The second installment of the popular Welcome Back to Scumble River series, Die Me A River finds Skye Dennison-Boyd on maternity leave after giving birth to twins. A hurricane has recently devastated the small town of Scumble River, and most are living in trailers or other unsuitable places until their homes can be rebuilt. Skye and her husband, Wally, who is Chief of Police, are planning the christening of their babies and while meeting with the Father at the church, hear and feel an explosion. As they rush to see what has happened, they see that the bowling alley is burning and both firefighters and police are at the scene. Unfortunately, there is a dead body from the explosion. The body belongs to an insurance adjuster who is hated in the town because she has been denying valid claims due to the tornado. Wally isn’t sure, however, that the bowling alley was actually the target after putting in gambling machines which are highly unpopular with many of the residents. There are several suspects, and readers will be unsure just who the murderer is throughout the entire novel.

Skye, the protagonist and her husband are well-developed characters, as well as the supporting characters like Carter, Wally’s Dad, Bunny, who runs the bowling alley, and May, Skye’s mother. Skye’s boss, who is the principal at her school, has a claim for tornado damage and is so awful as a person, that he is also a viable suspect. The story, while a bit wordy, is fun, and has ups and downs; it is easy to follow and the scenarios are believable.

This is a fun series, and it is suggested that readers start with the previous novel and then read this one and the subsequent novels. Light and fun, this is a good series for cozy lovers.


Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Denise Swanson has been writing cozy mysteries (in several series) for a while now. Her books are enjoyed by those who welcome spending time in Scumble River, the locale of both the original and the “welcome back” series.

This book features Skye whom I have followed for many years. By now she is trying to enjoy a maternity leave from her position as a school psychologist. But…things are never calm around Skye and her police chief husband, not even when they are trying to arrange for their babies’ christening.

What caused an explosion at a bowling alley? Who is the victim? Who the perpetrator? Enjoy finding our in this story. If you enjoy this, know that there are many cozies set in Scumble River.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.

A good book. Well written with great characters and a good plot. The storyline flows and the mystery is enjoyable. I highly recommend.,

This is the 2nd in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series. I had not read book 1 before this read, but that was not a problem. I had enough backstory to catch me up on the characters and setting. School psychologist Skye Denison-Boyd and Wally, her husband are discussing their newborn twins Christening when there is an explosion at the bowling alley, but that is not all, there is a dead body in the remains of the bowling alley. New parents have enough on their plate, but that does not stop Skye and Wally from investigating. I really enjoyed this book and I see there was a previous series titled Scumble River. I plan to look into that series. I gave this a solid 4 star rating.

Die Me a River by Denise Swanson is the 2nd book in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series, and another exciting addition. Skye and Wally are busy taking care of their twins, they make it sound so easy ha ha. There is so much going on in their lives, it's non stop action. Skye and Wally are busy meeting with the priest arranging the babies christening when the bowling alley across the street rocked the rectory. The bowling alley was closed, but they discover a body in there. When the body was determined to be murder, they are determined to find the killer. I highly recommend this book/series to all cozy mystery lovers, weather your new to the series, or a long time follower.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Charming.
Enthralling.

A light and fast cozy mystery to add to the collection! A setting that makes you want to pack up and move there (yep, even with MURDER!). Great plot, atmosphere and fantastic characters- everything that gives a cozy the charm we love! Another GREAT book!

This is the 2nd book in the Return to Scumble River series. Skye-Denison Boyd is back with her police chief husband Wally, and now she has a set of twins to take care of. That won't stop her from stepping in to solve a crime of course! In this book, there's an explosion in the bowling alley that kills a crooked insurance adjuster. Of course, Skye gets involved along with her husband.
I love the characters and the small town setting in the Scumble River books, reading them is like getting away for the afternoon.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series. I have read all of the Skye and WLly books and love them all. It has been great to follow them through dating, marriage and now kids! This books is a great one to read curled up with a good coffee. Enjoyed it all!

Die Me A River
Welcome Back To Scumble River, Book #2
Denise Swanson
5 Stars

Synopsis:

The chips are down in Scumble River

School psychologist Skye Denison-Boyd had hoped that her maternity leave would be at least a little relaxing, but when she and her husband, Wally, meet with the priest to discuss their newborn twins' christening, an explosion at the nearby bowling alley rocks the rectory. And although the business was closed at the time of the blast, there's a body inside.

As police chief, Wally is inevitably drawn into the investigation, which seems to indicate that foul play is afoot again in Scumble River, and Skye can't help but do a bit of her own sleuthing. But the clues come fast and furious, ranging from an odd new stranger in town to animosity toward the gambling machines that had recently been installed at the bowling alley, and Skye finds herself wondering if this could be the puzzle that stumps her for good.

New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson has penned another hit for cozy fans with Die Me a River, the latest installment in her beloved Welcome Back to Scumble River mystery series. (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I like how strong and independent Skye is, but she still has insecurities, and that makes her seem more realistic to me. I really enjoy reading about the relationship between Wally and Skye, they are such a great couple. You can tell how much love and respect they have for each other, it is so refreshing. The secondary characters added a lot to the story and I really enjoyed spending with all of them.

The writing style flows smoothly and defined the characters very clearly by their words and actions. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and this pulled me into the story from the very beginning of the book. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved. I would not have even cared if there was no mystery to solve, I was enjoying spending time with Wally, Skye and the twins, but the mystery added to the story.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Both of the books in this series were really great, as were the older books written in this series, from many years ago.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Another comforting visit to Scumble River. The aftermath of the tornado is still very evident, with insurance adjusters and builders all scrambling for their piece of the pie. Wally and Skye are busy with their new twins, her mother is planning a huge baptism/shower party where they will finally reveal the babies names. When an explosion at the bowling alley involves Bunny and her newest beau as suspects, both are invested in searching for the culprit.

I so love the way that Ms. Swanson "restarted" this series and this is a great read as a follow-up to the first. It is always like visiting friends in Scumble River.

It was nice to meet the twins and finally learn their names. The characters relationships are still evolving in many ways, just like in "real" life.

There are some additional "mysteries" in addition to the "main" mystery. What will be the names of the twins? Who is Wally's dad dating? Who is the mystery woman? The "main" mystery had me guessing until late in the book. The book is well-written and an easy read.

I can't wait for the next one in the series.

Our visit to Scumble River involves a fairy godmother, a bombing and a murder after a recent tornado. Just what we've come to expect from Denise Swanson's delightful series. Wally and Skye are knee deep in discovering the killer who set off a bomb at Bunny Lanes, killing a universally hated insurance adjuster The story moves along at a good clip, and all of our favorite characters make an appearance. This can be read as a standalone, but you will enjoy your visit more if you know more about the characters. And fair warning: If you read one, you'll be hooked. This continues to be one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I received this book in return for an unbiased review from NetGalley.

Skye Denison-Boyd is still on maternity leave, but it doesn’t mean she is totally stepping away from her job. Besides caring for her twins, she’s also trying to help her temporary replacement. To add to her already full plate, there is an explosion at a.a local bowling alley leaving one person dead.

Skye can’t help but jump into the investigation with her police chief husband, Wally. Things take a dangerous turn when most of the small town is on the suspect list.

A little Scumble River background - it’s one of the first cozy mystery series I read before I knew they were called cozy mysteries. There are 19 books in the original series, but I still need to catch up. I was delighted to see the author created a sequel series called “Welcome Back to Scumble River. I read the first book in the new series and loved it. This is the second book. The author provides background information throughout this book so if you are a new reader, you won’t miss a thing. The mystery itself is contained in this book - no cliffhangers.

Die Me a River brings Skye and her family and friends right into the middle of joy and danger. The joy is the celebration of Skye and Wally’s twin babies. The danger is another murder in Scumble River.

The characters are a lively, quirky group. I’m so happy Skye finally found the happiness she deserves with Wally and their children. Of course that doesn’t mean the murders and mystery are coming to an end. Not by a long shot.

Denise Swanson always does a wonderful job of creating a clever, suspenseful murder mystery. This book is no exception. We are given a wide array of suspects in this fast-paced visit back to Scumble River. I couldn’t stop reading until I knew who the culprit was and I was surprised at how it all wrapped up. I’m so looking forward to the next book in this fun series.

Die Me a River is the second book in Denise Swanson’s Welcome Back to Scumble River series. The storyline is well plotted and the well-developed characters are relatable. The story moves along at a steady pace, with lots of things taking place.

Skye and Wally Boyd live in Scumble River, Illinois, where Skye is a school psychologist and a psych consultant to the police department and Wally is the police chief, and they are the proud parents of newborn twins. Scumble River and the surrounding area were recently devastated by a tornado; repairing and rebuilding damaged or destroyed buildings have hit a roadblock, especially for those insured by Homestead Insurance. Skye has two months of maternity leave left, but when she receives a plea from her intern, Piper Townsend, and a call from Homer Knapik, the high school principal, she agrees to come to the school for a meeting and to try to fix the problem. Skye, Wally, Vince, and Loretta (Skye's brother and his wife) are meeting with Father Burns in the rectory office in preparation of the twins’ christening when an explosion at Bunny Lanes. Bunny Lanes is owned by Skye’s ex-boyfriend, Simon Reid, and managed by his mother, Bunny, who lives above it. The explosion took place in the bowling alley’s gaming room and one person, Paige Myler, perished during the explosion and it’s determined that she was murdered. Paige was the special investigator for Homestead Insurance, and the person who was denying most of the claims. Wally has no shortage of potential suspects – many people in town are against the gaming machines, it might be someone wanting one of the few gaming machines permits, someone with a grudge against Simon or Bunny, one of the citizens who were unhappy with the way their claim was being handled, or the odd stranger in town.

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

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Scumble River, Illinois is still recovering from the tornado that ripped through town, and one insurance company has begun to refuse or severely limit payouts for its faithful policyholders. Skye and her husband Wally are luckier than most folks who lost their homes, as Wally’s father has brought a 45’ luxury RV for them to live in until their home is rebuilt. It does get crowded in there with their twin infants, and Skye is going through the new mom challenges of leaving them, even with her mother, for an hour or two.

They have a date set for the twins’ baptisms, but haven’t yet named the precious boy and girl. Skye and Wally are almost done meeting with the priest to discuss the celebration when a nearby explosion sends them out to find the source. It is at the bowling lanes, fortunately on the one night they are closed. The owner of the bowling lanes is none other than one of Skye’s ex-boyfriends, Simon. His mother, Bunny, who manages it, lives in the one-bedroom apartment on site. When firemen are able to free the apartment door, Bunny runs out…along with…it can’t be. One of the last people Wally would ever anticipate seeing with her!

The firemen inspect inside, and not only have to await a bomb squad to arrive to determine the kind of bomb that went off, but they also find a body inside the closed business. They do not know whether the woman was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or if someone planned to murder her. Other leads could be anyone that Bunny had dated in the past, or even someone protesting the new gambling machines that have come to Scumble River, of which several more are planned to be located around town.

Adding to the crazy is a new shop has opened near the bowling lanes. Enchanted Garden is owned by Millicent Rose, who claims to be a fairy godmother, who wears a blue cape and pointy hat fastened with a pink bow. She claims to grant wishes for free. She has serious concerns for Skye and her babies, saying that evil would take place on the day of the twins’ baptism. For a new mom with her hands full of baby, this potentially deadly turn of events is horrifying.

From Skye, her mother May, Wally and his father Carson to the Dooziers, many of our favorite Scumble River residents are front and center in Die Me A River. We also see ex-boyfriend Simon, who seems to be still in a tree-marking tree mode with Wally. New and short-term people in town include the self-proclaimed fairy godmother and the various insurance people, one of whom was the dead woman. Every character, from old to new, is well-defined, Skye has a unique, wicked sense of humor that is evident throughout, and high school principal Homer Knapik is as cantankerous as ever.

Due to the perceived threat to their twins and a murderer still on the loose, Wally Boyd adds a security detail to the party celebrating their babies’ baptism and a belated baby shower. This Scumble River fan is happy to watch how the mystery plays out, as there are so many possible suspects and so little time. I did not suspect the real killer, so it was quite the surprise to find who the real bad guy/ gal is. Heightening the suspense are plot twists and turns that only this author can pull of. The mysteries coupled with behaviors of new and familiar characters make this a not-to-be-missed addition to the new Scumble River series. I highly recommend this witty, unpredictable, suspenseful, and laugh-out-loud cozy mystery!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Die Me A River by Denise Swanson is the second installment in Welcome Back to Scumble River series. This is a continuation of the Scumble River series. I highly recommend the entire series.
Skye is on maternity leave after giving birth to twins. It has been three months since tornadoes tore through the area and destroyed their home. Wally, Skye and the twins have been staying in a luxury RV in their front yard trying to cope with new babies and the loss of their home while overseeing the rebuilding of their home. When a explosion occurs at the local bowling alley a body is found inside. Skye steps in to help Wally with his case. A list of suspects and twist and turn abound until the final revel of a suspect.
I enjoyed this book very much. Its a exciting read and a fun addition to the series.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

Die Me A River by Denise Swanson is the second installment in Welcome Back to Scumble River series. Skye Denison-Boyd is on maternity leave after giving birth to twins. It has been three months since tornadoes rocked the area and destroyed their home. Wally, Skye and the twins have been staying in a luxury RV in their driveway while a new home is being built. They are preparing for the twins christening as well as the party afterward. If only Wally and Skye could agree on names for their babies (it has only been five weeks). Skye and Wally are meeting with Father Burns to go over the baptism when they hear a loud boom and the building quakes. The explosion came from Bunny Lanes, the local bowling alley run by Bunny Reid. She had recently renovated the facility and added video gambling machines to the bar. While the bowling alley had been closed for the day, the firefighters find the body of Paige Myler inside. Paige was a representative for Homestead Insurance who insured many of the citizens in Scumble River, and she had been denying their claims which had upset the policy owners. Wally must first figure out if the gambling machines, Bunny or Paige were the bombers target and then he can start assembling a list of suspects. He must also deal with a home under construction, a fairy godmother running around town, the christening, the party, newborn twins, an understaffed police department and a hormonal wife. Skye, though, is always eager to help Wally with his cases and it does give them time together. Come along to Scumble River where you will be welcomed with open arms and your secrets will spread faster than you can say Die Me a River.

Die Me A River may be the second book in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series, but it is a continuation of A Scumble River Mystery series. If you are new to this series of books, begin with Dead in the Water. If you are up for a challenge, pick up Murder of a Small-Town Honey (go all the way back to the beginning). I thought Die Me A River was easy to read with eccentric characters and a quirky small town. Denise Swanson has an engaging writing style that draws the reader into the Scumble River world. It can be hard, though, to keep track of the all extraneous characters especially in the beginning. Skye has an extended family and many close friends along with co-workers, Wally’s family, Wally’s co-workers, the townspeople (you get the picture). There is plenty of humor in the story as Skye learns to deal with the twins, Carson’s new girlfriend (and how they learn who it is will have you chuckling), the fairy godmother (her outfit alone will cause you to snicker), May’s over-the-top plans for the party, and the incident at the party are just a few examples. While Die Me A River has a delightful homey feel to it, the mystery was lacking. There is misdirection as the author tries to steer readers away from the real killer, but there are a limited number of suspects. Readers will have no problem solving this whodunit. I would like to suggest the author consider Homer as a victim in a future story (he is an obnoxious ignoramus). I could have done with fewer lovey dovey moments between Wally and Skye (they are sweet, but this is not a romance novel), references to Skye’s weight (which is normal after having a baby), and less focus on how much money Carson has at his disposable (and is spending on Wally, Skye and the babies). I am glad that the new parents are trying to eliminate vulgar swear words from their vocabulary (I dislike seeing them in my cozy mysteries), and they are coming up with some creative alternatives. It was lovely to finally find out the names that Skye and Wally had picked out for the twins. Die Me A River is an enticing cozy mystery with peculiar characters and an appealing small town.

The latest book in the Welcome Back to Scumble River series by Denise Swanson is Die Me a River. Skye has enough to deal with following the birth of her twins while living in a motor home after her own home was destroyed by a tornado. While she and her husband Wally are at the church planning the twins' christening, an explosion at the nearby bowling alley adds more chaos to their lives. Wally is unsure if the target was the gambling machines or the unpopular insurance agent who was the only fatality. This book has plenty of action and wonderful small town characters - including the quirky ones. This is a great series for classic cozy mystery fans.

In Die Me a River, the small rural town of Scumble River is still recovering from the tornado in the last book in this cozy mystery series.

The town is abuzz with complaints about the shady practices of Homestead Insurance. Claims are being reduced, denied and seldom paid timely. When their insurance inspector turns up dead in a bombing, Police Chief Wally must investigate a plethora of suspects. Wally would much rather be at home with his school psychologist wife, Skye, and their still unnamed newborn twins. Skye is on maternity leave. She is seemingly being stalked by a new town resident, Millicent Rose, who just wants to go the twins’ baptism. According to their priest, Millicent has gone to both of the other baptisms since she arrived in town and gave each baby some type of verbal gift.

Die Me a River is the second in the rebooted Scumble River series. However, there were nineteen books in the original series too. Despite never reading any of those books, I had no trouble catching up with the character’s backstories. This works well as a stand-alone.

Most readers, and I include myself, read cozies more for the ambience and characters than for the puzzle. This book does a great job pulling the reader into small town Illinois life. While there are a lot of characters here, each has such a diverse personality it is is easy to keep them separated.

The two mysteries are well-presented. I actually liked the fairy godmother sub-plot better than the insurance main plot but that was just personal preference. I enjoyed the minor mystery around the naming of the babies too.

Die Me a River is a great, relaxing cozy mystery. It is recommended for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in someone else’s life for a day. 4 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for an advance copy.

In this next book of the series people are still reeling from the storm that hit the town in the previous book. Everyone is trying to get back to normal but quite a few people in town are having issues with a certain insurance company re-fusing claims. Things were going well with the original adjuster but he was removed and someone new sent in. While Skye and Boyd are with their priest discussing the twins christening they hear an explosion that sounds relatively close. It ends up being the bowling alley and when the fire fighters discover the body of a certain claims adjuster dead there are more than a few suspects to be had. Skye is trying to enjoy her leave but with Wally being the head of the investigation she can't help but be pulled in. Being bombarded with clues is a good thing right, it's not when there are no answers to be had when it comes to said clues. Skye really can't seem to get a hold onto this mystery and wonders if it will ever get solved. In the meantime she is still working on figuring out what to name the twins, rebuilding her home, and getting into a new normal with two babies. Follow along as Skye tries to make sense of all the she has learned and be a great mom in the process. I'm enjoying where this series is going and love the transition the main character has made from being single to married and from being childless to a new mother of twins. I can't wait to see what she comes up against next.