In Die Me a River, the small rural town of Scumble River is still recovering from the tornado in the last book in this cozy mystery series.

The town is abuzz with complaints about the shady practices of Homestead Insurance. Claims are being reduced, denied and seldom paid timely. When their insurance inspector turns up dead in a bombing, Police Chief Wally must investigate a plethora of suspects. Wally would much rather be at home with his school psychologist wife, Skye, and their still unnamed newborn twins. Skye is on maternity leave. She is seemingly being stalked by a new town resident, Millicent Rose, who just wants to go the twins’ baptism. According to their priest, Millicent has gone to both of the other baptisms since she arrived in town and gave each baby some type of verbal gift.

Die Me a River is the second in the rebooted Scumble River series. However, there were nineteen books in the original series too. Despite never reading any of those books, I had no trouble catching up with the character’s backstories. This works well as a stand-alone.

Most readers, and I include myself, read cozies more for the ambience and characters than for the puzzle. This book does a great job pulling the reader into small town Illinois life. While there are a lot of characters here, each has such a diverse personality it is is easy to keep them separated.

The two mysteries are well-presented. I actually liked the fairy godmother sub-plot better than the insurance main plot but that was just personal preference. I enjoyed the minor mystery around the naming of the babies too.

Die Me a River is a great, relaxing cozy mystery. It is recommended for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in someone else’s life for a day. 4 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for an advance copy.

In this next book of the series people are still reeling from the storm that hit the town in the previous book. Everyone is trying to get back to normal but quite a few people in town are having issues with a certain insurance company re-fusing claims. Things were going well with the original adjuster but he was removed and someone new sent in. While Skye and Boyd are with their priest discussing the twins christening they hear an explosion that sounds relatively close. It ends up being the bowling alley and when the fire fighters discover the body of a certain claims adjuster dead there are more than a few suspects to be had. Skye is trying to enjoy her leave but with Wally being the head of the investigation she can't help but be pulled in. Being bombarded with clues is a good thing right, it's not when there are no answers to be had when it comes to said clues. Skye really can't seem to get a hold onto this mystery and wonders if it will ever get solved. In the meantime she is still working on figuring out what to name the twins, rebuilding her home, and getting into a new normal with two babies. Follow along as Skye tries to make sense of all the she has learned and be a great mom in the process. I'm enjoying where this series is going and love the transition the main character has made from being single to married and from being childless to a new mother of twins. I can't wait to see what she comes up against next.

This is a great book; this is the second book in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series written by Denise Swanson. School psychologist Skye Denison-Boyd had hoped that her maternity leave would be at least a little relaxing, but when she and her husband, Wally, meet with the priest to discuss their newborn twins' christening, an explosion at the nearby bowling alley rocks the rectory. And although the business was closed at the time of the blast, there's a body inside. As police chief, Wally is inevitably drawn into the investigation, which seems to indicate that foul play is afoot again in Scumble River, and Skye can't help but do a bit of her own sleuthing. But the clues come fast and furious, ranging from an odd new stranger in town to animosity toward the gambling machines that had recently been installed at the bowling alley, and Skye finds herself wondering if this could be the puzzle that stumps her for good. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author.

This is a standalone story. I have not read the previous Return to Scumble River book.

Skye Dennison Boyd is a new mother on maternity leave. Her husband Wally is the sheriff of the town that was recently hit by a tornado.

There is an explosion at the town’s bowling alley. When the body of an insurance adjuster is found amongst the wreckage there are no shortage of suspects since the adjuster had denied numerous tornado claims around town.

So, Wally and Skye need to find the killer, name their month old twins, and rebuild their home that was damaged in the tornado. It’s never easy juggling work, home life, new babies and building a new home. On top of that, throw in a dead body. Skye has her hands full.

Entertaining and well written. Enjoyed seeing Wally and Skye work together to figure this one out.
Treat yourself to a good read and see how it’s all resolved.

Scumble River residents are slowly getting their lives back together after a tornado had ravaged their town. School psychologist Skye Denison-Boyd and her husband Wally are living with their newborn twins in an RV while their new house is being built. When Skye and Wally meet with the priest to discuss their newborn twins' christening, an explosion at the nearby bowling alley rocks the area. The fire officials quick dowse the fire but they find a body inside the building. The victim is identified as an insurance investigator who is responsible for approving damage claims from the tornado. Wally has to investigate the death and Skye does her own snooping too. Was the victim killed by a disgruntled homeowner? Or was the bombing connected with the recent addition of video gaming machines?

This was a fun, quick read in the Welcome Back to Scumble RIver mystery series.

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

Die Me a River by Denise Swanson is the second book in Welcome Back to Scumble River Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.
Although I haven't read the first installment I had no trouble getting familiar with characters and setting as previous happenings are clearly explained as needed.
Skye school psychologist and her husband Wally, police chief have just become parents to beautiful twins. Their plans to relax and plan their kids baptism are interrupted by a horrible explosion which happens in a bowling alley owned by Skye's ex-boyfriend's mother who just happens to be romantically involved with Wally's father.
Thing only get more complicated as Skye and Wally try to solve this puzzle.
I enjoyed this book, it has a nice flow to it. A lot of interesting and intelligent dialogue and a set of quirky characters add to its charm.
Well written and has an engaging story.
Treat for cozy lovers.

Skye and her husband are at church setting up their twin's christening when they feel a blast. A bomb has exploded in Bunny's nearby bowling alley. Why Bunny's? was it to get rid of the gambling machines? or the insurance adjusted found inside?
This was my first book by this author. The way i understand it, this is the 2nd story in a spinoff of sorts from her well established long running series. i assumed that since it was a spinoff I wouldn't be too far behind in the goings on, and for the most part, that was true. i recall once mention of some run ins with a group of side characters that i really wanted to know more about. but there was nothing that made me feel i was missing crucial information whatsoever. i liked the age range of Skye. Most cozies i find tend to have either single characters or well established late middle age type characters. i appreciated the young mother stage as that one i can currently identify with. I had a delay in reviewing this due to a family emergency, but if i recall correctly, it was fairly clean and respectable. i enjoyed it and would be happy to continue the series or read some of the earlier ones.
thanks netgalley and Sourcebooks.

So happy to follow up with Skye, who has now had her twin babies and, regrettably, is living in an RV thank to Hurricane Harvey. That doesn't stop her though, and in this installment to a delightful series, she's wrapped into the investigation with her husband Wally of who blew up a building and killed someone no one in town liked. Add to it that the bomb was inside a casino gambling machine and that gambling at the bowling alley had been a very divisive issue in the town and well, you've got a good mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a neat series with good scenes of small town life and topical problems. Swanson also made me smile with her chapter names, all of which are baby songs.

Again the author envelopes us her cast of characters we have all known and loved. Great cozy read. Everyone wants to live in her world.

I just had my first visit to Illinois this past weekend and reading this on the plane ride to Midway was ideal. Although we never made it past the Western Chicago suburbs we also spent enough time in Indiana where my daughter's college is located for me to fully visualize Scumble River. I've read this entire series and never truly understood the rural, Midwestern life - now that I've seen it I can completely understand why one character's wife demanded liquor, flowers and chocolate but I'm now addicted to Albanese!

What I loved: The Scumble River-ites are characters and you always have to have the obligatory Dozier clan scene in one of her books. Skye needs to find another sidekick like the high school students who ran the school paper - Her librarian buddy will turn everything that happens into fodder for her next book and everyone else either has small children too, is already in law enforcement (no fun for solving murders) or dated Skye.

What I didn't love: I still don't understand why the change in title structure and starting the series over with new numbers...Skye hasn't recently left so why welcome her back? Enough with the weight issues as well..The constant weight mentioning has been annoying in all of the books but even more so in this tale since Skye just gave birth to twins. In my mind she's Kate Upton-esque but the way she continually mentions her weight I'm beginning to change my vision of her to something bigger (Mama June pre-surgery maybe?)

Rebuilding from the recent tornado, Scumble River is rocked when a bomb explodes at Bunny’s business and a body is found inside. Identified as the insurance agent who was denying claims, Wally has to figure out who was the intended target and was this an act of revenge.

I like the premise that this mystery was set upon where anyone from town could have been involved, but it is the clues that Wally and Skye uncover that lent itself to a well-written whodunit that was both entertaining and enjoyable. With Bunny playing a pivotal role in this latest caper, all eyes are on how this will end for her. In the meantime, we finally learn the name of the twins in the party that May throws. One of the amusing scenes in the book is when the Dooziers arrive at the baby shower/christening. They simply make me laugh and I enjoyed the encounter with Glenda and Bunny. There was a nice little twist at the end with a character that seemed to pop up around Skye and I liked how the author addressed that appearance. This was a fun read and I can’t wait for the next book in this delightfully charming series.

WOW! Denise Swanson has another mega hit! I could not stop reading once I started!

I feel like I personally know all of Skye's friends and family and their quirky personalities, This takes us back to Scumble River after the devasting tornado.

Skye is still on maternity leave following the birth of her unnamed twins, while living in a RV supplied by Wally's Dad Carson, coping with the building of a new home, when Bunny's Bowling Lanes get bombed! Sadly the stingy Insurance adjuster is inside with the gambling machines. Could this have been aimed at the snarky Homestead claims adjuster, or does someone want the gambling machines to bite the dust. Then to add to the mix Bunny has a shady ex-boyfriend. Maybe he is upset over Bunny's new beau Carson.

It is an assortment of mishaps while May is also trying to organize a mega Baby/Baptismal shower for her precious twin grandbabies.

Hop aboard this delightful adventure with the Skye and her family and you won't be disappointed. BUT you must read this book first to find out the conclusion. I might read it again! Top-Notch entertainment!!

I would recommend this book for friends and family - but treat yourself first!

I will also post on Goodreads! Enjoy my friends.

I know this is a mystery, and believe me it was a well written one, but this author just has a charming way of writing! The characters are well rounded and enchanting. The story line was well written and thought out. Overall a wonderful book you can read again and again.

I have been a longtime fan of Denise Swanson’s Scumble River book series. As I read further through the series I became invested in Skye’s story and cheered for her, cried with her, and laughed with her. Denise Swanson’s reinvention of the Scumble River book series was a genius move on her part. It allowed her to develop and change her characters’ lives and personalities as their story evolves. There is a new maturity and softness to Skye’s life but also boldness and protectiveness since becoming a mother. Die Me a River has the usual crazy, fun and sometimes rude suspects that show up. They will confuse you as you read and make you second-guess who bombed the bowling alley. I also loved seeing a different side of the town as they try to pick up the pieces to their lives after the devastating tornado from the previous book. Die Me a River is a great read-one that you won’t want to put down at night. The plot was well written and Denise has a way with her words that keep you glued till the very end. Needless to say, I’m already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series and to read what might happen in the Boyd’s lives.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

It was fun going back to Scumble River and catching up on Skye, Wally and the kids. I enjoyed the mystery and the crazy cast of characters.

I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

I have been a fan since the very first Scumble River story came out. I found Die Me A River to have a slightly different feel than the previous books including Dead in the water, the first book in this new reincarnation.

The new feeling I got in Die was of maturity and realism. The story focuses very much on Sky and Wally and their new family. Many of the usual suspects show up, some very, very briefly though. Sky is no longer the doormat she once was and I hope that doesn't revert in the next book. Sky and Wally aren't quite as perfect and there is the almost use of vulgarities several times (but as new parents, they cut themselves off in time). I felt that may have been overdone as part of a story, but I know in my real life, family members would be doing it just as much or more often. Sky does obsess about her weight a bit too much as well. I like how the author mentions the subtle changes now that people know Wally is the son of a rich man.

An exception to the realism is how quickly Wally's relationship with his father has improved. Also, his father's romance(?) with a local woman seems a bit unbelievable since no time is spent explaining his attraction to the individual. I think of him as an urbane sophisticate and to be interested in a local woman, particularly the one he chooses seems off without any development/explanation.

The mystery and two separate issues which tie into it are very timely, especially in Illinois in 2018.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really like this series. Smart and fun. Clean - up from a tornado is hard enough for Scumble River-ites and then there's an explosion at the bowling alley. This puts an already stressed, new mom to twins, Skye in the path of her ex Simon. While she and ex have a difficult relationship, Skye truly likes Bunny, Simon's mom and owner of the bowling alley. Throw a dead body found in the valley And Skye has her work cut out for her.

Still dealing with the aftermath of tornadoes, Scumble River is susceptible to conmen and ruses.
Skye and Wally had tried to keep the family wealth a secret, but now, having to rebuild, along with the rest of the town, and deciding to go big with their new home and expanded family, judiciously it is revealed that they can afford something more than expected on their combined salaries. This brings its own difficulties.

They don't have time to worry about that, as their twins are now over a month old, still without names. Baptism day is coming and Skye's mother can't contain her enthusiasm, especially now that budget is not a problem.
Obstacles seem to roll out from every direction and odd things happen as well.
Does magic really exist? Is something paranormal going on in rural Illinois?

With all of the zany, quirky characters we've come to love from Denise Swanson (and at one point all under one tent) and the building tension of protecting the children while answering unusual questions and solving an explosive murder, we watch as Skye must move forward with decisions and learning to balance motherhood, work, even if part time, and rebuilding.


Loving how all the chapters are named after BABY songs, or songs which include the word baby. Authors go to so much trouble to entertain us readers. I admit I was not familiar with "My Baby Must Be a Magician" so I did look it up. I have heard of the Marvelettes and love that musical era.

This can be read as a stand alone but I think you will enjoy it best if you are familiar with at least some of the main characters by reading several previous books. You'll be hooked and want to read the entire series.

This is the second book in the welcome back to scumble river series. Skye Dennison Boyd is a new mother and is in the midst of planning her twins baptism. On the night that she and her husband, Wally are meeting with the priest there is an explosion at the nearby bowling alley. When they body of an insurance adjuster is found amongst the wreckage there are no shortage of suspects since the adjuster had denied numerous claims around town in regards to the recent tornado the town had suffered. But was the adjuster the intended target. It is possible that the owner of the bowling alley was the intended target or someone who wanted the business's new gambling machines shut down.

I always love visiting scumble river. The characters have become family to me and I look forward to reading about them. Wally and Skye are new parents and are learning to balance work and parenthood. Skye 's mother is still as overbearing as ever and I loved every second of it. The mystery was well done and very enjoyable.