Secrets To Die For

Librarian Nina Foster is one of the last people who saw elderly Ellie Larken before she was found drowned. Ellie had not been the healthiest, was taking several medications, and having some kind of problem with her memory. She was always talking about her 'secrets' and seemed afraid.

The police have called her drowning an accident, but Nina' grandmother who was friends with the victim insists that she was murdered. Because Nina helped solve another murder mystery, her grandmother wants her to investigate.

While investigating, she finds several people with motives .... two heirs about to inherit a lot of money.... a woman who seems really upset that the deceased did not return to her a book .... someone who argued with Ellie a short time before her death ... or was it really an accident?

This is a cozy mystery, well written, with terrific characters. The elderly residents are quirky, pleasant, and brings a bit of humor. Although second in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading them in order. A bit of Nina's personal life is involved in the form of a boyfriend, the owner of the local newspaper. It took a while for me to warm up to him ... at first he came across as bossy, manipulative. We'll have to see if their relationship stands up under all their differences.

Many thanks to the author / Wild Rose Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Librarian Nina Foster is helping to set up a library at her grandmother’s retirement home when one of the residents, Ellie, is found floating in Lake Mead. Discovering Ellie was petrified of water, Nina suspects foul play. Some of the residents ask Nina to investigate and at first, she refuses. She doesn’t want to get into trouble with the police for interfering. But the clues aren’t adding up and the suspect list is growing. Who benefits the most from Ellie’s death and what secrets did Ellie take with her to the grave? As Nina gets closer to the truth, she lays a trap for the killer. Will she unmask the killer, or has she signed her own death warrant?


Secrets to Die For is such a superb cozy mystery. Once started reading, I found myself totally engrossed in the mystery. The characters are well-developed with plenty of secrets amongst them. The plot moves at a cozy pace with a few sub-plots to break up the monotony. The relationship between Nina and her boyfriend is complex and has its own share of problems but that only added to the plot. The mystery itself was a joy to read and the conclusion was quite a reveal. I had a slight inkling who it was once I read 65% through but it was fun to see the killer’s reaction. If you’re looking for an escape, pick up Secrets to Die For. Highly recommend, especially for cozy mystery fans.


My Rating: 5 stars

Good cozy mystery. It kept me turning the pages and threw in a surprise or two. Nice secondary characters.

An excellent cozy mystery, well written and entertaining.
I liked the setting, the well thought cast of characters and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.