This was a fast read for me. I will say this felt a little bit more rushed than the others. I enjoyed the cozy mystery in light of spooky season! Need more

A murder, a podcast, and a cat sidekick? Say less. I absolutely loved it! Perfect for fans of Halloween vibes and small-town murder mysteries. When a true crime podcaster turns up dead after Willowcroft’s annual Jack o Lantern Walk, amateur sleuth Tammy Rumbelow (with her cat Lockie at her side 🐾) finds herself tangled in secrets, grudges, and hidden identities buried in the town’s Prohibition tunnels. With everyone pretending to be something they’re not, it’s up to Tammy and her fellow sleuths to unmask the truth. Cozy, witty, and atmospheric this is a Halloween mystery I highly recommend!

Unfortunately I have decided to DNF this one, it wasn't for me.
I will continue to check for future books from this author as I like to give author's a second chance and I won't be put off from DNF this one for my future reads.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Of course, I was drawn to the cover with the pumpkins and it being spooky season! But I feel like starting chapter one felt like I missed a few chapters of the book. I usually go into books and even if they are part of a series and I didn't know it, it doesn't make me feel lost. But I feel like you have to with this book. I mean it feels like it is part of a series. The author put the long list of characters and who they are at the beginning and it is a bit overwhelming. I didn't feel attached to any of the characters. I feel like all of them are lacking character development. I don't know I just guess this one is not for me.

When true crime podcaster Rowe Harvey rolls in for the Tunnel Museum opening, she’s not just chasing a story—she’s digging up a legacy of lies. But before she can. This is the third in a series of really delightful stories. Love the quirky characters and the town. The perfect fun, cozy read.

Podcasts, Pretenders and Pumpkins is another fun, easy to read cosy mystery by Fran Heap!

This book is number 3 in the Willowcroft series and the gang are back again helping to solve a new crime. It follows on from books 1 and 2 with the opening of the prohibition tunnels as a museum but when a nosy podcaster, Rowe Harvey, is snooping around and riling up the villagers, there are several suspects when she ends up dead.

I liked how the story flows throughout the books - each one is a separate mystery but they are all linked. Tammy, Olivia, Hazel, Wally, Xavier and Lockie the cat have to work together to discover what secrets Rowe Harvey was hiding, why she was fixated on Willowcroft and who wanted her out of the way. Along the way they uncover new secrets, some of which have been hidden for decades.

Each one of these books is a delight to read. Even though crimes happen, the books are a breath of fresh air and not overly serious. I love all the characters and the setting of Willowcroft is wonderful - I want to live there!

I’m looking forward to the next book - hopefully o won’t have to wait too long!

In reading so many cozies over the years, I have found many fall into different categories. There are those with some weight or gravitas whether it comes from the writing, the plot twists or a serious theme. Then there are those that are light as air. They are entertaining but you feel like it lacks substance. The books in this series fall into the latter category. That is until you get about half way through. All of a sudden, it is as if the story gains traction and you feel more sated. It has happened each time. I am not sure if this is a planned strategy or it just happens but it works. And it makes you eager to see what shenanigans the amateur sleuths are going to get up to.

This time a podcaster comes to town. Abrasive as all get out, she manages to irk almost everyone in town. She is trying to do an expose on the Tunnel Museum that is set to open. It all goes wonky when she is discovered, murdered, at the base of the stairway into the exhibit. We know she has trampled toes but is someone sufficiently angered to kill her. Because of their connection to the museum, all the group are suspects- although no one, including the sheriff thinks they truly are. But the rat-tag group of detectives soar when it comes to research.

They discover what was really behind the podcaster’s visit to town. It goes back to the Prohibition families and even to Mr. Big as far as the operations went. It is a rather sad story of misplaced loyalty and curiosity about roots that led to tragedy. As in previous books, we are also left with some unfinished business and just enough clues to keep us coming. Four purrs and two paws up

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Fran Heap for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Podcasts, Pretenders & Pumpkins coming out July 31, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I loved the first two books so I was super excited to get this book! This was a really short cozy mystery, but it was filled with fun. I loved the town getting together for Halloween. The characters are a lot of fun. It was definitely a cozy autumn book perfect for spooky season.

Thank you NetGalley and Fran Heap for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This series has become my go to for cozy mysteries and I continue to love every new book! This book has a fun Halloween centered atmosphere that adds a little extra spooky to the mystery, which I love! This is the first book in the series that also focuses on a recent case, which was a fun twist!

The amateur sleuths are back at it again and as entertaining as ever! With the new museum opening we get to see everyone's gifts help bring justice to the new attraction in town and it really shows how well they work together with every new challenge. Love that we get to learn new things about all the characters' personalities and backgrounds with every new book.

One thing that bothered me about this book was how we saw all these scenarios when the podcaster, Rowe, messed with people's lives and harass innocent people just to get a story but then we are supposed to ignore that in the end? In my opinion she does not deserve to have an honored spot next to Cathy and Mary in the museum. I understand they are honoring a death that occurred in the tunnels but it just felt like she was being placed on a pedestal after seeing all the hurt and destruction she left in her wake where ever she went. This is the only reason this book was not a 5 star for me.

Can't wait for the next book! Hoping we get to see more of Mike! Although I suspected the baker I loved seeing the twists and turns. The ending reveals continue to get better and more complex! Fran Heap continues to surprise me with these book and she has become an automatic buy for nay new books! Cant wait to let my friends borrow the physical copy books I have bought and hopefully become just as addicted to this series as I am!

Thanks again for this book! Always love receiving emails from the author! She's a joy to talk to and always indulges in my many questions and fangirling moments!

I am really enjoying this series. I've become very vested in the characters' lives. I can't wait for the next one. The mystery keeps me guessing and the motive was interesting.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for me eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an advanced read from Net Galley. Thank you to Net Galley and to the author. Another great cozy mystery caper for the team of sleuths in Willowcroft. I love the “map of the town” and the synopsis of characters at the beginning but would suggest everyone read them in order.. The way the new story easily moves on from the previous ones just makes me love the characters and town more. A fun and mysterious murder without lots of blood and gore. Just fun and familiarity of characters. Can’t wait for another caper.

This is another addition to this cozy mystery series that I am coming to enjoy quite a bit.
Tammy and her friends find themselves wrapped up in another murder investigation, when Podcaster Rowe becomes a murder victim.
I like the history of the tunnels and how they diversity in friends make the story work.

Based on the synopsis I fully expected to enjoy this book but it is so poorly written, lacking in character development and with a woefully undeveloped plot that it was a struggle to finish.

This is the second book in the WillowCroft cozy mystery series that I’ve read and I absolutely adore it. What’s not to love about a series of old historic tunnels that run through a town as the main setting for so many of the stories? It’s fun, provides a solid mystery and eat, and leaves you guessing close to the end. Filled with a red herrings, twist and turns, you’ll find yourself having a hard time putting it down into you read that last sentence.
This is the second book in the WillowCroft cozy mystery series that I’ve read and I absolutely adore it. What’s not to love about a series of old historic tunnels that run through a town as the main setting for so many of the stories? It’s fun, provides a solid mystery and eat, and leaves you guessing close to the end. Filled with a red herrings, twist and turns, you’ll find yourself having a hard time putting it down into you read that last sentence.

I received a free copy of, Podcasts, Pretenders & Pumpkins, by Fran Heap, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Its Halloween in Willowcroft. a podcaster has been murdered, Tammy Rubelow has never solved a mystery before, but she is ready to do it. This was a nice Autumn cozy mystery., it kept me guessing until the end.

This had everything that I was looking for from a third entry in the Willowcroft Cozy Mystery series, it had that mystery element that I was wanting and enjoyed the overall feel of this. I was glad I was able to get back in this series and how Fran Heap wrote this, it continued the storyline in a unique way and was invested in what was going on. It left me wanting to figure out what was going on and hope there is more in this series.

"Podcasts, Pretenders & Pumpkins (A Willowcroft Cozy Mystery #3)" by Fran Heap has the Willowcroft sleuths working their first modern murder. It's Halloween and the group is finally getting their hidden tunnel tours up and running. A true crime podcaster is in town poking around about all their poking around. She curious about the town's secrets and exposing them. Not everyone wants their secrets exposed. Especially a Detroit crime family they may have ties back to Willowcroft.

This one felt a bit more rushed than the previous two books. The jump between character view points wasn't always as smooth and it felt like it was over faster than expected. It was still entertaining and stuck to the same sort of crime solving as the previous books.

I really enjoy the cast of characters in this cozy mystery series. They're such a mixed bunch, but work well together as a team. This is the 3rd book in the series and I'm already looking forward to the next one!

Thanks for the ARC Netgalley.

I find the Willowcroft mystery series to be captivating. The author blends multigenerational sleuths with a small town holding many secrets and does it well.
Podcasts, Pretenders and Pumpkins picks up the story as the group prepares to open the tunnels under the town at Halloween.
Rowe Harvey, a podcaster, comes to town. Her demeanor is harsh and her presence stirs up contention.
Her death sets Tammy, Olivia, Mrs. T, Wally, Xander and Lockie on a new path of investigation that ultimately reveals more secrets that the town has been keeping.
I highly recommend picking up the Willowcroft Cozy Mysteries. The stories are engaging and well crafted. The mystery has been interesting each time.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the copy of the book, which I read with great enjoyment.

I really enjoyed this book and the whole series!! It’s a 3 book series

Blurb

They wore masks long before Halloween.

The pumpkins are carved. The town is decorated. The annual Jack-o’-Lantern Walk is set to begin in Willowcroft.

When true crime podcaster Rowe Harvey rolls in for the Tunnel Museum opening, she’s not just chasing a story—she’s digging up a legacy of lies. But before she can hit publish, Rowe is found dead after the town’s Halloween festivities, and the small town’s secrets start unraveling faster than a cheap costume.

Tammy Rumbelow never planned to become a sleuth. But with her cat Lockie at her heels and a group of amateur sleuths by her side, she’s drawn into a web of old grudges, hidden identities, and whispers that echo through the town’s Prohibition tunnels.

Everyone has something to hide. The question is—who was pretending to be a friend… and who was pretending not to be a killer?