I was happy to go back to Ridgefield, CT, and visit with Winter, Uncle Richard, Scoop, Carla, and Kip. I will admit to being prejudiced as I live in Connecticut and love the small-time vibe in this series. In this adventure, Scoop seems to have an in on the fires that are being started in town. Unfortunately, he might know too much, and when the third fire yields a body, things are definitely going to get hot. With Scoop protecting his source and Winter trying to find answers as she is asked to write the obituary for the homeless man found in the third fire, can they figure out who is setting the fires and who wanted Chester dead? While I love the setting and characters, this book was a little more convoluted than it had to be. Too many secrets, lack of trust, and undefined characters pulled in at the end. Hopefully, the next entry will be a little more smoothed out. Thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for an opportunity to read. #GraveWords #DeadlyDeadlineMysteries #GerriWoods #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of GRAVE WORDS (Book 2 of the Deadly Deadlines mystery series) by Gerri Lewis in exchange for an honest review. Winter Snow wakes up dead, at least, according to the local paper, and then everyone wants a favor. The actual death of a local homeless man, known only as Chester, and a recent spate of arsons are at the root of most of the requested favors. Winter’s agreement to find out Chester’s last name and to write his obituary doesn’t seem like it should cause all of the trouble that ensues. Further, Winter’s reporter-friend Scoop has become the primary person of interest in both the arsons, and Winter’s boyfriend has become an obstacle both to Winter’s business and to her clearing Scoop’s name. Can Winter, her business, her friendship with Scoop, and her romantic relationship all survive the situation?

I did not read the first book in the series, but I had no problems keeping characters or relationships straight. I recommend this book to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring small communities where everything and everyone is interconnected.

#GraveWords #NetGalley

Grave Words, the second book in the Deadly Deadline Mystery series by Gerri Lewis, is an intriguing mystery with plenty of suspects to keep you turning the page to the very end.
Main character Winter continues to find herself in untenable situations, and the ways she escapes them are entertaining. She finds herself continuously at odds with her police detective boyfriend, putting the future of their relationship in question for upcoming books.
I did find that this book got bogged down in details that went far beyond what I was interested in reading, and I ended up just scanning pages in a row to get back to the action.
I received an ARC of #GraveWords from #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks.

I enjoyed this book. Winter a obituary writter is asked to write one for the towns homeless man who was murdered. She must solve who he is and keep her friend from being arrested.

It was a fun, cozy mystery read! I enjoyed the author's writing and it is perfect for Halloween read! I loved the suspense and hillarious moments described throughout the book! Definitely recommending and reading more from the author!

The author did a great job presenting this whodunit with a comfortable tone making it easy to follow along. I liked how this storyline played out with a solid mystery that kept me both in suspense and intrigued throughout. Every time Winter uncovered secrets and misdeeds, the story intensified, and I could not put the book down until all was said and done. When I thought I had a handle on who was doing what to whom, the author changed direction all to enhance the story being told. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Grave Words by Gerri Lewis is the second book in the Deadly Deadlines Mystery series. I enjoyed this book, but did find some of the actions the characters took to be a little hard to believe and certainly outrageous. I don’t want to spoil the book, but several people in the book did things that would make me question whether I wanted them in my life or not. I also find the idea of an obituary writer to be a little far fetched. It doesn’t seem like a career that would allow a young, single person to make enough money to live off of. The mystery was well constructed and I would read another book in the series in the hopes the characters would develop and become more realistic.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. All opinions are my own.

WOW !!!!!! What a book ! I had the absolute joy of receiving an advanced reader copy of this book, and I devoured it in two days, had work not gotten in the way I would have had it read in a single reading. Winter Snow is back and she has another case that needs to be solved, as well as get her friend Scoop off the hook for a crime she is positive he did not commit.
Scoop is not only her friend, but also a reporter and he has been investigating two fires which we deemed arson. Because he has details that only the arsonist would know, he is under suspicion . A good reporter never reveals their sources and Scoop follows that rule , in doing so he ends up being arrested. When a local homeless man, Chester ends up dead at the scene of one of the fires , Winter against her police officer Kip's warning , throws herself into the investigation.
This book had me from the very first chapter and I had no clue who the killer was until the very end. Gerri Lewis is the master of red herrings and has an amazing talent of weaving a story that keeps you guessing until the very end. To say I loved this book , does not even begin to describe how this book made me feel. The bags under my eyes from staying up well past my bedtime, telling myself, just one more chapter, then I'll go to bed are proof enough.
Thank you to Crooked Lane publishers, Gerri Lewis the author and net galley for selecting me to receive the advanced reader copy. This was a very easy 5 star rating , I only wish I could give more than 5 stars, because in my opinion it deserves so many more.

Cute, light, cozy read, perfect for a fall day with a warm drink and a sweet pet nearby, Fun and airy.

An obituary writer cozy is a premise I had yet to read. It looks like I need to go back and read the first one because I loved it!!!! This will be a trope I will have to be on the look out for. The author made such loveable characters and a fun background. I cant wait to read more from this world.

An obituary writer, Winter Snow is trying to find the name of the homeless man killed in an arson fire. Good characters. Complex mystery. Great setting. Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

The story was just as cute as the cover! They say don’t judge a book by its cover…. It’s safe to do so with this one!

Obituary writer Winter Snow is struggling with her latest assignment. A local homeless man known only as Chester is found dead in a burning building. When Winter delves into Chester’s past, she hits a brick wall. She can’t find out his last name, where he came from, or his next of kin. The detective in charge of the case—who also happens to be Winter’s boyfriend—warns her that there is a lot more to Chester’s death than she knows and that she needs to stay out of it. But with one of her best friends accused of setting the fire that ultimately killed Chester, Winter must do something to figure out who Chester really was, find his killer, and clear her friend’s name.

I really struggled to get into GRAVE WORDS. There was a lot going on throughout the novel, and it was hard to stay focused when the plot kept jumping around. There was a lot of unnecessary description about some points that had no bearing on the plot, and an almost total lack of description when it came to certain crucial points.

While reading this book I was getting lost in the characters. I loved the funeral home when the girls were trapped in the double coffin and couldn't put the book down once it came to that part. However I struggled up until then due to all the different characters.

I loved this book. It did take me a while to get into it, but that often happens to me when I start a book. It's probably because I am still in the last book with my head, and it just takes a while to acclimatise. But once I was properly into the story, I could not put it down. The characters are quirky, the protagonist is more or less fearless, and the story is exciting. I also enjoyed the setting and all the dogs in the book. Combined with all the baking and cooking going on, Grave Words really did tick all the cozy mystery boxes. The only thing I did not like about this book was the cover...
I would like to thank the publisher Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

This took me a while to get into. I started it and put it down for a bit. You really need to read the first book, I feel, b/c otherwise it felt like I was jumping into a storyline that was several books in. The main characters relationship with her boyfriend was a bit annoying. But anytime a cop dates a nosy citizen, it always feels like the nosy citizen is always pushing boundaries. So their relationship feels very tense and I didn’t really enjoy it. The main character herself, Winter, was a bit more likeable.

I’m not sure if I like this series enough to read anymore of the books, but I think if I read the first book and got a better feel for the series, I’d know for sure. So if you’re considering reading this book and haven’t checked out the first one, I’d start there. I think the flow will be much better for the storyline if they are read in order, unlike most cozy mysteries.

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

I need to know what went on in the authors mind when writing this😭 it was super unexpected and I loved it! Can’t wait for everyone to read it

3.5 stars. I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries, but I enjoyed this one! I haven’t read the first one from the series so this was my first read of this author’s. The ending felt a bit rushed. I also like when the bad guy is someone you care about, so I wish it had been someone who played a larger part of the story. But this was a quick, fun read!

**ARC review. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read it early.

Winter Snow is an obituary writer. One day she wakes to find that she actually has her own obituary in the newspaper and not knowing how it got there. Trying to understand this, she is finally faced with another tragic event that involves her best friend Scoop a journalist, he boyfriend Kip, a cop and the loss of a homeless man named Chester.
Chester dies in a fire in a popular bar and grill. Winter tries to find all the information she can about her deceased. She begins to realize that Chester seemingly has no background until leads send her to a family members house. Was he homeless. Did her really have money and family that cared for him. He is elusive and as Winter befind to leaven the truths, she realizes nothing she knows to be true is not
I felt this book an easy read and I enjoyed it. I also felt the characters were relatable. I loved Winters older friends Horace and Richard who are the friends you want to have on your side.
Mysteries reveal themselves about this small town and there are twists and turns that keep the story interesting.

"Grave Words (Deadly Deadlines Mystery #2)" by Gerri Lewis almost seems further into the series than just a second book. The main character, Winter Snow, is established in a newish relationship and has a fairly well of career writing obituaries and Legacy stories. I know she keeps saying she's trying to get established in her career but she seems to have fairly steady work and that seems established to me. This one also has a touch of Halloween in the last few chapters.

The mystery part is around a mysterious homeless man that dies in a fire. Winter starts being involved when she's asked to write an obituary up for the man. Then, when she asks her cop boyfriend for some information to fill out the obituary (like the victim's last name) he tells her to not work on that particular one just yet. So, being this is a cozy mystery after all, she just has to investigate to find out what's really happening.