The second book featuring Winter Snow, professional obituary writer, who finds herself in the position of trying to clear the name of her friend who is suspected of arson. There is a lot of other stuff going on as well but it was all rather random.

I was not as enamoured with this book as I was with the first one. Basically I guess I was disappointed by the way Winter expected her Detective boyfriend, Kip, to just hand over information about police cases whenever she wanted. I think the author took the wrong direction here and it would be better if Winter was more adult in her expectations. It was still a readable mystery and I will continue the series hoping Winter and Kip resolve their differences and find a solution that suits them both.

With two arsons in Ridgefield and the death of a homeless man, Winter is busy trying to write his obituary. Her questions lead to trouble. Scoop is arrested as a person of interest in the arsons and things are not adding up. Winter and her gang of friends work to figure it all out. A good twisty mystery with some surprises thrown in. Well written and an enjoyable read.

Winter Snow is a former reporter that tries to make a living as a writer of obituaries. When a local homeless man dies in one of a series of fires she wants to write an obituary for him and she wants to use his real name in the piece, not his nickname. Her detective boyfriend tells not to dig. Really? He says that to a former reporter? All she asked for was a last name.

This reaction should have sparked her reporter curiosity, but apparently, when Winter chose the less exciting job of obit writing, she gave up on her investigative instincts. She goes round asking a few people if they knew the homeless guy’s name, but hardly more than that.

She’s also not much suspicious of her uncle’s new romance. Uncle wants to move in with his girlfriend, but he’s never mentioned her before, much less introduced her. Why does Winter not think this totally weird, given that she and her uncle get together several times a week. Often with lots of other people there as well.

Winter’s friend Scoop is still a reporter, but not a very good one either. He wrote about two of the fires based on the information from one source. Every journalist knows: one source is no source. And now he’s in trouble for it, because his source knew things only the purpetrator could have known. He could have saved himself from a lot of trouble by writing only about things confirmed by a second, independent source (as is good journalistic practice).

Later, when the police have suggested Scoop is their prime suspect, he turns himself in, but does not bring a lawyer when he goes to the police station. Is this a cost thing or was he just really confussed about the possible benefits of a lawyer?

In any case, Winter finds out about the dead homeless guy - by chance, but still - and after talking to a relative, writes a nice obituary. Her cop boyfriend is then upset with her she didn’t share with him. And Winter thinks he’s right to be upset. She should trust him and share more.

I just can’t get my head around that. He told her not to dig. Basically told her not to do her job of writing an obit about the guy. And when she does (because she wasn’t presented with a good reason not to earn a pay-check), he gets upset with her. Not for digging, but for not sharing. At what point during the past week had he given her the impression she could talk to him about his case?

The wrap up of all the mysteries just made me go “what?” The only take away I got from it is that Winter needs some new friends.

Grave Words by Gerri Lewis is an intriguing cozy mystery.

After reporting on recent fires, reporter Kevin “Scoop” Blake is already in the crosshairs of local police. When Scoop is the last person known person to speak with a recently murdered homeless man, he becomes the chief suspect. This does not sit right with his friend and obituary writer Winter Snow, and she cannot resist digging around to help Scoop. Will Winter take her detective boyfriend Kip Michaels warnings seriously?

Winter has a great group of family and friends who care for her but her curiosity often gets the best of her. While finding out information about another recently deceased man, Winter’s inquisitiveness lands her and her friend, Carla, in a very precarious situation.

Grave Words is the second installment in the Deadly Deadlines Mystery series. The cast of characters are vibrantly developed and likable. The mystery surrounding the recent fires and deaths is quite interesting. With Kip not giving much away, Winter cannot resist poking around in search of answers. Their relationship is still in early days and trust issues are beginning to bubble to the surface. The storylines unfold at a slow pace but Gerri Lewis brings this cozy mystery to a heart pounding conclusion.

Winter can't find much information about Chester, the homeless man who died in an arson fire and now it seems her pal Scoop. a journalist (really, the name?) is the prime suspect in the murder. Winter's love interest Kip, a law enforcement officer, of course warns her off but she must investigate so that if nothing else she can learn Chester's last name. Lewis goes all in hard on the cozy elements in this second of the series which will be fine as a standalone but no spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the genre.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book is part of a cozy mystery series that follows an obituary writer. She is caught up in a murder mystery that involves her best friend in this one.

I really enjoy this series! The writing is easy to follow and read. I enjoy following the main character as well. She is relatable and likeable.

I also liked the mystery. It kept me entertained and wanting to read.

I would recommend this one!

A homeless man has died in an arson fueled fire. As a freelance obituary writer, Winter Snow tries to find out more information about the dead man. When she finds out that her reporter friend, Scoop is the prime suspect in the death, she has to prove him innocent. To complicate matters, Winter’s new boyfriend, Kip is the detective in charge of the investigation. When he warns her off, complications ensue. But all is not as it seems and the more Winter investigates, the more danger she gets into. An engaging cozy mystery from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. I received an ear from the above and this review is my opinion.

Winter Snow is an obituary writer and when Chester a well known homeless guy is found dead the local mortician asked Winter to write his obituary, but her best friend is accused of his murder and she has difficulty finding out anything about Chester or even his last name. kit is Winters boyfriend and a detective investigating the Murder but Winter and Kit are finding it hard to share evidence.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

Grave words will be a suspenseful read for 5th, 6 the and 7th graders. The children will enjoy the leaps,and turns in this story. I cannot wait to use it in my classroom. It is a high interest read that will keep the students interested and engaged.

Winter Snow, freelance obituary writer, returns in her second case. The story starts with a mix-up. One of her clients has posted an obituary that wrongly states the Winter is the one who has passed away causing all sorts of trouble for Winter as she tries to correct the mistake.

Meanwhile, her friend Scoop is in trouble with the police for seeming to know too much about a series of arsons around town. He won't give up his source when Winter's boyfriend Kip pressures him. But when a third apparent arson results in the death of a homeless man named Chester things heat up for him even more. It seems Scoop was the last one to see Chester alive.

Carla, Winter's friend from the funeral home, tasks Winter with writing Chester's obituary which send Winter into an investigation of her own as she tries to learn more about Chester. She's being stonewalled. She can't even find out his full name. She's angry at Kip for trying to steer her away from her inquiries into Chester which causes some conflict in their relationship.

Winter uncovers some secrets, and each discovery leads her into a more dangerous place as she uncovers a money-making scheme and actors who wouldn't at all mind seeing her dead. But she has to persist if she wants to save her friend Scoop and satisfy her own curiosity.

This was a nice mystery with a main character with a unique occupation.

Winter Snow finds herself at a crossroads as her business teeters on the brink of collapse. As a professional obituary writer, the stakes rise when she discovers her own obituary has been publicly exposed, although she is very much alive. Meanwhile, her friend, investigative reporter Scoop Blake, is embroiled in a tangled web of deceit involving a series of local fires suspected to be insurance scams. The plot thickens when the latest blaze at Pop’s Place uncovers the body of a homeless man known as Wandering Chester. The police, suspicious of Scoop’s insider knowledge, his reticence under questioning, and being the last to see Chester alive, begin to suspect he may be more involved than he admits.
Determined to exonerate Scoop, Winter embarks on a personal quest for the truth, digging into Chester’s past to craft a heartfelt obituary. Her investigation is bolstered by her Uncle Richard, who seeks her assistance for the Village Voices speaker series after losing a keynote speaker. As gratitude for his unwavering support of helping to raise her like his own, Winter agrees to help him. Richard, enlisting the help of some friends, scheme to get some dirt from the Nose Parkers, the inquisitive twin neighbors whose penchant for gossip might just conceal nuggets of truth.
As Winter delves deeper, she uncovers a tapestry of secrets, each thread revealing that appearances are deceiving. Yet, despite the dangerous implications, neither Scoop nor Winter's detective boyfriend, Kip Michaels, support her sleuthing. Their warnings echo ominously, suggesting that Winter’s pursuit of justice may lead her straight into danger.
In the charming cozy mystery Grave Words (A Deadly Deadlines Mystery, Book 2), I found myself drawn into Gerri Lewis's narrative that seamlessly connects with the first book in her series. Even as a standalone, it offers a rewarding experience for returning readers through its subtle nods to past events and beloved characters. The second installment also includes the addition of new characters as well. One element that I enjoyed is the story's historical layers, particularly the fascinating parallels between Chester and the colonial cave dweller Sarah Bishop, added a rich depth and believability to Chester's journey that I truly enjoyed.
As I delved into Gerri Lewis’s informational descriptions of the town's geography, I couldn't help but admire her skillful writing. However, these detailed passages sometimes diverted my focus from the story. The pacing occasionally left me yearning for a greater sense of urgency; the story would drift into leisurely stretches, with only sporadic bursts of events that never quite reached the thrilling crescendo I had hoped for.
Despite these pacing issues, I was captivated by the wonderfully diverse cast of characters, each adding a unique and colorful thread to the intricate tapestry of dialogue and intrigue that wove through the story. Every character brought something special to the narrative, enriching the experience and keeping me reading. By the time I reached the conclusion, I was thoroughly impressed by how all the narrative threads were deftly tied together, providing a satisfying resolution that left no loose ends. The intricate plot came full circle in a way that was both unexpected and gratifying, ensuring that every detail fell perfectly into place.
Although the pace varied throughout, I enjoyed the book and found the characters compelling. The depth and growth of each character added layers to the story that kept me invested from beginning to end. I am eager to see where Gerri Lewis will take us next, particularly intrigued by the potential new settings and plot twists that the series might explore. I look forward to immersing myself in the third installment of this series, anticipating more of the clever storytelling and rich character development that have made the previous books enjoyable.

Book Rating:
Originality: 4.5/5.0
Plot Structure: 4.5/5.0
Pacing: 4.0/5.0
Dialogue: 5.0/5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 4.25/5.0
Cover Design: 4.75/5.0 (Not averaged in the overall rating.)
Overall Rating: 4.45/5.0

Grave Words is book 2 in the Deadly Deadlines cosy series. All in all, my reading experience felt quite similar to the one I had with the first installment. The concept is original because of the main character's odd job. But overall, the story lacks excitement. I never felt on the edge of my seat. I'm hoping the third book will be more compelling.

This was the first book I have read in this series, so that may be why it seemed a little confusing at times. I thought it was interesting that the main character is an obituary writer. I would definitely give the first book a try and see if maybe that’s what I was missing.

Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this second book in the series as much as the first one. Although I like the characters the story kept jumping off into tangents and it didn’t really hold my attention.

Grave Words is book 2 in the Deadly Deadlines cozy mystery series by Gerri Lewis. I had the pleasure of reading the first book in the series, and was thrilled to be able to read this one as well. If you haven't read the first book though, you should be able to jump into book 2 quite easily, as each book is self contained, and the author gives enough background on the main characters that you should not have a difficult time reading either book as a standalone.

Winter Snow, an obituary writer, gets drawn into another mystery when she's asked to write the obituary for Chester, a homeless man, who was found in a burning building. When his death is found to be murder, Scoop, Winter's best friend, is a suspect and she is determined to help clear his name.

If you did read the last book, then you'll remember Diva, the Great Pyrenees puppy whose owner was killed. She is back in this book and as cute as ever, having been adopted by Winter.

I think the one thing that bothers me about this whole series is how Winter is able to support herself by writing obituaries. Surely she must have something else going on the side. Is writing obituaries really that lucrative?

Aside from that, although I found this second book a bit slow, it was nevertheless quite an enjoyable mystery. I liked how the author unfolded the story a little at a time, as Winter dug into the mystery of Chester's true identity and what he was doing in the town.

I am really enjoying this series, and look forward to reading more of Winter's escapades. I hope that in future books she and Kip, her boyfriend and a detective with the police department, are able to work out their issues to make a go of it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I still do not quite understand how being an obituary writer can support someone financially. This is a cozy mystery so let's just go with it. Winter feels a bit pushy b and demanding in this book - moreso than in the first one. At some point I also wished that she and Scoop and her detective boyfriend had just say down and solved the murder in five minutes. I will read another book in the series in case this was just a one of thing.

5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Lewis' Deadly Deadlines Mystery series which is a Literary Cozy Mystery that takes place in Connecticut and features an obituary writer who finds herself teaming up with her uncle and friends to investigate a homeless man's murder, uncover the identity of the person responsible for a string of arsons and clear her best friend name when he becomes the main suspect. With plenty of twists and turns, Lewis has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Lewis' writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Winter's down-to-earth and it's a joy to catch up with her, her family and friends and the folks of Ridgefield. In particular, I love her Uncle Richard and her elderly neighbor, Horace. Oh and I love seeing her relationship with her detective beau, Kip, moving forward despite their conflicts. And I mustn't neglect to mention Winter's lovable galumph Diva, the Great Pyrenees puppy and Horace's protective Max, the German Shepherd. Additionally, I love the model train room and the meaning behind it. With tact and sensitivity, Lewis touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, The Last Word.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Winter Snow is at it again! She is trying to grow her obituary business, while navigating her relationship with Kip the cop, and dealing with her larger-than-life uncle and neighbor, who are insistent that she needs protecting. Protecting from what? Winter has no clue. Add in her new dog, Diva, her reporter friend, Scoop covering a new story, and there is a lot of action in this one!

Arsons are happening around town, Scoop gets the scoop from a source he won't reveal, so the authorities are looking at him as the arsonist, but Winter knows it's simply not true. In trying to prove his innocence, she gets caught up in another murder mystery when a victim is found after an apparent arson. Wandering Chester, a homeless man around town, is the victim, but there was definitely more to him than meets the eye. Winter is now being followed, her friends are being threatened and she needs to solve the case fast!

We learn a little more about the death of Winter's sister in this story, which helps piece her backstory together even more. She is supposed to have a visit with her sister's twins at Christmas, so it will be interesting if the next mystery revolves around their visit.

I'm just leaving this hanging here, but I hope Winter and Kip can work out their trust issues....

4.8*

I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

This is my first book by the author and I cannot wait to read more books by Gerri. The book follows obituary writer Winter whose friend is a main suspect when a homeless man's body is found in a burning building. Thrilling,well written and memorable characters it's a cozy read worth reading.

In the second installment of the Deadly Deadlines mystery series, obituary writer Winter Snow finds herself entangled in her most challenging case yet. When the body of a homeless man is discovered in a burning building, suspicion falls on her best friend—forcing Winter to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

This series offers a delightful blend of humor, compelling characters, and engaging mystery. Fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of wit will find plenty to enjoy. One of the standout elements for me was the unique setting of the funeral parlor, which added both charm and intrigue to the story. Overall, a thoroughly entertaining read.

#GraveWords #NetGalley