Well written plot with interesting characters that actually made growth development. Soild mystery without someone thinking their smarter than the police

Maggie loves to sit in the tower room of an old Victorian mansion, a house her mother cleans, but things get messy when she finds the local realtor dead at the bottom of the stairs and she may be the only "witness" because of an argument she heard from the tower room. Fonda Chandler, an elder dementia patient at the local nursing home, is the owner and gave Maggie permission to be there, but no one else knows that so Maggie is afraid to let anyone know what she heard. Another murder gets the local sheriff thinking that the "accidental" fall by the realtor wasn't necessarily an accident.

The characters in this series are continuing to emerge with their own personalities and the mystery was entertaining.

This series has been so fun! Combine a quaint town, surprising murder, and quirky characters and you get an entertaining, interesting novel! I like that the villain is not entirely predictable. The romance is sweet and the interwoven themes of faith are well written. I have greatly enjoyed this series and am excited to share my recommendation with family and friends!

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane’s simple job in his little town changes to high stress when a realtor, engaged in selling a home accidentally falls down the house’s staircase. She dies from her injury. No one considers this incident a murder but Michael senses something awry. As one of the oldest homes in town, this three story mansion carries a history of falls. The citizens maintain closed mouths not assisting Michael at all. Is something sinister occurring in his domain?
I thoroughly enjoyed this third novel in the Hidden Springs Mystery series. This can be read as a stand alone but the fascinating people living in Hidden Springs will grow on you in each book. A. H. Gabhart has written another hit! Hopefully, another in the series is coming to resolve issues left open!
NetGalley and Revell provided a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love this series!!! The mysteries and relationships formed capture and hold the reader's attention!

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery from the Hidden Springs series. It was a light whodunit but it did have a few surprising twists. The characters were fun and quirky and the town is one you want to visit. Can't wait for the next mystery series from Gabhart.

This is the third installment in the Hidden Springs Mystery series. I highly recommend the series although this book can stand alone. I enjoy the series as a well crafted exciting mystery series This is a outstanding addition as the author weaves a view of small town life among a murder mystery with many twist and turns..
A young girl hears a murder while trespassing in a old Victorian house with a mysterious past and becomes a target of the killer. The local police detective has his hand full protecting her and investigating the case. Its a thrilling conclusion and a very enjoyable read. I highly recommend this series for all mystery fans . A delightful read!

These just keep getting better. I love this town. No one wants an accident to be considered a murder, especially the Deputy Sheriff. Michael just wants a peaceful day of fishing but that is not what he gets. I love all these characters and hope Michael will find happiness soon. I look forward to many more books in this series. I did not want to put this book down. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Love this mystery....funny, quirky and sweet. Thank you for sharing it w/ me. Have recommended it highly to all of my reading friends.

I think this was the best of the series I did not want to put it down. 15yr old Maggie overhears a fight, discovers two dead bodies and is threatened by a stranger. Trying to protect her little brother she tries to deal with the threat on her own, but Anthony won’t let her he makes her tell Michael. The first death appears to be caused by an accident, but after the second body is found, obviously caused by murder, Michael begins to question the cause of the first one. Can Michael find the party responsible before someone else gets killed? I felt for Maggie, so much happened to her in such a short time. Yes the murder or murders was the main focus of the book, but romance blooming between multiple characters was embedded within the story as well.

I enjoyed the return of Anthony from book one it was great to see he was doing much better than earlier and to watch young love develop between him and Maggie. I loved that Michael’s relationship with Alex played such a large part of this story, I had been cheering for them since the beginning and wanted them to face their issues rather than avoiding them. Yes Reese and Aunt Lindy had to push them a bit to get them to this point. Of course things don’t go smoothly, but they finally shared their feelings. Is this the end of their relationship or the beginning of a new chapter?

The characters made this story. I was entertained by Betty Jean, Reese and Aunt Lindy. Rooting for Michael & Alex, and has Betty Jean finally found love? Miss Fonda was an interesting new character, her dementia added a new perspective to the incidents happening now.

Storyline
New-to-us author A.H. Gabhart takes us to a little town called Hidden Springs, where the Sheriff's office keeps busy handing out parking tickets, working the school crosswalks and assuring little old ladies they are safe.

But lately this charming town and it's crew of characters have been faced with several murders - and Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane is on the case.

In this third installment of the Hidden Springs Mystery books, a woman slips and falls down a set of stairs in an old Victorian home, and her death is ruled an accident. But several questions remained unanswered leaving Michael investigating for a deeper story - especially since another woman died in the same manner, in the same house, many years ago.

Depth
For anyone who enjoys the puzzle of mysteries, but doesn't care for intense, disturbing or creepy scenes, this book is for you! Although it deals with murder, it is written very tactfully and lightheartedly. The sweet and colorful characters are original and deal with issues such as unemployment, alcoholism and family.

Faith
You won't find any real life changing conversions among the characters in these books, but most of them do attend church, have faith in God, and pray to Him when in tough situations.

Love Story
Michael has been in love with his childhood friend Alex for as long as he can remember. And he thinks she probably feels the same way. But they both want different things in life - is either of them willing to sacrifice their own dreams in order to get married and stay together forever? Michael and Alex have some real soul searching to do and share some sweet moments together.

Overall
This author and series is new to us, and these books are a good, enjoyable read. They are lighthearted and enchanting. This town and its characters are fun and we look forward to continuing on with them in future books. If you are looking for an entertaining read, and a good mystery that won't make you afraid to turn out the lights at night, this series is for you!

I gotta admit, I signed up to review this book because of the cover. I’ve always loved the board game “Clue” and its layout. Always made me wish I could climb inside it. So when I saw this book, I couldn’t resist despite the fact that it was the third in a series. Well, before I started reading it, I’d decided I’d see if I might get a hold of the first two books somehow (through Kindle lending if nothing else). Well, as it turned out the first one is free at the moment. So I snagged it and as I was nearing the end I knew I HAD to read the second one, so I broke down and paid for it…but it was totally worth it! And finally about 10 days after I initially received the book, I finally got the read the third one.

Okay that was all back story. Now for my review.

Even though I did read all three in order, I think even if I had only read the third one it would have been fine as a stand-alone. There are references to occurrences in the previous books, but nothing that would be confusing or detract from the story. This was a truly enjoyable book to read.

Despite what I said in my last review about enjoying being shocked at the end of a mystery to find out “who-dun-it”, I still enjoyed figuring out who it was almost from the start of each of these mysteries. The last one was a little more difficult for me than the other two and I only ended up getting it half-right after all. There was definitely a surprise waiting for me at the end of this one.

I loved Michael and Alex’s little side story that wasn’t directly related to any of the mysteries, but, ugh, Mrs. Gabhart still left me with some unanswered questions. Could we have one more little novella please?

I loved all the towns people that helped fill out the story so wonderfully. Honestly, it’s almost like a modern day Mayberry, all the way down to Aunt Lindy in place of Aunt Bee, and Lester in place of Barney Fife. I gotta say though, Hank the news reporter just about got on my last nerve. 🙂

There is one thing that brings it down to 4 stars for me. The spiritual content lacked much to be desired. The only one that seemed like she was probably a real Christian in the entire series was Aunt Lindy. The rest were all pretty wishy-washy. Not only that but there is a Presbyterian woman pastor that is painted in a very positive light which I found very annoying.

So my over all review: for a good, clean, enjoyable, cozy mystery, this is a great choice! But don’t expect much in the spiritual department.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Revell Books in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this cozy murder mystery and didn't realize it was part of the Hidden Springs Mystery series until I came to Goodreads to review the story. It's book 3 and I obviously had no problems enjoying the great mystery and solving the case, just like Alex and her old beau Michael. I really enjoyed young Maggie and her part in the story and hope as the series progresses she will continue to be part of the story. The book was engaging and held my interest until the last page.

This was a great mystery, I really loved the entire story and plot. I had a blast reading it!

The following review appears on my blog, Amazon, and Goodreads:
Howdy, Folks!
I have spent every spare second since I last posted reading "The Hidden Springs Mysteries." This is because I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of "Murder is No Accident" by A. H. Gabhart through a partnership with Revell publishing and Netgalley. The book is the third installment in the series and the latest release for Gabhart, who also writes under the name Ann H. Gabhart. If you are a fan of the cozy Christian whodunit, clear your calendar, because you won't be able to do anything else until you've finished this tale. Note that though all these books share a location and characters, they each can be enjoyed as a standalone without difficulty.
That said, this volume begins when teenager Maggie Greene is looking for a place where she can daydream and write her stories in peace. Unfortunately, she sneaks into the tower room in a mansion in small town Hidden Springs, Kentucky. Shortly after she arrives, she hears raised voices and the local realtor tumbles down the staircase to her death. Not wanting to get caught trespassing, she uses the victim's cell phone to report the incident anonymously to the police and runs away. However, in dodging one problem, she creates a whole host of others. She didn't escape unnoticed, and whoever saw her wants to make sure she stays silent. Her only choice is to contact law enforcement. Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane starts investigating what looks like a routine accident, but then someone else dies in the house. This time it's clearly murder. Can Michael connect the events and track down the perpetrator before someone else gets hurt?
The target audience for this story is age twelve years old and up. There is no objectionable content in this volume, and wonderful Christian truth is woven seamlessly into the pages, but sensitive youngsters may be impacted by the violence portrayed in the genre. I highly recommend this series to people who like Irene Hannon and Nancy Mehl. My rating is five out of five stars. For those who are interested in the complete experience, the publication order is as follows:
Murder at the Courthouse (Hidden Springs Mystery #1)
Murder Comes by Mail (Hidden Springs Mystery #2)
Murder is No Accident (Hidden Springs Mystery #3)
All these adventures are available now, so look for them at your favorite retailer. Until we meet again...
Happy Reading,
Carolyn

Hidden Springs has seen its share of mysteries. So Michael Keane is hoping that things settle down, finally. Yet when a woman is found dead at the Chandler mansion, questions arise. Was it an accident or was it murder?

I've really enjoyed this series. The characters are quirky and loveable. I've come to enjoy these books.

I love how Michael is determined to keep the town safe and that he somehow finds himself in the midst of mysteries. This one kept me turning pages all the way to the end. I had an idea as to who was the bad guy, and I wanted to see if I was right.

I received a copy of the book for free from the publisher as part of the Revell Reads program. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of mysteries.

Rating - 4 stars

This has been a fun series as it ties a good mystery with great characters. I love the small town atmosphere and how Maggie feels that using the old mansion is just the ticket to make her stories work. She find more than she bargained for though when people start turning up dead. I enjoyed the suspense of the book and how Maggie wanted to stay quiet about her involvement, but would up quite involved instead.
I received a copy of this from the publisher, but the review is entirely my own.

Journey again to Hidden Springs, a small-town with an old, empty Victorian mansion on a quiet street that becomes the place of murder in Murder is No Accident by A.H. Gabhart.

I almost passed up on this book because I didn’t enjoy the previous one in the series, but I decided to give it a try and I’m glad I did. I liked the cover of the book and the way it painted the picture of the mystery in my mind. The concept of the murder right below the stairs made for a interesting plot line and one that’s believable. This made the police think the death of the realtor was an accident.

I picked up this book for the mystery aspect of the story. While there was some romance in this book, it didn’t do that much for me. I know it was necessary to have something else beyond just solving the mystery, but the mystery was my main interest.

Overall, this was a good book. There were a number of characters that gave the small-town America feel. While this book didn’t make my must read list, it did give me a cozy mystery to read.

Murder is No Accident by A.H. Gabhart is the third book in The Hidden Springs Mysteries. Maggie Greene is up in the tower room writing of the Chandler house when she hears noises below. Maggie stays as still as possible so she will not be discovered. Then Geraldine Harper, the local realtor, enters the house. Maggie hears Geraldine find the intruder and an argument ensues. Geraldine goes to call the sheriff, but it is her last act. Only after she is sure the trespasser has departed, does Maggie venture down from the tower. She finds Geraldine dead at the bottom of the back steps (many big Victorian homes had a fancy front staircase and a serviceable back staircase that was very narrow). Maggie is afraid she will be accused of trespassing even though she has permission from Fonda Chandler, the owner of the house. Maggie uses Geraldine’s phone to call 911 anonymously and then she quietly leaves. While Maggie did not see anyone nearby, someone saw her. Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane receives a call that Miss Fonda (as she is called) has once again escaped from the Gentle Care Home where she is looked after by Mrs. Gibson. Miss Fonda has dementia and forgets that she no longer lives at Chandler house. Michael arrives at Chandler house as he is notified of the 911 call. He notices that her car is out front and enters the open house. He finds Miss Fonda holding Geraldine. She believes it is her deceased sister, Audrey who died in a very similar manner. Geraldine’s death is ruled accidental. But soon another person is found dead inside the Chandler home. Maggie is afraid to come forward after she receives a threatening call from the killer. Has someone decided to search for the rumored treasure of Chandler house? Michael will need to work quickly to find the guilty party before the killer takes further action.

While Murder is No Accident is the third book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I was never able to get into and enjoy this book. It is hard to describe the writing style. One of the problems is the point-of-view. It is told in the first person and switches between Michael and Maggie. Murder is No Accident is jam packed with activity. There is just one incident after another. Besides the main mystery there is Miss Fonda escaping from the care home (frequently which does not speak well for their care or vigilance), fishing, the fifty-year-old mystery of how Audrey, fishing, Miss Fonda’s sister died, Sonny trying to sell Miss Fonda’s home, fishing, the romance between Michael and Alex Sheridan (which was very prevalent), Betty Jean Atkins dating life, Lana Waverly’s tea shop and investigation, and more fishing. In the small town of Hidden Springs, everyone gets involved in your life (even if you wish they would not). One of the problems with Murder is No Accident is the number of characters. I stopped keeping track after twelve. I did not like how fifteen-year-old Maggie was portrayed as simple minded when she actually is creative and smart (she likes to write). The Christian element is very subtle (mostly prayer). Murder is No Accident is more cozy than mystery. I give Murder is No Accident 3 out of 5 stars. The mystery may seem complicated, but the solution was not (at least part of it). I wish the author had provided an epilogue. I think it would have helped. I enjoy Christian mysteries (I get new ones every month), but this one was not for me. I think the right elements are present, they just needed to be put together differently.

I have enjoyed this cozy mystery series. Gabhart produces a good mix of mystery, character development, small town antics, and a hint of romance.

I like the small town setting of the series. There are many quirky characters that liven up the plot. The accidental death (perhaps murder) takes place in the old home of a dementia laden woman who frequently escapes her assisted care to return “home.” There is the deputy who loves to run his siren any chance he gets. There's a busy body newspaper man, and the town inhabitants who go out to the streets when they do hear a siren.

I like the tongue in cheek dialog Gabhart has crafted. One character is a would be mystery writer. In a discussion with the hero, deputy sheriff Michael, she says, “Writing murder mysteries takes skill, the same as catching murderers.” That's just one example of some good dialog.

The mystery itself is double edged. There is at least one current murder and a death from years ago that may have been a murder too. The plot develops around both situations. There are enough hints that one might well figure out the nefarious people involved before the end.

The mystery, I think, is secondary to the depiction of small town life and the people in it. The strength of the novel revolves around the characters and how they support each other. The novel is a fun look at a small town in the midst of crisis.

I recommend this book and the series to those who like small town settings and mysteries without gore and offensive language. Several characters are Christians but the Christian influence is subtle. Many of the individuals have been in the previous novels of the series. While this book reads well on its own, I would recommend the earlier books.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.