I want to first say that I read this book while cruising in the Mediterranean, so I read it disjointedly. Having disclosed that, I could not become engaged. The book failed to keep my interest. I usually enjoy “cozy mysteries” and I did enjoy these characters very much but the book, not so much. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #GraveWords, #NetGalley, #CrookedLaneBooks.

amateur-sleuth, arson, Connecticut, contemporary, cozy-mystery, family, friends, friendship, investigations, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, murder, newspapers, obituary-writer, read, relationship-issues, relationships, reporter, rural, siblings, small-business, small-town*****

Winter Snow a Living Legacy and Obituary writer working for the local funeral home and freelance since the paper she worked for went out. She also has this huge Great Pyrenees puppy who is the best comic relief. The cast of characters in a little convoluted and the storyline is fairly steady with intriguing twists and nutsy red herrings. Loved it every bit as much as the first and looking forward to the next in series!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected ebook file from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail Jun 10, 2025 #GraveWords by Gerri Lewis #DeadlyDeadlinesMysteriesBk2 @crookedlanebks #NetGalley #CozyMystery

The description had promise and made me intrigued to read Grave Words by Gerri Lewis. However, I found the writing very dry and had a hard time willing myself to continue the book. The main character, Winter, did not really seem to have a personality and the whole "has an obituary written about herself but she is not actually dead" premise somehow was not made a bigger deal. I was a bit disappointed about this book and maybe it is because I am so used to more descriptive and not so matter of fact writing.

Almost exactly a year ago, I found myself up all night reading Book 1 - The Last Word. I completed this, Book 2, in one sitting except I had intended to read a couple of chapters with my morning coffee and put it down until bedtime.  That did not happen, I could not put it down.

This story about Winter Snow (love the name) a Living Legacy and Obituary writer poking into the lives of those she is writing about, is in the middle of arsons and murders in this one.

It was a slow burn that picked up nicely. This story is set in current times, post-pandemic with YouTube Reels and AI references, even a nod to Air Tags. It was nice to see them woven into a story without being forced.

I liked that Winter owned up to her mistakes. She’s had some significant losses in her relatively young life that her uncle and father figure Richard, thinks helps her do her job so well. 

Poor Kip, boyfriend to Winter and police detective who is stuck between a rock and hard place, trying to do his job and keep Winter safe. Their relationship has some growing pains and they seemed to come through them ok.

Horace and Richard, to have people who care about you so much is a blessing.

Scoop, wow, what a time he had of things. To be a person of interest in the arsons and murder - yikes!  He wants to cooperate with the police but how can he reveal his source if he wants to continue his career as a journalist.

There are wonderful characters and relationships that are not perfect but relatable. Winter’s thoughts tend to wander but she does come back and as she takes you along for the ride, it seems like she is inviting you to help solve with her. 

A heady mystery that I could not put down until the end.

Thank you to #NetGalley  and #CrookedLaneBooks  for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story. 

Happy Reading!

This was great for mystery lovers. there were a lot of suspicions of Winter's friend Scoop and she sets out to find out if he is involved in the arsons or not. This was a fast read and cute read. This was a lighthearted and clean mystery.

Another visit with Winter Snow, the obituary writer. It is a unique job which makes doe an interesting premise. I really liked the characters and the comedic relief of the dogs thrown in. This time we find Winter's fried Scoop in the thick of it when an article he posts about an arsonist can only come from the arsonist themselves. Pressured to tell who his source is, things get more complicated when someone dies in a fire. It is up to Winter to find who did it while protecting herself and those she loves. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

An involved storyline but I feel the ending is a bit rushed. The connection of obituary writing and a funeral parlour to the deaths in the community is credible, giving a solid reason for the protagonist to be involved. There are a number of homonym errors which I assume will be remedied in the final copy. I received this as an advance copy from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Grave Words is the first book in the deadly Deadline Mysteries. It takes place in the town of Ridgefield, CT. Winter Snow is the main character in the story. She writes personal obituaries for people as a business. She use to be a newspaper reporter but left when it was sold. She took their buyout. She has a best friend, Carla who works as an assistant for a local funeral home. Kip Michaels is a police detective for the Ridgefield Police Department and also dating Winter. Tony works for the fire department and is Carla's brother.

Carla calls Winter and tells her about two obituaries that were in the paper. One was one on Winter and the other was written by a client who left on a cruise for the month. Both were not right with what was written. She had to contact the newspaper and straighten it all out. Scoop whose real name is Kevin Blake was a friend who worked with her at the paper. He was still a reporter. He was doing an articles on fire arsonists in town. The first fire was burned to the ground. Mrs. Mean was away visiting her daughter when it happened. The second fire was two weeks later. It was a spec house which burned down to the foundation. Again the owner, the contractor was away visiting his brother. The 3rd fire was Pop's Place. Jimmy who owns it was financially sound as did his landlord. A homeless man named Chester was killed in the fire. The 4th fire was an apartment over a garage.

Richard is her uncle who raised her when her parents died. He gave Winter his cottage near the water when he moved into Village Square retirement home. He loved coming there to cook meals. Horace Winter's next door neighbor is good friends of Richarad. Carp is a carpenter who is working on her house. Winter helped him expand his business and he did work for her in exchange. Carp has only eyes for Carla.

The retirement home has a monthly speaker for series for residents called Village Voices. Their speaker is not able to do it so Richard calls Winter and asks her to be the speaker. She goes and gives speech on Obituaries, The residents asked her questions about her own obit they saw in the paper. She makes it into the reason why obits can be done wrong to her advantage.

Richard and Horace had invited people to the cottage for dinner. Sister's Abbie and Gabby were there. They were the town's gossips. They told Winter that Scoop was holding back information. He was the last person who saw Chester alive. Winter and Kip went into her library and found Scoop sitting looking at her computer. He was acting strange. She tells him that Chester had been murdered. Kip asked her to not investigate as it could get her and her friends all in danger.

This is where the story takes off. There is so much to tell that I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the exciting ending. This was a fun read. I look forward to the next installment of the series.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

Cozy mysteries have definitely become my favourite genre after reading this book.

I will definitely check out more books from this author.

🍁ARC BOOK REVIEW🍁
Author: Gerri Lewis
GENRE COZY MYSTERY

I discovered this lovely story on NETGALLERY while trying to find something fall themed to read that would be a surprise addition to my reading list!!

The plot is quaint, cozy, and filled with mystery and humor with great plot twists and a theme that is great for this time of year! The author brings us on a quirky and quaint journey along with the characters while they solve a mystery.

I love that the author uses a funeral home worker as the main character , as I often wonder how many secrets the dead could tell them if they could speak still. I found the main character was delightful and funny but had elements of human flaws that made her vulnerable and relatable. I love how female characters are now becoming heroines again (girl power).

The chapters were designed so that the readers could follow story and keep them interested as they read, which is the great power of short and detailed chapters.

This book was a great way to have pumpkin spice tea, a fall blanket with cozy soft pajamas and fuzzy socks.

#bookstagrammers #bookishlove #bookstagram #bookcommunity #fall #books #bookstagramnederland #bookstagrammersunited #ARCREADER #ARCREVIEW #GRAVEWORDS #gerrilewisauthor #cozymystery

I seldom pay attention to the cover and often not even the title…both are great…secrets and red herrings kept me guessing…family and friends…curl up with this book and be transported for an afternoon. I liked this…talented author. Thanks Netgalley

#GraveWords #NetGalley features Winter Snow, an obituary writer that finds herself in awkward situations.
Winter is working on her next obituary, it's the death of a homeless man that perished in a fire.
Things get complicated quickly and soon Winter finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation.
I liked this story, but it felt a bit all over the place, and there were some parts I had a difficult time reading.
Overall, I feel this is a solid 4 star review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Winter is hard at work on her latest obituary, but involves the death of a homeless man found in a burning building. An autopsy reveals he was murdered, and Winter’s good friend, Scoop is the main suspect. This is an enjoyable, cozy mystery series and readers will be charmed.

Book Review: "Grave Words" by Gerri Lewis
Deadly Deadline Mysteries, Book 2

"Grave Words," the second book in Gerri Lewis' Deadly Deadline Mysteries series, is a delightful, fast-paced cozy mystery that delivers both charm and intrigue. Following obituary writer Winter Snow, this installment ramps up the stakes as her best friend, Scoop, finds himself in the crosshairs of a murder investigation, and Winter is left racing against time to clear his name.

Winter Snow is a compelling and relatable heroine, and readers will enjoy how her sharp wit and determination shine through. Gerri Lewis creates a vivid world around Winter, from the eccentric town characters like her uncle Richard and the hilariously nosy gossip group, The Nosy Parkers, to the detailed settings of small-town life where everybody knows everyone else’s business. The colorful cast of characters adds warmth and humor to the dark and suspenseful plot.

One of the key strengths of Grave Words is how it balances humor and tension. The mystery surrounding Chester, the homeless man found dead in a suspicious fire, quickly evolves from a simple obituary assignment into a multi-layered investigation. Lewis deftly navigates twists and turns, leaving readers guessing until the end. The stakes are personal for Winter, especially with Scoop becoming the prime suspect, and this emotional investment drives the urgency of the narrative. The plot is peppered with surprising clues and dead ends, keeping the reader hooked.

Fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate the intricate yet accessible plot, which avoids being overly complicated but still keeps things interesting. The investigation isn't just about solving a murder—it's about protecting friendships, revealing hidden pasts, and untangling the web of town secrets that threaten to trap Winter and her friends.

Lewis’ writing style is engaging, and her pacing is on point, with just enough action and suspense to keep readers flipping the pages. The mix of light-hearted moments, quirky characters, and the serious nature of the crimes blends well, making this book a solid addition to the cozy mystery genre. While it stands alone, readers new to the series might want to start with the first book to fully appreciate Winter's character development and the evolving dynamics in her relationships.

If you’re a fan of Eva Gates or Kate Carlisle, Grave Words will hit all the right notes with its blend of mystery, humor, and small-town charm. With a protagonist you can root for, a mystery that keeps you guessing, and a dash of wit, this book is the perfect cozy read for mystery lovers.

Rating: 4/5 stars
A thoroughly enjoyable mystery with a heartwarming cast, perfect for fans of clever sleuths and engaging puzzles.

Love this! Super quick read. Love that it is halloween themed and a crime that is actually gory! Such a great combination