Last Pen Standing is a well written Cozy, with likable characters including the main one Delta, and it was an interesting mystery story. I really enjoyed this first book in the series, and look forward to reading more from Vivian Conroy, and seeing what other adventures Delta finds, and the fun ladies of the Paper Posse.

This is the first book in the Stationery Shop Mystery series, and it's a charming start to what I think will be a wonderful series. If you have read any of Vivian Conroy's books before then you already know was a clever author she is, this follows in line with her other books; a feel-good, cosy mystery which will keep you reading. It's not a taxing or heavy read, it's light and easy and will keep you engaged.
The characters are well-developed and likeable, and the mystery has a few twists and turns and keeps you guessing, overall a well-rounded cheerful mystery.

Last Pen Standing is the first book in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. Delta Douglas has been gifted a sum of money from her grandmother, and used it to follow her dreams of owning her own stationery shop. She partners with her BFF, Hazel, at her shop, Wanted, in Tundish, Montana. Delta is thrilled to be working with Hazel. They are running a crafting workshop at a local hotel, when a guest is murdered on the night of the big event. This shouldn't affect them, but when Hazel's brother, Finn is arrested, the ladies get involved in some sleuthing to find the real killer and free Finn.

Delta is a great protagonist. She's a good friend, determined to help Hazel and her brother Finn. She’s strong, independent, and also loves dogs, so that is a point in her favour. I loved the paper posse. This is a group of women who craft together, but all have various jobs in town to spy on others and gather information. With this being the first book in the series, we meet many characters, but they are not well developed at this point. I hope we will learn more about them in subsequent books. The writing is descriptive and flows nicely, the story is interesting and keeps your attention, but I did find it slow moving at times. Last Pen Standing is an entertaining, easy to read cozy set in a charming old Western town in Montana. Although I didn't love this story, I easily enjoyed the town and the characters. The story was somewhat predictable, but still an entertaining story. I will read more in this series to see where the author takes us.

This is a fun cozy mystery read. The characters are unique and fun. If you are a dog lover then you will love Spud which is a retired K-9 officer. The mystery is full of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. This is a solid start to a new series, I look forward to seeing how the characters develop over the series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

If you enjoy cozies that will warm your heart and get your imagination running, this is the book for you.

Meet the newly entitled co-owner Tundish Montana's and her delightful stationary shop called "Wanted". Delta knows just how to organize everything, from the stationary in the shop to a killer crafting event taking place soon. Unfortunately, disaster strikes the night of the workshop, at the hotel. A hotel guest is discovered, having written their very last note.

Delta's best friend is the prime suspect, so Delta jumps in with both feet to clear her best friends' name, before its too late.

Most cozy mysteries are the same thing written with just different towns and names. This one is different in the way it's written and the extremely likeable characters. This is a great mystery to read to kick back and relax.

A fun start to a new series by a great author. This one has Delta, moving to small town Montana to co-own a shop with her friend Hazel. When a murder occurs the first night she is there, and Hazel's brother is the key suspect, Delta, along with the Paper Posse decide to help solve the case. Add in Jonas, an ex-cop and his dog Spud and the characters are full to keep the story flowing. Highly recommend this one, and look forward to the next book in the series.

A cozy mystery which, although it appears it is the first part in a series, I think it can also be read perfectly as a stand-alone. It keeps you hooked enough but not thinking too much which makes up for a pretty light reading.

This is the first book in a new series with a western town as a setting. I loved this book, I am a huge fan of books set in the western states and with an old west vibe. From the first page Vivian Conroy describes the setting and characters beautifully. I enjoyed the main character Delta and I smiled every time the Paper Posse showed up to help Delta solve the mystery. The mystery has a lot of great clues and suspects. This book was delightful from the first page to the last and I can't wait to read more books in this series

This was a cute, fun cozy! I love that the main character is co-owner of a stationary shop and that they continued the theme of the town throughout the shop. Tundish sounds like a cozy place to live, and I loved the setting. I wish we got more of the shop instead of mostly the lodge, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I loved that the author twisted some cozy tropes to make something new. Can't wait for the next one!

This is the first book of what promises to be an interesting series.The setting and some of the characters were interesting. I had a few problems with the book: what person drops into a new town and manages to know everyone by the second day AND gets the locals to cooperate with an unknown amateur sleuth. Delta gives up her previous life to join her friend Hazel in her shop but Hazel is not very well developed as a character. The Paper Posse ladies were a hoot! As I said, I think the series has a bright future with interesting characters and I plan to read the next one.

This story was a pretty average cozy mystery. I enjoyed the location. I wouldn’t mind visiting a shop like Wanted.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

This was a wonderful new series to begin to read! The setting out West is charming- I’ve never had the pleasure of reading any mystery set in the West and I was not disappointed. I knew virtually nothing about stationary and ended up wanting to shop at Delta’s store. The mystery itself was solid and I found the main character to be very endearing.

Last Pen Standing by Vivian Conroy is the first book in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. Delta is the new co-owner of a stationery shop. While at a crafting party at a fancy hotel, a guest is found murdered. To make matters worse Delta's friend is the prime suspect. Delta finds herself running the business alone while trying to clear her friend's name. I loved the idea of a stationery shop, and the characters were well developed. I am anxiously awaiting book two.

Nice start to a new series and I can't wait to read more of it .with that said I want to thank NetGalley for letting me read and review it

Last Pen Standing: A Stationary Shop Mystery
By Vivian Conroy
Poisoned Pen Press
October 2019

Review by Cynthia Chow

A gift from her grandmother has given Delta Douglas the ability to fulfill her dream of owning a stationary shop in Turndish, Montana. Delta quit her graphic designer job at an advertising agency in Wyoming to become the co-owner of WANTED, the stationary store housed out of a renovated sheriff’s office. Along with her old college roommate Hazel, Delta finds their first business venture together conducting a Glitter Galore workshop at the Lodge Hotel. That’s the same night as the hotel’s annual gold miner’s party, an event celebrated for the past one hundred years heralding their tourist-attracting link to gold mining. Led by the owner’s daughter Rosalyn Taylor, the sophisticated party finds the Taylor siblings vying for attention and power. Much to her concern, Hazel’s brother Finn has been dating Isabel Taylor, placing him uncomfortably in the midst of the family battle. When a drunken guest is later found stabbed to death behind the bar, Finn is offered up by the Taylor family as a viable option for the crime, with Rosalyn accusing him of having an affair with the victim.

Fearing that Finn will be railroaded by the powerful family right into prison, Hazel pleads for Delta’s help in proving his innocence. Delta herself had overheard an argument between the late Vera White and another woman, widening the array of suspects to other guests within the party. Assisting her in her investigations is wildlife photographer Jonas Nord, a former law enforcement officer with his own retired K-9 partner Spud. Together, the three wade through the Taylor family drama filled with resentments, mistaken betrayals, and power grabs. An apt detective duo, Delta and Jonas have their own family traumas that have estranged them from loved ones, making them all too aware of the delicate territory in which they are entering.

This debut series introduces readers to the very competent and likable Delta Douglas, who steadfastly pursues leads to help her friends while hopefully not alienating her from her new home. Delta’s stationary shop brings her to the Paper Posse, a crafting group who love a genealogical link to outlaws, glitter, and gossip. Their talent with the latter make them an effective tool in tracking down information regarding the victim’s family and the Taylors, whose reach within Turndish is vast and filled with rumors and murky history. The relationship between Delta, Jonas, and of course Spud is the highlight of the novel, as their friendship slowly grows stronger the more time they spend delving into the case. Family secrets and shame are aplenty within the beautiful goldmining town, and Delta will discover that the Fool’s Gold in WANTED may not be the only pretty veneer covering up an uglier truth.

I was unable to read and review the book by the publishing date due to other commitments. I will update the review immediately upon completion of the book. Thank you NetGalley and publisher.

I was excited to start this book with it being a cosy mystery based around a crafter who owns her own craft shop. Delta has moved to Montana away from her beloved Gran to start a new business venture which includes papercrafting 💖
Within a few days Delta gets far more than she bargained for in her new town. A murder happens on the same night in the same hotel as her very first craft fair as owner of her new craft shop Wanted. Not only is she in the next room when the murder occurs, her business partner and her business partner’s brother are implicated in the crime! Is Delta’s dream job about to be ruined as her best friend and business partner get blamed for a murder? Delta sets upon finding out who the murderer is, and why they did it.
There are plenty of suspects and plenty of motives. With the help of ex policeman Jonas and canine friend Spud, Delta starts her sleuthing.
Delta is a likeable character. Of course I enjoyed her love of crafting and the mentioning of all types of crafting products that I also use, like washi tapes, stationary and pretty notebooks. It was also a nice touch where Delta made a suspicions board and used washi tape to link her thoughts.
Delta easily makes friends with the local people in the area and becomes a member of The Paper Posse who are a group of women who chat and look out for each other. Together they share clues about the murder and also share some amusing nick names.
Last Pen Standing has the traditional cosy mystery sleuthing, clues and red herrings. But it has the added brilliance of being set in lovely little town with a main character who loves to craft.
I very much look forward to the next book in this series.

I found a new cozy author! I felt like I was right there with Delta, working the case. Love, love, love the inclusion of retired K-9 dog officers. I love cozies partly because of the animals in them and the K-9 officer aspect was an added surprise that pulled me into the book even more.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

First in the series.

This one just wasn't for me. I had a hard time connecting with the main character, and most of the other characters didn't really appeal to me either. I found myself putting this down often and reading other things instead. I finally skimmed to the end.