A must-read cozy mystery, Down in Flames is about what happens outside Savannah's workshop - a hit-and-run. The victim is none other than Nicole, the bartender and manager at the Queen's Head Pub, owned by Savannah's boyfriend Edward. It quickly becomes clear that this was no accident.

Can she solve the mystery? Buy the book, it's a great read!

Savannah is teaching her students flame-working, a complicated technique that they can use to create glass beads. As always, we get a vicarious lesson in working with glass. That chance to learn about a craft I'm unlikely to tackle in real life is one of my favorite elements of this series, along with the cast of characters I always enjoy spending more time with. As her students are leaving the building, Savannah hears a thud and a scream. A hit and run driver has struck a pedestrian, leaving no evidence at the scene.



Unlike many cozy mysteries, where the victim is someone unpleasant or barely known to the protagonist, this murder hits close to home. The grief is real, and it's intense. I highly recommend this one.

Savannah Webb owns the Webb Glass Shop
in St Petersburg, Florida. She had just ended
her new class in glass bead workshop. She
is teaching a technique called flame-working.
This requires the careful wielding of acetylene
torche to make the glass bead.
After her class has departed including her
autistic assistant Jacob Underwood and his
service dog (Suzy), Savannah hears a thump,
scream and Suzy barking frantically.
Running out front, Savannah finds Nicole
Borawski who works at the Queen’s Head
Pub. She was the bartender/manager there.
She has been hit by a car which then sped
away. As a result of the hit and run Nicole
dies at the hospital. But was it a mere accident
or did someone deliberately run Nicole down?
Savannah springs into action getting herself
appointed as a police consultant to help find
the culprit.
The characters are well written, entertaining,
artfully drawn into their roles.
Murder, intrigue, family drama, family secrets.
street graffiti, SNARK( an unknown graffiti
artist, a hamburger contest, the Liberator,
Jacob going mute, Amanda’s mother in
hospice combine for a busy, intriguing story
with many twists and turns.
A glossary for Flameworking glass is included
at the end of the book along with a cast of
characters plus information about Glassblowing
Instructions and websites to aide the reader to
learn more about the subject.
This is book # 6 in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series. It
can be read as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read Down in Flames. Thanks to Net
Gallery and Kensington for this opportunity. My opinion is
voluntary and my own.

Title: Down in Flames



Author: Cheryl Hollon



Series: A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery book 6



Chapters:



Pages: 280



Genre: Cozy mystery



Rating: 3 stars



Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation



Down in Flames by Cheryl Hollon is the 6th book in the A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery. Savannah’s has finally settled into life in Florida and looking forward to her future when she finds herself involved in another murder mystery.

This one wasn’t my favorite of the series but it was still an enjoyable read. I would recommend this cozy for fans of other crafty cozy mysteries. This one is also a fairly quick read.










I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

When a friend is killed in an apparent hit and run accident outside, Savannah's glass shop, she and her team of sleuths quickly jump in to investigate. I enjoyed the information about making glass beads that was included along with the mystery in this book. I also enjoyed the addition of a few new characters and the inclusion of many favorites. Some of the characters are not as easy to relate to as others which makes me like this series rather than love it. Overall this was a nice addition, and I look forward to future books.

Newlywed Nicole Borawski, assistant manager of the Queen's Head pub was an angel to those less fortunate. So why was she run down in the road right outside of Webb's Glass Shop? Savannah's apprentice Jacob is the only witness and he is so traumatized by it that his autism has made him mute as a coping mechanism. Savannah asks a couple of questions and manages to make a connection between Nicole and a street artist named SNARK. Savannah is brought on as a consultant with local law enforcement giving her a little more credibility but an investigation is the last thing she needs between Edwards's Best Burger in the Berg contest compounded with his grief cooking (some recipes are not such a good idea), Amanda's Mom is in hospice, the new glass bead making class has started with a full class, Jacob's trauma, and last but not least is the fact that she needs to pick a date for her upcoming wedding to Edward. This story once again illustrates that you don't have to have relatives to have a family. Great story and kudos to the inclusion of Jacob as a main character to illustrate the challenges and successes that are possible with autism.

This is a series that I enjoy because I love art glass. Although some of the books in the series have not quite hit the 'mark' for me, I thought that this one had a great mystery and really kept my interest. I like the way the relationships are developing and also the bit of surprise regarding the characters.

It was well-written and very easy to read. I look forward to the next book in the series!

Savannah Webb continues to have classes showing new and different glass techniques and this time her classes are introducing glass beading. After one of her classes however, Savannah is horrified when the bartender/manager for her fiance's bar next door is run down in front of her shop and later dies. Her autistic friend/employee, Jacob, is a witness and withdraws into silence. Savannah needs to help Jacob and while trying to ease his trauma, she determines that this wasn't an accident but murder.

I love the way that the author writes the characters with realistic issues and problems but also making them very likable. I also really enjoy the background story at the glass shop.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This is an exciting, enjoyable sixth offering in the Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery series; it can be read as a standalone yet might be better appreciated if reading in the series. The characters are well-defined and very likable. The setting in St. Petersburg, FL is beautiful and the mystery intriguing.

Savannah and her fiancé have discussed setting a wedding date, but events in this novel lead her to continue to put it off. Edward, however, wants the date set soon so his parents can come from England, and her friends suggest that life is too short to wait. After the unexpected death of her father about a year ago, Savannah inherited the glass shop he started. She moved back from Seattle where her career in glasswork, especially blown glass, was taking off. The shop is growing due to expanded workspace and the opening of a studio for glass workers to rent spaces by the month.

Jacob is a teen her father had hired as an apprentice. He is talented enough to excel and loves what he does. He has autism and is high-functioning; his eye for detail and routine give him excellent talents to work patiently with glass restoration and to now, as a journeyman, oversee the studio. He has the help of his service dog, Suzy.

After students attending the new glass beadmaking class at Webb’s leave, Jacob also leaves with Suzy. Savannah hears a sickening series of sounds, including a scream, a thump, and the squeal of tires. Running out, she sees Jacob stock still, unspeaking, then runs to the figure lying in the street. It is Nicole, the manager and bartender at Edward’s pub, with an obvious head injury and twisted limbs. Later that night Nicole died during surgery, leaving behind her wife of little more than a year, brothers, and parents she has been estranged from since announcing her intention to marry Elizabeth. Jacob is mute. He will probably regain his ability to speak but his memory of the accident, of which he is the only witness, may not return.

Savannah has consulted for the police department in the past when mysteries or murders have affiliation with the arts in various forms. As there is no immediate artistic connection for Nicole, it is a relief of sorts as she has too many things on her plate for this investigation. The mother of her office manager, Amanda, is in hospice care, so she arranges for Amanda spend as much time with her mom as possible. She must arrange for someone to oversee the studio until Jacob can return to work.

Everybody has secrets, and Nicole was no exception. Amanda shared information about Nicole that indicates there is a possible artistic involvement, so Savannah is authorized a few hours on the case. When cleaning out her employee locker at the pub, she and Edward discover more evidence of a connection with art, solidified by another family member.

The characters are better defined in every offering of the series! I like Savannah and admire her business acumen and how she cares for her employees. Amanda’s mother Viola is a dear lady; I appreciate the empathy and concern the author demonstrates towards Viola and Amanda while Viola is in hospice. Jacob is one of my favorites; despite his health challenges, he continues to pursue what he enjoys. We see him make mature choices to proceed towards his recovery after the accident. He is an integral member of the Webb’s Glass team.

The plot has twists and turns that keeps the reader actively engaged with the story. I found myself making a list of my suspects. Challenges – more than usual – are involved with solving this murder due to the police department moving to a new building. I am with Detective Parker – gotta love working from those hard-copy files, especially when over the course of the move, records disappear from the server. I actually did figure out who the bad guy was, but definitely not why. That, to me, was the true surprise. I was saddened overall by Nicole’s family, showing how sometimes our primary family is one of our choosing rather than by birth. Overall, I was satisfied with the novel and the end and highly recommend this, and the series, to cozy mystery and glass craft lovers.

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

Wow! Another great installment to the series! Savannah and Edward have lost a dear friend to a horrid hit and run that may not be the accident that everyone wants it to be! Excellent character development that stays true to the characters personalities yet allows each character growth in each book. I particularly like the growth that Jacob's character undergoes. I have an autistic nephew and have seen dramatic changes in his personality when a trigger gets flipped that allows him to develop further. I loved that touch in this book. The author really brings the characters to life which only enhances an already well written plot. I am absolutely giddy with anticipation for the next book and I have just finished this one!

I love a good cozy and Cheryl Hollon delivers a great one in her novel, Down in Flames. Besides the good mystery, the art of glass blowing and glass beads is just fascinating. I love the main character and her beau, Edward. Great series!!

Right from the beginning this book grabs the reader. One of the recurring characters is killed in front of Savannah's glass shop and Jacob is the only witness. This sends him into himself and he develops selective mutism. Savannah at first thinks that it was an accident, but then thinks that it might have been deliberate. On top of this Amanda's mother is in hospice and she is spending more time away from the glass shop. Savannah and Edward both have their hands full with running their businesses and Savannah has been hired as a consultant by the police department to help look into the death of their friend. Savannah is also teaching a new class on creating glass beads which is very interesting. There were so many twists in the story and I thought that I had figured out who was responsible for the accident, but I was wrong. I could not put this book down, but also didn't want it to end. A great addition to the Webb's Glass Shop series!

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Kensington through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is number 6th in the series. The author gives you enough of the details for you to understand and enjoy the book. This was a compelling read. It dealt with many social aspects. Jacob’s Asperger’s syndrome and it’s setbacks due to his witnessing a murder. It also brought to light the plight of those that are not heterosexuals in a predominantly heterosexual community. Thirdly, it dealt with grafitti artists. Hospice; loss of life, time management, setting priorities, taking care of yourself, retirement concerns, and love were well interwoven.

I think this is the best book so far in the series. I tip my hat to the author.

I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from Netgalley and Kensington Books and these are my own opinions.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 6 in the series.

While the story in this book could be a stand alone, there are so many personal turning points for the main characters in this book, I'd suggest not starting here.

I was glad to be back in St. Pete's with the whole group after the previous book in the series. As usual, the glass working information in the book was interesting. For me, the mystery took a backseat to all the personal issues of the main characters, and I was okay with that. This book is about growth, and is high on emotion.

The murder itself is charged with emotion, the victim being personally known to all of them. It comes off looking like an accident at first, but eventually it becomes apparent that the victim was targeted. After that, the mystery takes off, woven smoothly throughout all the other happenings in the book.

I enjoyed this book, and look forward to more from the Webb's bunch.

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

A fantastic new addition to this adorable cozy mystery series! We catch back up with Savannah after the expansion of shop which allows her to start bead making class. I really enjoy how detailed these books get when it comes to the glass projects. This one is no exception as it teaches me even more. A mystery on top is just an added bonus though an intriguing one to say the least. Savannah does a stellar job at uncovering the clues prices it all together when it is all said and done. Her cast of helpers are a real hoot giving quite a splash of color to it all. Well written and captivating. Total must read. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed this series since the beginning and I like it more with each book. I like it for the good mysteries. Even more, I like the way the characters have developed and grown. Savannah herself is fascinating, as is the art of glass blowing. I learn something new with each book. But I love the way the author explores the relationships between some pretty complex characters, especially Jacob (and Suzy).
When he witnesses the hit and run that kills a friend, his autism goes into relapse and he stops talking. Everyone is concerned how this will impact his future. He has come such a long way from the withdrawn and awkward young man who was introduced to us first. Then there is Amanda and her dying mother. The way the story is told is both compassionate and honest. These examples and more elevate this beyond a merely good cozy series.
I enjoy the way the characters assist the law in finding the killer, not in an obtrusive or artificial way, but organically, using the skills that are appreciated by the police. They are not in conflict. They work together as a good team. If you are new to the series, you can pick up the book and still follow along or you can go back to the beginning and read through.
Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I'm always up for a cozy mystery, even if I haven't read the rest of the series. I did enjoy this one, but it didn't really feel like a cozy in some parts. Possibly because the murder victim didn't die straight away, and then Savannah was trusted by the police as a consultant with basically free reign. That's odd for a cozy, especially as normally they shy away from the violence of murder (odd as that sounds) In the end the motive felt a little flimsy as well, and rushed. I kind of wavered between three and four stars and ended up going one higher because there is nothing essentially wrong with this book, it just had small elements I didn't like. On the whole I like the setting and the characters, as well as the Glass shop so I'm willing to give this series/author another go.

Different for a cozy; perhaps you'd enjoy it more than I did? Four stars regardless.

Down in Flames by Cheryl Hollon is another in the Webb's Glass Shop mystery series and is a totally enjoyable read as are all Hollon's books. Savannah is devastated when a hit and run driver hits, and ultimately kills, Nicole, the manager of her fiancé Edward's pub. The only read witness is Jacob, her high-functioning Autistic employee and it as thrown him into an episode of selective mutism. In addition, Edward is pressing her to set a wedding date; she is teaching a new class; and another of her employees has a mother in hospice, dying. Life for Savannah is complicated right now.

This is a pleasant series. Savannah is a good character, acting as a consultant for the local police, often finds herself embroiled in murder. This is no exception, although at first the hit and run appeared to be nothing more than a tragic accident. Hollon always managed interesting details, including glass, that round out her plots nicely, including humanizing the victim. There are the series' regulars, who readers have gotten to know through the series and there are always a variety of people who simply fill a role and appear only once. All of it makes the story more compelling. Like all cozy mysteries, Down in Flames is character driven with the mystery being a close second but not primary. Not a complicated read, but a compelling one, I recommend Down in Flames.

I received a free ARC of Down in Flames. All opinions expressed herein are solely my own. #netgalley #downinflames

Another wonderful installment in the Webb's Glass Shop Mysteries. Sydney has been able to expand her facilities and offerings at the shop. The new setups are barely installed in time for the newest class on making glass beads. The students are a mix of past students and new, but after the end of class a hit-and-run claims the life of her fianceé's restaurant manager. Sydney is able to use her art connections to consult in the police investigation. All in all, a fun mystery with extra sharply drawn characters, characters that have already become friends. I tore my way through this book, now I'm sad it's over.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. I enjoyed this book, which surprised me a bit since the beginning was very much a tutorial on the craft of flame working glass, before transitioning into the crime. From then on, the story was well written (so was the tutorial on glass work!) and the author's story development was good. It's not the first book in this series and you're able to get into the story without the preceding series knowledge. The protagonist owns a glass working shop that she inherited from her father. She's engaged to the (Brit or NZ or Australian?) pub owner next door. When someone is killed in front of their respective businesses, everyone in their tight group is impacted. Some saw the death; others knew the deceased. I truly appreciate the diversity of people represented in this book, including a young man who is on the high-functioning Asperger's scale and a woman who's mother is in hospice. There's a great deal of life in these characters, in addition to those that directly propel the story forward. The mystery plot line is well developed and well-told. I recommend this book.