Bad Neighbors by Maia Chance is a delightful cozy mystery. I recommend this fun read to all who love a cozy mystery.

Second book in the series. Took me forever to actually get into it. Agnes is not super engaging as a main character. Sort of love Effie, though.
Not sure if I'll even attempt another book in the series

A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

3 out of 5 stars

I would like to thank Crooked Lane Books for gifting me with a free electronic ARC of this book via Netgalley. As I enjoyed the first book in this series, and follow Ms Chance on social media, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read the next instalment. Any and all reviews I now give I do so openly, honestly and obligation free.

Okay, so I actually finished reading this book many, many months ago and so I do apologise if I have forgotten half the things I had wanted to say. It has been a tough year for me, and therefore a busy year away from being a reviewer. But I have just discovered the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t actually a train at the end of said tunnel… so I can get back into my reviewing. Yay!

So… Bad Neighbours by Maia Chance is book two in ‘An Agnes and Effie Mystery’, and I have to say I totally adored book one – ‘Bad Housekeeping’. The pace was fast, the characters relatable and likable, the plot and sleuthing great. I am pretty sure I raved over it as I enjoyed it so much and saw a lot of potential in this series.

Book two, ‘Bad Neighbours’? Hmmm, I still really liked it, but…! And that but was: it seemed to have lost some of the spark of the first book. I actually found Agnes a little too whiney at times than as enjoyably self-demeaning as she was in the first book. Maybe trying to get that love interest angst and intrigue going in the book as well as the mystery just didn’t gel well with me and it took that shine away?

I am not saying it wasn’t an enjoyable book, it was great! But I did find it a little more cluttered and convoluted than the first. Too much was trying to be done and not enough mad-cap action got to take place because of it. It was almost as if Effie and Agnes, upon the success of their first adventure, tried to be slightly more professional in their second one. And by taking it all more seriously, they lost that quirky edge I loved so much in the first book. Who knows? I mean, this is just MY opinion, and I am known to be wrong. AND it was a few months ago since I read it so can you REALLY trust me on this? ;-)

However, I really must emphasise it was a good read. It just wasn’t the great read the first book was. Perhaps I did it to myself? Perhaps I was miss-remembering how good the first book was? I don’t know. But I do know ‘Bad Neighbours’ was an okay read, where ‘Bad Housekeeping’ was a great read… for me at least.

Remember that mantra people – “Pffffft! What would SHE know?!”
Would I recommend this book to others?

Yes I would, as it was an enjoyable cosy crime/ mystery book and if it was the first one in the series I had read I would still say all the positives about it. It. Was. Good. Don’t diss the book on my account. But, having read it as book two in a series where book one was (to me) a LOT better… Heck, that just makes me want to recommend people buy and read BOTH ‘Bad Neighbours’ AND ‘Bad Housekeeping’ and then read them in order and tell me if I am wrong. Please, I am happy to admit it if people can prove it. :-D

Would I buy this book for myself?

Yes I would. And I would because I loved the first book in the series so much. Would I regret having bought it when I found it not as good? Nope, not at all. These things happen. And, I mean, I haven’t been having a great year and that can really influence your mood when reading and so the fault is totally with me. Would this book stop me from buying the next book (if there is one) in ‘An Agnes and Effie Mystery’? Nope, I look forward to the next book and hope it comes out soon. The characters in this book remind me of ones written by other favourite authors – Sharyn McCrumb and Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Michaels). So to be reminded of their work shows a LOT of talent in Ms Chance, and just draws me all the more this series. If that makes sense? So – yes to recommending and yes to buying!

In summary: An enjoyable book in its own right, it just lacked something as part of the series (to me).

Maia Chance finds lots of Bad Neighbors for Agnes Blythe and her aunt Effie who are restoring the historic Stagecoach Inn. A mechanic is murdered with a wrench and Agnes finds out her boyfriend Otis is the chief suspect; then a tourist bus breaks down and 4 passengers are put up at the unfinished inn. Whodunit? Can Agnes and her aunt keep the tourists happy and solve the murder?

Agnes Blythe and her glamorous Aunt Effie must take a break from restoring their inn to rake in the clues when a local mechanic is murdered in national bestselling author Maia Chance’s charming second Agnes and Effie mystery. It’s leaf-peeping season in Naneda, New York, and Agnes Blythe has settled into helping her eccentric Great Aunt Effie restore the Stagecoach Inn. It seems nothing can shatter the golden idyll—or the ka-ching of cash registers—until a mechanic at Hatch Automotive is found bludgeoned to death with a wrench. Sweeping into action, Agnes and Aunt Effie are on the scene, when a tourist-laden motor coach breaks down outside of town. The Stagecoach Inn isn’t exactly ready for guests, but Agnes and Effie agree to take in a group of seniors while they wait for repairs. But then, Agnes finds herself pulled into the investigation when she learns her new boyfriend, gorgeous Otis Hatch, is the Naneda Police Department’s prime suspect.

This was a fun read! I have not read the other books by Mai Chance yet. It was a very enjoyable read. I find Agnes. Effe and even Chester very relatable. I also felt that this book offered a lot of humor. I giggled my way thru it.

Agnes and Chester are in Naneda helping great Aunt Effie restore the Stagecoach Inn when a tour of Leaf Peepers break down and have to stay at the unfinished inn as there are no other available options. A citizen turns up dead and murdered at Agnes' boyfriend's auto shop and he becomes the #1 suspect. Agnes sets out with Aunt Effie (and help from her new Leaf Peeping friends) to try an clear her boyfriend's name. Many townspeople pop up on the list of possible suspects but nothing seems to be adding up. Combine that with the fact that Delilah is trying to steal her boyfriend and someone is running around killing and attempting to kill more people, including Agnes, while wearing a creepy pumpkin head mask (think Headless Horseman) and Agnes is trying to deal with many obstacles at once.

The story moved along steadily, and I really liked the gaggle of leaf peepers that they ended up having to entertain and bring along while sleuthing, but I was not a big fan of Agnes' lack of confidence or self-esteem. Written in first-person point of view, there are many occasions in which Agnes is doubting herself or putting herself down. Aunt Effie was a fabulous character and I enjoyed seeing her go on these sleuthing missions, cigarette in hand, while wearing the worst possible shoes for hiding in orchards and running from bad guys.

It’s leaf-peeping season in Naneda, New York, and Agnes Blythe has settled into helping her Great Aunt Effie restore the Stagecoach Inn. It seems nothing can shatter the golden idyll or the kaching of cash registers until a mechanic at Hatch Automotive is found bludgeoned to death with a wrench.
Sweeping into action, Agnes and Effie are on the scene, when a tourist laden motor coach breaks down outside of town. The Stagecoach Inn isn’t really ready for guests, but Agnes and Effie agree to take in a group of seniors while they wait for repairs to be done on the motor coach. Agnes finds herself being pulled into the investigation when she learns her boyfriend, Otis Hatch, is the Naneda Police Department’s prime suspect. With bodies falling faster than the leaves off of the trees, Agnes must leaf through the viable suspects and clear Otis’s name of murder.

The mystery is full of twists and and red herrings with some humor thrown in to help break up some of the more intense situations. The main characters are well written, well developed, and believable which makes them lifelike. The gaggle of senior citizens help bring some comic relief as they follow Agnes and Effie around town, even helping the two investigate the murders. The author describes the characters and scenes in the book so nicely that you can imagine what is happening throughout the book.

I like that while Agnes has low self-esteem issues she doesn't let it stop her from trying to find the killer, sometimes in humorous situations with surprising results. The snide comments that Delilah makes to Agnes every time they talk made me take a big disliking to her so I was glad to see she gets her just desserts at the end of the book. I was happy to see that Agnes and Otis made up in the end and decided to give their relationship another chance since they both have strong feelings for each other. Effie giving Agnes an equal share in the inn was nice, it showed Agnes that her aunt believes in her and that she's not a failure in her eyes. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see what Agnes and Effie get themselves into.

I got an ARC of this book from netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for my review of the book.

Bad Neighbors by Maia Chance is the second book in the Agnes and Effie Mystery series. Agnes and her great aunt Effie get a test run of the Stagecoach Inn when a tour group needs a place to stay while their bus is repaired. When Agnes goes to pick up the senior guests, a mechanic at the repair shop has just been found murdered. To make matters worse, her boyfriend Otis is the only suspect. Agnes must juggle the inn guests and investigating the murder all while being stalked by the murdered. I did guess the killer's identity before it was revealed, but it did not make me enjoy the book any less. I adore Agnes, Effie, and cousin Chester and am already looking forward to more of their adventures!

I really enjoyed this book; much more than the first one. There are still a lot of characters to try and keep track of, but I found it easier this time around to remember who was who. Agnes is a hilarious character who gets into such impossible [and almost unbelievable] situations that you just have to shake your head at it all and her aunt adds such a fun aspect to the stories.
I know I laughed quite a bit in this book and was very happy that there was less swearing in this one [in comparison to the first one]. I like the story/plot and was surprised at the end, which is always a great thing.

Really looking forward to another book in this series!!

This is a fun mystery series, with entertaining characters and a great mystery at its core. Agnes is drawn into yet another investigation when her boyfriend is accused of murder, and to top it all off, she's being followed around by a greek chorus of leaf-peepers who are staying at her aunt's inn. Chance does a good job mixing humor with suspense, while creating a large cast of suspects for investigation.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I have read a couple of the Fairy Tale mysteries by Maia Chance and loved them, so this was the perfect opportunity to try a book in one of her other series. Agnes Blythe and her eccentric Great Aunt Effie are in the process of renovating an old inn in Naneda, New York, when a tour bus of leaf-peepers get stranded in town when their tour bus breaks down. The tourists are desperate and although they are not anywhere near ready for guests, Agnes & Effie take in the peepers anyway. Without their licence, however, they can't charge for the privilege.

The murder happens quickly when the body of one of the workers at the local automotive garage is found in the trunk of a car by the leaf-peepers. The owner of the garage, Otis Hatch, is taken in for questioning and remains the prime suspect throughout. Agnes refuses to believe he had anything to do with, not least because she and Otis are dating. So, armed with nothing but determination to clear Otis's name and her Great Aunt Effie, she sets out to clear him of suspicion.

The characters are quirky and fun and there is plenty of humour throughout the book. The author has a real way with words and spins a wonderful mystery, one that will hopefully keep you guessing to the end. Despite Agnes' low self-confidence, she is bright, intelligent, funny, honest (more or less), and does everything at 100%, whether it's ripping up old flooring in her third-floor suite at the inn, overthinking her problems with Otis, investigating the murder, or reluctantly participating in the Harvest Festival.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book (although did suspect the murderer fairly early ) and will be going back to the first one so I can start at the beginning. I hope this is series continues!

I loved this book! I was initially attracted to the series because it is set in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York, about 2 1/2 hours from where I live. The area is known for its wines, particularly Rieslings, and apple farming. So when a tour bus of "Leaf Peepers" finds that they are stranded in Naneda with no available lodging, Agnes and her Aunt Effie are asked to take them into their unfinished bed and breakfast. They don't have an occupancy certificate so they can't charge any money for the guests' stay but think that they will gain free publicity. Agnes' sort-of boyfriend, Otis, is under suspicion for the murder of Mikey--a local mechanic so she decides she must do all she can to clear his name. While Aunt Effie and Cousin Chester drive "the gaggle" as the guests are called, around town, Agnes is getting too close to the killer and faces her own danger

The cozy was such a fun read. Aunt Effie has such a bold personality, with her Benson-Hedges cigarette always dangling from her mouth. The mystery had so many layers and there were far more characters involved than I would have originally thought. The story was written so tightly that I didn't feel overwhelmed in any way. I found myself laughing throughout the book, which was a real plus and made this a 5 star book for me. While I did read the previous book, this can be read as a standalone as well. I also liked the conclusion, no cliffhanger, but a nice reward to all of their hard work.

** Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. My review is voluntary.

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.

Fall foliage competition causes problems within the small town. Surprises along the way, including whodunit. Entertaining cozy mystery.

Bad Neighbors is the second book in the Agnes & Effie Mystery series. Agnes had a serious falling out with her former fiance in book 1 (he left her for a sexy pilates instructor) and found herself not only heart-broken but homeless. So she joined forces with her Aunt Effie, a feisty older gal, to restore the Stagecoach Inn. The old place has seen many, many better days....

Agnes & Effie have cleaned the inside of the old Victorian. In fact it's spotless. But they are just starting to gauge the enormity of the project ahead of them.....bathroom updates, roof replacement, windows, floors, painting.... It's overwhelming. It's nowhere near time to apply for an innkeeping license or even think about having guests. But when a busload of leaf peepers are stranded by a broken down bus, it seems all the available rooms in town are filled. Four of the leafers will have to stay at the Stagecoach as Effie's guests. They will have plenty to do in town because it's Harvest Festival time in Naneda, NY and there's a murder to investigate. When the tourist bus broke down, the leaf peepers found the body of a local mechanic stuffed in his car trunk at the repair shop. Dead. Bludgeoned with a wrench. And, owner of Hatch Automotive, Otis Hatch (the man Agnes is head over heels in love with) is taken in for questioning. Can Agnes....along with Effie and the four leaf peepers....solve the murder so that Otis can go on a trip to the mountains with her instead of being arrested for murder?

This newest adventure is filled with the same humor and quirky characters as the first book. Fun to read! The mystery is nicely paced with plenty of suspects and twists. Effie is still feisty and Agnes still manages to get herself into trouble. This time even her eyebrows get in on the action. :) I like this series and will definitely be reading more!

Maia Chance also writes the Discreet Retrieval Agency mysteries and the Fairy Tale Fatal series.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I loved this funny and engaging cozy mystery! The characters are interesting and quirky and the plot is solid. I'm looking forward to the future adventures of Agnes and her crazy great-aunt Effie. They make a great pair!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s autumn in Naneda, New York, and Agnes Blythe is working with her quirky Great Aunt Effie to restore the Stagecoach Inn. A tourist-laden chartered bus breaks down outside of town and the duo agree to take in a group of seniors although the inn is not ready for guests. Agnes is shocked to learn Hatch Automotive mechanic Mikey Brown is found bludgeoned to death with a wrench and that her boyfriend Otis is the prime suspect. Agnes and Effie shepherd their guests around town and interrogate the various suspects in hope of finding the real killer. This was a hilarious and enjoyable read and another strong entry in the Agnes and Effie mystery series.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Bad Neighbors

by Maia Chance

Grab your hat for a whirlwind ride with Agnes, a self-professed nerd, and her wacky Aunt Effie in Maia Chance’s new cozy mystery Bad Neighbors. Agnes, recovering from the breakup of a long term relationship, has still not unpacked her boxes as she continues to try to figure out her future. Meanwhile Agnes, Effie, and cousin Chester take on their first four guests at the Stagecoach Inn, which they have only barely begun to remodel. Their four nonpaying guests are part of a tour group who have come to small town Naneda to view the changing leaves. Unfortunately their bus broke down. The whole town scurries to accommodate the tour bus participants because the town is also hosting their Harvest Festival along with the obnoxious judge of a yearly contest among towns in the area.

With this autumnal backdrop, the plot thickens as one of the locals is found murdered and Agnes’ old high school flame Otis is a suspect. Along the way there is a lot of suspicion thrown on various characters, and Agnes picks up a lot of ridicule from various townspeople who resent her sleuthing. Her arch rival turns out to be the snarky cupcake queen Delilah who sets her eyes on Otis.

Agnes, Effie, and their gaggle of equally quirky guests engage in numerous adventures in the name of investigations. Agnes has some close brushes with death and seriously considers leaving the craziness of the Stagecoach Inn behind to return to graduate school. What will it take to discover the murderer and to invest Agnes fully in life in Naneda? The end of this fun and humorous cozy mystery will reveal all.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #2 in the Agnes and Effie Mystery Series, but works as a standalone

Publication: April 6, 2018—Crooked Lane Books

Memorable Lines:

…in my “new” car. This was a fifteen-year-old whitish minivan that looked like a cross between a handheld Dustbuster and the Space Shuttle. Its undercarriage was about two inches from the ground and bumped and scraped on every last pebble. At speeds over forty-five miles per hour, it felt in danger of disintegration.

To say I had butterflies in my stomach is an understatement. It felt as if I had pterodactyls swooping around in there.

Over the past weeks, our new relationship had felt like a fragile, enhanced bubble. I had made sure not to get too comfortable, because if I got comfortable, settled in, made myself at home, it would hurt that much more when the bubble inevitably popped.

I get such enjoyment out of Agnes and Effie. You would never know to listen to them that they are 2 generations apart. Honestly Effie is ageless and seems to have done about anything in her past. Agnes is a family oriented gal that never expected to come back to Naneda, NY and settle into the Stagecoach Inn that has been in the family for over 100 years. It actually belongs to Aunt Effie and Agnes and cousin Chester are helping with the total restoration.

While Chester pines for Agnes' best friend Lauren, Agnes is in love with Otis Hatch as she has been since they were lab partners in high school ten years ago. In fact, Agnes and Otis have a weekend trip planned after the local Harvest festival, but true to Agnes style, nothing seems to go right. It all starts when a leaf peeper tour bus breaks down and goes to Otis's grandfather's garage for repairs. One of the peepers discovers a body in a minivan and Otis is hauled to the police station for questioning because the detective thinks he is the killer. The Inn is no where near occupancy yet, however Effie has decided to take pity on the tourists who can not find other accommodations in town while the bus gets repaired. That is how the in has it's own gaggle of tourists staying with them and being Effie's guests at the Inn for several days. Effie, Agnes, and Chester do everything they can to make their stay a pleasant time, including side trips, shopping, hiking, and letting them watch Effie and Agnes try to solve the murder and clear Otis's good name.

A good mystery with tons of clues and red herrings mixed with romantic difficulties between Agnes and Otis, sleuthing with Agnes and Effie, a second murder, breaking and entering, and Agnes getting crowned Gourd Queen, makes for an enjoyable book with plenty of guffaws and outright laughs. Just when you think you have it figured out, something new happens and you are back to square one.

This is the second book in the series, and there are hopes for many more. Written totally G rated with only a couple minor swear words, this is a book you can read and share with anyone, Men and women alike should find it appealing.

The author has done an excellent job of keeping the voices and demeanor of the various characters separate and distinct. She has created characters who can think on their feet and quickly throw together a plan to question, challenge, or try and stop a suspect. And when all is said and done, you end up with a good murder, or actually two, and a few surprises along the way. You will enjoy this second book more if you have read the books in order starting with Bad Housekeeping.

I would like to thank the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.