Narrated by Maria Ru-Djen
Presented by Dreamscape Media

This was a sweet lil cosy mystery!

Hannah Solace runs a sweet lil inn with her sister Reggie, until one of her close friends - an 80yr old recluse - is murdered. Now she has to solve the mystery in order to clear her name.

This whole story felt very wholesome.

Hannah strikes me as an old lady at heart - her bond with Ezra forms over birds and bees, plants and gardening. Their relationship is sweet, and there was certainly no harm in a dog being involved, too. I really liked the setup.

Ezra naturally has a greedy family, greedy neighbours, and a secret past, so there's plenty to keep you guessing. Most of the characters beyond Hannah and Ash are frustrating and shallow, helping us sympathise with Hannah and what she's going through.

I thought the characters were well-written, and brought to life well by the narrator. Not too many pauses, and a lively voice helped the story to flourish and kept me entertained.

The mystery didn't suck me in too much, but at the same time it was just pleasant to listen to the story flow along. I enjoyed travelling along with it and the conclusion was satisfying. A little bit of a stretch in places, but ultimately sweet enough to be entertaining throughout.

I'd recommend this easily to fans of cosy mysteries. It's the first in the series, too, so we can look forward to more of Hannah and her delightful little inn.

With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC

Hannah Solace has decided to renovate an old Victorian hotel and turn it into an inn. She has a weird interaction with her friend Ezra Grayson and wouldn't you know it, he turns up dead. Hannah has inherited everything from Ezra and people are starting to suspect her, so she has one thing to do to get out of the limelight: solve the case!

I had really high hopes for this one and I think I might have ruined it for myself. It was slower than I was expecting, and I know it is a cozy mystery so it should be slow but I thought the pacing was a little bit off. There were too many characters introduced and too many plot lines. The book felt a little confusing at times. I am sure I'm going to enjoy the second book more as long as we keep the characters from the same book.

The absolute highlight of the book was the narration. I enjoyed it a lot. I thought the narration was excellent. I would recommend to people who enjoy lots of characters and multiple plot lines that sometimes don't get resolved and people who like good narrations.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Ayla Rose for giving me the opportunity to review this advanced reader audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This was an okay read for me. It didn’t really fit into the cozy mystery realm, but not sure exactly how I would categorize it. This is book 1 of a series and introduces many characters, which is a lot to take in with everything else going on. I love the small town atmosphere and the cozy B&B! I enjoyed the surprise of finding out who was responsible for the crime, but wasn’t a fan of the gore. The book lacked accuracy involving solving the crime & information given in interviews. This may not bother some, but I prefer the technicalities to be fairly accurate. It was a cute book as far as the backstory. I’d encourage others to check it out for themselves.

An okay mystery but there weren’t any characters I wanted to root for. It didn’t engage me or hold my interest. Had to skim through to the end.

Murder on Devil’s Pond is the start for the new Hummingbird Hollow B&B Mystery series. Hannah Solace has returned to her hometown and started a B&B with her sister, Reggie. She is settling into her new life well, but when Ezra, the town recluse and one of Hannah’s friends is murdered she decides she needs to get to the bottom of the crime. Leaving no stone unturned, Hannah investigates the case until she is in the path of the killer.

This book is billed as a cozy mystery and the B&B idea had me interested, but I think this was a little heavier than most cozy mysteries I’ve read (and I’ve read a lot). I thought this mystery was well laid out and had it was fun to follow along with. Everything flowed nicely and I found myself guessing until the end at the suspect, but I was looking for more of a cozy mystery than a straight up mystery. I also wasn’t a huge fan of any of the characters and they didn’t click with me. Overall it was a good read, but not what I was expecting. If you are looking for a mystery read with a good story this is a good book to pick up, but if you are a cozy mystery fan looking for a less gruesome mystery, this may not be the right choice for you.

Murder on Devil's Pond is book #1 in the A Hummingbird Hollow B&B Mystery series by Ayla Rose. Narrated by Maria Ru-Djen.

I enjoyed this new series. I like Hannah and what she is doing with her B&B. Her sister Reggie comes on a bit strong. There was quite a twist regarding her friend’s death. Most of the characters were not very likable which made me feel bad for the victim. It was interesting how Hannah’s investigation led to all kinds of secrets being revealed, including some about her own family. I both read the book and listened to the audiobook.

This was the first book I’ve listened to by Maria Ru-Djen and I thought she did a good job. It was easy to listen to.

Thank you to the author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listening Copy (ALC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Murder on Devil’s Pond seems to be about people not being what you expect. Hannah has a past as a rebellious young woman on the wrong side of the law….maybe. I was never clear on whether that was the case or if it just had to do with not coming home when her mother was dying.
Reggie is her big sister and is purported to be interfering in Hannah's changes to the inn, but she seemed far more involved in her real estate business and raising her daughter, Peach. Most the interfering she did with Hannah was to try to convince her to stop investigating.
Ezra is the murder victim and Hannah’s friend, but had a past no one really expected.
Ezra’s relatives don’t turn out to be what they presented themselves as either.
As you can see I know much about the characters, but I didn’t really connect with them or with the setting. The mystery is interesting and has multiple components spanning past and present.
The narrator of the audiobook did a good job. I liked the book okay but it didn’t wow me or leave me curious about future books.
Thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read this book.

Great cozy mystery debut!

Hannah is an inn keeper of the Hummingbird Hollow bed and Breakfast tucked away in a small, quiet town in Vermont where everybody knows everybody. A cast of characters make this book feel like you know at least a handful of them and I’d say I’d personally love to stay at the b&b!

Hannah is thrown into chaos when she happens upon the dead body of her older curmudgeon neighbor. He’s an unlikable person in this tiny town and Hannah feels she is the only one who feels any sadness at his passing. Not long after his murder his nieces and nephews come to town ready to settle his estate - assuming they will get the coveted land his rundown house sits on. But Ezra had something different in mind and it’s going to cause Hannah a lot of trouble! She’s trying to discover why someone would hurt Ezra and to do that she has to discover some things from him past.. what will Hannah find?

Such a great audiobook! Would recommend.

"Murder on Devil's Pond," written by Ayla Rose and narrated by Maria Ru-Djen, is a captivating audiobook. The author crafts a clever and intricate plot filled with unexpected twists and turns that held my interest throughout.

One of the standout features of this audiobook is the natural and engaging dialogue. The author's ability to write conversations that feel authentic and meaningful adds depth to the characters and enhances the overall listening experience. Each character, from the protagonists to the suspects, is well-developed and brought to life through both the writing and the skillful narration.

Maria Ru-Djen's voice is perfectly suited to the atmosphere of the story, and she effortlessly switches between characters, each with their own distinct voice and personality. Her ability to convey emotions and suspense adds an extra layer of immersion, making it easy to visualize the vivid backdrop of Devil's Pond and feel the tension as the mystery unfolds.

"Murder on Devil's Pond" is more than just a whodunit; it's a masterclass in mystery storytelling. Ayla Rose's intricate plotting, natural dialogue, and Maria Ru-Djen's superb narration combine to create an audiobook that will captivate listeners from start to finish. (I received an advance reader copy of the audiobook and all opinions are my own.) Whether you're a fan of mysteries or simply enjoy a well-told tale, this audiobook is a must-listen.

I loved this book! It was like Gilmore Girls mixed with murder mystery and set in Vermont on a B & B with a pollinator garden. It was sweet without being cheesy, and the mystery was well built. I can't wait for the next one in the series!

great book i loved hearing the whole mystery on who was behind it all, i like the story and it was a quick read for me.

Murder on Devil’s Pond had some of my favorite cozy mystery aspects: beautiful setting, cute pet, and cozy career in this case running an inn. I’ve not listened to or read the previous books in the series, but felt I could still enjoy this one as a standalone!

Hannah returns to the small Vermont town where she grew up to run the B&B for her sister, Reggie. The B&B is on Devil’s Pond and Hannah’s dream is create a natural setting to attract all type of wildlife. She is busy with the inn, but becomes friends with an elderly, grouchy neighbor, Ezra. One evening, she finds Ezra’s body on the land adjacent to the inn. Then she learns that Ezra left his land and money to her! It’s awkward because Ezra’s relatives, who expected the inheritance, are all staying at the B&B!
The setting is beautiful and Turnip, the cat, and Moose, the dog, are perfect additions to the family. The mystery keeps you guessing. Is it related to Ezra’s past or is it a greedy relative? This is a fun cozy mystery, but the ending (after the mystery is solved) felt a little too much like loose ends were being quickly tied up.
I enjoyed the narration of this audiobook and felt it was well-done.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media for the ARC.

Hannah returns to her hometown to renovate the inn she co-owns with her sister. But her fresh start is hampered by family drama, budget woes—and a suspicious death. When her eccentric neighbor is found dead on her property, Hannah becomes a suspect. As she investigates, she uncovers a web of secrets hidden beneath the charming facade of her hometown.

I enjoyed this series debut. Hannah is a strong heroine, and the other characters are also well-developed. The story is interesting and full of twists. The audiobook narration was well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I really enjoyed this story. It's a debut novel with tons and tons of twist and turns that I did not see coming. The suspense kept me wanting to listen to more and more.

I can not wait for the second book!

Hannah befriends Ezra, an elderly recluse who is a neighbour close to the B&B she runs with her sister Reggie since she came back to Vermont in the USA. Then one day she stumbles across Ezra on the shore of Devil's Pond - and he's been murdered! And she's the number one suspect! She takes in Ezra's dog Moose, and does a bit of sleuthing on her own. First in a new cosy series - Bring on the next one! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook.

Name of Book: Murder on Devil’s Pond
Author: Ayla Rose
Series: Hummingbird Hallow B&B Mystery
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Maria Ru Djen
Publisher: Dreamscape Media/Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
My Rating: 2.5 - I hate giving this a low rating as I wanted to love it! Since it is listed as a Cozy the profanity threw me off-although not excessive it still was unnecessary.
Pages: 302

Aww the ‘Jasper Inn’ in Jasper, Vermont immediately brought to mind the old Bob Newhart Show sitcom when he was an Innkeeper in rural Vermont (1982- 1990). True this sitcom didn’t have another murdered but did have the fun neighbors -handymen brothers Larry Darrel and Darrel.
Show was just as great at the original The Bob Newhart Show" when he played Bob Hartley, a Chicago psychologist living with wife Emily in a high-rise.

In this story thirty-three year old Hannah Solace has moved back to her home town to work as a part owner of Hummingbird Hollow B&B, formally ‘The Jasper Inn’ with her sister, Regina (Reggie) Solace. Regina got the Victorian house as part of her divorce settlement. They plan to renovate the Inn and give it an entirely new life.
Hannah has befriended Ezra Grayson an elderly man who lives with his dog Moose in the Victorian that is in need of repairs which is located behind the inn and off Devil’s Pond.
One day Hannah is out walking near Devil's pond and she sees Moose without Ezra and the dog seems distraught. She checked it out and finds Ezra floating in the pond.
She discovered Ezra has been murdered. The suspects are relatives may have done this as Ezra’s property is very valuable. True the old Victorian needs to be torn down but the property can is subdivided and being in a lot of money.

I am a big psychological thriller fan but I do love a nice cozy.
I have different expectations from these two genres. As a cozy fan I expect a nice enjoyable ‘little to no profanity’ story. However, I was disappointed this cozy had more than what I thought was necessary.
I wanted to love this as I thought the setting was great. I did love Moose and his detective skills and of course, Peaches.

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media/Crooked Lance Books for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 9, 2024.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a new cozy mystery that follows a woman who owns a B&B. One of her friends is killed and she wants to find the truth.

I thought this book was just ok. I liked the characters and the mystery was interesting enough.

I did like the audiobook as well! I liked the narrator and the pacing.

I just felt a bit bored throughout. It took a while to figure anything out for the mystery.

Overall, a decent cozy mystery but not my favorite.

Rating: 3.5

What to do when the town curmudgeon unexpectedly leaves his estate to you? You investigate his death.

Hannah, after a tumultuous youth, returns to town to help her sister Reggie run a B&B and pollination garden. She has been back a couple of years and during that time has become friends with neighbor Ezra. An 80-year-old widower who lives in the town’s eyesore, a nearly burned down home on a prime piece of land. His family wants him to move to a senior home, his neighbor wants to buy it, and a local resort owner wants to buy it as well. So when Ezra turns up dead there are quite a few suspects, including Hannah, not only because she found him but because she, unbeknownst to her, has been named sole beneficiary.

His family, whom Ezra lovingly refers to as vultures, check into the B&B and things go crazy from there. On advice from Ezra’s lawyer, Hannah keeps it a secret (except for telling her big sister Reggie and Paster Kendra) that she is the heir. As it turns out, despite the state of Ezra’s home, he is quite a wealthy man.

The slant of the story is that Hannah is investigating the past in order to understand the motive behind Ezra’s death. She talks with many people from his and his late wife Molly’s past. Surprisingly, in a town where there seems to be no secrets, there are quite a few. Hannah meets a number of interesting characters as she digs through the past.

There is a start of a love triangle with Ash (inn’s groundskeeper), Noah (police detective) and Hannah.
There is family drama lightened up with little (stubborn) Peach, Hannah’s niece who wants to grow up to be just like her aunt who she thinks plays in mud all day.

The story ends with a thought provoking point about how the choices made can change the trajectory of someone’s life and possibly those around them. The choices made by Ezra and Molly, triggered so many changes in their lives and the lives of those around them. It also touches on the them of penance.

This is a first time read of this author and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I loved this audiobook! What a great cozy mystery. I’m excited that this will be a new series. I loved the setting of the inn and the fun characters. This was narrated well and I loved listening to it.