Read a small-town murder mystery set in an ice-cream shop

A Deadly Inside Scoop — Abby Collette

What to Read This Week

A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette

What It’s About

Bronwyn has just graduated with her MBA and has returned home to take over the family business—an ice cream shop, complete with homemade, hand-churned ice cream. She wants to carry on her grandparents’ legacy and revitalize the dying store.

On the eve of the grand reopening, however, an unexpected snowfall isn’t the only thing that threatens the success of the store: a man is found dead close by, and the police have zeroed in on Bronwyn’s father as the main suspect. The police don’t seem to be looking at anyone else, in fact, so Bronwyn takes it upon herself to do the investigating they won’t, trying to solve the case before her father ends up in prison and someone else ends up dead.

This is a delightful series starter, and if you’re new to the cozy mystery scene but are interested in giving it a go, this is a great series to start with. There are three books currently out, and cozies like this one usually feature super fun characters in a small town, a mystery (but not grisly or dark, so it’s still pretty light and fun reading), and a heroine determined to solve the case.

Who Will Like It

Cozy mysteries are one of those genres I think is usually passed over or associated with “grandma” reading. They have traditionally been published in mass market format (the same as the paperback romances everyone was used to seeing for so long) but have recently taken the same turn as romances and are now being published in a standard paperback format with brightly colored covers and a fresh new design. I’m hoping this rebirth will help readers find the genre, because now more than ever, cozy mysteries are the perfect books to dive into for an escape. The mysteries are fun but not too dark and make for excellent reading when the world is stressful, scary, and sad.

If you typically turn to mysteries for a good page-turner but have felt like you’re just not in the mood for something incredibly dark and depressing, give cozy mysteries a shot. I mean, just look how fun this series is!

Next Up

I didn’t have much time to read this past weekend because I brought home a new foster dog! I foster rescue dogs looking for homes before they can be adopted (for vet appointments, neutering, and getting healthy!), and Winslow is my newest buddy. (And I’m pretty sure he’s not going anywhere and staying right here with me permanently . . . ) I think he’s going to make a pretty good reading buddy!

More Books

Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations: 

• Read a modern-day treasure hunt novel

• Read about a woman who lives in total darkness

• Read a warm and fuzzy snowstorm mystery

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