This is a delightful cozy type mystery with a small town feel. Lots of quirky characters with a drama free mystery. The plot was uncomplicated yet entertaining. I enjoyed following along the mystery trail. I am not sure if this is a series in the making but I did enjoy this book. I look forward to seeing if there is another installment.

Unlike most mysteries, The Little Town of Summerville by R.T. Douglas does not revolve around a murder but rather a theft. As police detectives Jack Wellington and Charlie Finch investigate the theft of two Qing Dynasty vases and the disappearance of the owner's dog, they are also assigned an additional case involving a break-in at a studio and the theft of some tools there. Jack and Charlie feel that the two cases are similar enough to be related but as the investigation continues, they discover that they are separate cases - one revolves around a group of children who are friends and the other around a theft ring. Because Jack has recently moved from a big city police department to the small town of Summerville, he has some difficulty with the lack of consistency within the department policies and protocols. By the end, Jack does manage to convince his chief that perhaps some things need to change in the department.

I found that while the characters and storyline in this book were well developed, there were perhaps too many miscellaneous details offered and this caused the story to drag and distract from the core. As this is a first in series book, some of these details may become more evident as to their importance in future installments but for this book it made it difficult to keep my attention on the storyline. I look forward to future books in this series to see how the relationships created here progress.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I don’t know if this is the start of a cozy series or it was intended for a middle grade audience, I know I liked this slow burning story the kept me reading.
It’s a well written, cozy, and heartwarming story with some poignant moments.
There’re two sub plots: one involving the adult detective investigating the disappearance of two vases and one featuring the neighborhood kids investigating the disappearance of a dog.
I found the characters fleshed out and likeable. Jack is a relatable character, a big city detective who moved to a small town and he’s eager to solve the mystery. Charlie is a bit more jaded but an interesting character.
The plot is solid, no plot hole, and it kept me reading and entertained till the last page.
I liked the relationship amongst the kids, their friendship, and their loyalty.
The descriptions of the small town are well done and I was able to visualize the places and the characters.
This story can be appreciated by older children but some part should be explained by an adult as they could be a bit harsh for a child.
I think there’s a lot of potential and this could become a very interesting cozy series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Robert Douglass and Partners In Crime for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

This is a suspense free, low key mystery. Douglass' writing style is very straight forward. There are no complex nor hard to follow sentences. I am not sure if this novel was crafted for adult readers or young people. There was one particular scene, about building a ramp for sledding, that seemed only for the interest of young readers as it really did not move the mystery plot forward. There is nothing in the mystery I feel would be inappropriate for young mystery lovers.

The novel centers around the details of a police investigation with Jack pursuing leads, mostly by talking to people and reviewing the crime scene. There is lots of description but it is woven well into the narrative. Jack is a low key character who seems to really have a heart for solving the crime. I thought Charlie was an inconsistent character. Sometimes he had a cold stare for Jack but other times seemed to pal along.

There are great lessons for young readers included on truth telling and forgiveness. Adult readers who like a complex mystery with a fast moving plot may not appreciate this novel. I think it suits young readers better.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I am torn about my feelings towards this book.
I am sure it has to do with Chubby, and I will warn very sensitive young people not to read this book without an adult to talk to.
The book is geared towards an upper elementary through high school audience.
The language is appropriate and the concepts are easily enough followed.
Many of the central characters are children.
The main detective is likable but comes off as idealistic, perhaps naive. I did like how that was handled at the end.
When he wants to be thorough and compassionate, he is told other goals and means are valued higher.
This gave me much to think about as I was trying to figure out the mystery. I enjoyed the clues sprinkled throughout the book.
The subject of prejudice also comes across. Not gender or racially biased, but it is tactfully handled.
The book has many excellent qualities, which is why giving it a star rating is difficult for me.
I decided on 3.5 stars.

A cute cozy that feaJack Wellington, who has moved from the city to a small town to start anew. Stolen art, kids, dogs and Charlie Finch help solve this delightful. Thanks #netgalley and #IBPA for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

This is an interesting cozy mystery. I like the role the kids play in the story. Jack Wellington is a slow, methodical detective and this method is successful in getting the mystery solved. It's a cute story but this writing style is not my favorite. I know many readers enjoy lots of description but it takes me out of the story so I don't enjoy the read as much.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.