The Body in the Back Garden

A Crescent Cove Mystery, Book 1

Crescent Cove, a small hamlet on Vancouver Island, is the last place out-of-work investigative journalist Luke Tremblay ever wanted to see again. He used to spend summers here, until his family learned that he was gay and rejected him. Now, following his aunt's sudden death, he's inherited her entire estate, including her seaside cottage and the antiques shop she ran for forty years in Crescent Cove. Luke plans to sell everything and head back to Toronto as soon as he can . . . but Crescent Cove isn't done with him just yet.

When a stranger starts making wild claims about Luke's aunt, Luke sends him packing. The next morning, though, Luke discovers that the stranger has returned, and now he's lying dead in the back garden. To make matters worse, the officer leading the investigation is a handsome Mountie with a chip on his shoulder who seems convinced that Luke is the culprit. If he wants to prove his innocence and leave this town once and for all, Luke will have to use all his skills as a journalist to investigate the colorful locals while coming to terms with his own painful past.

There are secrets buried in Crescent Cove, and the more Luke digs, the more he fears they might change the town forever.

©2023 Mark Waddell (P)2023 Tantor

Charming cozy mystery with heart and representation

This audiobook hits that sweet spot for a cozy mystery. It is light without being shallow, engaging without feeling rushed, and easy to settle into. The pacing works especially well in audio form, and the narration keeps things lively and easy to follow.

What stood out most for me was how naturally the LGBTQ romance is woven into the story. It feels authentic and central to the characters rather than added on. The relationship develops in a way that adds warmth and emotional investment alongside the mystery itself.

The mystery kept me interested the whole way through. It is not overly complex, but it has enough turns to stay engaging and satisfying by the end. I found myself wanting to keep listening just to spend more time with the characters.

Overall, this is exactly what I want from a cozy mystery with a romantic thread. It is comforting, inclusive, and genuinely enjoyable. I would absolutely listen to more from this author.

Thoroughly Enjoyed This Story!

Hunting for good queer cozy mysteries is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. If you like Murder She Wrote style stories and are looking for LGBTQ protagonists, this is a great find for you! I thought the narrator did a great job, and the development of the characters whetted my appetite for hopefully more stories to come. Nice work, Mr. Waddell--looking forward to reading/listening to more stories like this from you!

Loved this first book and can’t wait for more in the series

Just finished this first book in a new series and loved it. Can’t wait for the next book to be recorded. I would classify it as a cozy mystery and that was exactly what I wanted.

Good mystery

new to me narrator and I will listen to his recordings again. I liked his distinct different voices.The story had a lot of twists and kept me guessing.

Murder He Wrote

Take the classic tv staring the legendary Angela Lansbury Murder She Wrote. Toss in a Hallmark Channel and make it gay and you will get this absolutely charming book. I already recommended this book to a few friends. Definitely a reread book. Absolutely loved it