WOW, that was one crazy trip down the rabbit hole. This cozy was as intense as the Hatter is MAD. I do not know how garage sale guru and professional organizer, Sarah Winston, was able to keep her head or her wits about her. Great plot developement, just like a well played chess match, and there are a slew of players. Sarah has to rely on her wits in order to find her friend and landlady, Stella, who has been kidnapped. Instead of a ransom, Sarah is told to follow the clues. Clues that are as nutty as the March Hare and as confusing as Wonderland itself. I was able to mark one or two possible suspects off the list but it took me rereading a few passages just to be sure. My heart ached when Sarah's ached, for her missing friend, for having to lie to her love, and for knowing that she had lost the trust of those she thinks highly of, but what would any of them do if they were in her shoes. She was determined to do as instructed until she couldn't. What a story! I think I need a glass of wine and a bianco pizza!

This was a great read. From the beginning I was hooked, and deeply invested in the hunt for Sarah's best friend.
The author, Sherry Harris, of building the intrigue and did a great job of moving the story along. She created some exceptionally tense moments.

If there was any criticism, it was the the perpetrator was just a little unbelievable. However, this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of this mystery thriller.

I haven't read the others in the series and found it stood apart as a separate novel very well.

With thanks to Kensington, the author and #NetGalley for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This has become one of my favorite series and I was so glad to get to visit Ellington and Sarah. The story line and mystery had me hooked and I could not put it down until I finished reading.

The cast of characters and their relationships have developed and I feel like I reading about old friends.

The mystery was intriguing and I liked following Sarah as she worked to solve where she could find and save Stella. There was added tension as Sarah could not tell anyone what she was doing and why. I also liked the addition of Harriet playing a more prominent role.

Great book!

I’ve never read a book by Author Sherry Harris that I didn’t love! She grand slams another home run with the ninth story of the fabulously entertaining Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series.

Sarah Winston has made great friends and caught the attention of a few enemies since beginning her career as a garage sale organizer. Harriet Ballow, former FBI superagent, is on Sarah’s team now, and she’s a force to be reckoned with. I love the candor and experience she brings to the story.

Harsh reality hits Sarah hard when her best friend, Stella, is kidnapped by a maniac, and Sarah is threatened by this ‘anonymous’ person if she tells anyone; especially, the police which includes Stella’s boyfriend, Awesome. (You know that’s not gonna go over well). The Author creates a creepy character who plays an evil cat and mouse game with Sarah for reasons unknown.

The action; immersed with Ms. Harris’s trademark ability to add amusement in tense situations; scores a fast 5 Star Review from yours truly. I honestly couldn’t tell who was Sarah’s friend, or who was her foe, at times. My heart was in my throat as she trusted someone I felt sure was a killer!

All my favorite re-curring characters were here—such as Sarah’s handsome district attorney boyfriend, Seth; and Mike, ‘the Big Cheese’ Titone; and others, and they were practically running circles around themselves trying to figure out the anonymous kidnapper’s identity. I was absolutely stunned by the ending and the reveal of the evil perpetrator. Oh. My. Gosh!

This is a must read mystery! I highly, highly recommend the entire series to mystery readers.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Absence of Alice is the 9th book in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries. Sherry Harris has out done herself with this one! I did not guess the perpetrator, not even close--- I love when that happens. Sarah is working hard on a new sales venue when she is notified that her good friend has been kidnapped, and that she must complete each task given to her or said friend will suffer. Oh, Sarah must look for clues and do the tasks completely unaided by police or friends. The race to find Stella, the friend, is on--- with twists and turns to keep the pace fast, and the suspense high. I loved it and recommend it to others who enjoy cozy/light mystery.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Books for granting my request for an ARC of this book.
#AbsenceofAlice #NetGalley

Sarah our favourite garage sale organizer is back! This time she needs to follow clues to find her friend Stella that has been kidnapped, but she can’t rely on the help of her faithful friends or Stella will be hurt. Great read and a surprise ending.

This was a darker Garage Sale Mystery (doesn't that sound odd!). I liked the darkness and the creepiness. I liked Sarah feeling on her own and not sure who she can trust. I liked the book overall, in fact. But the ending didn't totally convince me. I wasn't really sure this perpetrator had the smarts and cunning to pull this whole thing off. Other than that, though, a fun read.

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

Jumping into a series at book nine is not always a wise move but in this case it worked for me. I was able to enjoy the book just fine and now have eight previous ones to read!

Absence of Alice was a great read. The main character, Sarah, has the rather unusual job of coordinating garage sales, although hers sounded rather more high market than the average sale! Of course she is also an amateur sleuth with a tendency to get involved in kidnappings and finding dead bodies.

All the basics of a classic cosy mystery in fact, but this one is maybe a tiny bit darker than usual. It is also a lot of fun with some very appealing characters and amusing dialogue. I enjoyed it very much and will be looking out for those earlier books.

This is a fun story about a bargain hunter extraordinaire. Her latest client feels she has a fortune in antiques. But she thinks she can earn more with expert help. This authors books are full of garage sale helpful hints and some kidnapping adventures.

Another good book in the continuing series about Sarah Winston, garage sale expert. This time Sarah starts receiving phone calls from an unknown phone number telling her that her landlady and friend Stella has been kidnapped and will be killed if Sarah doesn't follow the rules set for her and complete the tasks. After several days of doing the tasks, Sarah figures out where Stell is and saves her with the help of some friends. Next it's on to find the culprit. And when Sarah finds out who it is and why it is a shock to her and everyone involved.

Sherry Harris has done a great job on another garage sale mystery, I love all the characters and the storylines that she comes up with for Sarah. The books are well written and an enjoyable read.


Sarah's latest client, Alice Krandle, is sure she has a fortune in antiques on her hands. She's already gotten a generous offer for the whole lot before her garage sale has even begun, but she thinks she can earn more with Sarah's expert help. The problem is that while Sarah's sorting through items from decades past, her landlady, Stella, faces a clear and present danger.

Stella's kidnapper has contacted Sarah with a set of instructions, and "Don't call the police" is at the top of the list. But they didn't say anything about Sarah's friend Harriet--who happens to be a former F.B.I. hostage negotiator...

This is the first book that I've read by this author and this series and it was a delight. I will definitely be reading more in the series.

With Absence of Alice, Sherry Harris offers us a prime example of the quality and uniqueness that makes the Sarah Winston Mystery series outstanding. I am an avid reader of cozy mysteries and Sarah Winston meets many of the best characteristics of the cozy world, but the variety alone takes it beyond the standard for the usual cozy mysteries. At the same time, the small-town warmth, great friendships, and Sarah’s somewhat unusual career of organizing garage sales, as well the limited description of murders keep the series and Absence of Alice on the lighter side of traditional mysteries.
When Sarah gets a call that her best friend has been kidnapped, the kidnapper says he will kill Stella if Sarah approaches any of people she usually counts on. She believes that he can find out if she does so; nothing is secret in a small town. Her only choice is to act as normal as possible and do everything he says while she tries to figure out who he is and where he is hiding Stella. For a woman who is friends with police officers and dating the district attorney, she is in a really bad position. It doesn’t help that she doesn’t lie. She cannot image why anyone would kidnap a friend to get at her or who would play games, deadly games, with her in exchange for clues to her friend’s whereabouts. Even if she does manage to rescue her friend, odd are that her other friends will feel betrayed and little that matters in her life will be the quite same again.
Sarah’s strength and intelligence in life and in solving murders, as well as her kind heart and the warmth of her circle of friends draw me to this must-buy series time after time. I requested an ARC through NetGalley because I love the series so much that I just can’t wait to get my hands on it and I know am going to shout about it anyway, but I also love it so much that I pre-order a personal copy for every book. #NetGalley #Absence of Alice

Sherry Harris never disappoints, her two series are among my top five favorites. And this is one of her best books. Sarah Winston has come a long way from military spouse to garage sale organizer over the course of the series. Her business is doing well, as is her love life. However, someone has kidnapped her best friend and is forcing her to "play the game" to get her back unharmed. While the story is strong enough to read on its own, the back stories of her friends and acquaintances provide a depth to the deeds and the resolve of the mystery. Highly recommended!

The Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series just keeps getting better and better. The latest offering from Sherry Harris is gripping from the very beginning. Sarah is placed in an untenable situation and does her best while being alienated from all of those on whom she usually can trust for help. This book has many twists which are entirely satisfying. I highly recommend the entire series, with 'Absence of Alice' being the cherry on top!

I receive a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Sherry Harris, did it again.

A marvelous novel, about Sarah, who is working on her 2 years of business as a garage sale organiser.

Sarah gets strange phone calls, her neighbour is kidnapped.
Sarah gets assignments from the kidnapper to find her neighbour,
without telling the police and her friends.
This is difficult when dead bodies are surfacing.

A packing cozy mystery, a real page turner.

I hope there will be more books in this series

Thank you Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC.

Sarah’s latest client, Alice Krandle, is sure she has a fortune in antiques on her hands. She’s already gotten a generous offer for the whole lot before her garage sale has even begun, but she thinks she can earn more with Sarah’s expert help. The problem is that while Sarah’s sorting through items from decades past, her landlady, Stella, faces a clear and present danger.

Stella’s kidnapper has contacted Sarah with a set of instructions, and “Don’t call the police” is at the top of the list. But they didn’t say anything about Sarah’s friend Harriet—who happens to be a former FBI hostage negotiator . . .

A Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery #9

Set in Ellington, Massachusetts, this ninth book in the series is in my opinion the best one yet.

Who would have thought that a cozy mystery based on garage sales would have so much intrigue and danger?

Sarah Winston is our MC and she is a garage sale organizer. She is really good at her job and her business is going well. But now a new competitor is in town and seems to be sabotaging Sarah’s work and reputation.

Busy pricing and organizing a sale for Alice Krandle, a crotchety old lady who has a soft center while at the same time planning her own anniversary sale in the town common.

But all of that has to take a backseat when her friend, Stella, is kidnapped from her apartment. Sarah begins receiving phone calls from a creepy man/woman telling her she can’t go to the police or her boyfriend, Seth, or even Mike, upstairs whose family is in a mob type business, but he is also her friend.

This was like a scavenger hunt, with the crazy person having her run all over town doing things and putting herself in danger. She does secretly call in reinforcements, including Harriet, her friend and former FBI agent.

I think I was suspicious of everyone in her circle except for the old mean man. He was just an old mean man to me. But at one time I was sure it was Seth. Was it? You will have to find out!

Sarah is such a good character. I can’t wait to see what trouble she gets up to next.

NetGalley/December 29th, 2020

Absence of Alice is the ninth installment in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series set in Ellington, Massachusetts and featuring garage sale organizer, Sarah Winston. Business is booming and Sarah is looking forward to hosting an antique sale for Alice Krandle and preparing for her own two year anniversary sale to be held on the Town Common.

Sarah receives a phone call from a creepy man who informs her that he's kidnapped her landlady Stella Wild. The man says that Sarah can't call the police, tell her DA boyfriend Seth or clue in her reputed mobster neighbor, Mike "the Big Cheese" Titone. The kidnapper soon has Sarah playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an ongoing Alice in Wonderland theme. People are turning up dead and Sarah, knowing she needs to act quickly to find Stella, enlists the help of retired FBI hostage negotiator and her part time employee, Harriet Ballou to track down a killer.

A chilling mystery with a surprise ending will have you holding your breath as y0u turn the pages. The plot is a little darker and heavier than the usual cozy but makes for a terrific rainy afternoon read. This is a great addition to the series and readers will enjoy catching up with the residents of Ellington.

I received an advanced copy of Absence of Alice from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of ABSENCE OF ALICE (Book 9 of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mysteries) by Sherry Harris in exchange for an honest review. Sarah Winston is a garage sale organizer. Her current client is Alice Krandle, micromanager extraordinaire. However, Sarah is distracted from her usual business when someone kidnaps her best friend and landlady, Stella. The kidnapper toys with Sarah throughout the book. Sarah must keep Stella’s kidnapping a secret, maintain an ordinary appearance, rescue Stella, and find out who hates her enough to harm her friends and clients in order torment Sarah.

I enjoyed this book and really like this series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, garage sales, organization, thrift stores, military bases, reformed mafia men, and prosecutors.

#AbsenceofAlice #NetGalley