Tess Harrow is newly divorced and since the papers were signed her louse of an ex hasn't even spoken to his 14 year old daughter, Gertie. He's off with his new squeeze, not all that much older than Gertie. With that and being a teenager - with pink hair and the usual growing pains - Tess decided that spending a month living in her late grandfather's forest cabin would be good for both of them. Back in Seattle Tess has been struggling with the deadline for her latest mystery/thriller. Time to shake things up.
The cabin in the woods is about as far away from Seattle and still be in the state. Winthrop is, at best, 500 people but it's a tourist draw for those who love the outdoors. It's decked out as an old west town and that adds to its attraction. Other towns nearby aren't much different - Twisp is 1200. It's not going over well with Gertie - she wasn't aware that there would be no electricity, no running water and (gasp!) no WI-FI. Within moments of arriving at the cabin and having all of that revealed, things move into high gear when a series of explosions rock the cabin walls and it rains an assortment of fish and a few human body parts. One of the locals is doing some dynamite fishing on the lake on Tess's property. Call the cops. When he arrives Tess is amazed at his resemblance to her fictional detective. The interaction between them is great fun. Tess has lots to learn about real life police procedure.
The setting of Winthrop is a good choice for a series. I enjoyed the addition of Washington State's favorite character, Big Foot. As for the mystery, I was hooked from the start. Tess and Gertie are quirky and a bit annoying but that's part of their charm. I had read another series by Tamar Berry and knew that she did quirky very well. This was a good start and I'm looking forward to at least two more books in this series.
My thanks to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Book review time! This month, I decided to stick with something I’m used to, something on the predictable side. So, I went with the first book in a new cozy mystery series. Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry was released yesterday (the 24th) from Poisoned Pen Press. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s get to it!

Buried in a Good Book follows Tess, who’s fresh off a divorce, as she drags her teenage daughter Gertie into the woods for a much needed escape. Unfortunately, when they arrive at the cabin Tess inherited from her grandfather, a strange set of circumstances unearths a body. Being a mystery writer, Tess leaps at the chance to help solve a real life murder while avoiding her looming deadline and messy personal life. Plus, small town life seems to be helping her daughter cope with her absentee father a bit. What could go wrong?

Where to start? The plot was fairly standard, but with an annoying writer constantly comparing everything to her books. The hot sheriff is exactly like her detective, at least looks-wise. There’s a new bestie who encourages all of the shenanigans. The sullen teenage daughter who’s too smart for her own good is a rare addition to cozies, but not unheard of. The only problem with the plot is that the cast of characters is so small that you know right away the baddie is either going to be a peripheral character who doesn’t get much page time or the dreaded random character who comes from nowhere. There’s really only one person it could be, so I mostly kept reading for character development.

Speaking of characters, I really liked most of them, which made the book worth reading. Yes, Tess is annoying as fuck with her “Detective Gonzales would do it this way…” crap, but as a mother and human being in general, she’s pretty okay. She’s navigating being newly single and realizing that she has no one in her life besides the ex and her daughter. And making friends as an adult is HARD. It’s all very relatable. Gertie is adorable. Sheriff Boyd is grumpy, but lovable. Nicki is a little flat, but that’s because she’s trying to be something she isn’t. Hopefully her character will have some room to grow in the next book.

I admit, there were some really weird red herrings that made me mutter “wtf?” to myself a few times. The Bigfoot thing, I was down with. It was strange, but whatever. I liked it. A lot of Tess’s theories on things were just plain nuts, though. It kind of slowed down the pacing towards the end. But once things came back around to relatively believable scenarios, things sped up again.

The writing was actually wonderful. It was quirky and sarcastic and pulled me along without becoming too much. There was some over the top stuff, but it wasn’t enough to make me want to quit reading. Roll my eyes, yes. Stop reading? Nah. Mostly, it was a fun and quick read.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed Buried in a Good Book. I’ll definitely grab the next book in the series when it comes out. The writing style and characters make it worth a second chance at least.

Overall, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. If cozy mysteries are your thing, definitely check it out. It’s pretty short and fun, so yeah. I recommend it.

What I enjoyed most about this book were the similarities between Tess’s writing world and the real one. The banter between her and the sheriff, as well as her reactions to the sheriff, had me laughing out loud. Overall, there’s a nice dose of humor throughout the book. I was a little disappointed in the ending because, while it came as a surprise, also forced me to suspend my disbelief a bit too much. Overall, a good read that’s fun and moves quickly.

Release Date: May 24, 2022

📖📖📖📖

Newly divorced thriller author Tess Harrow and her teenage daughter Gertie as they travel into the woods of the Pacific Northwest to her late-grandfather’s Wi-Fi-less cabin. Hoping for a quiet summer, the last thing Tess expected was to be welcomed to the cabin with a mysterious explosion, dead fish, and body parts raining from the sky. In a town where no one is who they say they are, it’s impossible to write when the real story is unfolding just outside.

This is the first in the #bythebookmysteries series.

I liked this book, having a mother and daughter dynamic is a good change of pace for a cozy mystery. I loved the Bigfoot side story. Overall the book was fun and interesting, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series but I’m not likely to reread this one.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#buriedinagoodbook #bythebookmysteries #bookstagram #cozymysteryseries #netgalleyreads #bigfoot

I loved Tamara Berry’s Buried in a Good Book. First off it had one of my favorite types of main characters…a writer. Seriously, if the main character is a writer I don’t care what genre a book is you can already consider me interested. But being a writer isn’t what makes Tess Harrow such a great character. She’s smart, brave, and somewhat sassy. Not to mention very protective of her daughter Gertie (who is also smart and perhaps even sassier than her mother).

Tess is a bestselling mystery/thriller writer who has packed up her daughter and headed off to the her grandfather’s cabin for a little peace and quiet while she attempts to finish up her latest novel. Does she get peace and quiet? Of course not! They’ve barely arrived when she hears loud explosions and gets rained on by fish guts and body parts! That’s when Victor Boyd gets called in. He’s the local sheriff and bares a striking resemblance to the Detective in Tess’s novels. And of course Tess being a mystery writer, she just can’t help sticking her nose into the investigation, much to the displeasure of Sheriff Boyd.

I absolutely loved the characters, the twisty plot, and who can resist a story featuring Bigfoot? I’m already hooked on this series and can’t wait for the next one.

Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an eARC of Buried in a Good Book.

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This was the beginning of a new cozy mystery series from Tamara Berry, and she did not disappoint. Tess and Gertrude get way more than they bargain for when they visit the cabin that was left to Tess. Although, as a writer of thrillers, Tess seems to be in her element. This book is full of small town secrets, mystery, and intrigue. Add in a teenage daughter that's both fiesty and thinks alot like her mom, Tess definitely has her hands full. She's getting a ton of material to use for a new book, which she’s lapping up!

I really liked Tess and Gertie's characters, well at first I wasn't so sure about Gertie, but she sure made one heck of a good sleuth and surprisingly enough, she took to the remote life better than I ever thought a teen her age would. Nicki was a pretty awesome character too, and later on that was even truer! Tess met a wannabe author in Deputy Ivy from the sheriff's department and was surprised to find out that the lady was really a good author.

There were some fun cozy mystery creepy parts but not super creepy, and I wasn't sure who all could be trusted, but once I was pretty sure of it, I just followed as Tess and Gertie with the help of their new friends solved the case. I hadn't quite guessed the killer until Tess did. She cracked me up with how she compared the real life sheriff to the detective character she wrote in her books. And it was even funnier that he was a fan of the books as were some of the people in town who also thought he reminded them of the fictional Detective Gonzales.

After an exciting, planned showdown, all was explained and wrapped up. There'd been some other hinky stuff going on as a side mystery, so that was looking like it'd be an ongoing mystery or investigation. Now I'm really eager to read the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

A first in a new series.
It is about Tess a mystery writer and her daughter Gertie who are on a little break.
Thing gets a little hectic when there is a explosion and body parts start to fall from the sky.
Good intriguing mystery with some twists,surprises and a little humor and romance.
A cozy easy to read mystery.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Buried in a Good Book was so fun that it was like a beach read of a cozy mystery! Even the cover evokes a summer getaway, provided you're ok dead bodies and a murder investigation on your vacation.
Tess Harrow is a bestselling thriller writer coming out of a divorce who decides to take her 14-year-old daughter to a remote area for a chance to unplug, get back to nature, and heal. So they head to northern Washington to a rustic cabin Tess inherited from her grandfather that has no electricity, running water, or wifi. No sooner do they show up than it's raining body parts and the locals recognize Tess. Being a thriller writer, Tess has researched a lot of crime. So she becomes wholly invested in the investigation, much to the chagrin of the local sheriff, who happens to resemble Tess's fictional detective.
Engagingly written and fast-paced, this is a satisfying and well-plotted mystery. The characters have some depth, and the dialogue has a natural feel. Book lovers will enjoy the peek into the mind of a writer as Tess is always plotting scenes and thinking about how she would write what is happening in the investigation into one of her books. Comedic moments come from Tess and her daughter and from the sheriff, who has to remind Tess repeatedly that real-life investigations are not like those in her books. This comedy and other over-the-top aspects (looking at you, Bigfoot) nicely offset some parts that are slightly grittier than you find in a typical cozy. The slightly grittier works well here, though, as Tess, the thriller writer, always has her mind on murder and crime scenes. I'm excited to see where Tamara Berry takes this series. I just had so much fun reading this, and I cannot wait for book two! Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. I really enjoyed it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Buried in a Good Book is the 1st in a new series - The Book Mysteries. Writer Tess Harrow needs a change after her divorce. She decides to escape to grandfather’s cabin, with her daughter Gertie, for some down time while she works on her newest thriller. Mysterious circumstances lead her to meet the local Sheriff who is eerily similar to her main character.

This mystery has just the right amount of coziness and humor. There is excellent banter between all of the characters, not just Tess and the sheriff. I found the twist and ending very surprising.

While Buried in a Good Book is part of a series it can definitely be read as a stand alone. I look forward to checking out Tamara Berry’s other series and can’t wait for book number 2 of The Book Mysteries.

Bestselling thriller writer Tess Harrow is almost at the end of her rope when she arrives with her teenage daughter at her grandfather's rustic cabin in the woods. She hopes this will be a time for them to heal and bond after Tess's recent divorce, but they've barely made it through the door when an explosion shakes the cabin. Suddenly it's raining fish guts and...is that a human arm?
Tess was hardly convincing Gertie that a summer without Wi-Fi and running water would be an adventure. Now she's thrust into a murder investigation, neighbours are saying they've spotted Bigfoot in the woods near her cabin, and the local sheriff is the spitting image of her character Detective Gabriel Gonzales—something he's less than thrilled about. With so much more than her daughter's summer plans at stake, it's up to Tess to solve this case before anyone else gets hurt.
A very well written & well plotted book that’s at the gritty end of a cosy mystery. The characters are very well portrayed & have depth. I also liked the humour & found myself laughing out loud at times. There are, of course twists, turns & red herrings & surprises. I found myself engrossing in this delightful read & finished it well into the night, I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This is the debut book in the By the Book Mysteries series by Tamara Berry. My favorite feature of this book is that Tess, the lead character, is a thriller writer. It was also interesting to see how Gertie (Tess's daughter) was intrigued by the mystery. I find the parts in the book hard to believe: corpses falling from the sky and mention of Bigfoot among them. This is a cute book with great characters. In the end, I was surprised to find out who the killer was. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.


Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book. This was an honest review.

This is the first book in the series. The cover looks like a cozy but I found this more than a cozy. Not to say I didn’t like it. I found the interactions between the sheriff, the librarian, Nikki, and Tess’s daughter interesting. Tess is a thriller writer and her detective is pretty much monosyllabic, and quirky. The sheriff discounts Tess due to the inaccuracies of police thought & procedure. He soon learns she does have valuable insights into his investigation of a death on Tess’s property.

Along with the body found on the property, Tess, Gertrude, and Nikki are searching for Bigfoot. The sheriff & Tess see what the sheriff believes to be a human in a costume & Tess isn’t so sure. This will give something to occupy her very smart and observant daughter as she tries to process the divorce and abandonment by her father.

I liked the story and see a lot of potential with the characters and future storylines. I was given an advanced copy and am not required to provide a positive review.

*Buried in a Good Book* is the series' first book. I enjoyed how the author developed the characters. It reminds me of one of the hallmark movie mysteries I watched. And yet, I enjoyed the book! Recommend this to anyone interested in cozy mysteries and a good writer/detective dynamic. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My rating: 3/5

For those who enjoy a mystery funny and bordering on madcap, this new series from Tamara Berry is right up your alley. Tess Harris, a successful and renown thriller author, uproots herself and her 14-year-old daughter to a rural cabin, without electricity, for the summer. Strange things start immediately like a loud bang that causes fish and a human arm on rain down on them. Tests constantly compares the town's sheriff to her fictional detective. Needless to say, the sheriff pales in her comparison.... at least at first. Bob cats and Bigfoot also make appearances to keep plot moving.

This is a fun new cozy series that any wanna be writer, book nerd or cozy enthusiast will love.

Tess Harrow is getting over a divorce and inherited her grandfather's cabin in the woods with no wi-fi and no electricity. She is looking forward to living off the grid but her 14-year-old daughter is not as happy with the tech free arrangement. When Tess discovers someone throwing dynamite into the pond on the property and it suddenly starts raining body parts, she decides to assume the identity of her fictional detective from her highly successful book series and help the local sheriff solve the crime, much to his chagrin.

Tess is a wonderful protagonist. I like that she has guts and is not afraid to insert herself into conversations. I also appreciate her trailing off into space as she spins a plot line based on events since I like to do that myself. Her daughter Gertrude is also funny and spunky just like her mom. I laughed out loud at a few parts.

Delightful new beginning to a fun series. I look forward to more.

I really enjoyed this light hearted funny mystery. This was my first book by this author and will not be my last. I loved the setting and all the characters. Look forward to the next book in this series.

I'm a huge fan of Tamara Berry and had high expectations for this new series. I can say I enjoyed it and there's plenty of potential
Tess is an interesting character even if sometimes she's a bit of I-know-it-all. Her banter with the sheriff is funny as the characters in the village.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I love a good cozy mystery. This was a fun read, but I don't know if I'd be interested in reading any sequels. Tess Harrow, a recently divorced mystery/thriller author, finds herself with her teenage daughter at her recently deceased grandfather's cabin in the middle of no where. She happens upon a murder that she shoves her nose into the investigation where it doesn't belong, deciding she knows how to solve a murder because she writes about them.

Tess to me was a very unlikeable character. I do love how the sheriff continuously calls her out on her nonsense and constantly reminds her she has no business digging into an investigation. There are so many mystery/thriller books that the main character is messing up an investigation because they apparently think they know better than the detectives. It made me laugh every time this was pointed out in this book.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. It had enough twists and turns, and red herrings that I was guessing until the end. Some even that I knew weren't leading up to anything because Tess had some wild theories that had me rolling my eyes just like the sheriff.

Tess Harrow is a successful thriller writer. This means that her first glimpse of her grandfather’s old cabin is met with thoughts about where the dead bodies might be hidden – her mind just works like that, much to the dismay of her teenage daughter, Gertrude.

Over the course of the book, we find out the backstory that’s led the pair here, but in brief, a bad divorce, as well as the need for Tess to finish her new book. She thinks the peace and quiet of the wilderness is just the thing, with no wi-fi (or several other home comforts) to distract her. Again, hugely to the dismay of poor Gertrude!

However, things instantly don’t go to plan, as the pair’s arrival coincides with a loud explosion from behind the inherited property, and Tess being hit in the face with a dead body-part. A little much, even for a crime writer! She can’t help but try to solve the mystery of the corpse, not to mention all the other oddities around the rural town, be that slashed fertilizer bags in the local store, a missing cat, or library books stolen from the bookmobile. Could such trivialities help her solve a real murder?

I do like book-themed cosy mysteries, so it’s always fun to find a new series. I ended up quite liking this one, but not without some reservations. Tess is mostly a great character, and the set-up feels a little Castle-like. It’s convenient – and amusing – that the local sheriff is so like her novels’ lead character, but he wastes no time in telling her how wrong she gets real police work. However, I did find it a bit ‘hmm’ that Tess seems to need to pull all of her inspiration from the real events around her – how was she coping before she could ask the deputy what kind of pie she likes, and would it really have mattered to just, y’know, make it up?

She’s also very prone to jumping to huge conclusions about the real case, far more theatrical than realistic, which dampened my opinion of her. On the other hand, her personal woes and struggle to bond with a teenage daughter are all rather lovely, and there is something fun about the interactions with the bemused locals and her totally OTT theories.

The focus does stay on the crime, but with excellent use of the personal elements as background – great balance here. It’s a little on the grittier side than some ‘cosies’, but not too dark, so again a good balance from my point of view. And utter amazement: the teenager is great, not remotely annoying! 😉

Overall, this isn’t going to be one of my favourite cosy series, but it was a fun read and I’d happily pick up a sequel.