This was a new series and author for me, I do believe it is a first in a series. This book was okay, I like the backdrop of fall at a unique Inn in upstate New York. There is a quaint small town and tons of quirky characters, maybe too many! Esther is an OK MC, she manages the Calliope Inn with efficiency and affection and is well respected by everyone, she however lacks confidence and guestions herself in addition she has annoying family problems she doesn't know how to deal with. Esther finds herself in the middle of the town's Maker's Festival as it's being held at the Inn, and she is unsettled by the responsibility and determined all goes well. When the town's despised health inspector shows up to the Inn, it just adds to her stress until the Inn passes inspection. Unfortunately, her friend Kai is not as lucky, and her Day Spa fails its inspection, threatening everything Kai has work for. When the inspector is found dead the next morning, things aren't looking too good for Kai. Can Esther with the help of some of her employees and fellow business owners figure out what actually happened? This was an ok mystery, it moved a little too slowly for me. I think it had maybe a few too many characters trying to be different and quirky, and the addition of the family drama dragged the whole thing down a bit. It's not a bad read, but nothing is really unique or compelling either. Thanks to ##NetGalley, #GateWindPress, and the author for an opportunity to check it out. #FoulPlayintheFoliage #CalliopeInnCozyMystery #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

This was a good cozy murder mystery set in the fall. I enjoyed the pacing of the book as it sets the story up well. I also liked that our protagonist, Esther, wasn't the only one looking to find out who the murderer is alongside her friends. They really felt connected and had a found family feel to it. Unfortunately, I just struggled to connect with Esther, so sometimes the story got lost on me. The setting, being in fall, was a nice touch, but I wished there was a bit more to it alongside the town's residence of Oak's Rest. Overall, this was a decent murder mystery book, but I wished there was a bit more to the small town setting.

The first in a new series that centers on inn manager Esther finds her trying to clear her friend's name after she is a suspect in the murder of an annoying health inspector.

I thought this was a pretty good first book for a series. There were a few times where I wish the author had given us more backstory - it almost felt like the second book at times. There were a few times especially early on that it was a little slow pacing wise. I did think the whodunnit was a surprise. *Spoilers past this* - I thought he was going to be the burgeoning love interest, not the killer! It was interesting then that we didn't get a clear love interest for Esther, but maybe this will show up in book 2? Or not, which is also fine! I definitely will read a second in this series though.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of Foul Play in the Foliage. This was a really fun cozy mystery to read. A team of friends tries to figure out who framed their friend for murder. Multiple people have strong motives for murder - this story will keep you guessing until the very end.

Another charming cozy mystery! Foul Play in the Foliage gave me Gilmore Girls vibes with its quirky small-town setting, eccentric locals, and cozy fall atmosphere. Esther is a relatable heroine, and I loved the mix of inn-keeping chaos, family drama, and mystery, plus the cat, Sesame, was a delight. Perfect for autumn reading and a great start to a new series!

Perfectly charming from the very first chapter!
If I’m being completely honest I don’t always find the writing very good in cosy mysteries but I enjoy them all the same but I have to say that is absolutely not the case here.
I loved the characters and their relationships, the dialogue was funny and had me smiling throughout without it being cheesy.
The murder mystery was intriguing in a ‘Murder she Wrote’ kind of way, the setting was lovely and felt so cosy and I really loved the town.
If I had one criticism it would be that it leans a little too much towards Gilmore Girls but all in all I loved the book and can’t wait for more in the series.

The author does a fantastic job weaving in red herrings, eccentric townsfolk, and just the right amount of suspense — all without ever straying from the light, comforting tone that makes cozy mysteries so enjoyable. Plus, the pacing was spot-on. I never felt bogged down, and I loved that the story gave just enough room for character development between the sleuthing.

When I first requested this novel on NetGalley, I was unsure what to expect. Sure, a cozy mystery seemed right up my alley, but the cover wasn't necessarily giving the vibes I usually go for. Purely based on that, I probably would never have picked up this novel, but am I glad I did!

Foul Play in the Foliage is book one in the Calliope Inn mystery series, and I am looking forward to see what the next books will bring.
In this first installment, we meet Esther Bennett, manager at Calliope inn and amateur sleuth. The latter is mostly because one of her employees (and dear friends) is accused of murder. We follow Esther as she tries to find out who the guilty party is, while also juggling her duties as a manager, hosting a town event and getting along with her -almost- estranged family.

First off, I loved the characters and the setting. Oak's Rest makes for a perfect fall backdrop for a cozy mystery novel, and the characters were very lovable. There were a lot of them though, so it took me a little while to link every name to their personality and place in the story. I especially loved all the women empowering and supporting each other. The friendships were so loving and heartwarming to follow.

The story itself was really slow, which is par for the course for a cozy mystery. It took me a few chapters to really get into it. Thankfully, the chapters are short and not unnecessarily fluffed up with needless details, which made for a speedy read for me. Once I got into the story, I did really enjoy it. I liked how most of the clues and events got tied together, and not a lot of red herrings were left. The conclusion was satisfying, but definitely not as high-stakes as some other mystery novels seem to be.

If you're looking for an exciting, fast-paced thriller, this book is not for you. But if you enjoy fun characters, a mystery without bloody, gory details, a cozy setting and just a really nice fall book to curl up on the couch with, Foul play in the Foliage is the one for you!

**special thanks to NetGalley.com and Gate Wind Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review**

I received this book from netgalley for free for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you for the opportunity.

a fun new cozy. I hope they do more

This book was just ok. I would only read a couple of chapters at a time instead of devouring it and I probably wouldn't have had a hard time not finishing it. Esther and her crew have potential, but none of the characters or the action really kept my attention and made me want to find out what was next.

I would consider read the next book in the series if I got it from Netgalley (in exchange for my honest review), as I did this one or from my local library to see if it was just the "first book blues". Maybe revisiting the characters would enhance the experience.

I love a good cozy mystery, and for me there are a few must-haves: cozy vibe, quirky, fun cast of characters, and a solid mystery to solve (bonus points if it’s set in fall or the holidays!)

This book checked all those boxes… yet for some reason, I just couldn’t fully sink my teeth into it. Here’s why—The story felt a little too much like Gilmore Girls—even one of the main storylines mirrored it closely, that it turned me off. The pacing dragged. Cozy mysteries need a balance between fun red herrings and moving the story forward. For me, this one tipped into being drawn out, and by the halfway point I found myself skimming.

That said, this is the first book in the series, and debuts can be tricky. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I think it’s still a solid start that many cozy mystery fans will enjoy. If you’re looking for a small-town fall mystery with Gilmore Girls vibes, this one might be right up your alley!

This was a solid start to a new cozy mystery series. I had some Gilmore Girl vibes at times, but being a fan of the show I totally loved it. So much so that I ordered a copy of this book for my daughter who was also a fan of the show. We would watch it together and I’m hoping that we’ll be reading cozy mysteries together because I have a feeling this one is a series she’ll get into. Well written, a great setting, great characters and a solid mystery. I’m hooked!

This was a cute starter to a cozy series! Looking forward to seeing what happens next with Esther and her friends. 4 stars.

This was pretty good! The story overall was great, but I was constantly distracted by all of the similarities to Gilmore girls. It did move kind of slow for my taste, but I still enjoyed it.

Absolutely loved this book they way in every chapter the author set the scene so you felt like you were there, the chapters were the perfect length and I felt like I got to know the characters a great cosy red that kept me turning pages from start to finish.

This was such a fun cozy!! It had all the fall elements I was craving and the characters were so much fun! It gave me strong Gilmore Girl feels so if that’s up your alley I would definitely give this one a go! The friendship in this cozy was such a focal point which I loved. I’m hoping there will more in this series because I will 100% read them! Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Classic small town cozy with likeable characters (except for the murder victim of course). A feel good story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book's vibes! Very cute cat and a town getting ready for a festival!

I did however find this book to be extremely similar to Gilmore Girls. Like eerily similar. Some of the plot points and characters were beat for beat the same. I would like to hear other Gilmore Girls fans' opinion on this, as well.
On the other hand, this book has much more diverse characters than Gilmore Girls and is less white-washed, which is always appreciated!

There is a side plot in this book that left a bad taste in my mouth regarding the necessity of forgiving your family if they've treated you badly, but if that sounds like something you'd be interested in, I would say go for it.

I think this series has a lot of potential and I did really want to know where the mystery was going to go. And if you love reading about food and little domesticities, this book is for you.

I was grabbed by the premise but sadly I was unable to really sink into the book. I love a cozy mystery but there was something missing for me. While this book was not for me, I hope that it finds it audience!

Thank you NetGalley for a ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a super cozy mystery! Loved it!
Makes me really want Fall to hurry up lol. I love the colors of Fall and Pumpkin spice
I loved this tale because it had lots of twists, turns and guesses to see who done it.
The mystery is what kept me turning the pages to see what happens next.
Wonderful characters with a cool plot that had me guessing until 50 percent into this novel.
This is a can't put down story that you'll love all the way through.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.