I liked the premise of the story and the mystery was intriguing. Why do heroines in cozy mysteries wander around alone when they previously have been threatened and/or attacked? This book had a feeling of finality for me. I wonder if it is the last book in the series.

I enjoy reading books by this author. In this new book, Sam and her Nana Jo and friends are treated to a weekend at the casino. Sam finally gets to meet Frank's mom, Camilia before their wedding. Camilia happens to find a dead body in her room, but then it disappears. The bunch of ladies get together to solve the crime before the Federal police arrive. I was glad to see the addition of Frank's mom and the relationships that come of it. The ending is a surprise and pacing to get there is fast.

When netgalley approved me to read this book, it jumped to the top of my list! This was such a fun read. I love the characters. Especially the feisty, gun toting- six foot tall Nana Jo! This was a well written light hearted fast paced cozy with lots of red herrings. There is also a short historical cozy, that mirrors the present day murder, that had me guessing until the end. 5/5 Stars. Well done!!!

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!

author, book-within-a-book, pet-dog, verbal-humor, retirees, wedding-madness, restauranteur, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, widow, small-business, small-town, bookseller, Michigan, family, friends, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, former-teacher, sleuthing-seniors, friendship, unpleasant-in-laws, unpleasant-guests, tribal-police, jurisdiction, contemporary, historical-fiction*****

Samantha Washington, bookseller and former teacher is very soon to be married to Frank (an ex-military man who is currently a local restauranteur). Frank's mother comes to town and is quite unpleasant, but the worst thing is finding a dead man in the room in a posh Resort Casino.
Meanwhile, Sam is writing a cozy mystery set in a country home in 1939 England which is also a good cosy mystery that mirrors the mess going on in Sam's world. Both investigations are filled with humor, plot twists, and really sneaky red herrings. Another great read!
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
#CrimeWritersOfColor #MysteryBookshopBk10 Avail Feb 25, 2025

The Next Deadly Chapter is the tenth book in V.M. Burns’ Mystery Bookshop series, although this one has little to do with the Michigan bookstore. Author and bookstore owner Samantha Washington takes center stage along with her Nana Jo and the women from Shady Acres Retirement Village.

Sam’s appearance for members of the Pontolomas Nation doesn’t go exactly as planned when a heckler named Oscar Pembrook gets going. Between Nana Jo and Kai Strongbow, a member of the tribal council, Pembrook gets taken care of. But, Strongbow feels bad, and offers Sam and five guests rooms at the Four Feathers Casino and Resort.

Nana Jo and her friends think this is a perfect place for Sam’s bridal shower. Sam isn’t so sure. She only wants to make a good impression on her future mother-in-law, Dr. Camilia Patterson. In fact, Sam switches rooms with her, giving her the suite Strongbow gave to Sam. Sam never expects a call from the very proper Camilia the next morning saying there’s a dead man in the suite. Of course it turns out to be Oscar Pembrook. But, before Sam can inform all the proper authorities on tribal land, the body disappears from the suite.

As Sam, Nana Jo and the usual group investigate the death and the disappearance of the body, Sam tries to sort it out by turning to her latest historical mystery. She takes readers back to 1939 before England entered World War II. But, the situation is just as fraught with danger then as a dislikable man is killed at Wickfield Lodge and Lady Elizabeth Marsh has to find a killer.

While I”m a fan of this series, there were a few too many characters in this one. I’ve given up on trying to keep track of all of Nana Jo’s friends, but it was the historical mystery that was confusing this time. There were too many women invited to Wickfield Lodge for an engagement party, and I had a hard time remembering who was who. However, since Sam’s historical mysteries are my favorite part of these books, I’ll be picking up the next one to catch up with Lady Elizabeth and her family.

I do enjoy the similarities between Sam’s writings and her current problems, though. The parallel storylines make for an interesting book.

This is a story that will keep readers guessing! I loved the plotting and character development. This is a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Next Deadly Chapter" by V.M. Burns, the latest in the Mystery Bookshop series. It's book number 10, and all the gang is together again - and solving another mystery through their various strengths.
Now a published author, Samantha Washington is giving a talk to an audience when she's interrupted numerous times by a man who does nothing but scoff at women writers, mystery writers, cozy mysteries..... he's finally escorted out of the venue, and as an apology Samantha is offered a VIP pass to the Four Feathers Casino, run by a local Indigenous People's tribe for her and her friends,
Coincidentally, in the run up to her's and Frank's upcoming nuptials, Frank's mother is coming to town to finally meet her prospective daughter-in-law. So this is the perfect opportunity to make a good impression, or so Sam hopes.
Feeling out of place in the opulent VIP suite that the Casino put her up in, Sam switches with Camilia (Dr. Garrett, as she cannot help calling her), and the next morning receives a frantic phone call: there's a body in the suite! And it turns out that this is the man who heckled Samantha the day before. But, when the authorities arrive, the corpse has gone missing.
Thus begins a twisty tale of dirty deeds and infidelities, featuring all of the usual cast of characters who have inhabit all of the previous books: Nana Jo, "Stinky" Pitt, Irma, Samantha's fiancé, Frank and Ruby (she of the massive extended family). And of course, at the same time Samantha is working on her latest cozy English mystery.
I sailed through this one in one day, not because it's a short story, but because I was simply sucked back in to the exploits of Samantha and her friends. Can be read as a standalone, but I believe most readers would enjoy the whole series. It's like reading two books in one, every time.

#TheNextDeadlyChapter #NetGalley is an exciting addition to this series.
Sam is anxious about meeting her future mother in law, so when her Nana Jo throws her a surprise bridal shower, she's not sure what to think.
After an awkward meeting with her mother in law, Dr. Camilia Patterson, Sam does what she knows best, writing her next book.
When Sam receives a mysterious call from Camilia, things really take off and Sam and friends soon have a mystery to solve.
I really loved this book, it kept me guessing and the story was well written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.