This was a fun and light read with a bunch of quirky characters—though I did find it a bit tricky at times to keep track of who was who. The murder mystery was a great whodunit, though at times the storyline dragged. Overall, it was an enjoyable cozy mystery with a fun puzzle twist. I'll be interested in reading the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A cute cozy mystery set in Washington. Love the puzzle crew. JB Abbott will be on my shopping list when this is out in August for my book trophy case.

If there is such a thing as a lighthearted mystery this was it! When coming home meets mystery meets light love story. The author managed to mingle all the genres into a great storyline.

🧩 Picking Up the Pieces: A Delightful Jigsaw Journey Through Mystery and Heart ❤️

This captured my heart with its charming premise and delightful setting. This enchanting debut draws us into the quaint world of Cedar Bay, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Whidbey Island in Washington State a perfect spot for a captivating tale of suspense, intrigue, and puzzle-solving fun!

Katie is an instantly likable protagonist, full of determination and heart. traits that make her journey both relatable and inspiring. I absolutely adored her tenacity and the way she embraces the challenge of piecing together not just the jigsaw puzzles, but the puzzle of the murder mystery, too. Her past romance with Connor Crozier, the dashing firefighter, adds a sweet layer to the narrative, and I couldn't help but root for their second chance at love.

Abbott skillfully balances the charm of a cozy mystery with the intrigue of a whodunit. The novel's pacing is just right, keeping me turning pages late into the night. The jigsaw puzzle theme is woven beautifully throughout the story, offering an inside look into the art of puzzle creation that truly fascinated me. It's these unique elements that make this book so special and a must-read for fellow puzzle enthusiasts.

While there are many characters to keep track of, each is introduced with distinct traits and backstories, adding depth and richness to the community of Cedar Bay. Abbott's exploration of these characters' lives and connections makes for a captivatingly cozy atmosphere that readers will want to return to again and again.

Though not without its predictable moments, *Picking Up the Pieces* excels in its ability to create a delightful escape. It’s a quick, fun read that offers both mystery and romance in just the right amounts. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries or simply love the idea of a book steeped in the charm of puzzle piecing, J.B. Abbott's debut is a gem that promises both enjoyment and intrigue.

Katie Chambers loves a good puzzle, which is just as well because soon after she returns to her hometown of Cedar Bay, after seven years away, she finds herself slap bang in the middle of one! Working at Cedar Bay Puzzles in a job held by her late mother and restarting the South Island Jigsaw Crew seemed the right thing to do but when tragedy strikes and her dad is accused of murder that becomes her main focus. With the police determined to charge her dad, she and the eclectic members of her crew band together with Katie's ex, Connor, to find out who is responsible. She is absolutely sure her dad is innocent, but can she find the truth before someone out there makes her the second victim?

J B Abbott's first novel is a good read with a main protagonist who is instantly likeable and easy to cheer for. There are a lot of characters in this book, but it wasn't confusing as they were all easily recognisable. The will they/won't they romance is a fun addition to the storyline with an original reason for their break-up and the identity of the killer was well hidden until the big reveal.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this and will definitely be on the lookout for book two.

3.75 stars

I enjoyed myself in this book. I thought it would be a more cozier kind of mystery but it wasn't which surprised me. I like the pacing of the story and the main fmc and mmc. I didn't expect the killer at all and it made me surprise despite all the subtle hints dropped throughout the book. I like the crew a lot and it made things fun

A cute new cozy series about Katie Chambers who returns to Cedar Bay after the death of her mother. Love the setting. Jigsaw puzzles are a favorite so this subject was enjoyable. Filled with lots of characters with great backstories. A light mystery that's fun. Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

This book is everything you want a cozy mystery to be, thanks to great characters, an look at the inside world of jigsaw puzzle creation and play, right down to the picturesque setting of Whidbey Island, Washington. And, yes, a murder. Katie returns home to Whidbey Island after the death of her mother, a jigsaw puzzle designer, to keep the business going with the help of her father. When there is a murder, her father is accused, and Katie must take action to clear his name. Romance is added to the mystery when she asks for help from her former boyfriend. This is fun, fast-paced and a total pleasure to read. I look forward to recommending this book.

Picking up the pieces is a cozy murder mystery based around a jigsaw puzzle testing group who attempt to solve a murder.

This was a fun read with lots of characters, which at times could make it hard to keep track of who was who. Although the book got in to the story quite quickly, some places felt as though the plot was being dragged out. There was a romance angle between the main character and another that played out throughout, which I look forward to seeing progress in future books.

Overall it was an enjoyable cozy mystery, I really liked the puzzle aspect of it. I would read future books in the serious as it was fun and a light read.

3.25 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for this ebook ARC.

Reviewed on GoodReads and Threads.

Picking Up the Pieces is the first book in a new cozy mystery series that follows Katie Chambers after returned to her hometown of Cedar Bay, an island in Puget Sound, after the death of her mother. Taking over her mother's job at a jigsaw puzzle manufacturer keeps her busy as well as supporting her librarian father Jim and taking part in a weekly puzzle testing club.
Unfortunately, a co-worker and fellow member of the club is murdered, so Katie and the crew step in to investigate once her father is dragged in a suspect number one. Katie is also pulled back into the orbit of her high school sweetheart becuse his father is the one investigating Katie's dad.
Lots of side characters with interesting backstories and various lifestyles/ages to keep a wide number of readers engaged. This series has potential. I did find the killer a little too predictable and was frustrated with Katie's poor decision making during the big reveal at the end of the story, hence the lower rating, but I would be curious to read more.

This is a charming, lightweight mystery. It's a quick read, and as someone who likes both mysteries and jigsaw puzzles, the premise holds lots of appeal for me. I could do with less of the romance subplot, and the characters don't seem to have a whole lot of depth. But it's a fun, easy-to-read escape story.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I didn't like this book. It does get repetitive when explaining things, but at the same time, you don't really memorize who's who.

There's even a dialogue where the character says she's matured and, as a reader, I ask myself: WHERE?

I found the female character very childish, boring, and lacking a bit of reality and reliability. Maybe because it's not the final version, there are also some typos.

I almost gave up reading but the curiosity to know who the killer was made me continue. However, I skipped several pages and dynamically read several dialogues - which I realized neither had substantial information that made me "miss" relevant events - until I got to the resolution and yes, it was someone I didn't expect, although I didn't expect it to be anyone on the list she was making. So that's a positive thing.

This book is an okay read. It’s about a murder in small town and a puzzle crew is determind to solve this case because one of the crew’s father is prime suspect.

I think it’s really fast paced without some depth about the plot, characters and backstory.
I also wanted to know more about the relationship between Katie and Connor.

Also, I knew who the murder was right away.

[NetGalley Read #25]

3.75 ⭐️

'The other crew members pretended to be eating their meals and let's just say, no Academy Awards were going to be doled out tonight.'

- Good. Charming. Short and easy to read. A good mix of light and dark. Funny and sad. This needed to be longer. I would've liked spending more time with these characters.

- Very Christie-esque. Plenty of colorful characters. Old. Young. Good banter. Small town. Word travels fast. Amateur detectives. A little romantic arc going on. That being said, it does create it's own identity with the puzzle theme.

- As for the mystery itself, it was pretty good. Could've been tighter. But I did like that they (Kaite and her Crew) are shown to be inexperienced. And it affects the characters. Most mysteries I read have these characters finding clue after clue (not that that doesn't happen here) and here the characters actually go: 'I've no idea what I'm doing. But I'm going to keep at it and keep doing it anyway.' It really drives home the point that they are amateurs and they are going to make mistakes.

Recommended. 👍

Picking Up the Pieces is a fun, cozy read with a bit of a silly side. If you enjoy books that make you think without being too serious, this one’s a great choice. The puzzle aspect keeps things interesting, and it’s satisfying to piece everything together as you go.

That said, it did feel a little dragged out in parts. Some sections could have been snappier to keep the momentum going. But overall, it was an enjoyable, light read that kept my brain engaged while still feeling relaxed. A good pick if you like cozy mysteries with a playful touch!

This was painful to read, too much info dumping and awkward long sentences not to mention the bad grammar. I don't usually comment about English grammar, because it’s not my first language, but this was seriously hard to read (They also kept saying her father had an affair with the victim, but he’s a widower so he shouldn’t count as still married). Didn’t like how her father pushed her to marry just because she’s almost 30, the thing with her ex filled half the book.

I actually powered through to the end, I shouldn't have bothered because reading just the beginning and ending gives the same result. The middle is filled with scenery descriptions, the police not believing anyone, them struggling to fill a suspect list and her relationship with the ex.

This book was silly, charming and so very, very cute. While the plot was a bit predictable, I did have to say I enjoyed reading it! It was an easy read and very easy to follow.

However, there were some small spelling mistakes and words that didn’t seem to fit ( wrong word used I’d say) or words missing, but it didn’t take away from the actual story.

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who love cozy mysteries!

Review has been published on Instagram, Goodreads and Storygraph.

Puzzle themes are quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery tropes. This book was too good. I loved the banter between the characters and the old flame returned trope as well. This book was great and can't wait to see what this author does next!

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Katie moves back home after her mom’s death to help her father out. She soon finds herself trying to solve the innocence of a murder which her dad becomes prime suspect. She will have to use her puzzle skills to solve the case .It is a puzzle you do not want to miss.

Picking Up the Pieces by J.B. Abbott is a quick and enjoyable cozy mystery, but it feels a bit rushed. The story follows Katie Chambers, who returns to her hometown to help her dad after her mom’s death, only to get pulled into solving a murder. The premise is fun, especially if you’re into jigsaw puzzles and small-town mysteries but I felt like the plot needed more development.

The characters, particularly Katie and her former love interest, Connor, could have used more depth and some of the twists were wrapped up a bit too quickly. It’s a solid, light read but the short length and lack of deeper exploration into the mystery or relationships left me wanting more. Overall, it was good, but I gave it 3 stars—entertaining, but not as detailed as it could have been.