I really struggled to get into this book because I found it hard to relate to the characters and the mystery aspect felt a bit cheesy. Maybe it's because the southern feel doesn't connect with me but I found this book hard to get into. Maybe for another reader it would be more enjoyable! I found the premise to be an interesting story though!

About this book:

“Who Stole Tilly from the Auction Block? Breathe in the nostalgia of everything old red truck in book one of a new cozy mystery series. The Hadley family ranch is struggling, so RaeLyn, her parents, and brothers decide to turn the old barn into an antique store. The only thing missing to go with the marketing of the store is Grandpa’s old red truck, Tilly, that was sold several years ago. Now coming back up on the auction block, Tilly would need a lot of work, but RaeLyn is sure it will be worth it—if only she can beat out other bidders and find out who stole Tilly after the auction ends. Hadley finds herself in the role of amateur sleuth, and the outcome could make or break the new family venture.”


Series: Book #1 in “The Little Red Truck Mysteries” series.


Spiritual Content- A Scripture is mentioned & discussed; Church going, Sunday school, services, & sermons; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, Sunday school, youth group, Bible studies, a prayer team, worship, services, sermons, & pastors; Mentions of an Easter service & children’s choir; Mentions of missionaries, mission fields, & ministries; Mentions of Baptist and Methodist churches; A few mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; A few mentions of blessings & being Blessed; A few mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of a nativity set; A couple mentions of hymns; A mention of being reborn;
*Note: The phrase “don’t know me from Adam” is said; A mention of good lucky charms (not believing in them).


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘doggone’, a ‘shoot’, four ‘good grief’s, and seven forms of ‘oh my stars’; “B.S.” is said and refers to a time “before someone”, but it takes someone back when first said (implied cursing); Sarcasm & eye rolling; When a guy brings up about him and RaeLyn sneaking around when they were younger, she thinks that she doesn’t want her parents wondering how much sneaking around she did because “berry stealing was the height of [her] crime spree”; RaeLyn’s aunt suggests about doing something and keeping it a secret from her parents (they don’t do it, however); Some grief by RaeLyn for her grandfather; All about many mentions of a stolen car and items, thefts, thieves, & trying to find the car; Many mentions of divorces; Mentions of car accidents & a death (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of deaths in a house fire (a man’s parents when he was a teenager); Mentions of deaths of loved ones, grief (including RaeLyn with her grandfather), & illnesses (cancer and Alzheimer’s); Mentions of crimes, criminals, arrests, & jail; Mentions of trespassing & the possibility of being chased with a shotgun; Mentions of lies, lying, & deceit; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of alcohol, drinks at a party, & not being a drinker; A couple mentions of the death of an infant; A couple mentions of an injury; A couple mentions of bullying; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a shoot-out in a movie; A mention of chewing tobacco;
*Note: A man calls his wife “the little woman” (which makes RaeLyn wonder if the man is always demeaning to women); Many mentions of car brands, brand names, & items; Mentions of stores & fast-food chains; Mentions of actors, movies, TV shows, & singers (including John Wayne, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Farrah Fawcett, & Frank Sinatra); Mentions of social media platforms; A couple mentions of a short story (“The Last Leaf” by O. Henry); A mention of Reader’s Digest; A mention of a married couple having vastly different views on politics due to one being from Texas and the other from California.


Sexual Content- A barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Touches, Dancing, Hand holding, & Butterflies/Flutters, (up to semi-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); RaeLyn recalls herself and a friend battling over a guy & believes a guy stole her friend away from her; A man gives too much attention to RaeLyn for her liking & tries to hit on her; A man is called a “rounder” (meaning he gets around), has cheated and had affairs, & left his current wife for another woman (he has been married and divorced four times); Another man is caught in an embrace with a woman who is not his wife (*Spoiler* by RaeLyn who prior saw the man light up when he sees the woman and then later when they’re in an embrace; She wonders if she should tell his wife what’s going on, but realizes that she already knows and is pretending she doesn’t; RaeLyn decides to let it go and not be involved in their martial disputes after seeing that the woman knows what’s going on *End of Spoiler*); A woman talks about her marriage to a man fifteen years her senior, their divorce after his cheating, & her regret over the relationship; Mentions of affairs & cheating; Mentions of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy & the couple getting married but someone else thinking that they never really loved the other; Mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, dating, exes, break-ups, & broken hearts; Mentions of winks, blushes, & flirting; A couple mentions of wives leaving their husbands or taking a “sabbatical” away from him; A couple mentions of men hitting on RaeLyn and also a married woman; A couple mentions of jealousy; A teasing mention of a stolen kiss; A mention of a woman using her “charms” to woo men; A mention of a crush (being allowed but not a crush on a married man); A bit of love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Mentions of a voluptuous woman and her low-cut & figure hugging outfits; A few mentions of labor pains.

-RaeLyn Hadley, age 26
1st person P.O.V. of RaeLyn
256 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars

My most anticipated release of the year was a success!

I found my eyes squinting whenever Mason was on page because I wasn’t sure how to feel about him. 🤨 But he eventually won me over by the end of the book and I’m curious to see what happens next for the two of them.

Now, I’m not a big car person. Old, vintage, or brand new. Never really interested me. But because this book is written by one of my favorite authors and it sounded like there would be antiques been discussed, I was very interested in it.

If you like small town drama, go for this book. It’s messy and gets messier with each chapter. Which is why I would mark it for 16+, personally. I did find myself confused at times everyone’s different ages and some connections, but I just went along with trying to figure it out as I went and I think I did well. This book reminded me a lot of the “Brides with Styles” trilogy, though I liked that series a bit more. ;)

This was overall a fun, small town mystery and I’m super excited to see what this series leads to next!



*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Barbour) for this honest review.

this is the first book in the little red truck mystery series. loved the book, the characters and setting were great.

A fun book to read. Ms. Thompson had me guessing almost to the end who the real culprit was, though some of the other suspects might be rightly accused of other crimes! Tillie is a much loved truck with great sentimental value on top of any monetary value the fixed-up version might bring. Rae Lynn wants her grandfather's truck strictly for the sentimental value, but perhaps the thief does too? It gets pretty convoluted until we figure out all the story behind the old truck, but Rae Lynn's sleuthing skills will prevail. This story is more than a great cozy mystery. There's an old family feud still gnawing at someone, a new and very fancy B & B messing with someone's dream, possibly enough brothers to go around, a new antique store about to open and my favorite part, a budding second chance romance. Grab a copy of Tracking Tilly and find out for yourself what it's all about. You might just fall in love with Tillie too!

I was attracted to this book because of the unusual cover. I liked the premise, too. However, I found myself slightly disappointed. I was hoping for more depth. This ended up being a sweet romance with a cozy mystery involved, which I enjoyed—although I figured out the culprit pretty early on. I really liked seeing the way RaeLyn and her family worked together and supported each other, and the close-knit community they lived in. This is a great book for anyone who loves Texas or classic cars, and wants a light, easy read.

Tracking Tilly: The Little Red Truck Mysteries #1 by Janice Thompson.

Thanks to netgalley, I found a new author to enjoy! The story was good, and the characters were lovable. It has some good twists and turns, and definitely has a great cozy feel with the small town. RaeLyn and her family were warm and inviting, and had good dynamics, without a perfect family vibe. I can't wait to read more from this series.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery with a little bit of romance thrown in. The characters were charming and sweet. This definitely wasn't a hard-hitting mystery and it was pretty easy to figure out but that's okay because it was just a sweet story with some super lovable characters! I will definitely read more from the series just to feel that cozy feeling with RaeLyn, Bettie Mae, Mason, and all the rest.

Tracking Tilly by Janice Thompson
(Book 1 in the Little Red Truck Mysteries Series)
4 Stars

Because I can relate to this story with my Dad and his old truck/trucks, I really enjoyed this one! We have a cute small town in Texas, a vintage truck, a girl opening an antique store and some great character relationships here. This is a Christian Cozy Mystery (with no deaths) that centers around our main character RaeLyn's grandpa's old vintage truck going missing after the auction to get it back. Her grandpa passed away many years ago, so it's very important to get it back.
We see RaeLyn work to figure out what has happened, with her old high school flame Mason hanging around helping, but honestly he's a bit suspicious at first too. :)

We have some small town drama going on with a romance subplot. I did get the side character's mixed up several times but it was fine - I was just here for the read! :)

Overall a cute feel good story that will bring the nostalgia of things from back in the day, memories with your grandparents and the importance of family.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

RaeLyn Hadley is determined to buy her Pawpaws truck named Tilly at an auction despite the competition trying to outbid her. After acquiring her dream truck to put on display at her new antique store, the truck is stolen. There are few clues, and several quirky suspects. You will be kept guessing right up until the end. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.

Scripture Connection

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
Prov. 17:9 NLT

See also Heb. 12:15.

Spiritual Themes

Spiritual content is light, but present, with threads of reconciliation (contrasted with bitterness) as well as allusion to God’s providence in bringing people back together. The beauty of nature points RaeLyn, and the reader, back to the Creator.

There was one line, albeit thematically peripheral, that I liked:

“He’s the one who gave you this dream; He will be the One to fulfill it.”
p. 65

I appreciate the message of trust here, and the posture of recognition and submission.

What I Liked

Tracking Tilly caught my eye because of the mystery element, but it also ended up being a fun and timely read for me, as the novel opens with the main character buying a truck. (With just over a week until I return to work, I have no transportation and am looking for a vehicle, prayers SO appreciated!).

The novel stands out to me for its delightful emphasis on family. At 26, RaeLyn makes her home on the family ranch. RaeLyn lives in the larger house with her parents, her great aunt Bessie Mae, and two of her brothers: Dallas and Gage. Her other two brothers, Logan and Jake, live on smaller homes on the property, Jake with his pregnant wife, Carrie.

I really like that RaeLyn is just one of the adult children living at the ranch, and that the family members work together to care for one another. I don’t often see adult children living at home in contemporary reads, so I found this living situation to be refreshing and delightful. I especially appreciate the relationship between RaeLyn and her great aunt. In her eighties, Bessie Mae is strong and ready to sleuth.

Overall, I think the strength of the story is with the characters. Outside of RaeLyn’s family, Thompson casts a wide net of community members: both friends and suspects. We meet an auctioneer, the wealthy businessman who owns half the town, a knowledgeable librarian and a cantankerous neighbor, plus RaeLyn’s best friend, as well as a former friend who has recently returned to town.

Although much of the plot moved a bit slowly for me, I wouldn’t mind continuing the series, simply to follow-up with this community.

Also worth noting are the sweet natural descriptions. Thompson embeds some beautiful details that point readers back to the Creator.

I also enjoyed the gentle romance plotline. As Tracking Tilly is book one in the series, I’m curious to keep reading and see how certain threads continue to develop.

Content Notes

Romance is sweet and very light in terms of physicality. There’s one kiss, which is not descriptive.

In the small-town Texas setting, characters are very aware of the local happenings, largely because of the prayer chain. In addition to offering prayer, the chain also seems to be a possible dispatch for gossip (which I recognize is a real cultural phenomenon), and we do see some instances of gossip.

There’s also a scene where RaeLyn and her friend quickly make up a story to explain their presence in an off-limits area. (RaeLyn feels bad about her friend lying for her).

Recommendation Status

Tracking Tilly is a sweet, slow-paced mystery with a small-town setting and a fun cast of characters. I’m curious to see how the series will progress, and look forward to the opportunity to “hang out” in this small town, in the future.

Recommended for readers who enjoy gentle stories with tight-knit families and especially for those with an appreciation for classic cars.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.

When RaeLyn Hadley wins back her papaws old Ford truck from the auction, the truck goes missing.

This was a cute book!
I loved the Hadley family’s relationship. The romance subplot was cute, and I really liked Masons character. I did keep getting the side characters mixed up but at the end I finally had them all in order. The muster aspect was fairly simple, but I had a lot of fun reading as they found clues. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick cozy mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The cover grabbed my attention. It's charming.

Tilly is the name of the truck Grandpa Hadley used to own and sold a decade ago to pay for medical bills. RaeLyn stretches her budget to win the truck in an auction. The truck doesn't run and is rusted, but she wants the truck back in the Hadley family. The day after the auction RaeLyn is out her money and the truck has been stolen. Quite a bit of Texas detail in the pages of this cozy mystery as RaeLyn works to solve the mystery of who stole her truck.

Janice Thompson's newest novel, Tracking Tilly, is not only a whodunit but also a whydunit!

RaeLyn Hadley embarks on a quest to bring her grandfather's classic truck, Tilly, back to her family. After winning the bid at an auction, Hadley is devastated to discover that Tilly vanishes before she can get her towed to a body shop.

This marks the exciting beginning of Thompson's new series, "The Little Red Truck Mysteries."

RaeLyn is determined to locate her grandfather's truck and chooses to investigate on her own, offering us a delightful peek into the Hadley family dynamics. Will her dream of an antique shop in her family's barn ever come to fruition?

Aunt Bessie Mae quickly became one of my favorite characters due to her charming quirks which were amusing and endearing. I often found myself wishing to be a part of the delightful family dinners she prepared.

The messages of faith in the story were portrayed through the actions of the Hadley family and their neighbors, which I appreciated. The emphasis on faith in the story was both inspiring and thought-provoking.

The book paints a vivid picture of the quaint town of Mabank, capturing the essence of Texas with its inviting warmth and appeal. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.


I received this book from Barbour Fiction through NetGalley.However, my review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

I adored this read! I have been a huge fan of Janice’s stories for more than a decade. In fact her Bridal Mayhem mysteries is an all time favorite series of mine. This new mystery series has the same vibe as her Bridal Mayhem series that I so dearly loved and I am here for this new series! It has Janice’s trademark humor while building a fun mystery, and it has a fantastic group of characters. I am so looking forward to more from this series and more stories to read and adore from a treasured author!

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley but I also have preordered a paperback copy as well. I was not required to post a positive review and all thoughts are my own.

Tracking Tilly by Janice Thompson is a great start to The Little Red Truck Mysteries. I loved getting to know the Hadleys and finding myself involved in the mystery. It had a few twists that I was not expecting and had no way of predicting. I was intrigued with the mystery and had to keep reading to find out "who done it". I thought it was a fun, entertaining and delightful book to read on a rainy day.



Tracking Tilly will be getting five stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read clean cozy mysteries. I am eagerly awaiting for the release for next installment from The Little Red Truck Mysteries. I can not wait.



I received a paperback copy of Janice Thompson's Tracking Tilly from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Readers who like cozy mysteries will enjoy this book. Set in Texas, the Hadley family sets out to find who stole Tilly, the beloved red truck. Small town charm with loveable characters will endear readers. Looking forward to the next book. Recommended.

"Tracking Tilly" is a delightful journey through small-town Texas, infused with sweet southern charm and a heartwarming sense of family values and friendship. There is also some sweet budding romance happening, and I'm all for it! I loved reading about the Hadley family - they were all so sweet and friendly.

What I liked most about this book is the way it emphasizes the importance of family and friends sticking together through thick and thin. Thompson brings the characters to life with warmth and authenticity, making you feel right at home in their cozy corner of Texas. But be prepared to get hungry - there are quite a few meals shared around the Hadley family table, and the food sounds amazing! :)

If you’re looking for a lighthearted read filled with friendship, mystery, and a whole lot of southern charm, "Tracking Tilly" is definitely worth picking up.

Raelynn and her family are opening an antique store, and when she finds the truck that her grandfather sold years ago up for auction, she knows that it will be the perfect touch for the store. But when the truck goes missing from the auction yard, Raelynn is determined to track it down.

A wonderful start to a new series, and introduction to the Hadley family. I loved Raelynn's large family with all their banter. There is a lot going on in this small town cozy mystery, from the family dramas, revelations from the past, and the mystery of the missing truck.

A highly enjoyable read with a lot of twists along the way, I loved the close knit family, with strong ties to faith, and many wonderful characters. There is plenty going on, I liked that Raelynn and Mason were able to rekindle their friendship, and that there is also plenty going on with the other members of the family. An excellent start to a new series!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Cozy mystery in the heart of Texas.
A slow read, my biggest problems with these reads are the repetitive information or clues but I guess that's why it's cozy, I can stop reading for a month and be back up to speed just picking up where I left off vibes.
All of the gossiping busybody vibes I wasn't a fan of as the Bible says we shouldn't and yet it was the sole reason many of the women in this book wanted to be part of the prayer chain.
The Christian elements were small but there, regular church attendance, prayer chain etc.
Otherwise a cozy read with lots of cozy characters, the mystery was pretty easy to solve but again emphasis on cozy. Thanks netgalley for letting me read an ARC, this is my honest take.

Absolutely loved this story! A small town where everyone knows each other and its picturesque scenery made me feel right at home. There is so much to love about this book. The fun of solving who took Tilly with RaeLyn Hadley and her family had me laughing, especially Aunt Bessie Mae. All the delicious food and table talk with family was an added bonus to the sweet build of a romance. This story was entertaining and had many surprising secrets thrown in that keeps the reader wondering what’s around the bend. Not only was I drawn in by all the wonderful characters but felt that the Hadley’s were family. So excited about more books from this author as I will be snatching them up!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.