Snow Place for murder is the third Mountain Lodge Mystery starring amateur detective and lodge owner, Misty Murphy. It’s the holiday season in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Misty Murphy is excited to have all her rooms rented at the Mountaintop Lodge even if it is investors seeking to build a fancy mountaintop resort. When the developer is murdered, the suspects seem to just keep multiplying. So Misty does what she does best and puts her nose where it doesn’t belong to hunt down a killer. Her keen mind takes her down avenues that bring real leads for the police in the case that is solved in time for her to enjoy the holidays with her boys and her hunky handyman. Fast paced and well thought out, the story keeps you guessing right along with Misty until the end in another enjoyable Mountain Ogden cozy. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

The third installment of the Mountain Lodge Mysteries. This was a perfect read during the excessive heat of the summer. I could lose myself on the North Carolina mountain ski slopes, or in having meals delivered from the cafe across the road.

Misty has the whole lodge booked with an English investor and his potential American investors. The pitch - a new resort to be built some distance away from Misty's rustic lodge. This new resort will have it all. The visitors will never have to leave the resort. Not everyone in the community is happy with this potential resort. Too hard on the wildlife, destruction of the woods and forests, the roads won't handle the additional traffic. Misty's sons, visiting for Thanksgiving, go sledding one morning and find a body, frozen quite solid, in a snow drift. It is the English investor. The investigation commences. All the potential investors go from investors to potential murderers.

Misty's handyman, Rocky, is becoming more than just a handyman, and oh, yes, Yeti the cat is still writing her chapters. Oh, that she could speak!

The third installment of the Mountain Lodge cozy series centers around the death of a not-so-honest developer visiting protagonist, Misty Murphy’s quaint inn in scenic Beech Mountain, North Carolina. It’s nearing Christmas, and between scenes about the murder mystery, Misty and her beau, Rocky’s, children are visiting and helping run the Lodge.

The story is interesting as it twists and turns along with the suspects’ alibi’s. It’s strongly a home, hearth, and family tale. Yeti, Misty’s cat, is a sweet addition with her own mini-chapters told from her point of view.

The ending wrap-up satisfied my curiosity as to whodunnit. I believe cozy mystery fans will be engaged by the plot and warmth of the main characters.

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

First read with gjis author and very enjoyable. Looking forward to more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Book Title: Snow Place for Murder
Series: Mountain Lodge Mysteries #3
Author: Diane Kelly
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press
Genre: Cozy Mystery/
Pub Date: October 28, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages 320

This book has the ‘Acknowledgments’’ at the beginning not at the end. I have to admit I went back and reread when I finished as I always enjoying reading the author’s comments.
In this story Misty Murphy and her cat Yeti are excited about Misty’s sons’ coming home from college for Thanksgiving to spend winter break.at the Lodge. Misty’s ex-husband Jack will also be spending Thanksgiving with them as he and Misty have a good relationship. (Misty is in a relationship with Rocky who has a daughter-Pebbles – I kid you Not!)

However, the boys find winter break is more than just skiing or snowboarding at Mountaintop Lodge in North Carolina; as the Lodge has been booked by Nigel Goodwin a resort developer from England who has invited wealthy American investors with the hope they will invest in his new resort.
As you might guess the locals are not happy about the idea of a new resort.

The next day when the boys are skiing, they discover a large object in the snow – Yikes! Turns out to be Nigel Goodwin and he is dead.
This, of course puts Misty into sleuth mode.

I just love this! Reading it when it is August and the temp is 93 made it even more enjoyable.
I definitely am looking forward to the next in this series.

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 28, 2023.

Mountain Top Lodge is snowed in! When all the security cameras are conveniently coated in snow, someone buries the body of a crooked real estate developer in the snow outside the lodge. Misty must figure out who the killer is before everyone leaves town and the trail goes cold.

I'm a big fan of Diane Kelly and have read books from several of her series. I love the mountain setting of this series, the lodge is exactly the kind of place I love to stay when I vacation, small, cozy, locally owned, and in a nice quiet location just perfect for relaxing and enjoying being away from it all. The victim in this book was pretty vile and there were a lot of suspicious characters who are likely culprits. Misty does a lot of investigating (all without being weird in people's hotel rooms) and gradually sifts through the clues to find out who the killer is. I liked that her kids were in this book (though they aren't particularly charming) and we got to meet Rocky's daughter, Pebble, who is really sweet.

Though I missed the first book in this series, I'm definitely going to go back and read it and this is a series I'll look for in the future.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This is the third in the Mountain Lodge mystery series by Diane Kelly. I have and enjoyed each of them. This is a standalone story but I like reading them in order.

Misty Murphy is our amateur sleuth who runs an inn on top of a mountain set in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Rocky Chowder is her handyman boyfriend. Together they ferret out what happened to Nigel Goodwin. Her boys are visiting from college and find his frozen body behind the inn.

The inn is full of investors and there are plenty of motives to be had for killing Nigel from the mistreated executive assistant to the wife and investors. Also, the local town folk are up in arms over the deal being executed. The only ones really not suspects are the inn’s staff.

Ms. Kelly does a great job drawing us into the story. I enjoyed the family aspects along with the mystery. I cannot wait for the next installment.

I was given an advanced copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

I like this series. This book spans the holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing. The revelation at the end made perfect sense. I like reading about what's going on in these characters' lives. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series , especially if it's about what is hinted at at the end of this book.

This is a great series and I have loved all 3 but this one is my favorite. I love a good Christmas cozy to curl up too. This was fast paced and had some twist I didn't expect. Perfect. I can't wait to see what Misty gets into next!
I just reviewed Snow Place for Murder by Diane Kelly. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Third in the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series, Snow Place for Murder can stand alone. Lodge owner Misty Murphy can’t believe there’s another dead body on her property. This has to stop! She finds herself on the case assisting local police solve the murder. The victim is a British developer with dreams of building a huge resort near the Mountain Lodge. The locals are not excited about the project so there are more than a few possible suspects. In fact, very few are NOT suspects.

Reading this cozy on the hottest day of the year turned out to be a good call. I enjoyed how author Diane Kelly took me through the mystery to the final solution. It was a nice way to spend a few hours inside on a summer day or anytime, really.

This is the third installment featuring Misty Murphy and her inn in the mountains.
A developer is having a group stay during the holidays to solicit money for his lodge project.
And of course, he is murdered.!
I did enjoy this book – the first half was mostly about Misty’s family and friends. We got to learn more about her children. The mystery did not start until halfway through the book.
The writing was good as always and the story pleasant. I really enjoy Ms. Kelly’s books—the series and this book is worth a read.

Misty Murphy is looking forward to having her boys home for winter break. Misty is not looking forward to developer Nigel Goodwin descending on her lodge to discuss ideas that none of the locals care for.

As the investors, and Goodwin settle into the lodge, a group of residents arrive to make their concerns known. Things get heated and the police have to be called.

Rocky gets out the plow and creates a sledding hill to lighten the mood but the boys find a body sticking out of the frozen ground.

Suspects are plentiful and it will take some patience to find out who killed him.

NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press, Paperbacks, October 24, 2023

Snow Place for Murder is the third installment in the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series set in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the resort town of Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Misty Murphy is settling into her new role as the owner of Mountaintop Lodge and her relationship with handyman Rocky Crowder. The holidays are approaching and Misty is looking forward to having her boys JJ and Mitch and Rocky's daughter Phoebe join the duo at the lodge for their school break.

The lodge is fully booked by Nigel Goodwin, a resort developer from London. Nigel has brought is wife, assistant and a handful of wealthy investors hoping to get in on the ground floor of his proposed Retreat on Blue Ridge. The arrival of the group comes with underlying tension as it seems there is conflict between Nigel and a few of the investors, and his marriage doesn't appear too stable either as his wife spends as much time away from him as possible.

When a storm dumps a few feet of snow on the lodge, Rocky creates a sledding hill with the plowed snow and the kids are having a great time - that is until one of them discovers a funny shaped rock. The rock turns out to be the cutoff nose of Nigel, who is buried beneath the snow and Misty quickly finds herself in the midst of another murder.

A fast paced, cozy afternoon read featuring a cast of returning characters and their pets, and plenty of suspects including a few of the locals. It was nice to see Misty and Rocky's families blending together and an overall concern for preserving the surrounding mountainside and wildlife.

I received a copy of Snow Place for Murder from NetGalley via St. Martin's Paperbacks. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Mountain Lodge mystery series by Diane Kelly. Misty Murphy is the owner of a lodge in the Blue Ridge mountains and she is looking forward to her boys and her ex-husband coming for Christmas. She makes the mistake of renting rooms to a developer, Nigel Goodwin, who is looking to build a new resort in her area and is going to present the proposal to an elite group of investors.

Nigel's potential resort is a bone of contention to quite a few locals, who protest the disruption to their way of life and upsetting of the local wildlife. Add to this mix, a blizzard hits the area, stranding the investors at the Mountaintop Lodge.

Misty’s boyfriend, Rocky, who lives on the premises, creates a sledding hill out of snow he has plowed so that people have something to do. While taking a turn sledding, one of Misty’s sons discovers a funny nose-shaped rock. The fact that it was a real nose was kind of gross, but also kind of funny. Poor Nigel has met an untimely death and is frozen stiff out in the elements. There is no shortage of suspects in the investors who are discovering this resort might not be such a great idea, local residents, and even Nigel’s own wife. I found the killer to be a surprise because I was sure it was one person throughout the book. I think once you discover the murderer, you’ll appreciate the reason behind the murder.

I have been fortunate to read all three books in this series through advanced readers copies and appreciate that opportunity. I thoroughly enjoy Ms. Kelly’s writing style in all her books and this is no exception. She is able to describe the characters so that they are realistic. I like that Misty has an amiable relationship with her ex-husband and they are able to share their children for the holidays. These books are enjoyable and easy to read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Misty is excited about Christmas. When obecof her guests is found murdered, she is unsure of what to do. I liked this book.

Snow Place for Murder is book three in The Mountain Lodge Mysteries series by Diane Kelly.
After devouring this book I will be buying the first two in this amazing cozy mystery set.
What a delightful, exciting mystery! Full of suspense, intrigue and unforgettable characters!
Well done character development, plot twists, weaving in of multiple suspects.
This storyline will keep the reader’s full attention on the intriguing events going on all around.
The story is well written and easy to read with a great setting that is lots of fun.
I can’t wait to read more in this series!

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

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The holidays are upon Mountaintop Lodge and Misty is hosting an investment firm who is looking to sell its guests on investing in a new resort in the area. While there are many in town against the new development, including Misty, she still has a business to run and selling out the lodge for a week is a boon to her business.

When the head of the investment firm is found dead at the lodge, Misty decides to do some sleuthing on her own since she and her sons are now snowed in with a murderer. Will the murderer walk free if the police can’t solve the murder before the roads are cleared after the storm stops? Or can Mistry and the gang solve another murder at the lodge?

Another entry in what is a MUST READ series on my reading list, and I’m as thrilled as I have been with each entry so far. A likable and relatable protagonist, her ex husband, sons and new family of choice all make this an engaging and super series to read.

Snow Place for Murder
Misty Murphy runs a B&B in the mountains of North Carolina. She accepts a booking for Nigel Goodwin who is developing a resort on the mountain. He is hosting a group of possible investors at the B&B. She has misgivings especially after seeing the model for the resort. After his presentation to his possible investors, he is confronted by some local business owners and home owners who are concerned with his planned resort.
The next morning, Nigel is found frozen outside the lodge. Unfortunately, there are a lot of possible suspects from his wife to a local man who lives near the possible resort.
This book is the third in the Mountain Lodge series. It is a fun cozy mystery.

Following an amicable divorce, Misty Murphy has purchased a lodge on Beech Mountain in North Carolina. Her former husband and her two boys have come to visit. And she has fallen for her handyman. All is good.

But a developer wants to build a large resort on the mountain. He is holding a meeting with potential investors at Misty's lodge. But not everyone is excited about the plans to build the resort. And several of the locals threaten to stop the building. But it goes from bad to worse when the developer turns up dead outside Misty's lodge.

This is the third book in Diane Kelly's Mountaintop Lodge series. She hasn't lost her touch. The plot is intriguing. The characters are well developed. I highly recommend this, the newest novel from Diane Kelly.

A Snow Place for Murder is the 3rd book in the Mountain Lodge mysteries.
Owner Misty Murphy runs the lodge with her assistant Brynn and boyfriend/handyman Rocky.
Developer Nigel Goodwin is looking to build a more upscale resort in the area and has invited a group of possible investors to stay at the lodge and check out the area. When he is killed, Misty wonders if one of the future investors had a motive or is it one of the local residents who oppose the development?
Excellent addition to the series.
#SnowPlaceforMurder #NetGalley