A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

This was a fun cozy mystery but did not keep me guessing. I loved the cover so that drew me in. I would consider reading more in this series.

' A Fatal Collection' (Keepsake Cove Mystery #1) by Mary Ellen Hughes is a fun cozy mystery with a touch of paranormal. Callie needs a break from her failing relationship so she visits her Aunt Mel in Keepsake Cove. The first night that Callie is there, her Aunt Mel falls during the night in her music box store and is found dead in the morning. The local police deem Aunt Mel's death an accident. Callie cannot accept that the fall was an accident. Callie sets out to find the truth.
There are many characters who look suspicious in Keepsake Cove. Callie does not know who to trust. As Callie pursues her investigation, an antique music box randomly chimes out a few musical notes. Does the music box have anything to do with Aunt Mels fall?
I liked this book because it was an easy quick read. When I read this book I enjoyed the idyllic Keepsake Cove in spite of it's dubious residents. This book ended on a positive note which is another thing a appreciated. 'A Fatal Collection' was left open ended so I'm looking forward to reading Keepsake Cove Mystery #2.

I liked the main and secondary characters and the setting. I breezed through the book. Why just an OK rating? There was no mystery. Sure, residents are doing things that make others wonder what's up. Is the treasurer honest? Why did someone do something which may be out of character, etc.? We all experience stuff like this every day, but they are hardly mysteries to write a book about.

Callie "knows" her aunt is murdered. She doesn't really look for proof, she merely goes through her new property like I think we all would if we'd inherited a home and shop. It's other residents that point out vague weirdness in other locals, but it's stuff that's common place. Say lights on late at night at a neighbors and someone seemingly to live beyond their means.

The killer would have gotten away with the crime except for doing a stupid move late in the book. A lawyer might even say the killer would still have gotten off for the murder because there was no evidence, but still would have gotten arrested for the stupid move.

I definitely going to give the next book a read and hope the mystery is better developed.

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

A Fatal Collection by Mary Ellen Hughes is the first book in the Keepsake Cove mystery series. One of my favorite things about this story was the unique shop that Callie inherits. Music boxes are so fun and beautiful, and I really enjoyed reading about them! I loved Keepsake Cove and all the fun little shops nestled together. This was a fast read. I found myself sitting down to read just a few pages, and realizing I’d spent more time in Keepsake Cove than planned. I was sad to have to say goodbye to Aunt Mel, but really loved Callie. This is an excellent start to a series, and I am already looking forward to more in this series.

I have a feeling this series is going to be one of my favorites. It’s cozy, friendly, charming, and quirky with unique characters and a fictional town I would love to visit.

Here’s what’s going on. Needing to clear her head, Callie Reed decides it’s time to reconnect with her aunt Melodie. Although their reunion is cut short when Callie discovers her aunt dead on the floor of her music box shop. Callie’s left wondering if her aunt’s death was truly accidental and now that she’s inherited her aunt’s shop and cottage, she’s able to search for the answers while getting acquainted with her new neighbors.

What drew me to this book was how unique the setting was. Not only was it different, I just loved the idea of a town full of unique collectable shops and it reminds me of a little town I like to visit that’s street after street of antique and collectable shops.

As this is the start of a new series, the first half of the book focuses on setting up the town and the characters with the mystery in the background but, thankfully, it didn’t drag and it held my attention.

I really liked Callie. She has some stuff going on in her life that she’s working through then she’s hit with the death of her aunt. Now she has her hands full trying to run a music box shop, figuring out who murdered her aunt, and getting to know a potential love interest.

So, I had a feeling who the murderer was then I started to question my guess and I love a mystery that allows me to do that.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It had all the right elements that pulled me in and hooked me.

Great read, had a hard time putting the book down. I loved the characters and the little town sounds like a place everyone would want to live.

I had high hopes for this book. A mystery novel with action taking place in cosy settings would normally be very much to my liking. As I delved deeper into the story however, I rather quickly lost interest in how the plot would develop or ‘whodunnit’. Or rather I easily guessed the latter 60% through the book which was disappointing (to say the least) for a mystery book. The characters are one-dimensional and the writing lacks any sort of depth.

I have given this 2 stars solely for the author managing to create a cosy backdrop for the action. Keepsake Cove and its varied souvenir shops did have a certain charm that appealed to me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an e-copy of this book in exchange of an honest and impartial review.

I was taken back to yesteryear and all the fun shops and quaint little towns that I visited in an around Colorado.

I loved the quaint village of Keepsake. It did almost feel like a Hallmark town.

The collection of shops and colorful characters sweep you in and make you want to stay.

The story was fairly fast paced for me and an easy read.

I couldn't help but feel sorry for Callie. Having her aunt die just as she comes to town. And then realizing that it was no accident.

Callie finds the answers and is set up to be the new sleuth on the block at least in Keepsake Cove.

A Fatal Collection is book 1 of a great new series. I am looking forward to more adventures in Keepsake.

I received a complimentary copy from Great Escapes Tours.

This was a good story. It was the first in a series, and I will absolutely read the follow ups. I love the characters, as well as the cute little town. It wasn't as much of a mystery as her previous books, but it was still well written. I look forward to learning more about Callie and the residents of Keepsake Cove.

Mary Ellen Hughes Fatal Collection is a cozy caper set in a village filled with collectible shops. Taking a bus tour to the fictitious Keepsake Village would be a collectors dream.



Callie Reed escaped the hustle and bustle of the big city life to visit her aunt, who owns the music box shop. Housed full of eclectic music boxes destined for casual souvenirs to valuable works of art. Soon after Callie's arrival, her aunt experienced a sudden, fatal accident. As Melodie's only living relative, Callie was her sole heir. This was the impetus she needed to abandon her old life and loser boyfriend for this cozy niche on the eastern shores of Maryland.



Callie settles in quickly as her new neighbors welcome her to the fold. A number of incidents arise, however, that lead her to doubt more than one of her new neighbors. From a grouchy neighbor who covets her property to the handsome diner owner, she is swift at learning there is something brewing in Keepsake Cove. To keep things interesting, there is a handsome, eligible collector who seems willing to pay top dollar for new acquisitions. He seems to be everywhere. Vandalism within the community raises questions along with a little bit of mistrust. Even cozy Keepsake Village has its own share of problems and they all fell together after the apparent "accidental death" of Aunt Melodie. Or.....was it simply an accident? Find out the secrets in Keepsake Cove by purchasing your copy of Fatal Collection! This book is light reading during these dark days that have followed the Winter Solstice.

Callie Reed has come to Keepsake Cove to visit her Aunt Melodie for a couple of days but never expected the events of that first night. Melodie had spent the day showing Callie around her shop, House of Melody, which sold music boxes. They were just getting reacquainted when in the early hours of the next morning, Callie heard a noise, went to the shop and found her aunt lying dead on the floor from what was ruled an accidental fall.

Callie's life changes drastically and she's also not convinced that the accident that took her aunt's life was actually an accident. She does know if she's going to run her aunt's store, she needs to get with the program and learn the business as well as hire back one of her aunt's former employees who turns out to be a very good friend to her. Along with Delia next door and Brian at the Keepsake Cafe, Callie has found a group of fun and faithful new friends.

There was a side story of small town politics and the usual goings-on and gossip that happen in a small town. I liked how Callie got to know all her fellow small businesses while asking questions and finding out that some of them also thought it was odd that her aunt's death was an accident. There was no shortage of suspects, one of which was the grumpy guy in the collectible car store who had always bugged Aunt Mel to let him buy her store so his nephew could run it. Aunt Mel had also had a disagreement with one of the other shop owners who happened to be the treasurer for the Keepsake Cove businesses.

I liked the hint of paranormal involving her Grandpa Reed's music box. It seemed to have a mind of its own and played whenever something important was about to happen or had happened. Tabitha, Callie's shop employee and a self-proclaimed psychic claim that Aunt Mel is using the music box to warn Callie but Callie isn't so sure until its playing saves her from something terrible.

I really enjoyed all the characters and even grumpy neighbor Karl seemed to soften a little towards the end. I hope things progress for Brian and Callie as they seemed to hit it off. Keepsake Cove is definitely somewhere that I think would be fun to visit. All the shops had such unique little names and some were playing off the owners' names. The mystery itself was well wrapped up and explained. I had actually guessed whodunnit for once but not for the reason it was done.

A couple of small things still remained unsolved that I wonder if maybe the author will be wrapping up in the following book or books. I'm anxious to go back to Keepsake Cove for another visit. Halloween or Christmas would definitely be a good time!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader's copy of this book.

An adorable and enjoyable cozy mystery, from the charming location to the cute characters and the excellent plot, it was a fun read. I loved the world that the author created with Keepsake Cove, a beautiful little tourist town in Maryland with quaint little shops and I would love to wander around the music box shop, looking at all the different models. The characters were just as charming as the location, I really liked Callie, a realistic main character that is easy to relate to. But the plot really shined, from the ghostly music box to the twisty plot full of misdirections, I couldn't read it fast enough.

A Fatal Collection will delight any cozy mystery fan, and this stands out as one of the finest mysteries I've read in 2017. I look forward to seeing the series continue, can't wait for the next book!

I am pretty excited about this new series and I hope to see more added to it!

I love a solid cozy mystery and A Fatal Collection is solid. I really liked Callie and most of the cast of characters. I was engrossed from the beginning and felt that it was a light, yet solid murder mystery!

Thank you for the review copy NetGalley!

This was a fun read and a great start to a new series by Mary Ellen Hughes.

I'm totally in love with the characters from Keepsake Cove. They're well-rounded, developed characters that seem to have a complexity that we barely scratched the surface of in this book. I'm not complaining about barely scratching the surface - it leaves more to learn in later books in the series! Callie and Tabitha are my favorites, though I'm also a fan of Delia and Brian. I'm sorry we didn't get to learn more about Aunt Mel before she died, but I have a feeling we'll learn a little more about her throughout the series.

Keepsake Cove sounds like a wonderful place to both live and visit. I personally am not wired to be a business-woman, so I don't think I'd be a shop owner, but perhaps another town resident might be nice. Perhaps the town librarian and/or historian. That'd be right up my alley! The setting descriptions were plenty adequate for me to imagine Callie's/Mel's shop and cottage as well as other places in town.

The plot line moved along at a steady pace. There was no point where I felt it was moving too slowly or too fast. I did have an inkling of who the villain was before we got to the reveal, but Ms. Hughes definitely throws in enough red herrings to make you doubt yourself before you get to the reveal at the end!

If you're at all into cozy mysteries, I think you'll enjoy this one. I know I'm definitely looking forward to there being more books in the series!

A Fatal Collection is a new cozy mystery (hopefully) series, with a lot of likeable characters, some not so likeable characters, and a great location.

Callie's life seems stuck in a rut. She's stuck in a relationship that is going nowhere, with a man who appears not to be willing to grow up, when she goes to visit her aunt at Keepsake Cove. The first morning when Callie wakes up, she finds her aunt dead in her music box store. The police determine that the death is an accident, but Callie is suspicious, wondering why her aunt would go into the shop, in the middle of the night, in her bathrobe.

When Callie finds out her aunt left her shop and house to Callie she decides to stay and keep the shop open and try to find out what happened.

I liked A Fatal Collection and the characters who live in Keepsake Cove and will keep my eye out for more books by this author. Her characters are well-written and the location and setting are different from other cozies I have read. There is a lot to learn about the characters in Keepsake Cove and I look forward to getting to know them.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. The review above contains my opinions and is freely shared.

This is a well-crafted cozy mystery. The characters are endearing, the setting more so. Readers will be drawn in and want to stay a while.

A Fatal Collection by Mary Ellen Hughes is the first book in the Keepsake Cove Mystery Series. Callie reconnects with her Aunt Melodie. Her aunt's sudden death finds Callie the sole heir of her estate which includes a music box shop and cottage in Keepsake Cove. Callie is not convinced that her aunt's accident was as simple as that and begins an investigation. The mystery in this book is not strong, but the characters and setting more than make up for it. Keepsake Cove sounds like such a charming place. This is a great start to a new series!

A Fatal Collection by Mary Ellen Hughes
Book #1: Keepsake Cove Mystery Series
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars

Callie Reed’s life is something of a mess. She has a job she isn’t particularly passionate about and a boyfriend who takes lackluster to a whole new level. With a real need to re-set and re-focus, Callie heads to her beloved aunt Melodie’s home for a breather and a chance to figure out what she wants for her future.

As fate would have it, Callie’s future is laid out before her when her aunt is found dead in her own collectible music box shop. Though the death is ruled accidental, Callie isn’t at all certain. Her aunt Melodie was young, vibrant, healthy, and had no valid reason for being in the shop so late at night. What’s more, there were no signs of forced entry and nothing was stolen from the shop. Accident just doesn’t add up and as soon as she gets a free moment, Callie intends to find out what really happened to her aunt that fateful night.

But first . . . .

Much to Callie’s great surprise, her aunt not only left her a home, but also a successful business in a delightfully small town full of (mostly) welcoming and friendly folks. With the help and advice of the other shop owner’s and one delightfully quirky part-time employee, Callie is able to re-open the music box shop. With the steady stream of local and just-visiting-the-town customers, Callie is secure in her financial future which allows her some free moments to begin piecing together the last days of her aunt’s life. What Callie discovers is a great deal of mystery and not a lot of answers. Her aunt apparently had a significant other not even her best friend knew about, she had a burner phone, and access to a lot of valuable merchandise. Every question brings few answers and a host of new and more perplexing questions. Being new in town means Callie doesn’t know precisely who she can and cannot trust which eventually puts her shop and her life in jeopardy.

The Bottom Line: I got a great deal of pleasure out of this book! Keepsake Cove is such a wonderful world full of delightful and sometimes crazy characters. Each character, even the minor characters, are so well-developed and interesting. Each new person Callie encounters has a story of his/her own to tell and a willingness to help Callie acclimate into their world. There’s a great deal of misdirection in this read which will keep you guessing as to the identity of the big bad right up to the reveal. Between the characters, the fun plot, and the perfectly delightful town of Keepsake Cove, I am sold on this series and thoroughly look forward to the continuation of the series.