A Room with a Roux

What a delight to be back in Willowood Cove on the Olympic Peninsula! I have loved this series from the beginning, and this one is no exception. First, I love the cover with Flapjack – the feline, not the food! The novel and characters invited me in from the start, and the descriptions of the ocean, town, and mountain lodge are beautifully enticing. Whodunit was a puzzle, a mystery that wouldn’t leave Marley alone even when back at their oceanside Victorian home. Marley owns the Flip Side, a breakfast restaurant in Willowood Cove, and in the winter, Brett works for a contractor who does remodels. Their friend and neighbor recommended Holly Lodge in the mountains for a gorgeous, peaceful getaway for the still-newlywed couple. The drive into the mountains is harrowing, but once they arrive at the lodge, they are captivated by the splendor of the lake and surrounding woods. The lodge is everything they could hope for, and they look forward to their time there. Tension between owners Rita and Kevin, and between Kevin, and a guest, Wilson, are evident, but won’t spoil their stay. Two of the guests are writers. Ambrose is a poet and Lily an author of both romance novels and mysteries, and Lily says they are kindred spirits. During the night, Marley saw a man walking towards the lodge in snowshoes even as she hears someone walking in the hall outside their room. The next morning, Kevin is missing; Rita has not seen him since late the previous night. It is not like him to go anywhere without telling Rita or Harvey, their groundskeeper and the man Marley saw outside during the night. Not long afterwards, when returning from taking photos, Marley spotted fabric that looked like that of Kevin’s jacket poking out of a snowdrift. She and Brett begin to scoop through the snow with their bare hands only to make the terrible discovery. Kevin was dead, buried in the snowdrift, and he appears to have had a head injury. The following day, Marley and Brett returned to Willowood Cove and began to prepare for Christmas festivities. Marley didn’t forget about the murder, but she was happy to not be involved in another mystery. At least until Lily arrived at their neighbor Patricia’s B&B to continue research for her next novel. Ambrose actually lives in Willowood Cove, having moved there a short time ago. It seems this case isn’t going to leave her alone. Plot twists kept bringing the mystery to Marley, and she and her friends talked through what they learned about it. Just when I thought I knew whodunit, there was another surprise, and someone I had briefly considered earlier took top spot. There are some heart-pounding scenes and surprises throughout, including the real motive for Kevin’s death. I was very satisfied with the ending, and I highly recommend it to those who like challenging cozy mysteries, engaging, personable characters, the best of oceanside and mountain settings, and delicious recipes. From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.