The Inn at Holiday Bay: Message in the Mantel

Message In The Mantel The Inn At Holiday Bay, Book #3 Kathi Daley 5 Stars A heartwarming cozy mystery series about losing everything, taking a chance, and starting again. After suffering a personal tragedy Abby Sullivan buys a huge old seaside mansion she has never even seen, packs up her life in San Francisco, and moves to Holiday Bay Maine, where she is adopted, quite against her will, by a huge Maine Coon Cat named Rufus, a drifter with her own tragic past named Georgia, and a giant dog with an inferiority complex named Ramos. What Abby thought she needed was alone time to heal. What she ended up with was, an inn she never knew she wanted, a cat she couldn't seem to convince to leave, and a new family she'd never be able to live without. In book 3 of the series, the remodel continues as Abby and Georgia start to make plans for a grand opening celebration. A specialist is brought in to refurbish the century old fireplace mantel and makes a startling discovery. Meanwhile Lonnie is looking to adopt, Colt has a new mystery to solve, and Velma comes face to face with a blast from her past. Join Abby, Georgia, Rufus, and Ramos, as they continue with the remodel on the old mansion, prepare for a busy summer season, and continue to find a new meaning for their lives in the charming small town of Holiday Bay. (Goodreads) Review: As is usual with this author, this book is very heartwarming and character driven. She always tells a feel-good story and you cannot help but feel happy when you are done reading. Second chances, new love interests and adorable animals abound in this series, and this book is no different. The characters are well rounded and well developed and I am enjoying getting to spend more time with them, seeing how their relations are growing and moving forward. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in creating mysteries that have several layers to them and intertwines them perfectly, which is evident in this book. The reader has more than a few things to figure out, which is a great thing. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. If you like history, this book is right up your alley.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone wanting a cozy mystery that’s both easy and fun to read. Do suspend belief that a civilian would be so included in an investigation and just go along with the flow. If you do, the experience is highly enjoyable.

Message in the Mantel is the third book in Kathi Daley’s awesome The Inn at Holiday Bay series. The writing style flows smoothly, and the book is a clean and easy read. The storyline is well-plotted and complex, with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and guessing. The setting is charming, and the well-developed characters are affable, compassionate, and caring. I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries. Abby Sullivan’s life changed forever because a distracted driver swerved into oncoming traffic, and her husband and their infant son didn’t survive the resulting accident. After receiving an e-mail advertising a huge old house for sale in Holiday Bay, Maine, Abby purchased it without even seeing it in person, packed up her belongings, and left San Francisco. Starting over isn’t easy, but Abby, a published author, is writing again, settling in and making friends, and plans to open an inn once major renovations are completed. Georgia Carter, who’s also recovering from traumatic events in her life, is a genius in the kitchen, she and her dog, Ramos, are living with Abby and Rufus, the large orange cat who adopted her, in a cottage located on the property, and Georgia will be managing the inn once it’s open. Abby’s contractor, Lonnie Parker, is making great progress on the renovations and he hires Bobby Martin to restore the intricately carved mantel above the fireplace in the living room of the main house. Bobby tells Abby he believes Samuel Garrison carved the mantel approximately a hundred and fifty years before her house was built in 1895. Mr. Garrison always included a secret drawer or compartment in his designs, and Abby is quite surprised when she hears what Bobby found in her mantel. While investigating the suspicious death of Bruce Palmer, Abby’s friend, Chief of Police Colt Wilder, discovers a human skeleton in a trunk in Bruce’s attic. The case turns into a complex mystery, and Abby brainstorms with Colt regarding his investigation.

Message in the Mantel is the third book in the exciting new The Inn at Holiday Bay cozy mystery series. This book is filled with elements of a cozy mystery including suspense, romance, humor, love, friends and family, and a sense of community. The story takes place in the charming tourist town of Holiday Bay, Maine. The main character is Abby Sullivan, a writer from San Francisco who, after suffering a devastating personal tragedy, sold her condo, packed up all her belongings, bought a huge old house she had never seen in a town she had never been to, and moved to Holiday Bay. She works with her new friends, including the local police chief, Colt Wilder, to uncover the answers to the many questions they encounter in three or four different mysterious circumstances. As renovations in the old mansion Abby is having restored are progressing, a message and a necklace are found in a fireplace mantel, which seem to have historical significance. The mysterious death of a local resident also keep Abby and Colt busy. There is a theme of second chances in this series and in all of Mrs. Daley’s stories. I love the way she writes in a continuing saga fashion with hints and clues to stories in the future (and red herrings). I love that not all questions are resolved in each book. I enjoy the character development. As always, this author’s writing flows smoothly, and her setting and relatable characters make for an extremely enjoyable and quick read. I really look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Live this series, great writing the story line is endless and I can’t wait to start a new one as soon as I finish one!!! Thank you ! Keep them coming.

It was like a casual conversation of the discovery of the murderer and then it ended. Meh. I expected more hype maybe?

Message in the Mantel is the 3rd book in Kathi Daley’s The Inn at Holiday Bay series. I thoroughly enjoyed the two books of this series. The depth of character development and complexity of multiple, interrelated historical mysteries pull the reader in and make the books difficult to set down. Abby Sullivan is restoring a historical mansion as she seeks to rebuild her life following the untimely, tragic deaths of her husband and son. Each book in this series can be read as a stand-alone, but I’d suggest reading them in order as a portion of the mysteries uncovered include the resolution of one or more and lead to clues as to additional questions remain unsolved as the mansion restoration continues. I can only imagine what other secrets are hidden within the walls of the building. Ms. Daley delivers knowledge of buildings and residents of the region dating back to the Revolutionary War. You will need to read this book to learn the origins of the fireplace mantle, a mysterious letter, pieces of hand crafted, exquisite, antique jewelry pieces, the death of an elderly man and remnants of a skeleton secured by an unknown individual years ago. For fun Abby and company go antiquing to locate treasures to decorate the mansion as it is restored. With Abby’s assistance and determination, Colt, the police chief, stumble upon several amazing conclusions. This book is a skillful blend of old and new mysteries, each unique and demanding of attention. I’m looking forward to learning what other secrets the Inn at Holiday Bay holds. I believe readers who appreciate creative cozy mysteries will fully appreciate adding this book to their library.

These series are a good light read. They seem to have too many stories going on at once and a little far-fetched. The main character has unlimited funds for the inn and then she gets involved with her husbands files,tries to reunite with her sister, find the sister for a friend,help solve a mystery in the death of a local man, research the drawer and contents in the mantel, take trips,attend local functions and write a book. Bit much.

In book 3 of this delightful cozy mystery series, renovations are continuing at the Inn. When Lonnie brings in an expert to look at the mantel, Abby finds out that the mantel may well be an important relic from centuries ago, and may hide it's own secrets? This is a great series of mysteries, with a central cast of characters. The books are best read in order as each book follows on from the one before and often refers back to previous mysteries.

When you start with one thing, you end up finding so much more than you thinks and it can be so worth it

Love this author's Holiday Bay series.

Good story line and looking for next book

I can't remember how I came across this series from Kathi Daley but I have read a good number of her Zoe Donovan Mysteries so the name may have jumped out at me. Message in the Mantel is the 4th book in the series and I will be going back to read the other 3. While Holiday Bay sounds like a nice place and Abby is a lovely character the story itself seems a tad off kilter. I'm not sure if this is because I haven't read the previous books or because there are too many bodies and too much history happening in such a small space. The storyline and writing style though still make for an entertaining read.