Former Army brat Molly Owens is ready to put down roots, and the picturesque seaside town of Britton Bay on the Oregon Coast seems like the perfect place for it. Especially when she lands a job as editor of the local paper. But she’s got one colleague who’s very bad news . . . As an experienced journalist, Molly is eager to bring the struggling Britton Bay Bulletin up to speed. But when she … to speed. But when she pushes Vernon, one of her less welcoming reporters, to dig a little deeper into the story of a prominent local family, the man ends up dead. The fact that he wasn’t well-liked makes finding the killer extra complicated. The lists of suspects range from his ex-wife to his own son to Molly’s boss, who has a secret of his own. But when Molly’s attempts to sleuth out the truth result in her receiving frightening threats, the trouble is just beginning . . .
The one bright spot is Molly’s newfound flirtation with Sam Alderich. The sexy mechanic is used to taking things apart and piecing them back together, and between the two of them they just might be able to solve this deadly puzzle—if Molly can survive peaceful small-town life long enough . . .
“The news is all good for this cozy mystery! Deadly News will make you want to pack up and move to the seaside town of Britton Bay, Oregon. The characters are vividly brought to life, there’s a perfect touch of romance, and the mystery has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Don’t miss out on a charming new series—grab this cozy while it’s hot off the press!”
—Sarah Fox, USA Today bestselling author
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Deadly News is the start of a promising new series! This cozy mystery was a delight from beginning to end, with characters I’ve already grown to love and a plucky protagonist who makes me want to stand up and cheer. The setting was as cozy as it gets, complete with delectable eating places and a sweet little dog. I’m anxious to see what’s in store next for Molly, who’s already proven herself to be an amateur sleuth extraordinaire. Bring on the next installment!
Deadly News
A Britton Bay Mystery, Book #1
Jody Holford
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Former Army brat Molly Owens is ready to put down roots, and the picturesque seaside town of Britton Bay on the Oregon Coast seems like the perfect place for it. Especially when she lands a job as editor of the local paper. But she’s got one colleague who’s very bad news . . .
As an experienced journalist, Molly is eager to bring the struggling Britton Bay Bulletin up to speed. But when she pushes Vernon, one of her less welcoming reporters, to dig a little deeper into the story of a prominent local family, the man ends up dead. The fact that he wasn’t well-liked makes finding the killer extra complicated. The lists of suspects range from his ex-wife to his own son to Molly’s boss, who has a secret of his own. But when Molly’s attempts to sleuth out the truth result in her receiving frightening threats, the trouble is just beginning . . .
The one bright spot is Molly’s newfound flirtation with Sam Alderich. The sexy mechanic is used to taking things apart and piecing them back together, and between the two of them they just might be able to solve this deadly puzzle—if Molly can survive peaceful small-town life long enough . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
The writing style flows smoothly and it defined the characters very clearly by their action and words. I could imagine the newsroom and the town of Britton Bay through the author’s description and I wanted to stay for a visit.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Molly is a smart, hardworking caring woman who is not afraid of change. Not only has she moved, she is starting a new job, which will be very challenging. When someone from the newsroom gets murder, she will have to use her detective skills to figure out who the culprit is.
The mystery was well plotted and carried on well throughout the entire book. There were plenty of suspects to consider and clues to sift through and the mystery was not easy to solve.
This book is the first in a new series and if I were editor of the paper my headline would be “It Is A Winner”. And I think the cover is adorable.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Once again, I’m always drawn into a book by its characters and I liked them all – even the dog. The book takes place in Australia and the town is small enough where it was easy to picture the main character fitting in there. The storyline was smooth and realistic, which made it a fun read. I recommend it.
Deadly News by Jody Hedlund is set in Britton Bay, Oregon. Molly Owens has moved from Lancaster, California to Britton Bay to become editor for the Britton Bay Bulletin. The Britton Bay Bulletin’s owner, Alan Benedict, is hoping Molly can revitalize the struggling paper to increase readership and revenue. Vernon East, a reporter for the paper, is antagonistic and resents Molly’s presence. She assigns Vernon to interview Vanessa Phillips on her family and two days later he is found dead in his home. The suspect list is long since Vernon was disagreeable, but Molly did spot a good clue at the crime scene. Molly works her way through the suspect list which includes an ex-wife, victim’s son, and her fellow employees. Someone feels Molly is getting too close to the truth and leaves her a threatening message. Molly is a reporter and not about to be dissuaded in her quest for the truth. When not out on the trail of a killer, Molly is settling into her new abode and making friends. She also finds an adorable bouncy puppy in need of an owner. Britton Bay will be a lovely home for Molly once she pinpoints Vernon’s killer.
Deadly News is a cute new cozy mystery. The cover is adorable with the black and white puppy who Molly names Tigger (it suits him). Molly is a likeable main character. She is starting over after catching her boyfriend in flagrante delicto with his ex-girlfriend. Thanks to mechanic, Sam Alderich, she finds a charming carriage house to live in with a landlady who will become a good friend. I would have liked more backstory on Molly, but she is an interesting, friendly character. I did find it odd, though, when she spilled out case details. As a reporter, I expected her to keep details to herself (it seemed out of place). The pace alternates in Deadly News. It starts out brisk, then slows down through the middle (especially when Molly is thinking about the case) with it picking up towards the end of the book. The mystery has several suspects with subtle clues. Avid cozy mystery readers will find this whodunit a cinch to solve. I was surprised by the quick romance between Molly and Sam. The sparks fly right away between them and he jumps into to help her with the mystery. I prefer a romance that develops slowly and is not as prominent in the story (the mystery should be the focus). I am giving Deadly News 3.5 out of 5 stars. A Britton Bay Mystery series has potential, and I will pick up the next book in this new cozy mystery series.
First of all, I love the adorable cover showing cute puppy, Tigger. This new series has potential with a likeable protagonist, Molly Owens, and an interesting supporting cast of characters. I found the starting pace peppy, then it slowed in the middle, and picked back up in the latter part of the story. The plot is centered around reporter, Molly, and the newsroom and employees she’s just started working with in the charming seaside town of Britton Bay, Oregon. When one of the staff starts researching a news story and is murdered, can newcomer Molly help police solve the mystery?
Being a very traditional cozy mystery reader, I was both surprised and shocked that Molly quickly established a romantic relationship with mechanic, Sam Alderich. I’m happier when the mystery stays centerstage and any romance develops slowly, along with trust. I also found the killer reveal quite abrupt, and the reasoning a scenario I’ve read many times before. I give this story 3-1/2 Stars which I graded up to a 4 Star Review because I did like Molly and many of the other characters, and I hope to see more originality in future books.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical Underground. Thank you.
Molly moves to a small town to join a newspaper after her relationship blows up. She sends the grumpiest reporter to do a story with a member of the town’s founding family. Molly goes to check on him for a follow up and finds his dead body. Molly, thinking she might be blamed, decides to find the killer. Molly is an interesting character and building a new life.
Fantastic new series! I absolutely loved this book! The town of Britton Bay is charming, the characters are interesting, and it just has that fun small town feel. Molly moves to Britton Bay to become editor of the local paper. After one of the reporters is murdered, she fears it was because of the story she had him working on. She investigates with the help of Sam, a charming mechanic. I look forward to more books in this series and seeing Molly and Sam’s relationship deepen! I highly recommend reading this book.
I am enjoying many of the cozy mystery series
Good reading no xrated parts…no swearing
One of the best debuts I’ve read in a while. Love the series already.
Molly is used to a life of moving from place to place with her dad being in the Army. After walking in on her now ex-boyfriend sizzling the sheets with his ex, Molly has decided to expand her horizons and work and live in a small town as the new editor of the local newspaper.
Molly pushes Vernon, to be the reporter he used to be and write with passion and dig deeper for the story. When he does not show up to work for the second day in a row, Molly takes her new position seriously and goes to his home to check on him. Unfortunately, she finds more than she bargained for with Vernon on the floor in a pool of his own blood. She realizes he was not a favorite of the town but who would want him dead? As Molly investigates she finds there is someone who doesn’t like her as well and the threats against her are mounting up faster than the heat between her and Sam, the local mechanic. Will Molly survive long enough to test the flames that Sam ignites?
I am always a little hesitant and guarded when I start a new series with an author I am not familiar with. First books in a series can make it or break it for me and this series was a pleasant surprise. I feel in love with the characters and the town from the beginning. I am disappointed that I cannot automatically start reading book two.
The mystery was one of the best I’ve read lately. Plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. When the killer was revealed I was shocked. It was well hidden.
The language and romance were clean. An easy read, meaning you can stop at any point and be able to pick right back up without having to review. A perfect book to introduce someone to the cozy mystery club.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington/Lyrical Underground through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really liked the characters.
A fun book
She has a knackof sticking her foot in her foot and ticking people off.
Enjoyable and comfortable but plot and writing are not outstanding.
Deadly News is the debut cozy novel by author Jody Holford, and is a nice blend of small town cozy mystery with just the right amount of romance on the side. Molly has left California for an editorial position in Britton Bay on the Oregon Coast, and is soon embroiled in a murder investigation after she finds her antagonistic employee dead, and believes she’s responsible for the circumstances leading to his demise. Plenty of likable characters, and a mystery that kept this reader guessing until the very end – as well as a couple of red herrings thrown in to keep me on my toes. I absolutely recommend this book, and I’m eagerly anticipating the next release in the series. A+++
Deadly News contains loads of twists and turns that keep the reader questioning what is going to happen next. Molly is a zealous journalist out to get the facts on a mysterious murder followed by horrifying threats only to confuse things by tangoing with the hot mechanic Sam. Enticing murder mystery with a little romance.
Deadly News is first in the new Britton Bay Mystery series, and what a great start! The adorable pup on the cover with his little purple bear and the newspaper headline are what first attracted me to it. Each item is an important part of this clever, intriguing mystery, with very well-defined, realistic characters, and the beautiful Oregon coast setting.
Molly Owens came to Britton Bay to become editor of their small newspaper. At least one person is seething that she is there. Vernon is an older man who doesn’t like most people and the feeling is mutual. Alan is third generation owner of the paper. Hannah, Alan’s niece and intern, and Elizabeth seem cooperative. Clay is the part time photographer and social media expert.
Molly assigns tasks for a piece on the Phillips family, the local movers and shakers. That evening, she finds the air has been let from all her tires and stops at the service station. The good-looking mechanic who filled them told her where she could find a place to rent, a carriage house at the local B&B. She also met Calliope, owner of the best eatery in town, who knows almost everyone there.
Vernon interviewed the matriarch of the Phillips family, who loaned him a box of family photos, journal pages, and newspaper articles. On Saturday he didn’t call or come in to work. Molly went to his home to see if he was okay and found him dead, with a heavy portable coffee cup with blood on the base nearby.
Much later, when Molly prepared to leave the office, she heard a noise in the alley near the dumpster. She tracked it down to a little black and white puppy wrestling a stuffed purple bear from a pile of trash. With no collar or owner nearby, she put a sign in the window about the pup and took him home until the owner contacts the paper. She also came across a printed series of emails between Vernon and Elizabeth, blackmailing her and Alan if they did not stop their relationship. That could put a different spin on the murder investigation.
This is a series that I am looking forward to seeing more of! I highly recommend Deadly News for several reasons.
First is how well Molly is defined. Within a short time, I felt as if I had known her much longer than the length of the novel, and appreciate her personality, work ethic, career, her intelligence and willingness to find the truth. I like Hannah; she is an outstanding teen! She studies hard and excels as an intern. Katherine is a landlady and mother figure everyone would want. I loved the puppy from the start! This sweetheart has a special appeal.
The sensitivity and dignity with which the author addressed a serious health concern is exemplary. The more we learn about it in this manner, the more sufferers and families may be freed.
The plot is full of twists and turns that kept changing my suspect list. I had very briefly considered the real bad guy but couldn’t guess a motive. Yet, the rest of the suspects didn’t seem quite right, even with some of the evidence. I was completely surprised at the outcome, including the why behind the who.
This is a must-read for those who enjoy journalism and well-written cozies!
From a grateful heart: I received an e-Arc of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Cozy Coastal Mystery
This is a cozy mystery with a side of romance. The story takes place in an Oregon seaside town of about 2000 people. Mystery, romance, a puppy, the ocean, a small town; this book has it all. The plot is well done with enough suspects and plot twists to keep your interest. The town is full of interesting characters that feed the humorous side of the story. It is very realistic and believable. This series has a lot of possibilities! I received this book for free and this is my honest review.
Just when I thought I knew who it was I didn’t.
Deadly News by Jody Holford was a cute and engaging read.
Molly Owens is an experienced journalist and has accepted the position of editor for a struggling small town newspaper. She is smart and funny and is looking forward to making a new home for herself in Britton Bay, OR. I liked Molly immediately and the other characters are equally likable. The plot was smooth and quickly paced with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. The reveal was quite a surprise as I never guessed the identity of the murderer. There were also a few quirky characters in this small town that I would love to get to know more about, so I hope there will be more books in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Underground via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.