancee of the son of the people that own the cabin being rented by them. She disappeared years ago and most people felt the fiancee was responsible but no clues were found so she has remained a missing persons case. Jill gets a sense that the fiancee is innocent and hopes to dip up clues to who the real culprit is. Follow along as she and her boyfriend is into the case , can they find a.killer before something happens to one of their own group? This was a great read with an exciting mystery. I love these short reads that help you keep in touch with favored characters while the author works on a longer read!
A Very Mummy Holiday by Lynn Cahoon is a easy to read novella to the Tourist Trap Mystery series.
This time we go to the Oregon Coast with Jill and Greg for a Thanksgiving getaway with new friends. They have rented a large cabin for a few days of riding the dunes before the rest of the gang arrive for Thanksgiving. While riding they come upon a group of locals who seem to enjoy pushing the limits of the law. When a diamond ring is spotted in one of the dunes, the gang are shocked to find it is on the finger of a mummy. The local law enforcement point to the finace first but Jill has other thoughts and dives into the investigation.
The story had twists and turns, and likeable characters in a great setting. There is a yummy sounding recipe included.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Series; A Tourist Trap Mystery – Book 9.5
Author: Lynn Cahoon
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Holiday/Short Story
Publisher: Kensington
Page Count – 81
A quick holiday cozy short for readers this October from Kensington Books comes Lynn Cahoon’s “A Very Mummy Holiday.”
This book is an exciting, entertaining holiday cozy. It’s not quite the relaxing holiday that Jill and friends were expecting, nor is it the type most would want. No matter how they spin it, someone committed murder, and Jill feels like she has to help find out who the murderer is and expose them before the wrong person ends up behind bars.
There are only a few suspects, and it becomes apparent almost from the start that the person who most people accused of murder is not the correct suspect. Readers can’t help themselves from feeling empathy for Caleb, the main suspect, and his parents. Although this is a holiday cozy and a novella, it has everything needed to keep readers engaged and turning the page.
I am happy to recommend this holiday cozy A Very Mummy Holiday and the entire Tourist Trap Mystery series to readers.
A great plot involving Jill and Greg as they head off on a Thanksgiving vacation with some friends, but what starts out as a fun and relaxing trip turns sinister when one of the friends discovers a mummified hand with a big diamond engagement ring on it. To make matters worse a local group of guys starts making things uncomfortable for the vacationing group. This series has excellent characters with engaging personalities that draw you in and keep you wanting more time with them. Add that to great plotting and you have a wonderfully entertaining read that will keep you turning pages furiously as you can’t wait to see what happens next. If you haven’t read the entire series, you absolutely should. I can’t wait for the next full length story in this series to come out as the novellas have been fun to read, but I am ready to be able to spend more time with these characters!
This one was actually a little creepy. It was a fun read and I loved seeing Blake and Kathi again. While the story was a bit predictable, I still enjoyed reading it. I’m loving this series and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
A grab you and make you read it until the very end kind of story. I was so close to guessing who the killer was but I fudged it up.
I really enjoy this series and this was an enjoyable Holiday Novella. It takes place away from South Cove on the Oregon Coast where Jill and Greg are vacationing over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Joining them for the Holiday are friends and family. While driving on the sand dunes Jill’s friend Kathy uncovers a body. The body turns out to be a long lost local runaway bride. Greg and Jill decide to help the police solve the crime. Since it is a short book I wish more time was spent on the mystery. I prefer the full length novels. Overall it was a quick fun Holiday read.
This was the perfect mystery to slide in between several full length books I had on my TBR stack. The timing worked well, too – Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Jill and Greg are on vacation with another couple on the Oregon coast and are out on the beach on ATVs. When one of the ATVs overturns, something sinister is overturned as well. They find the mummified remains of a long missing woman. Then the police conduct their investigation and are ready to pin the crime on the young ma who was going to marry her. He is also the son of the couple who own the cabin Jill and Greg and their friends are staying in for the holiday. Jill is certain that the police are focusing on the wrong person and are not all that interested in changing course to find the real killer.
My only complaint with this book was that it wasn’t long enough. For some reason I’m okay with short stories and full length mysteries but novellas? When they are this good, I want more, please. Like a full course meal with one course missing, I guess. But, honestly, I enjoy this series so much that any reading time I get to spend with Jill, Greg and Jill’s Golden, Emma and various other regular characters is time well spent. The next full length in the series, #10, comes out on November 12, 2019 and #11 will come on June 30, 2020. They are already on my TBR list.
When Jill and Greg join another couple for Thanksgiving, they are just expecting a good time and great food. However, a ride through the sand dunes changes all that when a mummified body is found. The police have a suspect but is he really guilty…or do they just want him to be? It’s a race against the clock for Jill and Greg to find the killer before it’s too late.
A fun and fast-paced addition to the Tourist Trap series. The mystery wss wrapped up nicely, with no loose ends. I enjoyed it very much.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.
Jill and Greg’s relaxing time in Oregon with friends takes a turn for the worse when a diamond ring is discovered. Unfortunately the ring was attached to a body, a mummified body. The victim’s fiance and a biker gang make likely suspects but there also seems to be some similarities with another missing person in a close by town. They now find themselves in a dangerous position when truly all they wanted was a peaceful vacation.
A fast, easy read this novella gives you a mystery, a nice setting and further character development in the Tourist Trap Mysteries series. Thanks to Lyrical Underground and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
A Very Mummy Holiday earns 5/5 Delightful Dunes…Engaging & Entertaining!
Top Marks! It’s Thanksgiving in another clever holiday novella from Lynn Cahoon’s Tourist Trap easily enjoyed in an afternoon; great excuse to forgo kitchen duty. The mystery is quite engaging with a cold case invading the holiday festivities. Jill and her boyfriend Detective Greg King are spending the holidays up north in Oregon ready to spend a delightful time enjoying food, family, and friends. The rental property is picturesque and near the beach it is perfect for hiking, water play, and dune sports. The owners of the property live nearby along with their son, who in their words, “…can be a little moody.” Odd description for one grieving over a missing fiancée, but his very scruffy appearance adds some scary truth. Unfortunately, their holiday celebration turns murderous. While Jill and Greg are enjoying riding on the dunes, their friends take a terrible tumble, and one uncovers a beautiful solitaire diamond ring hidden in the sand. However, it’s what’s attached to the ring that has them scrambling to dial 9-1-1. Mummified remains turn a disappearance into murder. The victim is one cozy fans will immediately suspect, and the original ideas by the cops need reviewing now that the identify of the mummified body is corroborated, but there’s enough suspicion to go around. All very clever, but one of the “whys” seems unclear. The first-person narrative is fueled by Jill’s inner thoughts and humor along with a collaborative relationship with Greg that is protective and respectful of each other’s detective skill. There’s a Golden Retriever for “fur friend” lovers, realistic friend and family interactions, and…a recipe! Yes, ending this delightful tale is an easy-to-follow recipe for Pumpkin Marble Cheesecake as the perfect end to anyone’s Thanksgiving festivities.
A great addition to the Tourist Trap series. I loved that the novella took place during Thanksgiving as that is my favorite holiday. Family, friends and yummy food.
We get to learn more about Kathi, a newer edition of the series, and I’m not a big fan. She is a good character but personally, she drives me crazy with her need to be perfectly groomed and trying to change Jill.
A Very Mummy Holiday is perfect for a chilly fall weekend read.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Entertaining Murder Mystery Novella
This is a very short novella; less than 100 pages including the recipes. This is a good story with a good plot. It has as much fun interaction between the main characters as it does investigating the crime. The ending is not a great surprise, but it is all tied up fairly nicely. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Fun little cozy. This is very short and can be read in a couple of hours. Jill and Greg go on a vacation with some friends to the Oregon Coast. While out on the sand dunes, they discover mummified remains. The police have a suspect in their sights, but Jill and Greg do not agree.
This is easy to ready and a nice escape. The story moves along and has a few twists. I enjoy Lynn Cahoon’s writing style and her characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give my honest review on this book.
It’s Thanksgiving week and Jill and Greg with their friends Kathi and Blake are on a mini vacation to the Oregon Coast. Their plans to ride the dunes and relax before the rest of their friends arrive before the big day, is horribly interrupted when they find a body buried in the sand. This Tourist Trap novella offers several suspects and is a quick, entertaining read. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book. The comments and review are my own opinion.
A Very Mummy Holiday by Lynn Cahoon is another novella set in the world of the Tourist Trap series. Being a novella it’s a short afternoon read but one that kept me turning the pages.
Jill and Greg are on a mini-vacation with friends in a cabin on the coast of Oregon. Unfortunately, they find a mummified body in the sand dunes as they are riding one morning. Greg actually encourages Jill to do some online snooping in this one and I enjoyed seeing them work together for a change. The plot is fast paced with some scary local suspects that kept me engaged until the end.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Underground via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
I am never fond of novellas, but I like Lynn Cahoon’s Tourist Trap series, so I read it.
Wonderful addition to this series