This is a charming series debut that joins some other meta type mysteries by writers like Benjamin Stevenson, Sulari Gentill and Anthony Horowitz. The book opens with the writer’s tips for amateur sleuths, a list that is heavily influenced by the main character’s love – nay, worship – for Nancy Drew. Since Nancy is where many readers of mystery fiction got their start, this list should grab you as a reader immediately. It did me.

The set up of the actual novel is more conventional than the opening list, but this is a strong and entertaining cozy read. Main character Meg Gates has just been dumped at the altar, and as the book opens she’s chopping her wedding dress into bits and waiting for her family to arrive and help move her and her dog Watson back home. Home is Bainbridge Island, a ferry ride away from Seattle. Her possessions (luckily) are few, and she abandons her erstwhile fiancée Romain and her former life in the city.

Back home, she’ll be living over her aunt’s garage, working part time at her mother’s bookstore, and working as a part time assistant for a very famous writer who lives on the island. She’s also connecting back with her childhood friends Natasha and Dalton. It’s pretty obvious Dalton has feelings for Meg, but she’s still processing her breakup.

When the literary agent of the famous author is killed, her friends and the writer herself come under suspicion, and Meg, who is planning a “how to” amateur sleuthing book puts her ideas to the test and gets to detecting over the strenuous objections of her uncle, the police chief.
There are many of this aspects of this novel I found appealingly believable and well constructed. Cahoon gets so many things right, things I’ve seen employed in other novels and were all wrong. Bainbridge Island is a big tourist destination, and the book gets the townie/tourist/wealthy landowners divide just right. She and her friends work at local businesses and their portrayal as hard working townies is perfection.

One of the other things Cahoon did really well (speaking as a former bookstore owner) was her portrayal of the essential nature of the famous author agreeing to launch her book at Meg’s mother’s small bookstore. The hard work and robust sales help the store get through some slower times. This was completely authentic and I’ve never read another mystery that got this so right.

I may have liked this so much because as a former bookseller I felt those details were well done, or even as someone who grew up on a touristy island with an influx of tourists off ferries, but mostly I liked it because this is a good story, well told, with solid characters and a lovely setting. I loved the tips throughout and they added a real zing to the whole book. Excellent series kick off.

This is the first in a new series, A Bainbridge Island Mystery, by Lynn Cahoon. I really like her cozy series and this was no exception.
Meg Gates’ fiancé runs off to Italy with the maid of honor. She has dodged a bullet and returns to Bainbridge Island to restart her life. She is working for her mother in the bookstore and part time for the local writer, Lily, as a researcher.

Lily’s agent is found dead and the mystery begins. I was rooting for Meg the entire time. I’m sure she’ll be more confident and sure of herself in the next book. Her friends are a great support system for her. I am looking forward to the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing/ Kensington Cozies for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review. These are my opinions.

Move over Scooby Doo gang, the Mystery Crew is on the move. Meg returns home to Bainbridge Island after her life in Seattle tanks. That first chapter has me wondering where the story was going to go, but the author pulls Meg from the pity party of the first night pretty rapidly.
Meg is a character you can love. She has certainly had some hard knocks, but she doesn’t let that keep her from putting energy into building a life in her hometown.
I enjoyed them references to Nancy Drew. One that made me laugh was about we rarely saw Nancy eat dinner - she was always being interrupted by sleuthing. I like Meg’s sense of humor.
Her friends and family are great too. Her Mom tries a bit too hard, it’s all for love.
Dalton and Natasha are great friends who Meg gets the chance to know again/better by returning to Bainbridge Island.
I like the way this mystery is written. Meg is logical about how she thinks through things. Dalton helps her to eliminate suspects. Natasha is a bit in the background on this so it will be interesting to see if she shines in a future book.
I love Meg’s ideas for writing a guide for amateur sleuths to use for investigating.
I highly recommend picking up An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a great introduction to a new series. I like the premise of the main character writing a guide to solving mysteries. Cahoon offers good advice for amateur sleuths.

Betrayed and heartbroken, Meg is forced to abandon the future she once envisioned with her husband-to-be and return home, unsure of what comes next. But just as she’s settling into her new life, her boss is accused of murder. Determined to uncover the truth, Meg teams up with her loyal friends Natasha and Dalton—who just might be more than a friend—to catch the real culprit.

This is, without a doubt, my favorite Lynn Cahoon book yet! The protagonist is sharp, resilient, and far more capable than she realizes. I also enjoyed the added dose of humor. From the first page to the last, I was completely hooked, and when everything finally came together, it was both satisfying and seamless.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a great concept for a book. I don't know how Lynn Cahoon comes up with them but please don't stop. I also love how there's always good coming from a bad or difficult situation that helps the character(s) grow and remind them of what's important.

The characters are so well written and full of depth that you will feel like you know them. If you love a good cozy with a little extra something then give this one a go. You really won't be disappointed.

I received an advanced copy for my honest review.

Lynn Cahoon brings a new series to launch soon, and I was lucky enough to get an early copy. I've read nearly all the author's books, shy of the early ones before she switched to cozy mysteries. Always love seeing the new characters and setting. A lovely island off the coast of Seattle. A family with divorce and various relatives, all harboring some sort of hidden thoughts or secrets. An ex with an axe to grind. Sets up for a lot, and in this first installment, a literary agent is killed. Will the main character's new job as the author's research assistant go south shortly after taking off? Read on to learn more!

Meg has been left at the altar and is moving home to lick her wounds and change her life. She's working at her mom's bookstore and for a famous author. When the author's agent is found dead, the author becomes the prime suspect. Meg and her good friends work to discover who really killed the sleazy agent. A fun read with a good plot. Love these characters and look forward to more adventures with them!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. #kensingtonbooks. #lynncahkon

An Amateur Sleuth's Guide to Murder is the debut book in Lynn Cahoon's Bainbridge Island Mystery series. This is a wonderful, relaxing cozy mystery with likeable characters and a cozy mystery that kept me guessing. Meg Gates is moving from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, WA. Her Aunt Melody and Uncle Troy are renting her an apartment over their garage and she is working in her mother's bookstore. Uncle Troy is the Police Chief. Meg's best friends are Natasha and Dalton who are supportive and help with sleuthing and call themselves the Mystery Crew. Meg has a cocker spaniel Watson. Meg gets a part-time job working for Lilly Aster who is a popular author. A murder occurs on Lilly's property. Natasha, Lilly, and a couple of locals are the suspects. Meg is interested in the investigation and is writing a manual, An Amateur Sleuth's Guide to Murder, on how to investigate a murder. This ties into the story as chapter headings and a learn-as-you-go process. It takes the focus away from the story at times but is an interesting angle. Many of the characters have secrets so it keeps Meg and friends busy trying to learn the truth. This book has minimal peril or anxious moments and is perfect to read before bed. I am looking forward to more books in this series. #AnAmateurSleuthsGuideToMurder #BainbridgeIslandMystery #Kensington #KensingtonCozies #LynnCahoon

The first book in a new series always sets the tone and this one is the perfect pitch. Meg and her crew are so endearing and there is the promise of many more interesting mysteries to come. I'm impatient for the development of Meg and Dalton's relationship so I hope the author writes the next book fast. A big hit from beginning to end!

Lynn Cahoon kicks off her Survivors’ Book Club series with a cozy mystery full of charm, heart, and amateur sleuthing fun. Rarity Cole, a cancer survivor turned bookstore owner, never expected her support group to become a crime-solving team—but when a fellow member turns up dead, she and her friends step in. Warm, witty, and smartly paced, this is a perfect pick for fans of feel-good mysteries with strong female leads and a tight-knit community vibe.

#AnAmateurSleuthsGuidetoMurder #NetGalley

At twenty-six years old, Meg Gates was not expecting to have to start her life over from the beginning. But after the failure of the start-up where she was working and the unexpected termination of her engagement shortly before the wedding, Meg finds herself moving back to the small Bainbridge Island community where she grew up. Luckily, Meg is skilled with plans and details, and she makes forward progress every day while working at both her mother’s bookstore and as an assistant for the famous mystery author living nearby. But when a man turns up dead on the island, life gets more interesting, and Meg must use her own detective skills to help identify the real killer.

This contemporary mystery novel is well-written and includes an engaging narrative from beginning to end. Meg has an interest in creating a guide to writing murder mysteries, and this book becomes something of that guide as Meg works to solve the murder in her own vicinity. Each chapter has a heading that is related to the guide itself, and the plot continues to unfold with every turn of the page. While Meg’s work is a primary focus of the novel, her relationship with a childhood friend, Dalton, adds a romantic dimension to the story. The cozy nature of both the mystery and the romance help make this book accessible to a wide range of readers who appreciate a lighter approach to emotionally complex subject matter. Readers are presented with many of the elements of a traditional murder mystery while engaging with this story, and anyone interested in dissecting this type of literature from a process perspective will appreciate the blend of the two approaches throughout the novel. Engaging and well written, this cozy murder mystery is a charming addition to library collections for both mature young adult and new adult readers.

"New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon makes her hardcover debut with an irresistible new meta-mystery series about an amateur sleuth who doesn't just solve crimes, she writes about how to do it...

TIP #1: WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU COUNTS AS WORK EXPERIENCE
Meg Gates could use a guidebook for life. Indeed, she's faced some challenges. She dropped out of college to work for a tech startup that failed - and her fiancé just took her bridesmaid to Italy on what was supposed to be Meg's honeymoon.

Now, at twenty-six, Meg has taken the ferry ride of shame from Seattle back to Bainbridge Island to live with her family. At least she has her rescue cocker spaniel, Watson, by her side. But it's Meg who could use a rescue - and she's hoping it will come in the form of a part-time gig doing research for a bestselling mystery writer.

TIP #2: WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW - OR WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW
That's when the light bulb goes on: Meg will write her own guidebook - a manual on criminal investigation. But before she can impress her new boss with her pet project, the author's manager is found dead on the rocks beneath the author's Gothic mansion.

Now it's time to put her guide to the test, as Meg sets out to clear her employer of suspicion and solve the crime. But there's one important caveat she'll have to add to her guide -

TIP #3: BEWARE OF UNKNOWN DANGERS"

I mean, Meg doesn't seem to be the best judge in character, so here's hoping she survives.

This is now the fourth series of Lynn Cahoon I must now follow. After being left before the altar, Meg moves back home to live over her aunt and uncle’s garage. She works in her mom’s bookstore part time and starts to work for a local writer to make ends meet. The best part, she’s back with the Nancy Drew Crew. The writers agent is found murdered and the best guilty party is her best friend. The group puts on their crime fighting hats and gets to work looking for the real culprit.
Goodreads

This is going to be one of those series where I came for the mystery and keep coming back for the characters. Meg Gates and her rescue dog Watson are back home on Bainbridge Island after her almost-husband basically dumped her for her maid of honor. She's living in her aunt and uncle's garage apartment and working at the family bookstore part time but is excited to be hired as a part-time assistant to mystery writer Lily Aster. Seems Meg has writing dreams of her own. Her first objective, however, is to pull herself together. Back at her childhood home, she's lucky enough to find her besties from middle school, Natasha and Dalton, are still around. They once solved petty mysteries such as missing items in middle school so what is more normal than for them to fall easily back into that after a dead body is discovered at her new part-time job site. Never mind her Uncle Troy is the police chief and keeps warning her to stay out of his case. Sound familiar? I bet you can guess how well Meg listens. That said, I give her props for sharing information she discovers asap with him rather than holding out and, props to him for, despite wanting to keep her safely away from danger, for accepting such information gracefully.

I won't detail the plot but will note that Meg's interest isn't just based on her fascination with a good mystery. She also realizes her potentially fascinating new job as a writer's assistant is in danger when Lily turns out to be the prime suspect. Even worse, her long-time friend Natasha is another. Nor are they, thankfully, the only suspects. Seems Lily's manager, who turns out to be the victim, wasn't quite what he advertised himself to be and others may have had reasons to wish him gone, too. In the process of tracking down other suspects and proving Lily and Natasha couldn't possibly be guilty, Meg finds herself enjoying the company of Dalton more than she'd expected. Formerly with the Coast Guard, he is now working his way up the ranks with the local, vital ferry service and you'll get to take a few rides with them as you read. Fun! At some point she realizes her dog Watson is quite taken with Dalton but, hmm, didn't seem to care for the not-terriby-missed almost-husband....who'll also make a few appearances throughout. My bet is you won't be any fonder of him than Watson was.

Bottom line, this is a great start to a new series for author Lynn Cahoon. Heck, the book title alone pulled me in and I was delighted to discover each of the chapters is titled with one of the hints for sleuths that Meg comes up with. They made sense and were a nice touch that hopefully Cahoon will be able to utilize in future books, albeit perhaps not quite as focused on sleuthing. The trio of Meg, Natasha, and Dalton work well together and respect Meg's Nancy Drew abilities, as they call them. I liked them all and the easy way the related to each other with quite natural sounding dialogue. In other words, they seemed real. Her Aunt Melody and Uncle Troy were also a plus, with her aunt's background in the writing world coming in handy, just as her uncle's legal position and knowledge did here and surely will in the future. It was nice to find him, while protective, respectful of Meg's efforts, not belittling her contributions as he gracefully accepted them. I also very much appreciated Meg's restraint about mindlessly walking into danger. In other words, she's an amateur sleuth who isn't TSTL, ie too stupid to live. Finally, Bainbridge Island itself seems to be a lovely setting with lots of potential, so I'm looking forward to learning more about Meg's past and present home turf. Thanks #KensingtonPress - #KensingtonCozies for this early intro to Meg's life and allowing me to virtually enjoy a few ferry rides in the process. I'm looking forward to following Meg's adventures as she not only solves crimes but works on writing about them, too. I assume Lily will be a regular and she's a great character with lots to share, both about life and the whole writing experience.

A new series by a favourite author is always exciting, and the first book in the Bainbridge Island Mysteries doesn't disappoint!  Meg Gates, not quite left at the altar but close enough, has returned home from Seattle to the small island she grew up on to reevaluate things. With part time jobs at her mom’s bookstore, and as an assistant for a bestselling mystery author, Meg is at least earning again but then a body is discovered and it looks like at least one job might be very short lived! In high school, Meg and best friends Natasha and Dalton had solved mysteries, so why not do it again? After all, Meg is writing a criminal investigation manual for would be sleuths so she knows what she's doing, doesn't she?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cosies, but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. Meg, Natasha, and Dalton are great main protagonists, and it was an easy read with a very satisfying conclusion. I hope there will be more soon.

This a great start to a new series by an author that I read a lot. I thought it was a fun, fast read for a lazy Sunday afternoon on the couch. I liked getting introduced to a new character and new place and will be interested in where this series will go in the future.

An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder is everything I want in a cozy mystery—witty, heartfelt, and packed with twists, all anchored by a lovable heroine who's equal parts hot mess and hidden genius. Meg Gates might have returned home in defeat, but readers will be cheering her on from the very first page.

The mystery itself is beautifully crafted: plenty of red herrings, a murder at a moody mansion, and suspects who are just shady enough to keep you second-guessing. The pacing is pitch-perfect, with each clue drawing you deeper into the drama without ever sacrificing the humor or emotional core.

An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder is a fresh, modern take on the cozy mystery genre with the perfect balance of comedy, suspense, and heart.

An Amateur Sleuth's Guide to Murder was an interesting story. The story take place on Bainbridge Island. Meg Gates is the main character. Her fiance, Romin Evans has left her at the alter while running away with her sorority sister and bridesmaid, Rachael. Her mother, whose family has been an old family on Bainbridge Island has come to Seatte and with friends brought her back to the island to get her life back. Meg will live at her Aunt Melony's and Uncle Troy's place in the garage apartment with her dog, Watson, a tan cocker spaniel mix, Her uncle is the town's chief of police. Meg will work for her mother's book store part-time as well as work for the author, Lilly Aster, a mystery writer as her assistant, also part=time. Lilly is good friends with her aunt. Aunt Melody had been a literary agent before she had married Uncle Troy. Lilly lives at Summer Break her house on the island. Her father is divorced from her mother and lives in Seattle with is second wife, Elaine. Meg does not like Elaine so has a distant relationship with her father.

While going over to Bainbridge Island on the ferry Meg hears a conversation on the ferry from Lilly's manager, Robert Meade III, a very nasty man, Upon her first visit to see Lilly for her interview for the job she runs into him again as he is leaving Lilly's house. She has her interview and gets the job. Meg will deal mainly with Lilly's housekeeper, Jolene, who will give her Lilly's assignments every week.

Natasha is Meg's childhood friend and owns The Taste of Magic bakery. Dalton Hamilton is her brother's best friend and works for the Washington State Ferries system. Dalton thinks it might be fun for Meg to meet some young people and invites her to go to the bonfire. While there Nate who is drunk attacks Meg for working for the author. Dalton is there to defend Meg. Violet is Nate's girlfriend.

The next day Meg bikes to Summer Break and there is a lot of newspeople including Vi Chen a reporter there. Word had gotten out that a body had been found on Lilly's property. Meg meets with Jolene and gives her assignment to her and gets another one. Dayton tells Meg that the man who died is Lilly's agent, Robert Meade. When dropping off her assignment early she asks Jolene if she can speak to Lilly. She tells Lilly what she heard on the ferry. Lilly tells her that she had suspected that Robert was skimming money. He had doctored the contract before sending to her. She tells Meg that she had fired him and has a new agent.

Meg has decided that she wants to write a book "How to Investigate When You are not a Professional". She had not told her aunt or mother of her plan, Dalton and Natasha have decided that they will help Meg find out who killed Robert. While near her uncle's car she sees the cororner report but is not able to read it as her uncle comes out. He tells her to stay out of his investigation.

Natasha texts Meg to tell her that Lilly's ex's girlfriend is at the bakery. Meg goes to the bakery and starts talking to Tabitha. She tell Meg that Josh thinks someone is trying to set Lilly up for the murder. Josh is a writer also and is working on his next book. Meg is wondering what happened to Meade's car. She finds it at the terminal and notifies her uncle where it is. Everything points to Lilly being the suspect and Meg is determined to find out who the murderer is.

This is where the story takes off. There is so much going on that it is hard to put all on paper. There are so many twists and turns that I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the very exciting ending.

I loved the characters that make up Meg's friends and family. This would be a good series if the author decide to do so.

Thank you NetGalley and Kkensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.


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