This is book 3 in the Vermont Country Living series. I didn't realize it was part of a series, I have not read the first two and had no trouble following this story. Stella and Nick are invited by friends to attend the annual game dinner that is a fund raiser for this small Vermont town. By game, Stella finds out it's wild meat prepared by local chefs. When the organizer drops dead of poisoning the town is in shock. Stella has a new dog in their household and is busy when the local sheriff wants help. A good mystery.

Stella and her husband once again found themselves involved in a puzzling murder mystery with hidden depths. It was an intriguing, puzzling package that captivated and grabbed your attention.

This was such a cute read!! I really enjoyed the cozy murder mystery vibes of this book, and it would be perfect to read next to a fireplace. I haven't read the rest of the series since I thought it was a standalone. But, I think it was a great read as a standalone, so it was probably even better as a series. Oops. But regardless, it was well-written and definitely kept me guessing until the end. I loved the cute little town it was set in too. Great book!

First, let me start by saying that I have not read the other books in this series, so keep that in mind as you read this review. Now, with that being said Meade did a great job at (re)introducing the characters to the story. Stella and her husband are great and I really enjoyed their dynamic and amateur sleuthing. The Plot and mystery were delightful and almost made me wish I could park up and move to Vermont. I really appreciated Meade's injection of humor into the mystery as I've found that really lacking with cozies lately. The red herrings were great and almost got me once. The one thing that really lost it for me was the long info dump of dialogue at the end. I understand that you need the read to put together what happened but there had to be a better way than reading long blocks of text.

Overall, this did make me curious about the first two books of the series.

I jumped into this series with this book, which was okay but now I need to go back and read books 1 & 2 b/c I really liked it! I want to know all the backstories of the characters! I am also adding all of Amy Patricia Meade's books to my TBR!

#GameOveratGuildHall
#NetGalley

It wasn’t far-fetched that one of the activities of a small Vermont mountain town would host a big annual fall wild game dinner. The problem is the event organizer who is poisoned about halfway into a three-seating dinner. Apparently, there were as many who loved the dinner as those who thought it had run the course.

The protagonist, Stella and her Forest Service hubby Nick manage to get into the middle of the mystery as with her keen eye for detail, she reveals several to local law enforcement who (shockingly) welcomes her input.

Lots of suspects, per cozy mystery standards, small town secrets, and loads of diverse characters.

It’s a fun, fast little romp into the charm of the local history, people, and activities of the area. The narrative is well-paced and the characters right out of rural America. I loved the dog (of course I would).

Might be Book 3, but I think the way this reads would not be a problem to enjoy as a standalone. The narrative manages to veer fairly off-track with a motive you’d never suspect, much less the perp. You can’t say it isn’t entertaining and if you enjoy cozies, especially a slightly unusual one (keeping your disbelief in check), you’ll enjoy this one.

This is a new author for me and I am glad to have found her cozy mysteries series. I was introduced to Stella and her husband Nick plus Mills (the Sheriff) and his spouse Alma. They're friends and Stella and Mills team up to solve murders within their community. In this particular tale, the murder takes place at a community fund raiser and there are plenty of suspects from whom to choose and interrogate.
I liked the characters. How Stella and Nick moved to Vermont as a married couple for a job opportunity and Stella was making opportunities for herself within the area. I enjoyed how the author had Sarah and Nick interacting with Alma and Mills as one would expect normal couples to interact so it's not just the mystery that you're solving but you have the story of the individuals that you're learning about making you want to return to these characters. Did I mention that there is also a new dog in the picture which wins brownie points with me? I loved the addition of the dog in the story and midway in the story was championing him.
The murder suspects were plentiful as I mentioned before and there I liked that it was not an easy solve. Overall, this was an enjoyed introduction of characters and author to a new reader and a book worth reading. I'm looking forward to Stella's next mystery to solve.

"Game Over at Guild Hall (Pret' Near Perfect Mystery #3)" by Amy Patricia Mead is a Thanksgiving/Hunting season themed cozy mystery. Not a D&D or other similarly themed mystery. Just putting that out there for the gaming people. By "game" the author means hunted wild animals.

That said, the mystery was interesting and kept me guessing in a good way. I didn't have anyone really pinned as the murderer until the maim characters were about to the same conclusion. It was a little different that Stella, the main character, gets deputized right at the start of the investigation. It was nice in away because it was more of a cooperation than her doing stupid things.

They're back and it's as iff they never left! After a gap of about ten years, Meade has given us another chapter in this series, and boy was it a fun gallivant! I never get tired of Stella and Nick's banter or of course the beautiful scenery of Vermont! Or the story lines! This time we got to experience a game supper, Alma and Charlie's engagement (felt like forever didn't it? lol), and a whole cast of unique new characters and of course the old ones (who can forget Crazy Maggie?). Meade is great at creating a vibrant world where you want to meet everyone in it and go leaf-peeping! What are you waiting for? Go read this latest adventure and meet Bixby, the lovable dog they adopted (who's also a bit of a snoop!)!

I absolutely love Amy Patricia Meade's series. Game Over at Guild Hall is another excellent cozy mystery. Stella and Nick are attending their first game supper in Vermount, and Stella has no idea what to expect. What she most certainly did not expect was for the host to fall over dead. When it comes to light that Warren had a long list of people who he'd recently upset and that he was actually murdered, Stella pairs up with Sheriff Mills to discover the killer. While investigating, Stella receives another surprise - her mother has come to visit for the holidays. Game Over at Guild Hall is a fun mystery in a charming town with delightful characters. It was such a pleasant read. I will continue reading and recommending all of Amy Patricia Meade's books.

I fell in love with the gorgeous cover and liked the solid and entertaining mystery. Well plotted, kept me guessing and had fun
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

3 1/2 stars. Stella and her husband are newly transplanted from New York City to rural Vermont where Stella is surprised to find out that Game Night Dinner has nothing to do with football or basketball but rather wild game that is the star of a charity dinner. But things don't go as planned when the organizer drops dead during the meal and it is later determined to be murder. Who poisoned the man everyone said was beloved but who had plenty of people trying to end his famous Game Night Dinners.

A fun mystery with plenty of red herrings (though none are offered at the dinner). There is some humorous episodes of adjustment to rural life and plenty of quirky characters. The charms of rural Vermont shine through.

I really like Stella and her husband who both act as amateur detectives and neither one is a crime investigator which I think is kind of unusual for the cozy genre. The female lead isn't usually married at the beginning of the series and if so, the husband is some how involved in law enforcement. Stella's husband does work for the Forest Service but not solving murders. Stella's mother is a nice addition to the book and it is great to see how she grows during the book.

I hope that it isn't a couple more years before the next book in this series. Give it a try. Fun, lovely locale, and a decent mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are lots of hunters in rural, Vermont, and some know how to make the game that they catch taste better than the meat stores. Invited to their first game dinner, Stella and Nick are on hand, when the much beloved organizer of the annual fundraiser, dinner collapses and dies.

What is a Murder and if so who would want the man dead? As Stella and the sheriff, they find several suspects who didn’t find the victim, quite as lovable as the general population dead. Can Stella help find the murderer before they strike again? Or will she be the next game bagged?

Well, I love Amy means work, this is the first of the books in the series that I have read. She’s always such a prolific writer and brings the characters to life. Filled with red herring that enough to keep you guessing to the end, each, and every one of her mysteries is enjoyable. I had no problem reading this as a standalone, so if this is new to you as well, grab a coffee and enjoy it. You’ll see why I like her work so

Vermont, vandalism, amateur-sleuth, poisons, friendship, friends, small-town, relatives, relationships, unpleasant-in-laws, unputdownable, egoist, game-as-food, situational-humor, suspense, verbal-humor, murder-investigation, witty, local-law-enforcement, cozy-mystery, poaching, rural, dog, Labrador-dog, family*****

If Mr and Mrs North or Nick and Nora Charles lived in rural Vermont, they'd be great friends with US Forest Service Ranger Nick Buckley and his sleuthing wife, Stella. In addition to the usual madness for that time of year, they have acquired a boisterous black lab who wakens Stella and leads her to an intruder at the site of a murder. If that isn't enough craziness, Stella's VERY eccentric mother arrives to stay and make everyone crazy. Let the sleuthing begin!
The publisher's blurb did a very good job of getting me interested and it didn't hurt that I loved the earlier books in this series. I do think that this one stands alone quite nicely. Good mystery plot with believable characters, lots of laughs, plot twists, and red herrings, (or a talking dog collar). Loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

A local volunteer organization is hosting a game night, not Monopoly and UNO but wild game meat. The dinner is a contest where different cooks prepare their specialty dishes and hundreds of people come to sample the food and vote on their favorite. Warren, the coordinator, runs the dinner with an iron fist and has many detractors, even as the dinner booms in popularity. But which one of them is responsible for poisoning him?

I love Meade's writing style. Her books remind me of movies from the early to mid-1900's (and indeed some of her books are set during that time). I love how her characters interact with one another, very sweet to each other even if they don't necessarily get along all that well. I also love the setting of this series, a cozy old farmhouse in a tiny town where everyone knows everyone else.

The ending of this book was especially good. When the killer gets confronted, all these clues (most of which I noticed but hadn't put together) are brought to light and they all point in the same direction. It was a really great reveal.

I haven't read Meade's Tish Tarragon series (Why? I have no idea!) but I have read all her other books and really enjoyed them all. If you haven't tried her books yet, check them out!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Book Review: A Cozy and Charming Whodunit in Rural Vermont

⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, Game Over at Guild Hall by Amy Patricia Meade is a must-read. Set in the scenic countryside of Vermont, the story revolves around the annual wild game supper at Guild Hall. When the event organizer meets a tragic end, the protagonist, Stella, finds herself in the midst of a captivating mystery filled with secrets, suspects, and a touch of danger.

Meade's storytelling is both engaging and well-paced, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The rural Vermont setting adds a delightful charm to the narrative, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and flavors of the countryside. The characters are likable and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their journey.

As a standalone read, Game Over at Guild Hall offers a seamless entry point into the series. It perfectly balances an intriguing mystery with a cozy setting, making it an enjoyable read for both seasoned cozy mystery enthusiasts and newcomers to the genre.

While I would have loved to see some game meat recipes at the end (I'm a sucker for those in cozies), the absence didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. The cover art exudes a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfectly capturing the fall vibes that infuse the narrative.

In conclusion, Game Over at Guild Hall is a delightful and charming read that blends an engaging mystery with a picturesque rural setting and endearing characters. Amy Patricia Meade's storytelling kept me enthralled from start to finish, and I'm eagerly looking forward to more books from this series. Whether you're a cozy mystery aficionado or looking for a cozy read to curl up with, this book is sure to captivate and entertain.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

#GameOveratGuildHall #NetGalley is an interesting cozy mystery with Stella as our main character.
Set in Vermont, everyone is excited for the annual game supper, but when the host drops dead, its up to Stella to find the answers.
While I found the story interesting, its just not my style of cozy mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

Well a few weeks ago we traveled to the New England states and Vermont was one of the states we went to. The book takes place in Fall and has vivid descriptions of the rural countryside and colorful leaves, just what we saw on our trip. I was able to perfectly visualize it.
Game hunting is very popular this time of year in such a rural area of Vermont. In fact, it's such a big deal the locals even have an annual wild game supper at Guild Hall. Then the long-time organizer and taste tester of the event drops dead. He is the one who determines who can participate next year if he like's your food or not. As the suspects pile up like the fallen leaves no one can be ruled out at this point. In this continuing series Stella finds the victim has made many enemies over the year by shunning hunter's game offerings and volunteers at the dinner find themselves run ragged to cater to the overwhelming number of guests. Well plotted this was a solid mystery that pointed in the direction of a lot of suspects and a surprise twist ending.

Pub Date 14 Nov 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Amy Patricia Meade continues her excellent Vermont Country Living Mystery series with her third book, Game Over at Guild Hall, and this time she adds some wonderful new characters!
This well-written whodunnit illustrates that just because peak tourist season is over, there's still a lot going on in Vermont. The mystery itself has almost too many suspects, ensuring that once the main character Stella figures out who the culprit is, it will be a surprise to many readers. I particularly appreciated that the amateur sleuth is welcomed into the crime solving by the police, and even deputized, dispensing with the often uncomfortable situation of the sleuth getting underfoot of the official investigation.
Added this time around are a contrite mother in need of help, and an adorable and enthusiastic dog with a special collar! The local colour and information about the various ways to obtain game meat in the state add an educational element to the book.
I am happy to have received an ARC of #GameOveratGuildHall from #NetGalley.

Game Over at Guild Hall is a cozy mystery, one that is quite enjoyable.

A wild game supper is held in a beautiful part of Vermont. It is a place for hunting and the supper is a big deal. It becomes even more so when the organizer is poisoned and dies in front of everyone.

Stella begins to investigate the murder but soon many suspects disappear. As she digs deeper into his death she finds he was rather a nasty man with many enemies - each of whom had a reason to kill him.

As Stella investigates she finds herself in the crosshairs of the killer.

The characters are well rounded and the mystery set my mind racing.