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.

It’s summer and Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida is busy running Mac’s Bikes. The last thing she needs is another murder to investigate but when a body turns up at the Rusty Anchor Pub and a member of the Cozy Capers Book Group is a suspect, Mac and her friends begin to investigate. They have plenty of suspects as the victim was not well liked but Mac needs to be careful or she’ll become the next victim.

Murder at the Rusty Anchor is the nicely done sixth book in Maddie Day’s Cozy Capers Book Group cozy mystery series. By now the characters – Mac, her husband, mother, father, grandmother, brother, niece, best friend, and the members of the Cozy Capers Book Group feel like old friends as does the bike shop setting. The mystery is well done with just the right amount of suspects and the right amount of suspense when the killer is revealed – truthfully I probably should have figured it out (there were plenty of clues) but I didn’t. Nicely done!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

So this is book six in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series, and as is usual for this series and this author, it is another delightful read. When Flo becomes a suspect in a murder case, Mac doesn’t hesitate to stick her nose into the investigation. The book club group rallies behind her and helps as much as possible. The victim was a teacher who was highly unliked by many people, and it comes as no surprise that somebody wanted him dead, but the investigation turns up more than one secret. There is enough action without being overwhelming. The clues are sprinkled throughout the story and aren’t always obvious, but if the reader looks for them, they will find the killer quickly.

As always, the characters are lovable and fun. Mac’s personal life has taken several hits, but she keeps going and will continue to fight for what she wants. Belle is still around and entertaining readers from start to finish; who doesn’t love a talking parrot? Murder at the Rusty Anchor is one of the best books in the series so far. Sleuthing seems to be in Mac’s blood, and even though she puts herself in danger, she does it out of the goodness of her heart, which in and of itself makes these stories easy to read and enjoy.

Wow! Lot's going on in Mac's world then a dead body appears putting her and the book club back into amateur sleuthing! Could one of their own be guilty or someone close to them? Or is it possible that the dead man had enemies from his past? Add in the personal drama that several of the book club members are dealing with to complicate their ability to sleuth and we may have finally found a mystery they can't solve. The writing of this series is outstanding as always and keeps you engaged. I absolutely couldn't put the book down and probably shouldn't have started it at bedtime since I was up way later than planned! The characters are so lovable that you just can't stop reading as you have to know what happens next!

I enjoy this series because the characters are lovable and believable, the setting is quaint but has a dark side, and the mysteries keep me entertained the whole way through. I did figure out who the murderer was early on, which I don't usually do, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of this story. I did feel for Mac and her struggles with fertility, especially in light of the ever present baby fever in her community; I liked the complexity and depth this added to the series, which despite the murder, can feel very light at times (as in all cozies). I look forward to the next.

It's a rainy July morning and trouble starts right away when the chef of the Rusty Anchor Pub calls Mac Almeida for help. They find the body of retired English teacher Bruce Byrne behind the bar. Mac gathers the Cozy Capers Book Group members when librarian Flo becomes the prime suspect. It seems that many locals hated having Byrne as a teacher. He had also clashed with former staff members & got on Flo's bad side, too.

I normally like it that Mac is busy running her bike shop business. This makes sense, especially during the busy summer season. But the Cozy Capers Book Group members are unusually slow in sending in their sleuthing updates, so the pace of the book drags, especially in the middle of the story. Not the best book in the series.

But I really enjoy Mac's relationship with her new husband Tim, and the love and support Mac has with her parents, grandmother and other family members. And I am glad that her parrot Belle plays a key role when the killer drops by towards the end of the book.

I received a digital ARC from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Murder at the Rusty Anchor by Maddie Day takes us back to Cape Cod and bike shop owner, Mac, and her gang of readers, the Cozy Capers. It all began as she was passing by the Rusty Anchor and Yvonne pulled her in. She wanted help and showed her a body on the floor behind the bar. It was Mr. Byrne, her ninth grade English teacher, and that had been many years ago. He was very dead. They called 911 and the police were there immediately. Then the investigation began, and the very first thing they learned is that no one liked Mr. Byrne. That was going to make it more difficult to find his murderer. During the investigation, personal things kept popping up. Zane and his husband were adopting a baby currently being carried by a surrogate, the owner of the Rusty Anchor showed up and all of a sudden tried to micro-manage the Rusty Anchor. No one was happy with that. Flo, the librarian, seemed quiet and cut off. The investigation just wasn’t happening the way it usually did.

Good book. Good setting. Excellent characters. Mac, and her husband of three months, Tim, were settling in nicely, hoping for a baby. Things were calm in their home, except for occasional employee absences, mostly at Tim’s bakery. Mac had an excellent full-time bike mechanic and part-timers she could call in for help. Since it was July, they were busy, and often needed help. The murder was a difficult one even with both the police and the Cozy Capers working on it. People murder for the oddest of reasons and most of the things they found out about Mr. Byrne didn’t warrant murder, Mac thought. AS the summer got warmer, so did people’s tempers. What a good read. Thanks, Maddie Day!

I was invited to read Murder at the Rusty Anchor by Kensington books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #MaddieDay #MurderAtTheRustyAnchor

I have enjoyed the books I have read in the Cozy Capers Book Group series. The characters are well developed. You get to know them well and appreciate the relationships between family, friends, and other business owners in Westham, Massachusetts. Having visited Cape Cod several times I loved reading about the town and the people. The mystery was handled well and I was flipping through the pages quickly trying to follow the clues to find out who had committed murder. The Cozy Capers Book Group is a unique group of individuals and they each bring a special focus to their attempts to help solve the murder mysteries. Between Mac and the rest of the gang, you are in for a treat as you get lost in the pages. Of course, you can’t forget Belle, Mac’s parrot. She is a hoot and has you laughing with her antics. I can’t wait for the next adventure in Cape Cod.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies 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!

I used to love this cozy series, but this was by far the weakest in the series. Poor pacing and the characters aren't very well-written.

We are back in Cape Cod with Mac Almeida & her gang of amateur sleuths! She is on her way to open her bike shop, despite the July rain, when she’s stopped by the head chef at the Rusty Anchor who discovered a dead body when she came into work.
The deceased victim, we find out, is Bruce Byrne, one of Mac’s former high school teachers. Lots of people didn’t like him, so unfortunately the suspect list is kind of long. Unfortunately, one of her Cozy Capers Book Club members is on that list…
As Mac & her sleuthing friends split up to “interview” people around town about Bruce’s untimely demise, they also look online for anything that might lead them to finding out who murdered him, including several “newbies” that just happened to pop into town..
I have read all of these Cozy Capers Books & this has been by far my favorite! I love how with each book, the characters develop, even Belle, Mac’s beloved African Gray Parrot, & how loving & supportive her entire family is. I already can’t wait for the next book!

I really enjoy this series, so I was excited to read the latest installment. The mystery was engaging. The main issue I have with Maddie Day’s books is that she really tries to shoehorn social issues into her stories, often in clunky ways. For example, Mac finds a piece of trash on the ground and lectures the reader on the importance of not littering. I get it, but come on. More focus on the mystery and the characters please.

Who doesn't love Belle & the characters in Westham? Mac is walking to work & is met with a frantic Yvonne, who works at the Rusty Anchor. A dead body behind the bar. Turns out to be a prior teacher at the high school whom everyone seemed to hate. Sleuthing for who did it, throw in a rainy Cape week, a surprise anniversary party being thrown by her parents for her parents, and it is a full week of adventure. Of course Belle is involved & helps save the day!
Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Day, and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A very cosy murder mystery! Read more for the vibes than the plot. A very middle-ground book for me but I recommended as a palette cleanser/easy read.

Murder at the Rusty Anchor is book #6 in the Cozy Capers Book Group series by Maddie Day.

It’s great catching up with Mac and the book club group again. The weather isn’t good which is bad for business. But soon, Mac has a murder to investigate when her good friend is one of the suspects. Apparently a lot of people has issues with the victim which made it an interesting mystery. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it as well as the entire series.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Mac is taking a slow walk to her bicycle shop in Cape Cod when the bar door opens and an upset manager walks out. She has a dead body behind the bar. Unfortunately, Mac recognizes him as her previous high school teacher that she had no love for. As Mac becomes involved in solving the murder, she finds most people don’t have any love for the teacher. But that doesn’t seem to help in solving this murder. I love the characters in this book, particularly Mac’s family. I loved this episode in this series.

Murder at the Rusty Anchor is a great title for a mystery that takes place on Cape Cod. I can totally see a restaurant or a pub being called that. Aside from the great title, the Cozy Capers Book Group have another intriguing mystery that also threatens one of their own because they are a suspect--that hasn't happened before. Mac is called into the Rusty Anchor by a shaky manager on her way to work and discovers there is a dead body behind the bar. Turns out it is a local long-term teacher who is not loved by all and there are plenty of suspects including the local librarian, the pub owner, pub workers and a possible few others. The Cozy Capers will have to work hard to figure this one out...

I really like Mac and her supporting book group friends that work together to solve the mystery. Because, amazingly enough, Mac can't investigate every clue and person involved in the murder. She actually has to spend most of her day at the bike shop she owns and has a limited amount of time she can be away. Such a rarity in the cozy mystery world where most owners go often whenever they want to investigate leads. So they have to spread the investigating around the group.

This is the one of the first times that there are a few cracks in the close group. People seems to be keeping secrets and some of their personal lives are interfering with the investigation. We will have to see how this continue to develop in future books. I hope it isn't permanent because they friendships make it a joy to read about.

I also really love Mac's relationship with her husband and her family. There is a lot of love and understanding there without it seeming too good to be true.

A solid mystery with plenty of suspects and twists to keep it interesting. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

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

On her way to work, Mac Almeida is asked to help an acquaintance who has found a body in the local pub. Turns out the victim was a long despised teacher at the high school.

With so many people who disliked the man, Mac and the Book Group have their work cut out for them. Can they help the police uncover the murderer before the murderer turns the tables on them?

Maddie Day delivers another solid entry the series. I enjoy all of her books,but the setting of this one really has me smelling the salty air and coming back for another visit with Belle.