This was a fun book to read! I enjoyed it from start to finish. Misty Murphy has turned 50, amicably divorced her husband, and has purchased a slightly run-down mountain retreat hotel. If that's not enough, someone ends up dead!

Each of the characters is easy to imagine and fun to read about. The story moves along quickly. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

This 1st in a cozy mystery series stars 50-year-old Misty Murphy who sets out on a new life adventure, after purchasing a run down mountain lodge high in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Life seems perfect when the lodge is booked for its opening night and for a full week's yoga retreat.

Even though yoga instructor Sasha Ducharme-Carlisle is demanding and difficult, all goes fairly smoothly - until Sasha is murdered.

I love a good cozy mystery and this did not disappoint! I loved the setting, the characters, and the story. I especially liked the MC and how level headed and real she was. I liked that she shared her ideas and findings with the local sheriff and didn’t run her own investigation behind her back. It made this book (and, hopefully, series) more believable. I can’t wait to see how her relationship with Rocky progresses. I look forward to book two!!

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Getaway With Murder, the first book in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series. It is a cute cozy mystery with a fun setting. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and, while I guessed the murderer early, I hadn't figured out the "how" before the author revealed it.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun, light mystery. I didn't see the whodunnit coming, although looking back I could see simple clues set out to help solve the mystery. I liked the storyline and the setting - who would not want to have an amicable divorce and buy a beautiful mountain lodge with the settlement money? I liked the language of the book and the characters were likeable; except for the murder victim and her sidekick.

Fun, light reading, I am glad for the chance to have read this book.

Getaway with Murder: A Mountain Lodge Mystery

By Diane Kelly

St. Martin’s Paperbacks

November 2021



Review by Cynthia Chow



After sending two sons off to college and managing her family’s budgets and schedules for decades, Misty Murphy undramatically “consciously uncouples” from her marriage and moves on to the next stage of her life. The Ridgeview Inn was always a reliable destination for enjoyable family vacations throughout Misty’s life, and now it seemed like the perfect time for her to buy the deteriorating Blue Ridge Mountains facility and renovate it into a profitable destination lodge. Intending to target large groups looking to throw events or participate in local sport activities, Misty’s first guests are the Third Eye Studio Spa, whose initial ashram site for their retreat burnt down. It doesn’t take long for the very unrelaxed spa owner Sasha Ducharme-Carlisle to have Misty and her very short-staffed inn running ragged with her demands, which prematurely end when Sasha is found in a literal corpse pose at the bottom of the new deck.



The Watauga Sheriff’s Department investigating Deputy Yona Highcloud is extremely competent and refreshingly fair, allowing Misty to continue to operate as further evidence is discovered. Misty is having second thoughts about rather hastily hiring a cleaner, handyman, and partnering with the Greasy Griddle for catered breakfasts, and she can’t help but worry that she may be working with criminals. Everyone does have their secrets, but Misty also feels an immediate connection with the very handy handyman Rockford “Rocky” Crowder. His experience with those needing shelter while hiking along the Appalachian Trail, not to mention his excellent home repair skills, mean that he provides both business and investigative insights. A wiccan maid is unexpected, but it’s the famous, infamous, and secretive guests who prove to be most troubling as Misty attempts to keep her newly branded Mountaintop Lodge positively promoted on social media and not linked with a lurid murder.



This first in a new series by one of my favorite authors introduces a heroine slightly more mature and centered than her other lead characters. Like her House-Flipper and Paw Enforcement series, short chapters are interspersed throughout with first-person narrations from a furry companion’s perspective. Misty has brought her white Persian Baroness Blizzard with her from Raleigh, and “Yeti’s” opinions here are decidedly appropriate for a feline. Centered mostly around her next mealtime or when it’s time for a nap, Yeti does have definitive opinions on the erratic behavior of her owner and the guests. Readers are quickly introduced to Misty’s new friends and business partners, which makes it easy to sort out the arrival of demanding and suspicious guests. An intimidating masseuse, Instagramming NASCAR driver on a redemption/apology tour, and a very Zen yoga instructor are all entertaining candidates for a culprit. Misty is a genuinely likable and relatable lead character, one without the tropes of vengeful exes, immature adult children, or complicated love triangle. This is the start of a very funny and clever mystery featuring a woman starting over in a business that has her serving up hearty meals in an absolutely stunning setting.

This is a fantastic start to a new cozy mystery series. Misty, a newly divorced (amicable) new owner of a charming mountain lodge in a small town, finds herself involved with the murder of one of her first guests during a yoga retreat. The mystery was not too far fetched and not gruesome. All of the supporting characters were amazing, especially Brynn, the Wiccan housekeeper. I can't wait to see how this series progresses and to see if there's more to the flirtation with live-in handyman Rocky.

Princess Fuzzypants here: When Misty hits the half century mark, she begins an entirely new life. Armed with recently signed divorce papers, she purchases a lodge in the mountains where she has spent many pleasurable hours throughout her life. Her first day has a ledge collapsing taking part of the Great Room. Hoping it is not an omen of things to come, she hires a local handyman who turns out to be just what she needs, not only around the lodge but in her life. While she is too fresh from her divorce to consider any romantic attachments, she and Rocky, and her cat Yeti and his dog Molasses make a great team in getting the place ready to welcome a yoga retreat, their first guests.

The woman who owns the yoga studio and booked the getaway is a diva. She treats everyone like dirt but no matter how unpleasant, she did not deserve to be murdered. Misty forms a strong bond with the woman who owns the diner across the parking lot from the lodge and develops a good relationship with the female cop who is investigating. With Rocky and Misty they all work together to exonerate the first couple of suspects and eventually discover the real killer.

This is a book with a lot of potential as a series. It has great characters who are mature and intelligent with interesting backstories. The animals are great sidekicks and I like the way Yeti gets her own mini chapters. After all, it is good to see things from the feline point of view. It was a fast moving and entertaining read and I enjoyed it very much. Five purrs and two paws up.

Getaway With Murder by Diane Kelly is the first book in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series. It follows Misty as she buys an old Lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Recently divorced and with her two boys all grown up it's time for a new adventure and turning her tired Lodge back into a destination spot is just what Misty needs.
She suffers a setback her first day in, but luckily thanks to her wonderful neighbour Patty and a very nice handyman named Rocky everything is ready when her first group checks in.
Misty's first group of guests are on a yoga retreat. Some of the participants include a celebrity nascar driver, a hippie yogi, an adorable woman and her pug, a mother daughter duo and the high maintenance owner of the studio. Staying in the last available room is a newlywed couple taking a few nights off hiking the Appalachian Trail. Everything seems to be going great until a dead body is found during early morning sun salutations. Misty must work with the police to find out what happened, not only to save the reputation of her new lodge, but also to make sure the murderer isn't on of her new staff or friends!
A fun read and a great start to this new series.

This mystery, first in a series, is a mixed bag for me. There are many things I really like about it! I love the mountain setting--a nice change of pace from all the beachtown cozy series. I enjoy Misty's sense of humor a lot: "My roomy nightgown made sure all of Victoria's secrets were well kept." I like the business side of things and the amicable divorce and the thoughtful ex. Hooray! At least one mystery where the ex won't be a lying scumbag and possibly a murderer. A lodge where groups of people come to stay is a perfect cozy set-up, since there will constantly be a new group of possible murderers and victims--yippee skippy!

However, there are some weak spots, too. The epigraphs are lovely--and seem to have no tie-ins to the specific chapters whatsoever. (I quit checking on that after a few where I couldn't make any connection, so maybe some ARE tied in? But not well enough.) The occasional chapters from her cat's point of view are ridiculous. They add nothing to the story and don't fit the overall vibe of the book. The idea that the lodge wouldn't be in the news after a beautiful yoga instructor is murdered AND a NASCAR celebrity/social media influencer keeps posting from the murder scene--even if he does repeatedly get the actual name of the lodge wrong--is just silly. It would be a madhouse of reporters there. And there are some occasional awkward moments, where whatever Misty's thinking seems so odd. For example, when she ponders the cost of raising a child and Googles to see how much that is and whether the cost of raising 4 kids could be an incentive to commit murder to gain money. Okay, Misty HAS 2 kids--2 great kids. And she fully knows how expensive they are! So this whole little pondering just feels ridiculous. She would just say, "Raising kids costs the moon. Would so-and-so, with 4 kids to raise, murder Sasha for the money?"

Despite the weak areas, I did enjoy reading this book and hope the Misty's lodge cozy is a success! As with the lodge, a bit of renovation in a few areas is all that's needed!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A good book. Solid writing. The characters were well written and likable. The plot was fun and easy to follow. I liked the writing and the basic plot. The setting was interesting and the dilemma (before mystery) was relatable. I enjoyed the whole journey but found the book to be slightly slow. Not a problem, just a notation. I throughly liked what I read and will return for the second book!

I absolutely loved the mountain lodge setting in this cozy. Misty is a great protagonist, and I enjoyed getting to know her and solving the mystery with her. The characters are a great group of people, and I am looking forward to seeing how Misty's relationships with them develop in future books. The mystery was well paced and well done. This is my first book by Diane Kelly, but it will not be my last.

What a fun book. Mystery, greed, murder, love, and friendship all collide in this irresistible book. Fun characters and pets make the story come alive off the pages and bring you in to the Mountaintop Lodge. I hope this becomes a series of books.

Diane Kelly has stared the Mountain Lodge mysteries with Getaway with Murder. Misty Murphy, just divorced and bereft of her children as they go off to college, has invested in a mountain lodge which she is just opening for business. Yoga afficianados book the lodge for a retreat. One of the instructor ends up dead. Cute cosy. Whodunit? The local handyman? a pair of hiking honeymooners? yoga buffs? Read and solve.

Misty Murphy knows her happy place. Turning 50 and inking final divorce papers, she heads to the mountains. In fact to the mountain lodge where she had spent many happy vacations. It's hers now. Water damage and a murder come with it too. Debut of a new series with serious potential. Loved the characters and the tone. Mystery was well done too.

Getaway With Murder
Mountain Lodge Mystery, Book #1
Diane Kelly
5 Stars

Getaway With Murder is the first in a brand new cozy series from Diane Kelly set in a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where secrets hide behind every hill.

As if hitting the half-century mark wasn’t enough, Misty Murphy celebrated her landmark birthday by amicably ending her marriage and investing her settlement in a dilapidated mountain lodge at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With the old inn teetering on both a bluff and bankruptcy, she must have lost her ever-loving mind.

Luckily, handyman Rocky Crowder has a knack for rehabbing virtual ruins and for doing it on a dime, and to Misty’s delight, the lodge is fully booked on opening night, every room filled with flexible folks who’d slipped into spandex and ascended the peak for a yoga retreat with plans to namastay for a full week. Misty and her guests are feeling zen—at least until the yoga instructor is found dead.

With a killer on the loose and the lodge’s reputation hanging in the balance, Misty must put her detective-skills to the test. Only one thing is as clear as a sunny mountain morning—she must solve the crime before the lodge ends up, once again, on the brink. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Misty is trying her hand at being the owner of a mountain lodge. Shortly after she has her first paying customers, someone is killed. She has a whole inn full of suspects, including her staff. She will have to figure out who the killer is before someone else is killed. I found it refreshing that Misty was not butting heads with law enforcement. Deputy Highcloud kept Misty in the loop and welcomed her input. That was a nice change.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I thought the mystery was well plotted and it was not easily solved. There were plenty of suspects to consider and I did not know the culprit until the reveal at the end.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written cozy mystery. In fact, all the books are very good, you cannot go wrong reading her stories.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Misty Murphy should be celebrating her 50th birthday in style. Instead, she is amicably divorcing her husband of 20+ years and purchasing a Lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains that needs some love. What a day!!!

Upon arriving at the Lodge, the flooring gives way and now she is wondering if this was the smartest investment to make. Upon eating at the diner next door, she meets the local handyman who will help her get the Lodge fixed. Misty was lucky to land an opening night group that lost their lodging at another facility due to a fire. However, Misty does not feel so lucky when the leader of the group and owner of that yoga studio is found murdered.

There is a killer on the loose and no shortage of suspects. Can the murderer be found before the reputation of the Lodge is dragged through the mud??

Misty has started a new chapter in her life. Not only is she 50, but she is now divorced. She and her husband still loved each other, but have grown apart. He loves warm weather, the beach, and water. She loved the mountains, cook climes, and hiking. So Misty finds herself the owner of a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lucky for her there is a very nice handyman who is willing to repair the lodge. And boy does it need it! Misty's first guests are a group of yoga students. Things head south fast when the owner of the spa/yoga studio is found dead. She has to get this murder solved quickly before it ruins her fledgling business. Rocky the handyman is ready for anything.

Great little cozy. The heroine is a little older which is fun. There is an attraction between Misty and Rocky which adds to the story. The characters are wonderful and the mystery kept me turning the page.

I really liked Misty, and I think there is something so appealing to starting over somewhere. Owning a lodge can be a big project, but I love that it was where her heart was at. I liked that she did the "detective" work without being stupid & risky.

I cannot say enough good about this book, I will be looking forward to book 2!

This was a great start to a new series!!! A lodge in the woods sounds like a perfect vacation to me. The writing was good as was the mystery. Definitely check this one out!!

Misty has bought a lodge in the mountains and hopes to book groups into it. As she and her staff work on cleaning up, she gets a reservation. She's thrilled!
St Martins press and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can get a copy now.

Everyone is appearing to have a good time even if the owner of the group likes to tell everybody what to do. Then about halfway through their visit, they find the owner under the porch dead.

Misty knows it had to be someone staying there that did it and she starts investigating just like the cops.

There are false leads, no way to prove who did it because the power went out, and it's getting close to their return to the world.

Will Misty find the murderer?