Death at the Gazebo

Mirror Pond Cozy Mysteries, Book 1

By: Minnie Crockwell

Narrated by: Michelle Babb

First in a new cozy mystery series from Minnie Crockwell.

Settling into her new condominium on Mirror Pond, novelist Sallie Chilcoat feels lost in Ashburn, Virginia, after moving to the state for love of a man. But with the end of that relationship, she finds herself at loose ends. She stares out the window at the pond and contemplates learning to kayak...or taking up painting...or climbing Mount Everest.

Movement in the overwater gazebo catches her eye, and she grabs up her people-watching binoculars to see a man sitting inside the gazebo playing an accordion. Curious about the musician who plays such a rare instrument, Sallie trots down to the pier to investigate.

The term “investigate” takes on a whole new meaning when Sallie reaches the gazebo to discover not a happy musician, but a dead body and a missing accordion. Forget Mount Everest! Sallie finds herself immersed in the mystery of the death at the gazebo.

©2019 Minnie Crockwell (P)2020 Minnie Crockwell

Good book

It was a great book. The narrator could of been better but she did good.

I loved it!

I loved all the characters and the plot. The narrator was great.
I only have one negative, the ending. I would have liked that to be more fleshed out. I felt it was rushed. However, I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!!

Lightweight and Fun New Cozy Mystery Series

Minnie Cockwrell has a new lightweight mystery series, A Mirror Pond Cozy Mystery, to accompany her “Will Travel for Trouble” series. The first entry, Death at the Gazebo, is mildly entertaining and diverting and I enjoyed listening to it, in part because it didn’t require a lot of concentration to follow. That may sound like a backhanded compliment, but it really isn’t. There are times that listening to something that is a bit lighter is a good thing and I find myself there right now. The new protagonist, Sally Chilcoat, is an independent, mid-thirties woman who is quite capable of taking care herself with a writing career that is successful enough to support her. Good for her. The book centers around the murder of a fellow condo resident in Mirror Pond’s gazebo. I found it sort of funny that he wooed many women by his charming manner and playing an accordion, a seemingly long forgotten instrument—I think of Lawrence Welk (younger readers will say, “Who?”) and polka bands. Sally and the resident handy man share an attraction, though Sally is insecure around all the seemingly more attractive women in residence. I’m not sure that Sally’s insecurities around other women won’t grow old if that continues in future books—there almost seems to be a reversed bias against attractive women. There is certainly room for Sally and Bill’s relationship to develop in future books and there are plenty of questions about Bill’s past to be explored and answered.  

The narration by Michelle Babb was very good, which I expected from her readings of previous books. 

I give the book three stars and a half stars because, though it is lightweight and somewhat predictable, I enjoyed it and thought it was fun. 

I was a given a free copy of this audiobook by the narrator in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write an honest review. 

Light cozy mystery

An entertaining and engaging murder mystery. It kept me guessing. Thanks to the author for providing a copy.

Another great cozy mystery. Great narration

You can read the synopsis in the description so I will not repeat that information. This is a cozy mystery in typical Minnie Crockwell's style. IF you enjoy her other books you will like this one too.


I really enjoy Michelle Babb's narrations. She has done an excellent job as usual.

I will definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.