Fine Whodunnit!
This is a very entertaining murder mystery. The backdrop is a small coastal town that has quite a few shops that sell collectibles. The town is having a spring festival that ends up in a murder. The rest of the story is the search for the killer. There are many plot twists. I was quite surprised by the final reveal. I really enjoyed the discussion of the different collectibles; music boxes, dolls, miniature houses and so much more. Although I have read other books in the series, this book stands alone quite well. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

A Curio Killing by Mary Ellen Hughes is the 3rd book in the Keepsake Cove Mystery series. I have read the entire series and highly recommend the series. This is a book that can read as a stand alone but the reader will benefit from reading the earlier books in the series to know the wonderful charcters and the setting. I adore this series !
I love the setting of Keepsake Cove as the author brings the town to life for the reader.

Our protagonist Callie Reed owns the charming Keepsake Cove music box store, which she inherited from her aunt. The town is excited about the first Keepsake Cove spring festival. and Callie is busy preparing for the festival. Callie is surprised when her ex Hank, shows up . As if that turn of events was not bad enough Hank is arrested for a murder. Now Callie has to put her fun and her shop on hold while she try's to find the killer and save Hank from prison. Soon Callie is deep into suspects and clues that are surprising and concerning as she gets closer and closer to finding the right suspect.

I love this charming series. The author;s writing is pleasing to read and fast paced. The setting is always charming and I love the music box store . I found the sleuth to be well crafted to the surprising conclusion. A very fun read and enjoyable to the end . Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My opinions are my own. This review is cross posted to Amazon, Good Reads and Net Galley. . I highly recommend this series for all cozy mystery readers.

Series: A Keepsake Cove Mystery – Book 3
Author: Mary Ellen Hughes
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Business
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Page Count: 266

The latest in the A Keepsake Cove Mystery cozy series by Mary Ellen Hughes, A Curio Killing from Midnight Ink comes out on September 8th.

Callie has had a lot of changes in the past year, her home, career, relationships, and everything else. Mostly for the better. But when Hank, her ex shows up out of the blue, her new life takes a back seat to the problems of having Hank around. Namely, his incarceration for the murder of his band’s manager.

Most of the returning characters in this series have a part to play in this new addition, as they do in most cozies. Unfortunately, in this case, they don’t play a significant enough role to keep this book from being slow and frustrating. The plot is not compelling enough to keep the reader engaged and, in most cases, has readers upset with the author, the story, and the series.

The pace is not what I was expecting, its slower than the other cozies in the series, and seems to have no real investigative path to follow. Having the main character suddenly willing to help her ex-cheating boyfriend, even at the expense of her mother, after two previous books were about condemning him, may have taken this story down a road that most readers will not want to go.

Callie seems willing to risk losing Brian, even her beloved aunts store and have her mother play second fiddle when her health is at stake to help Hank at any cost. It just doesn’t feel right and makes the plot implausible.

While reading this book, I spent too much time wondering why Callie would risk throwing away her new life for a bad ex. It simply did not make sense and didn’t hold with the premise of the other cozies in the series. I understand wanting to help a friend, but not if it’s an ex who lied and cheated. The murderer might give readers a bit of a surprise, and there are a few twists and turns that are entertaining. However, I did not enjoy this book, and couldn't get into it as much as others in the series. Hopefully, the next cozy in this series will make up for the unconvincing plot of A Curio Killing.

ARC provided by NetGalley

A Curio Killing by Mary Ellen Hughes is the 3rd book in the Keepsake Cove Mystery series, and another exciting addition. Callie Reed owns the Keepsake Cove music box store, which she inherited from her aunt. The town is excited about the first Keepsake Cove spring festival. Callie is surprised when her ex Hank, shows up in town, his band is headlining the festival. Unfortunately when someone turns up dead, Hank is arrested for the murder, and Callie is determined to find the real killer. Callie teams up with a local author to solve the case. I really enjoy this series, I am not into music boxes, but it doesn't really matter, the characters and plot is well developed. I must admit that I liked the first two books more, but it was still enjoyable. I highly recommend this book/series for all cozy mystery lovers like me.

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

This is the 3rd book in series and by far the best one yet. I don't know how she does it. Just when I think I know who the killer is I"m all wrong. this is one book that you won't wanna put down. and when you do for the night you can't wait to get back up and start reading again.

Callie Reed is looking forward to her first Keepsake Cove spring festival. But her excitement dims considerably when she learns that her ex-boyfriend, Hank, will be performing with one of the hired country-western bands. Callie vows to keep her distance, but that changes when the band's manager, Bobby Linville, is found dead, killed with the music box Hank bought at Callie's shop.

Hank is soon singing a sad tune in a detention center with Callie his only lifeline. Though thoroughly aware of his many faults, she knows violence and murder aren't in his blood. But that means one of her fellow Keepsake Cove residents must be hiding a dark secret--something Callie desperately needs to uncover.

I honestly had a hard time reading this book. There were so many new characters introduced so quickly that I had difficulty keeping track. The plot seemed to drag on, as well.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Mary Ellen Hughes is one of my favorite authors. I have other books in this series so when this came available I wanted to read it. Once again the writing and storytelling does not disappoint. I would happily recommend this quick, light read to anyone who enjoys a good cozy.

Callie Reed is caught between Hank, an ex-boyfriend arrested for murder, and Brian, her current boyfriend, in this third Keepsake Cove Mystery. Appearing with his band at the Keepsake Cove Spring Festival, Hank is arrested when his manager turns up dead the second day of the festival. He begs Callie to help him prove his innocence.

Well-conceived red herrings complicate Callie’s search for the real killer while she also contends with Brian’s feelings about her helping Hank and her mother’s request to come help her with upcoming surgery. Mary Ellen Hughes creates interesting characters and situations while keeping an active pace. An entertaining cozy for a lazy afternoon.

I am madly in love with this series! But then, I have loved everything author Mary Ellen Hughes has written. A CURIO KILLING is the perfect installment to this series. This cleverly written mystery, I was on the edge of my seat until the very last page.

Callie Reed has inherited her aunt's music box shop in the collector shop village of Keepsake Cove. And as usually happens in a cozy series -- bodies keep turning up.

Callie gets involved in this one because the chief suspect is her ex-boyfriend Hank. Callie has been trying to extricate herself from the relationship but Hank doesn't seem to be getting the message.

The setting is interesting, and there are some good supporting characters. But Callie seems to be pretty spineless in dealing with her ex, to the point of implausibility. And it doesn't help that the ending is over the top unbelievable.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I think I've run my course with this series but others might appreciate it more.

A Curio Killing is the third book in the Keepsake Cove series. I liked the book. I love the setting, the mystery is ok for a cozy. In all honesty I didnt love it as much as the first two books in the series. Will I read the next installment, yes I will.

Fun read. I love the idea of the setting, hope one day I can visit such a place. Good storyline. Didn't see the ending coming. Liking this series more with each book.

I have not read any of this series before this book. Even before I was a quarter of the way through the book, I just wanted to find out who the murderer was and get on with it. I lost track of who all the characters were and didn't feel compelled enough by the story to figure out who was who. I hope this was just a fluke , or perhaps I just wasn't in the mindset to read this book, but as a reviewer I must say I would give this one a pass

Callie Reed is excited about her first Spring festival in Keepsake Cove until she hears that her ex-boyfriend's band has been hired to play. Hank hasn't exactly been moving on since the breakup and when he is arrested for the murder of the band's manager, he turns to Callie for help.

I love the setting of Keepsake Cove as well as the regular characters, but I was surprised at how needy Hank came across. Callie definitely is trying to move and hope future books don't include Hank.

I like the Keepsake Cove series, but this one wasn't as strong. I don't care about Hank; I find him annoying, and Callie's efforts to clear him in the murder just...didn't keep me engaged enough. And Brian is now coming off as just superhumanly perfect. I enjoyed the first two in the series, so hopefully this one was just a problem child. Fingers crossed next one is better.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

New author to me and I loved this book. The writing is great and the story was very well told. Characters were great and the setting was very different. Even though this was the first book I read in the series and this was the 3rd book It was easy to get into and not feel lost for not reading the other books.

Callie's ex boyfriend is in town for the festival in town and when he is suspected of murder. She is set to find the killer and clear his name.

Mary Ellen Hughes
A Curio Killing 3 rd book in this series.
I love this author but found this book not up to par with the first two.
But nevertheless a good read and definitely look out for the next book.
Callies ex-boyfriend comes into town for the festival playing the headline act .
His manager is found dead and Hank becomes the suspect.
A lot of red herrings to keep you glued until the end..
Thanks to Midnight Ink and NetGalley for a copy exchange for a honest review.

Callie Reed is looking forward to her first Keepsake Cove spring festival. But her excitement dims considerably when she learns that her ex-boyfriend, Hank, will be performing with one of the hired country-western bands. Callie vows to keep her distance, but that changes when the band's manager, Bobby Linville, is found dead, killed with the music box Hank bought at Callie's shop.

Hank is soon singing a sad tune in a detention center with Callie his only lifeline. Though thoroughly aware of his many faults, she knows violence and murder aren't in his blood. But that means one of her fellow Keepsake Cove residents must be hiding a dark secret—something Callie desperately needs to uncover.


Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book

What do you do when you ex boyfriend is accused of murder? Well, you help him. I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries and Mary Ellen Hughes is an author not to be missed. This book has everything including murder and intrigue and hints of romance.

This is such a lovely cozy mystery series. I desperately wish that Keepsake Cove was a real place so that I could visit it and all of its lovely people and shops. Mary Ellen Hughes is without a doubt one of my top favorite cozy mystery writers.