A great cozy mystery, Death by Jack-o'-Lantern had the same mix of mystery and twists and turns. A great read and a book I recommend.

In this second book in the Abby McCree Mystery series, we find Abby continuing to build relationships in Snowberry Creek, Washington. After inheriting her aunt's home and healthy estate, she does not need to work and spends her time volunteering. Many of the groups she works with were things her aunt was involved in and she also inherited her organization skills, so found herself volunteered to head up events. In this book, she is on the planning committee for the Hallowe'en Festival. When she and a friend show up at Ronald Mintner's pumpkin farm, instead of finding pumpkins ready to pick up, she finds the farmer dead instead. When a homeless veteran is the prime suspect in the murder, Abby's friend and tennant, Tripp Blackston ends up in jail for refusing to divulge where Kevin might be hiding. Abby steps up and begins investigating to get Tripp out of jail, but also to help Kevin, who she is sure is not a murderer.

This series is developing well and I enjoyed this story. Abby is such a fun character. I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times during her conversations with Police Detective Gage and Tripp. There is a new character, the Sheriff, who has jurisdiction over the crime and he and Abby did not hit it off well, but as the story progressed, they become sort of friends. Their prickly relationship also added some humor to the story. I love Abby's dog, Zeke. He also came with the estate, but he is definitely Abby's now and also her protector, no one gets past him unless they are a friend. There seems to be a romance developing between Abby and Tripp and I look forward to seeing where Alexis Morgan takes it. The mystery was solid and well-developed. There were a few suspects, but as they were cleared, I was left wondering. I finally figured out who the murderer was, but the motive had me flummoxed. The final reveal was well done and I was very satisfied with the ending of this one. The pacing and writing were perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. Overall a very enjoyable book that I recommend to cozy mystery lovers.

Just an OK read for me. I haveb\n't warmed up to Abby or Tripp after reading the first book.

Whodunnit, despite the lack of clues and not knowing why until almost the end, was easy to figure out. As in the last book, a suspect character was included that you absolutely know is not guilty so that cuts the possible suspects.

The used of the pumpkins was nice and tied in with the setting and title, but there was no surprise there either.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Death by Jack-o'-Lantern is the second book in the Abby McCree Mystery series! We meet up again with Abby as she’s preparing for the Halloween season. While picking up a pumpkin order from a local farmer, she finds said farmer dead in his corn maze—murdered.

I LOVED the first book in this series, so I had VERY high hopes for this book. And I can honestly say that it delivered. It literally has everything you could want in a cozy—a lively small town, an entertaining main character, quirky yet interesting secondary characters, an engaging mystery, and a surprising ending!

I don’t want to say that this book was perfect—but it was PERFECT! I highly recommend it.

This 2nd book in the Abby McCree mystery series was just as good as the first. Poor Abby is thrown into another "volunteer" position but she does her best to help out with the Halloween festival. Little did she know she'd come across another dead body! Sticking her nose into the mystery seems second nature to her even though she can't get help this time from Tripp who was thrown in jail for protecting the murder suspect. I loved the setting and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. I love Abby and her little (BIG) dog too! I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

Death by Jack-o’-Lantern by Alexis Morgan is the second book in the cozy Abby McCree Mystery series. As with most cozy series each book in the Abby McCree Mystery series has it’s own mystery that is solved within the book so each can be read in any order or as a standalone if choosing to do so. Those that follow along from the beginning of the series will have some character development that carries over from book to book though.

This series introduces readers to Abby McCree who had just gotten divorced and had to sell her half of the business she shared with her husband over to him when she found out what her Aunt Sybil left her in her will. Needing a fresh start Abby decided to move into her Aunts former home and make it her own in small town Snowberry Creek, Washington. After arriving in the small town Abby found herself surrounded by her aunt’s old friends who are turning to her to fill the hole that her aunt had also left in their lives and trying to get Abby to volunteer for project after project.

Now Abby has again volunteered her time to help with the town Halloween festival and has joined the planning committee. One of the tasks Abby has to organize for the festival is picking up the pumpkin order from a local farmer, Ronald Minter. When Abby arrives at the pumpkin farm though she comes across the body of the farmer obviously having been murdered. The police have a suspect in mind but Abby finds herself again investigating the murder with her tenant Tripp Blackston.

The Abby McCree Mystery series is one that I found there’s some laughs, likable characters, a darling dog and even a bit of romance included in the stories. With Abby and Tripp working together in these a bit it almost has the feel of a touch of romantic suspense at times although a much cleaner cozy version. With another solid mystery with plenty of twists and suspects I’ll be happy to continue with this series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

A Halloween cozy mystery that's great to read any time of year.
I really enjoyed reading the hijinks presented .
This is my first time reading this author, it was a quick read.
Nice, enjoyable plot .
Snowberry Creek, Washington, sounds like a nice town to visit or maybe even live in.
I enjoyed the Halloween themed mystery with pumpkins a plenty.
This won't be the last book I read by this author.

Pub Date: 27 Aug 2019
I was given a complimentary copy . Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I had a hard time reading this title. The main character did not have much of a personality and it made me dread reading this book. The book by no means was bad it was just that all she did was volunteer, be a victim, and make cookies. We need more than that.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Abby McCree did not only inherit her aunt’s estate, but her committee obligations, too. In Death by Jack-O’-Lantern, the impressive second book in its series, she finds herself overcommitted with the addition of the Halloween Festival and a Veterans’ fundraiser in the works to her calender. When a cranky pumpkin farmer meets an untimely end in his own corn maze and a local homeless vet is named the prime suspect, Abby’s tenant and friend Tripp finds himself in a pickle while proclaiming Kevin’s innocence. Abby puts on her sleuthing cap to find the real killer.

I really like this series, and author Alexis Morgan has no sophomore slump here with Death by Jack-O’-Lantern. The pace is good and the writing engaging. The mystery is solid with plenty of misdirection to keep readers guessing until the very end. I confess that I was blown away by the final reveal and did not see it coming. The author handles veterans’ post deployment issues with a thoughtful, deft hand. Abby goes about her investigating in a logical, reasonable way never falling into the “too stupid to live” category even when she faces life threatening danger.

Abby is a delightful protagonist with a big heart. Even though she did not choose her now committee filled life, she is well suited for it, ever helpful and well organized. I enjoy her dog sidekick Zeke, and he is prominently featured. Also of note is Abby’s relationship with the local police chief. So many cozies put their protagonists at odds with the law, but Abby and Gage share a refreshingly genuine friendship and open communication. All of the recurring characters are well drawn and varied. From the enjoyable gaggle of Abby’s aunt’s elderly friends to other town residents, they are easy to get to know while still having plenty of room to grow. My favorite character is Tripp. He remains somewhat of an enigma but is slowly sharing more with Abby. I look forward to seeing how his character grows and their relationship evolves.

Death by Jack-O’-Lantern is an entertaining read, perfect for the festive fall and Halloween season. Highly recommended.

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

Death by Jack-o'-Lantern by Alexis Morgan is the second book in the Abby McCree Mystery series. Abby is on the planning committee for the upcoming Halloween festival. While out picking up an order of pumpkins, she finds the farmer dead instead. The police immediately zero in on a homeless veteran as the suspect, but Abby has her doubts. The mystery in this book was strong. Even though I have not read the first book in the series, I had no trouble following along with this one. I appreciated that the author brought a focus on a social issue without coming across as forcing an agenda on the readers. I will be reading more in this series!

Death by Jack-O’-Lantern

by Alexis Morgan

Ostensibly a Halloween cozy mystery, Death by Jack-O’-Lantern by Alexis Morgan is so much more. In addition to a great mystery, there is a budding romance between Tripp Blackson and his landlady Abby McCree and lots of small town activity as Snowberry Creek in the Pacific Northwest pulls together to make their Halloween Festival a success. In the midst of a murder investigation, pumpkins carved to resemble townspeople crop up all over town, produced by an anonymous artist. There are lots of supportive new friends for Abby as she tries to settle into her new town, but there are also some puzzling characters. The overarching serious questions are important ones: How can we help returning veterans with PTSD? To what extent does a person go to help and protect his friend?

Abby goes too far in her investigations, stirring up danger for herself and anger in Tripp and the local law enforcement officers as they fear for her safety. Zeke, her mastiff mix, plays a recurring role as her buddy and protector. Abby, an excellent manager and organizer, spends a lot of her time coordinating volunteers for several committees. She also loves to bake, especially for her friends, and to consume copious amounts of caffeinated coffee and sweet treats.

I enjoyed this top notch cozy mystery, and I’m looking forward to the next one in the series. Kudos to the author as this story’s ending was one I didn’t see coming!

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.


Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #2 in the Abby McCree Mystery Series. It would be OK to read as a standalone, but I think it would be more enjoyable if you read #1 in the series first.

Publication: August 27, 2019—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

“Connie has a real talent for ‘volunteering’ people. I swear, you walk into city hall to ask a simple question about property taxes and somehow walk out in charge of a major town event. You’re even grateful for the chance to help out.”

Abby used artificial sweetener in her coffee to help compensate for the huge chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies she’d ordered. Yeah, it was a bit silly, but logic didn’t play a big part in her need for chocolate in times of stress.

She’d let Zeke outside for his usual morning patrol around the yard, but he hadn’t come trotting back in to inhale his breakfast…When she finally spotted him, her heart almost broke. He was sitting on Tripp’s front porch and staring at the door as if sheer determination would make his friend appear. How on earth was she supposed to explain to him that his buddy had been locked up in the people pound?

. This is one of my favorite Halloween cozies tat came out this year, It was fun and had a lot of Halloween hijinks. This is the first book I have read in this series but it won't be my last

#2 in the Abby McCrea mystery series, but the first book written by Alexis Morgan that I have read. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book and will definitely read the next one. Abby has put her organizational skills to good use with the charities in her new adopted town. Her unwanted skill at discovering dead bodies has her finding a murdered pumpkin farmer. And while she helps organize the town's fall festival, she needs to find some clues, get her friend out of jail, all while baking dozens of cookies and brownies. A very good read!

Abby McCree has a problem with saying no. She has overcommitted herself this Halloween season on committees. As part of one of her committees, Abby goes to pick up pumpkins at Ronald Minter’s farm and stumbles over his body. Ronald Minter is a grumpy older gentleman that Abby witnessed in an argument with a homeless veteran named Kevin Montgomery just days before. Kevin is a friend to Abby’s tenant, Tripp. When Tripp is arrested for not telling the police where his friend is staying Abby can’t help but get involved in the investigation.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series but I loved this one. Abby is a fun unique protagonist. She is full of spirit, I couldn’t help but laugh when she referred to the detective as Detective Whatever-Your-Name-Is. She may have a problem say no when it comes to the committees her friends what her help with but this is because she truly wants to help her friends with their problems. This was a great Fall/Halloween read. The mystery has plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep the reader engaged. Also, I am pleased that the author addresses the subject of homeless veterans with PTSD. Our veterans need to be given more help and compassion.

I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced

Death by Jack-O’-Lantern by Alexis Morgan is the second An Abby McCree Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Abby McCree has been “volunteered” to help with the planning of the Halloween Festival. When Glenda’s driver bails because of the pouring rain, Abby takes her neighbor out to Ronald Minter’s farm to pick up the pumpkins for the festival. Abby finds the cranky farmer dead in a shed in the middle of the corn maze. When Tripp and his friend, Kevin Montgomery find themselves afoul of the law, Abby begins searching for the guilty party. I thought Death by Jack-O’-Lantern was easy to read with a charming town and a variety of quirky characters. Abby keeps getting herself “volunteered” to committees and projects (I think gullible is written on her forehead). When Abby is not helping others, she is whipping up baked goods that come in handy for bribes and to offer to police when they inevitably end up at her house. Zeke, Abby’s dog, is my favorite character. He is such a lovable and smart fellow. Gage Logan, the chief of police, is a good guy. He is a fair minded individual who cares about his daughter. I wish Gage was Abby’s love interest. The murder of Ronald Minter provided a couple of suspects along with misdirection and direct clues. I would have liked the mystery to be more challenging. It seemed like the author was pointing a giant neon arrow at the culprit. I thought the reveal was interesting and entertaining. There were some appealing aspects to the crime, and I appreciated that it was completely resolved. The pumpkin carving sculptures were a delightful addition to the story especially Gage Logan’s. I would have liked less repetition of case details (I got it the first time). Death by Jack-O’-Lantern is a cute Halloween themed cozy mystery with purloined pumpkins, copious cookies, a humorous hound and a vigorous volunteer enforcer.

I had mixed feelings while reading this Halloween Cozy. I enjoyed the small town setting and some of the characters. The Halloween Holiday is a fun background. I really liked the carved pumpkins sub plot. The mystery was OK but it was easy to solve and there were some plot holes. There was a lot of repetition. I really disliked the main character Abby and the way she used food as a reward or punishment with the men in the book. The men were treated the same way as her dog. When they behaved they were rewarded with treats and when they misbehaved she took those treats away. I kept wanting one of them to stand up to her. The unhealthy relationship to food bothered me so much I had a hard time enjoying the rest of the book.

This is a new to me author. I'm so happy that I gave this book a try. It was such a fun and fast read. First off, I want to move to Snowberry Creek. It seems like a great town to live. Only a couple murders so far! My bigger fear is getting roped in to all the committees. I really like Abby and Tripp. They have the potential to become one of my favorite cozy couples. I appreciated the veteran angle. My husband is retired Navy so anything to do with veterans is a bonus. Also, can I say how much I loved Zeke? I really enjoyed the little side mystery of who carved the pumpkins. That was really cute and unique. Even though I guessed the murderer early on, I didn't mind. I loved this Halloween cozy from start to finish and this author is now on my must read list. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for the copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Death by Jack-O'-Lantern by Alexis Morgan is a 2019 Kensington Books publication.

Snowberry Creek is gearing up for the annual Halloween festival and Abby McCree, the committee queen, is busy with the preparations. When she heads out to pick up an order of pumpkins from the least popular guy in town, Ronald Minter, she discovers his body in a corn maze with a knife in his back.

Abby gets sucked deeper into the investigation when her tenant, Tripp, volunteers her for yet another planning committee, a fundraiser for his veteran’s group. As it turns out, one Tripp’s buddy's, a homeless vet, named Kevin, has become suspect number one. Knowing Kevin is innocent, Abby sets out to find out who the real killer is.

I’m in a cozy mystery mood and in the mood for Halloween themed novels, too, which made this book an obvious choice. Although it is the second book in this new series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone, so if you are looking for a fall/Halloween mystery, just dive right in. But, if you are like me, you’ll want to go back and read the first installment and continue with the series from here.

While the characters are in the early stages of their developments, I can see a lot of potential and room for growth. The most intriguing character, for me, was Tripp. The mystery is very solid, with several likely suspects to keep one guessing. Abby’s amateur sleuthing is on the practical side, thankfully, avoiding any insult to my intelligence. I also liked her faithful dog companion, Zeke, as he plays a big role in the story and melted my heart more than once.

Overall, this book is very nice Halloween or fall themed novel, with a solid mystery that kept me guessing to the end, plus I found a new cozy series to follow!

It is 90 degrees as I sat reading Death by Jack O' Lantern, and I can smell fall in the air as I read. This is a very nice cozy mystery. The story is well written and held my interest. The characters are like old friends. I look forward to the next installment of this series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Abby cannot say no. She is a busy lady who continually gets corralled into doing even more and more projects. You might think as such a busy lady, she would hardly have time to investigate murders, especially after she was so nearly the victim the last time she did it. Everyone tells her to leave it alone. She even questions her own sanity and whether she has crossed the line into the too stupid to live category. But press on she does.
She feels obligated to help her tenant and friend get out of jail. He will not give up the vet with psychological problems who many in town think is the killer. Neither Tripp nor Abby nor Gage believe this is necessarily the case but his disappearance and Tripp’s refusal to tell the detective in charge where he might be found is highly suspicious.
There is a lot going on around town in preparation for a big Halloween event and when lifelike pumpkins turn up everyone wonders who is responsible and what they mean. Abby gets her own but it is attacked and she realizes she has gone too far in her enquires. Does this stop her? Of course not.
Thankfully she has lots of good friends both in and out of the police who are there to save her from her own reckless behaviour. I give her credit for being self aware enough to realize she has tread where angels fear to follow. It does keep her out of the Darwin club but she does come close...very close. What compensates for this is the characters and the backstories of the vets and their challenges when returning home. It is quite poignant and moving.
Four purrs and two paws up.