Belle Harbor Cozy Mysteries: Books 1 - 3

By: Sue Hollowell

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

A light, cozy mystery series in a quaint beach town with a fun loving, amateur female sleuth, her quirky uncle, and enough antiques and pastries to fill your home and your belly.

Book 1 - Cupcakes and Catastrophe

Tilly Griffin did everything by the book. Everyone else’s book. Now it was her turn to write a new chapter, three thousand miles from her former life. Her dream of opening a bakery like her grandma Luna was now becoming a reality.

No sooner does she arrive in the charming beach town, when she and her quirky uncle are tangled up in a mysterious death. When a kite competition judge is found murdered in the bookstore next to her uncle's Checkered Past Antiques shop, Tilly questions her decision to move to Belle Harbor, and everything about her new life.

As the clues emerge, and the small-town secrets are revealed, Tilly’s uncle finds himself smack dab in the middle of the investigation, and surrounded by suspects. Will the murderer be nabbed in time for the bakery’s grand opening or will this close the book on Tilly’s dreams?

Book 2 - Muffins and Misdeeds

Tilly is settling into her new cottage and life in the quaint beach town of Belle Harbor. With her fledgling bakery partnering with the local coffee shop, she has high hopes that her business will soon take off.

Tilly’s new friend Fiona convinces her to rummage through her uncle's antique shop to find decor to fill her sparse home. But instead of the sought after beach treasures, they discover clues to a long ago unsolved mystery in the small town.

Coupled with the recent murder of a distillery owner, their investigation into the ancient family feud reveals shocking lies, sabotage, and the ultimate revenge. As they get deeper into the town’s historical secrets, they discover a stink they can’t ignore. Can Tilly’s budding friendship bloom into a dynamic duo of crime solvers in time to save her new friend from going to jail?

Book 3 - Birthday Cake and Burglary

Tilly Griffin is on top of the world. With her newfound freedom in quaint Belle Harbor she is learning to love life again. Her plans for an epic birthday bash for her cherished and kooky Uncle Jack are almost complete.

Tilly’s joy and whimsy soon turn to horror as she discovers the death of Poppy, a beloved local business owner. Rumors swirl about likely culprits that put the coming annual Arts Walk, which brings millions to the town coffers, in jeopardy.

As Tilly collects clues in the suspicious death, she learns of scandalous schemes, petty people, blackmailing busybodies, and snobby store owners, all who have a reason to want Poppy dead. Can Tilly put the pieces together in time to catch the killer and save the Arts Walk or will she be forced to pack up and find a new place to call home?

Better virtual voice

I was pleasantly surprised with the virtual voice on this one. My last experience was lacking. This one sounded more like normal speech. Still some problems with emotions. Not a lot of “mystery” but I did notice improvement as the books went on. Getting ready to start the next group and am hopeful.

Could do with a good editor

As people have mentioned, the virtual reading isn't as bad as others but it's not as good as a good human reader. I gave up on listening half way through the second book because I found myself rolling my eyes at all the repetitions of heart palpitations, dropping out of culinary school etc. And the weird story of moving to a new town and immediately everyone expects her to be madly in love with a man she just met? It could have been written by a teenager.

Virtual voice lacking

Disliked virtual voice, void of emotion, makes it meaningless and not interesting at all. Story overly simplistic - not for me.

Awful AI voice. Couldn’t listen to book longer than chapter 3

I couldn’t get past chapter 3 due to awful AI voice. I think story is probably good, so disappointed.