First in a new cozy series. As a first in a series, this was great. It introduced the setting and characters without ever being dull or detail heavy. Author Tess Harrow and her daughter Gertie plan to spend time after her divorce in her grandfather's rustic cabin in the woods. Really rustic. No electricity or running water. Gertie, a teenager, is thrilled. No wifi. And before they have even begun to unpack, there is a terrible explosion and fish guts and human limbs come crashing on their heads. One of the locals was fishing in the lake and found more than he bargained for. Now you can see, as a cozy series, this has a few problems. There are some sections, such as this, that are a bit more graphic than most cozy readers enjoy. So, first in a series, Yes! Humorous, Yes! Cozy, um, beware?
There is lots to enjoy in the story. There is lots in the story. The setting is a charming small town in the Washington mountains near the Canadian border. There are lots of quirky locals as well as Tess and her family. And the story is surprisingly complex and twisty. Oh, and there's Bigfoot. I will leave you to figure him out. The mystery itself is well plotted, the characters are pretty well developed. Naturally, humor is very subjective, so one person's hilarious is the next person's stupid, so each will have to decide on the humorous aspects as well. I personally found the attempt to make Tess's relationship with Sheriff Boyd amusing, and to keep her investigating when she shouldn't just made her annoying rather than funny, but that's just me.
Quibble File: Tess carries on as if a bobcat would be some kind of exotic creature in the forest of Washington, that when she saw it, it could only be an escapee from illegal animal traffickers. Huh? They live there. Lots of them.
Next - Rustic cabin. Teenager cooking up a storm. No electricity or running water. Is she "baking" cookies on a Coleman or a woodstove? And cleaning up must be fun. Talented and dedicated teenager, I must say.
Shutting up now.
My copy was an eARC from NetGalley

Tess Harrow is a writer and the recently divorced bestseller thriller author who has escaped Seattle and is in Winthrop, Okanogan County, Washington at her late grandfather's rustic cabin along with Gertie, her teenage daughter. They will spend the summer at the cabin which is without electricity or running water and they've only just arrived when an explosion rocks the house. The next thing they know, it's raining body parts and fish.

Buried in a Good Book is funny and fresh, even though I was convinced I could smell rotting fish, whilst reading! I enjoyed the characters of both Tess and fourteen year old pink-haired Gertie, immensely. I can safely say I will be looking out for book two, On Spine of Death. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Buried in a Good Book: A By the Book Mystery
By Tamara Berry
Poisoned Pen Press
May 24, 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Still recovering from a recent divorce and overdue on her next manuscript, thriller writer Tess Harrow has retreated to Winthrop, Washington in the hopes that the off-the-grid change will allow her to complete her new novel. Less thrilled with the move from Seattle is Tess’s 14-year-old daughter Gertrude, a far-too-mature teenager who finds the lack of Wi-Fi as irritating as the explosion that has fish parts raining all around them. This questionably legal form of fishing also results in a flying human body part, which brings Okanogan County Sheriff Boyd to their doorstep. That he is the brought-to-life version of Tess’s fictional Detective Gonzales is as fascinating for Tess as it is irritating to the sheriff, who is not appreciative of her detective’s habit of bending the law. A murder at her great-grandfather’s cabin inspires both Tess’s creativity and compulsion to insert herself into the investigation, confident that her authorship of a bestselling detective series gives her the experience to solve a murder.

This first in a new series by the author of the delightful Eleanor Wilde mysteries introduces a flawed, vulnerable, and very likeable new heroine. It quickly becomes apparent that Tess’s confidence and flippancy hides her insecurity as a mother, first as a result of the divorce and now the murder. Armed guards at their cabin are reassuring, but make her clandestine investigative adventures and attempts to coerce information from suspects difficult. The sights of Bigfoot and random toucans are perplexing and only complicate the mystery, which Tess attempts to solve through the connections she makes among her eccentric neighbors. A stellar librarian and deputy touting her own 1000-plus page science fiction handwritten manuscript put together as many pieces of the puzzle as they do take them apart. It seems that everyone in town is hiding a secret, and Tess can’t help but wish that Sheriff Boyd would be less by-the-book and more like her rogue fictional detective. That the sheriff actually prefers to follow the laws and respect citizens’ rights makes for a good law enforcement officer but is terrible fiction, and impatience sends Tess off an abundance of her own investigative paths. The true star of this novel is Gertie, an extraordinary teen who is far more observant than her mother wishes and somehow manages to steer her mother towards saner paths. As Tess’s protective walls fall down and her fears revealed, she becomes so much more complex and admirable. The humor level is at its highest during the interactions of Tess, Gertie, and Sheriff Boyd, who may butt heads but ultimately have similar goals. The extreme northern setting encourages the weirdness of its inhabitants, delivering a fun, thrilling, and completely unexpected ending. This is a novel that grows stronger the more it reveals about Tess, Gertie, and their fish-raining new home.

I was a little iffy about this one as I seemed to have been a little burnt out reading cozy mysteries involving books in any form. However this one involved an writer and her teenage daughters. So it kind of gave me Castle vibes if Castle was female and lived a small mountain town in a rustic cabin. And of course Tess isn't just any writer she's a thriller writer and her fictional detective is a spitting image of the local sheriff. I thought this one was going to be predicable. It wasn't it kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I'm already looking forward to the next one in the series.

What a great first book of a series! I do love me some cozy mysteries and I definitely laughed out loud at times. I thought the plot was done well and I enjoyed the main character. Can't wait for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Tess Harrow was a best-selling thriller writer and she and her teenage daughter, Gertrude moved to Tess’ grandfather’s rustic old cottage in Winthrop for six months, to put the divorce of her ex husband into the past, and help Gertrude get through the fact that her father wasn’t in contact with her at all. Tess didn’t expect to get involved with a murder right on their doorstep not long after they’d arrived. With no electricity, running water or Wi-Fi, Gertie wasn’t impressed, but when they met a lady who ran a mobile lending library, Gertie was happy to spend time reading. Soon Nicki and Tess were good friends, but Tess was using the knowledge she’d gleaned writing her novels, to find the murderer. The sheriff wasn’t impressed.

As Tess investigated, digging into the people in the area, telling the sheriff what she learned, she couldn’t make him happy. She was annoying him – so she decided to do it on her own. But what would that bring? Another body and more distractions than she could manage. Would she and Gertie stay safe until the killer was found?

Buried in a Good Book is the 1st in the By the Book Mysteries by Tamara Berry, and I quite enjoyed it. It was fun and entertaining, even though Tess did LOTS of silly things. The twists were good and the one at the end was a surprise! I didn’t expect it at all! I’m looking forward to #2 in the series. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited (and a little hesitant) to read this book. The blurb sounded interesting, but it's the first book in a new series so you just never know.... I can happily say I really enjoyed it. It was fun, fast-paced, and slightly zany. I enjoyed meeting, and getting to know, Tess (thriller writer and sometimes know-it-all), her daughter Gertie, the sheriff (who reminds Tess of her main character), and so many other interesting characters. There were plenty of red herrings and various shenanigans to keep me guessing whodunit. I was quite surprised when all was revealed.
I'll definitely be watching for the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Top notch writing and story telling! A good solid murder mystery on the level of Jessica Fletcher, Castle and Knives Out. Sure it's a book and not a TV show but I very much felt likeI was watching one in my head. Our lead character is Tess. Newly divorced mom of one teenage girl. Tess is a successful author who views the world as inspiration for her next Detective Gonsalves murder mystery. I know this book has been labeled a cozy mystery and the cover makes it feel that way. However, this is just a bit more gritty than your average "cozy" . No swearing or or explicit sex. But the murders are a bit more explicit than the normal cozy "dead body and there's blood call the police" scenario. Very engaging and a lot of layers to peel through and organize to solve the crime.

Now there are a few negatives. Tess is absurdly confident. Then again, so are the characters I mentioned in the first line of this review. She mentions her research and all the work she does to bring her own books a gritty realism, yet somewhere in the latter part of this book, she comments her research is more along what she can google and read on a few websites. The last 1/3 of the book brings it all to an exciting climax and an almost good wrap-up. Some of the explanations are a bit eyebrow raising and makes you wonder how Tess, the great observer and judge of character misses some of the clues. Not to mention it's a bit over dramatic. Again, just enough to make you raise and eyebrow.

Overall, a 4.5 star of a read. I really enjoyed the writing, the story, the characters and their interactions. Not quite a "cozy" book and not quite a "thriller". But a good in-between for fans of both and I am very much looking forward to the next book of the series. I've already recommended this one to my friends and I think it would be a fun read for a book club.

Thank you #netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the free ARC (kindle). This version was free but I am definitely buying the paperback to keep for my collection.

This is a solid beginning to a unique cozy mystery series. I really enjoyed the main character taking the lead, an author of mystery novels moving to a cabin to write her next story, only to stumble on a dead body.

While I wish there was a bit more novel writing, and the mystery itself could have been tighter, I really did enjoy getting to know the characters and a little about the town. I would pick up the next installment in hopes of learning more about the sheriff and the town along with whatever new mystery pops up.

Based on the ending there will be more writing and connecting with the sheriff along with becoming more a part of the community in the next one.

The following review was published on my blog (blogginboutbooks.com) on 05.30.22:

Tess Harrow, a popular mystery/thriller writer, is enjoying an enviable literary career. Her personal life? That's another matter entirely. Recently divorced after 15 years of marriage, she's trying to pick up the pieces while also dealing with her teenage daughter, who's been prickly since her dad's abandonment. In desperate need of a getaway where the two can unplug and reconnect, Tess whisks Gertie away to tiny Winthrop, Washington. Spending the summer at Tess' grandfather's rustic cabin in the woods should be just the thing for some much needed mother/daughter bonding and healing.

Tess and Gertie have barely stepped foot on the property when an explosion rocks the peaceful forest. While being showered with fish guts and human remains, Tess watches her dreams of a languid, relaxing summer slip through the cracks. Suddenly, she—who was written about dozens of fictional murder mysteries—is smack dab in the middle of a very real one. Although Winthrop's ruggedly handsome sheriff (who is disconcertingly similar to the made-up hero of Tess' bestselling mystery series) insists he does not need her help to solve the crime, the author can't help herself. If she wants to reclaim her summer, not to mention clear her good name, she needs to find out whodunit. And soon.

Cozy mysteries are a dime a dozen and I've read several dozen! Most of them are average reads, with mediocre writing, blah characters, improbable plots, and lots of melodrama (often to the point of ridiculousness). I usually give even my most favorite ones only about a B-. Why do I bother reading them, then? Well, because they're generally clean, fun, easy reads that don't give me nightmares! I don't expect a lot out of them, though, to be honest. I was VERY pleasantly surprised, then, by the quality of Buried in a Good Book, the first installment in a new series by Tamara Berry. It might, in fact, be the best-written cozy I've ever read.

Cozies generally have a strong sense of place and this one is no different. The little town of Winthrop comes alive in Berry's hands, providing a lively backdrop for her story. Tess and the other characters are lively, with personalities that are not only discernable but also complex. For a cozy, these story folks are quite well-developed, while still being left with plenty of room for further growth. Their dialogue feels natural, not forced. Berry's prose is the same. It flows well and sparkles with humor and wit. The plot is, of course, a *little* far-fetched. Still, there's some originality to it and it's twistier than you might expect. Also, just to warn you: the murders are a little more gruesome than your average cozy deaths, although they're not described in an overly graphic way. While I did identify the murderer before Tess did, Berry kept me guessing until about 3/4 of the way through and I still didn't see EVERYTHING coming. Needless to say, I really enjoyed Buried in a Good Book. It's engrossing, it's funny, it's entertaining, it's smile-inducing. If you're into cozies (and even if you're not), give this one a shot. It's just SO fun!

(Readalikes: Reminds me of cozy mysteries by Ellie Alexander, Amanda Flower, Kylie Logan, Victoria Abbott, Vivien Chien, etc.)

Grade: B+

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for violence, blood/gore, and sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Buried in a Good Book from the generous folks at Sourcebooks via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I never know what to expect when I start a new series by a new-to-me author. Sometimes the result is horrible and I either finish the book and never go back to the series or sometimes its just so good I wish I had read the author before this. That was the case here. I had barely started the book and wondered just why I hadn't read this author before and by the end, wished that the second one was waiting for me to dive right into. What a ride.

IF you liked the show Bones, or Castle, or even The Mentalist [though the later is not an author], you will love this book. The banter is very much Bones-worthy, but the relationship between Tess and the Sheriff is much more Castle. I thought of that show over and over while reading this.
Tess is a crime writer. Her series features a swoon-worthy detective who always "gets his man". Imagine her surprise when, after arriving at her grandfather's cabin in the northern woods of Washington State, a crime happens and the sheriff shows up and he is the spitting image of her beloved Detective Gonzales. And once that picture is in her head, she barely lets him have time to forget it. ;-) Because of that, she feels she is in the perfect situation to help the sheriff with his investigation and well, shenanigans ensue.

There was an aspect of this book that I struggled with. As a child of divorce [multiple - my father is...well. Anyway], I felt for Gertrude and her sadness over her father's neglect and the scene between Gertrude and her father and Tess brought me to tears. It is funny how one little scene in a cozy mystery can bring one back to their own teen years and the trauma that that sometimes entailed.

This was really well-written and both funny and thoughtful and has a really good mystery [I was 3/4 done before I realized what was going on]. I am so glad I took a chance on this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tamara Berry, and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Buried In A Good Book is the first in a new cozy mystery series by Tamara Berry. What first drew me to it was the cover, and I’m so glad it did! This book is an entertaining murder mystery that kept me guessing right up until the end.

I really enjoyed this one! If you like a cozy mystery with a quirky, opinionated heroine, hilarious banter and an entertaining cast of side characters, then this one is worth checking out!

Tess Harrow is a writer and the recently divorced bestseller thriller author who has escaped Seattle and is in Winthrop, Okanogan County, Washington at her late grandfather's rustic cabin along with Gertie, her teenage daughter. They will spend the summer at the cabin which is without electricity or running water and they've only just arrived when an explosion rocks the house. The next thing they know, it's raining body parts and fish.

Buried in a Good Book is funny and fresh, even though I was convinced I could smell rotting fish, whilst reading! I enjoyed the characters of both Tess and fourteen year old pink-haired Gertie, immensely. I can safely say I will be looking out for book two, On Spine of Death. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry is the first book in the new cozy By the Book Mysteries series. As with most cozy mystery series this first book does contain a fully solved mystery so it could be read as a standalone if choosing to do so with only the character development carrying over to the next book.

After Tess Harrow’s divorce from her husband she gained custody of their teenage daughter but Tess didn’t want her ex completely out of her Gertie’s life. Every day Tess watched her Gertie’s disappointment when her father was a no show so Tess decided maybe some time away would do them good. After her grandfather’s passing Tess inherited his remote cabin and being an author Tess can work from anywhere so they head to the small town of Winthrop.

Once arriving at the cabin though Tess and Gertie were in for quite the shock when some loud booms sounded off nearby. Tess discovers a young man blast fishing on her property and unfortunately instead of just fish he’d blasted out a dead body from the pond. Being a best selling thriller author Tess knows way more than the average person about murder so she can’t help herself by poking into the sheriff’s investigation.

Tamara Berry is a cozy author that I have read before so going into Buried in a Good Book I was expecting to find one of those quirky and humorous cozies that I adore and I certainly did find one. This was such a fun start to a new series with plenty of twists and turns with the mystery to keep a reader on their toes. The characters were great and I enjoyed the tiny town and will definitely look forward to returning with the next book of the By the Book Mysteries series!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 1 in a new series.

When I saw the author of this book, I jumped at it, because I love her other series. But I honestly wasn't thrilled with this one. The main character is hard to like and the comparisons of the sheriff to Tess' fictional detective got old fast.

I'll read the next one to see if I like it any better, because I truly do enjoy the author's writing.

Tamara Berry creates a delightful new protagonist, Tess Harrow, in her new series debut, Buried in a Good Book. This captivating cozy is a fun read and my complete review is available at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

This was such a fantastic start to a new series! I loved the kind of off the grid setting and how it played into the mystery. The mystery was well plotted and well paced. I thought I had the villain figured out, but I was wrong! There were so many laugh out loud moments that I was sad to see this book end. I cannot wait for book 2!

This is my first read by Tamara Berry and I am definitely interested in diving into her other books after reading this one. Tess is a thriller writer but didn't expect to be caught up in one when she planned on relaxing at the cabin she inherited all summer with her daughter after coming out of a rough divorce. A body is found in the pond and now they have a real mystery to solve. Berry crafts a witty, humorous, page-turner with Buried in a Good Book!

This is a perfect blend of mystery and humour - over the top funny and the characters are hilarious. I loved the daughter, Gertrude, a perfect side kick and the relationships between the many characters in this appealing town made me want to move. The mystery itself is a good one so more traditional cozy mystery fans certainly won’t be disappointed. Hope to see more of these amazing characters.

It's been a minute since I read a cozy that so successfully blended plenty of humor with a great mystery, and Buried in a Good Book got me from page one. Tess is a fantastic main character, and her daughter Gertrude, plus the citizens of the rural town she heads to are great characters as well. I loved the banter between Tess and the sheriff, the irreverent jokes about the differences between mystery books and real life, and truly didn't see the ending coming. This should be a sure hit with cozy fans.