Sponsored
Murder on Devil's Pond - (A Hummingbird Hollow B&b Mystery) by Ayla Rose (Hardcover)
$19.84 sale price when purchased online
$29.99 list price
Target Online store #3991
About this item
Highlights
- A quaint Vermont inn offers idyllic peace-until a body is found on the property-in this charming series debut, perfect for fans of Ellen Byron and Ellery Adams.
- About the Author: Ayla Rose is an author and lawyer who lives in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
- 304 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Mystery & Detective
- Series Name: A Hummingbird Hollow B&b Mystery
Description
About the Book
"Returning to her Vermont hometown to reopen the inn she co-owns with her sister, Reggie, Hannah, with Reggie going off the rails, finds a friend in an 80-year-old recluse, but when he's found dead on her property, she discovers that secrets lurk beneath the charming surface of the town she once again calls home"--Book Synopsis
A quaint Vermont inn offers idyllic peace-until a body is found on the property-in this charming series debut, perfect for fans of Ellen Byron and Ellery Adams. When thirty-three-year-old Hannah Solace returns to her hometown to renovate and reopen the inn she co-owns with her sister Reggie, her mission is to give the old Victorian hotel an entirely new life. She's even planting pollinator gardens around the inn-native flowers and fruit trees to lure honeybees and houseguests alike. Hannah's fresh start is stymied by Reggie's continual interference, unreliable contractors, a check-the-couch-for-coins budget, and townspeople Hannah left behind fifteen years ago. Her main source of camaraderie is Ezra Grayson, an eighty-year-old recluse who lives nearby. After an unsettling conversation with a disgruntled Ezra, Hannah is horrified to discover him dead on her property later that day. Ezra had always had plenty of people to complain about, especially locals trying to force him out of his property for its prime real estate. As buzz around town grows after his death, Hannah finds herself on the short list of suspects. Hannah starts digging and quickly discovers that secrets lurk beneath the charming surface of the town she once again calls home.Review Quotes
Praise for Murder on Devil's Pond
"Past secrets and present problems combine in a character-driven cozy."
--Kirkus "This new cozy series is sure to be appreciated by fans of Victoria Gilbert and Mary Daheim."
--Booklist "Ayla Rose's debut mystery, Murder on Devil's Pond, is an exquisitely divine cozy! Highly intriguing from cover to cover, it is a great summer read. This novel contains all the attributes that I look for in a cozy. This one is perfection."
--Gumshoe Review "The pacing is perfect, the sleuthing is practical, and the ensuing action keeps the pages flowing. Murder on Devil's Pond is a winning debut that promises to have more murderous guests checking in at the Hummingbird Hollow B&B in the future."
--Fresh Fiction "More plot twists than a Disneyland roller coaster."
--Midwest Book Review "Readers will fall in love instantly with this story . . . I highly recommend adding this book to your to be read pile."
--Cozy Mystery Book Reviews "A fun [novel], with interesting characters, an easy-to-read story and a cute dog named Moose."
--Red Carpet Crash "[I]ntriguing and suspenseful tale . . . I enjoyed this book and look forward to more adventures with Hannah and her friends."
--Dru's Book Musings "Ayla Rose has penned an enchanting first in series with tips for the garden, vivid imagery, a cozy New England setting, and likeable characters who will keep you coming back."
--Kathi Daley, USA Today bestselling author "In Murder on Devil's Pond, Ayla Rose has created a delightful blend of family drama, suspense, and community where old secrets bloom alongside the sweet scent of pollinator gardens. A must-read for anyone who loves a cozy mystery with a touch of botanical charm."
--Jennie Marts, USA Today bestselling author of Take the Honey and Run "Ayla Rose's Murder on Devil's Pond is a captivating start to a new mystery series. Featuring well-developed characters, an intriguing mystery, and a vivid evocation of its Vermont setting, this book captures the reader's attention from page one. Highly recommended for those who enjoy books with sophisticated plotting, deep characterization, and immersive setting and atmosphere. Readers will be looking forward to the next book in the series as soon as they finish this one."
--Victoria Gilbert, author of the Blue Ridge Library, Booklovers B&B, and Hunter and Clewe mystery series "With an intriguing plot, plenty of town secrets, and greedy players fighting for an inheritance, Murder on Devil's Pond delivers a mystery that's sure to please and entertain readers."
--Bailee Abbott, author of the Paint by Murder mysteries "I loved this beautifully-written, quintessentially New England story of the joys and challenges of family life, small-town living, and personal growth. Bonus, there's a twisty murder that needs solving."
--Barbara Ross, author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries
About the Author
Ayla Rose is an author and lawyer who lives in the Green Mountains of Vermont. When not writing, she enjoys kayaking, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her husband, sons, and the family's three dogs.Dimensions (Overall): 8.5 Inches (H) x 5.81 Inches (W) x 1.21 Inches (D)
Weight: .82 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 304
Series Title: A Hummingbird Hollow B&b Mystery
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Mystery & Detective
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Theme: Women Sleuths
Format: Hardcover
Author: Ayla Rose
Language: English
Street Date: July 9, 2024
TCIN: 90128465
UPC: 9781639107117
Item Number (DPCI): 247-29-2577
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.
Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.21 inches length x 5.81 inches width x 8.5 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.82 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO
Return details
This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.
Guests also viewed
$8.98 - $17.00
MSRP $10.99 - $29.95
4.6 out of 5 stars with 18 ratings
$8.36
MSRP $8.99
$7.43
MSRP $7.99
Discover more options
4.0 out of 5 stars with 2 reviews
50% would recommend
2 recommendations
An unpleasant read!
3 out of 5 stars
Thumbs down graphic, would not recommend
- 6 months ago
Murder on Devil’s Pond by Ayla Rose is the debut of A Hummingbird Hollow B&B Mysteries. This story does not fit into the cozy mystery mold. There is a small town (Jasper, Vermont) with a variety of shops and residents. The first chapter is like an information dump as we are told about various people and what they do or the shop they own (I heard the term, “just the facts, ma’am” going through my head). Hannah Solace discovering the dead body of Ezra Grayson happens in the second chapter. The descriptions are too gruesome for a cozy mystery. Some elements of the whodunit are unbelievable. There is no way a small town can get DNA results within twenty-four hours (unless you are on an hour-long television show). Hannah was focused on getting answers (mostly about a matter relating to the murder). Noah, the local police officer, would pop up at convenient times to share details with Hannah (he was Johnny on the spot). The reveal was lacking in detail (which was odd considering all the specifics in the rest of the book). I found the story to be filled with unfriendly characters who were not fleshed out. Everyone seems stern or unhappy. Even Reggie’s daughter, Peach is not a happy go lucky kid, but I like her spirit. The best characters in the story are Turnip, Hannah’s cat, and Moose, Ezra’s dog (loved Moose). I did not appreciate the foul language (even the preacher used it). The bed and breakfast seemed like an afterthought. The rooms are not cleaned on a daily basis, the sheets are not changed daily (yuck), nor are the towels restocked daily (I hope she is not expecting rave reviews online). I did not understand how a guest could stiff Hannah on the bill (she has keycards, but she did not get their credit card when they checked in). I know I ran a little long (okay, more than a little), but Murder on Devil’s Pond was not a pleasant reading experience for me.
Murder of the Town Recluse
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
- 6 months ago
Hannah Solace has returned to her small town in Vermont to help her sister run a B&B. The only person she’s really reconnect with is Ezra Grayson, the town’s eighty-year-old recluse that most people want to see sell the house he’s lived in most of his life. Then Hannah finds his dead body on the pond that borders the B&B. When she finds herself on the suspect list, Hannah begins to investigate. Is his death related to a secret from the past? Or was one of his heirs, who are staying at the B&B, too impatient to inherit? I’ll admit, it took me a couple of chapters to fully get pulled into this new world, but once it did, I was fully hooked. The mystery is complex with a variety of motives. I figured one thing out early, but the rest, including the killer, kept me guessing. The characters, including the suspects, grew more complex as I read as well. There are some relationships I’m looking forward to seeing explored further as the series goes along. The environmental themes are well done, and the recipe at the end sounds delicious. This book is a little more on the serious side for a cozy mystery, but as long as you know that going in, you’ll be fine. If you are looking for a new series you can dig into, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.