I enjoyed this book but wished for more character development, especially between Sam and Camilla. Their relationship felt rushed and I wanted more depth, particularly regarding the dynamic with Frank and some backstory. The mystery seemed less mysterious compared to previous books; I don’t know if I'm recognizing writing patterns or have read too many similar stories. The arrangement of the mystery felt haphazard. "The Next Deadly Chapter" is the 10th book in V. M. Burns’ Mystery Bookshop series, featuring Samantha Washington on a casino weekend. When a body appears and disappears from her room, sleuthing begins. There are also parallel plotlines from 1939 England, which I found distracting, but I liked the story overall.

The Next Deadly Chapter by V.M. Burns has Sam meeting Frank's mom for the first time at a casino.

Will Sam, Nana Jo, and their friends catch the murderer?

Samantha Washington
Sam is anxious about meeting her soon-to-be mother-in-law and isn't happy that she has to deal with a mystery besides the one she is writing. While on this trip with Nana Jo and her friends, as well as Frank's mom at a casino, she is working on her next book in her cozy historical mystery series. Sam is a good person who wants one event not to be involved in a police investigation.

I like Sam and how she sometimes disagrees with Frank's mom. What I like best is how she takes charge of solving a murder with all of her friends.

The Mystery
Dr. Camilia Patterson finds a dead body in her suite, which used to be Sam's, but then they switched to switch back, and she doesn't know how it got there. Sam, Nana Jo, and their friends help solve the mystery. This is a unique investigation as the dead body ends up disappearing from the room. Camilia also ends up helping, and it is a great bonding opportunity for the two of them. I had an inkling that I knew who it was, and I'm glad I was right, but wow, my reasoning as to why that person did it was off.

Five Stars
My rating for The Next Deadly Chapter by V.M. Burns is five stars. I'm trying to catch up on this series, but I do recommend it. Ms. Burns has a great way of putting you into the scenes with her characters and making you feel like you are there with them, trying to catch the killer.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Next Deadly Chapter by V.M. Burns.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Sam's plans to make a great first impression on her future mother-in-law fall flat at her bridal shower at a nearby casino. When a dead man shows up in her future in-law's suite, Sam had a big mystery to solve. You have to overlook a few things when it comes to Nana Jo and her friends. This is definitely more on the cozy not at all serious side of things but still enjoyable.

I confess I often enjoy the story within the story as much as the plot. Sam is working on her novel set in aristocratic Britain in 1939 but the characters in the primary story are anything but aristocratics. In fact, the deceased is a misogynistic rude and corrupt toad of a man. He has so many schemes and cons going on, it is a wonder no one knocked him off beforehand.

Sam is spending a comped weekend at the lavish casino and hotel on indigenous land. The tribal leader is pulling out all the stops to compensate for an embarrassing heckler at a book reading. Sam is with the future mother in law that she has just met and the woman is so frosty Sam is going to need gloves to handle her. Kid gloves. But the weekend is full of surprises, some very pleasant and some not so. Because the body was found in Sam’s suite before it disappeared, when it resurfaces, she and her motley crew of friends and family combine their impressive resources to help the tribe solve the murder before it gets handed off to Federal officials.

There are the close calls and the red herrings one expects. Some of the characters are truly fascinating including many of the tribal representatives. With the help of Sam’s team they figure out who did the deed. I had suspected the person from the get-go bet it is always fun to see if I am right.
Four purrs and two paws up.

All Sam Wanted Was to Make a Good Impression… Until a Dead Body Turns Everything Upside Down

Sam had one simple goal: to make a positive impression on her fiancé Frank’s mother, the impeccably proper Dr. Camilia Patterson. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when Nana Jo and the spirited ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village host a surprise bridal shower at the glamorous Four Feathers Casino. The celebration quickly spirals out of control when Camilia stumbles upon a dead body in her room.

Now, Sam finds herself in the middle of a mystery, determined to clear her future mother-in-law’s name and uncover the true killer. As tensions rise and suspicions mount, Sam must navigate the web of secrets surrounding the Four Feathers Casino before it’s too late.

This latest installment in the series is a thrilling, fast-paced addition that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Filled with twists, humor, and unexpected turns, it’s a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and compelling characters.
#TheNextDeadlyChapter #NetGalley

“The Next Deadly Chapter” the eleventh book in V.M. Burns Mystery Bookshop cozy mystery series, takes author/bookstore owner Samantha Washington away from her bookstore and off to a casino with Nana Jo, Nana’s friends at the Shady Acres Retirement Village, and Camilia, her soon to be mother-in-law. Sam is worried that she won’t get along with Camilia but when a dead body is found in Camilia’s hotel room, the two quickly join forces to find the killer.

I really enjoyed this mystery. There is a lot to love about this series – starting with main character Sam – the books contain a mystery within a mystery (the book that Sam is writing which actually helps her solve the main mystery) which cannot be easy to write but I find both mysteries enjoyable. I also like Nana Jo and her friends – it is nice having elderly characters who, while they are funny are never made fun of and play an active part in solving the mystery. The introduction of Camilia was a good one – at first I thought she was going to be a stereotypical difficult mother-in-law but she turned out to be so much more than that and her storyline took an unexpected turn that may surprise longtime readers of the series. The casino setting was a good one, even if you are not a gambler, and I found myself craving tea several times while reading the book! The mystery (both mysteries) was well done with just the right amount of suspects – I did figure out close to the end of the book who the killer was but there were still parts of the mystery that I didn’t figure out until it was explained. All in all another enjoyable mystery from Burns.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

VM Burns continues the Mystery Bookshop mysteries with The Next Deadly Chapter.. Sam wants to impress her fiance's mother, Dr. Camilia Patterson, but at the bridal shower at the our Feathers Casino things go wrong. The next morning Camilia phones Sam to report that there is a man dead in her room. Then Sam reports the body which has in between disappeared. It surfaces in the water. What happened? Sam convenes her collection of ladies and the neighbouring detective to solve the murder. The tribal authorities encourage her participation. Her investigation leads to embezzlement, adultery and other misdeeds being brought to light. Follow the clues in this mystery and in Sam's new mystery set in Britain just before World War II. Enjoy.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

I fully enjoyed this exciting new Mystery Bookshop title! The eclectic, well-defined characters always welcome me into their tale, and now we will meet Sam’s (Samantha’s) future mother-in-law, Dr. Camilia Patterson. I did not like Camilia at first, but felt much better about her by the end. The primary setting was the Four Feathers Resort and Casino on the Pontolomas Reservation near Sam’s southwest Michigan home and bookshop. The author continues to deliver two mysteries; Sam recently published her first cozy/historical novel, and shares her work in progress throughout.

The wedding of Sam (Samantha) and Frank is only weeks away, and she is meeting her future mother-in-law, (“…call me Dr. Patterson”) for the first time. Sam is a warm and loving woman, and Dr. Patterson was neither.

Before Camilia arrived, Sam gave a book talk and signing at the reservation. There was an obnoxious elderly man who heckled her throughout. Nana Jo, her black-belted grandmother, had a few words with the man before Kai, a tribal leader, kicked him out. As an apology, Kai gave Sam and five of her friends the accommodations to spend a four-day weekend at the resort. A simple apology would have sufficed, but Kai insisted, and Dr. Patterson might enjoy the luxury.

Dr. Patterson had a ‘tude when she arrived. Sam enjoys spending time Nana Jo and her best friends from Shady Acres Retirement Village. Dorothy, Ruby Mae, and Irma are like family to Nana Jo as well as Sam. The doctor was cold to all except her beloved son, Frank. At least Sam’s grandmother and his mother began to bond over Murder She Wrote.

When Sam and her guests arrived in the Four Feathers limousine, Sam was given an upgraded, 5,000 square foot penthouse, while the others had the usual luxury suites. Sam traded with Dr. Patterson and felt better on the third floor with Nana Jo and her friends.

Very early the next morning, Dr. Patterson called Sam to her suite. She pointed out a man lying on the floor, wearing only a robe, who was quite dead. This wasn’t just any dead guy, though. It was the rude man who had interrupted her book talk and signing. He was also the owner of the accounting firm recently awarded the contract to audit the books for the resort and casino. They stepped away to change their suites back as originally assigned. Frank’s mother – finally “call me Camilia” – was up for a special promotion and could not afford publicity.

Sam called her sister, Jenna, a pit bull of a defense attorney, and Detective “Stinky” Pitt, with the South Harbor police, as they were not yet certain which law enforcement agency had jurisdiction on the reservation. When they returned to the room, the dead body was gone! The photo Sam took with her phone was the only proof of the dead man.

Thus begins their first full day of luxury and relaxation. They met with Kai and the tribal police chief, who have three days before reporting it to the FBI. Sam, Nana Jo, and their friends have helped Detective Pitt, with murder cases in the past, but Sam didn’t want to get involved yet again. However, to avoid media attention at the resort, they began to search for the body and the killer themselves.

Much to their shock, Camilia, the epitome of elegance and propriety, and Detective Pitt, king of the 1970’s brightly-hued, polyester attire, seemed to be making eyes at each other! They learned what they could from other law enforcement agencies police as Sam, Nana Joe, Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae talked to the dead guy’s widow, his mistress, and his former and his current business partners.

The author seamlessly weaves together panic, laugh-out-loud antics of the older ladies, and pre-WWII British murder into present day Michigan. Many clues, flawlessly executed twists, and a deadly threat to Sam enhanced the adventure. The mysteries in both eras were solved, and was I ever surprised! The resolutions were very satisfying. I highly recommend this to those who appreciate well-written contemporary and pre-WWII mysteries.

I enjoyed this book. I found it moved smoothly, without any slow spots. I really liked the characters, they’re interesting & a bit quirky.. I did figure out who the killer is almost as soon as he was introduced so that wasn’t much of a surprise but still worth reading. #TheNextDeadlyChapter #NetGalley

This is my favorite of the series so far! I loved the setting of the casino, getting to know Frank’s mother, and the murky lines of jurisdiction between federal, local, and tribal authorities. Sam’s grandmother and her friends, while they were their usual selves, were also a little mores serious in this one, intent on solving the mystery and not nearly as silly as they can be, making for an easier read. I am not a fan of the story within the story and found this one less fleshed out that the others but it had a satisfying conclusion. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Mystery writer and bookstore owner, Samantha Washington, wanted to make a good impression on her fiancé Frank’s mother, the very proper Dr. Camilia Patterson. But when Nana Jo and the lively ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village throw a surprise bridal shower for Sam at the Four Feathers Casino, things spin out of control. . When Sam needs to think, she returns to her historical mystery set between the wars, in which a houseguest meets a grim end at an English country manor. The morning after the shower brings another rude surprise. Sam gets a frantic call from Camilia, who’s discovered a dead body in her room. Now winning over her soon-to-be mother-in-law means keeping her out of a potential scandal and attempting to discreetly solve a murder. For that she’ll need the help of Nana Jo—not exactly the soul of discretion—Detective “Stinky” Pitt, and the ladies.

I have read all the previous books in this series and have always marveled at how the author can write two different books at the same time and blend them together into one story. This is more than a time-line story, it is literally a book-within-a book. She continues to develop the characters of Nana Jo and the Shady Acres ladies as well as Detective "Stinky" Pitt. and adds a new development to their story--this time the addition of her fiacne's mother. Any lover of cozy mysteries will love this series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the next book in one of my favorite series.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

In The Next Deadly Chapter Samantha is busy promoting her first book including a book tour with Escape With Dollycas/Great Escapes, and a book signing at the Pontolomas Senior Citizens Center. The book signing gets a little contentious when Sam gets heckled and Nana Jo can’t hold back. Before the “crane kick” could be delivered by Nana Jo staff removed the heckler. Nana Jo then receives a gift from one of the Pontolomas tribal leaders – A complimentary four-day weekend stay – all expenses paid for Sam and five friends at the Four Feathers Casino Resort. With fiancé Frank’s mother, Dr. Camilia Patterson coming to town to meet Sam and her family and friends, Nana Jo thinks having a surprise bridal shower at the casino sounds like a grand plan.

The initial meeting between Sam and Dr. Patterson is a little frosty but things get a little crazy at the casino. Sam leaves Nana Jo, Dorothy, Irma, Ruby Mae, and Dr. Patterson with the evening’s entertainment and slips away to her room to work on her new historical mystery. She never imagined what the next morning would bring . . . a dead body in Frank’s mother’s room. This was not the good impression she hoped to make on her future mother-in-law.

It’s time for Sam and the ladies of Shady Acres with some assistance from Detective “Stinky” Pitt to bet it all and keep the murder on the down low and keep Camila out of the fray. If they have any luck at all they will close the case before the killer doubles down on his action.

I was overjoyed to be back in North Harbor, Michigan with all the wonderful characters Ms. Burns has created for this series. The introduction of “Francis’s” mother Dr. Camilia Patterson was most entertaining especially the way she evolved within the pages of this story and the remarkable effect she had on another character. I love that all the characters are like one big happy family and all had things happening within this story. Dawson had an issue with his dad and sought advice from Sam. Sam’s nephews Christopher and Zaq held down the fort at the bookstore while Sam and Nana Jo were at the casino. Frank was super busy with his restaurant. Jenna got in on the action at the casino. Sam’s mom and stepfather are in Australia. Oreo and Snickers stayed with Dawson for the long weekend and Oreo got into a bit of a stink.

Now the murder was a tricky mystery. It took place on Tribal Lands which is their own nation with different rules. The body did a disappearing act which caused some extra drama. Nana Jo and the other ladies from Shady Acres all worked their strengths – Ruby Mae checked in with her relatives working at the casino. Irma may be “knocking on eighty’s door” but she has legs like Tina Turner and she knows how to use them to attract any man she sets her sites on. Dorothy uses her journalistic capabilities and her strong multitasking skills to get info on the suspects. And Nana Jo, well is Nana Jo. I wish I had half the energy these women have. I always have a great time chasing after them laughing at their antics as Sam works hard to bring all the information together.

One of the reasons I love this series is because readers are treated to two mysteries in each book. The one Sam and her friends handle and the historical mystery set in 1939 Sam is writing. When Sam feels overwhelmed or stuck trying to make sense of her real-life mystery she escapes into the fictional world to calm herself and sometimes that diversion helps clues fall into place in the non-fictional world. I enjoy these mysteries as much as the main one.

The Next Deadly Chapter is another marvelous addition to this series and another Perfect Escape! Heartwarming genuine characters who know how to have fun even when trying to catch a killer pull me into their story easily. I am invested wholeheartedly in this series and absolutely hate waiting for the next installment but I trust V.M. Burns will give me a story, make that two stories, that are well worth waiting for.

You can read each book on its own but I recommend you start at the beginning and enjoy every one.

Now a published historical mystery author, Samantha Washington is excited to be presenting it in a talk for ladies at the Pontolomas Senior Citizens Center. What is less welcome is the heckling coming from the misogynistic, condescending Oscar Pembrook, who disputes her historical details as well as the cozy mystery genre in general. As an apology for the incident, community center manager and tribal council leader Kai Strongbow offers Sam and her friends an all-expense paid vacation at the Four Feathers Casino and Resort. The timing couldn’t be better, as Sam’s fiancé’s mother has just arrived for a visit and Sam is anxious for the approval of the impressive and very intimidating Dr. Camilla Patterson. Or, as Sam’s Nana Jo quickly nicknames her, Dr. Cruella de Vil. Despite a rocky start, it is Sam whom Camilla immediately calls when she discovers a strange dead man in her room, even switching rooms so that Sam can take responsibility for it. Which only causes further confusion after the body goes missing, only to be discovered later outside on the rocks, wearing the resort’s thousand-dollar robe. That not only means a jurisdictional dispute between the Pontolomas Nation and North Harbor Police, it brings in the involvement of Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt, who has battled with Sam and Nana Jo since his childhood and continues to resent their involvement in his cases.

Conveniently – or inconveniently, depending on the perspective – Sam’s sister and Nana Jo’s friends are also at the casino for Sam’s bridal shower, and they are all eager to step up and begin their own investigation. So while Frank runs his restaurant back in North Harbor and her nephews deal with her skunkified toy poodles, Sam is able to look into the actions of an obnoxious man who had an angry ex-business partner, resentful spouses, and a misguided mistress. The stress is enough to have Sam retreating to her Happy Place, which happens to be the fictional world she is creating in 1939’s Buckinghamshire, England. As always, Sam is able to work through her real-life mystery by plotting out the adventures of the residents of Wickfield Lodge, which this time has Lady Clara and her fiancé meeting cousins and dealing with a Nazi sympathizer.

This 10th in the series takes our favorite characters and drops them in a new setting, where the ladies still manage to use their family connections and abilities to coax out gossip to solve another murder. Frank’s mother proves to be a surprising asset to the team, not only as a medical consultant but as a distraction for Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt. Everyone – including Camilla – is completely baffled by the instant attraction between these two opposites, and perhaps seeing them together more would explain their blossoming relationship. Until more is revealed about exactly how this couple will work though, it may be enough that it at least improves his fashion choices and makes Detective Pitt more accepting towards Sam and her grandmother. Readers are updated on their favorite characters back in Sam’s Market Street Mysteries bookstore throughout the novel, and it leads to more anticipation for their adventure in the future. This is another delightful mystery that combines a compelling historical mystery within a very fun, character-driven larger plot.

This a really great series and I loved this book. Lots of quirky characters and some wonderful romance thrown in with a murder mystery all adds up to a well thought book, that kept me reading to last page.

Sam is set to meet Frank’s mother. But she wasn’t expecting, we have to have murder become Brent and Center in a girls weekend with Camillia, Nana, Joe, and the ladies. But soon, so I’m fine. Her self bonding with her shouldn’t to be mother-in-law as they try to solve the murder. Can she save her mother-in-law’s reputation, or is Frank and Sam’s relationship doomed before they get to the altar?

This is such a fun series! I love both Samantha and Nana Jo. These two make every single one of the books in this series. Laugh out loud fun! Add the ladies from Shady Village, two adorable poodles, and the rest of the gang and you’ll be back for more. I never miss an in this series, and look forward to the next one.

The Next Deadly Chapter is book #10 in the Mystery Bookshop series by V.M. Burns.

I enjoy meeting authors so the beginning was great, minus the heckler, though he was handled. Frank’s mother is visiting and it gets off to a rough start. Love Nana Jo and her friends. This was an entertaining book that kept me guessing until the end. Plus, the story Sam is writing is a bonus book within the book. I recommend this book and series!

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I absolutely love this series and how Nana Jo and her friends from the retirement village always end up helping Sam with a case. Jenna even was in on the act this time since the tribal leader of the casino resort they were staying at requested her after a body was found in what was originally Sam’s room. Can you guess who was staying in her room instead of Sam? That might’ve been the start of Sam and her future mom-in-law getting acquainted, lol. Dr. Camilia proved to be quite human and useful to the case as well. And a certain detective found himself attracted to her—let that hilarity begin!

Nana Jo was at her hilarious best and my favorite scene with Det. Pitt getting off the elevator and Nana Jo’s reaction was hysterical! For this and tons of other fun stuff (like one of my favorite returning jokes when Irma almost says something naughty and they all go, “Irma!”—gotta love it!), don’t miss this latest installment! This mystery was truly a group effort when it was solved after a tense showdown. That perp never saw what was coming lol.

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

Nicht für mich. Anfangs war es noch ganz gut, aber es verlor schnell an Spannung, und somit habe ich es abgebrochen

Sam Patterson, her future MIL, her Nana, and her crew of wonderfully connected elderly friends head over to the posh resort on the nearby Native reservation. As is wont, they literally stumble over a dead body. What I wasn't expecting: a new romance! What I was expecting and happily got: another book within a book as the English aristocracy fights the spread of the Nazis; more hints about Frank's mysterious past, and more of the twins.

I look forward to each addition to the series and this did not disappoint.

This is the tenth book in the series by VM Burns. I found it well written and plotted. I’m not interested in the historical mystery Sam is writing so I just skip over those parts. I really like the present story. Nanjo, Detective Pitt, and the rest of the crew help solve a murder of a body found in her future mother-in-laws’ room.

I was thoroughly entertained.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an Advanced Readers Copy. These are my own opinions.