This is a winning debut of the fabulous new cozy series "Keepsake Mystery: by author Mary Ellen Hughes. This is a fresh new series that has all the perfect mystery elements for a perfect new series!
In this debut series we are introduced to our protagonist Callie who is visiting her Aunt on the shore of Maryland, This quaint lovely small picturesque town has a collection of specialty shops. Her Aunt owns a shop of Keepsakes that specializes in music boxes of all types. Callie loves the shop and looks forward to staying and working with her Aunt.
The day after she arrives she finds her Aunt dead in the shop and is suspicious that her Aunt was murdered even when the police rule her death a accident. Determined to find her Aunt's killer Callie begins to investigate much to the chagrin of the local police.
Callie soon finds out her Aunt was under pressure to sell her shop and nefarious suspects come to light. Her suspicions prove true and Callie is soon on the right trail to the killer.
This was the perfect mystery read! The author has a delightful writing style that is pleasing to the reader. The sleuth was very well crafted and had outstanding clues to keep this reader guessing. I loved visiting Callie and her world and look forward to the next in series.
Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.

A Fatal Collection by Mary Ellen Hughes is the first book in A Keepsake Cove Mystery series. Callie Reed is visiting her Aunt Melodie in Keepsake Cove, Maryland. Melodie owns House of Melody, a music box shop and lives in an adorable red cottage behind the shop. The next morning, Callie goes looking for Melodie and finds her dead in the shop. The police rule it an accidental death, but Callie is not so sure. After the funeral, Callie discovers that she inherited the shop and cottage. It is the perfect time for a change, and Callie embraces her new life. When Callie goes through her aunt’s belongings, she finds a second disposable cell phone. Why did Melodie need a second phone? Then someone tries to break into the shop. What are they after and why is Grandpa Reed’s music box playing on its own? Questions are piling up and Callie wants answers.

A Fatal Collection is nicely written, great main character, and it had a nice pace. I enjoyed the descriptions of the various collectible shops in Keepsake Cove (unique town). Mary Ellen Hughes created some good characters in a quaint tourist town. I wish, though, that she had developed the main character a little more. We are not given enough background on Callie. I am hopeful the author will rectify it in the next book. Readers are introduced to many of the shop owners. I did tire of the numerous clothing descriptions of Callie’s part-time employee (she has an unusual clothing style). The investigation is minimal and the killer easily identified. I wish Ms. Hughes had made the mystery more enticing. I felt the flirting and romance between Callie and Brian Greer inappropriate since Callie has just left her husband (I could have done with less of him too). I did enjoy the paranormal element and I hope there will be more of it in future books in A Keepsake Cover Mystery series (with a better explanation). A Fatal Collection is a cute start to the series. With a few tweaks, it could be a delightful cozy mystery series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
If you like an easy ready, a cozy mystery, and a little paranormal activity, then you'll like this book which is the first in a series Plus the area on the coast of Maryland is described as simply a beautiful area with quaint cottages and views.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

This is an excellent start to what I hope will be a long running series.

The story takes place in Keepsake Cove on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Callie Reed’s Aunt Melodie owns a music box shop and a cute little cottage there. Callie arrives for a short visit that turns into so much more after her aunt suffers a tragic fall. Melodie’s death is ruled accidental, but something just seems off. Her aunt was healthy and vital. She knew the layout of her store even in the dark, and why was she there in the middle of the night? Driven my a music box that mysteriously plays without being wound and just a need to find the truth, Callie keeps her eyes and ears open, asks some careful questions, and tries to not end up joining her aunt in the great beyond, before she can truly be at home in Keepsake Cove.

What an amazing setting for a story/series. Mary Ellen Hughes creates mind blowing imagery with her words. Each shop and cottage, the paths between, the music boxes and other keepsakes, come alive through her words. She takes us there and immerses the reader in everything that is happening.

The characters come alive too. They already have great depth. I feel we will get to know them even better as the series continues. I do wish Callie would have had more time with her aunt, but we know that she was a genuine and caring person with many friends that now will take Callie under their wing. All the shopkeepers are unique in personality and their wares. A tight knit community, most working to continue on the cove’s success. You always have a few dust-ups, maybe even murder, in a place like this, that keep life interesting.

The plot of the story is unique in that there are no police scurrying around trying to catch a killer. They believe is was a terrible accident. Callie does investigate quietly and has several suspects, but she keeps them to herself, until the exciting climax where all is revealed. I found this to be delightful and refreshing.

As a collector myself you could take me away to Keepsake Cove any day of the week. This visit ended much too soon. They are still shops to explore and people to meet. You just know Callie’s going to get herself into something. I am excited about this series to continue. Mary Ellen, my virtual bags are packed and I am ready to escape to the cove whenever you are. Please don’t make me wait too long.

This story is about Callie Reed, who makes a long overdue visit to her Aunt Melodie, who owns the “House of Melody”, which stocks all variations of music boxes. The next morning she finds her aunt dead, amid her lovely music boxes. Her death is ruled accidental. Callie doesn’t think so and sets out to prove it. Meanwhile, Jonathan, one of Aunt Melodie’s loyal customers, is looking for a very old music box that was always displayed in the shop. This was a very fun & excitig story. You must read it to find out if there are more murders and what happened to the missing music box. Take the adventure with our amateur sleuth, Cassie. Thank you Net Gallery for the opportunity to review this book.

Another series that I will be stalking. This was a great first in a new series, from Mary Ellen Hughes. I was sad to meet Callie in such blue circumstances but she is certainly going to be okay, and the charming town is delightful.
Characters
Callie Reed comes to Keepsake Cove to see her aunt, little did she know that she would be staying on to solve a murder. Callie is an absolute delight as a character. Not one that shied away from bringing justice to this mystery, and she was a great pal to go around a new setting with.
Enjoyable Moments
The descriptive language in this book was amazing. I felt like I visited each shop, and stone in detail. It was like a pop-up book in my mind. I fell instantly in love with the town and wish it was a place to visit in real life!
Setting
Keepsake Cove would be great reason to keep coming back to this series, if I wasn’t already a major fan of Callie. It was well detailed, charming to the nines and just a fun place to get to envision. The envisioning was easy, as I mentioned before this was well described and each shop hosted a new image in my mind.
Synoptic
Overall, Callie and Keepsake Cove are going to become instant hits with cozy readers. This novel was a great way to take my mind off of the cooler weather, and it also transported me back to the east coast from Wyoming. It was a delight to read this book.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Who knew collecting was so dangerous...remind me not to collect anything! Murder and mayhem in the middle of salt and pepper shakers, model cars, toys, and of course music boxes.

This book has everything. Murder and mayhem and antiques! I loved learning about some of the appraisals. The author kept me interested throughout!

A FATAL COLLECTION by Mary Ellen Hughes
The First Keepsake Cove Mystery

Needing some time away from her loser boyfriend, Callie Reed decides to spend some time visiting her favorite Aunt Melody in charming Keepsake Cove. Their visit abruptly ends when Callie finds her aunt dead in her music box shop, apparently having accidentally fallen during the night. When Callie learns she is Melody's only heir and now owns her shop and cottage, she decides to leave West Virginia for good and start a new life in the Maryland town catering to collectors. Yet, the more time passes, the more Callie questions her aunt's death. What was she doing in the store in the middle of the night? Was it really an accident? Or did it have something to do with her nasty neighbor? Or the controversy she started with the Keepsake Cove Association? And why is her grandfather's music box suddenly playing when no one has wound it up?

I love the exposition found in the first book of a series, meeting the characters and exploring their world. Mary Ellen Hughes does not disappoint. We meet interesting well developed characters who exist in a charming town. Being a collector, though not of music boxes or salt and pepper shakers, I wish I could walk the streets and browse the stores of Keepsake Cove. Callie Reed is a smart protagonist who doesn't go about deliberately putting herself at risk, although she does find herself in danger.

I enjoy the open ended possibilities we're left with at the end of the first Keepsake Cove mystery. There are lots of avenues to explore and three characters in particular I'm sure we haven't heard the last of!

A FATAL COLLECTION is a fantastic start to a new series. There's a well plotted mystery and a hint of otherworldiness that makes this series debut a hit!

This was a delightful cozy that was really enhanced by how charming the community of Keepsake Cove was. Because Callie is new to the locale as well, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know everyone and everything right along with her. I absolutely love these small towns with locally owned businesses that individually specialize in a certain niche, and Keepsake Cove is full of collectible shops that thrive on the tourist market. Selling a wide variety of unique gifts, this is definitely a welcoming place to visit and explore. The author's vivid descriptions certainly created an inviting atmosphere that I could picture myself strolling through for a sweet shopping experience.

With a quirky yet highly likeable cast of secondary characters, there is no shortage of suspicious suspects or motives. And while I was able to accurately determine who the culprit was very early on, this in no way detracted from the story for me. I enjoyed developing several ideas on the motive, which ultimately did turn out to be a slight surprise, but completely believable.

There is a total lack of law enforcement involvement in solving the mystery, so the story loses that more traditional antagonistic relationship between the amateur and the expert. I appreciated this aspect and thought it worked well in connection with the hints of paranormal activity Callie was using as her guide. She never overtly goes out of her way to put herself or others in danger nor is she even sure there is a mystery to be solved. Her instincts suggest something isn't right, and in the end, she is just as surprised as the reader when the answers are revealed. In many ways, this made the story so much more refreshing and engaging to read.

Overall, this was a great, solid start to yet another lovely cozy mystery series and I am very interested to see how quite a few interactions between characters play out as the story continues.

I really enjoyed this book in the new Keepsake Cove Series.

The writing style is easy to read and the characters likable.. She provides descriptions so that I can 'see' the action without interfering with the story line. There are enough twists and turns that kept me guessing and reading. I'm already looking forward to the next one!

Callie Reed travels to Maryland to visit her Aunt Melodie. She hasn't seen her aunt in 10 years. Not only does she want to reconnect with her aunt, but she needs time away to decide what to do about her troubled love life. Her aunt shows her around her music box shop, House of Melody, explaining the long time Reed family tradition of collecting music boxes. House of Melody is one of many collectible shops in Keepsake Cove, catering to the tourist trade on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Aunt Melodie's cottage is located just behind her shop, and the two continue their conversation for hours that night. The next morning Callie is shocked to find her aunt dead in a pool of blood in her shop. The death is ruled accidental. Suddenly Callie finds herself handing funeral arrangements and meeting with Aunt Melodie's attorney instead of spending a peaceful visit with family. Although the death was supposedly caused by a fall, Callie thinks that there is more to it than that. When she is named sole heir to Aunt Melodies shop and cottage, Callie decides to stay in Keepsake Cove. But if someone did kill her aunt, is it safe? She starts hearing her aunt's music box play by itself without being wound up -- is her aunt trying to give hints about who might have killed her and why?

A Fatal Collection is the first book in a new series, Keepsake Cove mysteries. As I read, I kept thinking that I would love visiting Keepsake Cove! A nice lunch at the Keepsake Cafe, followed by leisurely shopping at the various shops. Heaven! I wonder what interesting goodies I would find? I'm sure I would come home with a lot of great collectibles! :) Realistically speaking, I think shops dedicated solely to the sale of one type of collectible....music boxes, salt and pepper shakers, vintage sewing, etc....would have a hard time making it financially. But....cozy mysteries don't have to be realistic, so those thoughts didn't impede my enjoyment of the story at all.

I enjoy Callie as a main character. She is trying to iron out her life and move past a bad relationship. It's unfortunate that her aunt dies so soon after she arrives, but Callie diligently works to find out what happened to her aunt. I can't wait to see how her character develops as this new series continues. I also like the idea of a music box shop. I have loved music boxes since childhood. I enjoyed reading about all the different boxes in the shop and what songs they played.

The mystery moves along at a nice pace. There are plenty of suspects and some nice twists to the story. I liked the little bit of supernatural edge....it was like a touch of spice added to enhance the flavor of the story. Nice touch. Not overdone.....just a dab will do.

I will definitely be reading more of this series. Great start to a new series!

For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.maryellenhughes.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Midnight Ink via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

4.5 stars, a very good story and plot line. A visit that turned into life changing decisions. New job, house and new friends and neighbors. A family heirloom that becomes a mystery and leads to danger. An investigation that suspects everyone until reveals culprit at the end. Engaging, enduring, suspense, heroine blooms in her new relationships and circumstances. Very satisfying cozy mystery.

Great setting and characters - I really enjoyed the music box shop and the Keepsake Cove environment. The mystery was solid. There's a paranormal/ghost/tarot/psychic piece that I wasn't expecting. I'm not sure if that will continue to be a piece of the series or if that was just part of this particular story.

Mary Ellen Hughes is a new author for me and I was happy to get in on the ground floor of her new series. I found this story to be an enjoyable read. The main character is very likeable. Throughout the story I found myself saying - ooooh - I bet that's person is the murderer. Or - ooooh - I sure hope that character isn't the murderer because I really like them. I like when a book gets me involved tile this one. I'm looking forward to more stories in the Keepsake Cove series.

ARC from Midnight Ink, via Netgalley.

A FATAL COLLECTION will be a keepsake of mine for a very long time to come!

I have said many times that readers can’t go wrong with a book from author Mary Ellen Hughes. She has once again proven me right. This first book in her Keepsake Cove Mystery series is a real winner!

Many things made me want to read, A FATAL COLLECTION. The first of course is author Hughes. The second is the location of the series both real, and fictional. It takes place on the East Coast, in Maryland, close to the town of Ocean City, MD, where I have been visiting since I was a child. So I loved hearing familiar town names, and route numbers. These familiar places helped me to clearly picture the fictional town of Mapleton, MD, and Keepsake Cove. The idea of a “town” within a town is a wonderfully creative idea. And the shops of that town each being dedicated to a certain collectible is brilliant! It’s a place I would frequent most too often I’m sure.

Many things kept me reading A FATAL COLLECTION. First, the characters. I felt an instant kinship to protagonist, Callie Reed, her Aunt Melodie, and the many eclectic store owners. I felt they were people I would surely have called friends. I would have loved to see the relationship between Callie and her aunt grow. Ms. Hughes, how could you kill Aunt Mel?! You broke my heart! (You’re already forgiven.) However, that does bring me to the second thing that kept me reading. I had to know who killed Aunt Mel, why they did it, and most of all, see them caught and punished! Yes, I took it quite personally. LOL

As for the mystery, it was solid, and well plotted. There were enough suspects to caused me to spend time deliberating just who the murderer could be. In what I considered to be a major surprising turn of events, I was completely stunned when the killer was revealed! I was totally taken by surprise. Very clever.

One thing I want to stress about A FATAL COLLECTION is, it’s what a cozy mystery should be in every way. So many authors are making cozies edgier. While I have enjoyed some of them, they aren’t what I want in a cozy. But this book, this is what I want when I read a cozy mystery. This story is what has made cozy mysteries my favorite genre.

All of the things above, and so much more, have
made A FATAL COLLECTION one of my favorite cozy mysteries of 2017.

Another book that grabbed me with its cover and title. As soon as I read the blurb, I knew I had to read it. The location was a plus too. I've been to Maryland's eastern Shore albeit a ling time ago and it's a location that I don't see often in books. Hughes did a good job with the setting and making it a part of the story. "A Fatal Collection" was centered both in the town of Mapleton and in the region of the Eastern Shore.

Callie is making a long overdue visit to her aunt and they are both excited. Although they have exchanged emails and letters, it's been ten years since they have seen each other. Their reunion is short-lived when Melodie dies unexpectedly. Callie is still reeling from that event when she finds out that Melodie left everything to her - her shop, her house, money, everything.

Melodie's death is ruled accidental but Callie is not so certain and quietly pokes around, asking questions. She knows nothing about retail or business so she's asking lots of questions anyway of the local shop owners. She was a little too trusting at times, despite warnings from her employee, a psychic and tarot reader. But she was cautious too and basically a good person. She had made some poor life choices and saw her inheritance as a chance to start over and make a better life, if only it hadn't come at the expense of her aunt's life.

The story occurs gradually, over several weeks, which gave it a realistic feel. Callie, though new both to retail and running her own business, is intelligent and not afraid to ask for or accept help. She's off to a good start and she works hard. As she works, she gets involved with the other shop owners and starts getting drawn into disputes and cliques. Callie keeps a level head all throughout events, and especially at the end when everything heats up. She's resourceful, smart, and compassionate.

Hughes blended a likable heroine, interesting side characters, a vibrant setting, a hint of romance, a hint of paranormal, and several mysteries. I did figure out who the killer was but I wasn't 100% on the why. The other mysteries were a good mix and I appreciated that they were not so much as criminal as the mundane behavior of human beings, for worse or for better. "A Fatal Collection" was enjoyable and engaging with a wonderful setting and cast of characters.

A Fatal Collection
Keepsake cove Mystery, Book #1
Mary Ellen Hughes
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Callie Reed makes a long overdue visit to her aunt Melodie, who lives in a fairy-tale cottage in quaint Keepsake Cove, home to a bevy of unique collectible shops on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Just as they're beginning to reconnect, Callie discovers her aunt's body on the floor of her music box shop. Grief-stricken, Callie finds she can't accept Melodie's death being called accidental. How could her strong and healthy aunt take such a fatal fall? And why was she there in the middle of the night?

As Callie searches for the truth, signs seem to come from her late aunt through a favorite music box, urging Callie on. Or are they warnings? If Callie isn't careful, she could meet a similar deadly fate amid Melodie's collection. (Goodreads)

Review:
When Callie goes to visit her Aunt Melody, the visit does not go as she planned. Shortly after her arrival, her aunt dies. The question is, was it from natural causes or something more sinister? Callie decides to stick around and try to find the answer to that question.

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I enjoyed getting to know Callie and some of her employees and her aunt’s friends. Like in any community, some of the citizens are not as nice as others, but it takes all kinds to raise a community.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I could imagine the music box shop and all of it’s contents. That gave the story a whimsical feel to it. I really liked the paranormal aspect of the story, but I do wish it would have been more involved.

The mystery was well plotted and carried on well throughout the book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through. I did have some inkling of who the culprit was but I was not one hundred percent sure until it was revealed at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This book is a great start to a new series and I am looking forward to it continuing.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange of a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Midnight Ink for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Callie finally makes the trip to visit her Aunt Melodie, but Melodie is unexpectedly found dead during the visit. The authorities call it an accident, but Callie doesn't agree with their conclusion. While she's learning the business and getting to know her neighbors and fellow shopkeepers, she also pokes around a bit to try to learn what really happened to Melodie.

I've never read anything by this author before, but I enjoyed this book enough that I'll be looking into her other books. It was well written, and her descriptions of Keepsake Cove made me want to go there to browse the shops and enjoy a picnic lunch near the cove. Most of the characters seem like people I'd like to get to know, and I found the special music box to be an entertaining addition to the story. The mystery was relatively easy to figure out, so I wasn't surprised by the reveal at the end of the book.