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Ponderosa Pines #1
Cat Killed A Rat
Nothing bad ever happens in Ponderosa Pines
At least, that’s what anonymous gossip columnist Chloe LaRue and her best friend, town matriarch EV Torrence thought—until a resident of their sleepy little village turns up dead. When EV becomes suspect #1, even Chloe can’t stop the rumor mill from churning.
Against Detective Nate Harper and Deputy Dalton Burnsoll’s orders, Chloe and EV mount their own investigation—but what they uncover might just rock the community to its very core. Could one of their own beloved citizens really be a killer?
At least, that’s what anonymous gossip columnist Chloe LaRue and her best friend, town matriarch EV Torrence thought—until a resident of their sleepy little village turns up dead. When EV becomes suspect #1, even Chloe can’t stop the rumor mill from churning.
Against Detective Nate Harper and Deputy Dalton Burnsoll’s orders, Chloe and EV mount their own investigation—but what they uncover might just rock the community to its very core. Could one of their own beloved citizens really be a killer?
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2015
About the author
ReGina Welling
103 books336 followersReGina Welling prefers not to talk about herself in the third person so...
I live in Maine with my husband, a silly flufferpup named Dash, and a crazy cat named Cricket. I write full time and also create mixed media artwork when I get the chance.
When I was three, my mom brought home a new book and when she went to read it to me, I read it to her instead. That was when she realized I'd learned to read. Since then I couldn't even estimate the number of books I've read. It's a lot!
**October featured author in the Cozy Mystery Book Club.
Get "Murder Above the Fold" for FREE, plus join our "All Things Balefire" virtual scavenger hunt for your chance to win ebooks, signed paperbacks, & a Kindle Fire tablet! Just visit www.reginawelling.com and sign up for my newsletter!
I live in Maine with my husband, a silly flufferpup named Dash, and a crazy cat named Cricket. I write full time and also create mixed media artwork when I get the chance.
When I was three, my mom brought home a new book and when she went to read it to me, I read it to her instead. That was when she realized I'd learned to read. Since then I couldn't even estimate the number of books I've read. It's a lot!
**October featured author in the Cozy Mystery Book Club.
Get "Murder Above the Fold" for FREE, plus join our "All Things Balefire" virtual scavenger hunt for your chance to win ebooks, signed paperbacks, & a Kindle Fire tablet! Just visit www.reginawelling.com and sign up for my newsletter!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
June 9, 2018
The town meeting that Chloe LaRue and her best friend EV Torrence attended quickly became farcical – the two residents of Ponderosa Pines who wanted to combine their village with another nearby town would have a battle ahead of them. EV was determined to stop them in their tracks – but when one of the two turned up dead, and EV became suspect #1, Chloe decided she and EV needed to find evidence of the real killer and fast.
Detective Nate Harper and his deputy, Dalton Burnsoll were sure the killer would become evident within days – but that wasn’t happening. Could Chloe and EV find the killer themselves? Or would they place themselves in danger as they followed the leads?
Cat Killed a Rat by ReGina Welling is the first in the Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery series and seemed to ramble on considerably. The two main characters, Chloe and EV were reasonably well developed, but there was nothing much to draw me into the story. I can’t figure out the title, though there are cats featured, albeit briefly.
Detective Nate Harper and his deputy, Dalton Burnsoll were sure the killer would become evident within days – but that wasn’t happening. Could Chloe and EV find the killer themselves? Or would they place themselves in danger as they followed the leads?
Cat Killed a Rat by ReGina Welling is the first in the Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery series and seemed to ramble on considerably. The two main characters, Chloe and EV were reasonably well developed, but there was nothing much to draw me into the story. I can’t figure out the title, though there are cats featured, albeit briefly.
June 26, 2017
I struggled with this until the 33% mark and then dnf'd. I couldn't get to grips with the place or characters; I felt I was missing some earlier books although this is the first in the series.
As for Ponderosa Pines?
I couldn't get a feel for the town: in places its supposed to be a tiny 'village' and yet it has two 'B and Bs' and a cathedral??? AND a newspaper!
The crunch point for me came when it was suggested that Luther's death was not an accident. WHY?? The ladder was described as 'ricketty' and 'unsafe' so why on earth would anyone immediately think it was murder without any other signs of foul play? There was no justification for that and it was a huge plot hole that irked me to the extent that I dnf'd.
As for Ponderosa Pines?
I couldn't get a feel for the town: in places its supposed to be a tiny 'village' and yet it has two 'B and Bs' and a cathedral??? AND a newspaper!
The crunch point for me came when it was suggested that Luther's death was not an accident. WHY?? The ladder was described as 'ricketty' and 'unsafe' so why on earth would anyone immediately think it was murder without any other signs of foul play? There was no justification for that and it was a huge plot hole that irked me to the extent that I dnf'd.
February 14, 2018
The first book in the Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery series by ReGina Welling. Chloe Larue has come back to Ponderosa Pines to live. She becomes a close friend to one of the town's matriarchs, EV Torrence. EV want the town to be green but the Plunkett brothers seem to want something different. But, after one of the brothers turns up dead, there is speculation that EV may have something to do with it. Chloe and EV investigate.
Just a little cozy mystery with the whodunit to solve. This one was a freebie but I might seek out more in the series to see how Chloe and EV are doing.
Just a little cozy mystery with the whodunit to solve. This one was a freebie but I might seek out more in the series to see how Chloe and EV are doing.
November 13, 2018
Luther Plunkett is a slightly bent construction contractor who, along with his even more crooked brother, Evan, is trying to get the town council of Ponderosa Pines to merge with a neighboring town. Lined up against him are Emmaline (EV) Valentino, one of the town’s elders, and Chloe LaRue, the anonymous author of the town’s gossip column, When Luther dies after falling (being pushed) from a ladder in a church where he was working on a job, because he and EV had had a very public spat just hours before his untimely demise, she is the prime suspect. Homicide detective, Nate Harper, back in his home town recuperating from an on-the-job injury, is tasked with finding the killer. The problem is, though, he has a history with Chloe.
Residents of Ponderosa Pines begin to take sides on the issue, depending upon whether or not they like or dislike EV, and when Evan, who also had a very public spat with EV, is found dead in his home, the heat on EV is ratcheted up several degrees. She and Chloe then realize that if her reputation is to be salvaged, and her freedom assured, they must solve the crime.
Cat Killed a Rat by mother-daughter writing team Erin Lynn and ReGina Welling is a cozy mystery that has all you need to pass the time on a cold winter day sitting in front of a cozy fire. Clues and red herrings pile up as high as your chin, and the authors keep you guessing until the killer is found—and, you’ll be surprised when this happens, but it comes at you completely unexpected. Not that there aren’t clues, it’s just that they’ve done such a fantastic job of masking them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review. I loved it. I give it five stars.
Residents of Ponderosa Pines begin to take sides on the issue, depending upon whether or not they like or dislike EV, and when Evan, who also had a very public spat with EV, is found dead in his home, the heat on EV is ratcheted up several degrees. She and Chloe then realize that if her reputation is to be salvaged, and her freedom assured, they must solve the crime.
Cat Killed a Rat by mother-daughter writing team Erin Lynn and ReGina Welling is a cozy mystery that has all you need to pass the time on a cold winter day sitting in front of a cozy fire. Clues and red herrings pile up as high as your chin, and the authors keep you guessing until the killer is found—and, you’ll be surprised when this happens, but it comes at you completely unexpected. Not that there aren’t clues, it’s just that they’ve done such a fantastic job of masking them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review. I loved it. I give it five stars.
April 14, 2017
There are so many cozy mysteries out there that authors wishing to make theirs stand out need to come up with something quite original, and that is just what ReGina Welling and Erin Lynn have done. The setting for the Ponderosa Pines series is quite unique in that the story takes place in an eco-community where members of the town work together for the good of the environment and those living in it. I found the concept that residents would, for example, all take it in turns to work in the town vegetable plots and then anyone could take home the produce, really interesting.
It might all look good and lovely on the surface, but underneath human nature is still at work though, and the town handyman turns up dead. The mystery of how and why he died isn’t especially complex and unusual, but the authors have created some intriguing characters, both in the sleuths, Chloe and EV, and in the townspeople.
Personally, I found the story a little slow moving and the writing style a little ponderous, but I still enjoyed the experience of reading a book set in a context completely outside my sphere of experience. I’m sure that the authors will continue to develop the setting as well as the characters as the series continues. There is also the added carrot of possible romantic relationships for both Chloe and EV, and readers will be interested to see how and if both these progress. I would recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries.
It might all look good and lovely on the surface, but underneath human nature is still at work though, and the town handyman turns up dead. The mystery of how and why he died isn’t especially complex and unusual, but the authors have created some intriguing characters, both in the sleuths, Chloe and EV, and in the townspeople.
Personally, I found the story a little slow moving and the writing style a little ponderous, but I still enjoyed the experience of reading a book set in a context completely outside my sphere of experience. I’m sure that the authors will continue to develop the setting as well as the characters as the series continues. There is also the added carrot of possible romantic relationships for both Chloe and EV, and readers will be interested to see how and if both these progress. I would recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries.
May 27, 2019
I Enjoyed The Relationship Between EV & Chloe As It Was Almost Like Chloe Was Taken Under EV’s Wing. I Think They Made A Great Team In This Cosy Mystery. I Liked The Differences Between The Characters In Ponderosa Pines And Loved The Descriptions Of How They Loved. Glad That This Is A Series So I Can Keep Imagining The Setting.
March 29, 2018
I enjoyed this book but I found it was a little slow for my taste. Perhaps that is because I read the second book first. I really enjoyed the second book and this one provides more background and a better understanding of the relationships. I liked the murder mystery and I enjoyed the characters.
July 17, 2016
I received this book from Choosy Bookworm in exchange for an honest review.
Emmalina Valentine Torrence, EV to her friends, was born and raised in Ponderosa Pines. She is tall and thin. She loves working in the community garden and walking or biking whenever possible.
EV’s best friend, and next door neighbor, Chloe inherited her home from her grandparents. Growing up she traveled all over the globe with her mother. After college, she moved back to Ponderosa Pines and finally felt that she was home.
At one of the quarterly town meetings, the resident slipshod handyman, Luther Plunkett is talking Ponderosa Pines being annexed by Gilmore, a small town about 20 minutes away. He is trying to convince the townspeople that this would be beneficial to everyone.
EV is certain that this is not good for the community and she is not alone in her belief. Most of the townspeople feel that this would compromise their dedication to keeping their community green, while increasing taxes and reducing their voice in the combined community. This would also mean that the police department would be disbanded and they would have to call Gilmore for any service.
When Luther Plunket turned up dead, his brother, Evan is the first suspect, but when he turns up dead too, there is speculation about the murderer, the gossip is that EV may be the culprit.
Can EV and Chloe figure out who the murderer is before anyone else dies? Can Chloe’s old friend, Nate Harper, the new deputy turn their friendship into something more? Will Nate’s new deputy in training find a way to compete with gardening for EV’s attention?
As with many firsts in series, the book starts a bit slow, so the author can lay the ground work and properly introduce the characters. I enjoyed the book very much and I can hardly wait to read the next in the series.
Emmalina Valentine Torrence, EV to her friends, was born and raised in Ponderosa Pines. She is tall and thin. She loves working in the community garden and walking or biking whenever possible.
EV’s best friend, and next door neighbor, Chloe inherited her home from her grandparents. Growing up she traveled all over the globe with her mother. After college, she moved back to Ponderosa Pines and finally felt that she was home.
At one of the quarterly town meetings, the resident slipshod handyman, Luther Plunkett is talking Ponderosa Pines being annexed by Gilmore, a small town about 20 minutes away. He is trying to convince the townspeople that this would be beneficial to everyone.
EV is certain that this is not good for the community and she is not alone in her belief. Most of the townspeople feel that this would compromise their dedication to keeping their community green, while increasing taxes and reducing their voice in the combined community. This would also mean that the police department would be disbanded and they would have to call Gilmore for any service.
When Luther Plunket turned up dead, his brother, Evan is the first suspect, but when he turns up dead too, there is speculation about the murderer, the gossip is that EV may be the culprit.
Can EV and Chloe figure out who the murderer is before anyone else dies? Can Chloe’s old friend, Nate Harper, the new deputy turn their friendship into something more? Will Nate’s new deputy in training find a way to compete with gardening for EV’s attention?
As with many firsts in series, the book starts a bit slow, so the author can lay the ground work and properly introduce the characters. I enjoyed the book very much and I can hardly wait to read the next in the series.
July 30, 2017
This book 1 of the Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery series, set in a New England town, is well edited and starts with the expected death. The next several chapters, owever, take us back in time before the apparent murder and populate the small town with a variety of characters and potential perpertrators. I wished were drawn to more depth. The main characters, an older landowner of cranky ways named EV and a young gossip columnist name Chloe, are developed better. The long hiatus from the murder creates various suspects with reasons for the murder. I had trouble seeing steady progress toward solution and wanted one of the main characters to take more of the lead in the investigation. The murderer is revealed at the end,though he/she had not been developed enough to surprise me or be mvoed by his/her guiltt. There is a cat eventually, but the animal is not on stage, doesn't deserve a cover shot. The title misleads the cozy mystery reader who might expect a central role for the feline. My main problem is the failure to convey noteworthy characters.
June 21, 2016
This is a good mystery set in the small town of Ponderosa Pines. EV and Chloe are two friends that start investigating the death of one of the town's residents after EV is held out as the main suspect by the towns' gossip. This is because she was seen arguing with the victim shortly before his death. EV investigates more by being social and Chloe by using technology. When there is another death this farther complicates things. All of the sudden there are two suspicious deaths in this quiet little town where the residents don't even bother to lock their doors. This book starts off slow but gets better once you read further. In the end I felt the story was quite clever and the characters were enjoyable. Would read this author again.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2017
This wasn't terrible, by a long stretch, but it also wasn't great. It meandered a lot and I found that it didn't hold my interest particularly well, as in, it was easy to put down and didn't make me want to read it compulsively. We had the premise of the town shoved down our throats a lot, which, granted, was important to the plot but began to grate. I also didn't actually like our two MC's all that much. Not to mention the shoe-horned romance that was tied into the plot as a way of getting people to do what the MC's wanted them to do. Oh, and I'd worked out who the killer was about halfway through the book. Generally speaking, I usually have no idea whodunnit when I read a mystery. I may work it out right near the end, around the same time things are falling into place for the sleuth, but I'm not very sharp. I think that says a lot about this book.
December 16, 2016
A wonderful cozy little mystery, this time set in a "green" community that had it's origins as a commune.
Another surprisingly wonderful free read that was genuinely funny with the antics of the characters especially the sarcastic wit of the two main characters E.V. and Chloe.
Well written with a few red herrings thrown in, it does hint at some romance to follow in the following novels of the series. An unusual ending that perhaps fell a little flat, it nonetheless was quite an enjoyable read.
Another surprisingly wonderful free read that was genuinely funny with the antics of the characters especially the sarcastic wit of the two main characters E.V. and Chloe.
Well written with a few red herrings thrown in, it does hint at some romance to follow in the following novels of the series. An unusual ending that perhaps fell a little flat, it nonetheless was quite an enjoyable read.
February 6, 2017
New to the Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery Series, I thoroughly enjoyed reading A CAT KILLED A RAT. Just the right amount of tension between gossip columnist Chloe LaRue and Detective Nate Harper. And what about the love interest between EV and Deputy Dalton Burnsoll? I’m definitely going to read the next book, “Crafting Disorder,” to find out what happens!
March 19, 2021
Nothing special to recommend this over other cozies
While I should rate this higher simply because the book is authored by a mother-daughter duo -- which had to have had its challenges, if their dynamic is anything like many mothers and daughters -- the book suffered from some issues that could have been resolved through more careful editing.
Because this is the first in the Ponderosa Pines series I expected a bit more information about the setting, which is unique and central to the plot. We're given "commune" and a description of a community among trees, with paths criss-crossing throughout, but that's about it. How big or how small is this community? Where is it geographically (in the south? Midwest? West? East? Timbuktu?)?
These sorts of questions might not matter to some readers, but I love getting so immersed in a novel that I can smell the pine needles, feel the cold snow, see the sun low (or high) on the horizon... whatever the setting might deliver. Maybe I missed this somewhere but it was enough of a distraction that I retreated to the beginning to see if I could solve the nagging setting questions circling my brain.
Welling and Lynn managed to disorient me with their character introductions as well, especially EV's. When we first meet her she comes off obnoxious and unlikeable. Later we realize why she's putting out those vibes but when I discover she's Chloe's best friend it's a trick to click "reset" so I can see EV in a sympathetic way.
All that and I pretty much had the mystery solved and the singles paired up well before the end of the book.
Sadly, the book is further marred by some issues a good beta reader or editor could (or should?) have caught. "From above, the church spire was the only visible landmark as it speared through the heavy vapor that lay close along the ground." Aside from this sentence being a bit over-written, "from above" only adds confusion to the sentence, which is much stronger without it. Similar, awkward sentences pop up in the book.
And on a word level, tossing about some terms was just frustrating for me: "Wait, are those man bits on his face?" Wait, what? What are "man bits," anyway? It has something to do with a face painter, and maybe I'm missing something here, but this reference, which is the punchline in a chapter-ending chuckle, flew right past me.
Sometimes it's hard for writers to get the distance they need from their story and characters to describe things well enough for readers to see things just as clearly.
Most of all, I was disappointed that more wasn't made of the unique setting and concept. How often do you get to read a novel set in an aging commune? Instead, this plot could have unfolded nearly anywhere.
Perhaps later books in the series picked up on some of the more interesting aspects of the quaint community of Ponderosa Pines.
While I should rate this higher simply because the book is authored by a mother-daughter duo -- which had to have had its challenges, if their dynamic is anything like many mothers and daughters -- the book suffered from some issues that could have been resolved through more careful editing.
Because this is the first in the Ponderosa Pines series I expected a bit more information about the setting, which is unique and central to the plot. We're given "commune" and a description of a community among trees, with paths criss-crossing throughout, but that's about it. How big or how small is this community? Where is it geographically (in the south? Midwest? West? East? Timbuktu?)?
These sorts of questions might not matter to some readers, but I love getting so immersed in a novel that I can smell the pine needles, feel the cold snow, see the sun low (or high) on the horizon... whatever the setting might deliver. Maybe I missed this somewhere but it was enough of a distraction that I retreated to the beginning to see if I could solve the nagging setting questions circling my brain.
Welling and Lynn managed to disorient me with their character introductions as well, especially EV's. When we first meet her she comes off obnoxious and unlikeable. Later we realize why she's putting out those vibes but when I discover she's Chloe's best friend it's a trick to click "reset" so I can see EV in a sympathetic way.
All that and I pretty much had the mystery solved and the singles paired up well before the end of the book.
Sadly, the book is further marred by some issues a good beta reader or editor could (or should?) have caught. "From above, the church spire was the only visible landmark as it speared through the heavy vapor that lay close along the ground." Aside from this sentence being a bit over-written, "from above" only adds confusion to the sentence, which is much stronger without it. Similar, awkward sentences pop up in the book.
And on a word level, tossing about some terms was just frustrating for me: "Wait, are those man bits on his face?" Wait, what? What are "man bits," anyway? It has something to do with a face painter, and maybe I'm missing something here, but this reference, which is the punchline in a chapter-ending chuckle, flew right past me.
Sometimes it's hard for writers to get the distance they need from their story and characters to describe things well enough for readers to see things just as clearly.
Most of all, I was disappointed that more wasn't made of the unique setting and concept. How often do you get to read a novel set in an aging commune? Instead, this plot could have unfolded nearly anywhere.
Perhaps later books in the series picked up on some of the more interesting aspects of the quaint community of Ponderosa Pines.
June 2, 2020
This adventure takes place in Ponderosa Pines, a small town that was once a commune in an unspecified, although I assume western state, as that is where ponderosa pines live. Some of the children of the original residents still live there and some of moved back. The principal characters in the book are Emmeline Valentina, known as EV, and Chloe, who moved all over the world with her mother when she left the commune. Ponderosa Pines prides itself on being ecologically sound, using re-cycled building materials, is energy efficient, grows most of its own produce, and puts on several festivals to bring income to it, but residents use computers, have TVS, phones , restaurants and shops. These are all a far cry from the original communes of the 60's! The town has a city council, instead of a mayor and most residents regularly attend its meetings. At one of the meetings Luther, a slip-shod builder who always tries to get around the town's building regulations, proposes that their town join up with the next, more prosperous, town, Gilmore. Most residents are against this and EV is especially outspoken. Not long after, Luther is murdered and shortly thereafter, his brother Evan is also killed. The town is naturally upset, as there has always been little crime. EV, Chole, and visiting police officer Nate try to solve the murders, but it is complicated.
The solution to the crimes is interesting, but to me the book was quite slow moving.
The solution to the crimes is interesting, but to me the book was quite slow moving.
June 27, 2018
“Cat Killed A Rat” is the first book in the Ponderosa Pines mystery series, by mother/daughter duo ReGina Welling and Erin Lynn. The action takes place in the village of Ponderosa Pines. The two protagonists are Chloe LaRue (undercover gossip columnist) and her best friend, town matriarch EV Torrence.
It is a very small town/village environment – with town hall meetings discussing Ponderosa Pines being annexed by Gilmore (the next town over), intense rivalry between EV and another town member (Evan Plunket), tempers flaring … a village resident turning up dead (in the church, no less!), then his brother also turning up dead – this one an obvious murder!
The good guys – Detective Nate Harper and Deputy Dalton Burnsoll – are on the job. But to solve the deaths, they have to work with Chloe and EV. Oh, there is also blackmail, two sisters feuding, and loads of gossip (mainly aimed at EV, and whether she was the one that committed the murder).
The plot is relatively well thought out, but the beginning drags on forever! The characters are interesting, but not too well developed.
Hopefully future books in this series build the characters better, have a more flowing storyline, and are more closely edited.
It is a very small town/village environment – with town hall meetings discussing Ponderosa Pines being annexed by Gilmore (the next town over), intense rivalry between EV and another town member (Evan Plunket), tempers flaring … a village resident turning up dead (in the church, no less!), then his brother also turning up dead – this one an obvious murder!
The good guys – Detective Nate Harper and Deputy Dalton Burnsoll – are on the job. But to solve the deaths, they have to work with Chloe and EV. Oh, there is also blackmail, two sisters feuding, and loads of gossip (mainly aimed at EV, and whether she was the one that committed the murder).
The plot is relatively well thought out, but the beginning drags on forever! The characters are interesting, but not too well developed.
Hopefully future books in this series build the characters better, have a more flowing storyline, and are more closely edited.
February 21, 2018
Ponderosa Pines used to be a commune back in the day. It eventually became a little town but kept that commune feeling, and form of government. Of course as in any small town you have your gossips and those who are gossiped about. This town is no different.
Cloe LaRue writes a gossip column for the local paper--Her closest friend EV is the daughter of one of the founders of the town and really seems to be up on all the gossip herself! Then the unthinkable happens--one of the townspeople is found dead in the church. Was it an accident or did someone try to do him in? Then his brother is found dead--bashed in the back of the head.
A lot of people start pointing the blame at EV. It is up to Cloe and EV and the sherriff and his deputy to get to the bottom of all this. So what happened--accident or murder for the first person--the second was definitely murder--but who in this small town did it and why?
This mother daughter team of authors have brought to life small town living with all its good and bad!!
Cloe LaRue writes a gossip column for the local paper--Her closest friend EV is the daughter of one of the founders of the town and really seems to be up on all the gossip herself! Then the unthinkable happens--one of the townspeople is found dead in the church. Was it an accident or did someone try to do him in? Then his brother is found dead--bashed in the back of the head.
A lot of people start pointing the blame at EV. It is up to Cloe and EV and the sherriff and his deputy to get to the bottom of all this. So what happened--accident or murder for the first person--the second was definitely murder--but who in this small town did it and why?
This mother daughter team of authors have brought to life small town living with all its good and bad!!
June 27, 2017
The fact that "cozy mystery" in the title lets you know up front that you don't have to concentrate much as it is light entertainment. This one is set in a small town, Ponderosa Pines, established by environmentally conscious people to be green. One of the main characters' (EV) parents were among the town's founders. Her best friend Chloe is actually the child of one of her childhood friends. They both work to defend the town's environmental charter. The plot has them battling a couple of brothers intent on having the town annexed by a neighboring town. The title doesn't become clear until near the end.
The level of depth and plot pace remind me of Rita May Brown's mysteries. Strong women and humor are key ingredients.
The level of depth and plot pace remind me of Rita May Brown's mysteries. Strong women and humor are key ingredients.
June 30, 2017
Murders in eccentric small towns are something of a cliche these days, but this is a fun one! Yes, it's got the requisite "characters"- pretty well-drawn here-but it's also got an interesting history: it was originally a commune, and retains many "green" values even today. But- there's a neighboring town that is more about PROGRESS!!! and which wants to annex Ponderosa Pines...
So complications ensue, and there's a maybe-murder- or could it be an accident?- and then a for-sure murder, with many suspects, not to mention blackmail...
The plot was nicely twisty, and hearkened both to current events and to events in the past, leading to extra complexity.
I very much enjoyed this, and plan to read more in the series.
So complications ensue, and there's a maybe-murder- or could it be an accident?- and then a for-sure murder, with many suspects, not to mention blackmail...
The plot was nicely twisty, and hearkened both to current events and to events in the past, leading to extra complexity.
I very much enjoyed this, and plan to read more in the series.
July 8, 2017
It took me a little while to get into the story and characters. EV and Chloe live in a small town that started as a commune, and has a unique government, and very interesting residents. EV has always lived there, her best friend Chloe went away for some time, and has returned now for three years. In this story there are 2 deaths/murders and many in this town think it was EV. It is all about the relationships and interactions of the residents. Once I got into this story, it was hard to put down, and I grew to really like this mystery, and getting to all the characters. I also liked the hint of romance for both EV and Chloe in the future. Very interesting ending, mysteries solved. Ya have to read the book to find out what, when and where.
October 6, 2017
I liked this book - cozy mystery made me choose it because I was looking for a light reading. The title confused me because there was no cat until much at the end of the book. It was an interesting book and moved quickly after the first few chapters.
The story was about a small "green" town. The neighboring town was trying to annex it and problems ensued as politics do. But it was a little shocking that based on the small town where everyone knew everyone and no one locked their doors that there would be 2 murders - so it was a little confusing at first as to where this was going.
This author provided a light story and lovely characters who were very enjoyable. I probably will read more in her series just to get a feel of her as an author.
The story was about a small "green" town. The neighboring town was trying to annex it and problems ensued as politics do. But it was a little shocking that based on the small town where everyone knew everyone and no one locked their doors that there would be 2 murders - so it was a little confusing at first as to where this was going.
This author provided a light story and lovely characters who were very enjoyable. I probably will read more in her series just to get a feel of her as an author.
February 19, 2018
Decent story, awkwardly told
The setting, the characters, and the plot could all be elements that I would have enjoyed a lot if the writing were less awkward, so that I did not need to reread sections to figure out who said or did what and why that happened. Of course it can be overdone to identify who says every sentence. But a page of alternating dialog with no speakers identified is also distracting. And even in a town settled by those hippie types, good chance that not everyone is an oddball extrovert. But belief is in the eyes of the beholder, and we are hearing the story through the eyes and ears of a child who never put down roots. So maybe that is what the world looks like through her eyes. Maybe future books will be clearer.
The setting, the characters, and the plot could all be elements that I would have enjoyed a lot if the writing were less awkward, so that I did not need to reread sections to figure out who said or did what and why that happened. Of course it can be overdone to identify who says every sentence. But a page of alternating dialog with no speakers identified is also distracting. And even in a town settled by those hippie types, good chance that not everyone is an oddball extrovert. But belief is in the eyes of the beholder, and we are hearing the story through the eyes and ears of a child who never put down roots. So maybe that is what the world looks like through her eyes. Maybe future books will be clearer.
June 26, 2017
Something about this storyline just didn't flow smoothly. Some things were constantly being repeated, I am assuming to give life and color to the setting, but after awhile they just seemed like filler. The timeline was very ambiguous too, I couldn't tell if five minutes or five days had passed between scenes. Although the characters insist that "nothing bad ever happens in Ponderosa Pines" I would expect the police to be more actively investigating a suspicious death and an obvious murder. I finished this book but I won't be reading any more in this series.
April 14, 2020
Fun Read
Ms Welling is great at grabbing you from the first few pages of this book and twisting you all over Ponderosa Pines. Chole's best friend EV has a lot of pull in this little town that began as a commune. She was a founding member.
Some people want the town to merge with another small town so they can get a big box store and attract more people.
She is having nothing to do with that and after one of the people she publicly argued with turns up dead. Well you can only imagine the rumor mill.
And it gets better sooner than later.
Ms Welling is great at grabbing you from the first few pages of this book and twisting you all over Ponderosa Pines. Chole's best friend EV has a lot of pull in this little town that began as a commune. She was a founding member.
Some people want the town to merge with another small town so they can get a big box store and attract more people.
She is having nothing to do with that and after one of the people she publicly argued with turns up dead. Well you can only imagine the rumor mill.
And it gets better sooner than later.
August 14, 2021
The plot of this book was a classic small town murder. Everyone knew everyone and no one locked their doors until 2 brothers are murdered. Two women decide to solve the murder before the police can. There was nothing special about this book that sets it apart from the several books just like it, but it wasn't bad either. While the murders were solved by the end of the book, there were cliffhangers on the two romances that developed. Overall an okay book, but I probably wont read anymore from the series. A side note: the title did not have any connection to the story, which bothered me.
November 4, 2021
I’m sorry but this was so difficult for me to get into. EV and Chloe were cute and I’m curious to know if EV and Dalton will end up together and if Chloe and Nate get together. Yes, romance in a book is usually what I wait for even more so than solving the crime. I won’t be reading the second book in this series. Sometimes if I can’t stop thinking of particular characters, I will end up picking the book up again, so maybe this will be one of those.
Next book for me to read is “An Invincible Summer” by Mariah Stewart
Next book for me to read is “An Invincible Summer” by Mariah Stewart
January 2, 2018
I love Cozy mysteries, they are the perfect soundtrack to my house work, especially ironing, mending and mailshots. This one has just the right level of small town community spirit, lots of gossip mongering and background story that has nothing to do with the murder mystery to make the town workable. It is not quite in the league of Lillian Jackson Brown at her height - but I think I would like to read another one from this series.
June 13, 2018
This is the first in the series and the first time reading this author. The main characters are Chloe and EV. EV gets in an argument with someone at a town meeting and shortly afterwards he is found dead. EV knows she didn't do it but there is talk. Then she fights with the dead man's brother and he is found dead. Chloe and EV are trying to figure out who did do it. But will they figure it out before it's too later ? I look forward to reading about their next adventure
July 19, 2018
I got this Kindle book to research cozy cat mysteries as I am on my way to start writing them. It’s a cozy mystery but no cats did any sleuthing. But that’s okay. I enjoyed this mystery to a point. I liked the story and the character’s detective work, but the writing lacked in quality - too much telling and not enough showing. Also, a good proofreader before publishing would have made this a better read. If you can overlook some mistakes, it makes for a good, light novel.
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