Cover Image: A Room With A Roux

A Room With A Roux

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This is the first book that I have read in the series and I regret that I haven't read the rest on the series. Marley and Brett are on a short getaway before the Christmas season begins at Holly Lodge. Their vacation is cut short when they discover the body of one of the co-owner of the place in a snow bank. A few of their fellow guests end up in Wildwood Cove which leads to Marley investigating the murder. Marley and Brett are invited to the co-owner's funeral at the lodge. Marley puts the pieces together and figures out who the murderer is before he kills again

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

An entertaining and well written cozy mystery. Very good plot and character dynamics. Mystery fans will love this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

Marley and Brett go away for the weekend to Holly Lodge. One of the owners, Kevin, goes missing and Marley and Brett find him dead. As soon as they can, Marley and Brett head home to Wildwood Cove, but that doesn’t stop Marley from wondering about the murder.
Clues come to her at the Pancake house and as she goes about life about town. There is a second mystery of ornaments going missing from the Festival of Trees trees.
Marley pieces together clues from each mystery and finds the thief and the murderer.
I was sure I knew who the murderer was, but I was wrong. Well played Sarah Fox.
I love visiting Wildwood Cove and the pancake house. Marley and her friends are lovely to visit. Give this seventh Pancake House Mystery a try. This book could be read as a standalone but I must admit I forgot some of the secondary characters from earlier in the series and there wasn’t always much to introduce them so you might wonder a bit about who some people are and their significance to the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book prior to publication.

Was this review helpful?

"A Room With A Roux" the 7th instalment in the "Pancake House" Mystery series by Sarah Fox. I really like this series its an entertaining easy read.

Being that this is set in the pacific northwest where i am from rather than an eastern state i can relate to the setting easier. I enjoyed the part where they were up in the mountains at a remote lodge, seeing Marley out of her usual setting was a nice change. But the story seemed to pick up when it got back to Wildwood Cove.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters of Marley, Brett, and Sienna but lets not forget the loveable furbabies. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

A Room with a Roux by Sarah Fox is the 7th book in A Pancake House Mystery Series, and another great addition. Marley McKinney is the owner of The Flip Side, a pancake house in beautiful Wildwood Cove, located on the west coast. Marley and her new husband, Brett head to Holly Lodge for a romantic getaway. Unfortunately Marley and Brett find the body of the Holly Lodge co owner in a snowbank. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. There are a lot of twists and turns that kept me reading. There is a wonderful mixture of mystery, suspense, friendship, and romance for a well-balanced story. I can not wait until the next book in the series comes out. If you love cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book, and the whole series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

A charming cozy mystery. A good addition to a pleasant series. Lots of snow. I should have saved this one for summer. Brrrr! Clever mystery. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

This cozy mystery was so much fun! I've noticed not a lot of cozy mysteries have a married protagonist, and I appreciated that the romance was already established before the book began. Plus the pancake recipes were a nice touch and made me want to try them out.

Was this review helpful?

A Room with a Roux is Book 7 in the Pancake House Mystery Series by Sarah Fox.
I really LOVE this series and so excited that Marley and Brett have finally gotten married and they are off for a romantic weekend that doesn't exactly go as plans and a murder occurs.

This was a refreshing take on the series with a new location. I do love the Pancake House but it was great to be in a new locale. But Marley being Marley, she still got involved.

I really enjoyed this book . It definitely can be read as a stand alone book, but definitely check out the rest of the books in the series.

Was this review helpful?

Poor Marley and Brett finally get away on their honeymoon only to stumble across a murder! And even when they attempt to leave the bed and breakfast in their rear view mirror, Marley can't help but to ask questions and try to solve the case. The release timing of this book was a bit off. It would have been a great late November, early December book since it is set in the winter with Christmas on the horizon. I loved the scenic descriptions of snow and the tree decorating contest held in Wildwood Cove. If you are looking for a nice Christmas season cozy, read the first 6 books and be ready to read this one come next holiday season while you enjoy your hot apple cider!

Was this review helpful?

This is pancake house mystery #7 . I have read the entire series and enjoy returning to this charming series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Our intrepid protagonist Marley and her new husband are on a romantic get a way to a lodge far away from their responsibilities A blizzard sets the perfect winter setting for murder. amid roaring fires and cuddling with hot drinks. .Marley and her husband are soon involved in a shocking murder when they discover a body . Unable to leave the lodge due to the weather suspects abound and the setting is perfect for a Agatha Christie type of mystery complete with stranded guest and a atmospheric winter setting.

This is a fun next in series with a well crafted sleuth that kept me guessing. I look forward to the next in series.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this 7th installment of the Pancake House Mysteries. As Marley and Brett get out of town for some much-needed R&R, the murder happens at the mountain lodge they are staying at. I think this was a good decision, as it's nice to give her hometown of Wildwood Cove a break between murders. I enjoyed the snowy resort setting, interspresed with time at home at the beach. I also thought the supporting cast of characters was interesting, and it really made me long for the time when I can get away to travel to the snow again! Looking forward to the next mystery in the series. Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the advance digital copy.

Was this review helpful?

Marley and Brett have finally gotten married (yay!) and now they're taking a romantic weekend at a lodge- expecting to have cocoa and fun. This being Marley, however, there's a murder. Who killed Ken, the co-owner of the lodge? Well, that's only one mystery in this latest installment in a fun series. Marley and Brett head back to Wildwood Cove, where they find someone's been stealing Christmas ornaments. Huh. Cozy readers know that had annoyed more than his wife and that there might be a reason for the thefts. Less time is spent at Marley's pancake place the Flip Side than I might have liked but it was nice to see Marley and Brett in a different locale (because I really worry about the murder rate in their small tourist town!). That also might make it easier to read this as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun cozy read - with recipes- and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Was this review helpful?

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. While the latest book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone as I’d not read previous the previous books. Marley owns a popular restaurant, the Pancake House, in Wildwood Cove. When she and her husband go on a short winter getaway, up in the mountains at Holly Lodge, they’re initially charmed by the setting and the owners. Watching interactions among the owners and the small group of guests raise some red flags. When one of the owners, Kevin, is found dead in a snowbank, Marley and Brett leave as soon as possible and head back home. They’re surprised to learn that Kevin was a former Wildwood Cove resident and not universally well liked. As they encounter several of the other guests in town and are invited back for a memorial service, Marley is drawn into the mystery whether she wants to or not. At the same time, she’s running her business and supporting the town’s Festival of Trees display competition. While she’s juggling all of this, she’s also determined to solve the murder before someone else is hurt.
This was a nice, holiday cozy. The characters are all well-written and clearly voiced by the author. The settings are well described and you can see the winter scene. There’s a sub-plot of a possible ghost at Holly Lodge and also of the murdered man’s stepdaughter’s situation. It’s a good cozy for this time of the year.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoy books set in small towns, and love it when a whole series revolves around one. That is the charm of the Pancake Mystery series by Sarah Fox. Unfortunately, A Room With a Roux, takes Marley, and her husband Brett, out of Wildwood Cove and to a mountain retreat instead. While this was an enjoyable novel, I believe this was a mistake on the author's part. Thankfully, the characters return home to Wildwood Cove and that saved the book for me.

What I Liked:

As always, I love the scenes set in the small town of Wildwood Cove. Having Marley interact with the various townspeople is wonderful. There's even a subplot where someone is taking Christmas tree ornaments in the midst of a decorating competition. I enjoyed how that mystery played out.

What I Didn't Like:

Lack of Character Development:

As I said in the introduction, I don't feel having a murder at a hotel worked in the story. The reader really didn't get a feel for who the other characters were, as Marley's interactions with them were limited. The author has to paint each character in really broad strokes, like having Ambrose, the poet, be overly emotional to show he's a deep thinker. Or Zarha, the daughter of one of the hotel's owners, being suspected of the murder because she dresses in goth clothing and has a partially shaved head. usually, in these books, Marley would dig into these peoples backgrounds and find something that would bring more of the character's motivations to life. This didn't happen much in this book.

Overly Descriptive at the Wrong Time:

Much of the book is filled with minute description of Marley's day. It drones on and on about what she had for lunch, what she was going to wear, and her going window shopping. This felt like filler, as these things had nothing to do with the plot. There was very little actual action, until the finale. It seemed to me that the author needed to stretch out the book in order to get to the good bits.

Was this review helpful?

I was absolutely thrilled to have book number seven in the series to read. I am guaranteed a great read from this series, I am never disappointed!

I missed reading about the usual gang of characters (besides Marley and Brett), but I enjoyed the premise of this latest offering.

As always, a well written whodunit, which kept me guessing and engaged right until the reveal.

I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

Marley and Brett are off for a relaxing weekend holiday at a lodge. Everything’s lovely for the newlyweds until Marley comes across the body of their host, Kevin, in a snowbank. I really enjoyed that the mystery continued after they left the lodge because some of the suspects, it turns out, lived in or where visiting their hometown, where Kevin had also previously lived. It was a really good balance between the unknown of the lodge as location and the other guests, and the familiarity of their hometown.
The mystery worked very well, and it was a delightful installment to the series. A great recommendation for patrons who love cozy mysteries.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a great read. I really enjoyed the plot of the story. I felt like I was a character interacting within the story. When will the next Google available to read?

Was this review helpful?

I love this series [and not just because the setting is in a pancake house either! ;-) ]; Marley and Co. are a great group of characters and you can see the growth of them as the books progress. And while Marley has some quirks that totally annoy me [therapy anyone?], for the most part, she is a really great MC and I love her interaction with the people in town and the ones in her life, including Sienna [the teen who shares her love of mysteries]. And the town is a fun little town that really loves is residents and that is heartwarming.

THAT being said...I guessed the who and the why at 24%. I even sent a photo to the bestie saying that I knew the who and the why. And then I told my mom that I knew. And she asked if I was going to continue reading or just skip to the end, and in a SHOCKED voice, I said I most certainly was going to continue reading. ;-) Because here's the thing...even though I knew the what and why and who [and for those inquiring minds, I was right. All the way down to the little details], I was in no rush to find out if I was right. Why? Because of the story in the middle. Yes, Marley hunts for clues and such, but she also lives her life. She DOES HER JOB [because she OWNS A BUSINESS AND THAT IS WHAT ONE DOES WHEN ONE OWNS THEIR OWN BUSINESS. Yes, this is a pet peeve with me and the current trope in newer cozies where the MC refuses to do their job]. She interacts with her community, takes part in different activities [this time it was a Christmas tree decorating contest] and also work with families that are struggling [the mini-mystery surrounding stolen ornaments will keep you guessing and then totally break your heart] as well as enjoying being a newlywed [though one would hope that after only being married for a few months, one would still get that butterfly feeling with the one they married, but again, that goes into the "things that Marley says and does that bug me" column]. So even when you know the who and why and the reveal isn't really huge for you, the story that gets you there IS worth it. But it does mean that it isn't a 5 star read. Because even though the knowing doesn't really bother me, the knowing so EARLY kinda does. ;-)

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Fox and Kensington Publishing/Lyrical Underground Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Newly married Marley and Brett travel to Holly Lodge for a romantic getaway and to discover the murdered body of lodge owner Kevin Manning on their second day. As soon as weather permits, Marley and Brett return home to Wildwood Cove.

Marley finds herself following up on Kevin’s murder along with trying to trap the thief stealing ornaments from the Christmas trees set up for the local Festival of Trees. Familiar characters make this a comfortable visit to the Flip Side and Wildwood Cove as Marley chases clues in both mysteries. Sarah Fox peppers the narrative with red herrings and tricky twists while the steady pace contributes to an engaging read. Warm holiday touches make this a delightful gift for the season.

Was this review helpful?

Love the way this series has developed!
In this instalment, Marley and Brett are spending a few days at a mountain lodge after their wedding. This sets a romantic and ideal retreat for lovers, with snow and the cozy of fireplace and hot chocolate.
Just a few days in, an a murder is committed.

Marley is keen to pick up her things and get home as fast as possible. But suspects keep popping in town and an investigation will surely arise.

With Christmas just around the corner, trees to decorate and an ornament thief on the loose. Things will become very busy at the Flip Side.

Was this review helpful?