This is the first book by Amanda Flower that I have read, and I will definitely read more! The characters are engaging and the chemistry between Darby Piper and Tate will be fun to follow. I liked the fact that I had no idea who the killer was until the end, and I also loved the cats. Looking forward to the next one in this new series.

Amanda Flower has made a start to another great series with the Piper and Porter Mystery series. Set in New York in a small town on Seneca Lake, Darby Piper and her friend and partner, Samantha Porter, have run the Two Girls Detective Agency for ten years when Samantha is killed by another driver running her off the street on a hill into a ravine. All clues point to Darby and her ex boyfriend Austin Caster is the lead detective. Thinking she will inherit the business where it is a 60/40 ownership with Samantha owning the larger shares, it is a shock to find that Samantha left her portion to her nephew Tate Porter, former Army soldier, now drifter, who happened to be in town the night that she was killed. There are other people who are considered suspects in Samantha's death but it appears that someone has set Darby up for the fall. So, Darby and Tate wound up working together to find out who might want Samantha out of the picture. And it is a surprise to see who that person is.
I am looking forward to reading more of this series with likable, interesting as well as quirky characters in a small town with a failing resort and a desperate owner. I am interested in seeing what happens in the way of a possible romance in the future as well. Lots of promise and fun reading.
I received a complimentary ARC from Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

A great start to a new series by a wonderful author. Darby runs a detective agency with Samantha, but when she gets killed all the clues lead to Darby as the killer. When Tate, Samantha's nephew shows up, and inherits her share of the agency, they work together to solve the mystery. Really enjoyed this one, and kept me guessing to the end. Highly recommend this book and author.

Darby Piper is a private investigator and the most important case in her agency’s ten-year history has just dropped into her life. It’s a murder case, but unfortunately for Darby, she is the prime suspect.

The murder victim is Samantha Porter. Samantha was Darby’s partner in the Two Girls Detective Agency. Samantha and Darby had spent the last ten years building up the business. But Samantha, with her 60% ownership in the agency, was about to dissolve the partnership in order to take on a new job.


Matt Billows is the owner of Lake Waters Retreat, an exclusive spa on the shores of Seneca Lake. He had offered Samantha the job as head of security. Samantha, tired of the private investigator life, had agreed to take the job. Samantha’s choice leaves Darby without a job or a home, since Darby lives above the detective agency. The two fight about the new changes and Samantha leaves without resolving their differences.

Darby’s ex-boyfriend, Police Officer Austin Caster, is the one to tell Darby in the early hours of the next day about Samantha’s death in a car accident. But then he begins to ask Darby questions. By the time Austin and his partner Zack Lauter leave, Darby realizes she is the primary suspect in Samantha’s questionable death. With Samantha gone, Darby’s job and home are safe. Unless she is convicted of a murder she didn’t commit.

But the real murderer has planned this crime well. All the clues point directly at Darby. Darby will require all the skills she’s acquired in her ten years as a private investigator to solve Samantha’s murder, clear her own name, and bring the killer to justice.



I look forward to the first book in a new series—entering a new world and meeting its inhabitants, without having to make small talk. Is this setting a place I want to immerse myself into? Are these people I want to spend more time with, getting to know them warts and all? In the case of Amanda Flower’s new series, the answer is yes. Her strong primary characters and secondary characters are people I want to know, and Harrington is a place I want to visit again. The book is also peppered with humor; Mrs. Berger, Harrington’s oldest resident at 90 years of age, is the owner of Romy, a Maine Coon cat who is the bane of Darby’s existence. Mrs. Berger also swings a mean cane when necessary. I look forward to reading more about the small village of Harrington and the characters living there.

Release date: August 25, 2020

*copy provided by #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book

#DeadEndDetective

Dead End Detective is a new release by author Amanda Fowler. Set in the small town of Herrington, NY, along the shores of Lake Seneca in the Finger Lakes region, this is the story of Two Girls Detective Agency owners Samantha Porter and Darby Piper. They have been in business together for ten years but the elder Samantha has 60% to Darby’s 40% as she had the resources to invest when they opened shop. Recently Samantha has been talking about cashing out and taking the head of security position at Lake Waters Retreat, a rich and famous rejuvenation resort on the edge of town. Samantha’s father had held this position prior to his murder that appeared to occur when he surprised a burglar some 30 years ago. This had been the only murder ever committed in Herrington, and one that had never been solved. In fact, Samantha had begun investigative work with a goal of discovering who had killed her father.

Though the two girls argue back and forth over this possible sale, they remain close. When Darby is awakened from a sound sleep in the middle of the night to learn her partner and friend has died in a tragic accident, she is dumbfounded. This is a nightmare she will awaken from, right?

But the nightmare seems to intensify when she learns from the company’s lawyer that rather than will Darby the agency upon her death, Samantha has left her share to her wandering nephew, Tate Porter. Then, when evidence points at Darby as a murder suspect, the nightmare comes in to the daylight.

Darby’s former boyfriend, Detective Austin Caster, does all he can to allow Darby to solve this mystery before the circumstantial evidence is used to arrest her. Her new partner, Tate, appears to be working with Darby to solve this, but what does she really know about him and how is it that he appeared in town just as his aunt was murdered?

This is a well plotted mystery with many twists. The possible suspects are plentiful and the true culprit may be hiding in plain sight. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

I loved this new series by Amanda Flowers. The characters were people you wanted to learn more about and get to know. The murder mystery kept you guessing which I loved. I usually guess the person who commited the murder but this book left me surprised. I hope we get to return to the Finger Lakes more in the future.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Kept me guessing. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Amanda Flower always delivers a good read and Dead End Detective was no exception. Great plot, characters and setting. I highly recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Darby Piper and Samantha Porter disagree over what happens with their Two Girls Detective Agency in which Samantha owns the controlling interest. Before the partners resolve their disagreement, Samantha dies in a car accident.

Darby finds that she is the prime suspect since she is Samantha’s sole beneficiary, and witnesses attest to her disagreement with Samantha over the agency’s future. Another problem emerges when police discover that Samantha’s car bears evidence that another vehicle, later identified as Darby’s, caused the deadly crash. Then, much to Darby’s surprise, she learns that Samantha’s nephew inherits her partnership in the agency.

The nephew, Tate Porter, shows up and joins Darby’s investigation into his aunt’s murder. Amanda Flower constructs an intriguing introduction to this new cozy mystery series, complete with well-drawn characters and a compelling pace. The author establishes an appealing, friendly community that readers will enjoy visiting in future adventures. A skillful storyteller, Ms. Flower, creates another fictional destination for readers to enjoy.

I received a copy of Dead-End Detective through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dead-End Detective is the first installment of the new Piper and Porter Mystery series. Darby Piper, a current PI, and Tate Porter are thrown together when Tate’s aunt and Darby’s PI partner turns up dead. What happened to Samantha? Was the car crash an accident or something more nefarious? What will happen to the agency now that Samantha is gone? Darby and Tate have many questions to answer and they are running out of time.

I have read other series by Amanda Flower before and hoped I would love this new series just as much and it definitely didn’t disappoint! I loved everything about this book and the start of this new series. The characters are likable, the town setting of Herrington is cute and quaint, and the mystery was well written. I am so glad I discovered this new series and can’t wait to see what the rest of the series will hold!

The start of a friendship for Tate and Darby is also the means to solve this mystery. An unknown family member (long lost sister) committed murder and Tate and Darby searched for clues to clear her name. Great new characters and I love Romy!

Darby Piper is in shock. Samantha Porter—her mentor and business partner at Two Girls Detective Agency—has died in a car crash, and it doesn’t look like an accident. In fact, evidence is pointing toward Darby.

Darby had expected to inherit Samantha’s half of the agency, but Samantha had recently changed the will to leave it to Tate Porter, her nephew, who returns to town.

Tate is no P.I. He’s a veteran, a world traveler, and something of a mystery himself. But as he helps Darby delve into secret histories and real estate development plans, he does seem to have a knack for the job. Will the agency have a future…even if Darby can prove her innocence in time?


This is a typical Hallmark story. A good clean book with no foul language or sex scenes. The mystery is who killed Samantha Porter. Darby her partner in Two Girls Detective Agency is the prime suspect. She has to prove her innocence with the help of Tate Porter, Samantha's nephew. But can she trust him. He hasn't been in town for years and showed up just before Samantha was killed. This is a good beach read or to set by the fireplace and enjoy a good book.


I was given this book by Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley in exchan

Excellent new series! Darby knew there were going to be some uncomfortable situations working as a private eye when her ex long time boyfriend is a cop but when she becomes the prime suspect in a murder case it is beyond uncomfortable.

A well woven mystery with a likable protagonist and a fun secondary character. I look forward to spending more time with Darby, her new partner Tate and even her ex Austin. Thanks to Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Darby Piper and Samantha Porter are the Two Girls Detective Agency in Herrington with only secretary Nat to make up the numbers if you don't count the cat! They are friends though, sharing the load, and good at what they do. That is until Samantha dies in a car accident and Darby finds herself the prime suspect.

Not sure how she can carry on without Samantha, Darby is shocked when Tate Porter, errant nephew of the deceased woman, and much derided rolling stone, arrives to claim his inheritance. As the evidence seems more and more stacked against her, Darby has to do something she's not good at - trust in someone, other than herself, to help with an impossible situation but will she live to regret it?

This was a good read, I didn't guess whodunnit until I was supposed to and even then I didn't get all the clues left along the way. Darby and Tate were engaging with a satisfying camaraderie between them. I also liked the small town dynamic with the historical links between everyone and how important they were, not only in the investigation but also everyday life. Although this is my first book by this prolific author I hope it won't be the last. The storyline was really good, the dialogue believable and the big reveal satisfying to say the least.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys small town, character led, crime novels. This is definitely worth a read.

Great start to a new series! This was my first time reading something from this author, but I'm sure it won't be my last. Although an interesting plot, I have to admit that the story didn't really hold my interest until the last few chapters and I had put it down several times. I'm glad I stuck with it though because an interesting twist developed and the pace picked up near the end.

The characters were well rounded and likeable, but there were quite a few unanswered questions about them that I'm hoping we will discover in the next book.

I'd love to see this series on the Hallmark Mystery Channel. Just sayin'!

I am going to love the heck out of this new series. I enjoy the Magic Garden series, but didn't fall in love the characters in that one. Piper and Porter?! I loved every single one of them!

I won't rehash the plot, but this book is well written and you will become attached to Darby, Tate, and Austin as well as the love triangle I already see brewing. Plot wise, I guessed who the culprit was pretty early on but the story was still just as engaging. I can't wait for the next one! Well worth picking up.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3464837934

I really wanted to like this, as I'm a fan of Flowers' other books. But this start to a new series just didn't appeal. I only got 18% in, as it just felt too...familiar. I might be totally wrong, but I'm guessing that (view spoiler) I hope I'm wrong, but it just seemed so flat and predictable to me that other books on my tbr shelf started calling "Read me instead!" And I did. :>(

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Hallmark Publishing for an ARC of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
A detective agency is run by two long time friends. As sometimes happens one individual is not happy and wants to leave the Agency. But before she can, she is murdered.
Amanda Flower has taken a departure from her other mysteries and has written this new series. It is an excellent start and I look forward to reading the next book.

This was a cozy about a P.I., which you don't see very often. You can tell that the author knows the genre since all the tropes were there--but it was cool to see them under the guise of the amateur detective being a professional. There's lot of quirky characters (I loved Mrs. Berger) and interesting motives.

Not to date myself but Piper and Tate's relationship definitely reminded me of the sexy, PI TV series of the 80s like Moonlighting and Remington Steel. And Tate felt very much like if Jack Reacher was plopped in a cozy.

I do wish that in the next book we do get a better sense of why Piper is a good professional investigator because we don't get nearly enough in this book. The one stakeout is funny and very cozy-ish, but also doesn't read enough like a pro.

I also bumped on a description of a male character who wore his hair in braids. I suspect the author actually meant locs. It made me wish she did a bit more research.

This evenly paced and well-written drama had a comfortable tone making it easy to follow along with what the author has intended. The mystery was nicely executed with a solid plot, plenty of character building with intriguing plot twists that kept me immersed in all that was happening. The narrative was visually descriptive with engaging dialogue and good interaction between the various characters who, some, had pivotal roles that led to the revelation of the killer’s identity and motive. I do like how the author introduced the leads and the staging of this entertaining debut with a small-town atmosphere to set the mood. Amanda has done it again with this new series and I for one, is looking forward to more adventures with Darby and her friends.