Snow Place for Murder is the third mystery in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series. Lodge owner, Misty Murphy, is getting ready for the holidays with her sons in town and an English resort owner and his investors in residence. When a dead body shows up, everything is put on hold as the police, with the help of Misty, rush to find the killer before Misty’s guests check out and leave town.

I haven’t read and of the other books in this series, but I found this to be a good mystery that is able to be read as a standalone if you are okay with missing out on a little bit of Misty’s background info. The characters in this series are engaging and relatable. The mystery itself was captivating and fun to follow along with and the Mountain Lodge setting is inviting and quaint. I enjoyed this cozy mystery and I look forward to going back and reading the first two mysteries in this series. This is a great winter cozy to curl up with in a cold day!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

Snow Place for Murder

By: Diane Kelly

Publish Date: 24 October 2023

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martins Paperbacks

Gener fiction (adult)/Mystery and thrillers

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

The third in the charming and engrossing Mountain Lodge mystery series by Diane Kelly, in Snow Place for Murder, the weather at the Mountaintop Lodge is truly frightful…

International resort developer Nigel Goodwin has traveled all the way from London, England to Misty Murphy’s little corner of North Carolina and bought out the Mountaintop Lodge for the week prior to Christmas. Their intention? To pitch an exclusive new resort concept to wealthy American investors.

But locals are at odds over the idea, and when a group comes to the lodge to express their worries to Mr. Goodwin and the potential investors, a blizzard hits Beech Mountain. Like the weather outside, things quickly get frosty, and Misty has to call local police to intervene. Handyman Rocky Crowder plows the lodge’s drive and, in an attempt to regain a jovial holiday atmosphere, smooths the snow pile into a makeshift sledding hill for the guests to enjoy.

Misty’s boys have finished their exams and are “home” from college for the winter break, planning to spend most of their time snowboarding at the ski resort. While taking a few runs down Rocky’s sledding hill, they discover a funny-looking, nose-shaped rock. Only it’s not a rock. It’s the frozen nose of Nigel Goodwin, who’s found dead and buried under the mound of snow.

Who put the developer on ice and why?

Book Review:

I enjoyed this book even though I haven’t read the first two. I gave it 4 stars. I loved the family and friendships that it portrayed. Even though Misty is divorced she gets a long great with her ex-husband which makes it easier for the boys. They get together for the holidays and have a great time. Except this time something happens to one of her customer’s. As the synopsis explains. Misty wants to know why Nigel is dead. Was it an accident, natural or murder? You will have to read the book to find out. It was interesting on how they found out he was dead and a little gross. One of her son’s found a weird, shaped object and thought it was rock but come to find out it was Nigel’s nose. I know this is in the synopsis, but I thought it was worth another telling because that has stayed with me since it was so weird. Just in case you want to read this you really don’t have to read the other two before this one, but it would give you some details about how Misty came to the Mountain Lodge.

I enjoyed the mystery, and found the family dynamic refreshing. I must admit I was surprised by the ending.

Snow Place for Murder is the third in the series set at Misty Murphy’s Mountaintop Lodge. I have the previous two and I do think it’s a series best read in order to get to know the characters better. The mystery is self-contained though, and the author does a good job re-introducing the regulars, as well as adding new characters.

Misty’s lodge is hosting resort developer, Nigel Goodwin, and his guests, all potential investors, for a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Misty is happy with the business, but leery about the planned resort. When Nigel is found dead, Misty fears that someone in her lodge is a murderer or maybe one of the townspeople. She, of course, sets out to help the cops find the killer.

The story moves along at a good pace and we have a nice mix of well-rounded characters. There is enough humor mixed in to keep things light. I even enjoyed Misty’s cat’s chapters. Yeti definitely has her own way of seeing the people and creatures around her.

I look forward to visiting the Mountaintop Lodge again.

I love a good cozy and this one was quite good. I enjoyed the characters, storyline as well as the writing.

I look forward to reading more of this authors work.

I received a copy for the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Thanks to St. Martins Press & NetGalley for this free ARC in return for my honest review.

This is the 3rd book in the Mountaintop Mystery series by prolific cozy mystery author Diane Kelly. As with so many of these books, this one is filled with many characters, a mysterious death, multiple potential suspects, along with red herrings galore! The plot revolves around Mountaintop Lodge owner Misty Murphy who is hosting real estate tycoon Nigel Goodwin who is pitching potential investors for his new resort in Beech Mountain, NC. After the first day of presentations, marred by local protesters opposed to such a resort, Nigel, et al head to the ski slopes for a night of skiing prior to more presentations the next day. Time approaches for that presentation and Nigel is not at the lodge. No, no! He discovered dead in the lodge parking lot, buried under a mound of snow. And so the race is on to find Nigel's killer, aided by Misty who sees and oversees all that goes on at her lodge. Unlike many cozy mysteries, there are no cutsie names of towns, streets or shops; nor are the police portrayed as simpletons who cannot tell a clue from a cruller. There are a lot of characters in this book, so much so that I actually had to make a listing so that I could keep everyone straight. These characters range from an overlooked wife, to an overworked assistant, along with 2 or 3 local characters and all of the potential investors. Everyone is fair game, and Misty is keeping track of one and all, Filled with absolute corny jokes, Kelly also brings up through Misty the question as to whether the main character is a nosy person or just curious. For me Misty is both, but without her insights it would be difficult for the police to get to certain hard evidence. This is well written and a very fast read., with plenty of potential motives for everyone involved to have wanted Nigel dead. So as the days grow shorter and colder, snuggle up and follow along with Misty Murphy for this 3rd edition of the Mountaintop Mysteries.

I enjoyed this book so much that I went back and read the first one in the series and am waiting to get a copy of the second book. I am now a huge fan of the Mountain Lodge series! The author does a great job of developing the characters and the setting. As a North Carolina resident and a visitor to the Beech Mountain area, I could envision the lodge and the scenery. Misty, the owner of the Mountain Top Lodge, is a great character. Even though she is divorced, she and her ex, Jack, get along well. And her sons, J. J. and Mitch, as well as Rocky’s daughter, Phoebe, add to the story. The murder mystery has you pulled in from the beginning and I was guessing at the person responsible until almost the end! There are lots of twists, turns, and clues that keep you invested in the story. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next adventure in the Mountain Lodge series. I guarantee you that I’ll have it on my to-be-read list as soon as it’s released!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Always like a good cozy since these are my go to books. This book had me guessing till the very end. The human gives her point of view but what I enjoyed it when the cat decided to put her 2 cents in. Very enjoyable..

This is such a wonderful series. I’ve truly been enjoying reading it. And while this book is part of the series it can be read as a stand alone.
This book has a land developer renting out our main character, Misty’s, lodge to try to sell his local development ideas to some investors. There are many people who hate this idea of developing this beautiful natural area and they let their feelings be known. Things heat up when Nigel, the developer is found dead.
There are many twists and turns and a few red herrings leading us to the conclusion of this enjoyable mystery. I recommend this well written cozy mystery.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Christmas at the Lodge is going to be a full on family affair for Misty and Rocky. But first she has to get through an investment group who booked the entire lodge. They seem nice enough although Misty has some reservations about the land they want to develop for a new resort. There are others in the community who are hostile to the group so when the investment guru who is putting the deal together is frozen to death there are lots of possible suspects including some of the group itself.

The local police value Misty’s input and the collaborate on things that she discovers. They band together and they are able to discover motives for several of the suspects but it will take Misty’s ability to take things that were said and piece them together. It is a good series but one of the things I enjoy most is the Yeti chapters. Yeti is Misty’s cat and she adds a feline perspective to what is going on around her. Very enjoyable.

Five purrs and two paws up.

I enjoy the characters, and the mountain setting. The mystery kept me guessing. I liked meeting Misty & Rocky's kids.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This cozy series is so good! I just love the main characters. In fact, the whole cast of characters is strong, and the fact that this is a mountain lodge means the players change often, depending on who comes to stay. That keeps everything fresh and new.

Although most of the chapters are from Misty’s point of view, there are a few that are from the point of view of her cat, Yeti—such a fun twist.

As I live in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, I love books that are set there, and this one does not disappoint. I am very familiar with some of the towns mentioned in this book. There is also a very real problem in the North Carolina mountains of rich corporations coming in and buying up the land, making it unaffordable for locals, and bringing in more tourists and traffic than towns are structurally able to support. That is addressed in this installment of the series.

I also love that the main character, Misty, is in her 50s. There are enough young protagonists with perfect bodies out there. It's nice to read about someone like me.

The mystery is compelling and has plenty of twists and turns. The ending is unexpected., but it is the characters and setting that will keep me coming back to this series.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Third in the Mountain Lodge series, <i>Snow Place for Murder</i> has everything you would expect from a cozy. There’s a large cast of characters led by amateur detective, Misty Murphy, the owner of a charming lodge in a small town nestled in the mountains of North Carolina. With the arrival of Thanksgiving, the story takes place just as the winter and holiday season arrives in Beech Mountain with fresh snow for the skiers and snowboarders and delicious sounding holiday fare on the menu from the Greasy Griddle Diner just across the parking lot from the lodge.

When resort developer Nigel Goodwin turns up missing there are plenty of suspects as well as twists and turns in solving his disappearance. As is typical of a cozy, the twists and turns and numerous suspects take a while to unfold. But the backstory and details of the impact of the developer’s plans give the story added interest. The close relationships between the family and lodge employees and neighbors are well developed and genuine. The seasonal theme was a plus and made for perfect Fall reading.

Although this is the third in the series, it can be read as a standalone and made a good introduction to the series - I look forward to reading more.

It’s almost Christmas and Misty Murphy is getting her Mountaintop Lodge ready. The week before the holiday, her lodge is booked by a resort developer, Nigel Goodwin, for a conference. Misty is quite happy with the business and even happier to have her two teenage sons available to help out.

The big problem is the developer is planning for a new resort near her own lodge and the town is not happy about it. When a blizzard hits the town, not only is the weather chilly but so are the people’s attitudes. Even the potential investors aren’t very happy.

When Nigel is found dead, Misty fears that someone in her lodge is a murderer. She, along with her trusty handyman Rocky, set out to find a killer.

This is the third book in the series and it’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine. The characters are well-rounded and the story moves along at a fast pace. With each book, we get to know Misty and her family better.

I, also, love the setting. The author did a good job of transporting me to North Carolina during a blizzard. I felt as if I was actually there. Oh - and there was a cute cat, Yeti. Yeti had her own very short POV chapters letting us know how she felt about everyone. It was really a charming addition to the story.

This is a captivating mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I thought the culprit was someone else, which makes this mystery even more fun for me. Although this is the third book, the mystery is contained in this book. It’s not necessary to read the first two, but I think you would want to for the character growth aspect.

I look forward to visiting the Mountaintop Lodge again very soon.







FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Real Estate developer Nigel Goodwin is nothing but positive about his current endeavor for a large ski resort on Beech Mountain. Misty Murphy, owner of Mountaintop Lodge, is happy for the business Nigel has brought to the lodge, but she isn’t sure how she feels about the possibility of the new resort. Certainly, many of the locals aren’t happy. They make their disapproval known in a visible way during Nigel’s presentation. The encounter turns ugly and Misty is forced to call the police. When Nigel’s body is found frozen in a pile of snow the next morning, there are certainly no shortage of suspects.

This is the first of the Mountain Lodge Mystery books I have read, the third in the series, but I had no problem getting right into the story. The author did a great job of introducing the characters without really introducing them, so I felt comfortable with them quickly. I also enjoyed the interludes of observation by Misty’s lodge cat, Yeti. Each interlude provides a little change of scene to move the story along with a bit of humor. The story was engaging and kept my interest. It moved a little more rapidly than some other cozy mysteries I’ve read, keeping me engaged. The local character interactions weren’t breaks in the action and kept the story moving as well. With so many suspects, so many possible motives, the mystery certainly kept me guessing until the very end. I really enjoyed the story and look forward to visiting the Mountain Lodge again soon.

This third in the series will be enjoyed by both those old and new to the Mountain Lodge, North Carolina setting and protagonist, Misty. This time there are real estate issues. What happened to the dead developer? Was there another murder in what should be this quiet locale? Since that answer will be yes, who did it?

Those who enjoy holidays set in the festive season with accompaniments of good character and plot will want to give this one a look. It could help a reader to while away a fall evening.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Snow Place for Murder is another fun cozy mystery from Diane Kelly! This is book 3 in the series but the first for me. I didn’t have any trouble jumping right into the comings and going at the Mountaintop Lodge—including the main character Misty, and her lodge handyman/boyfriend, Rocky. If you enjoy the simplicity of a cozy mystery, this would be a fun one to curl up with!

When a businessman brings his investors to the lodge in hopes of scoring investments to his new local resort, Misty knows this group is probably going to be different than the typical visitors to their humble hotel. All of the members of the groups have different personalities and Misty seems happy to get to know them. But not everyone on the mountain is happy with this possible resort and some of the locals start showing up at the lodge to make their feelings known. When the body of the resort developer is discovered outside the lodge, all the investors become suspects and detective Misty is watching them all for clues. Who had the best motive to stop the development of this resort?

Snow Place for Murder is book 3 in Diane Kelly's Mountain Lodge Mystery series. I haven't read the first two books in the series, but it was easy to figure out who everyone is and their relationship to each other.

I really enjoyed the setting of this cozy mystery - the ski town of Beech Mountain, North Carolina. I've been skiing at Beech Mountain (as well as at Sugar Mountain and Boone which are also mentioned). It is also the perfect snowy setting for a Christmasy novel.

I found it interesting that Misty Murphy lives at the Mountaintop Lodge which she owns and operates. It wouldn't have been so odd if she lived in a suite or some kind of "caretaker" room. But it appears to be a normal motel room - there's no kitchenette (she has a hotplate and dorm fridge). Yes, there is a diner next door, but eating out isn't cheap nor the healthiest. At least her college-age kids only visit as it seems they live (when not away at school) in their childhood home with Misty's ex-husband.

While there are Christmas decorations, Christmas is just the background setting. So if you want a good wintry mystery without the over-the-top holly jolly trimmings, then this is the book to pick up.

There are definitely some interesting characters who are residents of the area and I look forward to seeing more of them. The lodge setting is a great setting for a cozy mystery since it keeps the town regulars from being constantly murdered, but I'm not sure how a business survives if the guests keep getting murdered. So I'm interested to see how the series keeps things fresh in future novels.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/10/cozy-up-with-these-seasonal-mysteries.html

Snow Place for Murder by Diane Kelly is perfect for curling up by a fire and getting lost in the showy wonderland of the North Carolina mountains! This is the third book in the Mountain Lodge Mystery series, it would be a fun standalone read as well.

Misty has a resort mogul and his potential investors at the lodge for a presentation, but when someone turns up murdered Misty is on the case to make sure the killer doesn’t slip out of town when the snow stops falling.

The third book in the Mountain Lodge Mystery is an excellent addition to the series. Misty has rented the Lodge to an international developer who plans to build a resort near the lodge. many of the townspeople are not in favor of the development and some of the investors seem skeptical as well. Misty slips into sleuth mode when Nigel, the developer, is found dead in a snowbank.

This has quickly become one of my favorite series. The characters seem like old friends as soon as I open the book. I appreciate that Misty is a mature woman with a definite life plan and a stable relationship with Rocky. I like that she and her ex-husband are on good terms and her sons are well adjusted college students. I enjoyed meeting Rocky's daughter, Pebble.

The setting is near and dear to my heart as the NC mountains are one of my favorite places to be. I can visualize the lodge, the Greasy Griddle, and the town. It makes me want to head for the hills.

The pool of suspects was wide and varied. Nigel is not a very likable man. The twists and turns had me changing my mind frequently about who the culprit would be. I was a bit surprised with the reveal. I went back to re-read and picked up a few more clues that pointed in that direction.

The story would not be the same without the chapters from Yeti's point of view. I often wonder what my cats are thinking and Yeti's comments make me smile. Molasses is a great dog! Bernese Mountain dogs are one of my favorite breeds.

This book has it all. A wonderful cast of characters, a great setting, and a well thought out plot. I highly recommend this series and suggest starting at the beginning. I can't wait to visit Mountaintop Lodge again soon.