Last Pen Standing is a delightful new cozy series by Vivian Conroy with an unexpected wild west twist.
Reading the novel is like sitting down with your favorite unsolved puzzle - as fascinating to experience as it is to solve. Despite a slow start, once the Paper Posse is introduced, the pace picks up, and the excitement begins.

What I Liked:

The classic catch-the-murderer trap utilized. Delta and Jonah create a simple trap to catch the murderer, and though the killer realizes it is a gotcha moment, it is still is a lot of fun. I haven't seen that technique used in a while, and I realize how much I enjoy that particular plot device.

I really connected to the character of Jonah (and his dog Spud), as well as the Paper Posse. One provides professionalism to the story while the other provides laugh out loud humor. Both elements are beneficial to keep the story entertaining.

Wild West references and the overall setting result in a unique tone to the story. Both fun and yet serious at the same time, the play on nicknames and the store being an old jailhouse is simply delightful and unique.

What I Wish:

The first 25-30% of the novel captured my attention more. I almost did not read further, but after looking at other reviews, I felt it must get much better. I am so glad I forged on because it really is a great mystery and enjoyable read.

The sheriff was more redeemable instead of completely and unequivocally odious. I disliked him so much that I was hoping he would get murdered. I don't think that he really adds to the story at all even though he probably should.

There had been something in Delta's character that made her stand out more. Delta Douglas is, so far, very vanilla. I just wanted something more from her – even a quirk or bad habit would have created more interest. Perhaps, as the series progresses, we will see some of her unique traits.

To Read or Not to Read

Even though the novel has a slow beginning, it picks up and becomes a fun read that shouldn't be missed. I can't wait to see more of Delta Douglas, Jonah, Spud, and the Paper Posse in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Series: Stationery Shop Mystery - Book 1
Author: Vivian Conroy
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Craft/Hobby
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Page Count: 288

Publishing Date: September 24, 2019

From Poisoned Pen Press comes a new cozy mystery series “Stationery Shop Mystery “ Last Pen Standing by author Vivian Conroy. This book is a nice start to a new series that will grab the reader’s interest. The stationary business is captivating and unusual, which should keep readers, especially crafters, enthusiastic, and happy.

Delta is a great character to start a new cozy mystery series. She is filled with hope for the future. She cares deeply for her friends and family, and she wants to be herself, creative, and at peace. There is little to dislike about Delta. Other characters, such as Hazel and Jonas, are noteworthy. I hope we get to learn more about them as the series progresses. I would also love to find out more about Gran.

The location of Montana should be a splendid backdrop for this cozy mystery series. The town of Tundish is where a mining state of mind is alive and well, rich with history, and filled with a future of charming descriptiveness that will have readers craving a look at an old west mining town.

The victim, suspects, and law enforcement are memorable. The victim is not someone readers will empathize with. But most of the suspects and the killer will have readers on edge and worried about their favorite character. It's easy to like almost all of them, including the murderer, it would be nice if they remain in the series to keep Delta on her toes.

Overall, this book is a good start for a new cozy mystery series. That is not to say that I didn’t find fault with Last Pen Standing. I felt that the story needed more and better information regarding the background of the main characters. Some of the situations that Delta gets into were not entirely believable. To top it off, I had a real issue with the local sheriff. In general, law enforcement, even in a very remote and small-town would never arrest someone based on the evidence presented at the time of the murder. Due to the aforementioned issues, I can’t give this book five stars. However, I look forward to seeing the characters and the situations expand in future volumes.

ARC Provided by NetGalley

Last Pen Standing by Vivian Conroy
Book #1: Stationary Shop Mystery
Source: NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press
Rating: 3/5 stars

Delta Douglas’ new life is just beginning, and she couldn’t be more excited. With the financial backing she has always lacked now secured, she’s quit her job, packed her bags, and made the big leap (and move) to Tundish, Montana. In Tundish, Delta will find not only her best friend but the stationary store, Wanted she just bought a half interest in. For the first time in her life, Delta will be her own boss and be able to use her art skills for something far more satisfying than a client’s project.

Unfortunately, before Delta can even take a breath and get settled into her new life, she and her best friend get wrapped up in a murder that threatens to destroy everything Delta has dreamt of for so long. Being new to town, Delta doesn’t know anyone but the sight of a dead body, known or unknown is still a great shock. What’s more, even though Delta doesn’t know the deceased, it seems her best friend’s brother does and he’s the prime suspect in her murder. Though Delta certainly had no intention of becoming involved in the investigation, when her best friend, along with her bestie’s brother is taken into custody, Delta has no choice. Becoming involved in the investigation is the only way of saving her best friend, her best friend’s brother, and her beloved little stationary shop.

Being new to town puts Delta at both an advantage and a disadvantage. While she can roam around town and seem to be innocently inquiring about the murder and the people involved, her innocence act will only get her so far. What’s more, knowing who to trust, outside of her best friend, is a bit of a problem until she meets Jonas, a former K9 cop with nothing, except a drive for justice, invested in the outcome of the investigation. Jonas, with his keen insight, critical mind, and K9 companion, Spud, are the perfect investigative partners. Jonas is able to help Delta focus her questions, organize her thoughts, and Spud is able to sniff out all kinds of curious bits. With every new answer, Delta has two additional questions, and the closer she gets to figuring out the whole mess, the closer she gets to real danger.

The Bottom Line: I find myself stuck absolutely in the middle on this book; I can’t say I liked it, but I also can’t say I disliked it. I found Delta to be a rambler and that often caused me to lose focus on her thoughts/questions/ramblings. Once she met Jonas and became a bit more organized, Delta became easier to follow and, in a way, more likeable. I liked the plot well enough and there were certainly enough twists and turns to remain interesting, but Delta’s ramblings . . . . again, sometimes distracted from the plot. The highlight of the read for me was Jonas and Spud, his K9 companion. I found myself very much digging into the scenes that involved them as they both brought a sense of calm, organization, and clarity to the chaos and as the series continues on, I certainly hope Jonas and Spud continue to play a vital role in Delta’s life and investigations. In all, I wanted to like this cozy mystery, but I think it fell into many of the first-in-a-series traps and that kept me from really being able to enjoy the story. With that being said, there were some bright spots in this book, and I am absolutely willing to give the second round a chance in the hopes the rough spots will have been ironed out.

2 stars
So boring. I couldn't finish it. I had such high hopes for this book and it is an utter snoozer.

This was a fun quick read that takes place in a small but charming town. Delta and her best friend,Hazel, are now co-owners of a Stationery Shop called Wanted. There are tons of cozy mystery series out there but this is the first I’ve come across with a stationery shop. As someone who loves crafts, this was a plus for me. Combined with the great outdoors, some retired K9 dogs (and their trainer) and a quirky group of ladies who call themselves the Paper Possee, this was an enjoyable cozy whodunnit. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this. All opinions are of my own.

I also love the book cover! So pretty! My reviews will be on goodreads and Amazon (when published). Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book

Delta moves to Tundish to become a partner with her friend Hazel at a stationary store. When a murder takes place at a hotel where they’re hosting a crafting class, Hazel and her brother, Finn, become the prime suspects. Delta, along with former police officer Jonas, and the Paper Posse (those who attend crafting events held by the stationary store), take it upon themselves to try to figure out who really committed the crime.

I liked the story, but I found it dragged on in places. I also had a hard time buying that the police chief would arrest two people without having any real evidence, and that he would refuse to accept the fact that someone else could be guilty. It was also a little hard to buy that strangers would open up to Delta the way they did.

Overall, I thought it was a decent book. The mystery was handled well, I just had issues with how some of the characters were portrayed. Still, I think that readers of cozy mysteries will enjoy this one.

**A copy was provided via NetGalley to voluntarily review**

Delta Douglas is thrilled to be the new co-owner of a stationery shop with her best friend, Hazel. However, on her first night in her new hometown, a guest is murdered at the hotel where they are hosting a crafting workshop. The police immediately arrest Hazel's brother, Finn, who was seen behaving suspiciously at the crime scene. Hazel tries her best to protect her brother which results in her also being arrested. With the help of her new friends, Delta is determined to solve the murder and get her friend out of jail. This was a wonderful introduction to a new series. It was an entertaining, easy to read cozy set in a charming old Western town in Montana. The characters are fun and unique. I fell in love with the Paper Posse ladies and hope to see more of them in the second book. The mystery was well crafted and filled with suspense and red herrings. The author did a great job wrapping up the mystery and I was very pleased with the ending. Overall, I highly recommend this book and will be reading future books in this series. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

A solid start to a new cozy series! This one is set in a stationery shop in Montana. Delta Douglas has used the money her grandmother gave her to buy into a stationery store with her best friend from college, Hazel. Their place is full of gold mine themes and is housed in a former sheriff's building/jail. Someone is murdered at a local hotel on the night Delta and Hazel are running a workshop in a conference room. When Hazel ends up behind bars, Delta starts investigating to clear her friend's name.

It's so great to catch the first in a new series when it's actually published! This is a good mystery with likable characters. However, there's too much about investigating and not enough about the town or the characters. I don't feel like I really know Delta and don't know Hazel at all. A bit more about their day-to-day life, outside of the mystery, would have been great. I will definitely read any future books in this series.

#NetGalley #Reviewathon

#LastPenStanding

I love cozies with a different "setting". I was excited to get this book and it did not disappoint. I liked meeting Delta. I look forward to more by this author. It was a quick, fun read.

Last Pen Standing is the first in a new cozy series of Stationery Shop Mysteries. It's the first time I've come across a cozy based around a stationary shop -- notebooks, wrapping paper, washi tape -- and I found it really refreshing. With the current trend for bullet journaling, it's a really smart, up-to-date angle and a nice break from the usual books, baking and quilting.

I really loved the series premise. The setting is a historic little goldrush town with lots of back-to-nature activities in the immediate vicinity. It's quaint and idyllic, and I really enjoyed spending time there. This particular story features the local hotel, a very upmarket affair, which brings in an added bit of high-society glamour and scandal.

I really liked the main character, Delta. She's artistic and driven, and I really like watching her finding her feet both in the little stationary shop and with the local group of outlaw-inspired crafters-turned-sleuths, the Paper Posse.

The mystery itself was really good, with lots of potential suspects and red-herrings. I really like the way Delta went about solving the crime, especially her work with the Posse and her stationary-based evidence board.

Last Pen Standing is a great new cozy and I'm really looking forward to continuing with the series as it progresses.

Vivian has once again smashed it with her cosy murder mysteries. The things that drew me to this book the most was the fact that it was stationery based, who doesn't love to read about gorgeous stationery!?: And Delta's furry friend who helped massively during solving the case.

The murder mystery was so linked in within every character, I was making guesses left, right and centre to figure out who it was and of course, I ignored the most obvious suspect! Every character was very unique and like all of Viv's heroines, Delta was very loved by myself and I can't wait to see what tragedies will come to her in book two.

Viv's murder mysteries are always so cleverly written, she amazes me in every way possible - bring on all the murder mysteries!

New-to-me author. First in the series and it was a fun read. I'm not a fan of Montana, I mainly wanted to read this because of the stationery shop angle, and it was very entertaining. Fun story, lots of suspects, lots of plot twists. Hard to put down.

I’m a fan of stationery, pens, ink stamps, cards, and journals, so I knew this book would appeal to me. The gorgeous cover had me at Hello! I liked the concept for the setup of this debut cozy series and enjoyed the rural autumn descriptions in the foothills of Washington State.

Protagonist Delta Douglas uses a monetary gift from her Gran to purchase co-ownership in a stationery shop run by her friend, Hazel. Delta and Hazel present a craft workshop at a local hotel owned by the Taylor family on the same night a gold miners party is being held. When a murder occurs, it becomes apparent that the Taylor family is in turmoil and that nearly all members have problems which may, or may not be, connected to the victim. Several times during the story, I found my attention wandering after some far-fetched actions by one of the characters (the sheriff, for example, and how he handled suspects). By the time the author glues all the clues together at the end, the killer reveal didn’t surprise me, and left me feeling a bit let down. My review is 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 stars.

I reviewed an unedited digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an honest review. Thank you.

Notebooks and erasers and Washi tape, oh my. Add some heartfelt characters who are easy to get behind, and we have a series opener that avoids the canned feeling of so many cozy mysteries. The chapters in this one are a bit long, and the reveal feels drawn out a bit past the suspense point, becoming almost anticlimactic. Nevertheless, Delta, Hazel, Jonas, and Spud have become friends that I look forward to following for a long time.

Last pen standing
I really enjoyed this new book by Vivian Conroy
A fun read, good plot , great characters and crafting is always a bonus..
Many thanks to poisoned pen press and to NetGalley for advance copy for a honest review.

Delta Douglas moved to Montana to follow a dream, a stationary dream. Her grandmother left her the money to make that dream a reality and Delta's best friend and now business partner is helping to get Delta everything she has ever WANTED. WANTED is the name of their joint business stationary store located in an old west sort of town complete with a posse of paper crafters with a penchant for problem solving. It is going to take more than glitter and fancy notebooks for Delta to help her partner avoid the Sheriff who is set to send either her or her brother to jail for a hotel guest's murder. Delta gets some help from a former law enforcement officer turned nature guide and his retired police dog Spud. It probably doesn't hurt that Jonas is easy on the eyes with an open mind towards Delta's "meddling" in the investigation which local law enforcement does not take kindly to. But what is a girl to do when she is ready to go for broke and has everything to lose.

Last Pen Standing is the debut of the Stationery Shop Mystery series featuring Delta Douglas and set in the small, former gold mining town of Tundish, Montana. Using a monetary gift from her grandmother Delta purchases half of Wanted, a stationery/crafting shop housed in the old Sheriff's office. Giving up her job in Cheyenne, Wyoming, relocates to Tundish and moves in with old college roommate and now business partner, Hazel.

On her first night in town Delta and Hazel host a crafting workshop at the swanky Lodge Hotel. The annual gold miner's party is also going on that evening in a separate section of the hotel and Rosalyn Taylor the hotel manager, is adamant that the crafters stay away from the exclusive guests. The workshop winds down and as Delta and Hazel make their way through the lobby they are approached by Hazel's brother Finn, who says there has been an accident in the bar and they need to get help. The ladies look in the dark room and discover the body of one of the hotel guests dead on the floor.

The local police immediately arrest Finn, who Delta learns has a troubled past, and then Hazel who they think is covering for her brother. Determined not to lose the money that she's just invested into her new career, Delta joins forces with members of the Paper Posse and retired detective Jonas Nord and his K-9 partner Spud to clear her friends name.

A somewhat disjointed plot involving locals and out of towners, blackmail and adultery. It was a little far fetched that a newcomer could question people and have them confide their secrets and while the ladies of the Paper Posse are mentioned quite a bit in the beginning they fade into the background and I would like to have gotten to know them a little better (honestly some of the ladies were a little more interesting than the main characters). I'll read the second in the series with the hope that the character development continues to grow and I'll get to spend more time with the lovable Spud.

I received an advanced copy of Last Pen Standing from NetGalley via Sourcebooks. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

This was fun! Who knew that Stationery could be a cozy theme? But oddly it works, and this time around we have a sleuth who actually really investigates. Delta actively involves herself in the investigation and the police are on the back foot the whole time. It helps that she befriends a former policeman early, so she has access to ideas that she might not otherwise.

I loved the obvious yet not so obvious suspect, and the whole investigation. This is only the first book, so the series has more room to grow and really put down roots; I hope the Grandma puts in an appearance in future books!

This is definitely a cozy to keep on your radar. Five stars.

Stationary, dogs and a murder mystery - I enjoyed this book. It reminds me of a ‘grown up’ Nancy Drew story. I haven’t read any previous books by Vivian Conroy but I will now add them to my list

This was a free digital copy from NetGalley in return for a honest review.

This is a well written mystery with realistic and well developed characters. I enjoyed the way they interacted with each other and how they worked together to solve the mystery. I look forward to other books by this author. I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange of an honest and unbiased review.