There once was a body the disappeared and reappeared to is book was a fantastic a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

A lovely gentle read for a sunday afternoon if you are looking for a book to take you away from it all. Enjoyable.

Murder haunts the school room as Ellie Avery takes on a dead body in her children's school along with her regular organizing duties. There are plenty of secrets behind the classroom doors, and this was a fantastic mystery with lots of twists and turns.

I truly enjoy a good mystery and who couldn't use helpful hints along the way? This could very well be a "how to" manual for working with a school PTA and keeping events organized especially where volunteers are concerned. It was also a great story that kept me guessing all the way to the end as to "who done it."



Our heroine, Ellie Avery, is an Army mom who also doubles as a professional organizer as in clutter and a little bit of a reluctant sleuth. She is extremely efficient and friendly to boot, unlike the other pro in town, Gabrielle Matheson. Unfortunately for Gabrielle, while being the organized person she is, she finds a dead body in a closet. Or does she? After a false fire drill the body has disappeared and Gabrielle is looking foolish until the body shows up on the woods on Field Day. Gabrielle decides that it is up to Ellie to get this matter organized and solved as quick as possible.



You would think that an elementary school would be a safe place but apparently this one is full of secrets and hazards. It's no secret that this is a nice little cozy mystery that would be perfect for any day and not just Mother's Day. The other perfect piece to this cozy puzzle are the tips and easy to follow directions for PTA volunteering found between chapters.

Super cute mystery with plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. This is the first one I've read in this series and it wasn't hard to follow so new readers can jump right in. Comprised of delightful characters and an amateur sleuth, this is a light cozy for your afternoon reading fix. Many of you may want to start at the beginning of the series to get the full enjoyment of them all. This is one Mother's Day that Ellie Avery is sure to remember.

This is the first book by Sara Rosett that I have read. I didn’t realize at first that was number 10 in a series; however, it works well as a standalone. I don’t feel I missed anything by not reading the other nine.


This book’s main character, Ellie, is married and has two children. That is rather unusual because these books often have a single female as the lead character. I enjoyed the interactions within the family and the other people in the book. This is a very well written cozy mystery with characters other than the culprit who have secrets. There were several people who could have committed the murder, and the reluctant mystery solver gets herself into a few tight places along the way. By the end of the book, every detail is neatly wrapped up.

For those of you with children in school there are organizing tips for PTA moms scattered throughout. Not only are there good ideas for those who set up the volunteer activities, but there are also ideas for anyone who would like to be more active in their children’s schools.

I have to say, I really enjoy cozy mysteries. This one was well worth reading

This was a great mystery and certainly took me back to my own elementary school volunteering days, without the murder, of course! Ellie Avery is such a likable character, and even though her military husband is off on maneuvers, her kids help make their home life ring true. I liked that the staff of the school rounded out so many of the secondary characters and victim, many of them with their own interesting attributes. The murder was pretty tricky and the disappearance of what may or may not be a body, a great hook at the beginning of the book. I enjoyed Ellie's hints for PTA Moms scattered throughout some of the chapters and can't believe this is already the tenth in the long running series.

Another great book in this series. the mystery was awesome, and it kept me guessing the entire time.

Mother's Day, Muffins, and Murder by Sara Rosett is book 10 in the Ellie Avery Mystery series. I had read a previous book in this series, but this one easily stands on its own. Ellie is busy enough with her organizing business and end of the year activities at her children's school. Her business rival says she saw a dead body in a closet at the school, but no one can find it. Unfortunately the rumor turns to reality when the body reappears in the woods during the school's field day. Ellie is a wonderful, realistic character. The murder mystery was excellent and kept me guessing until nearly then end. I enjoyed this book even more than the previous one I had read. I am happy to find a cozy mystery series that remains well written after the first few books.

Mother’s Day, Muffins, and Murder

by Sara Rosett

Mother’s Day, Muffins, and Murder is a thematic shoe-in for me, and it surpassed my expectations. The setting is Georgia, but the author grew up in and currently lives in Texas. The action occurs at an elementary school which is the unlikely scene of a murder. Except for the murder and mayhem, this could have been the elementary school I taught at for a few years in Leander, Texas. The details are perfect for a middle class school where parent participation is high, students wear an assigned color T-shirt for field day, and the Teacher Appreciation Week is five days of food, small gifts, and recognition for hard-working, appreciated teachers.

The main character is Ellie Avery, an Air Force wife, mother of two children, part-time organizing consultant, and very active volunteer at her children’s neighborhood school. The amiable Ellie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. She tries not to actively involve herself, but others look to her for help because of previous associations with a murder. Later, someone takes the threat to her doorstep, potentially endangering Ellie and her children.

This mystery is a fun, “don’t put me down” kind of read. The plot has twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and wanting more. The characters are interesting and there is a subplot concerning a competing organizer in town which enhances the appeal. If you like cozy mysteries, you will love Mother’s Day, Muffins, and Murder.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.


Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes:
1. #10 in the Ellie Avery Mystery Series, also called the Mom Zone Series. I enjoyed it as a standalone.
          2. The book also includes "Organizing Tips for PTA Moms" placed at the end of some chapters so as not to be intrusive into the storyline. They are practical and are approved by this former teacher who also volunteered with my school's Parent/Teacher Organization.

Publication: March 28, 2017--Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

“Yes, that is my favorite way to relax, supervising twenty-two eight-year-olds hyped up on sugar at eight in the morning.”

I wished the rest of the school year could be more like the end of the year. The end of the year--when the standardized tests were over--was when the kids got to do all the fun stuff, instead of studying for the standardized tests. Why couldn’t the kids do more hands-on activities like this throughout the year?

We rush through our days so quickly and have so many little rituals that we do, day in and day out, but then a moment like that last day of school comes along. It’s a milestone that makes a definite break in the continuum and emphasizes that one phase is ending and another beginning.

Mother’s Day, Muffins and Murder
A Mom Zone Mystery, Book #10
Sara Rosett
5 Stars

Synopsis:

With summer approaching, Ellie Avery s schedule is ruled by attending end-of-the-year events at her kids school and avoiding run-ins with her arch competitor. When a murder disrupts the core curriculum, can the two women form an alliance to teach the killer a lesson in justice?"
As a regular volunteer at North Dawkins Elementary, Ellie would never miss the annual Mother's Day breakfast even if she has to tolerate the likes of Gabrielle Matheson. The rivals aren't exactly sworn enemies, although Ellie still thinks there's only room for one professional organizer in their small Georgia town.
But when Ellie sees Gabrielle in the hallway, she s a mess. It looks like Gabrielle s seen a ghost or, as she explains, a dead body inside the supply closet. Before Ellie can get help the body vanishes . . . only to mysteriously reappear later at the school.
Little is known about the victim, a secretive snoop with a nosy nature and a penchant for keeping quiet about her own past. Ellie will leave no desk unturned to protect her kids and expose the cunning criminal’s identity. Because if she doesn t, the killer may chalk up another textbook case of murder . . .
Don’t miss Ellie Avery s great tips for PTA moms! (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Ellie is a hard working mom who can handle two kids, her organizing business, end-of-the-school-year activities, and searching for a dead body. That is a lot to handle but if anyone can do it, Ellie can. I really enjoy the fact that Ellie is a mom, she has to consider her children before she does anything dangerous. I liked reading about the after school activities and the day to day routines that she had with her children. I think it added another dimension to the book.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place around me. I felt like I could here the school bells ringing and seeing all of the children in the hallways. I had to laugh at the “car circle” dropoff and pickup and the way no one dared to disrupt the flow. I enjoyed the whole idea of this book revolving around the end of the school year, it brought back memories.

The author is also very talented in creating tension and suspense with the written word, The mystery is carried on well throughout the entire book and added suspense is thrown in during the later chapters of the book. There were enough suspects, twists and turn and red herrings to sift through that I did not figure out the culprit until it was revealed at the end. I thought I might know the who but I did not have any idea as to the why.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I have read many of the books in this series and I have enjoyed them all. Check out this book, and the rest in the series, and see what you think.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I've dipped in and out of this series over the years and I've always enjoyed it. This latest installment of Ellie's adventures was no exception. Despite the fact that the woman has been involved with more murders than anyone other than a homicide detective ever should, she's a cheery, entertaining and engaging character who always has something new to say. This is a light cozy with a big heart. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. You'll like this if you enjoy the genre. Ellie is younger than some protagonists and she's entirely relatable in her dealings with other moms.

One of the reasons I enjoy cozy mysteries is that they give me a chance to vicariously quilt or stitch or garden or bake. Mother's Day, Muffins, and Murder by Sara Rosett gave me a chance to experience life as a public school parent. Ellie Avery is hurrying from classroom to classroom to share Mother's Day muffins with both of her children when another woman tells her about the body she just saw in the supply closet, a body that's nowhere to be found after the fire alarm goes off and the building is evacuated. With no body and no adult unaccounted for, there's nothing to report to the police. But there are definitely secrets in the elementary school, and staff members who have plenty to hide. It's an enjoyable cozy with a complicated plot.

This is a great book; this is the tenth book in the Mom Zone Mystery series written by Sara Rosett. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

An entertaining cozy mystery which revolves around an elementary school. I probably would have given this book five stars if I had any interest in children or school. Despite having a middle school directly behind my house, it is not a subject near and dear to my heart. That being noted, I did still enjoy the mystery and guessed correctly early on as to the culprit behind the murder.

I have read a lot of Sara Rosett's books and my favorite thing is her ability to describe people and places so that the reader can visualize the story. She does that well in this story too.

This book, the tenth in A Mom Zone Mystery series, finds Ellie busy volunteering at her children's school for the many end of the year activities. Trouble arises when business rival Gabrielle sees a body in the school's storage room only to have it disappear when she gets Ellie to help her check it out. Later the body reappears but this turns out to be just the beginning of suspicious activities at the school.

The story is well written and it had me trying to figure out if or how these happenings were related for most of the story.

Even though part of a series this book could easily be read as a stand alone.

Since I’ve been in a cozy mystery mood lately, I was very excited to be able to review this thanks to Kensington Publishing Corp! Then I realized that it was book 10 in the series and I instantly regretted requesting it. Fortunately, from word one, the book is fun, clever, and interesting.

This could be read as a stand alone but I am even more curious in the rest of the series. Being new to the series, I did feel like I wasn’t quite getting all the information about Ellie. It’s easy to tell that this isn’t a book one but there was enough in it to not feel like I was missing anything and there were only enough details to let me in on the surrounding details, not so many details that the story was bogged down.

Ellie is a mother of two with a hubby in the military. She’s fierce! She can make muffins but can also stand up to detectives that suspect her of murder. Fortunately, this go around she’s not high on the suspect list but her conversation with the police was funny. Minus the fact that it was about a dead body!

And I love the fact that the mystery starts at 6%. Many cozy mysteries wait until a plot is nearly fully formed to dig into a murder. This started the day with the school and everything that was happening and BAM murder!

The downside is that I had my curiosity built up so I was putting together the clues and was able to pick out a prime suspect before 40%. I think this is pretty early. Although there are not many clues by this point, there were some things that stood out and made it pretty obvious.

That is the only downside though. This went fast, was a fun read, full of surprises and laughs, even while Ellie is trying to help solve a murder. There are a lot of characters, which makes me want to go back and start from the beginning even more.

In short: Great cozy mystery that fits into the genre well. Can be read without reading the nine prior, but it’s probably more fun to read them all!

This is the first Sara Rosett book I have read and will make sure to get more of her books. had not read any of the previous books in this series but had no problem jumping right ini with Ellie and the ladies of the school community and having a great time trying to solve two murders while juggling end of the school year activities. From the moment Ellie's nemesis, Gabrielle, finds a body in the storage closet that quickly disappears until the climax, I enjoyed every fast paced minute. I enjoyed the main character of this book and her easy, but determined spirit and attitude. I actually enjoyed each character and how they played into the plotline and murder. The story was fast paced, plausible, and held my attention throughout the book. I also enjoyed the school setting and the tips that the author has for PTA moms at the end of each chapter. The author does a good job in wrapping up the mystery, having it make sense to what occurred, and in revealing the killer.

I would definitely recommend reading this book and picking up more of Sara Rosett’s other novels. I especially liked the cover design.

I've read several of the books in this series and liked them all so I'm not sure why I haven't put this series on my must read list. Milkshakes, Mermaids and Murder is my go to book to carry on plane flights in case my ereader gives out. After 10+ flights I still haven't read it, but it shows that I'm confident it will be a good read since being stuck on a 4 hour flight without a good book would be a nightmare to me. Ellie is a smart, capable heroine and the author does a good job at shaking up the locations and plots so we're not just following Ellie finding the latest body on a job site.

I don't have kids so the PTA activity story line wasn't my favorite. There was enough murder plot going on the school stuff didn't detract for me. I also had no interest in the PTA event organization tips at the end of the chapters though I did breeze through them and could see them possibly being of use (though anyone with a smidge of common sense (and back bone to say NO) shouldn't need most of the tips). The hints played into Ellie's PTA experience and her organizational skills well.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

By book 10 you know what to expect from Sara Rosett and she delivers - a cozy mystery with loveable characters and a complicated plot that is easy to follow.

The school year is almost over, Mother's Day precedes Teacher Appreciation Week, meaning Ellie is in the building organizing the food while Livy & Nathan attend classes in grades 5 & 2. .

Gabrielle Matheson, her arch nemesis, drags Ellie into the calamity by insisting there was a dead body in a closet.

Det. Dave Warady might not be Ellie's favourite cop, but her respect grows as they school's secrets leak to Ellie from her organizing business clients and Warady appreciates her help.

I guessed "who done it' but there were times I wavered to another suspect.

I give it 5/5 for it's pleasant and easy reading peacefulness..