Death Waits in the Dark is book four in the A Writer's Apprentice Mystery series by Julia Buckley. While Lena London and her boss Camilla Graham is working in the study, they had a visit from Jane Wyland. Camilla was quite confused about what Jane was demanding for her to do about her husband, James. After Jane murder, Camilla decided to find out the truth. The readers of Death Waits in the Dark will follow the twists and turns in Lena and Camilla investigation into the murder of Jane Wyland.

Death Waits in the Dark is the first book I have read of Julie Buckley, and I was impressed with the plot and the way she describes her settings. Death Waits in the Dark is a lovely cozy mystery you would enjoy to read on a cold winter day sitting near the fire with a cup tea and your favourite biscuits. I love Julia Buckley portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout the book. Death in the Dark is well written and researched by Julia Buckley. I like that Julia Buckley uses animals in her story allowing you to laugh while you read Death Waits in the Dark.

The readers of Death Waits in the Dark will learn about obsession, mental illness, and revenge. Also, the readers will see that you can find love second-time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for my free ARC for an honest review. I recommend this book.

Our heroine Lena is back to contend with a murder that touches her and Camilla's world. Her boyfriend Sam is back and they are a cute couple, Policeman Doug Heller is still a significant character that I enjoy, BFF Allison and hubby John make a few appearances, Cliff Blake is a new addition of Sam's reunited brother, Isabelle Devon is an old high school friend of Lena's that moves to Blue Lake, and of course the animals - Lena's cat Lestrade and Camilla's German Sheperds Rochester and Heathcliff.

What happened several decades before prompting a young girl to leave town and her sister to be murdered when she starts digging into the past is the main premise. There is a bit of the question "How well do we really know even our closest friends... or a spouse?" that fuels the undercurrents. The pacing was definitely page turning and gripping as danger swirls close to Lena.

The climax was harrowing and exciting, so I am delighted with it. The wrapup is actually poignant and well done, making Lena more dimensional.

I enjoyed this outing in the series a great deal and highly recommend it to fans of the series and even to those new to it. There was only one hiccup and that was an emotional side to Lena that is accentuated through the tensions of the story that seemed off. Perhaps that was just me, so you will have to judge for yourself. Overall this book is a great stand alone and fourth book in the series.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it, it had a good grip on me! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

Nothing cools off a summer heat-wave in Blue Lake, Indiana quite like a chilling murder! In Julia Buckley’s fourth installment of her Writer’s Apprentice cozy mystery series, a long buried secret surfaces and murder soon follows. With a menacing presence looming over the novel, readers will find this suspenseful cozy to be a perfect weekend mystery!

Bestselling author Camilla Graham and her writer’s apprentice Lena London are settling in as roommates. It is hot in Blue Lake and they are a bit stumped on their current book. When an old acquaintance of Camilla’s Jane Wyland shows up unexpectedly, Lena finds Camilla in a state of deep distress. Jane Wyland is threatening to reveal an old secret about Camilla’s late husband James, and she won’t be reasoned with.

First of all, before we get to the murder, it is incredibly rude to just show up at someone’s home and threaten to reveal secrets. Poor Camilla! I must admit, I was so puzzled by this catalyst to the mystery. But things only get more bizarre when Jane Wyland is found murdered not one day after this mysterious visit. Now you might think, well that solves the problem! A murdered woman can’t reveal a secret!

Unfortunately, that is the exact logic that the police take when they learn about Camilla and Jane’s meeting. The most troubling part (besides the murder) is that Camilla has no idea what secret Jane was threatening to reveal. But the more Lena helps Camilla investigate, the more troubling it seems. The secret may be one Camilla herself doesn’t want to know—unproveable, dark, and ruining her memory of her late husband.

But someone else doesn’t want them to get to the truth either…

I found Camilla to be such an intriguing figure in this novel. She’s reserved, talented, and distant. Yet she also seems to be charmed by the most simple of life’s pleasures—pizza, for instance, is a novelty to Camilla. She’s so used to being cooked for, a simple takeout pizza is a newer experience. A party with friends is another novelty Camilla seems to not let herself experience. I loved seeing her wonder as she branched out a bit!

Lena herself has a fascinating storyline this book. It is less to do with her boyfriend in the fourth book and more focused on herself and her thoughts. When an accident occurs and it appears it may not have been so accidental, mysterious events follow. Lena finds herself hovering just on the edge of the answers they seek, but still out of reach. And Lena also begins to doubt herself. Was it a memory or a fabrication?

This was ultimately a slightly different, but no less engaging, type of cozy. The murkiness of memory and the past seem to cast a shadow over the characters, giving it a somewhat ethereal feel. The mystery, though firmly grounded in reality, had a haunting feel to it, made more prominent by Lena’s accident and reaction to her medication. And then there is the notion of a secret long buried in the past coming to light that really brought the mystery home.

A fresh twist on a cozy mystery that left me delighted!! Thank you to Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.

An cozy mystery set in the quiet town of Blue Lake. This series features a novelist, Camilla and her apprentice, Lena. It is #4 in the Writer's Apprentice Series. I read it as a stand-alone and it worked out just fine.

Jane Wyland shows up at Camilla's house and threatens to spread rumors about her late husband if she doesn't reveal his secret past. After Jane is murdered soon after.... the ladies team up to help solve this small town murder mystery.

Enjoyed the setting, mystery and the sweet dogs and kittens that made an appearance. There were a few too many suspects in my opinion and I had trouble keeping some of the clues straight. I can't say that I solved this one. The pace was good and this was an enjoyable, light read.

I would definitely read more cozies from this series/author.

If you’re looking for spine-tingling events in a cozy mystery, the Writer’s Apprentice series satisfies in all ways. It’s summertime in Blue Lake, Indiana, and someone starts a killing spree. Both Lena London and Camilla Graham possess excellent instincts and they’ll need every nuance when life actually mirrors the fiction they write. I opened the pages and settled down to read this amazing plot where a murderer attempts to silence two of my favorite cozy mystery protagonists.

A woman from the past surfaces and threatens to expose a huge secret about Camilla’s deceased husband, James. Someone doesn’t want the secret revealed. My heart began pounding as Author Julia Buckley ambushed me chapter after chapter with unexpected plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. The wonderful men in Lena and Camilla’s lives work overtime to keep them safe until a madman is caught and put behind bars. These men are great secondary characters and heroes for their ladies. I tried to decipher all the clues in hopes of figuring out the assailant’s identity, however, I was stymied right up to the author reveal.

Relatable, flawed characters; dogs and kitties; intense suspense; and a swooner of an ending make this fourth book in the series a top-notch reading experience!

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing. Thank you.