Sasha Silverman, like many protagonists, finds herself back in her hometown at the age of 31, helping her sister Maddie and Uncle Ross run the family's teddy bear factory and shop in SIlver Hollow, Michigan. Sales rep Will Taylor seems to be universally detested by the factory workers who are continually threatened with jobs moving overseas. When the sisters find him murdered near the stuffing machine, the easy breezy plot picks up. I like the rapport both Sasha and Maddie have with the townspeople and their willingness to continually host teddy bear events in the face of this bit of unpleasantness. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and I'm not sure if all will make the cut and return in the next book, but the return of their semi-retired parents and Sasha's ex husband certainly warrant more storylines!

This is the first book in a new cozy series "Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mysteries". Sasha Silverman is the manager of her family's business, Silver Bear Shop and Factory, in Silver Hollow, Michigan. Her father has retired (although he still owns the company) and her parents have moved to Florida. With her sister Maddie who handles the office and Uncle Ross who runs the factory, she enjoys her job and creates many fun opportunities for the residents and visitors. The family prides themselves on the great quality of Silver Bears, each being handmade with hinged limbs so when the sales manager, Will Taylor tells them that they are moving the factory operations to China and laying off staff, there are many disgruntled people. When Will's body is found dead later that night in the factory, Uncle Ross is the main suspect for his vociferous claims of wanting to kill him. In order to save her uncle and the family business, Sasha begins her own investigation of who killed the sales manager.

I found the story dragged in some spots as there was an overwhelming amount of detail, and in some it breezed along. Sasha is successful in her attempts to ferret out the culprit, but she came across as annoying and just plain nosy at times. She is a smart business woman and worked hard to make her family business a success. She has a lot of friends and engenders loyalty from them. I know this is the first book and I hope the characters get fleshed out more in future stories as there were a lot of people introduced in this book. I will admit that it was the cover that attracted me to this story. I love teddy bears and this was a cute story. It was the epitome of a cozy with its small town, quaint characters and settings, amateur sleuth and a mystery to solve. It did not make me think too hard, I figured out the killer early, but still kept reading and enjoyed the story. If you like a cute cozy, you will enjoy this one.

A wonderful cozy mystery series that is delightful and fun to read. This is the first book in the new Teddy Bear Mystery series by Meg Macy. It is the perfect start to a wonderful series .
This is a exciting story of a Teddy Bear factory and store called "The Silver Bear" that is a family owned and run business in a small town called Silver Hollow. Sasha is the manager of the store and our new favorite protagonist She is single and very independent, smart and determined to make her business a success.
When a sales representative has a disagreement with her Uncle and is found dead, Sarah investigates to clear his name.
This is a definitive cozy with all the perfect elements of a great mystery. The author has a well crafted plot, wonderful protagonist, great sleuth and fun characters. I loved it and look forward to the next in series.
I highly recommend Bearly Departed for your reading enjoyment for all mystery fans
Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review. Cross posted to Amazon.

This book opens with sisters Sasha and Maddie working in their bear factory and what transpires when Will Taylor their sales rep who wants to make changes that goes against everything Sasha and Maddie were raised to believe about the bear factory. When after a heated meeting of the workers goes wrong Will Taylor finds himself stuffed. Who killed the sales rep and why? Was it a heated fight with his wife? Or did he upset the wrong person at the factory?

I enjoyed learning about bears and what goes into making them. This book was such fun to read how Sasha tried to figure out what happened to keep her Uncle from being convicted of Will's murder. Definitely a fabulous new book series that pulls you in and won't let go until the last page is turned. Who would have thoughts bears could be so intriguing for young and old!

Bearly Departed by Meg Macy was an enjoyable cozy mystery read that kept me turning the pages until the end.

Ms. Macy definitely has provided a captivating small town with her attention to detail as she provided well developed characters and enough description of Silver Hollow to make me feel like I was right there with Sasha as she searched for clues. The well paced plot with clues, suspects and enough twists to keep me guessing until the reveal.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

4 out of 5 stars.

While I felt that there was a bit of a slow start to the book, once I got into it, this was a fun and delightful read; a great start to a new series!

I like our main characters. For the most part, Sasha has a sensible head on her shoulders. Right at the end, she seemed to lose that sensibility and put herself in real danger, but that was the first time in the whole book she'd done that so I think I'm really going to end up liking her as a character.

Since I live in SE Michigan, I'm very familiar with the area that Ms. Macy used in the book. You could tell that she combined some towns to make the area, but if you weren't from this area, it'd seem like a really nice little town. Being from here didn't detract from the story line. I don't mean that. It was kind of neat to see the things that she included and what she mixed around for originality, that kind of thing. :)

The plot line moved along at a steady pace. As I said above, I had a bit of a slow start getting into it, but once I did, I enjoyed it. I wondered about the villain, but I didn't get the whole picture until the end when it was revealed.

I'd definitely recommend this new series and I look forward to the next one, even tho' we have to wait until next June for it!

*** Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions and conclusions are my own. ***

Bearly Departed by Meg Macy is the first book in A Teddy Bear Mystery series. The book introduces readers to Sasha, manager of the family business, Silver Bear Shop and Factory. The business sales rep, Will, pops in with some unpopular news about changes to the business. Sasha and her sister, Maddie, find Will murdered in the factory. The mystery is a bit weak as the murderer is quite obvious early on. I want to like the characters, but each has something unlikeable. Sasha wallows in self-pity about a past wrong. Her parents are dealing with a minor medical situation and seem unable to return calls from Sasha or Maddie. Yet their mom can call everyone else to gossip. The small town teddy bear shop is a wonderful setting for a cozy mystery. I think the characters have room for development, and I would give a second book a chance.

Sasha Silverman has her hands full at her family-owned teddy bear shop and factory. Her head sales rep, Will Taylor, is discussing major changes at the factory with Sasha’s parents. The changes include some possible staff cuts, including her Uncle Ross. Tempers are flying and Sasha can’t seem to get in touch with her parents for some reason.

When Sasha discovers Will’s dead body in the bear factory, everyone becomes a suspect in his murder. The main suspect is Uncle Ross, but Sasha isn’t buying that for one minute. No way would her uncle kill no matter how angry he gets. So, Sasha launches her own investigation. She discovers her sales rep had quite a number of enemies.

I had to read this one since I love teddy bears. I used to collect them so this looked like a cute read for me. It definitely is cute and keeps you on your toes as you try to figure out whodunit. There are so many suspects. I wasn’t overly surprised at the culprit but it was a fun adventure to get to the resolution.

It started a bit slow as we were introduced to many characters. It was difficult for me to keep track at first, but then I just delved in and couldn’t put it down. Sasha is a wonderful, strong amateur sleuth. Her determination is admirable.

The setting is perfect for a cozy mystery - teddy bear shop in a small town. Very cute and sweet.

It’s an interesting premise with interesting characters. I found the storyline to be intriguing and captivating. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.

As someone who collects teddy bears, and has for years, the idea of this series was near and dear to my heart. From the moment the author announced her plans to write it, I have been impatiently waiting for the arrival of this book. When the cover was revealed, I was even more impressed--who can resist all of those adorable bears?

The author delves into the complicated family relationships of the Silverman family--Sasha, her parents, her sister, and her uncle, as well as her ex-husband. She also introduces us to many of the other business owners/businesses in Silver Hollow, which sounds like the type of place I would love to visit.

The murder mystery is very well developed and keeps readers guessing all the way through. The reveal of the murderer wasn't a total shock to me, but the amount of premeditation that went into it was.

While Sasha is not involved in a romantic relationship in this book, I do have a hope that she will be in future stories (not going to say with whom--read the book and see what you think!)

I sincerely hope this series will continue for MANY years to come!!

Bearly Departed begins an adorable new cozy mystery series by Meg Macy. It had strengths and weaknesses, but I enjoyed this story overall and think the series holds lots of promise.

Silver Hollow – a small town outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan – is a delightful setting that feels so real that I’d love to visit it. And nothing could be more engaging than the family-owned teddy bear gift shop and factory managed by Sasha Silverman. There’s plenty of characters, family dynamics, and red herrings to hold interest. Sasha’s Uncle Ross is one of my favorite characters, and the mention of his ex-wife coming to work in the shop at the end sounds like a fun theme for the next book.

There are a few things I wish had been different … Maybe it was just me, but a lot of people were introduced in a short space of time – Sasha’s family, factory workers, and village people. There wasn’t much character depth and I had trouble keeping them straight (a cast list and description at the beginning would have been very helpful). Secondly, while the storyline was interesting, detail slowed the action down. More conversation and action would have been great. There wasn’t much profanity, but even a little is a turn off for me. And most importantly of all, it was the teddy bear business that attracted me to this book and I wanted much more of it. In fact, one of my favorite parts was Sasha giving a group tour of the factory in the early pages. Between the shop, community-related events, and families buying the bears, a lot of interest could be created by developing this theme more.

I enjoyed Bearly Departed overall and would like to see how the series develops.

I was provided a free copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Couldn't get into the characters. Cute idea, reminded me of Boyd's Bear in PA.

BEARLY DEPARTED by Meg Macy
The First Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery

Although she expected her life to be a bit different, at age 31 Sasha Silverman is happy to manage her family's teddy bear shop and factory. Will Taylor, the stores sales representative, is the thorn in everybody's side and when he threatens to cut staff Sasha declares, "Over my dead body". However, after Will claims that the store will send its production over-seas it's not her body that is found.

Meg Macy creates a wonderful sense of place in BEARLY DEPARTED. I am able to clearly see myself walking the hot and, too humid for me, streets of Silver Hollow, Michigan. I love going on factory tours and I adore plushies so the Silver Bear Shop and Factory is a place I wish I could really visit, especially with a Christmas themed store right across the street! The characters are varied with more than one villainous citizen residing in and around this quaint community.

With themes of family and tradition as well as progress and letting go BEARLY DEPARTED is an enjoyable start to a new series.

Ok, so this has some promise but it needs a bit of work. I liked the premise of the series, but a lot of the time I felt liked I'd been dumped into the middle of an ongoing series rather than the start of a new one. I also think there's one too many conflicts, may be more. It all feels a little bit like there are too many ideas and to much to get your head around all at once, and the author has a bit of a tendency to info dump on top.

I think I'll check in in a few books time and see how the series has settled down.

The minute I saw the cover, I knew I had to read the book. What can I say? I adore teddy bears. There is something so comforting about them. The author has done a good job on her debut Cozy Mystery series. I loved the town she described with so many cute little themed shops. It is a tourist's dream to visit a town like this. From the beginnng I was enthralled with the story of a bear shop with the bear factory behind it. I thought the author did a fabulous job of detailing the different bears and how they are made.

Sasha is a delightful character who runs the family shop while her sister Maddie does the books. They have employees that seem to be happy working at the factory but there is always someone who wants to change things up even though everything is fine. Enter into the story Mr. Will Taylor. I didn't like him at all. He was arrogant and so full of himself. Who does he think he is wanting to lay off workers and have production sent overseas? So what if he is their salesman and thinks the company will be better off with their product being done in China? I could here the grumblings among the employees as rumors spread about loss of jobs.

Uncle Ross is a great character and will not stand for any nonsense about the family business. His big mistake was running his mouth one night with threats against Will. Can you guess who is found dead at the factory soon after? I did like the authors creative way to use stuffing from a bear to perhaps end someone's life. It is only fitting since it is a bear factory. I did laugh because I found it brilliant writing. As in most cozy mysteries there is always one front runner as the suspect. Sasha decides she is going to find out who the killer is and off to the races we go.

The list of suspects start to grow as some people didn't exactly care for the deceased. There is a lot going on in the book that at times, I found to be too much. I wanted more focus on the mystery and less on Sasha's ex-husband. One of the best things I liked was the bear hospital. How cute it would be to take a bear there for repairs and watch a child light up when their bear was healed? I wasn't surprised at who the killer was, so that was disappointing. As a first in the series I believe the author has great potential and I will look forward to reading the next book in the series. I do feel the need to go get a teddy bear now.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Book Tour and Netgalley. The review is my own opinion.

Every bear collector/bear lover should read this book!!!!! Macy has woven so many "bear facts" into the story that it had me grinning most of the time. I've been a mystery fan for many years, but I don't ever remember reading one set in a bear factory. The descriptions of bear production were fascinating and fun. Sasha and her friends and family have found a place in my heart, and I want to read more about them. I'm not a dog owner, but Rosie sounds cute enough to make me reconsider that decision. However, the mysteries within the book are well worth the reader's time in spite of all the bear fun. In fact the denouement was downright scary!! Well done, Ms. Macy!! Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this delightful addition to the mystery genre.

No lions, no tigers, but Bears and Bears and Bears... and an unusual murder - oh my!
A usually calm and creative small town is shocked by murder and the associated speculation and gossip. A family feels the shock within its ranks as well as to the future or potential demise of their family business, specialty teddy bear makers. Along with the gossip secrets are revealed and we learn that this town is not as sweet, innocent and calm as the tourists (and some residents) are led to believe.

In wonderful cozy custom, the shops have the best names and they plan some fantastic events, especially around holidays. The Teddy Bear parade is an annual event. After a body is found in the factory, could this be the final year for the picnic perhaps even the business? Could someone from the factory be the murderer - maybe even a family member with a temper?

Main character, Sasha Silverman, takes her job seriously. She is also a loyal friend and sister. When this murder hits so close to home, she has to figure out who did it, because the police seem to be taking their time. The readers are inside Sasha's head most of the time, viewing her world and along for the ride as she follows the clues. And as she finds herself in mortal danger.

Teddy Bears may be comforting for children, but murder is bad for business and relationships.
They make for a fun setting and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Bearly Departed by Meg Macy is the first book in A Teddy Bear Mystery series. Sasha Silverman is the manager of The Silver Bear Shop and Factory in Silver Hollow, Michigan. The business was started by Sasha’s grandfather, and she took over the running when her father retired. Will Taylor, their salesman and public relations expert, is trying to force changes on the business. He wants to export production overseas to China and oust Uncle Ross who oversees the factory. Will has just returned early from a trip and immediately called a meeting. Will states that he has Alex Silverman’s approval to proceed with his plan’s. Uncle Ross is angry and makes some threats against Will’s life (you can see where there is leading). Later that evening, Sasha and her sister, Maddie are returning home and are almost hit by a car squealing out of their parking lot. They notice Will’s car still in the lot and go inside the factory. Sasha finds Will dead next to the stuffing machine with his mouth full of the material. Detective Mason is assigned the case. He insists on closing the factory and store while he investigates. Uncle Ross quickly becomes the prime suspect in Will’s death. Sasha knows Uncle Ross did not commit the crime. She quickly dons her investigator cap and starts looking for other suspects. Can Sasha find the real killer, clear Uncle Ross and get their shop reopened before it is too late?

I found Bearly Departed to be nicely written and I liked the premise of a teddy bear shop and factory. It was interesting to read about the different steps to building a bear and it was cute that the shop had a teddy bear hospital. Bearly Departed starts out at a good pace and then slows down considerably (especially since we get detailed descriptions of each person Sasha encounters along with their businesses). I thought there were several cozy mystery clichés in this novel. The cop is rude and impatient, the person who would be killed was foreseeable, and the killer’s identity was unsurprising. Sasha babbles, stumbles, is forgetful, misplaces things, a gossip, impulsive and seems to take her dog with her everywhere. Since Sasha is the manager of a store, I was hoping for a competent, smart, and confident woman as the main character (it would have been a nice change). I give Bearly Departed 3 out of 5 stars. The mystery was slightly complicated, but the identity of the culprit was not. There is a side plot in the book that acts as a red herring. Personally, I felt that the author tried to stuff too much into this first book. There was just one incident after another. I thought that there were too many characters. Readers are introduced to the Silverman family, the workers in the factory, owners of the shops on their street, townspeople, etc. I quickly tired of reading about Rosie’s (Sasha’s dog) bathroom habits. The author added in Sasha’s ex-husband who is (of course) a cheating louse who ends up returning to town. Was this really needed? Information about the case is repeated several times throughout the novel (like filler). I was also curious why when Sasha has a teddy bear picnic (a company event) that they do not use bears from their own shop. They had bears from other designers (Winnie-the-Pooh and Boyd’s Bears for example) and generic bears present. Since people are paying to attend the event, it would be better advertising to have their own bears dressed up for the picnic (and then have them for sale). Bearly Departed was just okay for me. The premise is unique, but otherwise I was underwhelmed. If you prefer to read lighter cozy mysteries (that have more of the cozy element), than check out at Bearly Departed.

Considering I own way too many build a bears and stuffed animals, I totally loved this book and wanted to crawl into it to visit the shop! Great into to the town and residents and kept me guessing for quite awhile for who did it. looking forward to more.

I loved this first book in the Teddy Bear Mystery series. I think the setting of a Teddy Bear factory is different and fun. The characters have great personalities and the family dynamics add to the intriguing mystery. The story had a lot of great details about the factory and people, which helped to enhance the mystery. I had a feeling I knew who the killer was, but the author gave me a few twist and turns, which made me question if I was right. I would recommend this book to any cozy lover and I can't wait to read future books in the series.