Cover Image: A Very Mummy Holiday

A Very Mummy Holiday

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, A Very Mummy Holiday, it's an absolute gem that deserves every one of its five stars. With its charming small-town setting, and during characters, and intriguing whodunit, this book is the perfect blend of suspense and comfort. The author’s storytelling prowess shines through as they skillfully weave together clues, red herrings, and surprising twists, keeping readers engaged and guessing until the satisfying reveal period from the delightful amateur sleuth to the quirky supporting cast, each character feels like a beloved friend, adding depth and warmth to the narrative. With its cozy atmosphere clever plot and satisfying resolution, A VEry Mummy Holiday is a must-read for anyone seeking A delightful escape into the world of cozy mysteries.

Was this review helpful?

A Very Mummy Holiday by Lynn Cahoon is a Tourist Trap novella. I thought based on the title that this was a Halloween story, but it isn't. Jill and Greg are on a mini-vacation with friends during Thanksgiving week, when they happen to find a mummified body in the sand dunes, thanks to Jill's dog. Greg, who usually tries to get Jill to stay away from his investigations, actually encourages her to do some investigating or snooping online. It was great to see them working together instead of her having to sneak around. This was a good, well-developed story for a novella. There were a few suspects and even a rather dangerous and twisty ending. I was happy to see how this one turned out. It was a nicely paced story that I enjoyed as an afternoon read.

Was this review helpful?

Jill Gardner has left her book-and-coffee shop behind to spend Thanksgiving week in coastal Oregon with her cop boyfriend, her golden retriever Emma, and a crowd of friends and family. But before the feast can start, foul play interrupts their vacation.

The rented house was supposed to be a relaxing getaway. But Jill and her companions feel a sense of danger instead. First, they learn that their hosts’ son had a fiancée, but her disappearance remains unexplained and then they meet some menacing members of a local trail riding club. When one of Jill and Greg’s friends finds human remains amid the dunes—with a diamond ring around one mummified finger things start heating up fast, and they’ll be thankful just to survive through the long weekend.

The mystery is well written and well plotted, and it moves along at a nice pace. The characters are well written, engaging, and well developed. The author does a nice job of bringing the characters and places in the book to life in your mind with the way she describes them.

I like that Greg doesn't discourage Jill in her quest to find out the truth, I also like that he helps her with her quest. The new character of Kathi drives me a little crazy with her constant need to always be perfectly groomed no matter what she is doing. I like how well suited Jill and Greg are for each other and I hope that their relationship will continue to grow and that there may be a wedding for them at some point in the series. I look forward to reading the next book in the series Memories and Murder to see what happens to the characters.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my review.

Was this review helpful?

I'm a huge fan of the Tourist Trap Mysteries. This is a short novella has a great story and advances the characters in the series. At this point, they seem like friends after all the books they've been in! It's a quick read and I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Lyrical Underground and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A Very Mummy Holiday

by Lynn Cahoon

Jill, a passionate reader and the owner of Coffee, Books, and More in a small, coastal, tourist town in central California, takes off for Thanksgiving week with her boyfriend Greg who is a very capable detective. They go with another couple to stay at a large cabin on the Oregon Coast. A Very Mummy Holiday by Lynn Cahoon is a little novella packed with action and mystery as the focus turns to the case of a runaway bride. Things turn from sad to deadly as a corpse is found. Danger seems to surround the visitors in the subtle form of threats from the Devil Riders motorcycle gang. Jill and Greg work with the local police to bring justice to the fiancee and avert a kidnapping—all before more friends arrive to celebrate with a big dinner.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Lyrical Underground (Kensington Press) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: A Tourist Trap novella, but it works well as a standalone.

Publication: October 28, 2019—Lyrical Underground (Kensington Press)

Memorable Lines:

“Everything okay?” Blake called out. “Just wondering if you locked the cabin.” Greg lied. And he did it so calmly. I was beginning to see a new side of my boyfriend. I wasn’t sure I liked it.

“You know this isn’t your investigation.” Sheriff Anderson’s eyes went flat and hard. “I’ve been looking for that girl for years and for what it’s worth, only one man had motive and opportunity to kill. And he’s sitting on that porch.”

Some days the best conversations I had were with my dog.

Was this review helpful?

This short novella takes place at a cabin in the days prior to Thanksgiving. I read it in about an hour. I enjoyed the story although I question why someone would go on a week long trip with others who were not close friends. Overall it was a good quick read.

Was this review helpful?

This is book 9.5 in the Tourist Trap Mystery Series. It is a short novella set over the Thanksgiving holiday . Jill and Greg are on vacation in Oregon with friends when they find a dead body. This is a quick read and a good catch up for all their friends and family. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Who would have thought that a simple preholiday vacation would turn out to be a murder mystery. Murder does not go on holiday or maybe it's just that Jill Gardner and her crew can't take one with out a little drama. Jill, Greg, and a couple of friends, Kathi Corbin and Blake Jennings went to the coast for some fun and relaxation. Who doesn't like a little dune buggy joy riding. That is until a diamond ring is found with a body still attached to it..
Keep in mind this is a novella so it will be a quick ride to solve the heart wrenching mystery of what happened to the bride before the wedding. The criminal element seemed obvious but I did like the character interaction as always with this group. Be sure to give the pie recipe a chance, you will be glad you did, not only did it come out as pretty as a picture but it also very flavorful.

Was this review helpful?

Jill Gardner and her boyfriend set out with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving on the coast of Oregon. The weekend starts out with a mystery of a mummified body on the beach and Jill has to figure it out, who is it? what happened?

The characters and plot were so well-written that the story just zoomed by. The Novellas are great because we as readers don't have to wait as long for our next fix of Jill and Greg!

Was this review helpful?

I always enjoy these short holiday novellas for the Tourist Trap Mystery series, The mystery was very good and I always enjoy spending more time with Jill , Greg and Emma. This would be the perfect book for a weekend getaway or sitting in a boring waiting room

Was this review helpful?

Princess Fuzzypants here: I am a fan of this series whether it is a long book or a novella. This time Jill and Greg are joining friends on a Thanksgiving getaway up the coast. It’s supposed to be light hearted, filled with food and fun. But one the first full day, Jill and her friends uncovered a mummified corpse in the sandy dunes. It appears to be the body of the fiancée of the son of the people who own the property. Once it is confirmed, the son becomes the primary suspect but Jill does not believe he killed the woman he loved.
It is a good story with some interesting characters from the local bad boy to the young man with obvious problems to the boyfriend whose dreams are shattered. While he may not be in his own jurisdiction, Greg and Jill help the local police discover the killer and bring him to justice.
Four purrs and two paws up.

Was this review helpful?

Coffeeshop owner Jill Gardner and her boyfriend Greg are on vacation in Oregon when they discover a body in the sand dunes. They become involved in solving the mystery while getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. Another interesting novella from this series. While it was entertaining, I hoped for a true novel instead--just a bit too short for my liking, even though I love this series.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a great cozy holiday novella that takes the reader back to visit old friends. I spent a pleasant couple of evenings relaxing with this read.

Was this review helpful?

This is another very enjoyable read in this series. It was nice to see that Jill and Greg got to away from town for a 'restful' holiday vacation. These characters are like old friends and I always enjoy visiting with them. This was a quick and easy read that was perfect for a holiday weekend.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoy this series and this was an enjoyable Holiday Novella. It takes place away from South Cove on the Oregon Coast where Jill and Greg are vacationing over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Joining them for the Holiday are friends and family. While driving on the sand dunes Jill's friend Kathy uncovers a body. The body turns out to be a long lost local runaway bride. Greg and Jill decide to help the police solve the crime. Since it is a short book I wish more time was spent on the mystery. I prefer the full length novels. Overall it was a quick fun Holiday read.

Was this review helpful?

A Very Mummy Holiday was the perfect Thanksgiving read featuring a holiday getaway that definitely didn't go as planned. Jill and her friends were looking forward to a holiday weekend away when they end up finding the mummified remains of a missing woman. When the group's host for the weekend find their son the number one suspect, Jill and her friends decide to try and prove his innocence.

Cahoon does a great job as usual creating such an entertaining read with such a short length. I really enjoyed seeing Kathi and Blake joining Jill and Greg for a change because it provided a different kind of dynamic to the story. Although I still did love the appearance of favorite secondary characters as well. The book's mystery is well done and definitely captures the reader's interest from the beginning and never lets go. A Very Mummy Holiday was a perfect holiday read that I would most definitely recommend. I look forward to reading Jill's next adventure.

Received a copy of A Very Mummy Holiday through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was another fun, short novella in the Tourist Trap series. I have been loving these in between Lynn's regular length novels. I have read all of the books in this series and have enjoyed every one.

Was this review helpful?

A Very Mummy Holiday is an adorable novella in the Tourist Trap Mystery Series. As a newbie to this series, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I found this to be a delightful read, and the characters Jill and Greg. The book was very super sleuths on vacation, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

A Very Mummy Holiday is a fun short novella in the Tourist Trap mystery series. This book is a great way to start your holiday reading. I liked the characters and the mystery. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment of this series.

Was this review helpful?

This was the perfect mystery to slide in between several full length books I had on my TBR stack. The timing worked well, too - Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Jill and Greg are on vacation with another couple on the Oregon coast and are out on the beach on ATVs. When one of the ATVs overturns, something sinister is overturned as well. They find the mummified remains of a long missing woman. Then the police conduct their investigation and are ready to pin the crime on the young ma who was going to marry her. He is also the son of the couple who own the cabin Jill and Greg and their friends are staying in for the holiday. Jill is certain that the police are focusing on the wrong person and are not all that interested in changing course to find the real killer.
My only complaint with this book was that it wasn't long enough. For some reason I'm okay with short stories and full length mysteries but novellas? When they are this good, I want more, please. Like a full course meal with one course missing, I guess. But, honestly, I enjoy this series so much that any reading time I get to spend with Jill, Greg and Jill's Golden, Emma and various other regular characters is time well spent. The next full length in the series, #10, comes out on November 12, 2019 and #11 will come on June 30, 2020. They are already on my TBR list.

Was this review helpful?