Plotting for Murder

This was a quirky story that made for a quick afternoon read.
The plot was interesting, the characters likable and the reveal surprising.
I look forward to reading more in this series.

This is a pleasant light story of a woman who inherits a bookstore/coffeeshop from her mother but its tied up in a trust controlled by her uncle. At the first book club meeting a young man dies, and the rest of the book is concerned with the investigation of his murder, along with some other interesting subplots.

Very likeable main character. I really like the writing style of the author. It keep a very good pace. I'm very excited about this series and can't wait for the next to come out. I'll definitely be telling others about this book.

Fun and fast paced, this book leaves the reader engaged throughout. With a chef, matching, food, books, and a puppy, how can you go wrong? This is definitely a book I would tell you to read twice, to make sure you don't miss one great moment of it.

Plotting for murder is the first book of a new series by Tamra Baumann.
A new author for me , a brilliant read and I couldn’t put it down.
Sawyer comes back to Sunset Cove, the town where Sawyer grew up to live in her mother old house after her death also to keep her mothers book shop open .
Loved getting to know her family ,friends and fun characters in the town , especially the love interest ( not sure about the uncle though)
A good plot ,puzzles to find , plenty of suspects ,a unexpected ending to keep you hooked . If I could give it more than 5stars I would .
Highly recommend definitely will look out for the next book.
Many thanks to the publisher and Nettgalley

An entertains murder mystery and love story. A cast of characters you can't help but love and lots of suspects to keep you guessing. A great read for the beach!

This was a great mystery, awesome characters and one of the cutest dogs I've read about in awhile. I'll say upfront that I wasn't a fan of the present tense style and can't quite figure out why it was used, unless it was supposed to be like Sawyer looking back and writing her memoirs. But even then, it's kind of annoying, but honestly, I'm glad I didn't let it stop me from enjoying a great story. The riddle, clues and puzzle aspect really kept me intrigued.

Other than the constant present tense, it was well-written as far as vocabulary, and the dialogue was actually believable--and real-sounding. The author did a great job of painting the nasty uncle as a total snake, because I absolutely couldn't stand him--am I awful to wish he'd been offed? But then they'd have thought Sawyer did it lol. At first, I wasn't sure about Brittany, the store employee, but she grew on me more and more. I just love what good thing happened for her eventually! I liked the romance aspect a lot. It was just the right amount. At first I was one team, but by the end of the book I was ready to switch teams. I won't say, so I don't spoil it ;) The other supporting character of Madge was a lot of fun! I got such a kick out of how she and Sawyer would compare case notes, but Dylan the sheriff knew what they were doing all along. Renee, Sawyer's best friend was a hoot! She was a happy-go-lucky free spirit and dated a new guy almost every week

I can't leave out the sweet Admiral! Every mystery needs a fun and quirky character. The author nailed it with the Admiral. I hope he's around for a very long time! (Can I help it if I pictured him as the famous white-haired star of the old Diagnosis Murder series?) ;) As far as the killer, I was going back and forth on that one, so it was a little bit of a surprise. But it led to an awesome showdown where little Cooper the mini Goldendoodle got to be a hero, and his mommy wasn't too shabby either! The sheriff showed up just as my nerves were giving out lol. I thought the ending was satisfying as far as the main mystery, but it was kind of fun to leave a couple of little threads dangling. I'm definitely enticed to read the next book!

This book brings Sawyer back to her hometown of Sunset Cove with the death of her mother. While Sawyer wants to open her own restaurant, she must continue running her mother's bookstore while she figures out how to open the restaurant she wants. There is a trust that is under the control of her uncle, who wants it all. There is also the sheriff, Sawyer's ex who left her at the alter. There is also the handsome lawyer who is helping Sawyer keep one step ahead of her uncle.

I can't wait to find who Sawyer ends up with and if she is able to outsmart her uncle.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very good start for a new series. It's an engaging and entertaining read, well written characters and and engaging plot.
I liked this book, it was fun and entertaining.
The mystery was solid and it kept me guessing till the end.
I loved the cast of characters, the setting, and the plot.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Looking forward to Book #2. This is a fun book set in a bookshop with quirky characters, several plot lines and a mystery to be solved.

This is a great first book in what I hope will be a many-book series! Tamra Baumann created a great cast of characters that are equally charming and quirky. There is a lot going on in this novel (backstory, the trust, Sawyer's plans for the restaurant, the mystery of what her mother left for her, the murder) but it never feels like there is too much because each of the subplots fit so well with one another. The pacing of the story is perfect and there are no wasted words or pages.

I loved Sawyer as a lead character - she has a lot on her plate, but doesn't sit around and complain, she actually gets out there and does something. I also like that she takes things as they come and doesn't harp on everything that is going wrong in her life. The beginnings of the love triangle between her, Dylan, and Gabe is well developed (I usually hate love triangles, but this one works). From everything we know right now, Dylan and Gabe are both good guys and I found myself going back and forth about who I thought she should choose. The rest of the supporting characters add rather than detract from the story and I loved getting to know Brittany, Madge, and the Admiral. Sawyer's relationship with her sister was well written as well - it's always nice to read about sisters who get along and support one another.

The mystery takes a bit of a backseat to some of the other parts in the story at times, but I didn't find that to be a problem. It served its purpose as getting the series started and introducing all the characters that I'm sure we will be seeing again in future books.

I can't wait for the next book, but I will use the time until that comes out to catch on Tamra's previous books!

Plotting for Murder
(Cozy Mystery Bookshop #1)
by Tamra Baumann (Goodreads Author)


Kindle Edition
Published March 14th 2019


Goodreads synopsis:
Sawyer Davis’ new life in picturesque Sunset Cove is crumbling around her as fast as the old Victorian house she lives in. She’s a chef whose matchmaking mother has left her a puppy, a bevy of single men to choose from, and a bookshop dedicated to whodunnits. Complete with a book club of amateur sleuths who live for death. When one of the members dies just after eating Sawyer’s amazing truffle mac and cheese, Sawyer is immersed in an even bigger soup pot of trouble.

With her chef’s reputation on the line, and an uncle after her inheritance, Sawyer teams up with the sheriff who once broke her heart—whether he wants her help or not—to solve the mystery. Will past hurts, and long-buried attraction for the sheriff stand in the way of solving the crime before the murderer strikes again?

***

4 Stars

It has been a couple of days since I read Plotting for Murder. When I came to my computer to review it, I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was about. Then Sawyer’s magician father came into my mind and “poof” like a magic trick, it all came back to me. I am not saying this to relate that the characters were unforgettable but the title didn’t harken me back to the plot.This had great characterization and flow. They story was complex and fun.

Sawyer’s mother left her a real mystery to solve after her death. This rigamarole was done in order to force Sawyer to stay in Sunset Cove. It was implied there was something monetarily important to find. Sawyer dreamed of opening her own restaurant but now had to settle for preparing food in her mother’s mystery bookstore. If she could find this money or whatever it was, maybe her dreams could be realized

Mysteries weren’t really her forte but she would delve into the search for clues anyway… whatever she had to do to make her dream possible. Her Uncle, and mayor of the town, had a vested interest in this money as well. He wanted it for himself but would continually remind her that anything she found belonged to the Trust and he was in charge of the Trust. Her Uncle was not a nice man. I am not sure how he ever got elected Mayor.

Sawyer’s father was a magician and due to his age, he didn’t do the really amazing tricks of today but the hand magic and props of yesteryear. She was very familiar with such tricks since she grew up learning about them. And these tricks become key when she begins her search.

I don’t want to go into too much detail but this was a pretty great read. And I am hoping the subtitle: Cozy Shop Mystery #1 means that there will be more offerings in this series. Definitely check this one out. Lots of fun magical elements.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This is an engaging and entertaining debut mystery that was a delightful read! The author has all the elements of a cozy mystery written to perfection with engaging outstanding charcters, funny repartee, a great location and gripping sleuth. I loved this first in series and cannot wait to read the next book !
Thank you to the author and to Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC.
My opinion is my own.
Plotting For Murder by Tamra Baumann is the 1st book in Cozy Mystery Bookshop series. Our protagonist is Sawyer Davis a chef who recently lost her Mother. Sawyer's mother left her a rundown home, Mystery bookshop that is barely making money and a Doodle puppy she adores. Sawyer jumps in to save the bookshop and begin her new life. Comically her Mother also left a list of men she insist Sawyer choose from to settle down ! Her Mother also left clues for Sawyer to a sizable part of the trust that she must find and save from the rest of her family.

Sawyer's uncle is a nefarious type who had a bad history with her Mother. He now wants all of Sawyer's inheritance and will stop at nothing to take it all from her. He holds the majority of the trust and soon is at odds with Sawyer and her attorney who she finds herself falling for.. As she begins to rebuild her Mother's bookstore, enjoy her new home and settle in she reconnects along the way with the Sheriff, the man who broke her heart and its a sweet reunion but not overwhelming to the focus of the mystery.. This love triangle is endearing and sets the stage for future books.
When a book club member who is also a childhood friend dies after eating her food, Sawyer is determined to solve the mystery. In the meantime she is fighting for her future against her Uncle, and trying to solve her friends's death as well as the rest of the mystery her Mother left her.
This was one of my favorite cozy mysteries of 2019. I can't wait for book two to come out. I strongly recommend this book for all cozy book lovers. A successful debut of what I hope will be a long cozy series. Very well done to the author

A fun and wonderful start to a new series. Well written mystery with in a mystery with plenty of twists and turns, a sweet small town setting and well developed characters. Very complex and highlights the tug of war between parents and children even from beyond the grave. Looking forward to more in this series.

Plotting For Murder by Tamra Baumann is the 1st book in Cozy Mystery Bookshop series, and my first book by this author. I loved this book. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Sawyer Davis is a chef who's mother recently passed away. Sawyer's mother left her a rundown home, a bookshop that is barely making money, a puppy, and several men to chose from, if she agreed to move back home. Sawyer's uncle is the mayor, and determined to keep all of Sawyer's inheritance, like he did her mothers. Determined to outsmart her uncle, and find the treasures her mom hid she teams up with the Sheriff, the man who broke her heart. I can not give this book enough praise, it kept me reading page after page. I can't wait for book two to come out. I strongly recommend this book for all cozy book lovers.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

I'm an avid cozy reader and sometimes the first book in a series is filled with back story to set up future books. Not this one. The characters were engaging while being entertaining and the storyline was good.
This one held my interest till the end. Can't wait for the next in the series.

Moving back to Sunset Cove was never part of Sawyer Davis’ plan. She is a chef, not a bookstore owner. Unfortunately, the death of her mother brought her back home, at least until she can figure out how to access the monies from her mom’s trust fund that are tightly held by her conniving uncle. The only thing her mother’s brother wants is the other half of the family’s money instead of just the half he deserves. Her mom left some clues as to how Sawyer can use her inheritance to buy her own restaurant, but will she ever be happy in the small town she escaped from when her fiancé left her at the alter?

She is overwhelmed with the trust fund restrictions, the crumbling home she now lives in, running the bookstore that was her mother’s passion. Oh, and trying to figure out just where her life is going. Her mother has been lovingly meddling from the grave. She leaves a riddle for Sawyer to solve that promises funding for the restaurant she longs to open. Her mom has arranged for a puppy to be delivered, and to top it off, she has arranged for two men to become necessary in Sawyer’s life, one new and one from Sawyer’s past.

Gage, the lawyer in town assigned to help her is handsome, kind and doesn’t hide his attraction to Sawyer. To make matters worse, the sheriff is Dylan, the gorgeous guy who got cold feet and ran out on her. Sparks begin to fly but Sawyer does not have time for romance with either of them. Unfortunately, her life and livelihood depends upon working with these two men. And just when she thought life could not get more complicated, someone is murdered during book club at her store. Sawyer isn’t about to hide in a corner waiting for something to happen. She begins her own investigation much to Dylan’s chagrin. Lucky for her, there are plenty of locals that love to gossip, so she enlists her book club buddies to help catch the killer. Who can she trust? Will the killer strike again and will Sawyer be the target?

Plotting for Murder has all the essential elements of a great cozy. The setting is interesting, small town America is a treasure trove of small shops full of quirky characters and adorable men vying for her attention, Sawyer is surrounded by a rich cast. It is fun to meet them and see the connections they have to Sawyer’s past. I am looking forward to seeing how they will grow and evolve during the series. One of my personal favorites is Cooper, the puppy. He is a gift from Sawyer’s mom from beyond the grave and hopefully will play a part in solving the mysteries to come.

This is the first in the Cozy Mystery Bookshop Series by award winning author Tamra Baumann. It is also the first book of Ms. Baumann’s I have read. It is no secret that I love cozy mysteries and to find a new series is like Christmas morning for this bibliophile. I’ll be watching for the next one in this series as well as checking out the other cozy series written by Ms. Baumann.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley and Book Buzz in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Copyright © 2019 Laura Hartman

I liked the relationship between the sisters; after the death of their beloved, hippie Mother, they realize how important their relationship truly is. This is a small town full of nice people, well, except for the murderer! Sawyer has come home, as a deathbed promise to her Mother; the number one problem, the love of her life is the Sheriff in town! To make matters worse, this hunk left her standing at the altar! Now, the whole town is watching every move they make, sad to say, there is not much to hear about! Dylan's brother married Sawyer's sister, the two children, have Uncle Dylan on one side, and Aunt Sawyer on the other. Dylan is trying to make up to Sawyer, she is not having it. Her lawyer, for her Mother's estate, is another gorgeous hunk, Gage! The mystery is good, the characters great, my number one problem with stories like this, they need to grow up, mature! What is wrong with a kiss, a hug, something sexy to whisper in her ear? I am not looking for explicit sex; if someone can explain to me how thirty-two-year-old men do without affection, I would be happy to hear it. I will continue to deduct a star for this nonsensical situation until the Publishers grow up!
I recommend! Thank you Netgalley!
carolintallahassee.com

Returning to her hometown of Sunset Cove as her Mother battles cancer, Sawyer Davis finds that her Mother’s last wish, for Sawyer to stay in Sunset Cove, is actually what she wants. Though her family trust fund requires her to stay in Sunset Cover and keep her Mother’s mystery book shop open and running, she still dreams of running her own restaurant. But her Uncle wants to get his hands on the remaining trust and Sawyer is looking for a loophole to keep her Uncle from taking her Mother’s share of the family trust.

As Sawyer embraces running the bookshop she is hosting the mystery book club at the store and one of her childhood friends dies in the shop. It appears he has been poisoned and everyone in the book club is a suspect. Soon it appears that the dead man was looking for some valuable items that Sawyer’s Mother left for her. But who else knows about the inheritance and would kill to get their hands on it?

Add in the local sheriff is Sawyer’s old fiancé who left her at the altar, a magician who is her father, and doodle puppy her mother bought for her before she died and you’ve got a fun new series with a love triangle, lots of red herrings, and a town full of people who care about each other, and a new series that you are going to love! Can’t wait for more in this series!

California Cozy Small Town Bookstore Murder
This is the first book in a new series. This writer is very talented. The story takes place in a small California coastal town. Our heroine is the new owner of a bookstore that caters to mysteries. Her dad is a traveling magician, her uncle controls her trust fund and wants to claim it all as his. Her ex is the sheriff and her sister's brother-in-law. It is complicated and quite fun! I am going to enjoy reading the rest of this series. I received this book for free and this is my honest review.

cozy-mystery, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, greed

A good cozy mystery with plenty of plot twists, red herrings, complex characters who really are, and a nice small town setting. The publisher's blurb might get you on the hook, but the story will keep you on the line!
I requested and received a free ebook copy Via Netgalley. Thanks!

This is my first book by this author. I totally enjoyed it. Would you move back to your childhood home just because your mom asked you to? I think an Old Victorian House sounds awesome, especially with a wonderful kitchen. How do you think you would be with Dylan if you were Sawyer? That’s some history they have. I love stories with bookstores and book clubs. Two of my favorite things. The characters are great together and I loved the story line. I can’t wait to hang out with them again and see what they are up to next. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Plotting for Murder by Tamra Baumann is the first book in Cozy Mystery Bookshop and a great success.

Sawyer's mother dies and she inherits her mystery bookstore. However, she doesn't read mysteries and she doesn't want to live in her small coastal town. She is a chef and she wants to open her own restaurant. But she doesn't want to disappoint her mother or give up everything so that her mean uncle can inherit her mother's trust fund.
So she is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Bookstore is not doing so well, her mother has arranged for her to have goldendoodle as a present and her mother's meddling, even from the grave, to bring Sawyer and her former boyfriend, now local chief together, or to set her up with some other man are proving really hard to deal with especially as she has to put her dreams on hold for the time being while doing the right things.
But when a local guy, part of her book club drops dead in the back of the bookstore it starts rumors. Evidently her mother has left her a treasure. It is something hidden somewhere and all she needs to do is find it. Easier said than done.
To top it all, strange things begin to happen and Sawyer knows that her life is in danger.
I really liked this book. Mystery inside the mystery is especially appealing to me. Not only is there a murder to solve but as treasure hunt as well.
You can help but root for the main character when she tries to find the way to outsmart her mean uncle, or to decide which hot guy she is going to fall for.
Clever and interestingly written mystery, with a steady pace. There is never a dull moment.
A set of fabulously quirky side characters, all so unique and vividly presented.
Many hints at what might be a steamy romance. And an adorable pooch.
This book has all the right ingredients for a great book, which it definitely is.
I can't wait to see what happens next.

Not usually a fan of cutesy mystery books but this was too much fun. Sawyer inherits a book store, and the book club and a dog and so much more. She has a past with the sheriff, Dylan, and might get something going with Gage, the handsome lawyer. In typical Baumann fashion we get humor, flirting and a love triangle. It's a cleverly written fast paced story with very enjoyable characters. Eagerly waiting for the next murder. My copy was given through Netgalley.

An intriguing story developes when a mystery book club member dies during a meeting. Sleuthing and gossip follows the group to solve the murder and clues as to treasure left by her mother. You'll find the characters charming and some of them loveable.