
Murder on Devil's Pond
Ayla Rose
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21,000+ Reviews
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Description
2025 LILIAN JACKSON BRAUN MEMORIAL AWARD NOMINEE!
A quaint Vermont inn offers idyllic peace–until a body is found on the property–in this charming series debut, perfect for fans of Ellen Byron and Ellery Adams.
When thirty-three-year-old Hannah Solace returns to her hometown to renovate and reopen the inn she co-owns with her sister Reggie, her mission is to give the old Victorian hotel an entirely new life. She’s even planting pollinator gardens around the inn–native flowers and fruit trees to lure honeybees and houseguests alike.
Hannah’s fresh start is stymied by Reggie’s continual interference, unreliable contractors, a check-the-couch-for-coins budget, and townspeople Hannah left behind fifteen years ago. Her main source of camaraderie is Ezra Grayson, an eighty-year-old recluse who lives nearby. After an unsettling conversation with a disgruntled Ezra, Hannah is horrified to discover him dead on her property later that day.
Ezra had always had plenty of people to complain about, especially locals trying to force him out of his property for its prime real estate. As buzz around town grows after his death, Hannah finds herself on the short list of suspects. Hannah starts digging and quickly discovers that secrets lurk beneath the charming surface of the town she once again calls home.
A quaint Vermont inn offers idyllic peace–until a body is found on the property–in this charming series debut, perfect for fans of Ellen Byron and Ellery Adams.
When thirty-three-year-old Hannah Solace returns to her hometown to renovate and reopen the inn she co-owns with her sister Reggie, her mission is to give the old Victorian hotel an entirely new life. She’s even planting pollinator gardens around the inn–native flowers and fruit trees to lure honeybees and houseguests alike.
Hannah’s fresh start is stymied by Reggie’s continual interference, unreliable contractors, a check-the-couch-for-coins budget, and townspeople Hannah left behind fifteen years ago. Her main source of camaraderie is Ezra Grayson, an eighty-year-old recluse who lives nearby. After an unsettling conversation with a disgruntled Ezra, Hannah is horrified to discover him dead on her property later that day.
Ezra had always had plenty of people to complain about, especially locals trying to force him out of his property for its prime real estate. As buzz around town grows after his death, Hannah finds herself on the short list of suspects. Hannah starts digging and quickly discovers that secrets lurk beneath the charming surface of the town she once again calls home.
Product Details
Publisher | Crooked Lane Books |
Publish Date | July 09, 2024 |
Pages | 304 |
Language | English |
Type | |
EAN/UPC | 9781639107117 |
Dimensions | 8.5 X 5.7 X 1.0 inches | 0.8 pounds |
About the Author
Ayla Rose is an author and lawyer who lives in the Green Mountains of Vermont. When not writing, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her husband, sons, and the family’s three dogs.
Reviews
Praise for Murder on Devil’s Pond:
2025 LILIAN JACKSON BRAUN MEMORIAL AWARD NOMINEE!
“Past secrets and present problems combine in a character-driven cozy.”
—Kirkus
“This new cozy series is sure to be appreciated by fans of Victoria Gilbert and Mary Daheim.”
—Booklist
“Ayla Rose's debut mystery, Murder on Devil's Pond, is an exquisitely divine cozy! Highly intriguing from cover to cover, it is a great summer read. This novel contains all the attributes that I look for in a cozy. This one is perfection.”
—Gumshoe Review
“The pacing is perfect, the sleuthing is practical, and the ensuing action keeps the pages flowing. Murder on Devil’s Pond is a winning debut that promises to have more murderous guests checking in at the Hummingbird Hollow B&B in the future.”
—Fresh Fiction
“More plot twists than a Disneyland roller coaster.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Readers will fall in love instantly with this story . . . I highly recommend adding this book to your to be read pile.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
“A fun [novel], with interesting characters, an easy-to-read story and a cute dog named Moose.”
—Red Carpet Crash
“[I]ntriguing and suspenseful tale . . . I enjoyed this book and look forward to more adventures with Hannah and her friends.”
—Dru’s Book Musings
“Ayla Rose has penned an enchanting first in series with tips for the garden, vivid imagery, a cozy New England setting, and likeable characters who will keep you coming back.”
—Kathi Daley, USA Today bestselling author
“In Murder on Devil's Pond, Ayla Rose has created a delightful blend of family drama, suspense, and community where old secrets bloom alongside the sweet scent of pollinator gardens. A must-read for anyone who loves a cozy mystery with a touch of botanical charm.”
—Jennie Marts, USA Today bestselling author of Take the Honey and Run
“Ayla Rose’s Murder on Devil’s Pond is a captivating start to a new mystery series. Featuring well-developed characters, an intriguing mystery, and a vivid evocation of its Vermont setting, this book captures the reader’s attention from page one. Highly recommended for those who enjoy books with sophisticated plotting, deep characterization, and immersive setting and atmosphere. Readers will be looking forward to the next book in the series as soon as they finish this one.”
—Victoria Gilbert, author of the Blue Ridge Library, Booklovers B&B, and Hunter and Clewe mystery series
“With an intriguing plot, plenty of town secrets, and greedy players fighting for an inheritance, Murder on Devil’s Pond delivers a mystery that's sure to please and entertain readers.”
—Bailee Abbott, author of the Paint by Murder mysteries
“I loved this beautifully-written, quintessentially New England story of the joys and challenges of family life, small-town living, and personal growth. Bonus, there’s a twisty murder that needs solving.”
—Barbara Ross, author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries
2025 LILIAN JACKSON BRAUN MEMORIAL AWARD NOMINEE!
“Past secrets and present problems combine in a character-driven cozy.”
—Kirkus
“This new cozy series is sure to be appreciated by fans of Victoria Gilbert and Mary Daheim.”
—Booklist
“Ayla Rose's debut mystery, Murder on Devil's Pond, is an exquisitely divine cozy! Highly intriguing from cover to cover, it is a great summer read. This novel contains all the attributes that I look for in a cozy. This one is perfection.”
—Gumshoe Review
“The pacing is perfect, the sleuthing is practical, and the ensuing action keeps the pages flowing. Murder on Devil’s Pond is a winning debut that promises to have more murderous guests checking in at the Hummingbird Hollow B&B in the future.”
—Fresh Fiction
“More plot twists than a Disneyland roller coaster.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Readers will fall in love instantly with this story . . . I highly recommend adding this book to your to be read pile.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
“A fun [novel], with interesting characters, an easy-to-read story and a cute dog named Moose.”
—Red Carpet Crash
“[I]ntriguing and suspenseful tale . . . I enjoyed this book and look forward to more adventures with Hannah and her friends.”
—Dru’s Book Musings
“Ayla Rose has penned an enchanting first in series with tips for the garden, vivid imagery, a cozy New England setting, and likeable characters who will keep you coming back.”
—Kathi Daley, USA Today bestselling author
“In Murder on Devil's Pond, Ayla Rose has created a delightful blend of family drama, suspense, and community where old secrets bloom alongside the sweet scent of pollinator gardens. A must-read for anyone who loves a cozy mystery with a touch of botanical charm.”
—Jennie Marts, USA Today bestselling author of Take the Honey and Run
“Ayla Rose’s Murder on Devil’s Pond is a captivating start to a new mystery series. Featuring well-developed characters, an intriguing mystery, and a vivid evocation of its Vermont setting, this book captures the reader’s attention from page one. Highly recommended for those who enjoy books with sophisticated plotting, deep characterization, and immersive setting and atmosphere. Readers will be looking forward to the next book in the series as soon as they finish this one.”
—Victoria Gilbert, author of the Blue Ridge Library, Booklovers B&B, and Hunter and Clewe mystery series
“With an intriguing plot, plenty of town secrets, and greedy players fighting for an inheritance, Murder on Devil’s Pond delivers a mystery that's sure to please and entertain readers.”
—Bailee Abbott, author of the Paint by Murder mysteries
“I loved this beautifully-written, quintessentially New England story of the joys and challenges of family life, small-town living, and personal growth. Bonus, there’s a twisty murder that needs solving.”
—Barbara Ross, author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries
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