Maddie Day is a beloved cozy mystery author known for her small town settings, book clubs, side characters, and intriguing mysteries. In this series, set on the east coast, the main character Mac finds herself involved in yet another murder, with her friend Flo as the prime suspect. Mac rallies her cozy mystery book club, the Cozy Capers, to help clear Flo's name. Day subtly incorporates diversity in her stories, creating an inclusive and welcoming space for readers of all backgrounds.

In book six in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series, there is another murder in the small picturesque Cape Cod Town. Bruce Byrne, a retired teacher, is found dead behind the bar at The Rusty Anchor. He is found by Flo, Mac's friend, when she opens the pub in the morning, and immediately becomes a suspect. Mac is second on the scene and she doesn't hesitate to become involved in the investigation to find the true murderer. The book club group rallies behind her and helps as much as possible. The victim was disliked by many people, and it comes as no surprise that somebody wanted him dead, but who, and why. Finding the motive, will help find the culprit.

I really enjoy this series for its mysteries, but also for the side stories of the many characters that I have gotten to know. Mac and Tim have recently married, so they are juggling married life and both of their businesses. The various lives of the book club members are always fun and I enjoy seeing how they get clues and information for Mac. I like that although Mac does investigate, she works well with the police and always shares whatever she finds out with them. Belle, the parrot, is still around, keeping the humor going with her antics, and sharing of what she hears with everyone. but the investigation turns up more than one secret. This time, Mac is in danger and it is Belle that helps save the day. I was pretty sure I knew who had killed Bruce, but it wasn't until the end that my suspicions were confirmed, but there was a huge twist at the end. A great addition to this series. Once again, I listened to this one, narrated by Rachel Dulude. I have come to enjoy her voices for this series and hope she continues to narrate these books.

Fun, cozy read. Definitely a book for library purchase. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Mac has learned her lesson the hard way. So have the rest of her sleuthing group. Try to stay out of danger. But no matter how good her intentions, it seems trouble is going to find Mac. This time it is in the form of a much hated high school teacher who has been poisoned in the local pub. The person who discovered the corpse dragged Mac off the street where she called it in.

The local cops who don’t want Mac and her friends investigating also know they are not going to succeed. And the fact that one of the group had well known run ins with the deceased further encourages their efforts. The problem is that this guy made a lot of people miserable so the suspect pool is large. So many to choose from including the killer who thinks Mac has figured it all out. She has not but with the aid of another possible suspect and Bella, the bird, Mac is able to record and take down the villain.

There is lots going on around the main plot that deal with parenthood and marriage but the mystery was the most compelling part of the book. It also left a lot of open story lines. I wonder what will come up next. Four purrs and two paws up.

I really enjoy this cozy series. I feel like it is really unique. I feel like Mack isn't like the usual cozy mystery main characters. She seems more chill and more introverted. The mystery in this one was really good. It was relatively predictable but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I did miss a lot of the characters in this one. We didn't really see much of the regular characters.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

I absolutely love this series! The characters are so fun, and I love the Cape Cod setting. Mac is a fantastic protagonist, and I enjoyed solving the mystery with her. The murder mystery was fun, and I loved the plot twists!

I love this cozy mystery series set in Cape Cod and involving a book club. It was fun to revisit this world. I have read this series out of order and was still able to follow all the storylines.

Murder at the Rusty Anchor: A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery
By Maddie Day
Kensington
June 2024

Review by Cynthia Chow

Summer is the busy season for the town of Westham, Massachusetts, but a bout of rain has Mackenzie Almeida lulled into a slow period for her Mac’s Bikes shop that sells, repairs, and rents out bicycles. The neighboring Rusty Anchor Pub is not sharing the same slowdown, but it’s certain that their chef does not appreciate finding the first customer of the day dead behind the bar. Bruce Byrne was an infamous high school teacher in Westham for decades, not only giving Mac a poor grade 20 years ago, but being notorious for discriminating against students and even stealing “inappropriate” books from the library. It’s the latter act – caught on security cameras- that results in Westham’s head librarian Florence Wolanski on the police’s suspect list, with State Police detective sergeant Lincoln Haskins eventually calling her in for questioning.

Lincoln also warns Mac and her cozy book club group away from his investigation, this despite their having had considerable success with previous murder cases. Mac and her book clubbers aren’t about to allow Flo or one of their other friends be railroaded for killing a pretty detestable man. They soon discover that the late teacher was responsible for getting another fired, while several former students have never forgotten Mr. Byrne’s traumatizing treatment. Mac’s amazingly supportive husband Tim, the owner and baker of Greta’s Bakery, has his own troubles concerning his sister and her growing family, and it’s coming at a particularly bad point in their lives. That of course doesn’t mean that he still won’t prepare his amazing dinners and pastries for Mac, even though she does attempt at least once to cook a dinner consisting of far too many ingredients and steps. Also on Mac’s plate is the 40th wedding anniversary of her adorable parents, who are planning a spontaneous celebration for most of the town before they traverse off on a second honeymoon.

This 6th in the series incorporates a crime that enmeshes much of Westham’s locals, but it is at its most fascinating when it sympathetically explores Mac’s fears over infertility. Learning that her parents themselves struggled with this issue has Mac worried that she and Tim will face the same challenge when having children. This of course comes to the forefront when it seems that everyone around her is becoming pregnant, especially when one of those is a person least capable of being a mother. Readers will appreciate the lambasting of Mr. Byrne’s censorship actions of removing LGBTQ+ books that he felt were inappropriate for teenagers, even though it perhaps wasn’t worthy of his being murdered. Always entertaining, this latest in the Cozy Capers Book Group series excels at exploring this very cozy community whose lives have become even more complicated and compelling than the central mystery. As the circle of suspects narrows down to a few central characters, Mac and her friends become the reasons why fans will continue to return to this highly engaging series.

Loved this book! I like how all the characters in the book club work together to solve the murder. I will definitely continue reading this series, it has become one of my favorites.

I normally don’t like to read a series that I started late…..as in this is book 6. I was pleasantly surprised that I got into the characters and storyline without wishing I read the previous books. Mac and her friends are in a book club, Cozy Capers Book Club, with a side hustle of helping the local authorities solve crimes. Highly upset Yvonne grabs Mac on her way to her bike shop and pulls her into the bar she works at. Pointing out the dead body behind the bar. As Mac takes a closer look while calling the police, she realizes she knows the man. It’s been years since she saw him last, her freshman English teacher. A man everyone loves to hate and who hated him enough to murder him?
Great pacing of the story, with sidelines to keep you wondering and guessing. Looking forward to reading the previous books. Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own. #MurderattheRustyAnchor #CozyCapersBookGroupMystery

A rainy July weekend in Westham Rachel’s are empty and business is dead at Mac’s Bikes until a the chef opens the Rusty Anchor and finds a dead body behind the bar. It’s last call for Bruce Byrne a high school teacher who’s been around so long it seems like he taught everyone. When Mac’s friend makes a list of suspects Mac gathers the Cozy Capers Book Group to clear her name. They sort through clues and a roll call of suspects to determine who decided to teach Mr Byrne a lesson. This was a very enjoyable read with lots of suspects to go through to find a killer. I would recommend the story to everyone.

I enjoyed this book, although it’s goes around in circles in the middle. I like the relationships and Corkie in particular best. I like that the investigation is a group effort. #MurderattheRustyAnchor #NetGalley

Murder at the Rusty Anchor is the 6th installment of the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series by Maddie Day. I really enjoy this series and love the location being in the Cape Cod area. I enjoying seeing the characters and relationships grow, but my favorite character has to be Belle, the parrot. I highly recommend this book and the series.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Cape Cod sounds like a wonderful place to visit! This particular week, however, many tourists wished they had taken their midsummer vacation anywhere but there due to the rain, and to a smaller degree, perhaps the murder. Westham, Massachusetts is home to Mac, owner of Mac’s Bikes and newlywed of almost seven months. She and her friends in the Cozy Capers book club enjoy cozy mysteries and have likewise helped detectives solve several murders in the past year. On a rainy Monday morning, Mac left her shop for a quick errand. Yvonne, manager of the Rusty Anchor pub, stopped her and asked for help. Yvonne just got to work and found the body of a dead man behind the bar.

Most people in Westham, especially those in the downtown area, know Mac and how she has helped provide the police with information she and her friends in the book club hear about open murder cases. Mac is obsessive about keeping things clean and tidy, and to her, until solved, murders are messy and the bad guys need to be caught. Mac went inside with Yvonne, called the police, and asked Yvonne a few questions. They recognize the unfortunate victim as the worst-ever freshman English teacher at Westham High School, a class that every student who hopes to become a sophomore has to pass. Bruce Byrne was such a harsh man that most people didn’t like him.

While Byrne had no obvious injuries, the police seemed to think from the beginning that he had been murdered. Their local police detective, Penelope Johnson, and the state police detective, Lincoln Haskins, questioned Mac so she could return to the bike shop. The pub would be closed until they were done searching for evidence. Carl, the pub’s owner, came to town by surprise, and plans to stay until the case is solved. Carl’s employees do not like him very well, especially as he micromanages everybody.

The Cozy Capers met and discussed the murder. Despite their feelings about him, he deserved justice. He was harsh on students, didn’t like LGBTQ people, and when he knew secrets about someone, would blackmail them to not divulge those secrets. It was hard to find anyone in town who hadn’t had disagreements with him!

I enjoy visiting most of the well-defined regular characters in this series so much! They are hard-working men and women who are active in the community and are willing to help others who are in need. Each of them grows and changes throughout the series. Those changes often define them as much as their lifestyles.

Mac and Tim communicate their love for each other in many ways. Mac’s parents were getting ready to celebrate their 40th anniversary and are still very much in love. Mac and Tim were considering what their 40th anniversary might look like someday, and Tim said that “it will be a rich and joyous path to travel”. They might still be newlyweds, but this lyrical statement in the midst of their everyday life shows a little of their sweet romance.

A lighthearted scene that I truly appreciated was watching Mac decide to cook a meal for herself and Tim. As a baker and excellent cook, Tim has no problem cooking for them. Mac thought she could remember how to make a dish they both enjoy. “Watching” her prepare the meal was as funny as my attempts at making a meal, except I think Tim enjoyed the results much more than my husband did!

There is an excellent balance in this novel between solving the mystery, showing what their businesses require, romance, and family. The author emphasizes solving the murder as the priority for this cozy mystery and nothing overshadows it. There is mention of a cozy mystery and author’s name that is due out soon as one their book club is reading.

In some ways, it almost seemed a given regarding who killed the victim, or maybe it was my interpretation. There were several suspects who seemed viable, but simply didn’t feel right. There were still surprises at the end, and it was quite tidily and satisfyingly resolved. I highly recommend this cozy mystery! Each delightful mystery in the series can be read as a standalone.

Always a pleasure to read a new book in this series. Wonderful characters, exciting mysteries, a vividly described setting, and (my favorite) a parrot named Belle.
Belle: Belle's a good girl. Snacks, Mac?"

I cannot get enough of this series. I'm already looking forward to reading the next adventure featuring Mac, Tim, and all of Mac's friends and book club members/sidekicks. And Belle, of course.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I really enjoy the characters and the setting. I can't wait to find out what happens with the MC. The mystery kept me guessing.

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

Murder at the Rusty Anchor is book six in Maddie Day’s Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series, and I grabbed this on audio since the summer time to sit down and read time seems to be less this year. This series features bike shop owner Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida and her cozy book club friends. This is my first in the series and I could jump right in and follow along. I’m delighted that the earlier entries in the series are also available as audiobooks.

Set in the fictional Cape Cod village of Westham, this novel jumps right into the action when it opens with the chef of the Rusty Anchor Pub opening for the day only to discover the body of Bruce Byrne, dead behind the bar. Bruce was an elderly, rather disliked local high school teacher. Once it’s determined to be murder AND Mac’s friend Flo, the librarian, makes the list of possible suspects, Mac and the rest of the Cozy Capers Book Group gather to clear her name.

This mystery novel started off with a bang and kept the twists and turns coming! I had my guesses on the true murderer but that certainly didn’t take away any of my enjoyment of the mystery. The characters are all real and have a depth about them that make them each unique and ones I wanted to know. I especially felt for Mac and her struggles with fertility (there’s definitely a bit of talk about fertility throughout, just as a head’s up). I also loved that the cozy mystery group was reading A Very Woodsy Murder, a new book by the author Ellen Byron that I’m looking forward to reading.

Wonderful details of small town life, real characters and a strong mystery made for a lovely listen as I folded boat loads of laundry! I also enjoyed that it was set in the summertime as that made it felt like armchair travel!

Maddie Day is a pseudonym for Agatha Award-winning mystery author Edith Maxwell. As Maddie Day, Edith also writes the Country Store Mysteries, from Kensington, set in southern Indiana, and the Cece Barton Mysteries series, set in northern California wine country. @kensingtonbooks

Mackenzie (Mac) Almeida runs a bicycle shop in Cape Cod. She's smart, feisty, down to earth, and has just about the most lovable community of friends, family, and fellow business owners you've ever met. In this installment of the cozy series, she's dealing with a lot of problems -- sure, there's a murder in her neighborhood, but her new, beloved husband is facing big family trouble, they're getting disheartened about starting their own family, Mac is wonder gin about her friends and workers as alarming secrets pop up in the investigation, and she's dealing with fears that have been building up since the last local murder.

With persistence and lots of support, Mac figures it all out.

Lots of interesting people, local color, and foodie details enliven a well-constructed puzzle.

Murder At The Rusty Anchor
A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery, Book #6
Maddie Day
5 Stars

Synopsis:

There’s deadweight behind the bar at the Rusty Anchor and it’s up to Cape Cod bike shop owner Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida to solve the murder in Agatha Award–winner Maddie Day’s latest Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery . . .

A rainy July weekend in Westham means the beaches are empty and business is dead at Mac’s Bikes but couldn’t be livelier inside the Rusty Anchor Pub. But come Monday morning one patron is not so lively when the chef opens up and finds a body behind the bar. It’s last call for Bruce Byrne, an elderly high school teacher who’s been around so long it seems like he taught everybody.

When Mac’s friend Flo, the librarian, makes the list of suspects, Mac gathers the Cozy Capers Book Group to clear her name. With no end in sight to the rain, the group has plenty of time to study the clues and sort through a roll call of suspects to determine who decided to teach Mr. Bryne a lesson. But with a killer desperate to cover their tracks, Mac and the group will be tested as never before . . . (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. When someone is killed in the Rusty Anchor Pub, Mac and her Cozy Capers Book Group have to find the culprit before one of the members is charged with the murder. They will need all of their skills to solve this murder.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The mystery is well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. If you are looking for a good book to read, try one of hers.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.