This was a fun book to read. I enjoyed meeting the eclectic cast of characters that bring their own uniqueness to this tale. The author did a great job in presenting this story with a wickedly solid mystery, plenty of clues to keep me busy, and a few comedic moments that enhanced my reading pleasure. When I thought I had a good handle on the person responsible, the author changed direction which illustrated how well this story was being told. I had a good time following along with what the author intended with visually descriptive narrative, engaging dialogue, a fast-paced read and a comfortable tone that made me feel I’m there with Dee and her friends as they tried to put the pieces together. I love the camaraderie between the various characters, some of whom had pivotal roles in the apprehension of the killer. Ellen has a way of making you love what is happening on the pages and staying for the whole ride. This is a great beginning to a new series that I hope is here to stay for a long time.

Ellen Byron is the award-winning author of the Cajun Country mysteries, the Vintage Cookbook cozies, and, as Maria DiRico, the Catering Hall ones. Now, she puts her experience as a TV sitcom writer to good use with the first Golden Motel Mystery, A Very Woodsy Murder.

Dee Stern’s career as a sitcom writer in Hollywood slowly spiraled downhill, until she just gets in her car and drives away. When she discovers the rustic motel at the foot of Majestic National Park, she thinks she’s discovered her dream. Yes, it needs a lot of work, but The Golden Motel could be restored to its 1940s glory. Dee first ex-husband and best friend, Jeff, agrees to be her partner in the business. He’ll be the tech side, designing the website and handling reservations. She’ll do the cleaning. Neither of them know a thing about the hospitality business, so this could be a recipe for disaster.

Then, their first guest checks in, Michael Adam Baker, a fellow sitcom writer. Baker did everything he could to ruin Dee’s career as a sitcom writer. She isn’t going to let him ruin her new career, although she’s suspicious for his reasons for being there. She’s not the one who finds his body, though. That’s a distant neighbor, Mister Ma’am. But, suddenly Dee and Jeff are suspects and persona non grata in the neighboring town of Goldsgone, where Baker was a favored son. So, why was he staying in their cabin at The Golden Motel? As reservations are cancelled, Dee is frantic to hold on to her dream of running the motel. She and Jeff are as ill-equipped to be amateur sleuths as they are to be in the hospitality business.

Byron has won multiple awards as a cozy mystery writer. A Very Woodsy Murder, a model cozy mystery, has everything going for it to win more awards. There’s a cast of quirky characters, an unusual setting, and two intelligent, slightly inept amateur sleuths. One of the most entertaining cozies I’ve read in quite some time.

A new series by Ellen Byron is always a cause for celebration and this book doesn’t disappoint! Dee, a no longer in demand sitcom writer leaves Hollywood behind to open a dilapidated motel in the mountains. Filled with Byron’s trademark humor, A Very Woodsy Murder has eccentric characters, marauding wildlife and a deadly adversary. This is a twisty tale that keeps you guessing and reevaluating until the very end.

When former screenwriter Dee Stern and her ex-husband/BFF Jeff leave Hollywood behind and team up to buy an abandoned motel on the edge of Majestic National Park, little did they know that their first guest would be murdered! Aided by a cast of quirky characters, Dee and Jeff race to find the killer before someone else bites the dust in A Very Woodsy Murder! A+++ to this first book in Ellen Byron's brand new Golden Motel Mystery series!

This was a strong start to this series, it had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed about the genre. The characters worked with this type of book and thought the mystery element worked with everything that I was glad it worked overall. Ellen Byron has a great writing style and can’t wait for more.

Really enjoyed reading about Dee's adventures as a newly minted owner of a dilapidated hotel. There's a motley crew of characters, some red herrings and of course a potential love interest. Fast paced mystery and i didn't suspect the murderer until the very end. Looking forward to reading more about Dee's shenanigans!

"I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

This is a first in a new series about the sale of a hotel that needs a lot of tlc to get it in working order.
The story sounded great, but I found myself struggling to really get into it.

A FATAL FEAST AT BRAMSFORD MANOR is the first book in the brand-new Food & Spirits cozy mystery series by Darci Hannah. Oh my, what a fun romp through an English manor house with things that go bump in the night! Scottish protagonist Bunny MacBride is an accomplished New York City chef and has been offered a position on the new reality TV show, Food & Spirits. In her excitement, she misses that the “spirits” mentioned aren’t cocktail-based, instead it’s a ghost hunting show. Ms. Hannah’s way with words brings the descriptions to life in the most humorous of ways, and she sets up each scene for maximum entertainment. I loved each of the characters and found it especially charming that some of them have made previous appearances in the author’s other two series (Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries and Very Cherry Mysteries). Bunny is endearing as she struggles with her own tragic loss, which makes her seem relatable. I greatly enjoyed the addition of Bunny’s clairvoyant grandmother, who brings some much-needed comfort to Bunny and is the “team grandma” who guides the hapless ghost hunters with much entertainment.

The TV crew’s first stop is at an English countryside manor house, where a long-ago bride’s wedding day turned to tragedy. Bunny is soon in for a shock when she finds the house is not only haunted, but someone is a murderer and is out to frame her. I’ve always enjoyed long ago mysteries that need to be solved alongside current day murders. Ms. Hannah expertly weaves the two together, keeping the action and the intrigue moving at a fast clip. With shocking reveals and enough suspects to keep me guessing, I devoured the book, loath to put it down for even a moment. The one and only downside is that I don’t have the second book sitting by to dive into… I can’t wait to read what’s next in store for Bunny and the crew!

Bunny has thoughtfully included several of her recipes—sweet, savory, and libations—at the back of the book “to entertain your family and friends (and ghosts, if that’s what you’re into)”.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fast paced mystery set in a fictional National Park. I liked the setting and a lot of the characters seemed plausible, but I did start to get them a bit mixed up by the end. The main characters were mostly likeable if a bit accident prone and I don't think they would be able to clean up the cabins as fast or cheaply as implied. Will be interesting to see how this shakes out as a series.

Ellen Byron has been a must-read author for me throughout the last few years. I've enjoyed several of her series, some written under the pseudonym Maria DiRico, and now her newest series, A Golden Motel Mystery, is launching this summer. Thanks to an early copy, I was able to read A Very Woodsy Murder this week. The plot: A midcentury motel is on the market. Dee Stern, former tv series writer, decides to buy and fix up the place with her former husband, now bestie, Jeff. As she befriends some of the citizens of Foundgold and Goldgone, two towns with a lot of history and charm, her first guest checks in. And he's none other than a former colleague who sabotaged her career. When the guy ends up dead, Dee's got some crime-solving to do... not only to protect herself from jail but to save her reputation and the future or her new business.

Byron is superbly skilled at developing multi-faceted characters and creating the perfect scenery. I could feel crinkle of the foliage, smell the musty scent of an older motel, worry about the wariness of the townsfolk, and smile over the bond between Dee and Jeff. I rooted for them to be successful, and I was rewarded with a great ending and kickoff to the entire series. The murder is top notch -- the victim comes from the Foundgold area, has connections to several people who Dee likes and dislikes already, and the web of connections between Hollywood and this very woodsy motel property is filled with drama and deceit.

If you love books set in current times where the characters still have an echo of the past, this is a great new series. It has all the best parts of a cozy amateur sleuth investigation, it's intelligently written with poignant and comedic moments, and it will keep you connected to the real world all at the same time. I can't wait to find out what they discover during future renovations. Great read!