I really loved this first book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

Death with a Dark, Red Rose is the fifth book in the Writer's Apprentice series; however, it's the first one I have read. Camilla Graham, a mystery and suspense writer with a book list reminiscent of Victoria Holt, has engaged Lena London as her live-in collaborator. They share a house with Camilla's brand new husband, Adam, two adorable German shepherds, Heathcliff and Rochester, and Lestrade, the cat.

A Gothic monstrosity is being built in Blue Lake; unfortunately, it's a plastics factory, rather than a castle. If that wasn't creepy enough, a factory employee has gone missing, and the management team of the factory seems to be hiding something. Will Lena and Camilla, along with their usual posse, be able to uncover the secrets and find the missing employee?

I loved this story and the characters, and I will be going back to begin with Book One. I would highly recommend this title to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this title to review from Net Galley.

#DeathwithaDarkRedRose#NetGalley

Death with a Dark Red Rose by Julia Buckley is a 2020 Berkley publication.

Great news for Lena and Sam! They are engaged- finally! But their happiness is tarnished when a disturbing phone call suggests their friend, Belinda, has gone missing. From there, Lena gets drawn into an investigation focused a new a polymer plant moving into her beloved Blue Lake-

Certainly NOT a welcome development.

Lena, and the gang are determined to keep the plant out, resulting in an investigation that unearths some possible shady dealings on the part of Plasti-source. However, all this snooping has made someone mighty nervous and this time- Lena may not be the only one who could be in danger…


I have followed this series right from the start and it quickly became a favorite. This latest installment is just as fast-paced, perhaps a bit more action packed, and I loved the way the entire cast was involved in a hands on way this time. I also loved the developments between all the recurring characters.

While, I did enjoy this book, but there was a weird vibe to it, that had me wondering what the fate of this series will be. While the mystery is a good one, and the characters are still their same charming selves, the chemistry in this one was a bit flat.

However, despite the odd undercurrents, this is still a solid enough addition to the series, and I hope we hear from Lena and the gang soon!!

Life in Blue Lake is never boring for Lena, Sam, Camilla and gang. As Lena & Sam are planning their wedding they get a call about a missing friend. Finding her leads to the case of a missing man with ties to a new company building outside town. This series never disappoints.
Goodreads

Death with a Dark Red Rose is the fifth and final book in Julia Buckley’s A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. Throughout the series, readers have been introduced to Lena London, who has gotten to live every reader’s dream of meeting their favorite author, being their apprentice, writing books as a duo, and even sharing a house with them. Lena has also had her fair share of drama, mysteries, and murders to solve. Since moving to Blue Lake, Indiana Lena has reconnected with a childhood friend, met the love of her life, Sam West, and made several new friends. Death with a Dark Red Rose finds Lena’s friend Belinda missing, which sets off an unforeseeable series of events. “Oh, Lena, what have you stumbled upon this time?”

Blue Lake is known for its friendly people and appreciation of the environment. In fact, it’s been said that the water in Blue Lake is the best drinking water around. The open space found in Blue Lake has attracted the attention of a corporation called Plasti-Source. However, it’s tall, dark, and dreary looking building doesn’t match the aesthetics of Blue Lake. Could the new building currently being constructed be a sign of what’s to come? Lena and her friends, affectionately known as the “Scooby-Doo gang” are on the case.

Death with a Dark Red Rose was an incredible mystery. Julia has put in surprises, twists, and turns. For the romance lover in me, she made this book truly about love. Sadly, this is the last book in the series. However, Julia wrapped things up nicely.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“Sometimes you can come through adversity and find life even better on the other side.”

Julia Buckley has written a competent cozy with Death with a Dark Red Rose in her Writer's Apprentice series.

I always love Julia Buckley's mysteries, and this one was no exception. I love how realistic her characters are and how she fleshes out the setting, characters, and mystery. Highly recommend!

Lena and Camilla are part of the group to solve this mystery. Group dynamics are wonderful. Well told story. It didn't lag or jump but moved along gracefully beginning to end.. Can't wait for the next in this series.

This is the 5th book of the Writer's Apprentice Mystery series and it is a winner! This book and series has everything I like about cozy mysteries- likable characters, an intriguing cozy mystery, friendship and some romance! Lena London is co-author to Camilla Graham who writes mysteries. In this book, there is a new company Plasti-Source being built and it is not welcome in town. There are rumors that they aren't environmentally friendly. We meet Lena's friend, Belinda's brother Carl after Belinda goes missing. Carl is concerned about his coworker, Louis, who seems to be missing. The whole group gets involved to help figure out what happened to Louis. It kept me guessing until the end! Very enjoyable!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

his mystery is so good! The characters are a perfect blend of endearing, engaging personalities and are well-defined. The atmosphere reflects the drama at any given time, just as the gothic novels do that Camilla, and now Lena, write. The Midwest setting has a distinct beauty at any time of year, including either brilliant fall colors or foreboding, dark trees. The mystery is equally brilliant or foreboding.

Lena London has, to me, one of the best jobs in the world. She has been in Blue Lake, Indiana for almost a year, having moved to work for her favorite author and now mentor, Camilla Graham. Camilla has a career spanning several decades as a best-selling Gothic mystery author. In one short year, Camilla has become like a family member, close friend, confidante, and partner in crime-solving. In turn, Lena is an assistant to Camilla and now her co-author. Lena lives in Graham House with her, has Lestrade, a cat who adopted her, and now, a fiancé.

Sam, a neighbor of Camilla, and Lena met in her early days in Blue Lake. He blossomed from a grumpy guy to a homicide suspect to the love of Lena’s life. They are planning their wedding even as Lena and Adam, Camilla’s gentleman friend, are planning Camilla’s 70th birthday party.

A panicked phone call has Sam and Lena racing over to close friend Belinda’s home. Doug, a local detective who Belinda dates, is going through her kitchen. He came to pick up Belinda for Oktoberfest. Her door was unlocked, her purse and cell phone left inside along with a long-stemmed dark red rose. Not only is leaving everything behind totally unlike Belinda, she would never blow off a date. It looks as though she has been abducted.

It seems to be going around in Blue Lake. A young man, Luis, has gone missing from his place of employment and his home. Luis works for Plasti-Source in nearby Stafford. Those who know him well know he is a loyal, hard-working employee, but management claims he is unreliable. His wife claims they had a fight and she doesn’t expect him home any time soon.

Plasti-Source has had a less than stellar reputation with the EPA at their various factories. They are having a new, ugly behemoth of a plant being built in Blue Lake, and the citizens are concerned about release of toxic chemicals used in their manufacturing process. When police in a nearby town find Luis’ car, empty, with blood inside, they fear the worst.

Camilla is highly respected in Blue Lake as a best-selling author and beloved citizen. One of the best descriptions I’ve seen of her is that if Blue Lake were a kingdom, Camilla and Adam are the king and queen in the castle at the top of the hill. Lena and her friends are close in age, and all look up to and love them. Lena has also gained a reputation, together with Camilla, of solving various crimes in Blue Lake. It is no surprise that they are involved in finding the missing and the culprit(s).

The characters are three-dimensional, so real one could almost see them stepping out of the pages into real life. Because of their multi-faceted talents and close relationship, Lena and Camilla are my favorites. Sam and Belinda are a close second. We meet Belinda’s complex brother, who is also well-defined; I enjoyed getting to know him and hope we see much more of him.

This mystery has many components which may or may not be connected. Plot twists add to the suspect list. There are new faces in town because of the construction of the new factory, some look less than friendly. When a creepy face appears, peering in the window at Camilla’s home, all are on edge, especially after he gets away. There are lighthearted moments with some of the surprises for Camilla’s birthday and seeing Sam’s brother Clifford try to make up his mind about taking out one of Lena’s friends. I was unable to determine the bad guy(s) and had quite the surprise at the end regarding who and why. I was satisfied with the solutions, and no loose ends remained. I highly recommend this novel and its series!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*

I am a couple books behind in this series, but I was able to pick this up and fall right back into the characters and the story. I enjoyed the fact that the over-arching story about Sam from the early books has wrapped up, so this one stands a little more on its own.

Terrific mystery in this one - lots of twists that kept me guessing all the way through. Love the ensemble in this series. Nice romantic side stories which never overshadow the mystery. And I found Belinda's brother's character completely endearing. I highly recommend this mystery series! I definitely have to go back and catch up on the last couple.

The Writer's Apprentice Mystery series just keeps getting better and better with each book. I've read all 5 so far and they are truly amazing. I love Lena's character and her love and affection for everyone around her. Her relationship with Sam has been taken to the next level and they are so cute together. Lena's relationship with her mentor, Camilla, is one of mother/daughter (at least to me) and there is genuine affection between them - and with Camilla's guy, Adam. The introduction of Cliff in a previous book also brings a nice, loving component to Sam's life and, in turn, Lena's.

The mystery in Death with a Dark Red Rose begins with the abduction of Belinda, a friend and the girlfriend of local detective, Doug. What starts out as a missing person snowballs into a mystery full of missing, and presumed dead, employees of a plastics manufacturer who unceremoniously decides to set up shop in Blue Lake, shady characters, peeping toms, and danger no one saw coming. I was wholly engaged in this book and did not put it down unless I absolutely had to (I'm looking at you, day job!).

The twists, turns, and red herrings kept my mind actively trying to put the pieces together of this mystery. I didn't feel like there were any dull or slow moments as we spent more time with Lena, Sam, Cliff, Belinda, Doug, Allison, John, and of course, Camilla and Adam. It wasn't until almost the very end that I was able to put the pieces together and have the "ah ha" moment right along with the characters.

One of my favorite cozy series', I was a glad to be back in Blue Lake and can't wait to visit again.

Sorry Julia Buckley, but you lost me with this title. By the time I finished the book, I could not see how the title matched what you had written.

What begins with a new company building an eye-sore of a structure is pristine Blue Lake, quickly jumps to Lena’s best friend Belinda missing and detective Doug going into panic mode not knowing where she is. This is where the whole red rose begins and ends. Which isn’t much considering there is an easy answer and minimal reference to it again.

This is a fling it on the wall and see if it sticks plotting session where Julia Buckley is throwing everything she has, and some that she doesn’t, in hopes of keeping the reader engaged in a straight from Scooby-doo episode where the big bad guy is unmasked and the world is saved by the bumbling, and in the end a nice meal was prepared for all.

If the author is going with the” oh gosh, gee golly” approach, she has hit her mark. If she is wanting to engage her readers with gothic suspense, she will need to up her game with darker twists and a bit more foreboding.

Another great addition to The Writer's Apprentice cozy mystery series. Julia Buckley is becoming one of my favorite authors in the cozy mystery genre.

Life is going well for Lena London. Her latest collaboration with bestselling novelist Camilla Graham is doing well, she and her fiance, Sam West, are just starting to plan their wedding, and she enjoys spending time with her new friends in Blue Lake. The only shadow is the new factory that is being built just outside of town. It looks like the building is going to be an eye sore, and Lena is not happy about it and other ways it might change this area she considers home. However, a cold wind blows in when someone vanishes. Soon, Lena and her friends are caught up in another race to figure out what is happening before things turn deadly. Will they solve things in time?

I thought this novel’s beginning was weak, but it was the weakest part of the story. Even then, that is a minor complaint since I was hooked from the very first page and could hardly put the book down until I reached the end. If real life didn’t interfere, I could have easily finished it in one sitting. I did see one or two twists coming, but there were plenty others I didn’t suspect, but they made perfect sense by the time we reached the end of the story. I love Lena and her friends, and we got plenty of time with them in these pages. Their relationships are fantastic. Each chapter starts with a quote from the projects that Lena and Camilla are currently working on, and I found they helped me better understand just how this series works Gothic elements into each book. Honestly, I’d love to read their books if they were real. It is best to read this series in order since some events of previous books are spoiled by necessity. That’s not an issue since all the books in this series are great. Set aside plenty of time when you pick up this book because you won’t want to put it down until you’ve read every thrilling page.

Although I normally prefer to read mystery books in a series in order I have skipped a few in this series. It didn't make the book any less enjoyable though and the author does a great job of catching the reader up. Overall this was a really fun mystery. I always enjoy Buckley's writing and the plot/mystery was very well done. The characters are relatable and well developed. Overall i really enjoyed the story and definitely recommend to fans of cozy mysteries!

DEATH WITH A DARK RED ROSE is the fifth book in Julia Buckley’s “Mystery Writer’s Apprentice” series. With each book in this series, the circle of friends for the main character keeps expanding. This time around, Lena and her friends are looking into some suspicious things that all seem to lead back to a plastics factory. As with other books in this series, Julia Buckley expertly melds cozy mystery fun with contemporary gothic mystery goodness. In this case the forbidding dark mansion is, instead, a plastics factory with dubious employees and associates up to no good.

Although the actual “bad guy” isn’t fully revealed until the very end, it’s obvious to readers and the main characters, that the danger and miscellaneous thugs emanate from Plasti-Source. The questions everybody has is not so much “who” as the “how” and “why”. Lena and friends are pulled into this mystery because her friend Belinda’s brother Carl works for Plasti-Source and his friend, and fellow employee, Luis disappears. I like that there’s a wide group of people investigate this mystery, and bounce ideas off each other – including a local police officer. In this book, people are in danger, as well as the environment – due to potential ecological threats. The classic amateur sleuth Nancy Drew was referenced in this book, and there are many elements in DEATH WITH A DARK RED ROSE that are reminiscent of some of my favorite Nancy Drew stories – kidnappings, surprise twists, unknown shadowy villains, tight friendships and teamwork, and clever women.

DEATH WITH A DARK RED ROSE is a superbly sinister contemporary gothic mystery with great characters. Julia Buckley does a wonderful job of balancing the suspense and more lighthearted moments. Carl proved to be an interesting new character, and I hope to read more about him in future books, as well as the romance between Cliff and Isabelle. I look forward to Julia Buckley’s next “Mystery Writer’s Apprentice” mystery.

I had enjoyed a previous novel by Julia Buckley so when I saw her new cozy mystery Death with a Dark Red Rose I decided to pick it up. Unfortunately, it didn't really work for me.

Death with a Dark Red Rose is the fifth book in the Writer's Apprentice Mystery series. I haven't read the other books in this series, but I don't think it is necessary to have read them as there is plenty of details explaining the various relationships. There's also a number of mentions of previous incidences that should jog the memory of those who have been following the series. I like it when authors do that for their readers. Though the continued references up to nearly the very end got a little old.

There's a lot of talking in the book and very little action. Most of the action takes place off the page and we only hear it second hand as one character relays the information to the other characters.

There are a number of characters, but they seem to serve little purpose and act more like the Scooby gang than real people. I didn't connect with any of them. They seemed shallow in their development so I didn't really feel like I knew them.

But what made the story the most difficult for me to get through was how thin the plot was. The story was very wordy, but like the characters, I felt they were just filler. There was a lot of description and idle chatter that didn't move the plot forward. And you would have thought Sam was at risk of contracting the coronavirus with how Lena acted about his illness. It was hard not to roll my eyes at how many times people felt his forehead for fever.

I read a lot of cozy mysteries so I know what I like and what works for me in a story. Unfortunately, this one didn't have enough of the elements that I enjoy in a cozy mystery. Looking at other reviews at Goodreads, there are those who felt as I did that it was an okay book but there are also several who loved the book.

My review is published at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/02/death-with-dark-red-rose-by-julia.html

As a reader who devoured the first four titles in the series, I am sad to say that I was slightly disappointed in the latest installment of A Writer's Apprentice Mystery. Death with a Dark Red Rose did not read with the same urgency and propulsion that Buckley masterfully created in the previous titles. I would still recommend this title to readers who enjoyed Buckley's earlier installments.

Writer's apprentice Lena London is enjoying life in Blue Lake and being newly engaged, but is soon drawn into the terrifying disappearance of one of her closest friends....

Lena is starting to feel like having it all may actually be possible! She and suspense novelist Camilla Graham are busily plotting their next novel and she's got a brand-new diamond ring on her finger thanks to her fiancé, Sam West. The only blot on her Blue Lake life is a strange new corporation that has come to town called Plasti-Source. They seem to be intent on gobbling up prime real estate and changing the landscape of Lena's lovely adopted home.

When she and Sam get a call from their good friend (and Blue Lake detective) Doug saying that his girlfriend--and Lena's pal Belinda--isn't answering her phone and missed a date with him, they all head out to her home. The trio is shocked to discover that Belinda's purse and phone are at her house, along with a single red rose on her countertop--but Belinda herself is missing. Has she been abducted? Could the strange new corporation play a role in her disappearance? Lena is determined to find out and rescue her friend because she knows that the truth can be stranger and much more deadly than fiction...
Amazon.com

I started reading A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series from the first book because I liked the premise of a young aspiring novelist, Lena London, working and living with a successful older woman novelist, Camilla Graham. The house, filled with their pets, sat picturesque by a lake. But I soon learned that this series wasn’t quite as cozy as I thought. Both women have had to be tough. But Lena has formed friendships in the community. Those friends help her solve the mysteries that befall them. They cocoon each other through the stressful adventures.

This series is one of five that Julia Buckley writes. Death with a Dark Red Rose is the fifth book in this series and will be released by Berkley on February 25. Please welcome Julia Buckley to WWK.
E. B. Davis


Where is this series set? Is it Blue Lake or Blueville?
Blue Lake is the town in which Camilla and Lena live. Blueville is a nearby town.

How far is it from Stafford?
The towns that border Blue Lake (like Stafford), are just twenty or thirty minutes away, just as suburban towns are often very close to one another. Towns like Blueville are a bit of a longer drive, but still less than an hour’s time away from Lena’s house.

The story starts with a group text among main character Lena London’s friends about a new factory opening in Blue Lake called Plastic-Source. What do they fear about this factory?
Cliff’s initial concern about Plasti-source is merely that it is ugly, and will ruin the view over the field he runs past during his morning jog. Soon their fears about this new company begin to grow, for a variety of reasons.

Lena’s cat is named Lestrade. Why did she name him that?
In the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels, Lestrade is the police officer who is always bested by Holmes, but he is also the long-suffering recipient of Holmes’ scorn. Lena is a fan of the Holmes series, so she names her cat Lestrade to show her appreciation of Arthur Conan Doyle. As an aspiring mystery writer, she wants a mystery name that is more obscure than Holmes or Watson, but is still recognizable.

Camilla has two German Shepherds, Heathcliff and Rochester. How do the dogs treat Lestrade?
Heathcliff and Rochester (also given literary names) are initially shocked to see a cat in their house, but they befriend Lestrade on the same day that they meet him (way back in Book One, A Dark and Stormy Murder).

How did One-Shoe Road get its name?
According to Lena, who heard it from Camilla, the townspeople rather whimsically responded to a single shoe that is left on the roadside. No one claims it (and don’t we all see these lost shoes here and there? It’s never a PAIR of shoes!), and someone humorously puts out a sign that says “I’m lonely,” next to the shoe, at which point other shoes begin to appear.


Is Belinda’s brother Carl autistic?
If Carl has been diagnosed with anything, it is not revealed in the novel (on purpose, since we often don’t know the specific diagnoses of our colleagues or friends), although his mother mentions that he is on medication to counteract his sometimes dangerous impulsivity. Carl does have similar behaviors to some of my friends or family who are on the autism spectrum, and like them, he is very often delightful to be with because he sees the world through a slightly different lens; on the other hand, he also sometimes lacks a social filter for what he says or does.

Although Carl works in an IT department, he has another talent. What is it and how did he develop it?
Carl has a very rare gift—he is an intuitive chef, and can make delicious meals with any food.

Adam, Camilla’s boyfriend, takes her on a trip so that Lena can set up a surprise seventieth birthday party for Camilla. What special present have Adam and Lena created?

Adam and Lena have the inspired idea to make large wall-hangings out of the art for every one of Camilla’s published novels. They intend to display them at her party, and then to hang them in her house on the bluff.

Camilla’s publisher wants her to write an advice book for writers. You’ve started chapters with snippets from this book and alternate to pieces from a mystery work-in-progress of Camilla’s and Lena’s. How do they relate to Death with a Dark Red Rose? Are they foreshadowing?

The text that is “quoted” from Camilla’s works in progress always contains some theme that is pertinent to the chapter. Camilla’s writing advice often reveals something about her life that might pertain to decisions she makes or challenges she faces. The words quoted from her novel generally pertain to the Gothic elements of the fiction that she (and I) both write. It is a nod to the genre, and a link between Camilla, Lena, and me. (And yes, some of them foreshadow what will happen in the chapter).

After Belinda and Lena check out a video game store that Carl and Luis like, they are followed by a dark car. Once home and at twilight, Lena imagines sinister forces following her. Do all mystery/suspense writers create their own tension?

I think that mystery writers might be more conscious of things that look sinister because everything they see is potentially fodder for a future book. In the early chapters, Lena thinks that a man looks ominous, but dismisses the idea, saying that she’s thinking like Camilla and trying to turn life into fiction. However, her instincts are good, as are Belinda’s when she notices the dark car. In this respect, it is actually a drawback to be a mystery writer, because Lena might tell herself she’s being too imaginative when in fact her instincts are warning her to beware.

What is Sam’s theory about the pendulum effect?

Sam suggests that there is some magical quality, either to life in general or Blue Lake in particular, in which events seem to swing back and forth between extremes of happiness and despair. He offers examples of recent traumas he has suffered, followed by levels of joy he had never previously achieved. At some points in the novel, this “pendulum effect” theory is used to comfort characters who are suffering or unhappy.

What’s next for Lena, Camilla, and the gang?

I can’t give anything away. 