This was my second book to read by JR Ripley, although Fowl of the House of Usher is actually the seventh in A Bird Lover’s Mystery series. It is a very tense time for Amy and Kim, who along with a handful of other guests, are snowed in at a mountain retreat, guests of Amy’s ex-boyfriend Craig and his girlfriend. First, they find one guest murdered. After that terrible beginning, the remote location and the weather both collude to cause events to move quickly downhill.

I enjoyed getting to know the recurring characters a little more. Ripley had an ace up his sleeve that he holds onto until the last moment; perfect. Bits of humor are interspersed periodically with good timing. I thought Amy’s carping at her ex is a little over the top, but this is a cozy, so that could be part of the “quirky.” However, someone needs to assure North Carolina folks that 30 degrees F., while cold, is not freezing in the first minute.

All in all, I really did enjoy this book. Now I have a whole series to catch up on. If you are looking for a cozy without bad language or embarrassing scenes, check out A Bird Lover’s Mystery. I think you’ll like it, too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review, and I am solely responsible for all opinions.

Amy's ex is back in town and she's not happy that he and his fiance are running the beer garden next door to her bird shop. When he invites her and Kim for a dinner party she's reluctant to go but attends to check out some sick ducks. Everyone in town knows the House of Usher outside of town is haunted and getting stuck overnight in a snowstorm isn't part of her plan. Murder seems to be the dish of the day and when two of the guests are found dead, Amy and Kim need to solve the deaths before the police show up tomorrow and there's no one left alive. This is book 7 in the Bird Lover's Mystery series and I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Fowl of the House of Usher is the seventh installment in the A Bird Lover's Mystery series set in Ruby Lake, North Carolina and featuring Amy Simms, owner of Birds & Bees, a store devoted to supplies for bird lovers. With Paul Anderson, her tenant and the co-owner of Brewer's Biergarten next door, away on vacation that means that his partner Craig Bigelow is in town to oversee things. Unfortunately for Amy, not only is Craig her two timing ex but he's brought his new girlfriend Cindy Pyms along and the ditzy young girl is determined to become Amy's best friend.

Craig and Cindy have rented the House of Usher, a creepy old mansion on the outskirts of town that the locals claim is haunted. Cindy is hosting a dinner party and not wanting to go alone, Amy agrees to go with her best friend Kimberly Christy. When the ladies arrive at the house they are met by an odd assortment of people including friends and business acquaintances of Craig's and the two mansion caretakers.

During dinner a unexpected snowstorm hits rendering the roads impassable and forcing Amy and Kim to spend the night. Awakened during the night by a loud noise, Amy stumbles upon a body in the library and learns that one of the other guests has gone missing. These two deaths won't be the end.

A plot that is reminiscent of Agatha Christie, a Vince Price or even old Hitchock film, the mystery takes place in a house with no accessible way in or out and someone is killing off the guests one by one. With the police arrival delayed by several days, Amy is determined to catch a killer.

A page turner with a surprising twist at the end. The return of several series regulars, but enough background that this addition to the series can read as a stand alone. If you haven't met Amy and her friends yet, you are missing out on a great series.

I received an advanced copy of Fowl of the House of Usher from NetGalley via Lyrical Underground. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

This is a fun series written by a very talented author.
Fowl of the House of Usher by J. R. Ripley is the 7th book in A Bird Lover's Mystery series. I am a bird enthusiast so I really enjoyed this series. I received a ARC of the book for review . The opinions are my own.
Amy and her friend Kim get stuck with her ex and his new girlfriend snowbound, at the ex's house. It is a creepy seemingly haunted house. Everyone is already on edge and spooked at every noise and creak in the house. . When a body is found, the group of friends and ex's are panicked they may be next. They are determined to solve the mystery on their own and not be victims of the killers. Amy is a excellent sleuth and she steps in to solve the clues that lead eventually to the suspect. This book has plenty of surprising twists and turns, that kept this avid mystery reader guessing. I always enjoy the authors writing, the group of charcters and the interesting bird information in this series.. I look forward to the next in series.

Amy Simms is in a bad mood. Not only is her cheater, jerky ex-boyfriend back in Ruby Lake, MN but she gets talked into taking her best friend Kim out to his creepy rental house for a dinner party. The Usher House has a lot of bad history associated with it and it's out in the middle of nowhere. Add in the fact that Amy does not want to pal around with Craig's too-perfect girlfriend, Cindy. She agrees to go to Usher House only because Craig says he is concerned for the health of the flock of ducks at the nearby lake. When a blizzard hits and the group is stuck at the rural house with no phone or cell signal, it seems a killer is intent on picking them off one by one. As dead bodies pile up, Amy and Kim try to discover which one of them is a murderer. Can they survive until the roads are cleared and they can escape the Usher House?

I absolutely love this series! I've been faithfully reading each book since the first one came out. Amy runs a shop that sells supplies for bird and bee lovers. Her ex and his business partner own the beer garden next door to her shop. Adding to Amy's angst is that her boyfriend's ex-wife (also named Amy) has opened an upscale bridal boutique in town. And her curmudgeonly renter, Esther Pilaster, is now an investor in the business. Seems Amy is up to her nose in weird vibes. Kinda seems fitting that she's also a dead body magnet. If someone in town gets murdered, it's pretty likely that Amy Simms will be dragged into the middle of it.

The setting for this particular book in the Bird Lover's Mystery series had me thinking of Vincent Price movies. A huge, dark, creepy house in the middle of BFE....a blizzard.....dead bodies everywhere. Definitely has that Price feelin' to it. Loved it! The mystery moves at a nice pace. The bird watching background theme is cute but doesn't get in the way of the mystery. The characters are fun (even Esther the Pester). And the plot had plenty of suspense and surprises. I love it when I'm not quite sure how the story is going to end clear up until the last chapter of the book. Well done!

Fowl of the House of Usher is the 7th book in the Bird Lover's Mystery series. The cover art is just awesome! Very eye catching!

J.R. Ripley is a penname for author Glenn Meganck. In addition to the Bird Lover's Mystery series he also writes the Maggie Miller Mysteries and the Tony Kozol series.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Fowl of the House of Usher by J. R. Ripley is the 7th book in A Bird Lover's Mystery series, and they just keep getting better. I am not a bird enthusiast, but I really enjoyed this book/series. Amy and her best friend Kim get stuck with her ex and his new girlfriend when they become snowbound, at the ex's rental haunted house. When a body is found, the mystery begins. There is only one thing I don't like about this series, is how everyone sides with Esther the pester, where is the loyalty to Amy? This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. Just when I thought I was on the right track, I realize I wasn't. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. If you love cozy mysteries like I do, than I strongly recommend this book.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Review: FOWL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER by J. R. Ripley

I would have read this for the title, but fortunately I enjoyed the story, very much, and am reading more from this author. J. R. Ripley (a pseudonym) is a quite prolific author who writes under a variety of names, always winningly, with a very "down-home," emotionally realistic, human touch. His characters are easy "to snuggle up to" and cheer on.

This mystery is set in Ruby Lake, North Carolina, in the mountains, a scenic tourist destination. Our protagonist, Amy Simms, operates Birds 'n' Bees, a bird lovers supply store. Accepting a dinner invitation from ex-boyfriend Narcissist Craig, she and best friend Kim drive up-mountain to the Usher House, a seldom Inhabited 19th century residence, purported to be haunted.

Haunted or not, Usher House is seriously spooky. Snowed in, without power or means to escape--the guests are dropping like flies in winter, with no explanation. Shades of Agatha Christie! Visit for dinner--but never go home.

So this was the second book in this series that I've read - I read book 3 this time last year and wasn't massively keen but thought it had potential and wanted to check in to see if it was more to my taste. Short answer is no -there is still too much going on in the mystery, the heroine is way too stupid to live and all the characters annoyed me. But I can see from the rest of the reviews that I'm an outlier here - so it may be one of those Not For Me series. Hey ho.

I don't know much about birds beyond crows, robins, seagulls and bald eagles but that in no way hinders my enjoyment of this delightful series. In this, the 7th of the series, Amy is planning some renovations now that her tenant, Ester the pester, has invested in her business, Birds & Bees. She has a lot going on in her life and it's about to get worse. She and her friend Kim find themselves stuck at Usher House, rumored to be haunted, with Amy's ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend. Plus assorted other guests at dinner. Before they can make an escape, it snows and a corpse is found in the library. Sounds like the start of a classic locked room mystery and it gets even better from there which means things are gong to get worse for the people snowed in at Usher House.
From the setting, the characters, the humor and the well crafted mysteries, this is one cozy series that should be on your to be read list.
My thanks to the publisher Lyrical Underground and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Loved it! Entertaining, engaging and clever. Some surprises, some suspense, some laughs. There is another bird themed cozy mystery series that I tend to think of when I see the bird pun titles in this series. Both authors and their bird series are terrific. I am looking forward to reading the next one(s).

This is my first time reading a book in this series, or by this author. I suppose that may have affected my rating since I have no history with these characters, their relationships, and their past. However, I thought it sounded interesting, so I gave it a go.

It just wasn't good for me. I wanted to put it down about 25% in, but as it's a fairly short book, I forced myself to continue on until the end. It was unrealistic and a bit boring. And since it was my first book in this series, I wasn't sure if the characters behaving totally nonchalant about MURDERS GOING ON IN THE HOUSE was a thing, or if it was supposed to be funny. Also, I thought the reasoning for Amy showing up for the dinner party was very odd since there were other guests/actual business partners already there.
Overall, the storyline felt forced, the characters weren't spectacular, and the ending was just meh.

This series just keeps getting better and better. Fowl of the House of Usher is a fantastic addition to the series.
Set in the quaint little town of Ruby Lake, this story is full of great characters who will win you over.
Esther the pester is still annoying Amy, owner of Birds and Bees, a great little store that caters to bird and bee lovers alike.
This story takes place in the house of Usher, rumored to be haunted. Amy can deal with ghosts, but murder victims, not so much.
What do duck decoys and cyanide have in common?
Grab your copy of this fantastic book and be prepared to be amazed.
I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

Amy Simms' ex is in town. Along with the young and gorgeous psychologist he dumped Amy for. The young and gorgeous psychologist who has invited Amy (and her beau) to a dinner party. A dinner party at the Usher House, known in local parts for its... rather eerie atmosphere. Amy's boyfriend can't come and neither can her best friend Kim's. So it's the two of them, headed up the mountain at the start of a snow storm for the most awkward dinner party. Besides the ex and the redhead, there are two couples that Craig is trying to woo into a business proposal and then the caretaker couple that is at the house. The snow builds up, everyone is trapped in the house, and then there's a murder. And another. It's up to Amy to try to figure it out. As long as she's not next on the list.

I didn't love the resolution of the book, it was a little outside what was fairly clued and didn't make much sense. But as locked room mysteries go, it wasn't bad and I'll keep an eye out for the next in the series.



Three and a half stars
This book comes out May 15
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Page Turning Mystery

Fowl of the House of Usher is the seventh book in J. R. Ripley’s the Bird Lover’s Mystery series. This is a clean read with a good plot, interesting mystery, well-developed characters, humor, and a little romance. The story flows at a steady pace, with red herrings and twists and turns thrown in to keep the reader engaged and guessing until the surprising reveal. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy reading well-crafted cozy mysteries. I’m looking forward to reading future installments in this series.

Amy Simms and her friend, Kimberly “Kim” Christy, are the owners of Birds & Bees in Ruby Lake, North Carolina. Kim quit her real estate job and now works full time at Birds & Bees. The shop is on the first floor and Amy lives on the third floor with her mother, Barbara. Amy’s tenant and employee, Ester Pilaster (a/k/a Esther the Pester) who she “inherited” from the previous owner, recently became an investor and her buy-in is allowing Amy to have some much needed renovations done. Paul Anderson is her temporary tenant while his house is being renovated and the co-owner of Brewer’s Biergarten, along with her ex-boyfriend, Craig Bigelow. Amy is quite upset when she learns Craig is filling in for Paul while he’s on a three-week vacation. Craig and his new girlfriend, Cindy Pym, rent Usher House, which is purported to be haunted, and Cindy decides she wants to host a dinner party inviting Amy and her boyfriend Derek Harlan, Kim, and her boyfriend, Dan Sutton, a Ruby Lake police officer. Derek and Dan have previous commitments and are unable to attend. The last thing Amy wants to do is spend time with Craig or Cindy, but he plays on her love of birds by telling her there are ducks on the property that look sick. Two other couples are staying at Usher House, Mike Holberg and his wife, Helen, and Robert Flud, and his girlfriend, Rosalie Richmond; the caretakers, Jackson and Augusta Canning, are temporarily staying in the main house because of an electrical problem at the caretaker’s cottage. A storm hits during the dinner and Amy and Kim are forced to spend the night at Usher House. A loud banging wakes Amy in the early morning hours and she finds the front door open. After securing the door, she decides to warm herself in front of the fireplace in the study where she finds Mike with a knife in his chest and later discovers Augusta is missing. Amy tries to call Jerry Kennedy, the Chief of Police, but cell service is sketchy at Usher House. Later that morning, she has limited cell service and learns Ruby Lake was hit hard by the storm and it will be at least a day before the authorities will be able to get there. Being concerned a killer is amongst their small group, Amy begins snooping and soon discovers things can always get worse.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Fowl of the House of Usher is the seventh book in the Bird Lover’s Mystery series by JR Ripley. In this story we find Birds and Bees shop owner Amy Simms come face to face with her cheating ex, Craig Bigelow, and his new young squeeze, Cindy Pym. Craig is part owner of Brewer’s Biergarten, located next door to Amy’s business. He is usually nowhere near Ruby Lake, but is there now to run the Biergarten while co owner Paul Anderson is away on an extended vacation.

Since Paul rents an apartment from Amy and the ex isn’t welcome there, so he and Cindy have rented a house outside of town. Cindy has decided she needs to be friends with Amy and has organized a dinner party inviting Amy, her best friend Kim, and their two boyfriends, who are unable to attend. As Amy and Kim drive to the Usher house, Kim fills Amy with haunted tales of the place, and it is a bit spooky.

When a freak snowstorm hits during the dinner, they are all snowed in. The group includes the caretakers, two houseguest couples from Craig’s businesses, the hosts, Amy and Kim. Accommodations are made for Amy and Kim to spend the night in a small girl’s room. Amy is awakened in the middle of the night and discovers the front door open and banging in the storm. Unfortunately, she also finds the body of one of Craig’s associates stabbed in the study. And, even more unfortunately, that won’t be the only body found.

This story is filled with foreshadowing and makes reference to such classic tales as Poe’s Fall of the House of Usher and Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, even making reference to its movie adaptations of The Haunting. As the power fails, the food falls into short supply, and they are cut off from the town by deep snow and poor cell service, Amy and Kim are put into a dangerous position. And even after rescue, Amy is yet again put in harm’s way.

A page turning mystery, Mr. Ripley has once again given us tale to keep us page turning way into the night. I have enjoyed this series and do recommend it.

Craig is back and with a sweet, little thing on his arm. With Paul away on vacation, Craig has rented a house outside of Ruby Lake to oversee things until Paul returns. Knowing he won't be allowed to stay in Paul's apartment in Amy's house with this little chippy on his arm.

When she is invited to come to dinner at a supposedly haunted mansion, she is adamant about not attending. Until Craig brings up the wood ducks that look sick. Amy is a sucker for a bird in need and if Amy has to go, well, Kim is going as well. But when they find one of the snowed in guests with a knife in his chest, it turns into fouled up mess!

This has been my favorite book in the series. Amy is growing, standing her ground more and becoming someone I like very much. With new shady characters thrown in, it's more of a game of Who's Next than Who Done It! And this one kept me guessing as long as it took our Amy!

I love the setting. Winter, snowstorm, trapped in a haunted house with a dead body, it was perfect!

Once again, Mr. Ripley, you have done an outstanding job!

Netgalley/Lyrical Underground May 15, 2018

This is the second book I read in this series. I found it entertaining and kept hooked till the end.
It's well written, kept me guessing till the but there are some minor plot hole like a character saying that she has to talk to heroine and we never know what this was about.
The book is a classic "Group of characters in a contained space with a killer amongst them", thrilling and a bit claustrophobic at times.
The main weakness is the heroine that seems to have some unsolved issues with ex ex-fiancee and sometimes acts like she's too stupid to live.
A good read on the whole.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley

This is the first book that I have read by J.R. Ripley, but it won't be my last. I was hooked from the time that Amy and Kim got stranded at the Usher House by a snow storm. It was slightly reminiscent of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie because of being stranded with no way to get back to town, in this case because of the snow. Amy finds a body during the night of one of the other guests, Mike, and he has been stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife. Things get worse for the guests from there. This story kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series and the other series that Mr. Ripley writes as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For me, this was the weakest of the Bird Lover's Mystery series. Amy's choices were silly, the dialogue at times was sophomoric and the plot was formulaic to me. It justified my supposition that it's is difficult to write a believable main character of the opposite sex. I was just not buying it, and I'm sorry.

This delightful story is reminiscent of an English country house mystery. Amy Simms' old boyfriend, Craig, is in Ruby Lake for a few weeks, taking over running the biergarten while his partner Paul is on vacation. Craig insists that Amy join him and his new girlfriend Cindy at a dinner party in Usher House, the supposedly haunted house they are renting. During the dinner party Cindy pretends to shoot Craig, telling Amy it was because she had recently been known to solve murders in town. When Amy tries to leave she finds that she has been snowed in, and during the night she hears a noise and when she goes to investigate she finds Mike, another of the guests, dead with a butcher knife stuck in his chest. Once again it's Amy to the rescue! It's the kind of locked room story Agatha Christie would have enjoyed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.