Dear Reader

Cozy mystery readers have certain expectations, which might not appeal to readers not acquainted with the genre. I recently came across a definition of cozy mysteries which might help. “Cozy mysteries, also referred to simply as “cozies”, are a sub-genre of crime fiction mysteries in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community. The crime solver is an amateur sleuth, usually but not always a woman, who is thrust into the aftermath of the murder.”

If you're acquainted with my writing, you'll know I enjoy writing dialogue, or rather, my characters enjoy engaging with dialogue - the more, the merrier! I also include enough descriptions to hint at settings, allowing the reader to engage their imagination. Also, the books are written at a reasonable length aimed at providing 3-4 hours of entertainment.

“This is mind candy at its best”  Amazon Reviewer (End Of The Lane) 

End of the Lane Book 1 - A Dear Abby Cozy Mystery

Abby Maguire’s first day in a new town and new job could be her last. Instead of writing about the weekend bake sale, she has to give a statement to the police. It seems the small town of Eden is not the idyllic place she'd imagined it to be. There's a killer on the lose but the finger of suspicion is pointed at Abby.

Abby Maguire’s luck is about to change. She’s  starting a new job in a new town. With any luck, she should be able to put her past behind her in no time. Her first assignment working for the Eden Rise Gazette will be to cover the weekend’s bake sale. Within a short time of arriving in town, there is a slight change of plans and Abby finds herself giving a statement to the police. Now her new job and her new life hang in the balance…

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I LOVE this book. The writing flowed, the story drew me in immediately and the characters were incredibly likable.  Abby flies halfway around the world to start a new life as a small-town newspaper reporter in Australia. Her first assignment is supposed to be about cake, of all things, but instead she finds herself investigating the murder of her new boss. This is sincerely the perfect cozy mystery. It is fast-paced, lighthearted, fun and engaging. I will be keeping my eye out for more books by Sonia Parin. - NetGalley Reviewer End of the Lane

“End of the Lane” by Sonia Parin had me by the cover with its atmospheric illustration, a cute doggy and the phrase “cozy mystery.” And the story had me hooked too! 

Abby Maguire transfers to a new city for a reporter’s job in small town Eden, which turns out to be less of a paradise than expected, because instead of finding a hot tip for a front page lead, she discovers her new boss’ body. And ... she’s the main suspect, while being effectively unemployed. Not a great way to start a new life, eh? But she endears the reader, as do other quirky story characters, as she sleuths for clues to prove her innocence. Loved it! 5/5 - NetGalley Literary S Reviewer

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Witch Inheritance - A Mackenzie Coven Mystery

Alexandra Elizabeth Mackenzie has had a ten year sabbatical from her responsibilities, now the Mackenzie Coven has given her a tap on the shoulder and left her with no choice but to pick up where she left off…

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Read Chapter One

“He deserves to be murdered.”

“Who said that?”

“Apparently, you did.”

With her bitter divorce behind her, Eve Lloyd wants to relax and think about her next step. Paying her aunt, Mira Lloyd, a.k.a. Elizabeth Lloyd, renown historical romance author, a long overdue visit, she plans on spending a month on Rock-Maine Island lounging around and plotting the launch of her new life. Her ex-husband, however, has other ideas. As for her aunt… she’s gone missing. And now there’s a dead body to contend with and a murder weapon with her fingerprints on it.

A mantle of suspicion hangs over Eve and everyone she encounters has a reason to want her out of the way. Unwilling to leave matters in the hands of swoon worthy Detective Jack Bradford… only because it’s her civic duty to provide a new perspective, Eve Lloyd engages the assistance of her new friend and fellow suspect, Jill Saunders. They both stumble their way through a long list of possible motives and suspects in a race to find the killer before either one turns into the next victim.

Clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

Amazon

A Deadline Cozy Mystery

Snuffed Out - Book 2

Eve Lloyd, a death knell?

Eve refuses to believe her choice of words had something to do with inviting a killer to the island,  but just to be on the safe side, she agrees to avoid all use of any and all words related to killing.

However, it might already be too late…

Her run in with a local artist, Reginald Bryant Burns, has put her in an awkward position. 

Trying to make amends, Eve resorts to bribery, but that only makes matters worse and now…

She’s a prime suspect in a murder investigation. 

The timing couldn’t be worse. She has a date with Detective Jack Bradford and the killer is threatening to ruin it for her.

Amazon

All Tied Up - Book 3

Chapter 1

The Last Bite - Book 4

Chapter 1

Final Cut - Book 5

Chapter 1

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New Yorker Zoe Wilde is determined to bond with her half sisters and finally have the family she’s missed out on. First she has some loose ends to tie up; dispose of building she’s inherited, restore the Wilde’s shredded reputation, win the hearts of the townsfolk of Eden and convince Luke Sterling to buy her out. When she takes a miniature poodle and an alpaca to a cattle dog trial, local cattle baron Luke Sterling knows life will never be the same. However, he doesn’t think she’ll last longer than a week living in the small country town, especially if the thunderclouds that have been hovering over the horizon roll in. Her roof leaks. A coffee overdose, some goats and a hankering for a baseball game prove Luke right, Zoe doesn’t belong in Eden. But springing to her rescue at a fundraiser, his feelings are exposed prompting him to break the stalemate between their families and prove Zoe’s found a place in his heart.

Read Chapter One

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When Theo Kendrick flies from L.A. to the small country town of Eden, Australia with a time sensitive task of finding his father’s old flame, his attention is diverted by Eddie Faydon – the fiery redheaded, dart throwing, wild boar hunting co-owner of Eden’s only pub, The Gloriana. Theo wears his halo on a crooked angle, but exploring possibilities with Eddie is one complication too many in his already hectic life. Besides, he’s already been shuffled off to the second place podium when his fiancée fell in love again with her ex. He won’t risk exposing his feelings again. But there are powers beyond his control at work in Eden. Eddie believes she’s either being hounded by Murphy’s Law or plagued by the disasters come in threes adage and has her sights set on a third disastrous relationship so she can finally have the happy-ever-after she craves. Trying to talk her out of getting her heart broken results in a bruised jaw, many tulips, a Beagle named Murphy and the threat of a visit from Eddie’s double barrel shotgun wielding grandmother…

Read Chapter One

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Mitch Faydon always plays nice, never hurting anyone, never making promises he can’t keep, but now that he’s been used, he’s sworn to shake off the bad-boy of Eden reputation. It’s time for everyone to see there’s more to him than meets the eye. No easy task when you’re known as a sweet talker who can convince anyone into doing anything, even if they don’t want to, or shouldn’t want to. When his particular skill set is called on to diffuse a situation, Mitch encounters the parking snatcher, Elizabeth Charles. The pretty strawberry blonde tourist is experiencing some issues. Her pride is on the line and her entire future depends on a Puff Donut that has reduced her to a whimpering mess. Before either one can come to terms with their new lives, they’ll tackle anaemic looking omelettes, try to catch a rhubarb thief, go hunting for the ghost of Wilbur, and discover that love has a way of sneaking up even when you least expect it… 

Read Chapter One

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Lexie Gardner’s small life becomes smaller when her beautiful view is replaced by Darth Vader’s pied-à-terre. Now wherever she turns, the hotshot developer responsible is there, taunting her with his easy manner and good looks. As hard as it is to resist him, Lexie’s still getting over her near miss with her ex and solely focused on writing Lulu McGee’s comic strip… and dealing with her brainiac sister who has crash landed on her sitting room sofa… not to mention her demanding parents—her decision to leave Eden and move to Melbourne instead of settling down with some nice country boy adding to their monumental disillusionment. Telling Jack she’s over the whole dating game because the results don’t justify the effort she puts in prompts him to suggest she date someone she’s not interested in. Him. As the family screw-up, she’s bound to get even that wrong.

Jack’s not interested in another relationship. Since ditching his suit and tie job and being dumped by his fiancée, he’s been busy recreating himself. For once, he wants to avoid bumpy roads and curve balls and all manner of obstacles and diversions—a big ask when he has several stepsisters to contend with and a father who’s onto marriage number five. Now Lexie Gardner has taken up residence in his mind, every waking thought focused on her. By the time he realizes there’s never a right place and time to fall in love, it might be too late…

As Eddie Faydon's best friend and owner of Joyce's Cafe in Eden, Joyce Breeland has appeared in Her Charming Heartbreaker, Her Perfect Mismatch, and Her Irresistible Troublemaker. She is determined to find her teacups and so has demanded to have her own story...

Joyce Breeland’s traumatic childhood hasn’t held her back. She’s made a life for herself in the small alpine town of Eden and everyone in her life matters. Including Bradford Mills - the man who taunts her with his indifference. They have a good working relationship - he buys coffee from her, she sells him coffee, and no matter what she brews for him, she can’t crack his calm exterior. Then everything changes. She's gone too far and now she suspects him of being a hired killer on vacation...

One day Joyce Breeland is a minx, the next she’s parading around as a Nutcracker soldier, or a Christmas angel. Watching Joyce embrace life almost as if she wanted to give her past a middle finger salute adds to the entertainment value and has kept Bradford Mills relatively sane. He’s waited a year to resume his career as overseas correspondent for a major newspaper. This isn’t the time to stop avoiding Joyce. While going to her rescue has lowered his guard, he feels Joyce deserves someone who’s good to the core and he only has sarcasm and cynicism to offer her. However, he knows his uncle lured him to this small town for a reason. When he realizes what it is, his life will never be the same again.

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Read Chapter One and Two