The Inn at Holiday Bay: Message in the Mantel

Message In The Mantel
The Inn At Holiday Bay, Book #3
Kathi Daley
5 Stars

A heartwarming cozy mystery series about losing everything, taking a chance, and starting again.

After suffering a personal tragedy Abby Sullivan buys a huge old seaside mansion she has never even seen, packs up her life in San Francisco, and moves to Holiday Bay Maine, where she is adopted, quite against her will, by a huge Maine Coon Cat named Rufus, a drifter with her own tragic past named Georgia, and a giant dog with an inferiority complex named Ramos. What Abby thought she needed was alone time to heal. What she ended up with was, an inn she never knew she wanted, a cat she couldn’t seem to convince to leave, and a new family she’d never be able to live without.

In book 3 of the series, the remodel continues as Abby and Georgia start to make plans for a grand opening celebration. A specialist is brought in to refurbish the century old fireplace mantel and makes a startling discovery. Meanwhile Lonnie is looking to adopt, Colt has a new mystery to solve, and Velma comes face to face with a blast from her past.

Join Abby, Georgia, Rufus, and Ramos, as they continue with the remodel on the old mansion, prepare for a busy summer season, and continue to find a new meaning for their lives in the charming small town of Holiday Bay. (Goodreads)

Review:

As is usual with this author, this book is very heartwarming and character driven. She always tells a feel-good story and you cannot help but feel happy when you are done reading. Second chances, new love interests and adorable animals abound in this series, and this book is no different.

The characters are well rounded and well developed and I am enjoying getting to spend more time with them, seeing how their relations are growing and moving forward. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read.

The author is very talented in creating mysteries that have several layers to them and intertwines them perfectly, which is evident in this book. The reader has more than a few things to figure out, which is a great thing.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. If you like history, this book is right up your alley.

Message in the Mantel is the third book in Kathi Daley’s awesome The Inn at Holiday Bay series. The writing style flows smoothly, and the book is a clean and easy read. The storyline is well-plotted and complex, with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and guessing. The setting is charming, and the well-developed characters are affable, compassionate, and caring. I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries.

Abby Sullivan’s life changed forever because a distracted driver swerved into oncoming traffic, and her husband and their infant son didn’t survive the resulting accident. After receiving an e-mail advertising a huge old house for sale in Holiday Bay, Maine, Abby purchased it without even seeing it in person, packed up her belongings, and left San Francisco. Starting over isn’t easy, but Abby, a published author, is writing again, settling in and making friends, and plans to open an inn once major renovations are completed. Georgia Carter, who’s also recovering from traumatic events in her life, is a genius in the kitchen, she and her dog, Ramos, are living with Abby and Rufus, the large orange cat who adopted her, in a cottage located on the property, and Georgia will be managing the inn once it’s open. Abby’s contractor, Lonnie Parker, is making great progress on the renovations and he hires Bobby Martin to restore the intricately carved mantel above the fireplace in the living room of the main house. Bobby tells Abby he believes Samuel Garrison carved the mantel approximately a hundred and fifty years before her house was built in 1895. Mr. Garrison always included a secret drawer or compartment in his designs, and Abby is quite surprised when she hears what Bobby found in her mantel. While investigating the suspicious death of Bruce Palmer, Abby’s friend, Chief of Police Colt Wilder, discovers a human skeleton in a trunk in Bruce’s attic. The case turns into a complex mystery, and Abby brainstorms with Colt regarding his investigation.

The Inn at Holiday Bay series is fantastic. This story, Message in the Mantel is so well written that I could not put it down. I loved the twists and turns in the story line and the history surrounding the time when the Inn was built. Holiday Bay world building is so realistic that it feels like a town you know and love, and the citizens are warm and friendly. Abby has made many good friends since she moved to Holiday Bay to restart her life. The Inn she is restoring is making progress and she is finally able to see a future ahead of her. You will love this murder mystery as well as the history discovered throughout the Inn. You will also love the characters as they are complex and developed. This is the third book in this series and I highly recommend reading this series.

Excellent new series by Kathy. One of my favs.

“Message in the Mantle” earns 5/5 Secrets Galore…Engaging Fun!

Real experts are a necessity when completing renovations of a vintage home, so Lonny hires just such an expert to refurbish the living room’s mantle. When he arrives he explains the mantle may be one carved by Samuel Garrison, an eighteenth-century craftsman. Seeking providence for this mantle, Georgia finds the artist always added a secret compartment to his work…surprise! Life beyond the mantel mystery continues with antique hunting, talking to experts, and enjoying family and friends. Colt may have found the perfect house to buy, but the catch? It is the scene of a suspicious death. Abby receives emails from her husband’s former colleague oddly determined to find a specific police file her husband may have, but the catch? Internal Affairs is involved. So…Mystery. Mayhem. Murder.

This third book in is loaded with mysteries keeping readers turning the page. The primary mystery of the “message” in the mantle reveals an intriguing centuries-old puzzle that ends with a delightful surprise. The other two mysteries, a suspicious death and issues in Abby’s late husband’s police investigations, have somewhat of a conclusion, but no “gotcha” excitement. Using a first-person narrative from Abby’s perspective sharing her inner thoughts, the scenarios and theories are discussed and tweaked to match the facts discovered, but often some of the information is found “off camera” or indirectly. Relationships continue to grow and Abby is finding her place in the community and close friendships the perfect remedy for a shattered heart. Newbies can join us fans with book three, but I suggest starting at the beginning since so much has been built on through the series. Enjoyable series!

Once again Kathi Daley has hit it out of the park with her third book of The Inn at Holiday Bay series. I hadn’t read the previous two books in the series but found I could follow the storyline in this book. As always Kathi has included pets and a strong woman character. Abby Sullivan, the main character, has moved her life from California to Holiday Bay, Maine where she has purchase a grand house full of history with intentions of opening a Bed and Breakfast with her friend, Georgia Carter. Her move is an attempt to leave the tragedy that claimed her life and start anew. We are able to see Abby rebuilding her life with assistance from others, treated to history behind the grand house and also a little romance. This series has now topped my list of favorites by Kathi Daley.

Message in the Mantel is the 3rd book in Kathi Daley’s The Inn at Holiday Bay series. I thoroughly enjoyed the two books of this series. The depth of character development and complexity of multiple, interrelated historical mysteries pull the reader in and make the books difficult to set down. Abby Sullivan is restoring a historical mansion as she seeks to rebuild her life following the untimely, tragic deaths of her husband and son. Each book in this series can be read as a stand-alone, but I’d suggest reading them in order as a portion of
the mysteries uncovered include the resolution of one or more and lead to clues as to additional questions remain unsolved as the mansion restoration continues. I can only imagine what other secrets are hidden within the walls of the building. Ms. Daley delivers knowledge of buildings and residents of the region dating back to the Revolutionary War. You will need to read this book to learn the origins of the fireplace mantle, a mysterious letter, pieces of hand crafted, exquisite, antique jewelry pieces, the death of an elderly man and remnants of a skeleton secured by an unknown individual years ago. For fun Abby and company go antiquing to locate treasures to decorate the mansion as it is restored. With Abby’s assistance and determination, Colt, the police chief, stumble upon several amazing conclusions. This book is a skillful blend of old and new mysteries, each unique and demanding of attention. I’m looking forward to learning what other secrets the Inn at Holiday Bay holds. I believe readers who appreciate creative cozy mysteries will fully appreciate adding this book to their library.

Message in the Mantel is the third book in the exciting new The Inn at Holiday Bay cozy mystery series. This book is filled with elements of a cozy mystery including suspense, romance, humor, love, friends and family, and a sense of community. The story takes place in the charming tourist town of Holiday Bay, Maine.

The main character is Abby Sullivan, a writer from San Francisco who, after suffering a devastating personal tragedy, sold her condo, packed up all her belongings, bought a huge old house she had never seen in a town she had never been to, and moved to Holiday Bay. She works with her new friends, including the local police chief, Colt Wilder, to uncover the answers to the many questions they encounter in three or four different mysterious circumstances. As renovations in the old mansion Abby is having restored are progressing, a message and a necklace are found in a fireplace mantel, which seem to have historical significance. The mysterious death of a local resident also keep Abby and Colt busy.

There is a theme of second chances in this series and in all of Mrs. Daley’s stories. I love the way she writes in a continuing saga fashion with hints and clues to stories in the future (and red herrings). I love that not all questions are resolved in each book. I enjoy the character development. As always, this author’s writing flows smoothly, and her setting and relatable characters make for an extremely enjoyable and quick read. I really look forward to reading the next book in this series.