Getaway With Murder

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

A divorce woman moves to the mountains and buys a lodge. She’ll be charmed the friendly characters she met there and with the aid of a handyman who will help on the renovations.

Soon the quiet mountains will be rocked by a murder. Watch her and her new friends find a killer.

An enjoyable new cozy read.

This is a delightful book with the right amount of intrigue, mystery, smart deduction and a side of romance to keep me entertained and turning the pages. I enjoyed it so much that I finished it in one sitting. It was fun to work through with the main character whodunit as the author gives enough clues that the reader can try to put it together.

My only criticism is that the chapters in Yeti's voice did not add anything and confused me at first. I thought they would be giving a clue or two, but nothing helpful. It might get fixed in the final copy, but in this draft, the headings to show if it was Yeti or Misty looked like the first line of the chapter and that is how I read it the first couple of times which added to my confusion.

It looks like this will be a new series. The setting and characters will be a delight to discover as we progress into the series. It is set near Asheville and the Smokey Mountains so had me marking places mentioned to add to my go-visit list.

As a cozy mystery, I give it 3.5 stars.

Fun first of a new series! I always like reading about the “old” people and this was pretty solid; good characters, good mystery, and some easy red herrings. She can be a tad bit overzealous in her internal thoughts, but it was ok. What I didn’t understand was why we need thoughts from her cat; it was very randomly thrown in and offered nothing to the storyline at all.

This is a fun book to read.. it was sent to me on Kindle by. Netgalley for review…I look forward to reading more stories by his author as her characters come alive on the pages…she shows us what is going on…enjoy,,,

What a great book, a winner!

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kelly was a delight to read.

Here we find Misty Murphy celebrating her birthday by ending her marriage and heading to the mountains after purchasing a dilapidated lodge at the top of Blue Ridge Mountains. The lodge is restored and all set to welcome guests. The first event is a retreat. However, when the yoga instructor is found dead Misty needs to figure out what happened if she wants guests to come back.

Great flow to the story and wonderful well-crafted characters. I received this from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and I must say I loved it!!

I absolutely loved this book filled with engaging characters and lots of red herrings to keep you guessing.

I loved this one! The MC Misty opens a lodge after her divorce. I really liked that her divorce was friendly. She is someone who I would enjoy a cup of coffee with. When she hosts her first group of guest. A yoga studio came for the week. Unfortunately one ends up dead under the new deck Misty had built.
I also enjoyed the perspective from her cat a Yeti. I am looking forward to the next one.
#GetawayWithMurder #NetGalley

This is a well-written story that has some wonderful characters that 'mature' people can relate to. Misty and Jack Murphy just sign the divorce papers and Misty goes off to the next phase of her life. She bought the old lodge that her family spent many happy times at. But she soon finds that things aren't as solid with the lodge as she thought. That is just the beginning of things for Misty. Can she make a go of owning her own business alone? Lucky for her, she meets some great people along the way. I really enjoyed this story very much. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

Getaway With Murder is the first book in Diane Kelly's Mountain Lodge Mystery series. I thought this was a delightful read and a strong start to a new series. I enjoyed getting to know Misty. I thought she was very genuine and level-headed. Misty is starting over after a divorce by purchasing an old mountain lodge at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I loved the setting and the cozy atmosphere at the lodge. The cast of characters includes hunky handyman Rocky, Wiccan housekeeper Brynn, and diner owner Patty. I really liked these characters and look forward to seeing how Misty's relationship with them will continue to develop.

I thought the mystery was solid. Misty's first group of guests are on a yoga retreat. When the yoga instructor is found dead, there are plenty of suspects to choose from and Misty is determined to get to the bottom of things.
I can't wait to read the second book in the series. I think I'm going to love this series even more than the author's House- Flipper series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly is a great cozy mystery and it is the first in a new,, and promising series: Mountain Lodge Mystery.

I really enjoyed the concept of a second go of life for 50 y/o Misty Murphy and her newly invested mountain lodge in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains.

We get to meet the wonderful cast of characters, become established with the foundations of the series, and also are treated with an engaging murder/mystery.

I enjoyed the dialogue, pacing, and Yeti is cute. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

What an absolutely charming cozy! I ate this book up with a spoon it was so good. I loved that it was set in the mountains and that it was a cozy but it was a different kind of cozy. Diane Kelly did a fabulous job with her new series. I loved the romantic angle and I cannot wait until the next book to see what happens.

The mystery was so unique. And honestly, I was extremely happy to see a mystery that was able to work WITH the police instead of against them or because of their 'ineptitude.' That part I really enjoyed. The police were all written with respect and they were all very intelligent and sharp witted. They didn't just take the first clue they found and assume that it was the right killer. It was all very well done. I am so well pleased with this book that I would give it a ten instead of a five if I could.

I loved that the MC had struggles just like regular folks do but instead of letting it be a problem, she uses it to her strengths and gets the job done. I thought everything was just extremely well written. I enjoyed reading about North Carolina and the mountains. I certainly didn't know that people spent months hiking the trail there. That is fascinating.

This is my first book by Diane Kelly and I think she has just done an absolutely fabulous job. If all of her books are just as good as this one then I will be a life long reader for sure. I highly recommend this book, especially for people who love a good mystery with twists and turns, clean, love animals, and who want their books to be filled to the brim with adventures. Fantastic job!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publishing company for the ability to read such a fantastic book. All opinions expressed are honest and completely my own.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Paperbacks, in return for an honest review. This is the first in a new series, set at a Blue Ridge mountain lodge. Misty Murphy, buoyed by fond memories while confronting her fiftieth birthday and a mutually-agreed divorce, purchases a mountain lodge and makes the move, along with her cat, Yeti. The story is told from both Yeti’s first person and Misty’s third person points of view. Unfortunate maintenance issues introduce Misty and Rocky Crowder, handyman extraordinaire. Thanks to his efforts, Misty can open and entice an entire yoga retreat group for a week-long seminar. Sadly, the peace and tranquility of the setting is lost when a retreat member is found dead, under the new back deck. Determined to protect her new home and her livelihood, Misty uses her skills as a host to both support and evaluate everyone at the lodge as a potential murder. This is a solid cozy and good start for a new series. In my one caveat, I agree with other reviewers’ comments that Yeti should either be expanded or removed from the next book in the series. In this opening book, I didn’t find them to do much to move the story forward. The author clearly creates the primary and supporting characters, setting the environment for the residents to return in future books.

Recently divorced woman who remains friendly with her ex is a terrific way to introduce Misty. I like that she is self sufficient (as much as possible) and knows when it's time to seek help. She reasons and makes decisions quickly-not stupidly, but carefully. She is in the Mountain top lodge business and it's obvious she has the abilities necessary to make it a success. I liked the fact that she is a strong middle aged woman.

She relies on intuition and references from a neighboring business owner to hire a contractor on the spot for unexpected repairs, after a different contractor pushes his vision and agenda while padding the bill to an unreasonable amount. Turns out that was one of her best decisions ever, as Rocky becomes her maintenance man who is oh so capable and a nice guy to boot. She hires a younger woman (Bryn) to be her housekeeping help, and when Misty discovers Bryn is a Wiccan, she remains openminded. So many positives.

Her first clients are a yoga retreat full of different personalities and unfortunately a murder. Red herrings abound, but the mystery is fun to unravel. Loads of interesting characters and scenic descriptions make the reader feel submerged into the story.

My only complaint was Yeti, the cat. Why chapters were devoted to a cat's thoughts, I don't understand. I would have been happy to have the cat completely removed from the book, as she brought nothing to improve or advance the story.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and freely review this book.

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kelly brings plenty of mystery, atmosphere, and secrets to the first book in her new cozy mystery series. The Mountain Lodge Mystery features 50 year-old Misty Murphy who has just signed her divorce papers and purchases a mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwestern North Carolina. The inn is old and needs some work and handyman Rocky Crowder comes highly recommended. Opening day brings a full house of guests with a group from a yoga studio and spa. Unfortunately, the peaceful feelings don’t last long when a yoga instructor is found dead. The story is mainly told from Misty’s point of view, but there are a few chapters interspersed with thoughts from her cat, Baroness Blizzard also known as Yeti. While Yeti’s chapters aren’t necessary, they provide some humor and I enjoyed them.

Misty is independent, resourceful, organized, and good with people. She quickly starts to make friends, but is worried about bad reviews with the events occurring at the lodge. Will she make a success of the lodge or go bankrupt? Rocky, the handyman, Brynn, her assistant, and diner owner Patty play pivotal roles as secondary characters and the yoga guests are a mixed group of personalities to lend a sense of realism.

The setting was perfect for this novel and Ms. Kelly does a great job of transporting readers to the mountains of North Carolina. The winding roads, the trail descriptions, and even the southern foods were authentic. There are a few plot twists along the way along with plenty of suspects. The dialogue and pacing were on target. The characters and humor enhance it with both relatable characters like Misty and Rocky and obnoxious ones like the yoga studio owner and a bit of everything else in between. I also liked the fact that Misty worked with the police rather than hiding her sleuthing activities.

I was immediately drawn into the Misty’s life and enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery and the development of friendships. Themes include murder, relationships, friendship, family, life’s curveballs, and starting a new business.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, which was suspenseful, engaging, and atmospheric. In both of the books I have read by this author, I had a connection with the writing style that I found relatable, vivid, and irresistible. I can’t wait to find out what happens during the next book in the series. I recommend this to those that like cozy mysteries with a more mature main character.

St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Paperbacks and Diane Kelly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be October 26, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Genre: cozy mystery
Pub date: October 26, 2021

In one sentence: Fresh off an amicable divorce, Misty Murphy buys a lodge in the Blue Ridge mountains, but water damage and murder are unwelcome guests.

I really enjoyed this first book in the Mountain Lodge Mysteries - it takes place near Beech Mountain, where I used to vacation with family as a kid. Kelly does a great job capturing the atmosphere of the area - it made me very nostalgic. Misty was a great protagonist and I loved her friendship/flirtation with handyman Rocky. And restaurant owner Patty's breakfasts sounded divine - I need some grits stat. Misty's cat Yeti narrated a few chapters, and I enjoyed this chance to get her take on the situation. The mystery was compelling, and I didn't guess the culprit.

Great sleuth + fun supporting cast + good mystery = one entertaining cozy mystery! If you like cozy mysteries and the mountains, definitely check this one out for a cozy fall read!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this cozy, slightly romantic murder mystery by Diane Kelly.

The main character, Misty, buys a mountaintop lodge that she has frequented throughout her life. It is an idyllic setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but her first set of guests brings a mystery and a murder. I feel like we are being introduced to various characters such as Patty, who runs the diner next door, and Rocky, the handsome handyman who is interested in Misty, who will be in later books in a possible series.

A few short chapters are told by the perspective of Misty's cat, Yeti, which threw me off at first, but as they were short (usually just one page) chapters, they were ok and kind of cute.

Overall the author jumped around throwing out facts and hunches with Misty trying to figure out who did it, and despite feeling a bit redundant at times in describing some of the characters, she did a good job. I enjoyed the book more and more as it went on.

I really enjoyed the story and I would read another by this author! I appreciated that there was not any foul language or racy scenes in the book, if you are looking to avoid that kind of thing.

I received an ARC of this book as a reviewer for NetGalley.

I really enjoyed and highly recommend the first in Diane Kelly's Mountain Lodge Mystery series. 'Getaway With Murder" is a great mystery with a great cast of characters including Yeti the cat. Misty Murphy is newly divorce and has purchased a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Rocky the handyman is helping at the lodge with some structural damage . I loved the relationship between these two as they try to solve the murder of the first guest in the lodge . This is a great mystery with romance and humor that I really enjoyed . Looking forward to more books in the series .

Starting the next chapter of your life in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. What could possibly go wrong? I loved the storyline of this book. The characters are wonderful. They are definitely a mix of personalities. I loved hearing all of Yeti’s thoughts. Misty, Rocky, and Brynn, they’ve got it under control. Who wouldn’t want to eat at the Greasy Griddle especially when Patty comes with it? Love “hole-in-the-wall” places to eat and that what this reminds me of. They usually have the best food around. Yoga folks might be laid back, but I can’t wait to find out about some biker chicks. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

I highly recommend the first in Diane Kelly's Mountain Lodge Mystery series. 'Getaway With Murder" has the perfect combination of mystery, humor in the form of a cat named Yeti, personal growth and romance. Misty Murphy uses her amicable divorce settlement to purchase a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains with which she associates many fond memories. As she arrives part of the structure becomes unstable after 'a minor drainage problem' and the back part of the lodge and foundation collapses. Enter delightful handyman Rocky Crowder and the fun begins. Together Misty and Rocky work to solve the mysterious death of the first guest who stayed at the Mountain Lodge. There were many suspects, and the ending was surprising to me. I look forward to many more in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is a new series by Diane Kelly. I really enjoy her stories and writing. Misty Murphy buys an inn in the mountains after she divorces her husband. Once she gets there the Inn is in worse shape that she thought. Luckily Rocky Crowder, all around handy man, is there to help her.
There is a murder among her first guests – so Misty must solve it to save her business. This is a cute not quite cozy mystery which was fun to read. I recommend this book and looking forward to the next one.

I loved this book!
This contemporary cozy has a well crafted who-dun-it, with plenty of suspects with good reasons to off the victim. The main character is a middle aged freshly divorced mother, one with an empty nest. She has a good relationship with her ex, showing a strong character, Misty had bought an inn with the settlement of her divorce and is determined to make it a good living. She has a rocky start, but with the advice from another business owner, turns the lemons into lemonade and gets a full booking shortly thereafter.
The clients are a varied group and add interest to the mix. Her newest employee gives her pause, because she’s not as forthcoming as she’d like, but is excellent at her job. She is as intrigued by her handyman as he is with her, and together the pair investigate everyone...until she gets a brainstorm and solves it.
I’ve always enjoyed Ms. Kelly, but I think this is the best yet. I received an ARC gratis from NetGalley and offer my opinion freely.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by St. Martin’s Press and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

A new cozy series that’s bound to.be a hit!

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Diane Kelly begins a new cozy mystery series titled Mountain Lodge Mystery. In the first novel Getaway With Murder, Misty Murphy, alone with cat Yeti, are celebrating her fiftieth birthday with a mutual divorce, as well as purchasing an older mountain lodge on the Blue Ridge Mountains. She might have bitten off more than she can chew, however, when she sees that the old lodge appears to be falling off a bluff. Enter Rocky Crowder, handsome handyman, and his trusty sidekick dog Molasses. With Rocky around for maintenance, Misty can focus on acquiring guests, and she is off to a fantastic start when she becomes fully booked her opening night with a yoga group needing a place for their retreat. Feeling the zen-like atmosphere, Misty and group are caught completely off guard when the yoga instructor is found murdered. Now Misty must scramble to protect not only her guests, but also the reputation of her lodge or else she might lose everything including her life.

My first and overall favorite thing about Diane Kelly’s stories is the inclusion of the animals. I have read her Paw Enforcement series (AND LOVE IT), and I genuinely like how she gives the pet a voice. In this case, Misty’s cat Yeti was not as prominent in the story as I would have associated with a Diane Kelly novel. In this case, Yeti seemed almost more of a filler than a necessity. I have two cats of my own and completely agree with the thoughts coming from Yeti, but again couldn’t quite place why they were included in the story. I hope that the second novel in this series has more of the feisty feline’s voice as well as her potential to assist with the mystery. I also can’t wait to see what Yeti’s interaction with Molasses will be like.

My next favorite thing is the main character’s involvement with the people around them. Diane Kelly has a way of making the reader be the main character. In this case is Misty, a level-headed, divorcee who makes the idea of starting over seem easy. She is genuinely upset about the murder victim but also for each of the different suspects. She seems to understand who she is as a person, and what she wants from her life. I also enjoyed how open-minded she was, having hired a woman who practices Wicca and doesn’t make assumptions about the guests. She judged everyone based on how they acted or interacted with her and each other.

Finally, the mystery was good. The murder doesn’t occur until halfway through the book, but that was fine by me because I feel that the first in a series has to establish the characters and the setting. The victim is also a bit of mystery. As far as the reader knows, the victim is ruse and shallow, but there isn’t any background until very late in the novel. Which makes it a bit difficult for the reader to make a guess to the killer. However, being rude can still get a person murdered so there is no way to strike anyone from the list of suspects. When Misty had to communicate with the police, I was very happy to read that Deputy Yona Highcloud was competent as well as intelligent and respectful. She listened to Misty, and was open about her own thoughts. It was refreshing to read the deputy being thorough instead of accepting one possible solution.

Overall I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars

What a great read! I have recently been reading a lot of cozy mysteries and trying out different authors so Diane Kelly was a new author for me. Definitely will be reading more - actually already purchased a couple! The story kicks off with Misty getting divorced at 50ish and purchasing her dream lodge on Beech Mountain in NW North Carolina. (which happens to be a favorite vacation spot for me lol) Enjoyed the main cast of characters - Misty, Rocky, Brynn & Patty, quick paced light mystery. Looking for more in this series!!

This is the first time I have read this author. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The amateur sleuth ,Misty is the owner of the lodge, and she is pretty good along with her helper Rocky. I didn't know who done it until the end. Misty just bought the lodge and tis group was her first booking. If you like cozies this looks like it is going to be a good series. A GOOD READ.

Not sure about the title, but I did enjoy the book. Misty Murphy, fresh from her mutually agreeable divorce from her husband, purchases a vacation lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She and her family visited there many times and she is nostalgic for the quiet life. Unfortunately when a yoga retreat group rents the lodge for a week, someone winds up dead and Misty's life is nothing but quiet. along with handsome handyman Rocky Crowder, Misty tries to solve the murder before all her bookings disappear. A good start to a new series.

I loved this book. Diane Kelly has a wry sense of humor that creeps up and surprises me when I least expect it. This is the beginning of a new series that takes place in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Misti, newly divorced, buys a cozy 20 room lodge that has some structural issues due to heavy rains. Enter a hunky handyman who is willing to help fix the problem for way less than a local contractor. There are lots of opportunities for murder and mystery in the coming books. I will be looking for the next 'book.

I received an advanced reader's copy from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#GetawayWithMurder #NetGalley

A great start to a new mystery series. Just the right amount of quirky characters, amateur sleuthing, intelligent deduction, friendly police, and red herrings, all with a little slow romance on the side.

The murder victim was arrogant and brash, so not too much of a surprise when she was done in. But the rest of the storyline kept us guessing!

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and appreciate the ARC that was provided for this story by NetGalley, Diane Kelly and St. Martin's Press.

I had a great time reading this first in a new series.
When Misty trades her husband for a lodge, she's ready to start the next chapter of her life.
With her lodge full for a yoga retreat, things are looking up, until an arrogant guest becomes a murder victim.
Hopefully Misty will be able to figure things out before it's too late.

I’ve always enjoyed reading Diane Kelly’s books so I couldn’t wait to pick this one up, the first in the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series.

Misty Murphy is a recent transplant to the Blue Ridge Mountains after she buys an inn there. One of her first events at the inn is a yoga retreat, but that all goes sideways when the yoga instructor ends up dead, Misty wants to make sure this isn’t the last event she’ll ever have at the inn!

This is the first in the series, so along with the mystery, we get introduced to the secondary cast of characters most of whom I liked. We meet Misty’s cat Yeti too, and while the initial concept of chapters from Yeti’s point of view seemed interesting, they didn’t really move the story along. Misty seemed like a relatable character, with real world struggles. I liked that she was working with with police instead of trying to go behind their backs and land in trouble. I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series!

Delightful cozy that’s all set to be a new series.


I loved this book! There are some many potential cliches that get tweaked to be fun. Misty is new divorced (as in the first chapter), but it’s amicable - no cheating, betrayal, etc. There’s a potential love interest, but the relation feels more real life - no love triangle, angst, etc - she wants to take it slow as the ink is still drying on her divorce. A few chapters are told from her cat’s point of view, but rather than being a major part of the plot, it just adds color to the story.

The plot is fairly straightforward - Misty uses part of her divorce settlement to purchase a lodge that she has fond childhood memories of, located in the North Carolina mountains. She quickly expands her circle of friends to Patty who runs the diner across the street, Brynn her assistant, and Rocky, a handy man who exchanges his maintenance services for room. Each character adds to the plot. Patty encourages her as a female business owner. Brynn is Wiccan, and Rocky is a single dad who raised three daughters. Misty has her business plan and has decided to focus on groups, and her first booking is for a yoga retreat. The leader of the retreat is more than slightly obnoxious; it’s not too surprising she’s found dead one morning.

As I mentioned above, I love the twist on cliches and the fact it’s set in the mountains. I found at a fun book! Highly recommended!

I have been a ready of Diane Kelly since her first series, Death, Taxes and..... came out and this new series, Mountain Lodge Mysteries, is another winner. After a friendly divorce, Misty Murphy invests her settlement in buying the old Ridgeview Inn in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina. Misty's parents had brought her and her siblings there for family vacations during her childhood and later, she and her husband continued the tradition and brought their son's there as well. Her first customer is hosting a yoga retreat which does not turn out to be very tranquil when the owner and instructor is found dead under the deck.

This is a good cozy mystery with likeable characters, and a mystery with no shortage of suspects. It moved at a good pace and more importantly, it held my attention to the end. If you are looking for a new series to try, then I recommend this one.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com. All opinions expressed are my own.

A new cost series with an interesting plot, strong female characters, new romance and of course a good mystery. I throughly enjoyed it.

Misty and her cat Yeti have move to the mountains to run the lodge she has purchased after her divorce. Her first guests, a yoga studio retreat, bring murder. Thankfully, Misty has already assembled a great group of friends to help. A great start to a new series. It's always exciting to add a new author to my list.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of GETAWAY WITH MURDER (Book 1 of the Mountain Lodge Mysteries), by Diane Kelly, in exchange for an honest review. Misty Murphy celebrated her fiftieth birthday by signing divorce papers, sending her son off to college, and moving herself and her cat, Yeti, into her new investment. Inspired by fond childhood memories, Misty purchased a crumbling clinging to a bluff in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Misty isn’t there for more than a few minutes when the lobby tries to fall into the ravine below. Luckily, another business owner can recommend a reliable repairman. Misty is overjoyed when she’s able to fill her empty rooms by booking a last-minute yoga retreat. However, the group is less than “zen,” and someone murders the retreat leader and yoga instructor. In order to salvage any future business, Misty needs the murder solved. Since she’s living with all of the suspects, Misty decides she’s in the best position to figure out who, exactly, had means, motive, and opportunity. Can Misty save her business by finding the killer?

I liked this book and thought it was a good start to the series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, inns, small mountain towns, tourists, retreats, yoga drama, and pets.

Getaway With Murder is the first in new series by Diane Kelly and revolves around Misty Murphy and her mountain lodge. Following a divorce from her husband of 20 years, she takes her share of the divorce proceeds and buys a mountain lodge at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Things go downhill immediately with a building emergency and she finds Rocky Crowder, a local handyman. She makes a friend with Patty, who owns the diner across the street (who recommended Rocky). Thanks to Misty's marketing skills and hard work, she fills up the lodge soon after opening with a yoga retreat.

Unfortunately, mid-retreat there is a murder of the yoga instructor and there are a few viable suspects in the form of another yoga instructor, the deceased's "friend" Kendall, the young couple who left mysteriously the morning after the murder, a NASCAR driver, as well as her handyman Rocky and her employee Brynn.

I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I thought Ms. Kelly did a good job telling the story and the crime didn't happen right away. Misty did a good job trying to solve the crime and I liked her thought process and how she talked things out with Rocky. However, it just wasn't credible with the deputy talking to her about the case so much and taking her into her confidence, especially with her being new in town. It just goes against every cozy mystery ever with the standard "keep out of police business." I felt that there was an obvious clue to the killer, but maybe that's just me. I didn't warm up to Rocky at first because to me he sounded like a stereotype of someone raised in the mountains and I didn't like him quoting all the time. I did like Brynn with her new age beliefs and Patty's friendly and helpful nature.

While I love Ms. Kelly's writing, I didn't really warm up to this series too much, but want to give this series another chance with the next book. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this book while reading it. I liked the fact that Misty was a middle-aged woman coming out of a divorce that was amicable and friendly and had a potential romantic interest at her age.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this new series- I can perfectly picture the lovely North Carolina mountains, smell the sweet grass and feel the crispness in the air- could be I'm just craving FALL...LOL. But it's lovely to see an older character, who while she looks like she has it all together, is experiencing a waterfall of problems, just not loosing her brain over them, but finding ways to solve them. Some pics with the local law enforcement seemingly letting Misty run her own investigation for them, but it is a cozy mystery, and belief has to be suspended sometime....It's a good little mystery, with a few twists to keep you reading, but not hard to figure out. The characters make it fun and keep you reading! Be sure to check out this series if you cant get to the mountains this Fall!

Diane Kelly sets her new Mountain Lodge Mystery series in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with an appealing collection of characters, including Yeti, a snow-white cat.

Recently divorced Misty Murphy purchases a 20 room lodge on Beech Mountain, where she plans to market her facility to groups and conferences. Misty’s first booking is a Yoga Retreat, and one of the participants finds the yoga studio owner’s body under the lodge’s deck. Police determine the crime is murder, and Misty, along with her two employees, decide to do a little snooping. Brynn O’Reilly fills two roles, helping with housekeeping and administration duties, while Rocky Crowder, a local handyman /contractor, helps provide property maintenance.

Suspects include the retreat attendees, including Sasha’s assistant Glenn, and a young couple hiking the Appalachian Trail and staying at the lodge for a few nights.

Ms. Kelly conceives an intriguing mystery and creates realistic characters. The story unfolds at a steady pace with appropriate distractions and twists. The most engaging personality turns out to be Yeti, who shares her perspective about events in personally labeled chapters throughout the book. Getaway with Murder is a captivating start in this new cozy series.

I enjoyed reading Getaway With Murder. This was a fast read for me and had enough twists and turns to keep me interested in the story.

Getaway With Murder is another pleasant read from Diane Kelly. It is a soft take on a murder mystery. I like here straight forward writing style. It leads to an easy and pleasant read. The worst of murder details are left to the reader's imagination. Ms. Kelly knows how to write a narrative that is engaging and makes you want to keep reading. I found myself reading "just one more chapter" even when I had planned to stop. The plot and characters are simple with enough details to keep the reader connected to the story. I appreciated that she limited the chapters from the cat's perspective. Unlike the Paw Patrol series, they did not do much to move the story forward, but added some color and spice to the story. A good Summer read or now that we are coming into Fall, a good read for a cool evening under a warm comforter.

Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly is the first book in the new cozy Mountain Lodge Mystery series. Each book of this series will contain it’s own fully solved mystery so they can be enjoyed as a standalone novel if choosing to do so but of course the character development will carry over for those who choose to continue the series.

Just as Misty Murphy is turning fifty she finds herself completely changing her life. Now that Misty’s children have left home she and her husband have decided to end their marriage finding themselves to be complete opposites. One thing that always made Misty the happiest was traveling to the Blue Ridge Mountains so she decided to move there permanently and bought an old inn she was familiar with from her visits.

As Misty arrives at her new lodge she finds it a bit more run down than she remembered and knows her first task will be hiring someone for repairs. In the middle of estimates that don’t suite her requests Misty meets handyman Rocky Crowder and hires him to help. As the lodge opens Misty and Rocky find themselves catering to their new guests but when one guest is found dead under the new deck they then turn to discovering who among them could be a murderer.

I actually really enjoyed this opener to the Mountain Lodge Mystery series and getting to know this set of new characters. The Mountain Lodge made a wonderful remote setting that had all the small town charm I love in cozy mysteries. This opener had a great locked door mystery that had me on my toes wanting to solve it right along with Misty and her staff. After this first book I will definitely be excited to return to the series in the future and will keep an eye out for book two.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is the first in a new series by Diane Kelly and it was a treat!! It is also the first Diane Kelly book I have read and I look forward to reading her others! Misty Murphy, a recently divorced woman buys a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains and renovates it before welcoming her first guests. The first half of the book sets up the series and introduces the handyman, Rocky who also lives at the lodge and the housekeeper as well as the owner of a restaurant across the street. I really enjoyed the plot of the book and the very engaging Misty. The murder of the yoga instructor took up the second half, a definite puzzle and locked room mystery. Ms. Kelly weaves a great mystery and I highly recommend this entry to cozy mystery lovers!

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it was great. I loved the characters and the development of the story.

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kelly was an escape to the mountains! I loved this first in a new series cozy mystery. Misty Murphy is newly divorced and has just purchased an inn in the mountains of North Carolina. Some unexpected work arises so she finds a hunky handyman to help her get in ship shape before her first guests arrive. She's booked out the whole lodge for a yoga retreat. Unfortunately one of the yogis rubbed someone the wrong way and doesn't wake up from corpse pose. Misty has to solve the case or risk loosing her business before it really begins.

This book was fun! It combined a fresh start with renovations and sweet small town inn life. I'm excited to see where the series goes and would recommend to fans of Dianne Mott Davidson and Joanne Fluke!

Misty is recently divorced and has bought a lodge in the mountains of North Carolina. Misty is so excited to update the lodge and make it her own. She has been coming to this place ever since she was a child and loves everything about it. There are some issues that Misty needs a handy man for and finds Rocky.
Rocky is Mr. fixit for the area. He ends up fixing all she needs done and then helping her get other things about the lodge up to her standards.'
Misty and Rocky are excited for the first guests to come. A Yoga Studio has got the lodge for a week. A few days into the retreat and the owner/instructor Sasha is found dead. Sasha was not a nice person and the suspects are many. Misty works hard to try to find out what has happened to Sasha so she can clear her lodge and keep from being ruined.
A very enjoyable book about friendships, new starts and dreams come trur.

After being, very amicably, divorced Misty and her cat, Yeti (Baroness Blizzard is her proper name), head to their new home and business venture a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Misty is thrilled to have her lodge fully booked with a yoga retreat and Appalachian Trail hikers but when a guest is murdered and the hikers vanish Misty wants to get the killer out of her lodge....if she can figure out who the killer is.
I love that Misty is an older, independent woman and the occasional chapters from Yeti's point of view are excellent. Diane Kelly has created a great cast of characters in a wonderful setting. I'm looking forward to the next book.

I love reading cozies set in western NC because I live here! So glad I read this one -- loved it! Great start to a new series. I'm definitely going to be reading this series!

The Basics: Misty Murphy turns 50...gets divorced....and buys an old inn sitting atop a mountain in Northwest NC. The inn needs a lot of work, but she finds a handyman in her price range to things up. Opening weekend the inn is full and everything looks great. Until.....

There is always an until....

Yep -- a murder. One dead yoga instructor and Misty's new business venture might just crumble around her ears. So she starts doing some sleuthing to find the killer. Can she discover who offed the yoga instructor before someone else is killed?

Such a fun story! I love the characters and the setting (of course). The chapters even have some thoughts from Misty's cat - Yeti is awesome! :)

Glad I read this cozy. It made me smile the entire time. Nicely paced. Plenty of humor. Fun setting/premise. Great cover art. I will definitely stick with this series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martins Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Getaway With Murder is the new Mountain Lodge Mystery series by Diane Kelly. It is an enjoyable cozy mystery with likable characters, potential romance, friendship and an interesting mystery. Misty turns 50, gets an amicable divorce, her sons are in college so she buys a lodge in the mountains of North Carolina. She needs a handyman to help with repairs and maintenance to. get the Mountaintop Lodge ready to open. Through her new friend Patty, she meets and hires Rocky.. Misty's first guests are a yoga group and a young married couple. One of the yoga instructors is found dead and Misty and Rocky need to figure out if a guest or an intruder was the murderer. Misty, Rocky, Patty, and Brynn are all wonderful characters and their friendship adds to the story. There are a few short chapters periodically from Misty's cat, Yeti's point of view which aren't necessary but aren't too distracting. Overall it is a good debut. #NetGalley #GetawayWithMurder #StMartinsPress

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kelly is a fun start to a new cozy mystery series!

Newly divorced Misty Murphy, is the new owner of the Mountaintop Lodge in North Carolina. Her first guests at the lodge are a mixed group of new age and yoga enthusiasts. Everything seems to be going smoothly till one of the yoga instructors is found dead. Misty doesn't want bad press for her new business and decides she will try to figure out who the killer is.

The Mountaintop Lodge sounds like a place that I would want to visit, the author does a great job at vividly describing the mountainous area. I appreciated how real the characters were portrayed. Misty is so down to earth and so relatable. Even Yeti, Misty's cat had a few chapters! The mystery had me interested and wanting to see how it would all play out.

This is the first book I have read by the author and she is hilarious! The humor in the story was smart and genuinely funny. I look forward to reading more books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy.

Getaway With Murder is the first book in Diane Kelly’s newest Mountain Lodge Mystery series. The heroine of the story, Misty Murphy, is 50-years-old and newly divorced. With her two sons in college, she takes a giant leap of faith and buys an old 20-room lodge in Beech, Mountain, North Carolina. She and her cat, Yeti, move into room #1. Her goal is to rent the other rooms in the lodge to large groups for retreats, family reunions, ski groups, etc.

Things get off to a rocky start on the first night when part of the cliff-side lodge collapses due to excessive rainwater run-off. At the recommendation of Patty, the owner of the Greasy Griddle diner across the street, Misty hires the handsome Rocky Crowder to fix the problems. Before long, Rocky moves into a room at the other end of the lodge in exchange for being the on-site maintenance man. She also hires Brynn, who is Wiccan, as her assistant. Patty agrees to bring breakfast over each morning for the lodge guests, so Misty gives her a key as well.

The first group of renters is on a yoga retreat. The studio’s owner is an arrogant piece of work, who ends up dead and under the deck after a few days. Now everyone is a suspect, including all of the guests, the Greasy Griddle employees, and even Rocky and Brynn. There are red herrings all over the lodge. Misty knows if the culprit is not identified, it could do irreparable harm to her new business.

It’s refreshing to have a mature woman as the main character. Her life experience and her desire to start anew make her relatable and interesting. While she is attracted to Rocky, she knows she needs to take things slow since the ink on her divorce papers is barely dry. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

5-Stars! Thank you to Sara Beth H @ St. Martin’s for my advanced reader copy. The novel is 304 pages and the expected publication date is October 26, 2021.

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kelly introduces us to Mistry Murphy recently divorced from Jack, who moves to the Blue Ridge Mountains where she bought a Mountain Lodge. Misty has cat Yeti who has a typical cat attitude! After Misty and Yeti get settle into her new home, she ventures to the Greasy Griddle Diner for the all-you-can-eat pancakes. Patty the owner remembers Misty and very happy to find out she bought the Lodge. They work out a deal that Patty delivers breakfast each morning to the Lodge and then her restaurant won't have to make people wait for places to sit, a win-win! Misty hires Rocky Crowder to fix the drainage problem and the damage it caused to the lodge and then hires him as her maintenance man for the lodge. Misty then hires Brynn O'Reilly as her Admin and house cleaner. Everything was going great with their first guests from the Third Eye Studio and Spa until the owner Sasha ends up dead. It's up to Misty and Deputy Sheriff Highcloud to figure out who the murder is with the help of Rocky and Brynn. Who killed Sasha? Why? How did some get into her room with being seen?

I love Diana Kelly and this book was a great read! The book was easy to keep up with characters, the plot and the surprising ending! I high recommend for you to read this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the Advance Copy!

Getaway with Murder – Diane Kelly

5/5 stars: I really got a kick out of this opener to the Mountain Lodge Mystery series. It was fun getting to know Misty, Rocky, his dog Molasses and the new cast of characters, I especially loved reading the chapters from Yeti's (Misty's cat) pov. Also the Mountaintop Lodge made a unique setting in a cozy mystery landscape inhabited with the more traditionally set Victorian-style B&B stories. The mystery was well paced with great clues, plenty of false leads and an awesome reveal. Overall, I really enjoyed Diane Kelly’s writing style and sense of humor and can’t wait for book two.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. @netgalley

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kelly is the first book in the brand new Mountain Lodge Mystery series. If you love cozy mysteries, this is definitely a book worthy of your time!!!

I love when an author does such a great job of characterization that even the way the characters talk to others as well as body movements show what they are thinking. Diane Kelly definitely does an excellent job with this. She also throws in some characters that are likeable and some not so much. If that wasn't enough, she starts each chapter with a quote that goes along with the book.

I highly recommend this one, and I can't wait to see what she does in the next book in the series.

4.5 is a more accturate number, but I will round up.
I loved the setting. I have visited some of the locations mentioned, so I could really picture the area. Mountain lodges are a favorite setting of mine. And the author did a great job showing us the limitations and joys of living in an older hotel, like not having a kitchen on the premisis and having a deck with great views. I definitely want to visit the Mountiantop Inn again.
Misty is our main character and slueth. She is surrounded by a few friends, Brynn, housekeeper, Patty, restaurant owner across the street, and Rocky, handyman and love interest. I like that she is starting over after an amicable divorce becasue that goes against the trope. However, the break with her husband and kids seemed too clean. She is shown texting them once, but mentions other texts. So I assume she is communicating more than we are shown just like she is eating and sleeping more than is shown. So I talked myself out of having a big issue with that. I like that we see her meeting new types of people and adjusting her views, like with Brynn being Wiccan.
Her flirtations with Rocky are a nice slow start to a romance. They seem apporpriate for a woman who is coming out of a polite, but passionless marriage. The set up to get him staying at the lodge was a little weird, but not completely unheard of. So I am skeptically optomistic about where this is going.
Her cat does narrate a few chapters. It was interesting to get a view of the place that was not Misty's view. The cat was humorous, but wasn't vital to solving the mystery. It did add some fun and levity to the story.
The victim was obvious from when she showed up. I liked the way that some of the red herrings were presented. We had good reasons to suspect them and then we found good reasons to clear them. They made for memorable characters that were dealing badly with the death. The 'giveaway' clue was well hidden, so I completely missed it. But when Misty figures it out, it made sense. The sherrif's deputy was a great police officer. She did not jump to conclusions. She valued Misty's input without depending on it. The solution was satisfying.
Overall, there were a couple details that sat funny with me, but they didn't detract from the overall story, setting, or characters.
I got an ARC of the book. This is my review.

Don't you love a new cozy series? I do. Misty's marriage broke up even as the kids moved out, and now she's bought the Riverview Lodge high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She's made friends with Rocky, the handyman, Brynn a Wiccan who works with her, and Patty who owns the diner. Her first big event is a yoga weekend and it's looking good until...the instructor is murdered! Misty might be new to the area but she's determined to find answers. It's classic. Know that there are some chapters where her cat, Yeti, offers up thoughts (I didn't need these but ..). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to more !

With the weather cooling down and fall upon us, I needed a new cozy mystery to get me into the change of the season. This book was perfect!

Getaway with Murder is the first in a new mystery series by Diane Kelly. After a divorce, Misty purchases her dream mountain lodge with the settlement. She is ready to settle in and enjoy the quiet life but unfortunately, a murder happens during her first hosted event.

Diane’s characters are relatable and the location really drew me in. She gave us plenty of suspects to choose from and a mystery that was engaging. There were a couple of red herrings, which heightened the suspense and certainly mislead me. I enjoyed the ending and I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.

I want to thank NetGalley, Diane Kelly and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

Lovely start to a new cozy mystery – Misty Murphy turns 50, time for a new chapter in her life. Children have grown up, and after living complete opposites for many years, Misty and her husband, Jack, divorce.
Misty sets out to Blue Ridge Mountains, her happy place, to buy the hotel that has many happy memories. Can she make a go of it? And opening with a murder is probably not the best way to attract customers.
Looking forward to reading many more adventures of Misty, her handyman Rocky, Brynn her assistant, and Patty her now found friend.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Advanced Copy in exchange of my honest opinion.

Starting a brand-new life isn't easy for 50-year-old Misty, even though her recent divorce was so amicable that her to-be ex brings a chai latte for her to sip while they sign the papers. But nobody expects to arrive at one's new home only to have the ground fall out from under your feet. Seriously, that's a bit much!

Misty Murphy has just bought an old lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. As the Ridgemont Inn, it had been a happy place during her childhood and honeymoon. Misty and her extremely observant and opinionated cat, Yeti, have just arrived to begin renovating. Her business plan is clever: knowing that people these days book B & Bs for individual vacations, she decides that her lodge can be the place to go for weddings, receptions, hiking clubs, reunions, and other occasions, where people can relax and enjoy a few days in the country.

The elements have not been kind to the old place, as Misty learns when a section of the floor and foundation literally crack off under her feet, victims of poor drainage and neglect. Fortunately, her new friend at the nearby diner not only agrees to cater the daily breakfast for Misty's guests, but also introduces her to Rocky, a hunky handyman who can bring the old building up to snuff while quoting Epictetus ("the greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it").

Soon, the newly-christened Mountaintop Lodge has its first guests - a group from an ashram in Asheville whose building was turned to ash in an incense malfunction. The owner, snooty and demanding Sasha, begins a yoga and meditation retreat in the newly-smudged building. The guests, including a celebrity NASCAR driver, a sturdy masseuse, and a peaceful/blissful/unflappable meditation instructor, gather for their yoga session on the deck, signalled by the tone of a Tibetan singing bowl, and then retire for the night.

Yes, a murder ensues. Yes, everyone except Yeti seems to have enough animus and motive to kill the victim. Yes, visiting hikers are found to have been investigating native poisons. References are made to types of karma, including the one that is accumulated for past bad actions - which proves to be heavy indeed for the victim and killer. Yeti, whose witty thoughts occupy their own chapters, does not actually speak, but she does add zingers as she observes and judges humans. (Salmon again? And how un-cat-like humans are, getting together to mimic each others movements. )

Best of all, the scenery surrounding the lodge is described so beautifully that the reader wants to be there. NOW! - or, at least, once the murder is solved.

This is the first in a new series. I'm looking forward to more! 5 stars, and thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review.

Thank you NetGalley, Diane Kelly and St Martins’s press for the copy of Getaway with murder. This is my personal review.
This is the first book in a new series- The Mountain Lodge Mysteries. I enjoy reading the first book in a new series to get to know the charters what are in the series.
Misty is newly divorced and decides to buy an inn in the mountains of North Carolina. The inn is just the thing she needs in her new life and working on the inn to fix it up is the way to do it for her.
She has a lodge full for a yoga retreat. Every thing seems to be going fine until yoga instructor is found dead!
Misty along with a great cast of friends are determined to solve this murder to get life back to normal.

This is a fun mystery that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. It has just enough twists and turns to make it a very enjoyable read. It will keep you guessing until the end.
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I always enjoy reading this author's work and this new debut series is a charming cozy mystery .
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity.

This was a perfect cozy mystery debut for a wonderful new series.
Getaway With Murder is the first book in Diane Kelly's Mountain Lodge Mystery series. I thought this was a delightful read . I like the protagnist Misty. Misty is starting over after a divorce by purchasing an old mountain lodge at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She ended her marriage on good terms with her ex. The setting is described beautifully by the author. Misty's first guests are a yoga retreat. When the yoga instructor is found dead, suspects are many and Misty must solve the mystery of the murder to save her business and her reputation.

A fun read with great supporting charcters, nice relationships and a beautiful setting. Very well done and I look forward to the next in series.

Enjoyable first book of a new series. Misty Murphy has just divorced her husband and bought a mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She hires a hunky maintenance man and a quirky housekeeper. All goes smoothly until one of her first guest ends up dead.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This book was just amazing. I just lost myself in this story and didn’t want it to end. It was really well written and just drew in you into these characters lives. I look forward to seeing what’s next from this author.

I would have enjoyed this book more if the murder had not happened so late. The pacing was off and I did not feel
I had enough information as to why the victim was murdered.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Getaway with Murder is the first book in a new series, Mountain Lodge Mysteries, by Diane Kelly. It was a real pleasure to read this book. The main character is a no-nonsense woman, Misty, who decides to give a new direction to her life after her divorce by becoming the owner of a lodge. The story kicks off pretty quickly with the repairs, immediately followed by a group of people who have booked the place for a yoga retreat. With a nice variety of guests, some pleasant, some despicable, it helps propel the story forward, without forgetting Rocky, the handyman. The victim is a real pain, and many people had potentially good reasons to get rid of her. The ending was a nice surprise. I also liked the qhotes at the beginning of each chapter, some of them were quite beautiful. With such a strong beginning for this new series, I definitely do not want to miss the next book. Highly recommended!

I liked the book about a new owner of a lodge in the mountains and her guests. One is murdered and it takes a while to find the murderer.

Misty is fifty and is starting a new life. She and her husband have amicably split after many years and her sons are off to college. She buys a mountain lodge which she'd visited many times and has fond memories of. It needs some repairs and luckily Rocky, a local handyman, will do them cheaply and stay on to do maintenance in return for a room. Misty hires Brynn as her assistant and the restaurant across the street will be providing a buffet breakfast in the mornings so she's good to go. She even has a group booked for a week for a yoga retreat. Things become not so zen when the leader of the yoga retreat is found murdered. Misty is concerned because there may be a killer staying at her lodge, which is not a good way to start a business.

I've read many books (and series) by this author and I liked this one ... it's the first in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series. I liked the writing style. It is written in first person perspective from Misty's point of view and third person perspective from Yeti, Misty's cat's point of view (the author has done this in other series ... had dogs and cats share their point of view, which as an animal lover I find cute).

It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. I liked the characters and look forward to reading others in this series. And I liked that Misty is a more mature age (so closer to mine) than a younger woman.

A new cozy mystery series by Diane Kelly gets off to a great start. It's set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northwestern North Carolina and features Misty Murphy, fifty, newly divorced, and the new owner of a mountaintop lodge. She arrives with her cat Baroness Blizzard, aka Yeti, and almost immediately discovers that the lodge needs some structural work. Her first hire then is a handsome handyman named Rocky Crowder who has both the skills needed and some great ideas--plus a big furry dog named Molasses. Rocky strikes a deal with Misty to be her live-in maintenance man.

Her next hire is a woman named Brynn O'Reilly who will be her assistant. Brynn is also a practicing Wiccan and one of her first acts on the job is to perform a purifying smudging ritual with burning sage to clear any bad vibes from inside the lodge.

Knowing guests will expect breakfast, Misty makes an arrangement with Patty, the owner of the Greasy Griddle across the street, to cater breakfast for Misty's guests.

Now Mountaintop Lodge is all set to open and they get their first booking--a yoga retreat for 18 people during the first week in September! On the day planned, a chartered bus arrives to drop the guests off and first off the bus is the organizer, Sasha, a 30-year-old woman who looks like a porcelain doll. She is the owner of the yoga studio named Third Eye and seems to be rather demanding, not at all what you'd expect from a practitioner of yoga and meditation.

After everyone is assigned rooms, two more people join the group of lodge guests--a newly-married couple on their honeymoon who have been hiking the Appalachian trail and could use a much needed break, a decent meal or two...and a shower.

All seems to be working out well until the morning the body of one of the guests is spotted under the lodge's newly built deck. It's definitely a case of murder so no one can leave until the crime has been solved. But wait! The two hikers left that morning before anyone else was up! Were they fleeing?

I so enjoyed spending some time in this Blue Ridge mountain setting, one of my favorite places to vacation. Each chapter opens with a lovely quote about communing with nature from one of the great naturalists and philosophers, like Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Muir, and others. An interesting cast of characters rounds out the story told from Misty's first person pov, with Yeti chiming in with her own opinions in chapters from time to time. The crime itself is puzzling and the final solution, satisfying. Sending appreciative kudos for the cover art as well.

So who's booking the lodge next? A ladies' motorcycle club from Raleigh who call themselves the Dangerous Curves. Can't wait to see what trouble the biker chicks will get up to!

I received an arc of this new cozy mystery from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity. I will definitely look forward to reading more in this series.

“Getaway With Murder” the first instalment in the The Mountain Lodge Mysteries series by Diane Kelly. What a great start to a new cozy mystery series.

I enjoyed the protagonist Misty Murphy being 50 as I could relate to her. I liked How the author gave both Misty and her cat Yeti, a voice throughout the story. I also enjoyed the setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina too. We had a great cast of side characters that befriend Misty, handyman Rocky, Wiccan housekeeper Brynn, and Greasy Griddle Diner owner Patty. I look forward to seeing how Misty's relationship with them will continue to develop, could there be romance in the mountain air…

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing. I had no idea who the killer was till Misty did.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy friends. Can’t wait to read the next instalment when some biker chicks arrive at the lodge.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St.Martin Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was dreading this book; my current record for new cozies/mysteries has not been good and not having read this author before, I was pretty sure it was going to be more of the same. I am here to say that I was 100% wrong. THIS, was an excellent read/mystery. The only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read was the whole "cat chapters". The book so did not need to have chapters that the cat narrated. At all. It is gimmicky and it totally interrupts the flow of the story and does not add one single thing to it - if that hadn't been there, this absolutely would have been a 5 star read for me.

In this book, you are introduced to Misty, a 50 year old woman, recently divorced who decides to reinvent her life and buys a mountain lodge in a town where she spent holidays with her family. She meets Rocky and his awesome dog Molasses her first week there when she needs a contractor and they strike up a friendship and a business deal that suits them both. Typically, I am not a fan of the romance parts of cozies, but this one was interesting, for reasons I am not going to say here, but it wasn't as in your face and offensive as many are these days. Once you get into the story, you understand why she is attracted to Rocky and also why she is hesitant to even think about going down that path. Besides Rocky, you meet several other side characters that could really be fun additions in future books - it is a neat bunch of characters that really meld well together, right from the start. The whole book is like that - I really enjoyed reading it and trying to figure out the mystery.

And speaking of the mystery - this was a good one and quite a puzzler. I didn't know the who or the why and there were some really good red herrings in the getting there. I felt this was really well done and in the end, it was pretty satisfying.

All-in-all, this was a well-written, fun read and I look forward to more of this series in the future.

Thank you to St. Martin Press/St. Martin's Paperbacks for asking me to read and review this book, NetGalley for providing the ARC and the author, Diane Kelly for writing a really great book - all opinions are strictly my own.

This is a fun setup. I liked Misty and the concept of the inn. I liked that she's a bit older then the typical cozy heroine and that while she is happily divorced her ex-husband isn't evil. The yoga retreat is a perfect setup for murder. There are a lot of connections and issues between the attendees that could lead to murder as well as regular motives like robbery and seeing something you shouldn't.

There's a lot of setup in this one and getting to know the characters which does put the mystery on the backburner. As well with all the detail throughout the ending ended up feeling rushed. I enjoy the author's writing style and her way of building characters and settings. The series has a lot of potential for interesting mysteries and romance and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.

Misty Murphy is a recently divorced woman who has taken a leap of faith in buying an old mountain lodge. She plans to return it to its former glory and hopefully make a profit. She and her cat Yeti move in to discover that there is some structural issues that need to be taken care of. Enter handyman Rocky. The first guests are a yoga group with an obnoxious leader. Misty must clear her name and that of the lodge when the yoga leader is found dead a few days into the retreat.

This is an excellent start to the series. I love that the main character is a 50 year old, mature woman who knows her mind. Rocky is a great character and I look forward to seeing where his relationship with Misty may lead. Patty, the owner of a local restaurant, is also a strong character that befriends Misty.

The setting is near and dear to my heart. I adore the NC mountains and Beech Mountain is a lovely town. I felt like I had steeped into the town with every word I read.

The mystery is very well done. There were a few red herrings and just enough twists and turns to keep me on my toes. I guessed several other characters were the culprit before the reveal.

This is such a delightful book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next one in the series.

I'm always up for a new cozy mystery series, and this series starter sounded like a blast--after an amicable divorce, empty nester Misty buys and opens her own lodge in the Appalachian Mountains, but one of her guests is soon murdered. However, after a few chapters in, there was a chapter from the perspective of her cat. And I panicked? Was this book dual-POV with her cat??? The answer is no... mostly. Chapters from the perspective of Misty's cat are intermittent and brief, making up a very small percentage of the book. But for that reason, they're also completely unnecessary and I could have done without them.

Setting aside the cat asides, I really enjoyed this mystery. Misty was a fun yet neutral character with lots of room to grow, along with a potential love interest in handyman rusty, and a budding friendship with Pearl, the diner owner across the street. I really did not guess who the killer was, and the whole mystery kept me guessing to the end. I also really liked the Deputy character, who was an older woman of Native American descent, and certainly a no-nonsense cop, but definitely human and pleasant at the same time. You get so many cop caricatures (lazy, stern, won't listen) or they're the love interest, it's nice to just a normal character in this role.

Thanks to St. Martin's for my ARC! All thoughts an opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly (Mountain Lodge Mystery #1) 5 stars

Misty Murphy has hit several milestones: (1) celebrated her fiftieth birthday, (2) ended her marriage amicably and (3) use her settlement money to buy an old mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains to start her next career in the hospitality industry. Did she lose her mind! The lodge needs some renovation - enter Rocky Crowder, local handyman who can do renovations on a shoestring. The lodge has a grand opening and it is booked for a yoga retreat. What could go wrong? A dead body on the premises, that's what can go wrong. Misty will have use her detective skills to find the culprit and save her lodge's reputation - otherwise her lodge could be known as the Blue Ridge equivalent of the Bates Motel.

As the first book in a series (long running I hope) it has to do a lot of world building. Introducing characters, promoting a possible love story and solving a mystery, all in one wonderful package. Unlike Ms. Kelly's other books, the main character is mature and not in the beginning of her career. There is a different perspective here and it is a fun ride. I love the short chapters with Yeti the white cat (but my heart will always belong to Bridget) . The last chapter states that Misty has already booked her next group - a ladies motorcycle club (Dangerous Curves) from Raleigh. Dare I hope for a cameo from Shae Sharpe. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This is the first book in Diane Kelly's Mountain Lodge Mystery series. Set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. A strong start to a new series. Loved the humor that is infused throughout the story.

Misty is freshly divorced, buys an old lodge, fixes it up and re-opens. First group is a set of yoga students. The yoga instructor is found dead and then the mystery takes off. Lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed that Misty is working with the police and not trying to work behind their back.

Give this series a try. I was given an Advanced Reader’s Copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kely is the first book in the Mountain Lodge Mysteries and I love so many things about it! First, there’s the gorgeous location and the lodge itself. Then there’s the well developed characters, and I really love that Misty is 50 and the love interest is 47. The two animals Yeti, the cat, and Molasses, the dog are adorable and add a fun element to the story… especially Yeti, since we get to see a bit into her world.

I also really enjoyed that Kelly has one of Misty’s employees being a Wiccan. It is wonderful when readers can learn about new things in a way that is not pushed down their throats. And we also get to learn a bit about common poisonous plants, which as an herbalist, I really appreciate.

The mystery was very well done too, but Kelly left enough clues that if you are paying attention you may be able to solve it before Misty and the gang. And in regards to the mystery I really liked that the sheriff and the love interest didn’t continually try to dissuade Misty from asking questions. That is soooo refreshing!

I did find myself skimming more than I would have liked when it came to Misty going over the suspects repeatedly and thinking about their motives. While this is done in every cozy, I would have been fine with some of it removed and the book shortened by about 50 pages…. But this won’t stop me from reading the next one in the series. Especially since I’m interested to see how Kelly will keep the series fresh when it comes to murders… I mean how many times can a murder happen at the lodge before she has to shut down… although Misty would have true crime and paranormal specialists rushing to stay there. ;)

Misty has made some changes in her life. She divorced her long-time husband, she bought an inn that needed work in the Blue Ridge mountains, she’s started a retreat; however, now everything may be ruined by a murder. This book has a great setting, wonderful characters, and a mystery. I look forward to more in this series.

Immersive read which transports the reader for a couple of hours which is the best compliment I can give any book.

Misty Murphy has just passed a milestone birthday, settled her divorce and is the proud new owner of a mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Everything is going according to plan, she has found staff, a new handsome handyman named Rocky, and she just booked her first group in at the lodge. Life could not get any better until one of the guests turns up dead. Who should Misty trust? She really does not now anyone in town or even the people who work for her. As the suspects mount, Misty must figure out who the killer is before her lodge gets a bad reputation. Can she solve the case before the suspects leave town?

What a fabulous start to a wonderful new series called “Mountain Lodge Mystery” by Diane Kelly. The characters are so well written, and it was fun to meet the townsfolk. We get a little glimpse into a new relationship for Misty, and some other character back stories of whom I hope will be recurring characters in future books. I really enjoyed the story, the setting, the relationships between the characters, and can not wait for the next book in the series. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an advanced readers copy that I voluntarily read and reviewed.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of "Getaway With Murder" in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series and before I even finished reading it, I was already looking forward to the second book. Misty Murphy is 50 years old and after signing her divorce papers from her husband of 20 years she buys a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains that holds many happy memories for her.

The story is told from Misty's perspective and delightfully from the perspective of Yeti - her cat.

She has a staff of two - Rocky Crowder, a handyman who will also be living at the Lodge and Brynn - her personal assistant/housekeeping manager. Rocky also has a fabulous dog named Molasses - named mostly for his speed.

The very first guests to check into the lodge are a group on a yoga retreat. As the title of the book implies - there is a murder. Everyone on the retreat is a suspect. Misty also suspects Brynn and the staff at the restaurant across the street. An almost perfect murder is committed and Misty is determined to help the Sheriff solve the case before the group leaves the lodge.

A truly great mystery with some humour in it as well. I'm very much looking forward to more books in this series - and soon! I'd give more stars if it was allowed.

Misty Murphy is making changes in her life. Now that both of her sons are in college, she and her husband have decided to divorce and lead separate lives. There is no animosity in their split, but Misty is looking forward to starting a new phase of her life, that of owner of a boutique hotel in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The lodge is a place she vacationed since she was a kid, enjoying hiking and skiing with her parents and later with her husband and sons. And now, it’s all hers.

Misty has a bit of a rocky start, showing up at the lodge with her all-white cat Yeti, and then losing her footing—literally—when the floorboards below her shift. The heavy rains they’d gotten lately has created so much runoff under the main lodge that a support beam gave out. But a talented handyman, Rocky Crowder, along with his dog Molasses, is able to fix the support beams, the floor, and the windows that cracked when the floor fell, and he even added on a deck out back.

With a handyman in place and hiring a housekeeper/assistant to help her run the front desk and keep the guests happy, Misty is ready to open her doors. And it’s a good thing, since she had found a yoga group online who were about to cancel their weeklong retreat after a fire at the ashram they were headed to. Misty offered up the lodge as an alternative, and the group had jumped at the chance to go ahead with the retreat.

Misty and her new assistant Brynn ready the rooms, and Misty even makes a deal with Patty, the owner of the Greasy Griddle across the street, to provide a hot breakfast for her guests each morning. Misty has staff, she has pancakes for breakfasts, and she has a deck overlooking the beauty of the mountains with brand new deck furniture. She even has guests. The one thing she still needs is a new name for the lodge. Rocky suggests she go with the simple The Mountaintop Lodge, and Misty agrees that it’s perfect.

And then the yoga group arrives. First off of their chartered bus is Sasha, who booked the group. She is followed by a diverse group of yoga students—a mother and daughter, an older woman with her dog Chugalug, even a Nascar driver known for his hot temper. And while they have plenty of sessions planned for yoga, meditation, and stretching, no one is more surprised than Misty when someone adds something new to the schedule—murder.

When yoga studio owner Sasha is found under the deck early one morning, Misty can’t believe that one of her guest is a killer. But she’s more than willing to help Deputy Sheriff Yona Highblood figure out who it was who killed Sasha. After all, her new lodge’s reputation is on the line, along with everything she had planned for her future.

Since Misty is new to the area, she suspects not only her guests but also her new employees. Even though Brynn seemed like she’d been transparent about her background, Misty was surprised by her Wiccan beliefs, and it’s possible that she could be hiding a deadly secret. And while she’s been enjoying the flirting between Rocky and herself, Misty knows that she’s just met him and he’s certainly got the physical strength to kill someone and move their body.

And then there’s the young couple who had taken a room for a few days to take a break from hiking the Appalachian Trail for their honeymoon. Sure, they seem like good kids, but could they have been tempted to rob Sasha, and things got out of hand?

As Misty tries to piece together what happened with Sasha, is she putting herself in the sights of a killer? Will her lodge be able t survive the publicity? And more importantly, will Misty stay alive long enough to enjoy it?

Veteran mystery writer Diane Kelly brings us a new series with Getaway With Murder, the first in the Mountain Lodge Mysteries. With a naturally beautiful setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains and a strong, independent character in Misty, this series has a lot of interesting possibilities, especially with the different groups of guests coming to the lodge.

I really enjoyed this mystery. It’s fun to read, the mountain setting is peaceful, the addition of a Wiccan character adds an interesting perspective, as does the closeness of the lodge to the Appalachian Trail. Some of the chapters are told from Yeti’s perspective, and at first I found it off-putting to hear the thoughts of the cat. But as the book went on, I actually wanted more Yeti chapters. I wondered what she was doing in her room, what she was seeing out her windows. I look forward to seeing where this new series goes, and to hear more about Yeti’s new life in the mountains.

Egalleys for Getaway With Murder were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Book #1 in a great new cozy mystery series set in a mountain lodge, rehabilated and opening as a retreat. Diane Kelly has built a wonderful community, even the lodge becomes one of the characters, and populated it with a very unique cast of characters. From the new owner of the lodge and principal murder investigator to the guests in her lodge who not only provide entertainment but manage to get at least a few killed, I thoroughly enjoyed this new series and am eagerly awaiting the next wave of guests.

This was a good light mystery with very little suspense or action. The mystery itself was very well plotted with great characters. I loved the setting and the atmosphere at the mountain lodge. It was a quick read and had a satisfying ending. I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Getaway with Murder by Diane Kelly is the debut of The Mountain Lodge Mysteries. Misty Murphy has just signed her divorce papers ending her twenty-year marriage on her fiftieth birthday. She is starting over in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Misty has purchased a rustic lodge where she spent many vacations. Her new venture gets off to a bad start when minor drainage damage turns into a major problem. Misty is fortunate to get Rocky Crowder, the local handyman, to complete the repairs just in time for a yoga retreat. The owner of the yoga studio turns out to be demanding and rude. The yoga instructor is murdered putting Misty’s new venture at risk. Misty must use her skills to locate the killer before her new lodge is sunk permanently. Getaway with Murder is an engaging new cozy mystery. It is well-written with steady pacing and realistic characters. Misty is a smart, resourceful, and friendly. I like that she is fifty and experiencing menopause systems. I could certainly relate to her hot flashes. There are some great secondary characters that include Rocky the handyman, Patty who owns the local diner, and Brynn the assistant and housekeeper. I thought Diane Kelly captured the area with her beautiful descriptions. The winding roads up the mountain, the trees, the cool air, the Southern food, the mountains, and the Appalachian trail. The whodunit was fun with several suspects. I enjoyed piecing together the clues. I liked Misty’s approach to sleuthing. There is humor scattered throughout the story and I loved the chapters from Yeti’s (Misty’s cat) point-of-view. I thought the author really captured a cat’s personality (this is a feline with catitude). Getaway with Murder was a fun story that made me smile. I am eager for the next book in The Mountain Lodge Mysteries. Getaway with Murder is a welcome whodunit with a hunky handyman, a Wiccan assistant, an intense yoga instructor, a missing singing bowl, a lodge in peril, and a setup trail trekker.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Misty Murphy celebrates her 50th birthday in an unusual way. She signs divorce papers and moves to the inn she has purchased at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While the inn needs a considerable amount of help, the divorce does not. She and her husband have parted amicably and remain friends.

After a misstep with one contractor, Misty meets Rocky Crowder. He gives her a bid for the work needed that won’t break her budget while adding a fantastic new space and even better he can start the work immediately.

Rocky’s speedy maintenance and construction and Misty’s new hire Brynn allow her to host a yoga retreat that fills every room for the whole week. But the week doesn’t go smoothly as the yogi instructor is found murdered. This isn’t good for Misty or her business. She didn’t know she was going to have to add detective to her innkeeper skills but with the yogis set to leave in just a few days, she is going to have to catch a killer before the bus arrives to take them back down the mountain or die trying.

I really enjoyed this story.

It is so great to have a protagonist leave a marriage and both parties are happy and remain friends both for themselves and the college-age sons. There is no tension and no animosity. In fact, her husband sends her a wonderful gift and offers his help after the murder. This all means Misty Murphy is comfortable in her own skin and ready to take on the huge venture she has ahead of her.

I also am very happy with Rocky Crowder, like Misty, he has grown children he spends time with but his wife is out of the picture. This leads he and Misty to make an unusual arrangement that works for both of them with the promise of their relationship growing in interesting ways.

Misty’s assistant Brynn is more of a wild card as she didn’t reveal some things about herself during the interview. Misty also makes quick friends with the diner owner, Patty, across the parking lot.

All these characters are believable and well fleshed out for the first book in the series. Misty has a connection to the inn from her childhood too which makes her huge move and purchase very understandable.

The guests are a diverse group and barring that someone traveled literally over hill and dale to kill Sasha Ducharme Carlisle one of them is a killer. So Misty has access to all the suspects and the rooms in which they are staying. I enjoyed the way she handled her investigation by getting to know her guests. She took part in some of the yoga sessions and observed them during breakfast and their downtimes in the evening. At one point, I took a little break to formulate my own suspect list more formally because I was as in the dark as Misty and the police. The author was very tricky. She gave an excellent clue to the culprit that I totally dismissed.

Diane Kelly really took her time describing the location of this inn including Misty’s trek up the mountain, and when the guests took a hike. I loved that. She painted wonderful pictures of the area for someone like me that has never had the pleasure of traveling the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Another element that I really enjoyed was that Misty has a cat named Yeti and Yeti gets to pen some short chapters from his point of view. Knowing what a cat is truly thinking is never really possible but the author really captured this cat’s catitude really well. They are also good for a chuckle or two.

Getaway with Murder was such a captivating mystery. I had a hard time putting it down when I had to close my eyes to sleep. I did that one more chapter thing until my Kindle fell to the floor as my eyes slid shut and my hand let it go. The next day I hurried through my work so I could get back to it.

This book has everything I look for in a Perfect Escape – Strong characters that are easy to become invested in, a setting I loved to visit and want to visit again and again, and a mystery that tests me by being well-plotted.

I am excited about this series. The author needs to tread carefully because while an inn brings in a new set of guests for each installment, she can’t kill too many people on the premises because tourists will not want to stay there. It will be fun seeing how the series continues.

Good start to a new series. I like the main characters. Since the location is a lodge, there is potential for quite a variety of people in the future. Pleasant cat and dog addition. Clever repartee. I look forward to the next one. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Diane Kelly gives readers a thrilling beginning to her new Mountain Lodge Mystery Series with Getaway With Murder.


Getaway With Murder was a fantastic read. This was a different type of cozy and it was welcome and refreshing. Missy has lived a good life, yet herself and her now ex husband have grown out of love and decided that they could go their separate ways and maintain the friendship that they have built over the years. Missy is starting over in a place she enjoys and loves. Purchasing a mountain resort, packing up herself and Yetti, her lovable feline companion, to embark on their new lives. Sounds easy right? Well not so much. After a night of bad storms, an encounter with a nose in the contractor, and a few local locals that genuinely care, Missy takes a deep breath and takes her leap.


Getaway With Murder is a fantastic beginning to why I feel is going to be an amazing series. Missy is independent, strong and resourceful. She knows what she wants and will do what she can to make it happen. I enjoyed that Missy. She’s a great character and I know I will be eagerly waiting to see what comes next. The mystery side of this tale was definitely a twisty one. Well written and plotted, Diane Kelly had me guessing throughout the story. Entertaining and funny, with a good mystery and just a splash of romance. Getaway With Murder will transport reads to a beautiful mountain town, with great characters and an even better story.

This was a fun and different main character who for once wasn't the bummed-out result of an ugly divorce. She and Jack actually got along and hugged goodbye. The lodge that Misty bought sounded pretty rough, but I sure can't blame her for wanting Rocky to be part of that employee team. He sounded pretty amazing...and cute! I'm sure in the coming books we'll get to see them grow even closer, but I really enjoyed the little friendship they had and the funny banter between them. I liked Brynn who Misty hired to help her with the housekeeping and other general lodge jobs. She walked to her own drummer for sure, but she did seem like she'd be a loyal friend and employee. And that Patty from the diner! I liked her immediately and can totally picture her and Misty becoming besties.

The yoga retreat group was sure a mixed bag of people and emotions. The spoiled brat leader getting offed was the whole focus. While it was kind of an obvious-not-obvious type thing when thinking about whodunit, the showdown was still very good. I don't want to say much and spoil it, but I was really happy with the turnout and am eagerly looking forward to more books in this series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

This is the start of a new cozy mystery that I cannot wait for the second book in this series. I love Misty, Yeti and Rocky. I love that Misty is a 50 year old that is starting something new. There are quirky characters and maybe a love interest. This has all the best parts of a cozy mystery. I received a copy of this book from Minotaur for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Thank you for the advance copy, i enjoyed this book a lot. This new cozy mystery series is one I look forward to continuing.
The main character, Misty, just turned 50 and is at a place in her life where she is starting something. She is a very likable character as are the others in the story. They are quirky and fun and recommend this to all those cozy mystery lovers!

Talk about a leap of faith. Misty reaches her 50th birthday and turns her life in a really different direction. With the amicable end to her marriage, signing the papers on her birthday, she heads for the hills. All the way to the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains and her new life. She has bought the Ridgeview Inn, a place where she has a history. The previous owners had turned it over to their grandson and he failed. Now Misty plans to rent the lodge to groups rather than a collection of random people. Business groups, weddings, family reunions, bird watching clubs - she'd set out to let them all know she had the space to welcome them.
Her first "oh my gosh, what have I gotten myself into" moment after being pleased to see that the lodge looked pretty good as she stood in the entrance area- just some dusting, etc. and she would be opening on schedule - came as she settled herself and her cat, Yeti, in their new digs. Then she heard a creak and a rumble and OMG the floor under her feet moved. So much for the inspection she had done. This would certainly put a crimp in her plans.
Misty manages to hire a handyman to get the lodge ready for its opening. Rockford "Rocky" Crowder can fix anything and he's real easy on the eyes. Other people help her get things going as she hires Patty to cater breakfasts and Brynn as her assistant. Nobody anticipated helping to solve the murder of a yoga instructor. Oh dear. How will that play on a Yelp review?
From the well developed characters of Misty, Rocky, Patty and Brynn and the lovely setting to a well crafted mystery, this new series hits all the right notes for a great cozy. Having read the other series penned by Diane Kelly - I enjoyed them all, I had no doubt that this series would earn its spot on my must be read list.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Getaway with Murder is the first book in Diane Kelly’s new Mountain Lodge Mystery series. I had high hopes for this series and I was not disappointed. The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains is a wonderful setting, and the description of the lodge allowed me to form a picture. I found the limited locations to be a nice change from most cozies. There’s a character for everyone to love, or hate, and they are well developed. I was delighted to find chapters featuring the cats point of view. Maybe in the future we can have the dogs point of view as well. The budding romance between Misty and Rocky holds real promise. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to everyone, especially those who need a mental getaway to the mountains.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Misty Murphy should be celebrating her 50th birthday in style. Instead, she is amicably divorcing her husband of 20+ years and purchasing a Lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains that needs some love. What a day!!!

Upon arriving at the Lodge, the flooring gives way and now she is wondering if this was the smartest investment to make. Upon eating at the diner next door, she meets the local handyman who will help her get the Lodge fixed. Misty was lucky to land an opening night group that lost their lodging at another facility due to a fire. However, Misty does not feel so lucky when the leader of the group and owner of that yoga studio is found murdered.

There is a killer on the loose and no shortage of suspects. Can the murderer be found before the reputation of the Lodge is dragged through the mud??

Getaway With Murder
Mountain Lodge Mystery, Book #1
Diane Kelly
5 Stars

Getaway With Murder is the first in a brand new cozy series from Diane Kelly set in a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where secrets hide behind every hill.

As if hitting the half-century mark wasn’t enough, Misty Murphy celebrated her landmark birthday by amicably ending her marriage and investing her settlement in a dilapidated mountain lodge at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With the old inn teetering on both a bluff and bankruptcy, she must have lost her ever-loving mind.

Luckily, handyman Rocky Crowder has a knack for rehabbing virtual ruins and for doing it on a dime, and to Misty’s delight, the lodge is fully booked on opening night, every room filled with flexible folks who’d slipped into spandex and ascended the peak for a yoga retreat with plans to namastay for a full week. Misty and her guests are feeling zen—at least until the yoga instructor is found dead.

With a killer on the loose and the lodge’s reputation hanging in the balance, Misty must put her detective-skills to the test. Only one thing is as clear as a sunny mountain morning—she must solve the crime before the lodge ends up, once again, on the brink. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Misty is trying her hand at being the owner of a mountain lodge. Shortly after she has her first paying customers, someone is killed. She has a whole inn full of suspects, including her staff. She will have to figure out who the killer is before someone else is killed. I found it refreshing that Misty was not butting heads with law enforcement. Deputy Highcloud kept Misty in the loop and welcomed her input. That was a nice change.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I thought the mystery was well plotted and it was not easily solved. There were plenty of suspects to consider and I did not know the culprit until the reveal at the end.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written cozy mystery. In fact, all the books are very good, you cannot go wrong reading her stories.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

I really liked Misty, and I think there is something so appealing to starting over somewhere. Owning a lodge can be a big project, but I love that it was where her heart was at. I liked that she did the "detective" work without being stupid & risky.

I cannot say enough good about this book, I will be looking forward to book 2!

This was a great start to a new series!!! A lodge in the woods sounds like a perfect vacation to me. The writing was good as was the mystery. Definitely check this one out!!

Misty has started a new chapter in her life. Not only is she 50, but she is now divorced. She and her husband still loved each other, but have grown apart. He loves warm weather, the beach, and water. She loved the mountains, cook climes, and hiking. So Misty finds herself the owner of a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lucky for her there is a very nice handyman who is willing to repair the lodge. And boy does it need it! Misty's first guests are a group of yoga students. Things head south fast when the owner of the spa/yoga studio is found dead. She has to get this murder solved quickly before it ruins her fledgling business. Rocky the handyman is ready for anything.

Great little cozy. The heroine is a little older which is fun. There is an attraction between Misty and Rocky which adds to the story. The characters are wonderful and the mystery kept me turning the page.

Misty Murphy knows her happy place. Turning 50 and inking final divorce papers, she heads to the mountains. In fact to the mountain lodge where she had spent many happy vacations. It's hers now. Water damage and a murder come with it too. Debut of a new series with serious potential. Loved the characters and the tone. Mystery was well done too.

Diane Kelly has stared the Mountain Lodge mysteries with Getaway with Murder. Misty Murphy, just divorced and bereft of her children as they go off to college, has invested in a mountain lodge which she is just opening for business. Yoga afficianados book the lodge for a retreat. One of the instructor ends up dead. Cute cosy. Whodunit? The local handyman? a pair of hiking honeymooners? yoga buffs? Read and solve.

This mystery, first in a series, is a mixed bag for me. There are many things I really like about it! I love the mountain setting--a nice change of pace from all the beachtown cozy series. I enjoy Misty's sense of humor a lot: "My roomy nightgown made sure all of Victoria's secrets were well kept." I like the business side of things and the amicable divorce and the thoughtful ex. Hooray! At least one mystery where the ex won't be a lying scumbag and possibly a murderer. A lodge where groups of people come to stay is a perfect cozy set-up, since there will constantly be a new group of possible murderers and victims--yippee skippy!

However, there are some weak spots, too. The epigraphs are lovely--and seem to have no tie-ins to the specific chapters whatsoever. (I quit checking on that after a few where I couldn't make any connection, so maybe some ARE tied in? But not well enough.) The occasional chapters from her cat's point of view are ridiculous. They add nothing to the story and don't fit the overall vibe of the book. The idea that the lodge wouldn't be in the news after a beautiful yoga instructor is murdered AND a NASCAR celebrity/social media influencer keeps posting from the murder scene--even if he does repeatedly get the actual name of the lodge wrong--is just silly. It would be a madhouse of reporters there. And there are some occasional awkward moments, where whatever Misty's thinking seems so odd. For example, when she ponders the cost of raising a child and Googles to see how much that is and whether the cost of raising 4 kids could be an incentive to commit murder to gain money. Okay, Misty HAS 2 kids--2 great kids. And she fully knows how expensive they are! So this whole little pondering just feels ridiculous. She would just say, "Raising kids costs the moon. Would so-and-so, with 4 kids to raise, murder Sasha for the money?"

Despite the weak areas, I did enjoy reading this book and hope the Misty's lodge cozy is a success! As with the lodge, a bit of renovation in a few areas is all that's needed!

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

Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly is the first book in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series. It follows Misty as she buys an old Lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Recently divorced and with her two boys all grown up it's time for a new adventure and turning her tired Lodge back into a destination spot is just what Misty needs.
She suffers a setback her first day in, but luckily thanks to her wonderful neighbour Patty and a very nice handyman named Rocky everything is ready when her first group checks in.
Misty's first group of guests are on a yoga retreat. Some of the participants include a celebrity nascar driver, a hippie yogi, an adorable woman and her pug, a mother daughter duo and the high maintenance owner of the studio. Staying in the last available room is a newlywed couple taking a few nights off hiking the Appalachian Trail. Everything seems to be going great until a dead body is found during early morning sun salutations. Misty must work with the police to find out what happened, not only to save the reputation of her new lodge, but also to make sure the murderer isn't on of her new staff or friends!
A fun read and a great start to this new series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: When Misty hits the half century mark, she begins an entirely new life. Armed with recently signed divorce papers, she purchases a lodge in the mountains where she has spent many pleasurable hours throughout her life. Her first day has a ledge collapsing taking part of the Great Room. Hoping it is not an omen of things to come, she hires a local handyman who turns out to be just what she needs, not only around the lodge but in her life. While she is too fresh from her divorce to consider any romantic attachments, she and Rocky, and her cat Yeti and his dog Molasses make a great team in getting the place ready to welcome a yoga retreat, their first guests.

The woman who owns the yoga studio and booked the getaway is a diva. She treats everyone like dirt but no matter how unpleasant, she did not deserve to be murdered. Misty forms a strong bond with the woman who owns the diner across the parking lot from the lodge and develops a good relationship with the female cop who is investigating. With Rocky and Misty they all work together to exonerate the first couple of suspects and eventually discover the real killer.

This is a book with a lot of potential as a series. It has great characters who are mature and intelligent with interesting backstories. The animals are great sidekicks and I like the way Yeti gets her own mini chapters. After all, it is good to see things from the feline point of view. It was a fast moving and entertaining read and I enjoyed it very much. Five purrs and two paws up.

This is a fantastic start to a new cozy mystery series. Misty, a newly divorced (amicable) new owner of a charming mountain lodge in a small town, finds herself involved with the murder of one of her first guests during a yoga retreat. The mystery was not too far fetched and not gruesome. All of the supporting characters were amazing, especially Brynn, the Wiccan housekeeper. I can't wait to see how this series progresses and to see if there's more to the flirtation with live-in handyman Rocky.

Getaway with Murder: A Mountain Lodge Mystery

By Diane Kelly

St. Martin’s Paperbacks

November 2021



Review by Cynthia Chow



After sending two sons off to college and managing her family’s budgets and schedules for decades, Misty Murphy undramatically “consciously uncouples” from her marriage and moves on to the next stage of her life. The Ridgeview Inn was always a reliable destination for enjoyable family vacations throughout Misty’s life, and now it seemed like the perfect time for her to buy the deteriorating Blue Ridge Mountains facility and renovate it into a profitable destination lodge. Intending to target large groups looking to throw events or participate in local sport activities, Misty’s first guests are the Third Eye Studio Spa, whose initial ashram site for their retreat burnt down. It doesn’t take long for the very unrelaxed spa owner Sasha Ducharme-Carlisle to have Misty and her very short-staffed inn running ragged with her demands, which prematurely end when Sasha is found in a literal corpse pose at the bottom of the new deck.



The Watauga Sheriff’s Department investigating Deputy Yona Highcloud is extremely competent and refreshingly fair, allowing Misty to continue to operate as further evidence is discovered. Misty is having second thoughts about rather hastily hiring a cleaner, handyman, and partnering with the Greasy Griddle for catered breakfasts, and she can’t help but worry that she may be working with criminals. Everyone does have their secrets, but Misty also feels an immediate connection with the very handy handyman Rockford “Rocky” Crowder. His experience with those needing shelter while hiking along the Appalachian Trail, not to mention his excellent home repair skills, mean that he provides both business and investigative insights. A wiccan maid is unexpected, but it’s the famous, infamous, and secretive guests who prove to be most troubling as Misty attempts to keep her newly branded Mountaintop Lodge positively promoted on social media and not linked with a lurid murder.



This first in a new series by one of my favorite authors introduces a heroine slightly more mature and centered than her other lead characters. Like her House-Flipper and Paw Enforcement series, short chapters are interspersed throughout with first-person narrations from a furry companion’s perspective. Misty has brought her white Persian Baroness Blizzard with her from Raleigh, and “Yeti’s” opinions here are decidedly appropriate for a feline. Centered mostly around her next mealtime or when it’s time for a nap, Yeti does have definitive opinions on the erratic behavior of her owner and the guests. Readers are quickly introduced to Misty’s new friends and business partners, which makes it easy to sort out the arrival of demanding and suspicious guests. An intimidating masseuse, Instagramming NASCAR driver on a redemption/apology tour, and a very Zen yoga instructor are all entertaining candidates for a culprit. Misty is a genuinely likable and relatable lead character, one without the tropes of vengeful exes, immature adult children, or complicated love triangle. This is the start of a very funny and clever mystery featuring a woman starting over in a business that has her serving up hearty meals in an absolutely stunning setting.

This was a fun, light mystery. I didn't see the whodunnit coming, although looking back I could see simple clues set out to help solve the mystery. I liked the storyline and the setting - who would not want to have an amicable divorce and buy a beautiful mountain lodge with the settlement money? I liked the language of the book and the characters were likeable; except for the murder victim and her sidekick.

Fun, light reading, I am glad for the chance to have read this book.

I really enjoyed Getaway With Murder, the first book in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series. It is a cute cozy mystery with a fun setting. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and, while I guessed the murderer early, I hadn't figured out the "how" before the author revealed it.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good cozy mystery and this did not disappoint! I loved the setting, the characters, and the story. I especially liked the MC and how level headed and real she was. I liked that she shared her ideas and findings with the local sheriff and didn’t run her own investigation behind her back. It made this book (and, hopefully, series) more believable. I can’t wait to see how her relationship with Rocky progresses. I look forward to book two!!

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun book to read! I enjoyed it from start to finish. Misty Murphy has turned 50, amicably divorced her husband, and has purchased a slightly run-down mountain retreat hotel. If that's not enough, someone ends up dead!

Each of the characters is easy to imagine and fun to read about. The story moves along quickly. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

What a charming first installment in a new cozy series. Two things I enjoyed immensely were the mountain lodge setting and Misty, who is older than many cozy main characters. This is a promising start for this series. The mystery was also laid out well.

I'm usually more of a fan of beach settings, but I love Diane's books and this was no exception. I read this in two days and it was hard to put down. I really enjoyed the mystery and didn't figure out the killer until the end. It's refreshing to have a main character who is still friends with her ex instead of the ex being a cheating, lying sleazebag. Fun story!

Turning 50, Misty Murphy celebrates by ending her marriage and investing in a dilapidated mountain lodge.

With the inn needing lots of repairs, Misty hires Rocky Crowder to fix up the lodge. Opening night all the rooms are filled with guests ready to enjoy the new yoga retreat. Unfortunately, the yoga instructor is found dead. Misty investigates before the inn is ruined before it even began.

I love stories with animals so I was happy to see them in Getaway with Murder. Especially when the animals are part of the story and help with the story. This is my first read from Diane Kelly and it certainly won't be my last.

The plot of the book was such a great page turner. I truly cannot wait to read another wonderful book from this author. This was a truly great book.

Getaway with Murder is a promising start to a new cozy series set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Main character Misty Murphy, fresh from an amicable divorce, invests her settlement in the purchase of a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains she has frequented both as a child and as an adult. Misty needs to do some major repairs to the lodge and stumbles upon handyman Rocky Crowder while eating at the diner across the road from the lodge. Rocky is able to make the needed repairs in time for the arrival of a yoga group from Charlotte for a week long retreat. All is going well until the lead yoga instructor for the group is found dead under the lodge's newly constructed deck. Misty is determined to not let the murder ruin the lodge's reputation and using her 'mom deductive skills' is able to discern who murdered the instructor before the group leaves the lodge at the end of the week.

The book has a great cast of characters and Ms. Kelly does a wonderful job building the story around all of them, including Yeti, Misty's pet cat, and Molasses, Rocky's pet dog. We even gain insight into what Yeti is thinking throughout the story! Misty is immediately relatable, having just turned 50 and dealing with the many things life has handed her with patience, calm and thoughtfulness. Rocky is slightly younger than Misty, but turns out to be an all around good guy, taking care of lodge maintenance, transporting guests, sharing some of the same life story as Misty (children and divorce) and helps Misty solve the murder in the end. Patty, the local diner owner adds her wisdom to the story and Brynn, newly hired as a housekeeper, brings her own sense of spirit to the story. These four characters quickly form a bond and are part of the reason the book grabs you from the start.

As soon as you meet Sasha, the yoga instructor, you can pretty much assume she is the one to be murdered or have something happen as she is a very unlikable character. Very few of the guests on the yoga retreat are likable, making it difficult to settle on any one of them as the culprit! Few have more reasons than some of the others to murder Sasha, but I found myself anticipating their departure from the lodge so that Misty could get some 'real' business and help re-establish the lodge as a retreat center/event venue.

Characters aside this is a great book. The author does a wonderful job establishing place, describing well the setting of the lodge. The murder itself is slowly introduced and you get wrapped up in Misty, Rocky, Patty and their daily activities getting the lodge ready for guests that you almost forget it's supposed to be a mystery! Once the murder occurs the solving of the crime keeps you engaged as there are characters you hope have not committed the crime and others that you are sure did - never quite being able to figure out who the true culprit is. There is one sentence in the book that enabled me to determine who murdered Sasha, but the why and how of the crime was not revealed until the end. The book ends on a high note with the lodge being booked with guests, leaving you to wonder what adventure awaits for Misty, Rocky, Brynn, Yeti and Molasses at the Mountaintop Lodge.

A delightful start to a new series. I enjoyed it immensely and recommend.
Misty Murphy celebrates her birthday with an amicable divorce from her husband Jack. Their sons are off at college, and they've grown apart.

Misty has fond memories of a mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains that she spent time with over the years and decides to purchase it even though it had been operating in the red and the market had changed with the advent of VRBO and Airbnb. She does have a marketing plan and reached out to a yoga group whose original venue had a fire.

The yoga group arrives, and the owner of the studio is a diva. So, when she is found murdered, there are plenty of potential suspects.

While the book is primarily Misty's voice, there are chapters that are narrated by the Misty's cat, Yeti. Each chapter has the name of the narrator. That threw me a bit and I'm not sure if it added to the story.

I liked the MC and the supporting cast of friends and employees. The mystery was well plotted with plenty of red herrings.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley but the opinion expressed is my own.

What a great addition to the cozy mystery genre. I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the next installment. Love Diane Kelly

Getaway With Murder is the first book in Diane Kelly’s new series, Mountain Lodge. Recently divorced Misty Murphy has invested in a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The place needs work, but she finds a handyman who can get it done quickly. Her first booking is a group of guests on a yoga retreat. Everything seems to be coming together, until the yoga instructor is killed. Misty wants to solve the case, so her new investment doesn’t suffer any more.

I have read other books by Diane Kelly, including her Paw Enforcement and House-Flipper mystery series. Since I have enjoyed both of those series, I was happy to see a new series available. As expected, I found Getaway With Murder to be a charming book with likable characters and a lovely setting.

Getaway With Murder is a delightful cozy mystery. The characters are relatable, and the story is fun. I look forward to reading more of this series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good mystery and if murder happened, I can’t wait to see if I can figure out who did it. I was given an Arc copy of this book however all the opinions are my own.

The book opens up to a recently divorced mid aged woman, Misty, who has decided to buy a lodge in the mountains of North Carolina where she has spent happy Winters skiing with her family. She feels at home here with her cat, Yeti.

There are some hiccups which come with making some renovos on an older lodge but never fear, Misty has Rocky, a handsome handyman who needs a place to stay to help her out. She also has the owner of the dinner, Patty, who has become her fast friend and Brynn, the excentrate housekeeper to keep her out of trouble.

Misty’s first guests are from a yoga studio from Charlotte. After a couple of days, the leader of the studio was found dead after she didn’t turn up for the morning mediation. Her room was locked from the inside and no sign of entry or exit of the killer. Her jewelry and her priceless singing bowl was missing.

Who would have killed her? Was it one of the students? One of the instructors? A stranger? Or other guests? Only one way to find out for Misty, Rocky and Brynn, they would have to help the sheriff's officers investing this murder.

The story began easy enough but the author kept a great yarn unraveling for the reader to be entertained. Also the little clues the author gave away, kept me guessing until the end. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Misty Murphy is celebrating a huge milestone, her fiftieth birthday. She rid herself of her husband and bought a run down and ramshackle building she hopes to turn into a lodge. She was amazed how popular her idea of a yoga weekend has become. That is until the yoga teacher winds up dead. This is such a witty and wonderful first book of a new series. I am definitely a fan. It kept my eyes glued to the pages as I read long into the night. It is definitely brilliant.

Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly is the first in the new The Mountain Lodge Mysteries.
I love that the protagonist is strong, independent, middle-aged woman ready to start a new chapter in her life. Misty has recently divorced and bought a motor lodge. Little did she know her first guest would be found murdered.
This well written Cozy has plenty of suspects and twists, likeable characters, humor, a hint of romance and two adorable pets.
I am ready to make a reservation at the lodge!
I was given an ARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

Getaway With Murder
First in a new series.
by Diane Kelly

Getaway with Murder
Misty Murphy’s fiftieth birthday starts off unlike most. She’s signed her divorce papers (it’s an amicable split) and sunk her settlement into a dilapidated lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Located in northwest North Carolina, The Ridgeview Inn holds a lot of Misty’s memories. Her parents brought Misty and her siblings here. Misty and her ex-husband, Jack, continued the tradition by bringing their boys Jack, Jr. aka J.J. and Mitch for hiking and skiing. Now Misty owns the 1950s era lodge, which hasn’t fared well over the past few years.
Misty has barely entered the inn with her cat, Baroness Blizzared, aka Yeti, when the rainwater run-off issue the inspector said needed addressed grabs Misty’s attention. Outside, Misty discovers a recent storm had washed away enough ground to collapse a support beam under the great room, causing the floor to drop by a few inches. But there is a silver lining to this situation and his name is Rocky Crowder. He’s the local handyman and Misty hires him to repair the damage to the lodge.
Misty also lands her first guests; a yoga group from Charlotte needs a new retreat venue. The group’s instructor, Sasha Ducharme-Carlisle, decides to give Misty a chance. The lodge, renamed the Mountaintop Lodge, is officially open for business. But the lodge may close before it has a chance to build up a clientele when, several days after their arrival, the Sasha’s body is found under the newly built deck. To save her business, Misty needs to solve a murder.
Thoughts
At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. Chapters alternate between Misty’s point of view and Yeti’s. I found Yeti’s point of view a little distracting to the overall storyline. But the interaction between the characters-Misty, Rocky, Patty (the owner of diner across from the lodge), and Misty’s employee, Brynn O’Reilly, kept me turning the pages. The mystery wasn’t easy to solve, which is always a plus. This is the first book in the new Mountain Lodge Mystery series, and I look forward to reading the next.


Author Information
Diane Kelly

Publishing information

St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN 9781250815989


#netgally, #getawaywithmurder #cozymystery

Diane Kelly’s first book, Getaway With Murder, in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series, is the perfectly crafted “Who Done It”…the twist and turns, misdirections, and a cast of characters who all were the perfect foil to keep the reader guessing, and on edge. Typically it’s not too difficult to ascertain in which direction the story is taking, and get an idea who the culprit might be, but in this case, Ms Kelly had me guessing, and re-guessing until the very end. This first story is an excellent start to what promises to be an exceptional series…already looking forward to the next installment.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I enjoyed meeting these characters in a new series. The mystery was good and there were plenty of twists. I also liked the setting of the renovated inn. I look forward to the next installment.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A great start to a new cozy mystery series, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, an absolutely magnificent part of the United States. How nice to read a book that features a 50-year-old woman, newly divorced, as the main character. In addition, Misty, the new owner of the Mountaintop Lodge, is comfortable in her body. So nice! I loved how the author included a quote about nature and the woods before the start of each chapter. The quotes had varied sources, from Thoreau to Frost to Van Gogh, among others. There are also some very short chapters that describe what Yeti, Misty’s cat, is doing and thinking, another fun touch. The mystery was a good one, with lots of possible suspects, in what was basically a locked-room situation, with several of the hotel guests under suspicion in turn.

I enjoyed the side characters, who I hope will be in upcoming titles in this new series: Rocky, the handyman who quotes Voltaire and Aristotle; Brynn, the cleaning/administrative help who follows Wiccan practices; and Patty, the owner of the Greasy Griddle across the road from the lodge. (Got to love that restaurant’s name!)

Cozy mysteries often have the main character doing something dumb or dangerous. I was SO happy to get through this entire book without the main character doing anything like that! It was also great that Misty worked with the local police, assisting them in an appropriate way.

I’m really looking forward to reading the next title in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly is a cozy set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is nice to have an older protagonist going out on her own. Of course the love interest doesn't hurt and the friends she finds add to the story. I am ready for the next in the series!

Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. A fun read that takes place in an old inn in the Blue Ridge Mountains after Misty Murphy turns 50 and divorces her husband. A murder plays havoc with the success of the inn and Misty puts on her detective cap to try to find the killer.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.

I love cozy mysteries and I really don't read enough of them. This one was so enjoyable, that I might be tempted to pick up more of them soon! The cover of Getaway with Murder instantly caught my eyes, however, it was the description that sealed the deal for me. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a dilapidated mountain lodge...yes, please! I found the beginning of this to be a little slower than I would have liked, but by the end, the pace had picked up and I was hooked and couldn't stop reading! I would definitely like to read more books by Diane Kelly and I absolutely want to read more in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series!

I enjoyed this book much more that expected. The writing drew me into the story from the first few pages, The characters were engaging and I really enjoyed 'meeting' them.

The mystery was intriguing and well-written. I can't wait for the next one in the series!

Putting twenty happy years of marriage behind her and after finalising the world’s most amicable divorce, Misty has left her old life behind to embarked on her next adventure – running a mountain lodge on Beech Mountain in northwest North Carolina, a place she’s been visiting since her childhood. She brings along her huge white cat, Yeti, to keep her company.

When things don’t go according to plan, Misty has to find a way to deal with everything, including repairs to the crumbling lodge and a murder during her opening weekend.

Luckily for Misty, she has a couple of new friends that are ready to pitch in and help her. First, there’s Patty, the owner of the local diner, the Greasy Griddle, which shares a parking lot with the lodge. When Misty and Patty strike up a friendship, Patty agrees to cater breakfast for the lodge, which helps both businesses out.

Then there’s handyman Rockford “Rocky” Crowder – a handsome repairman who agrees to become the lodge’s ‘resident’ handyman and brings his huge dog, Molasses, along with him. From the start, Rocky is obviously going to be a love interest for Misty and the sparks fly almost immediately.

I’ve been noticing a trend in cozy mysteries, with many more stories available featuring older sleuths and I’m all for it. It’s not hard to imagine someone who is in their 40s-50s, with ample life experience and knowledge, being a good sleuth. Misty is no exception. She has a really optimistic attitude and is willing to put everything on the line to finally get a chance to seeing her own dreams come true. I also really love the way her family is portrayed – her ex-husband and her still love each other, but have grown apart and with their two sons grown up, they’ve decided to travel their own paths.

To be honest, I was actually glad when the victim was killed. She was one of those characters that, as soon as she showed up on the page, it only took a few minutes of reading for me to say “Oh wow, she’s awful, I hope she dies!” (I know, I’m terrible). So it’s not a surprise when she IS the murder victim and there are plenty of suspects (she really was awful).

The pacing of the story was pretty even and I think there were enough false clues and suspects to keep me guessing for a bit. The resolution made a lot of sense and things were wrapped up really nicely, with a few loose ends (nothing vital) that make me ready for the next book in the series.

One small part that I’m not sure about yet is Yeti, the cat, gets her own “point of view” mini-chapters. When I read the first one I was anticipating that it would drop some clues, like maybe Yeti would see something that Misty doesn’t, but it would give the reader an extra hint, but that never happens. The Yet “chapters” didn’t seem to serve any purpose to the story, except to put in a cute “pet” element. They weren’t bad, but they did confuse me for a while since they didn’t add anything to the story that I could see. Hopefully the cat POVs add more to the mystery-solving in the next one.

All in all, I really like Misty as a character and I’m looking forward to seeing her friendships with Patty and Rocky grow. The mountain lodge seems to be a great backdrop, although I do hope not *too* many murders are set there because… that’s not really a great marketing tag.

*** Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I only recently starting appreciating cozy mysteries and am always looking for a new series to read. This one was pretty good. A mountain lodge is hosting a yoga retreat. Someone dies. Lodge owner decides to help investigate in order to save her lodge from public tarnish. The cast of characters are good enough that I will likely read the next one in the series which should come out in fall 2022.

I have read several books by Diane Kelly and liked them all. They are fun, have just a touch of romance, and have an occasional POV from a pet. Who couldn’t love hearing a pet’s view? This setting in the mountains sounds beautiful and made me want to be there. I had to laugh at the many varied names people called Misty’s newly bought lodge, Mountaintop Lodge. Sometimes it was aggravating that she didn’t get the press because people had the name wrong. At other times, she was grateful reporters mixed up the name of her vacation place.

As I’ve said, I’m a fan of Diane Kelly. I must say though that this book seemed to be full of who the murderer might be and why they would have committed the dastardly deed. In fact, that’s almost all that’s there to read about. We never really even saw a picture of many guests. We just heard why or if they might be a murderer.

Don’t get me wrong. Diane Kelly comes up with enough setting and stories to always make me want to finish. This one just seemed to get a little bogged down.

I’ll kick it off with a new cozy mystery series by Diane Kelly: “Getaway With Murder,” published by St. Martin’s Press. The new series is set in Beech Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Misty Murphy, 50, and recently amicably divorced, has used her money to buy a lodge on the mountain. She and her cat, Yeti, move in and get to work. And said lodge needs a lot of work. Thankfully, handyman Rockford Crowder, known to one and all as Rocky, works magic with very little money. He is a handsome fellow, which bodes well for Misty’s future.
Her new friend, Patty, who owns the local diner close by, agrees to cater breakfasts at the lodge.
Misty is excited when she books a group for a yoga retreat for a full week. But when the yoga instructor is found dead, things are not looking good for the lodge. (Truly, once you are introduced to the character, you can see why she’s the victim!)
Hoping her lodge won’t get a bad name from the get-go, Misty puts on her detective hat to help solve the murder.
I enjoyed the new characters and especially like the fact that this writer (and others) are embracing older protagonists.

In Getaway With Murder, author Diane Kelly kicks off her Blue Ridge Mountain Series with a charming novel of mystery and opportunities to explore exciting new chapters in life. Lovers of cozy mysteries with a touch of budding romance will love joining Misty as she begins a new chapter of life following her divorce by opening a mountain inn.Though she loves the leap that has taken and has made connections with endearing locals including handyman Rocky, her first guests, attending a yoga retreat find things anything but Zen. Thank you to#Dianekelly #St. Martin’spress and #Netgalley for and advanced review copy in exchange for a fair review which I am posting voluntarily.

The cover is cute. I was a little skeptical when I saw the cat had a pov, but those pages were short and sweet and I found myself looking forward to what she had to say. Great character development. I loved the setting. The fact that the mountain lodge was hosting a yoga retreat was interesting. There's lots of other things thrown in this book to make it solid, not just focusing on a murder right from the get-go. I was sent an opportunity to review the next book in this series, that's what got me in gear to read this one - a great first installment. What was I waiting for?! I'm going to read the second one right now!

Misty Murphy is celebrating her 50th birthday in an unusual way - signing her divorce papers and purchasing a rundown mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge that she used to visit as a child. Her first guests are a Yoga group looking for a retreat type location but when the Yoga instructor turns up dead it's not such a relaxing venue for her guests. Trying to keep her first guests from being her last, Misty needs to find the killer before the lodges doors are shut for good.

This was a good start for a new series, however, I thought that Misty made some decisions a bit to quickly - hiring her assistant manager, the handyman living on the premises, catering arranged from the diner - but all in all, putting those aspects aside, it was an entertaining group of characters and a well done mystery.

Great start to a new series. I liked getting to know the new characters and that the protagonist is a little older. The mystery had me guessing to the end. I look forward to reading the next book.

Misty Murphy’s life is about to change completely. As she turns 50, her marriage ends and her two adult sons are away at college. Misty needs to do something to make life interesting. She purchases an old mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She has no idea just how interesting things were about to get.

With the help of a local handyman, she fixes up the lodge and opens for business. Her first customers are a group on a yoga retreat. Everything is going great until the yoga instructor is found dead. Now Misty is determined to find a killer before her lodge is shut down. Not to mention that the idea of a killer running around her inn is more than a little unsettling.

This is the first book in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series. It’s off to an exciting start. It’s a fast-paced whodunit that kept me on my toes. The author tossed in many twists and turns. It kept me guessing until the very end.

I loved the main characters right away. They jumped right out of the pages. The supporting cast are quirky and fun. I’ve never been to the Blue Ridge Mountains but the author made me feel as if I was there. The lodge is the perfect setting for a cozy mystery.

I’ve read a few other series by this author and I’ve always enjoyed her writing. This book is no exception. I’m looking forward to the next in this series.









FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I wasn't sure who the killer was. I liked the setting because I live in North Carolina. My favorite characters are: Rocky Crowder, Molasses the dog and Yeti the cat.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

After having just read A Trip with Trouble, the second book in the Mountain Lodge mystery series I was more than ready to read this one, the first in the series. Who says you have to read a series in order, right? We once again find ourselves in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with middle aged Misty Murphy. She's finally doing something for herself, she's ended her marriage and bought a rundown lodge that's slowly being repaired. Excited that her first big group has come to stay at the lodge she's doing all she can to make them comfy during their stay including having scrumptious meals brought in from the restaurant next door. The group staying is here for a whole week of relaxation on a yoga retreat. Sun salutations are part of their yoga and meditation but when the leader is unable to be found one bright and sunny morning to lead the class the others start to worry. When she is later found dead at the lodge, speculation starts to run rampant with no Zen moments here. Could one of the yoga students have gotten tired of her bossy and stuck on herself behavior enough to kill her or was it a random outsider? As the clues start to collect, we see Misty working hard to get this solved along with the police, so her lodge won't get a bad reputation. What a great plot this is. I loved the characters and the setting. I am now on my way to read the last book in this series.

Pub Date 26 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.