A few things to know: 1) Lauren drinks. Even if she’s having a sandwich, she has a drink. She wonders if it’s too much, her family say it is - but next meal, another wine or IPA. 2) you will be hit over the head with Quaker references in the book. I lost count of how many times she “held something in the Light”. Less is more, sometimes. 3) I wasn’t even trying to solve the mystery, and even I spotted way early whodunnit, so she shows a remarkable lack of self preservation or judgement - especially when I gather this book involves a murder only a few months after the murder in book 1…

It was the first one of Maxwell’s I’ve read, and I doubt I’ll be reading any more of the Lauren Rousseau series. I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review - apologies for the delay in providing this.

I did not read the first book in this new mystery series. However, I have read a few of the author’s other historical mystery series that I liked. However, I did not like the protagonist. She seemed to be very mean. I did think the mystery was interesting though!

I wasn't aware that this book was part of a series, but Murder on the Bluff is also a captivating read as a standalone novel. Lots of suspense that keeps you turning the pages until the very end. Highly recommend.

The main protagonist is more developed and likable from the beginning of this book. The mystery takes you on a twisty suspenseful ride. Well-written storyline that will draw you in.

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

I had previously sworn I was never going to read another book in this series. I was hoping it was a one off. I should have stuck to my decision. Dr. Lauren Rousseau is still unlikeable. And for someone so religious, she is so mean to her boyfriend, Zac. If she doesn’t want to be committed, just break up with him. I did make it a little further in this book than the previous one, but it was still a dnf for me. I will stick to Edith Maxwell’s other series. Thank you to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was my first experience with this author and I probably should have read the first book before reading this one. I had a hard time getting into the story because the characters were already established and I felt a little disconnected. I however wouldn't say you should avoid this story. I would suggest just starting from the beginning and not the second book like I did. The story was still overall a pretty good one. The mystery kept me interested and I've already added the first book to my TBR pile.

Murder on the Bluffs, book two from A Lauren Rousseau Mystery series by Edith Maxwell, is a fabulous suspense filled read. I thought it was great. Five stars.

A very engaging read and it held my interest throughout. I wasn’t aware that this was a series, but it didn't interrupt the flow of the book.

Our protagonist is Lauren a PHD doctor of linguistics who is a tenured professor. She has close relationships with her Mother and her sister. Lauren is a dedicated follower of the Quaker Faith as was her Father who has passed on. Laurent was hoping that her relationship pressure of her boyfriend would be on hold after he leaves for a few weeks . She likes her independence and does not want to move forward with him. She has been under scrutiny with the town since previously finding a body and helping solve the murder. When she once again finds a dead body of a man she had words with she must solve the mystery of his death to both clear her own name and find the suspect. She had good friends that assist her in her inquiries and I like the smart savvy way she goes about finding clues.

Search For Truth....
Book two in the Lauren Rousseau mystery series and a gruesome murder gives a Lauren, linguistic professor, cause for consternation and she begins to search for the truth. A well plotted mystery with many threads and, whilst still difficult to warm to our protagonist, an engaging read.

I enjoy books by this author. It held my interest all the way through and I would recommend it to others

Review delayed for long fire evacuation.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this fine mystery for review. My review opinions are my own. Murder On The Bluffs is the second installment in the Lauren Rousseau Mystery series by popular award winning cozy author Edith Maxwell. I have read the first in series and was immediately drawn to the series. I love the beautiful covers on this series which give the reader clues into the pending mystery., The charcters are all interesting and likable . The sleuth was well crafted to conclusion and kept me guessing throughout. I particularly like that our protagonist is a independent woman of strong faith with a career in a unusual field.

Our protagonist is Lauren a PHD doctor of linguistics who is a tenured professor. She has close relationships with her Mother and her sister. Lauren is a dedicated follower of the Quaker Faith as was her Father who has passed on. Laurent was hoping that her relationship pressure of her boyfriend would be on hold after he leaves for a few weeks . She likes her independence and does not want to move forward with him. She has been under scrutiny with the town since previously finding a body and helping solve the murder. When she once again finds a dead body of a man she had words with she must solve the mystery of his death to both clear her own name and find the suspect. She had good friends that assist her in her inquiries and I like the smart savvy way she goes about finding clues.

This was such a fun enjoyable mystery. I look forward to the next in series and hope this will be a long running cozy series. Very well done to the author ! My review is delayed due to fire evacuation .

I really enjoyed this book. I think the characters are developing nicely and the mystery was solid. I'm enjoying the fact that Lauren has a job not common in mysteries (linguistic professor) and a religion ( Quaker) n which isn't common either. I definitely will be on the lookout for book 3 in this series. And, did I mention the gorgeous cover?!

When I started reading this I didn’t realize that it is the second book in a series but it didn’t matter. This works well as a stand alone. The main character was well developed and I liked the small town New England setting. I also found it interesting that the main character is a Quaker since That’s not a religion that I’m very familiar with.

This is the second book in this series and I must say that it is even better than the first. The characters are even more fleshed out with more depth of personality than the first and they were good in the first book. In this book our main character, Lauren is pushed to find the truth when she once again stumbles over a dead body and once again finds herself in the eye of the storm during the investigation. The plot is well woven with a field of potential suspects that all seem implausible yet, perfect for the crime. Once again her intelligence and curiosity shines through the plot and you find yourself cheering her on albeit wondering how she manages to stay alive with so many near misses. I definitely can't wait to see where the next book twists and turns too!

Murder on the Bluffs by Edith Maxwell is another in the Lauren Rousseau modern series about a doctor of linguistics who has followed the faith of her dead father and become a Quaker. She is still recovering from the mess her friend, Elise, who is rehab, was part of a month or two earlier and has just sent her boyfriend, Zac, home to Haiti for a couple of months. She is looking forward to the breather from Zac, who is pressuring her to become more serious in their relationship, and to her summer vacation from teaching classes at Agawam College, although she still has plenty to do. One of the many things on her list is to restart karate, which she had practiced years before when she had lived in Japan. Now she had the time. Out for her run, the worst thing happens. She discovers a body. . . the body of the insurance agent with who she had had a run-in just yesterday. Not an auspicious start to her summer. Not at all. It seems to open up a whole can of worms for her and for several other people in won, as well.

Lauren is a 35-year-old tenured college professor. She is well-respected, if a little immature. She is definitely afraid of commitment, hence her current situation with Zac, and how there was this really hot karate sensei. It was nearing the anniversary of her father's death and that always brought forth a lot of angst. Maybe she'd ask her mother again, what brought it all on. Needless to say, a great many people are curious as to how Lauren has found another body. Most people never run across dead bodies, and her she has, several, in as many months. She maintains and close relationship with both her mother and the sister who lives locally. She has good friends, Iris, for example, who runs the local bakery. She just has developed this unfortunate knack. Good book. Good story. Good character. Missed Zac. He is extremely entertaining. I'm sure he'll be back, at least temporarily. I enjoyed it. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Murder on the Bluffs by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #murderonthebluffs

Lauren Rousseau is a professor of linguistics and a Quaker who seems to find herself involved in murders. Having earned tenure, Lauren is looking forward to an actual summer vacation, but plans go awry when her boyfriend leaves town earlier than expected and she stumbles across a body in the woods during a run. Lauren gets sucked into local politics and finds out more than she expects about many of her neighbors.

An intricate storyline will keep you hooked until the end. These books were originally published under the pen name Tace Baker; I hope the re-release of books 1 and 2 mean that there are upcoming adventures with Lauren.

I accessed a digital ARC via NetGalley.

Having read the first in the series I approached the second with a little hesitation because I did not find the main character especially interesting. Only a few months after her first murder event she finds herself in the midst of a second and, again, a potential suspect. She flaps around rather trying to sort out the events, her apparent boyfriend heads off to family, she does a bit of academic work, bumbles around some more and generally gets less interesting as time goes on I'm afraid. The "bad guy" was apparent from his first appearance and his reasoning is just unpleasant. The fact that our heroine is Quaker, something we are reminded about all too often, adds little to the story especially as her treatment of boyfriend etc is hardly a shining example to the creed. My hesitation grew as I read on. Thanks to NetGalley and Beyond the Page publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a great summer read! Loved this book! So much fun and so engaging. I loved all of the characters. They definitely were full of personality. I will without a doubt recommend this book to friend.s.

The second in the Lauren Rousseau series. Lauren finds a body, Charles Heard, while out for a run. Mr Heard is the one of the trustees of a large local land trust which was required to give money to local schools. This hasn’t happened as it was required. Lauren has a public disagreement with the man and becomes one of the murder suspects.
I noticed lots of growth of the main characters between book 1 and this book. I felt the mystery was a little weak.

I was given an advanced reader’s copy from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.