A Dark and Twisting Path by Julia Buckley is a 2018 Berkley publication.

This is the third book in ‘The Writer’s Apprentice’ series and it pretty much picks right up where book two left off. The case with Sam’s ex-wife, and her missing daughter, continues, but meanwhile, Lena’s friend Allison discovers her mail carrier’s dead body in her backyard, and it looks as though he’s been stabbed with a letter opener- one that looks exactly like the one Lena gave Sam as a gift- putting Sam right back in the hot seat again…

So far, I’m really enjoying this cozy mystery series. I love the setup and premise, as well as the romantic elements, and of course, the recurring characters. The author did a good job with fleshing out and wrapping up the continuing story lines and threads, while expanding the cast with a few new faces. This story has a sweet side story involving Sam I really enjoyed and thought it was a nice touch.

While reading the first two books in the series is strongly recommended, it isn’t an absolute necessity, as the author does provide adequate background information for anyone new to the series.

For those who have been following along, this book feels a bit transitional- maybe moving away from the continuing plots we've followed up until now and solidifying a few relationship roles.

Because so much is happening, this installment is just a bit weaker than the previous two, but sill a solid addition to the series.

As always, light, easy and entertaining read, but also atmospheric and intelligent. I’m looking forward to the next chapter in the series!

4 stars

This book is amazing. I loved it! It has all the mystery and adventured I wanted. I haven't read the series, and now I really want to! This book does stand alone and makes you crave more. From missing babies to dead bodies I didn't lack for anything but sleep.

I voluntarily read a copy of this book from Net Galley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and this review is left of my own free will.

Not planning on reading this one. Does not appeal. Deleting off my list. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Love this group of people in Blue Lake, IN. Sam, Camilla & Sam are once again trying to solve a murder that someone tries to frame Sam with. Meanwhile there are a few strangers in down that have everyone wondering about, could they be Niko’s spy’s. Third in the series.
Goodreads & Facebook

Just read this book in 2 days. This series just keeps getting better and better. One of my favorite parts is reading the book in progress chapter headings. I love that those are a homage to the great Gothic writers of the past. Fast paced, great characters, wonderful setting----everything you want in a cozy. Looking forward to the next installment.

“Blue Lake is just a quiet little town. What possible secrets could people be hiding here?” When Lena London’s best friend Allison finds her mailman, Eddie Stacks, dead in her backyard, Lena and her mentor mystery writer Camilla Graham get to work to solve a murder and catch a killer. They will soon realize everyone in Blue Lake has secrets.

Once again, Julia Buckley has captured my attention and held it until the very end. A Dark and Twisting Path finds Sam West still having to deal with the police. However, this time he's not being looked at as a suspect but as a victim. In yet another attempt to frame him, Sam's house is broken into and his letter opener is thought to be what killed Eddie. Camilla and Lena's home is also broken into, with seemingly nothing stolen. It seems Sam and Lena are still being targeted but by who and why?

A Dark and Twisting Path is the perfect title for this book. Julia has written another page turner, with an incredible storyline and amazing characters. There are twists, turns, and surprises you will not see coming. This is the third book in the series, but unfortunately not a standalone read. Each book has its own self-contained mystery but there is also a series arc which spans the three books. If you are new to this series, I strongly suggest you read at least the second book, Death in Dark Blue, to understand all the characters in play. With that said, I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

A Dark and Twisting Path by Julia Buckley takes us to Blue Lake, Indiana. Lena London along with her employer, Camilla Graham have returned from England to Graham House. Lena is thinking about her father’s upcoming visit when she gets a call from her friend, Allison Branch asking her to rush over. Allison has found mail carrier, Eddie Stack dead at the back of her property with Sam’s letter opener in his chest. It looks like the killer is trying to set up Sam to take the fall for Eddie’s murder. When they look at Sam’s surveillance footage to see how the guilty party obtained the letter opener, they see a figure in black break into Sam’s home. The individual took the unique letter opener along with a piece of paper. Lena along with Camilla delve into the case. But then Lena receives threatening notes and someone breaks into Camilla’s home. Lena is even more determined to identify the killer. What did Eddie see that got him killed?

A Dark and Twisting Path cannot be read as a standalone. You need to read the book in A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series in order. The mystery that has been in all three books is coming to a head in A Dark and Twisting Path. It involves Sam, his ex-wife (Victoria), Victoria’s missing daughter (Athena) and the ruthless Nikon Leandros Lazos. I was happy that to see that this particular thread is wrapped up. I thought the mystery was complex and multilayered. Information is revealed a little at a time as the story progresses. However, the mystery plays out in the background. Other issues seem to overshadow it (unfortunately). The writing is good, but the pace is a little slow. The pacing does pick up near the end. Lena is a developed character. She is smart, engaging, loyal and creative. Lena, along with the other characters, are relatable and likeable. There is quite a bit going on in A Dark and Twisting Path. There is the murder, threatening notes, the kidnapped child, burglary, Lena’s father visiting, Lena and Camilla working on a new book, lunches, romance, dinners, adorable animals, and some man with a beard keeps popping up. I felt A Dark and Twisting Path was the best book in this series. At the end of the book, there is a hint at the mystery to come in the next A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery. I am giving A Dark and Twisting Path 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I have enjoyed this series from the start and I think that each new book in the series is better than the last. I found Lena to be truly delightful in this mystery and I was a bigger fan of her after I finished this book. Having friends and those to surround herself with help and sounding boards, Lena really worked hard at the solving of this mystery!

A Dark and Twisting Path is the 3rd book in the Writer's Apprentice Mystery series. I have to admit that I haven't read the other two books in this series yet. I think I might have enjoyed this book more if I had read the first two books before this one. I was able to follow the story and enjoy it, but I would have understood past events that are very important to the plot and the characters a lot better. So, while it isn't completely necessary to read this series in order, it might be a good idea anyway.

There is a lot of serious stuff going on in this book -- a kidnapped child, murder, burglary, stalking -- it has a little bit of everything. Lena London is an engaging and capable main character. She's intelligent and loyal, standing by her new boyfriend despite his multiple run-ins with the law. She knows he isn't a killer, and she works hard to help him prove it. The supporting characters are well-developed and believable. This isn't a cutesie cozy mystery....it's got some pretty serious crime and complex things going on behind the scenes. The story is on-going through all of the books, which is something I enjoyed. There is enough background information given just in case a reader hasn't read the other books or has forgotten things over time. But, the story line isn't bogged down in back-tracking, either. The mystery moves along at a nice pace, with great suspense building and plenty of twists.

I'm definitely going to read the first two books in this series, then read this one again. Then I will be ready for the next book in this series! Very enjoyable book! I look forward to more!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

In the first book, Lena hit the jackpot when her favorite novelist, Camilla Graham, offered her a dream job as a writer’s apprentice! Not only does she get paid to live rent free at Camilla’s lakeside mansion, she also gets to solve real life Nancy Drew mysteries with her hot new boyfriend, Sam West. What a life!

In this new installment, the mystery begins when Lena stumbles upon the dead body of the local mailman–stabbed with Sam’s sword-shaped letter opener! It appears that–yet again–someone is inexplicably framing the poor guy for murder. It’s up to Lena to ferret out the killer before Sam gets thrown back into the same nightmare he experienced in the first book.

While tracking down clues, Lena finds more questions than answers. Who is this bearded man lurking within the shadows? Could a trusted friend or townie be moonlighting as a sleazy tabloid reporter? And why is the new sheriff’s deputy constantly patrolling Sam’s house? All signs point to a notorious kidnapper who has a serious vendetta against Sam and his ex-wife Victoria.

In addition to clearing Sam’s name, Lena must save Victoria’s kidnaped baby from the clutches of a madman. Will she save the baby in time? Will Victoria weasel her way back into Sam’s heart? Will Lena ever get to return to her cozy life of co-writing bestselling mysteries with her illustrious benefactor?! Guess you’ll have to read the book to find out!

Trust me, this is a dark and twisted ride you don’t want to miss! I enjoyed the jigsaw puzzle mystery and surprising plot twists. But what I loved most was the atmosphere and character development. Lena and Camilla have a great mother-daughter chemistry. I especially enjoyed taking a break from the mystery while Lena’s father and step-mom stopped by Blue Lake for a visit. The whole family vibe gave me the warm fuzzies–in a Hallmark Movies and Mysteries kind of way.

This is book 3 in A Writer's Apprentice Mystery Series. I think it helps to read the previous books in the series. Lena and Camilla are still working together and Lena is a little happier now that Sam has been cleared of his ex-wife's murder. She disappeared and everyone assumed Sam had murdered her but she was spotted alive in Greece. Now someone is trying to frame him for another murder. Not really a cozy, more a murder mystery. Lots of twists and turns. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A DARK AND TWISTING PATH is the third book in Julia Buckley's Writer's Apprentice mystery series. In this installment of Julia Buckley's contemporary gothic mystery series, paranoia is a big theme. With a kidnapped baby to hunt for, along with the baby's filthy rich criminal father Nikon Lazos on the loose, writer Lena London and her crew of puzzle solvers have lots to occupy their time and mental powers. With a history of henchmen and shady undercover reporters invading the small town of Blue Lake, Indiana, the gang is understandably a little wary of strangers. When a local mailman keels over under highly suspicious circumstances, it's just one more mystery in a stewpot full of tantalizing plot twists.

While reading A DARK AND TWISTING PATH, I suspected everyone -- including Lena's much-maligned and long-suffering boyfriend Sam West. In the midst of all the chaos created by the murder of the mailman and the hunt for baby Athena Lazos, Lena's father and step-mother, Tabitha, make their first visit to Blue Lake. The family visit helps lighten the mood at times and relieves some of the tension. Nikon Lazos is the obvious villain in this story, but trying to decipher clues and figure out how he's connected to everything is a challenge for these sleuths. I like how Julia Buckley sets up Nikon as an almost Professor Moriarty-type villain in A DARK AND TWISTING PATH, and I look forward to seeing where the author goes with this in future books. As with past books in this series, Julia Buckley balances elements of danger and suspense with some traditional cozy mystery staples like a close-knit group of friends, endearing pets, and moments of humor.

A DARK AND TWISTING PATH is a gripping mystery that keeps the reader guessing and hanging on every word. Julia Buckley adds depth and an intriguing side to Sam's former wife, Victoria West. The new characters introduced in A DARK AND TWISTING PATH are interesting and add greatly to the narrative. I look forward to Julia Buckley's next thrilling Writer's Apprentice mystery.

I enjoyed this installment of The Writer's Apprentice series. This one was seemingly darker than the previous books, but that's to be expected since Lena is searching for a missing child. There were enemies abound and even a twist that I didn't see coming. 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

Another delightful interlude with Lena.

While the dialogue feels stilted on occasion, and the villains come close to caricatures, the plot is fun, the twists are enjoyable and the motives for everything work well for what the characters are. Overall it was an engaging break from reality and highly enjoyable.

This is the third installment in the Writer's Apprentice series set in Blue Lake Indiana. Lena London, the apprentice, is collaborating with Camilla Graham on a new book set in Greece. It is an eerie companion to the current mystery which involves the kidnapping of Sam West's ex-wife's daughter by her wealthy Greek father. While there is an international search for the child, everything seems to focus on Blue Lake when a seemingly innocent bystander is murdered. Sam West again becomes the focal point of the investigation and Lena gets drawn in as well, all while her father and his wife are visiting from Florida.

Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the plot. It was nice to meet Lena's family. The book was well-written and the dialogue flowed very naturally. However, I felt like the romance between Sam and Lena, as well as other characters overshadowed the mystery. While the book can be read as a standalone, it is very helpful to read the prior books in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for a digital copy of this book. My review is voluntary.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt

I love author Julia Buckley’s “A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery” series. I love the characters; the setting and the way Buckley weaves a tale that pulls me in and never lets me go. A Dark and Twisting Path is the third installment in this wonderful series and it is just as great as the first two. Lena London is a fabulous protagonist and I really enjoy reading about her adventures. She is living the life so many of us would love to have. Collaborating with her hero and bestselling author Camilla Graham is her dream come true. Not only that, but she is living in Camilla’s beautiful home and they have become friends. What a great setting. The wonderful small town of Blue Lake, Indiana does seem to be a hotbed of intrigue though.

Julia has settled into her new life, she has friends, a hotty, and is enjoying her new work. Unfortunately, she keeps falling into mysteries of her own instead of just in her writing suspense novels with her friend and boss. Once again this one has to do with her boyfriend Sam West. He sure can’t catch a break. Lena’s friend Allison finds a body in the woods behind her home and does what anyone would do if they knew Lena. She calls her to help. The body of a not so nice mail carrier being found in Allison’s proximity is probably not a good thing since she had a pretty good argument with him. Sadly, Lena sees the murder weapon and it will lead directly to her man.

Thankfully Sam has video of the weapon being stolen. Between Sam’s ex-leaning on him for comfort since her daughter has been kidnapped, helping to find said daughter and now someone pointing the finger directly at Sam for this murder, Lena and Camilla have their hands full. Intrigue and suspense are sprinkled liberally throughout this entertaining cozy read. The search for the real killer takes the ladies on a ride that is intense and enjoyable. Things get a bit close to home when Camilla’s home has an intruder. Now, what can they all do, except come together and find out who is doing this. Especially when Lena’s father and step-mother are visiting, she cannot let anything happen to her loved ones.

I love author Buckley’s writing style and her storytelling. She is able to bring the reader right into the adventure and keep their attention throughout the book. The characters are well-developed and getting better and better with each installment. The storylines are intriguing and kept me entertained. I love the premise of this series and each book brings the reader further into the enjoyment of it. I can visualize everything through her wonderful descriptive writing. If you enjoy the old-fashioned cozy mysteries, you will love this read and this series as it takes all the best qualities of them and brings a new twist to make them even more exciting. You do not have to read this series in order, but do yourself a favor and read all three. I cannot wait for the next book!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Lena's boyfriend has has had his share of troubles.First he was accused of his ex-wife's murder until she showed up alive. Now the local mailman is dead and one of the weapons used came from Sam's desk...

Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can grab a copy now.

There is another man who wants the ex-wife and he has taken her daughter from her. He's a dangerous man.

There are surprises in this story. The more Lena researches into families, the more dangerous it gets. Hang in there, Sam. Lena is not giving up on you!

Not your typical cozy, more than your typical mystery, A DARK AND TWISTING PATH is a wonderfully written, heart pounding whodunit!

Author Julia Buckley once again brings thrills, some chills, and of course, twists and turns to this third installment of her Writer’s Apprentice series. I became lost in the pages of this modern-day tale with a gothic feel and found myself holding my breath more than once.

Readers of the first two books will see the continuation of a running ARC. Will you see a conclusion to it? You’ll have to read A DARK AND TWISTING PATH to find out. For those who haven’t read the series thus far, I would suggest reading them in order. It isn’t a 100% must, but why not read them back to back!

I am super excited to bring you this review on the release date of this book...from one of my favorite authors and one of my favorite series! I was instantly hooked when I picked up the first book in the series, A Dark and Stormy Murder. I have to say that it was the cover and the german shepherds that sucked me in, but it the the creative story telling and world building of Julia Buckley that keeps bringing me back. And I will tell you, this series keeps getting better and better! I am so enamored with so many things in this series, but by far the best are the characters! Lean and Sam...they just make me swoon! And I definitely need a Camilla in my life! The main storyline that has flowed through these three books is original and nail biting and the mysteries make the books fast-paced and entertaining. If you haven't read started this series, you need to run, I mean RUN and get the series, but start at book 1..it is SO worth it! And let's not forget those covers! Hello, they are amazing and look like beautifully painted, in bold colors, watercolors!

“Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.” Words to live (or die) by for neophyte author Lena London in A Dark and Twisting Path. If Lena is paranoid, she has a good reason. She’s living her best life in Blue Lake, Indiana, “happily working on a new collaboration with her idol and bestselling suspense novelist and friend Camilla Graham.” But dead bodies keep turning up. Murders that are related either to Camilla or Sam West, Lena’s boyfriend. Sam was accused of murdering his former wife, Victoria, in Death in Dark Blue (the second in Buckley’s series). If Victoria hadn’t shown up alive, Sam would still be a suspect. Victoria leans heavily on Sam for moral support. Allison, Lena’s best friend, has had enough.

My friend Allison put down her slice of pizza and turned to me. “Lena, I know she’s been through a great deal, but she’s so melodramatic. And Sam isn’t her husband. He’s your man.

This is why Allison is my best friend. I would never have dared to say that Victoria West hadn’t gone through terrible things, nor would I have ventured to criticize her frequent press conferences. Of course she wanted her child back, as did we all. I worried about the baby that Nikon Lazos had stolen in broad daylight, and like everyone I was shocked that the police and the government agencies had been unable to locate the child.

That’s a lot to unpack. An omnipresent former wife is bad enough, but what takes its toll on Lena is the feeling of always being under observation. Deciphering whether interested onlookers are friend or foe (like when tabloid journalists masquerade as tourists) wears her down. No rest for the weary, unfortunately. Lena’s friend Allison discovers the body of her mail carrier in her backyard, plunging Lena back into the cycle of inexplicable murders. Allison’s husband had quarreled with the dead postman—would the police blame him? Nope, because a knife belonging to Sam West is stuck in the body. History is repeating itself.

Beyond the clever and intricate plot, what makes A Dark and Twisting Path remarkable is the town and townspeople of Blue Lake, Indiana, who are interesting without being overly cozy or contrived. Buckley places you firmly in her setting with vivid descriptions of “the eccentric wonderland that was Bick’s Hardware” and “the second-run theater, where one could get popcorn and a drink for three dollars!” It’s no wonder readers would like to visit Blue Lake; unfortunately, it only exists in Buckley’s imagination, as she told mystery author Terry Ambrose.

“Though Blue Lake is an imaginary place, readers recognize it because it has many of the qualities of small towns they’ve seen before. I love going there, too, which is why I enjoy writing this series. More and more the town is taking shape in my mind; I would love to work with a mapmaker to lay it all out.”

I also really enjoyed Lena’s professional collaboration with Camilla Graham. Lena is at the beginning of her writing career, but the two women work together seamlessly to create well-crafted bestsellers. The insider quality of their conversations can be quite humorous, like when Sam finds out that Lena shares “a birthday with Daphne du Maurier—one of Camilla’s heroes.”

Camilla clapped. “Oh, Lena, that is perfect!! You have Gothic fiction in your blood.”

“I take it this Daphne woman is a writer?” Sam asked.

I stared at him. “She wrote Rebecca? The House on the Strand? Jamaica Inn?”

Sam and Allison exchanged a wry glance, and Sam said, “Clearly I am a philistine.”

Buckley also weaves in Camilla and Lena’s “fictional” story, Death at Delphi—excerpts of which preface each chapter—which adds depth to the plot. It would be Camilla’s second book with a Greek setting.

“Yes! But it was set on Corfu, and I was thinking more about Delphi. The place of the oracle, with such antiquity and solemnity. It would be a great backdrop for a mystery.”

Advice or a response from an oracle is “typically one that is ambiguous or obscure.” An excellent analogy for Lena’s efforts to unravel the threatening events that engulf her and her loved ones. It’s no coincidence that Nikon Lazos, the father of Victoria’s daughter Athena, is Greek. It often seems like the heroine of Death at Delphi is on a parallel path with Lena, like when Lena embraces going all out for a festive evening.

They went to the museum gala in Athens, convinced they would find their nemesis and the answers to their questions. As they moved among the glittering gowns and costly champagne, they felt a growing sense of menace.

—From Death at Delphi

Bucolic Blue Lake is far from being a den of crime, but it is a place that holds onto its secrets with grim intensity. In the words of a psychic from Death at Delphi, “The past is a dormant volcano.” It’s up to Lena and her colleagues to exhume the body of evidence before they’re buried under another murderous eruption.