Lily Barlow, a quirky college student obsessed with the fictional bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, is called home from the University of Virginia to get the family bakery running after her dad’s heart attack. Stuck in a sinkhole of self-pity, she finds her sleepy hometown…well…can a town actually be in a coma?No worries. All she needs to do is hire a bakery manager, and she’s not even moving back in … back in with her family for that part. Instead, she rents an efficiency garage from Miss Delphine Walker, an old woman who Lily begins to believe may have killed someone at some point in time.
Meanwhile, Lily’s overactive imagination takes a swan dive when she discovers an online clearinghouse for victims the cops can’t identify. Consumed with the profiles on the website, Miss Delphine, and the candidates for the bakery manager position, she simply cannot cope with one more problem. So when Jack Turner, her best friend since kindergarten, reveals out of nowhere that he wants something more than friendship, what’s a woman to do?
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I love Jack and Lily. I loved the slow buildup they had, and him helping with her mystery just to keep her safe. I can’t wait to read book 2.
Plus, it made me laugh, I couldn’t get enough!
Lily Barlow is a college student, amateur sleuth, strong, confident young lady. She has a great imagination, detests bugs (and chickens), is quirky, and a bit of a klutz. Put all this together with a budding romance, temporary housing, and murdered victim and you have a laugh out loud story. Great story. Scared my dog laughing out loud.
Carla Vergot delivers a fun, often hysterical crime-solving romp between two best friends that could be lovers, if only Lily opens her eyes and heart; and crazy chickens that could have their very own novel in “Lily Barlow: The Mystery of Jane Dough”.
Lily Barlow is one cool chic! She is a Laugh Riot!
She is so unique, eccentric and hilarious with her quirky one-liners that had me laughing out loud! I found myself always waiting for the next one!
I fell for her hard; especially loving the fact that she became obsessed with the Doe Network she happened upon…when she was supposed to be googling “Dough”! (See! She is hysterical!)
This led us to the mystery part of the story. I was so intrigued and rather excited about this. But, then this part of the narrative fell a little short for me. Only because I was expecting a lot more excitement. This by no means is suggesting I did not like this storyline. I am saying that when you wrap Carla Vergot’s story up, this was the one small piece I wish had a bigger explosion….like Lily’s character!
Her best friend, Jack was helping her investigate the mystery….and the slow burn romance with him was killing me!! The entire book I was like..”Lily! He’s perfect!”
Only Lily seems to need Love Goggles! Ha! Drove me bit mad.
I cannot wait to see what is in store for Lily and Jack in the next book.
(I can totally see Lily Barlow getting a Cult Following)
I was hooked from the first page to the very last! Carla Vergot’s debut novel weaves the perfect amount of romance, humor, and mystery together with likeable, well developed characters and a gripping plot. It ends with a bang and leaves room for what I hope will be many more books in this series.
This book was a hoot to read. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. The town was quirky, the story held my interest and I’m looking forward to MORE Lily Barlow in the future!
This was one of the most fun reads I’ve found in a LONG time. It’s a great mix of a friends-to-lovers romance and cozy mystery. Being from the South(ish), I especially enjoyed the use of Southern dialect and familiar scenes– no spoilers here, but there are some moments with home-raised chickens that made me laugh out loud, because they reminded me so much of my childhood summers at my grandmother’s house.
I noticed another reviewer who disliked the unique versions of “For the love of…” (and other colloquial sayings) but I found them utterly charming and looked forward to finding the next one. As someone who often intentionally butchers common phrases in a similar manner, I’m mentally calculating how to add some of them to my repertoire.
Overall, I found this to be an incredibly pleasant book and can’t wait for the next book in the series!
A steamy-sexy mixed with mystery. I loved the tug and pull of Jack and Lily (and that she named her Jeep). It had a nice cozy feeling like I got when I read Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews in its familiarity that I felt as a reader – quickly finding myself immersed in the story. And if you have a fear of chickens, then Lily can be your new partner in crime. The story was well written with great details that allowed me to “see” what was happening.
I loved this book from the moment I started reading it. It draws you in and keeps you hooked. Finding out little secrets about Lily and watching her resist Jack is just so fun!
I haven’t read the Stephanie Plum books yet but Lily sure has! She is obsessed with Stephanie and it makes me want to start reading them.
I recommend this book for a fun and flirty read.
This book hits the sweet spot at the intersection of chick lit and cozy mystery: a romcomstery, as the author puts it. I have been disappointed by several mysteries that seemed too scripted and by-the-numbers, peopled with characters who were only there to further the plot. Lily and her circle of quirky friends are anything but by-the-numbers. It was easy to believe that even those not solving mysteries were leading full and interesting lives when not on the page.
Review of Lily Barlow: The Mystery of Jane Dough (Book One of the Lily Barlow Series) by author, Carla Vergot
My first read from author, Carla Vergot has been an invigorating, entertaining and humorous one. Lily Barlow: The Mystery of Jane Dough, with it’s mixture of laugh-out-loud moments, its mysterious, romantic elements, and characters that keep you engaged with their quirky yet very distinct personalities, make this debut novel a great read.
Ms. Vergot’s creation of Lily, Miss Delphine and Jack make this story something special~ a multi genre delight that’s clever, witty, fun and imaginative yet serious, as it takes you on a fast-paced journey of the unique and unexpected. It’s a smart, sharp, small-town experience that packs a punch!
From family obligation, to a fear of chickens and a spunky old woman full of ‘piss and vinegar’, who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is~ the story of Lily Barlow is sure to grab your attention from start to finish.
5 Stars
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Wild Sage Book Blog
This was a light, fun read! The only issue was that the story leaned more toward the sexual tension between two best friends than the mystery. Toning that down would have made this book more engaging. The unique mystery story-line held my attention, though, and I eagerly anticipated what would transpire next.
The quirky main character, Lily, returns home to help run her family’s bakery. Lily is obsessed with amateur detecting, steering her to discover a website of unidentified victims’ remains, and one victim’s mystery intrigues her. But, her longtime friend, Jack, has her on edge because he wants more than friendship. Oh, boy…what will she do?
This is my first book by Carla Vergot and I have to say she has a sense of humor that really struck my funny bone. Umm…crazy chickens! Her writing is so fun-witted! Even though the mystery part fizzled out a little, it was still a good book. Many will enjoy “Lily Barlow, The Mystery of Jane Dough”.
I give this book 3.5 stars.
~This book was given to me through a giveaway by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.~
Omg, loved this book. What a great first book. Lilly Barlow is a quirky college student home to her small town to find a manager for the family bakery.Her father has had a heart attack. Her plans are to be in and out and back to school for fall semester. Best laid plans…
This book has it all Best friends, Romance and Mystery too. This book has it all going on,great storylines, characters you want to get to know and a story you know is going to be a series….
Totally not what I expected . . . in a good way! I have never laughed so hard and so much while reading a mystery! Vergot’s characters are funny, quick witted, and completely loveable. I was drawn in from the first paragraph and stayed fully invested till the last.
Lily Barlow is a pile of contradictions, second guessing, and mixed emotions. But that’s part of her charm. She’s come home to help her dad and uncle settle things with their bakery, determined to return to college for the fall semester. Home, her childhood friend, and a penchant for unsolved murders, all conspire to change that!
You’ll LOVE this new series, and then, like me, you’ll be chomping at the bit for the next entry.
Trust me on this, you need to get into this series!