Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Double Twist by Stephanie Rowe. I've voluntarily read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was so much fun! A story full twists and amazing and fun female characters that'll have you cracking up with laughter. A murder mystery, an overprotective cat and maybe some sexy officers who can't help but meddle in Mia's affairs? Sigh me up!

Stephanie Rowe's writing had me hooked from page one. I truly felt like this was an original story with so many fun elements that I hadn't read before. A bit of murder, a bit of hysterical banter and a great group of characters that'll have you rooting for them even when they're not on their best behaviour. I am super excited to discover more of Mia's adventures.

I really enjoyed this book! It had me laughing out loud at times and the characters were interesting and made me fall in love with them. This was a great setup for the series, leaving an opening for more drama and hilarity, and a possible future romance. The main character tried so hard to grow and did in the end, and the focus on friendship and finding a new life for yourself were enjoyable. I really cared about the characters in the end, and I enjoyed the lakefront setting and the small town hijinks. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in the series!

This book starts by throwing the reader into an assasination attempt on the main character and basically the action never stops. It was a great hook to get me interested (and a smidge confused) but then instead of backtracking to really catch me up on the going ons of the character we are fastforwarded 6ish months to another action scene and then the plot jumps into a murder mystery and a bumbling citizens investigation. I feel a little like I never got to know the main character very well, sure nuggets of back story were littered here and there but I still felt like there were a lot of holes I did not know and I could not fully get invested in her as a character. I mean really, I didn't know her and she did not feel like a real person, more an over the top characterization of a person and I would not have really cared if she died and another character narrated the rest of the book. That sounds harsh, but everything felt super superficial. Overall this was an ok book but I don't know if I will be picking up the next in the series since I was just not that invested. But, she did have a great (purloined?) cat side kick who often saved the day, which I will always root for animals in a story.

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

This was a FUN, twisty mystery with a creative premise and excellent characters. I really liked Mia - great character development as she tries to get a fresh start at a crime-free life but at the same time has to use her skills to help her friends - and to survive. Recommend! And will definitely read more books in this series.

Mia Murphy is ready for a new start. Fresh off a two-year stint as an anonymous FBI informant spying on her drug-lord ex-husband, she’s just purchased a marina in a lake town in Maine where no one knows who she is. She’s ready to build her business and live on the straight and narrow.

It seems the town has other ideas. Not long after moving in, Mia is helping a new friends retrieve a car from a no-good ex-boyfriend when they discover his dead body. The local cops, including a former FBI agent who does know about Mia’s past, immediately suspect her new friend. Mis is drawn into an investigation that has her spying on the marina competition, breaking and entering, and hiding out from the local law.

This book reminded me of the Stephanie Plum series - there is a whole cast of zany characters, a bumbling main character/amateur detective, and lots of hijinks. Some of it was a little much - how many times is Mia going to fall into the lake - but it was still enjoyable. I definitely plan to continue with the series. I want to see how Mia does getting the marina up and running and what other adventures await her in her new town!

I really enjoyed this first book in the series. It starts out fast paced and does not let up for the whole book. The characters were fun and believable and the mystery definitely kept me guessing right along with Mia and her friends. The writing was funny and flowed well. Looking forward to the next one (excerpt in the back!)

This was such a fun cozy mystery. I loved Mia and found her very relatable. She's smart, funny, and a little bit clumsy. She's trying hard to live a law abiding life even though there are plenty of obstacles in her path. Her two sidekicks, Lucy and Hattie, are loyal to the core even though they've just met Mia and there's even a pet cat to provide some comic relief. The town of Bass Derby is its own kind of character (voted Best Lake Town in Maine eleven years in a row!), populated with a lot of interesting residents, including an inept police chief hired because of nepotism and a group of costumed moose on JetSkis that are threatening Mia's life. There's also an enemies to potential lovers situation with a hot lake police officer.

The mystery takes the reader all over Bass Derby and the neighboring town, with clues slowly dropping until they all come together to reveal the murderer. The story ends on a very satisfying conclusion and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you're a fan of Stephanie Plum, you will definitely love Mia Murphy!

Princess Fuzzypants here: Mia was raised by a con artist mother and married a drug king pin. But Mia was determined to shed a life of crime and worked with the FBI to bring down his drug empire. His mother took exception to Mia’s part in her dear son’s downfall and tries to murder Mia. Escaping by the skin of her teeth, Mia sets out to begin a new peaceful like in the bucolic town of Moose Derby. Fate, however, has other plans. After the local Chief of Police fines her for the destruction of a sign that she did not do, she casts eyes on the marina she bought sight unseen. The hulking piece of junk turns out to be only the beginning of her adventures.

She does make two friends. One is a 70 something “teenager” Hattie and the other, Lucy, is being framed for the murder of her ex-boyfriend. The frame up is pretty sweet and even the local Lake Police hottie is convinced Lucy is guilty.. so the three amigas decide to find the real killer and exonerate Lucy. There are some tough guys in town who are determined that the ladies know “their place” including some who dress up as homicidal moose who threaten on jet skis. Yup. It is that kind of book. Lots of quirks and oddities but it does have the most delightful Maine Coon, King Tut, who adopts Mia. He is not only good at fishing, he is very adept at taking out bad guys.

And then there is Mia, who, inspite of her best efforts, cannot leave her shady past behind completely. She is one plucky, smart and capable lady with a hairdryer, nail gun and pencil sharpener. You will have to read the book to find out how she wields those unlikely weapons. You will find lots of chuckles amongst the suspense and excitement. I like Mia. I am looking forward to more. Five purrs and two paws up.

I'm always pretty wary of jumping into a series because the type of bookworm I am, once I start a series I have to see it through. And I am happy to say I am adding this series to my list! This book gave me serious Darynda Jones vibes and I love me some Charley Davidson. Mia Murphy has just set up her new life in a small town in Maine with the dream to renovate the marina she bought. She's looking to leave her past behind her, growing up as a petty thief with a con-mom and an ex-husband crime boss she's looking for some peace and quiet. But Bass Derby won't let up, with threatening moose on jet-skis, saving her new friend Lucy from a wrongful conviction and surviving Hattie's driving she can't catch her breath. This book will make you chuckle and smile without even realizing it. My only question....Who is Cargo?! I rated it a 3.5!

4⭐️ for Double Twist by @stephanierowe2

Thank you to @valentine_pr_, @stephanierowe2, & @netgalley for allowing me to read Double Twist as an advanced copy.

Blurb: All Mia Murphy wants is an ordinary, law-abiding life. Accidentally marrying a drug kingpin? Easily fixed with an anonymous tip to the FBI...which resulted in a not-so-voluntary, surprisingly stressful stint as an undercover spy against him. But with her ex finally in prison and assassins in her rearview mirror, Mia is off to Diamond Lake in Bass Derby, Maine with King Tut, her rescue (aka purloined) cat, to start over. Upon arrival, Mia quickly finds a couple of soulmates in a blue-haired "I'll show you what old is" café owner and a baton-twirling mail carrier. Life is headed in the right direction...until the trio stumbles across a dead body during a slightly illegal but well-intentioned home invasion. When one of her new besties is arrested for the murder, Mia is the only one with the skills to ferret out the real killer...but she can't afford to resurrect her morally flexible past. Can Mia keep her life on the straight and narrow with so much at stake? Or will a homicidal, jet-skiing moose, a dead Mr. January firefighter, and an overzealous mayor take them all down? (From @barnesandnoble)

This was a fun introduction to Mia Murphy & the hijinks that I can see coming down the road. Set in lake country in Maine, Mia definitely has her work cut out for her. I loved all the fierce female characters in this one. I’m looking forward to seeing what Mia gets up to in the next book.

Thank you again to all the above mentioned for the early copy. Get your copy on 5/5/22, I’m sure Mia would approve you reading while celebrating Cinco de Mayo 😉

Double Twist is a new small-town cozy mystery series starter by Stephanie Rowe. Released 3rd May 2022, it's 358 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is such a fun and promising start. The protagonist is plucky, intelligent, loyal, and just out of a harrowing two year investigation and prosecution of her druglord ex-husband which she was coerced into by the FBI. She's bought a run-down marina in a small town and is determined to leave the past behind her with her purloined (she says "rescued") cat.

It's not long until she's neck deep in a new murder investigation and being threatened by thugs in moose costumes on jet-skis. The local law enforcement is a buffoon and she's definitely not willing to pay for a murder she knows neither she nor her friends committed.

Four and a half stars. The entire book is genuinely funny and reminded me in all the best ways of Janet Evanovich. It's a caper from start to finish and will likely make my yearly cozy wrap-up list. Definitely one to watch. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next for Mia and her buddies.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Thank you so much to the publishers for sending me an arc of this book! I really love a cozy mystery so this was right up my alley! This book has some really funny characters and the overall vibe is pretty good. I think this will be a very fun series! Can't wait to see what she gets up to next!

3.75stars— DOUBLE TWIST is the first instalment in Stephanie Rowe’s contemporary, adult MIA MURPHY cozy mystery series set in Bass Derby, Maine focusing on twenty-nine year old Mia Murphy.


Told from first person perspective (Mia) DOUBLE TWIST follows the former wife of a Boston drug kingpin as she embarks on a new life in Bass Derby Maine. For two years Mia Murphy was forced to work undercover for the FBI in an effort to take down the man she thought she had loved. Fast forward to present day wherein Mia, refusing to go into protective custody in the wake of her husband’s guilty conviction, heads to the small seaside town of Bass Derby where she buys an old Marina, anticipating a life of leisure on Diamond Lake, Maine but all does not go well from the outset for our heroine when she is befriended by two local women, who eventually find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation, and all three are considered prime suspects. When a large group of jet-ski riding moose threaten our story line heroine, Mia goes into overdrive in an attempt to protect her new investment, as well as the people in Bass Derby , Maine.


DOUBLE TWIST is a fast paced and captivating story of intrigue and mystery, betrayal and vengeance, drugs and power, murder and mayhem. Stephanie Rowe pulls the reader into an entertaining story with moments of humor and sorrow, acceptance and friendships. We are introduced to FBI Agent Rob ‘Hawk’ Strauss, Officer Devlin Hunt, as well as real estate agent Ruby Lee Hanrahan, Mayor Eloise Stone, police chief Stone, and local cafe owner Hattie Lawless, and mail carrier Lucy Grande. The requisite evil has many faces. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, DOUBLE TWIST is a wonderful start to a new series.





THE READING CAFE: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/double-twist-mia-murphy-1-by-stephanie-rowe-review-tour/



GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4696700447



AMAZON COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R23OQ5NOQSTM7D/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B09PZHS6CF



BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/626244859



B&N (Sandy_thereadingcafe) posted


CHAPTERS/INDIGO (Sandy_At_the_Reading_Cafe) posted


iBooks (Sandy Sch) posted


GOOGLE PLAY (Sandy Sch) posted

Mia Murphy, Double Twists MC, reminded me of Finlay Donovan - a similar slightly zany flavor to a cozy mystery.
After testifying against her drug kingpin husband, Mia does not want to enter witness protection instead she is convinced small town Maine will be safe enough. She buys a dilapidated marina on a lake in Bass Derby. She hasn’t even fully moved in when trouble finds her yet again, her first friend in town is being framed for murdering her ex. What’s a girl to do but solve the crime and make sure her new friend is protected, if necessary with the use of power tools ?

Mia is resourceful and clever and she needs to rely on skills from growing up with a con artist mom to put an end to the threat to her dream of a quiet and peaceful life.
Entertaining and fun - plus a wonderful location - Maine in the early summer.
I will be waiting for the next Mia adventure set to be out in Fall 2022.

Double Twist by S. Rowe is the first book in the Mia Murphy Mystery Series. It's the introduction to characters and general storyline.
DT is one of these rare books that I insta-connected with. I read it cover to cover, in one sitting, unputdownable.
Mia Murphy is fresh out of a bad situation and new in town. She bought an old marina and wants to start over, lead a quiet life. But her past follows and soon she's in up to her head in new trouble.
A highly entertaining, well written cozy mystery that gave me all the feels, makes you want to read the next one now. I recommend the book.

wow! this book was excellent!! it kept me on the edge of my seat! i was so engrossed with this storyline and the characters are fantastic!! wonderful book!!!

Double Twist (A Mia Murphy Mystery) by Stephanie Rowe is a great start to a new cozy mystery series. Mia Murphy, who recently helped to take down her drug dealing husband, heads to Maine in start of a new life as the owner of a lakeside marina. She was not prepared to be hunted by the Derby Moose or to make fast friends as soon as she arrived.

This book is a fun romp with laugh out loud moments and a quirky cast of characters. The setting was well-described, the mystery solid, and the situations often more than outrageous. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) I recommend this series for any cozy reading who likes larger than life characters and humorous mysteries.

“I’m not tense. I’m being smart. Self-preservation is one of my gifts.”

My Thoughts:
This was a fun book. Mia Murphy, finally put her drug lord husband in jail and all she wanted was a quiet life without crime or distraction so she bought a marina. Nothing messes up one’s plan other than murder. This book is plot driven, has strong female characters, and humorous. Mia Murphy is reminiscent of Stephanie Plum from Janet Evanovich’s own book series. Gutsy, clumsy, and yet likable.

I like that it’s fast paced. It kept me on my toes and just when you thought you knew who did it, it’s not. It’s twist after twist that at times I got lost in the details. I love the friendships made and how Mia’s character progressed. A lot of handsome male characters but no spicy romance. I wish there was more development on Mia’s and Devlin’s chemistry. All in all, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you, @netgalley and Authenticity Playground Press for the digital ARC and in return, an honest review.

This is the first book in what I assume will be a cosy mystery series. The author is more known for her romances. As a first book it sets up the characters and the setting. Mia Murphy is a skilled pick-pocket, raised by a con-artist mother and was married to a drug kingpin. The book begins after her husbands conviction. She contacted the FBI who then forced her undercover for two years to gather evidence against her husband. But that is all over and the FBI is letting her keep enough money for a fresh start. She chooses the small town of Bass Derby, Maine where she buys a dilapidated marina on Diamond Lake.

Mia makes her first ever friends in her lone renter Hattie and a baton twirling local mail carrier Lucy. When one is set up for the murder of her ex-boyfriend Mia is in hot pursuit of the truth. This is filled with fun with small town silliness, cops that have squeamish stomachs and of course mayhem. I already follow a few different cosy mystery series and I didn’t love Mia enough yet to automatically add this series to my reading list. I will look for the next adventure to see how it progresses. Thank you to NetGalley and Authenticity Playground Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

I helped vote for this covered and I'm honored to read this advanced copy. The mystery was very good and entertaining.