Mikki Lincoln is enjoying her retirement from teaching, making extra money doing editing. She gets a big surprise when she is contacted by a lawyer informing her that she has an inheritance. It is a rundown farmhouse and out buildings and a chunk of land from a friend of her mother's who has passed away at the age of 102. Not only is Mikki puzzled by the bequest - she hadn't seen the woman in several decades - but she really puzzled by the strings attached to it. The old house remains frozen in the 1950's for a start. On top of that she finds she has a deadline to meet in order to take ownership. She must find a cache of hidden diaries, edit them and publish them on the internet, all within a month. That's a tall order but Mikki is up to the challenge. She may be a senior citizen but she can run rings around those younger folks. With the help of friends and family she starts to dig up information on the previous owners. It turns out their past holds a cold case of homicide and there are persons unknown who want the case to stay that way. Mikki needs to stay vigilant least she become the next victim.
This is a slower paced cozy series which makes a nice change. The puzzle in this one has several layers but I was never confused, just led astray by misdirection. Of course I guessed wrong and the ending was very satisfying.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Murder, She Edited is the fourth book in the Deadly Edits series by Kaitlyn Dunnett.

After retiring from teaching English, Mikki Lincoln has returned to Lenape Hollow, NY, and has started freelance business editing manuscripts.

Mikki has learned that she has inherited the property of Tessa Swarthout. It took a moment for Mikki to remember who Tessa was. Tessa was best friends with Mikki’s mother, and Mikki hadn’t seen her in nearly twenty years. Mikki meets with Leland Featherstone, Tessa’s lawyer, learns the condition of the inheritance. Mikki will need to find some diaries, unknown how many, edit them and publish them on sites on the internet that Tessa decided on. Featherstone has no idea where the journals are, what they might contain, and why Tessa wanted them edited and published.

After meeting with the lawyer, Mikki stops by her best friend, Darlene, to see if she can provide about the house and those who lived there. Darlene had started researching and found that Tessa and her sister moved out, not taking anything with them after their stepmother was murdered there. And the murder has never been solved. Featherstone and his junior lawyer are, for the most part, unreachable, and if she can talk with them, they offer little information that can help Mikki.

This book also has a subplot; Mikki has a stalker. As Mikki’s loading her groceries into her car, she’s accosted by a woman who is yelling at her for missing two typos in her favorite romance author’s latest book. The lady will continue to follow Mikki, criticizing her for missing the typos. The lady will also insist that Mikki introduce her to the author.

The book is well-written and plotted. There were enough red herrings that I was kept guessing as to who the murderer was. The characters are well-developed and very believable. The book reads at a nice pace.

I find this series very interesting and enjoyable. I particularly enjoy reading A Random Selection from “The Write Right Wright’s Language and Grammar” by Mikki Lincoln at the end of the book. I find it to be informative and humorous.

I’m looking forward to the book in this series.

A hair-raising cozy with plenty of mystery and spooky-intrigue to keep readers turning the pages.

When Mikki Lincoln unexpectedly inherits a local farm, it comes with a catch. She has to publish the contents of the hidden diaries stored on the property. As Mikki combs through the material, she discovers that the farm is home to an unsolved murder. As if that weren't terrifying enough, something suspicious seems to be happening in the old barn. Can Mikki cracka case that might not be so cold after all?

The title caught my eye because of the similarity to a television show I used to watch all of the time. That being said, I am pleased I took the time to read Murder,She Wrote. I absolutely loved Mikki and the fact there is a fancy of books in the novel.mad about grammar made it an amusing a quick read.

Mikki gets a letter from a lawyer saying that she is inheriting a farm from a long ago friend of her mother, Tessa Swartout. There are some stipulations, which she finds out require her to find some diaries in the house, and to edit them and post them on social media within a month. The house has been empty for over 20 years, as the woman who has last died moved away with her sister after their step mother was murdered. The lawyer shows her around the house, which has very old fixtures, clothes in the drawers, but no books in evidence.

Mikki gets help from her ex librarian friend Darlene, her nephew Luke, and his policewoman friend Ellen in doing research on the Swartout family and helping her search the house. In one trip to the house, Mikki finds a diary belonging to Tessa's older sister Estelle under the floorboards under Estelle's bed. This shows a frustrated woman who wanted to be an actress, and hated her stepmother, but nothing that Mikki thinks should be published. However, there is something funny going on with the lawyer who keeps putting off her questions, and she finds there has been some shady dealings in the barn on the property. Meanwhile, Bella Trent keeps calling on her wanting to meet her friend, author Illyria. Finally after helping with a library tour, where she sees a hidden under stair closet, Mikki decides to move to the Swartout house. Then, she finally finds the closet which is the hiding place of a memorial to Tessa and Estelle's mother, and there she finds the mother's diaries!

As we get closer to the end of the book, Mikki finds that a remote farmhouse isn't the safest place she can be. Her life comes in danger, and she finds those who are helping her may not be the helpers she needs! She not only solves her problem to find the diaries, but also solves the unsolved murder of the stepmother!

I jumped into Kaitlyn Dunnett's 'Deadly Edits' mystery series at book three so I grabbed the chance to read this, Murder, She Edited, the fourth instalment.

I got to meet septuagenarian and part-time freelance book editor Mikki Lincoln in 'A Fatal Fiction'. In Murder, She Edited, Mikki is bequeathed an old farmhouse and the surrounding land by an old friend of her mum's and soon finds herself embroiled in a treasure hunt and cold case.

Set in Maine, I really enjoyed this compelling story and I continue to find Mikki endearing, driven and feisty along with a varied, colourful cast of amusing supporting characters. Mikki has made a great life for herself and her tortoiseshell cat, named Calpurnia. The writing was smooth, the plot was strong and comfortably paced, and the puzzling mystery kept me guessing. All in all, a fabulous instalment with snippets of danger, and some fine, methodical recording and sleuthing. I will certainly be returning to Maine to see what Mikki is getting herself into next and I am eagerly anticipating book five.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

3.5 stars

Retired teacher Mikki Lincoln moved from her longtime Maine home when her husband died. She returned to her childhood town in the Catskills and started freelancing as an editor. Mikki is a competent and somewhat prickly and independent senior. She is a fairly well fleshed out character who does possess a lot of mannerisms and viewpoints of her generation. These mysteries have decent plots and concentrate more on logic and puzzling out a solution than non-stop action.

Mikki is surprised to find that she is set to inherit the house of an old friend of her mother's -- if she meets the conditions of the will, which include finding, editing and publishing some old diaries that are supposed to be in the house. When the diaries can't be found, naturally curious Mikki starts researching the house and family and discovers the house was the scene of a murder decades ago.

There is something funny going on about the whole scenario and Mikki is determined to find out what it is. In the meantime, she is being almost stalked by an unstable fan of one of the authors she does freelance editing for. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mikki is at it again! In Murder, She Edited, she manages to find an unsolved murder to solve and an editing job that sends her on a treasure hunt. Mikki may be older than the average sleuth, but no one can hold a candle to her tenaciousness or her ability to find hidden clues. She edits her way into readers’ hearts and gives them a sense of well-being as she follows the evidence and tracks a killer. With Calpurnia, her faithful feline furry friend, by her side, Mikki leads readers down a path of intrigue and oftentimes, danger. Inheriting an old abandoned farmhouse seems innocent enough, but nothing is at it seem when Mikki is involved.

The characters in this series are all older and wiser. They have a sense of humor, are filled with knowledge, and are easy for readers to enjoy. Hunting for old diaries in a farmhouse almost proves fatal, but Mikki is lucky to have some great friends and a very helpful cousin who are always there when she needs them. Even though her life isn’t filled with non-stop action all the time, when it is, she and Calpurnia manage to get in and out of trouble at the drop of a hat. A killer is hoping to prevent Mikki from making those diaries public and reveal a murder that took place fifty years ago. The twists come fast in the end, and just when you think you have the mystery solved, you turn the page and realize you don’t. No amount of edits will help Mikki corner a killer, but they help her solve the case.

This series has never been about action or relationships. It has always been about Mikki’s everyday life, the highs, lows, and good and evil. Although this type of cozy may not appeal to everyone, those who enjoy them know how Mikki feels and why she is vital to the genre. Mikki is no spring chicken, but neither is she ready for the grave. She edits everything from books to school papers to social media posts. She lives the way she wants, on her terms. Murder investigation comes naturally to her, and every time she has to track down a killer, she uses intellect and research to find the clues, but she is also cautious and willing to ask for help. Calpurnia is always there to help no matter how insignificant that help is and makes certain Mikki knows who is in charge.

There is action in Murder, She Edited, and readers will have a few tense moments while Mikki is in danger. The story is unfolded slowly and with detail. The edits Mikki makes to fulfill her inheritance are methodical and precise. The suspects are few but complicated. The evidence is all there, but readers may need to think things through alongside Mikki. The resolution to the mystery brings smiles. Mikki and Calpurnia will go on, and Mikki’s job making edits to help writers and readers will have fans taking a better look at their own writing, even if it’s just their grocery list. This is not a fast-paced story; readers who enjoy cozies that are character-based will love this series and Mikki.

This is the 4th book in the Deadly Edits series. I have not read the first 3. Out protagonist is Mikki Lincoln, she is 70, a retired teacher and a freelance editor in the Catskills. Mikki inherits a farm from her Mother’s best friend Tessa Swarthout, whom Mikki hasn’t seen in 2 decades. However, there is a condition attached, Mikki must edit and publish a set of diaries within one month of taking ownership…problem is no one knows where the diaries are. While searching for the mysterious memoirs and clues about the former owners, Mikki discovers that the once peaceful place was punctuated by an unsolved homicide and other rumored crimes. Things are not what they seem and the farm may not be as abandoned as thought.
I really enjoyed the characters of this book, Mikki was fun to read about. And the small town setting was great. There was mention of other books storylines, it it still was able to stand alone. I may go back and look for earlier books in the series it was so much fun. A perfect light read.

*I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.*

1 star
Murder, She Edited by Kaitlyn Dunnett
I was so excited to read this book as I typically love books where the protagonist is an older woman. But, this was a huge disappointment. Murder She Edits is slow, rambling and often just fluff. 50% in and not a thing has happened. I have learned more about the cat than I have the so-called mystery. This could have been so good, so intriguing but the author missed huge opportunities to have fun with and develop the story and the characters.
Nothing really happened until about the 80% mark. Then it got wildly implausible around the 93%mark. This book is just a jumble of ridiculous ideas and boring cat talk all mixed together in one befuddling book.
I'm truly baffled how this is getting published. I typically love cozy mysteries with but this one is so beyond the pale of outrageous, I am astonished.
This is my first book by this author and will most definitely be my last! 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

Charming cozy mystery. I seemed to have skipped a couple in this series, but that doesn't matter as each one is a stand alone. It is nice to have a protagonist of retirement age. The grammar tips at the end of the book are good. More practical for me than recipes.

Whenever I review a book in a series, I try to read the ones that precede it. I couldn’t get into the first one of the series and gave up maybe halfway though, deciding to just skip the rest of it as well as the other two books. I felt more entertained by this one than the first but it still felt a little boring and stuffy to me. This wouldn’t be a series that I would want to read more of as I didn’t feel connected to the characters. But. I am much younger than the main character so I am probably not the desired target audience. I have seen many in my cozy groups looking for books with older main character and I will definitely recommend this series to them!

I reviewed this title for Mystery Scene Magazine see my full review in the fall issue of the magazine

Mikki inherits a farm from a woman from a long forgotten family friend but the arrangement is with a catch. She needs to publish the womans's diaries. When she arrives at the house, it's in pristine condition - from decades early. What happened that allowed this house to go unused?

Nikki, her friends and her cat Calpurnia are once again out to solve a mystery! I haven’t read the previous books by this author, but I will be!
An inheritance from an old friend supposedly comes with an unsolved murder, one month to find some old diaries and publish them or the consequences could be dire. Has someone been hiding out in the barn, why was the property left so run down?
It took me a while to settle into this book, a good storyline so stick with it for a fabulous read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The kiss Mac crimson mystery series follows on w the freelance editor Nikki Lincoln and her keen eyed cat calpurina. Story line was slight boring but the characters keep the storyline going but I lost interest and didn’t want to finish it.

An intricate and compelling mystery for free-lance editor Mikki Lincoln and her feline companion, Calpurnia. Please see complete review at www.reviewingtheevidnce.com.

Mikki Lincoln is a retired teacher who now edits manuscripts for others from her home in Lenape Hollow in the Catskills. When she receives a call from an attorney who tells her that she's been left a bequest, she can't imagine what her mother's old friend might have done. But when she learns she now owns an old farmhouse, barn, and the land surrounding it, she's more than surprised. But not as much as learning that she needs to find some old diaries that are hidden somewhere in the house, edit them, and publish them on the internet.

When Mikki visits the place, it's like stepping back into the 1950s. No one has lived there for decades, and everything has been left just as it was -- along with the ravages of time. But Mikki is determined to find the diaries, because she's curious to know what's in them, and what is so important that the woman wants them published. Unfortunately, someone else is looking for them, too...and they won't stop even if it takes murder to find them...

I have to be honest and say that I really tried to get through the first in this series but just could not. I found it boring. However, first in a series aren't easy to write because you're still figuring our your characters and your places. I will say that I am glad I decided to pick up this one and try again. It was delightful.

I love mysteries that have old cold cases within them, so this one was right up my alley. You don't even need to read the first in the series to figure everything out; the author has crafted her characters well and you can enjoy the story from the first page without feeling lost along the way.

Mikki is determined to find out the truth of why the house was abandoned so many years ago, even if she's not getting any help from the attorney or his assistant in doing so. But she's driven, and she's got the help of her friend Darlene who's more than willing.

Unfortunately, she's also being stalked by a woman who blames her for something trivial, and she's having to constantly dodge the woman. Life is not a bowl of cherries for Mikki, and she's got a lot on her plate to handle. Hopefully, she'll be able to find the diaries and get rid of the woman all at the same time. But when she finds out there's more at stake than that -- meaning her life -- will she be able to figure it all out in time?

I loved the book enough to finish it in one sitting, and I loved the plot. There are a few more subplots thrown in, but you will have to read the book to find out. I will say that the ending took me by complete surprise, and when Mikki put it all together, it was definitely a dropped bomb. This alone made it worth reading. Highly recommended.

This is a series I have read and enjoyed from the beginning. Mikkie is an untypical protagonist - 71, a retired teacher and currently working as an editor - who is smart and resourceful, but also aware of her physical limitations. She brings in her friends and family to help with various aspects of her investigations, relying on other people's knowledge and experience to help her resolve them.

This time, Mikki is left an abandoned farm and residence by an old friend of her mother's, one she barely remembers. Her instructions are to edit some diaries, which is easier said than done when the diaries prove especially elusive, hidden somewhere in the house.

The story isn't especially suspenseful (we are talking mostly about retired folks, after all), but the mystery is good and the writing moves along well, bringing in additional plotlines of Mikki having a job to edit the Friends of the Library newsletter, and a stalker in the shape of an author friend's 'number one fan' (apparently Mikki missed two typos).

The cast of characters is well drawn and makes for an entertaining and enjoyable read. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment.

I usually enjoy cozy mysteries, but this was a bit slow for me. I also didn't realize it was the 4th in a series, so maybe that's why I was slightly disappointed. I did enjoy that the main character, Mikki, is an older, retired woman. I feel that most cozies focus on younger characters, so that is a nice change. I didn't enjoy the actual mystery part of the book as much as I felt it was pretty slow. However, this seems to be a good cozy mystery series for those interested in the genre.