This is my favorite of the series so far! I loved the setting of the casino, getting to know Frank’s mother, and the murky lines of jurisdiction between federal, local, and tribal authorities. Sam’s grandmother and her friends, while they were their usual selves, were also a little mores serious in this one, intent on solving the mystery and not nearly as silly as they can be, making for an easier read. I am not a fan of the story within the story and found this one less fleshed out that the others but it had a satisfying conclusion. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Mystery writer and bookstore owner, Samantha Washington, wanted to make a good impression on her fiancé Frank’s mother, the very proper Dr. Camilia Patterson. But when Nana Jo and the lively ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village throw a surprise bridal shower for Sam at the Four Feathers Casino, things spin out of control. . When Sam needs to think, she returns to her historical mystery set between the wars, in which a houseguest meets a grim end at an English country manor. The morning after the shower brings another rude surprise. Sam gets a frantic call from Camilia, who’s discovered a dead body in her room. Now winning over her soon-to-be mother-in-law means keeping her out of a potential scandal and attempting to discreetly solve a murder. For that she’ll need the help of Nana Jo—not exactly the soul of discretion—Detective “Stinky” Pitt, and the ladies.

I have read all the previous books in this series and have always marveled at how the author can write two different books at the same time and blend them together into one story. This is more than a time-line story, it is literally a book-within-a book. She continues to develop the characters of Nana Jo and the Shady Acres ladies as well as Detective "Stinky" Pitt. and adds a new development to their story--this time the addition of her fiacne's mother. Any lover of cozy mysteries will love this series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the next book in one of my favorite series.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

In The Next Deadly Chapter Samantha is busy promoting her first book including a book tour with Escape With Dollycas/Great Escapes, and a book signing at the Pontolomas Senior Citizens Center. The book signing gets a little contentious when Sam gets heckled and Nana Jo can’t hold back. Before the “crane kick” could be delivered by Nana Jo staff removed the heckler. Nana Jo then receives a gift from one of the Pontolomas tribal leaders – A complimentary four-day weekend stay – all expenses paid for Sam and five friends at the Four Feathers Casino Resort. With fiancé Frank’s mother, Dr. Camilia Patterson coming to town to meet Sam and her family and friends, Nana Jo thinks having a surprise bridal shower at the casino sounds like a grand plan.

The initial meeting between Sam and Dr. Patterson is a little frosty but things get a little crazy at the casino. Sam leaves Nana Jo, Dorothy, Irma, Ruby Mae, and Dr. Patterson with the evening’s entertainment and slips away to her room to work on her new historical mystery. She never imagined what the next morning would bring . . . a dead body in Frank’s mother’s room. This was not the good impression she hoped to make on her future mother-in-law.

It’s time for Sam and the ladies of Shady Acres with some assistance from Detective “Stinky” Pitt to bet it all and keep the murder on the down low and keep Camila out of the fray. If they have any luck at all they will close the case before the killer doubles down on his action.

I was overjoyed to be back in North Harbor, Michigan with all the wonderful characters Ms. Burns has created for this series. The introduction of “Francis’s” mother Dr. Camilia Patterson was most entertaining especially the way she evolved within the pages of this story and the remarkable effect she had on another character. I love that all the characters are like one big happy family and all had things happening within this story. Dawson had an issue with his dad and sought advice from Sam. Sam’s nephews Christopher and Zaq held down the fort at the bookstore while Sam and Nana Jo were at the casino. Frank was super busy with his restaurant. Jenna got in on the action at the casino. Sam’s mom and stepfather are in Australia. Oreo and Snickers stayed with Dawson for the long weekend and Oreo got into a bit of a stink.

Now the murder was a tricky mystery. It took place on Tribal Lands which is their own nation with different rules. The body did a disappearing act which caused some extra drama. Nana Jo and the other ladies from Shady Acres all worked their strengths – Ruby Mae checked in with her relatives working at the casino. Irma may be “knocking on eighty’s door” but she has legs like Tina Turner and she knows how to use them to attract any man she sets her sites on. Dorothy uses her journalistic capabilities and her strong multitasking skills to get info on the suspects. And Nana Jo, well is Nana Jo. I wish I had half the energy these women have. I always have a great time chasing after them laughing at their antics as Sam works hard to bring all the information together.

One of the reasons I love this series is because readers are treated to two mysteries in each book. The one Sam and her friends handle and the historical mystery set in 1939 Sam is writing. When Sam feels overwhelmed or stuck trying to make sense of her real-life mystery she escapes into the fictional world to calm herself and sometimes that diversion helps clues fall into place in the non-fictional world. I enjoy these mysteries as much as the main one.

The Next Deadly Chapter is another marvelous addition to this series and another Perfect Escape! Heartwarming genuine characters who know how to have fun even when trying to catch a killer pull me into their story easily. I am invested wholeheartedly in this series and absolutely hate waiting for the next installment but I trust V.M. Burns will give me a story, make that two stories, that are well worth waiting for.

You can read each book on its own but I recommend you start at the beginning and enjoy every one.

Now a published historical mystery author, Samantha Washington is excited to be presenting it in a talk for ladies at the Pontolomas Senior Citizens Center. What is less welcome is the heckling coming from the misogynistic, condescending Oscar Pembrook, who disputes her historical details as well as the cozy mystery genre in general. As an apology for the incident, community center manager and tribal council leader Kai Strongbow offers Sam and her friends an all-expense paid vacation at the Four Feathers Casino and Resort. The timing couldn’t be better, as Sam’s fiancé’s mother has just arrived for a visit and Sam is anxious for the approval of the impressive and very intimidating Dr. Camilla Patterson. Or, as Sam’s Nana Jo quickly nicknames her, Dr. Cruella de Vil. Despite a rocky start, it is Sam whom Camilla immediately calls when she discovers a strange dead man in her room, even switching rooms so that Sam can take responsibility for it. Which only causes further confusion after the body goes missing, only to be discovered later outside on the rocks, wearing the resort’s thousand-dollar robe. That not only means a jurisdictional dispute between the Pontolomas Nation and North Harbor Police, it brings in the involvement of Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt, who has battled with Sam and Nana Jo since his childhood and continues to resent their involvement in his cases.

Conveniently – or inconveniently, depending on the perspective – Sam’s sister and Nana Jo’s friends are also at the casino for Sam’s bridal shower, and they are all eager to step up and begin their own investigation. So while Frank runs his restaurant back in North Harbor and her nephews deal with her skunkified toy poodles, Sam is able to look into the actions of an obnoxious man who had an angry ex-business partner, resentful spouses, and a misguided mistress. The stress is enough to have Sam retreating to her Happy Place, which happens to be the fictional world she is creating in 1939’s Buckinghamshire, England. As always, Sam is able to work through her real-life mystery by plotting out the adventures of the residents of Wickfield Lodge, which this time has Lady Clara and her fiancé meeting cousins and dealing with a Nazi sympathizer.

This 10th in the series takes our favorite characters and drops them in a new setting, where the ladies still manage to use their family connections and abilities to coax out gossip to solve another murder. Frank’s mother proves to be a surprising asset to the team, not only as a medical consultant but as a distraction for Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt. Everyone – including Camilla – is completely baffled by the instant attraction between these two opposites, and perhaps seeing them together more would explain their blossoming relationship. Until more is revealed about exactly how this couple will work though, it may be enough that it at least improves his fashion choices and makes Detective Pitt more accepting towards Sam and her grandmother. Readers are updated on their favorite characters back in Sam’s Market Street Mysteries bookstore throughout the novel, and it leads to more anticipation for their adventure in the future. This is another delightful mystery that combines a compelling historical mystery within a very fun, character-driven larger plot.

This a really great series and I loved this book. Lots of quirky characters and some wonderful romance thrown in with a murder mystery all adds up to a well thought book, that kept me reading to last page.

Sam is set to meet Frank’s mother. But she wasn’t expecting, we have to have murder become Brent and Center in a girls weekend with Camillia, Nana, Joe, and the ladies. But soon, so I’m fine. Her self bonding with her shouldn’t to be mother-in-law as they try to solve the murder. Can she save her mother-in-law’s reputation, or is Frank and Sam’s relationship doomed before they get to the altar?

This is such a fun series! I love both Samantha and Nana Jo. These two make every single one of the books in this series. Laugh out loud fun! Add the ladies from Shady Village, two adorable poodles, and the rest of the gang and you’ll be back for more. I never miss an in this series, and look forward to the next one.

The Next Deadly Chapter is book #10 in the Mystery Bookshop series by V.M. Burns.

I enjoy meeting authors so the beginning was great, minus the heckler, though he was handled. Frank’s mother is visiting and it gets off to a rough start. Love Nana Jo and her friends. This was an entertaining book that kept me guessing until the end. Plus, the story Sam is writing is a bonus book within the book. I recommend this book and 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.

I absolutely love this series and how Nana Jo and her friends from the retirement village always end up helping Sam with a case. Jenna even was in on the act this time since the tribal leader of the casino resort they were staying at requested her after a body was found in what was originally Sam’s room. Can you guess who was staying in her room instead of Sam? That might’ve been the start of Sam and her future mom-in-law getting acquainted, lol. Dr. Camilia proved to be quite human and useful to the case as well. And a certain detective found himself attracted to her—let that hilarity begin!

Nana Jo was at her hilarious best and my favorite scene with Det. Pitt getting off the elevator and Nana Jo’s reaction was hysterical! For this and tons of other fun stuff (like one of my favorite returning jokes when Irma almost says something naughty and they all go, “Irma!”—gotta love it!), don’t miss this latest installment! This mystery was truly a group effort when it was solved after a tense showdown. That perp never saw what was coming lol.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Nicht für mich. Anfangs war es noch ganz gut, aber es verlor schnell an Spannung, und somit habe ich es abgebrochen

Sam Patterson, her future MIL, her Nana, and her crew of wonderfully connected elderly friends head over to the posh resort on the nearby Native reservation. As is wont, they literally stumble over a dead body. What I wasn't expecting: a new romance! What I was expecting and happily got: another book within a book as the English aristocracy fights the spread of the Nazis; more hints about Frank's mysterious past, and more of the twins.

I look forward to each addition to the series and this did not disappoint.

This is the tenth book in the series by VM Burns. I found it well written and plotted. I’m not interested in the historical mystery Sam is writing so I just skip over those parts. I really like the present story. Nanjo, Detective Pitt, and the rest of the crew help solve a murder of a body found in her future mother-in-laws’ room.

I was thoroughly entertained.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an Advanced Readers Copy. These are my own opinions.

Sam (Samantha) is a former teacher who now owns a mystery book shop and writes English mysteries. She is also engaged to Frank who owns a restaurant and is ex-military

This 10th installment has Sam nervous about her future mother-in-law coming to town. Sam's Nana Jo has managed to arrange a free stay at the Four Feathers Casino Resort after Sam was heckled by a gentleman while she was giving an author talk at the Resort. Nana Jo thinks this is perfect as a bachelorette party for Sam, Nana Jo and the Retirement Community Posse as well as Sam's future mother-in-law, Camilla. A man is found dead by Camilla in her room. Sam and her senior posse need to wrap this case before the feds arrive to take over. They even get North Harbour Det. Pitt involved.

I love this series! I hate when the story comes to an end, and I have to leave my North Harbour friends. Nana Jo is a hoot, and with the network and characters of the retirement village posse, they could solve the problems of the world!

This story has a lot of heart, humor and a darned good mystery. In fact, there is a mystery in the mystery since Sam reduces her stress by writing her next novel. Both are good mysteries with several possible suspects. This book is just frankly a good time! Be prepared to not want to put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the chance to read and give my hones review of this ARC.

I love this series so much! Anything by the author is fantastic.

Samantha, Nana Jo and the rest of the ladies have been sent to a fancy resort as a treat. Samantha’s future mother in law is in town and she joins them.

Sam and the gang have to solve a murder and prove her future MIL is innocent.

I also always love the historical mystery that Sam writes. A bonus for reading this book!

The Next Deadly Chapter is the 10th installment of the V.M. Burns’ Mystery Bookshop series. It follows author and bookstore owner Samantha Washington as she takes her family and friends on a free weekend to the local casino, Four Feathers Resort. Tribal Council member Kai Strongbow gifted her the vacation after a heckler tried to ruin her author event at the resort the week prior.
They use the weekend as a bridal shower and Samantha hopes she can impress her prickly mother in law to be, Dr. Patterson. Unfortunately a body is found in her room and then quickly vanishes causing for sleuthing and adventures to ensue. Lots of wacky characters and every one of Nana Jo's friends has a specialty they can use to help the investigation. There is also a parallel mystery that is set in 1939 England that Sam is currently writing as a cozy author. I admit I skimmed over most of these parts. Even though the plots mirror each other, I felt it took me out of the story too much and didn't grab me. I also loved the crabby detective's glow up in this, he needed to get out of the passe trope he had been in. A fun mystery and another great installment to this series.

The Next Deadly Chapter is the tenth book in the Mystery Bookshop series by V.M. Burns. Samantha "Sam" Washington is a mystery bookshop owner that writes murder mysteries. She doesn't get paid to solve crimes but instead writes about them and solves local murder mysteries with the help of friends and family, which includes her gun-toting grandmother, Nana Jo.

Sam is treated to a weekend at a world-class resort and casino. It is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with her soon-to-be mother-in-law, the prim and proper Dr. Camilia Patterson. Spa massages, light gambling, delicious food and relaxation is the plan. What could possibly go wrong? The lively ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village and Nana Jo throw a surprise bridal shower for Sam. Things spin out of control faster than a roulette wheel. The next morning, a dead body is found in their luxurious suite. Sam and the ladies, with the help of Detective "Stinky" Pitt, aim to discreetly solve the murder of a white man murdered on Native soil.

V.M. Burns has once again proven why she's one of the best at cozy mystery series. This cast of characters are a hoot with chemistry that leaps off the page. Every sleuth plays an important role in solving the murder and walks readers' through the investigation. I guessed the killer early on but there were other suspects that raised my brow thanks to good pacing.

A book within a book can be tricky. While I like that the main character is not only a mystery bookshop owner but an author, it takes some getting used to balancing both worlds. It was clear when the story changed from present-day to the novel-in-progress but I found myself skipping over the manuscript parts. It just wasn't as interesting and became a distraction. It did not help that this story-in-a-story was new to me.

Perhaps I will feel differently when I read the series in chronological order. This is the tenth book but the first I've read in this series. I enjoyed the characters enough to want to officially meet them starting with book one. The two poodles, Snickers and Oreo, are a bonus! Spend the remainder of Black History Month reading this new release by an author of color. It is a good representation of a generational Black family, Indigenous people, teamwork and smarts.

Happy Early Pub Day, V.M. Burns! The Next Deadly Chapter will be available Tuesday, February 25.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

The latest in a clever series that gives you two stories in one- the mystery Sam is solving and the mystery she is writing! And it's totally enjoyable even as a standalone! Nana Jo's plan to give Sam a party before her wedding to Frank is a nice one but it's also the first time that Sam meets her mother-in-law-to-be Camilla. And then Camilla finds a dead body in her room and well, Sam must spin into action along with Nana Jo and the Shady Acres crew as well as with Detective Stinky Pitt. While it's a nice mystery on its own, it's also fun to read the novel Sam has just started, which is set in the UK in 1939. The stories parallel each other in some ways. This has antics and hijinks but it never goes over the top-it's chuckle worthy. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

The Next Deadly Chapter is the 10th Mystery Bookshop mystery. I have read all of the previous books and look forward to reading the next every time. The author has a great cast of characters and has creative situations for each mystery. Best of all there are two mysteries in each book. The main character Samantha Washington is an author who writes historical mysteries, so each book has a historical mystery that plays out in tandem with the modern mystery that is the focus of each book.
Sam is meeting her future mother in law for the first time and she is extremely nervous. It actually throws her off her game for the first 1/3 of the book.
An odious man is murdered. Sam gets involved because the body initially turns up in her room.
I love the interplay between the cast - Sam, Nanna Jo, Jenna, Irma, Dorothy, Ruby Mae and Frank. We can’t forget Stinky Pitt, who may need to go by his actual name if certain events continue past this book.
As always for this series, The Next Deadly Chapter was a delight to read. I highly recommend the Mystery Bookshop series. Read it in order just so you can be delighted by the interactions of the characters as they figure out mysteries together.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

I enjoyed this addition to the Mystery Bookshop series but I found the plot to be a little weird. I loved that Ms. Burns had a lot of the supporting characters in this story as they always make it feel like returning home to friends when I read them.

Samantha Washington is doing a book signing at a Senior Center on tribal lands when she is heckled by an outsider. The outsider is then rousted out by the tribal leader and Sam is given a weekend at the Four Feathers Casino and Resort in compensation for this nasty person. Treating this as her bachelorette party, Nana Jo and the girls go along with her and her soon to be MIL and party hearty. Unfortunately, the heckler ends up dead in what is supposed to be Sam's room and of course she gets involved with the investigation despite having no connections to this person (which is part of what I thought was weird).

I missed some of the younger characters, her baker Dawson and of course the poodles who did not go to the hotel with Sam. I thought the introduction of Camilla Patterson, the soon to be MIL and her frosty relationship with Sam that becomes warm and fuzzy through the most bizarre situation possible was a bit of a stretch.

I really like these books and I hope the next one is their wedding.

My thanks to Kensington Cozies and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for an early copy of this delightful cozy. This review is my honest opinion. This was my first book in this series to read, although it was Book Ten and a standalone, it was an easy read.
From a dead body being discovered, disappearing and then reappearing, Samantha (Sam) had a hard time figuring out the killer. Especially there were numerous individuals to suspect. I look forward to reading more of this lively cast of characters from Author, V. M. Burns.

This is the tenth book in the Mystery Bookshop series, but it is the first one I have read. V.M. Burns is a new author for me.

Description:
Michigan bookshop owner and mystery writer Samantha Washington is engaged to be married—but she may have to step over a few bodies before she walks down the aisle . . .

All Sam wanted was to make a good impression on her fiancé Frank’s mother, the very proper Dr. Camilia Patterson. But when Nano Jo and the lively ladies of Shady Acres Retirement Village throw a surprise bridal shower for Sam at the Four Feathers Casino—watch out! Things spin out of control faster than a roulette wheel. Fortunately, Sam knows when to fold ’em and slips back to her room to work on her latest historical mystery set between the wars, in which a houseguest meets a grim end at an English country manor.

The morning after brings another rude surprise. Sam gets a frantic call from Camilia, who’s discovered a dead body in her room. Now winning over her soon-to-be mother-in-law means keeping the good doctor out of a potential scandal and attempting to discreetly solve a murder without ruffling any feathers. For that she’ll need the help of Nano Jo—not exactly the soul of discretion—Detective “Stinky” Pitt, and the ladies—because the casino killer keeps upping the ante. . .

My Thoughts:
This was a fun cozy mystery that kept me smiling at the antics of Samantha Washington's family and friends. I loved Nana Jo and the Shady Acres Retirement Village posse. The setting of the Four Feathers Casino on a native american reservation was a great backdrop for the murder mystery. this is really two mysteries as you get to read Samantha's book she is writing as it is being penned during her breaks from all the stress going on at the casino. While both mysteries were good, the one at the casino was much more interesting to me and I found the book being written somewhat of a distraction. I would recommend this cozy to my friends and I want to read more of this series when I get a chance.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies through Netgalley for an advance copy.