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The Inn at Holiday Bay #1
Boxes in the Basement
Nach einer persönlichen Tragödie kauft Abby Sullivan ein altes, riesiges Herrenhaus am Meer � ein Haus, das sie noch nie zuvor gesehen hat. Sie packt ihr Leben in San Francisco zusammen und zieht nach Holiday Bay in Maine, wo sie � gegen ihren Willen � von einem riesigen Maine-Coon-Kater namens Rufus, einer Herumtreiberin mit eigener tragischen Vergangenheit namens Georgia und einem riesigen Hund mit Minderwertigkeitskomplexen namens Ramos „adoptiert� wird.
Abby dachte, sie bräuchte vor allem Zeit für sich, um zu heilen. Doch stattdessen bekommt sie ein Gasthaus, von dem sie nie wusste, dass sie es wollte, einen Kater, den sie nicht loswird, und eine neue Familie, ohne die sie sich ein Leben bald nicht mehr vorstellen kann.
In Buch 1 dieser Serie wird ein Mädchen aus der Gegend ermordet � die kleine Küstengemeinde steht unter Schock. Als Abby im Keller ihres neuen Hauses auf alte Kisten stößt, entdeckt sie darin Hinweise, die mit dem Mordfall in Verbindung stehen könnten. Plötzlich steckt sie mitten in einer komplexen Ermittlung.
Zwar ist Abby weder Polizistin noch Privatdetektivin, doch sie ist mit Ermittlungsarbeit Als New-York-Times-Bestsellerautorin weiß sie, wie man recherchiert � und als Witwe eines Mordkommissars weiß sie auch, welche Fragen man stellen muss.
Begleiten Sie Abby, Georgia, Rufus und Ramos, wenn sie gemeinsam mit Officer Colt Wilder versuchen, einen Mörder zu schnappen � bevor er erneut zuschlägt in einer Mordserie, die sich möglicherweise zu einem düsteren jährlichen Ritual entwickelt.
Abby dachte, sie bräuchte vor allem Zeit für sich, um zu heilen. Doch stattdessen bekommt sie ein Gasthaus, von dem sie nie wusste, dass sie es wollte, einen Kater, den sie nicht loswird, und eine neue Familie, ohne die sie sich ein Leben bald nicht mehr vorstellen kann.
In Buch 1 dieser Serie wird ein Mädchen aus der Gegend ermordet � die kleine Küstengemeinde steht unter Schock. Als Abby im Keller ihres neuen Hauses auf alte Kisten stößt, entdeckt sie darin Hinweise, die mit dem Mordfall in Verbindung stehen könnten. Plötzlich steckt sie mitten in einer komplexen Ermittlung.
Zwar ist Abby weder Polizistin noch Privatdetektivin, doch sie ist mit Ermittlungsarbeit Als New-York-Times-Bestsellerautorin weiß sie, wie man recherchiert � und als Witwe eines Mordkommissars weiß sie auch, welche Fragen man stellen muss.
Begleiten Sie Abby, Georgia, Rufus und Ramos, wenn sie gemeinsam mit Officer Colt Wilder versuchen, einen Mörder zu schnappen � bevor er erneut zuschlägt in einer Mordserie, die sich möglicherweise zu einem düsteren jährlichen Ritual entwickelt.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2018
3096 people are currently reading
1972 people want to read
About the author
Kathi Daley
312books1,709followersKathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books () for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter ().
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books () for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter ().
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews
February 4, 2022
This one is a weird book. It tried to work through its story in a simple but effective way, and I happen to think it was not successful in this approach. The book banked a lot on appealing to our emotions in surgical hits.
The start, and the first 4 or 5 Chapters were fine. But then due to the style of the writer, I began to be of the mind that a third person perspective would have suited the book better. We are witness to the grief of the main character. But in trying not to fall in melodrama land, the author came across as muted and uncreative.
There is a way of writing simple and understated thoughts about bereavement, but if the author went with that device, she would have been labeled as a copier of Kerouac, Zola, or Hemmingway. That would have been preferable to what I read.
I think the author should not have given her main character a loaded past. It didn't serve the story proper. There are other, less bloody but more sanguine ways of worming heroines in our minds. I think many readers have and will applaud the merits of Daley, but I'm not one of them.
The climax, which was telegraphed to the heroine, was commendable. It was original, but lacked authenticity and feeling. But it was the only reason why I gave the intentionally different climax its due. So, the book gets 2 stars instead of one, from me. The author, however, caught my attention, and I will try the second book. I don't know what to expect. Exactly.
The start, and the first 4 or 5 Chapters were fine. But then due to the style of the writer, I began to be of the mind that a third person perspective would have suited the book better. We are witness to the grief of the main character. But in trying not to fall in melodrama land, the author came across as muted and uncreative.
There is a way of writing simple and understated thoughts about bereavement, but if the author went with that device, she would have been labeled as a copier of Kerouac, Zola, or Hemmingway. That would have been preferable to what I read.
I think the author should not have given her main character a loaded past. It didn't serve the story proper. There are other, less bloody but more sanguine ways of worming heroines in our minds. I think many readers have and will applaud the merits of Daley, but I'm not one of them.
The climax, which was telegraphed to the heroine, was commendable. It was original, but lacked authenticity and feeling. But it was the only reason why I gave the intentionally different climax its due. So, the book gets 2 stars instead of one, from me. The author, however, caught my attention, and I will try the second book. I don't know what to expect. Exactly.
February 18, 2019
An excellent debut for the new The Inn at Holiday Bay Cozy Series. The female protagonist is intriguing and spirited although she is grieving the loss of her husband and child. She’s starting a new journey without them and doing a great job of cultivating positivity in renovating the Inn and working on writing novels. The secondary cast of characters being built around her are likeable and add entertainment to the story. I love the pet characters, also. Highly recommend!
January 10, 2019
Decent book... It needed to be proofread another time by someone who hadn’t read the book. Certain facts or people were mentioned multiple times but it was acted like it was new info. This book is long and slow then speeds up at certain intervals. Which is an interesting twist the way the author did it. However it fell a little flat. I’m not sure if I’d continue this series
November 17, 2021
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May 29, 2020
Abby Sullivan needs to make some changes in her life and she needs to make them now. After suffering a terrible tragedy, she basically leaves her old life behind and make an impulse buy - of a huge, decrepit, old mansion on the sea in Maine. Did I mention she buys it sight unseen? Oh yes she did.
One of the things that caught my interest immediately as a cat rescuer, is the addition of a big Maine Coon cat who is in the mansion when Abby finally sets foot in the place, and, much to her chagrin (she is NOT, repeat NOT) a cat person (or so she thinks). He, however, has no intention of moving out. Abby comes to love the feline, and townspeople inform her the cat's name is Rufus.
Abby is a widower of a police investigator and she always "helped" her husband talk through crimes to help piece together evidence and find the guilty. She is also a writer. Both come in handy when she finds herself unwittingly involved in a local investigation.
Although Abby thought she needed to be quite alone, she is soon creating a whole new family, complete with a young homeless woman who comes with an enormous dog, Rufus, and the local people of the quaint town of Holiday Bay, Maine where every holiday is celebrated big time.
Holiday Bay is a town that you will love, complete with big-hearted souls and weirdos alike. I greatly enjoyed the book.
One of the things that caught my interest immediately as a cat rescuer, is the addition of a big Maine Coon cat who is in the mansion when Abby finally sets foot in the place, and, much to her chagrin (she is NOT, repeat NOT) a cat person (or so she thinks). He, however, has no intention of moving out. Abby comes to love the feline, and townspeople inform her the cat's name is Rufus.
Abby is a widower of a police investigator and she always "helped" her husband talk through crimes to help piece together evidence and find the guilty. She is also a writer. Both come in handy when she finds herself unwittingly involved in a local investigation.
Although Abby thought she needed to be quite alone, she is soon creating a whole new family, complete with a young homeless woman who comes with an enormous dog, Rufus, and the local people of the quaint town of Holiday Bay, Maine where every holiday is celebrated big time.
Holiday Bay is a town that you will love, complete with big-hearted souls and weirdos alike. I greatly enjoyed the book.
November 20, 2018
An Exciting New Start
This is the first book in a new series written by Kathi Daley. The writing style flows smoothly, and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in descriptive writing, and much of the time I was reading, I felt like I was right in the midst of the activities taking place and sharing the characters tragedies and joys. The mystery was well plotted and complex, with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. The setting is charming, the well-developed characters are affable, compassionate, and caring, and this book is a perfect blend of humor, mystery, heartache, joy, and caring.
When a distracted driver swerved into oncoming traffic, Abby Sullivan’s life changed forever because her husband, Ben, and their five-week-old son, Johnathan, didn’t survive. A year later, Abby, a published author, hadn’t written a word since the accident and was still struggling to cope with her loss. She decided a change was in order, so she bought a huge old house in the charming town of Holiday Bay, Maine without even seeing it, sold her condo, packed up her belongings, and left San Francisco. Over the years, the house had been neglected and was in need of repairs, but there was an adorable little cottage on the property that she was able to move into. Abby isn’t a cat person and had never owned a pet, but the day she arrived, a large orange cat she later learned was a Maine Coon named Rufus whose owner had recently passed away, entered into her life, and she finds that she can’t resist his sweet meows and cuddling. Abby contacted Lonnie Parker, a highly recommended contractor, and a decision was made to convert the main house into an inn. She became fast friends with him and his wife, Lacy. A young woman, Georgia Carter, who’d gone through some hard times and been on the road for over a year with her rather large dog, Ramos, shows up on her doorstep looking for a job and a place to stay. Being kind-hearted and knowing how devastating the curves life throws at a person can be, Abby puts Georgia in contact with Lonnie and offers her the cottage’s second bedroom for at least a few nights. The body of Darcy Jared, a murder victim, was found in the woods on Abby’s second day in town. Abby found four boxes in the basement of the main house, each containing possessions, and photos of teenage girls, which she thought was odd. When Police Chief Colt Wilder showed her a picture of a group of people, she recognized one of the young women as one of the girls whose pictures were in the boxes she’d found. Abby becomes intrigued with the girls, two of whom had died, one who was missing, and the final one who was still alive and well and starts investigating. Although she’s not a trained professional, she always did research for her books and used to brainstorm with her husband, who had been a homicide detective, on some of his cases, and he’d often told her she had a natural knack for seeing details others had missed.
This is the first book in a new series written by Kathi Daley. The writing style flows smoothly, and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in descriptive writing, and much of the time I was reading, I felt like I was right in the midst of the activities taking place and sharing the characters tragedies and joys. The mystery was well plotted and complex, with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. The setting is charming, the well-developed characters are affable, compassionate, and caring, and this book is a perfect blend of humor, mystery, heartache, joy, and caring.
When a distracted driver swerved into oncoming traffic, Abby Sullivan’s life changed forever because her husband, Ben, and their five-week-old son, Johnathan, didn’t survive. A year later, Abby, a published author, hadn’t written a word since the accident and was still struggling to cope with her loss. She decided a change was in order, so she bought a huge old house in the charming town of Holiday Bay, Maine without even seeing it, sold her condo, packed up her belongings, and left San Francisco. Over the years, the house had been neglected and was in need of repairs, but there was an adorable little cottage on the property that she was able to move into. Abby isn’t a cat person and had never owned a pet, but the day she arrived, a large orange cat she later learned was a Maine Coon named Rufus whose owner had recently passed away, entered into her life, and she finds that she can’t resist his sweet meows and cuddling. Abby contacted Lonnie Parker, a highly recommended contractor, and a decision was made to convert the main house into an inn. She became fast friends with him and his wife, Lacy. A young woman, Georgia Carter, who’d gone through some hard times and been on the road for over a year with her rather large dog, Ramos, shows up on her doorstep looking for a job and a place to stay. Being kind-hearted and knowing how devastating the curves life throws at a person can be, Abby puts Georgia in contact with Lonnie and offers her the cottage’s second bedroom for at least a few nights. The body of Darcy Jared, a murder victim, was found in the woods on Abby’s second day in town. Abby found four boxes in the basement of the main house, each containing possessions, and photos of teenage girls, which she thought was odd. When Police Chief Colt Wilder showed her a picture of a group of people, she recognized one of the young women as one of the girls whose pictures were in the boxes she’d found. Abby becomes intrigued with the girls, two of whom had died, one who was missing, and the final one who was still alive and well and starts investigating. Although she’s not a trained professional, she always did research for her books and used to brainstorm with her husband, who had been a homicide detective, on some of his cases, and he’d often told her she had a natural knack for seeing details others had missed.
December 30, 2018
Holiday Bay, Maine sounds delightful! Kathi Daley’s The Inn at Holiday Bay: Boxes in the Basement (Holidy Bay #1) is a great read. The setting is a small coastal town in Maine, a favorite place of mine, and with the name of Holiday Bay, one can anticipate this small town celebrating each and every holiday. This book’s setting is Thanksgiving and Christmas Seasons. Enter a woman attempting to survive a horrific personal tragedy which occurred a year earlier. Abby Sullivan of San Francisco purchases an 1895 mansion, sight unseen, in a small coastal town of Maine to try to begin a new life. This old mansion needs a phenomenal amount of restoration, and Abby, a mystery writer, knows close to zero about that. Has she made a huge mistake? Luckily, this lovely small town has friendly people-one being a contractor, Lonnie Parker, who adores Abby’s run-down old mansion built on a bluff overlooking the sea. These two characters meet, and plans are made to bring the ‘Inn at Holiday Bay� back to life. Enter another younger woman suffering from a personal tragedy-Georgie Carter. Abby and Georgia become friends, and while the two women and their pets are living in the guesthouse on Abby’s new property, more ideas and plans form, but what are the four boxes in the mansion’s basement? Are they tied to the recent murder of a young female resident of Holiday Bay? This book celebrates holidays while these two women emotionally heal. I was not aware that this book is, also, a feel good book, but I so enjoyed reading it. Well done, Ms. Daley! Looking forward to #2 in this series. Happy New Year, Everyone!! 4.25 stars.
November 21, 2018
Fun first in series. Can't wait to find out more about these characters.
December 10, 2023
Almost a novella with little sense and a chopped off ending. Abby Sullivan moves across the country to start over after her husband and baby son are killed. And that's the last bit of anything that makes sense in this book. She buys a derelict mansion, sight unseen, and decides to renovate it. On the spur of the moment she thinks "I'll turn it into an inn!" She is a writer and has no experience in inn keeping but doesn't let that stop her. Money proceeds to flow like water. Like LOTS of water. The estimate to the renovation appears to be in the mid-six figures and the spending doesn't stop there.
While this is going on, a young woman knocks on the door and asks to run the inn
Turns out she's a great cook!! so of course Abby hires her on the spot to run an inn that's not even finished yet AND asks her to move in with her. Because the young woman looks trustworthy. Uh-huh. (Just as a side note, Abby's late husband was a police detective who claimed Abby had the instincts of a cop. !?!)
Anyway, the mystery part was weak , the characters were weaker, and the ending was like walking down a flight of stairs that ends before you're ready...just a jolt and then you're done.
I suppose this is supposed to draw the reader into continuing the series. No thanks.
While this is going on, a young woman knocks on the door and asks to run the inn
Turns out she's a great cook!! so of course Abby hires her on the spot to run an inn that's not even finished yet AND asks her to move in with her. Because the young woman looks trustworthy. Uh-huh. (Just as a side note, Abby's late husband was a police detective who claimed Abby had the instincts of a cop. !?!)
Anyway, the mystery part was weak , the characters were weaker, and the ending was like walking down a flight of stairs that ends before you're ready...just a jolt and then you're done.
I suppose this is supposed to draw the reader into continuing the series. No thanks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2019
Boxes in the Basement is book one in The Inn at Holiday Bay series by Kathi Daley. After Abby Sullivan suffered a personal tragedy decided to sell up and move to Holiday Bay Main to Heal. However, her quiet life did not work out. Abby Sullivan brought a rundown seaside mansion where the previous owner left behind Maine Coon Cat called Rufus and Georgia an,d her dog Ramos ask for work at the Inn. To complicate her life more when she became involved with the Sheriff case into the murdered of a local girl. The readers of Boxes in the Basement will continue to follow Abby Sullivan and her investigation into the death of Darcy Jared.
Boxes in the Basement is an enjoyable cozy mystery book, and I read more books in this series. I engaged with Boxes in the Basement from the first page. I loved the portrayal of the characters by Kathi Daley and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Boxes in the Basement is well written and researched by Kathi Daley. I like Kathi Daley description of her settings of this book that complimented the plot of this book.
The readers of Boxes in the Basement will learn about how people handle grieve. Also, the readers of Boxes in the Basement will learn about resorting old houses.
I recommend this book..
Boxes in the Basement is an enjoyable cozy mystery book, and I read more books in this series. I engaged with Boxes in the Basement from the first page. I loved the portrayal of the characters by Kathi Daley and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Boxes in the Basement is well written and researched by Kathi Daley. I like Kathi Daley description of her settings of this book that complimented the plot of this book.
The readers of Boxes in the Basement will learn about how people handle grieve. Also, the readers of Boxes in the Basement will learn about resorting old houses.
I recommend this book..
July 29, 2019
This was a cute mystery with characters that I liked immediately. The story is a mix of mystery and women's fiction as Abby and Georgia's lives and history unfold throughout the book.
March 16, 2022
Great start to a series. I really like the people of Holiday Bay, as well as the setting of the town.
November 19, 2022
I was so lucky to win an Amazon gift card from the author I decided it was the perfect time to begin reading the 1st story in "The Inn at Holiday Bay Series" that has been on my wish list to read. My capsule review is to share I loved it!
How will Abby Sullivan move forward from her grief over the loss of her husband, Ben, and her infant son in a fatal automobile accident? An ad grasps Abby's attention for a run-down old house on a bluff overlooking the sea. Moving across the United States from California on the west coast to the small town of Holiday Bay on coastal Maine seems like the correct answer for Abby. From the moment Abby arrives and tours the home, her new adventures begin. One of the most charming aspects of the property is a separate guest cottage that has been recently renovated. As a mystery writer and a homicide detective's widow, Abby is one of the most credible and compelling amateur sleuths I've read in a cozy series.
This novel is not only an interesting cozy mystery but inspirational in finding new beginnings after such a devastating loss. The descriptions of the setting transported me to the coastline triggering fond memories of my exploration of small coastal towns in Maine. I particularly loved reading about the plans for transforming the run-down house originally built in 1895 and the small interior changes to the cottage as Abby's home nest and writing studio.
In visiting the author's website I learned,
How will Abby Sullivan move forward from her grief over the loss of her husband, Ben, and her infant son in a fatal automobile accident? An ad grasps Abby's attention for a run-down old house on a bluff overlooking the sea. Moving across the United States from California on the west coast to the small town of Holiday Bay on coastal Maine seems like the correct answer for Abby. From the moment Abby arrives and tours the home, her new adventures begin. One of the most charming aspects of the property is a separate guest cottage that has been recently renovated. As a mystery writer and a homicide detective's widow, Abby is one of the most credible and compelling amateur sleuths I've read in a cozy series.
This novel is not only an interesting cozy mystery but inspirational in finding new beginnings after such a devastating loss. The descriptions of the setting transported me to the coastline triggering fond memories of my exploration of small coastal towns in Maine. I particularly loved reading about the plans for transforming the run-down house originally built in 1895 and the small interior changes to the cottage as Abby's home nest and writing studio.
In visiting the author's website I learned,
"She has authored more than a hundred and fifty books in fourteen series set in thirteen different states. Kathi enjoys traveling to the locations she writes about to generate inspiration and add authenticity to her descriptions."There are so many avenues of exploration I could read this author's novels all year but I think I'll stay in Holiday Bay for now.
November 28, 2018
Such a intriguing read ! I loved all the crazy and interesting characters. The storyline had me from the very first chapter that I read and wanted to read more. This is one you really don't want to miss. Can't wait till the next one in this book.
May 25, 2019
What an abrupt ending. I thought we would see more development here, which has slowly been going on before the building. All of a sudden, it just stops as Abby (the main character), is flirting and teasing the chief of police..
Sorry, maybe cute for some, but not for me.
Sorry, maybe cute for some, but not for me.
November 26, 2022
I enjoyed this cozy because it was a little bit different than normal cozies. The main character, Abby, didn't happen to accidentally stumble on a body or into a murder, which seems to be a normal cozy practice.
The characters were interesting and I appreciate the different back stories. This cozy is definitely character-driven and the grief and depression aspects were well written.
Daley did a good job of setting up the mystery and allowed the reader to see the slight cliffhanger into book 2.
3/5 stars. I will be reading more from this author.
The characters were interesting and I appreciate the different back stories. This cozy is definitely character-driven and the grief and depression aspects were well written.
Daley did a good job of setting up the mystery and allowed the reader to see the slight cliffhanger into book 2.
3/5 stars. I will be reading more from this author.
November 24, 2018
Whow! Questa autrice mi piace, ma questo libro mi ha davvero colpito.
Forse qualcuno potrebbe trovare che sia stato dato troppo spazio al racconto di come la protagonista si abitui alla sua nuova vita e a come si faccia diversi amici, ma a me questa parte è piaciuta e l'ho trovata interessante. Infine, il mistero è davvero ben congegnato.
Concludendo, un'altra serie vincente per la signora Daley.
Forse qualcuno potrebbe trovare che sia stato dato troppo spazio al racconto di come la protagonista si abitui alla sua nuova vita e a come si faccia diversi amici, ma a me questa parte è piaciuta e l'ho trovata interessante. Infine, il mistero è davvero ben congegnato.
Concludendo, un'altra serie vincente per la signora Daley.
July 25, 2019
Excellent first in a new series
Wow, this book is excellent. I do like this author very much, so I was looking forward to reading The Inn at Holiday Bay.
I had no idea that I would become so involved with the characters and their personal stories. Abby is a great character and I connected with her immediately.
My heart broke when I heard her story, but her courage is inspiring and I'm excited to see what happens next.
Wow, this book is excellent. I do like this author very much, so I was looking forward to reading The Inn at Holiday Bay.
I had no idea that I would become so involved with the characters and their personal stories. Abby is a great character and I connected with her immediately.
My heart broke when I heard her story, but her courage is inspiring and I'm excited to see what happens next.
November 22, 2018
If I could give this book a higher rating than a 5, I would have. I read slowly as I didn’t want it to end. Abby Sullivan recent bought a, big, old house and moved from California to Maine after a very deep tragedy from a year go. While looking through her new house and figuring out all the work that was going to need to be done, a huge cat (Rufus) runs in and decides to stick around. Rufus is one of my favorite characters in the book. He is so unusual. This story is so different from others I have read that I latched on and added the characters to my family.
December 25, 2019
I stumbled onto this author while searching for cozy mysteries. I'm so glad I did! I'm quickly reading through the other books in the series and then I'll move on to the other series she's written. If you like cozy mysteries, this are very good. The story-line, characters and overall writing is very good. Highly recommend.
April 16, 2021
Interesting story!
This story has a interesting plot that will keep you reading cover to cover with excellent characters and a well developed setting.
This story has a interesting plot that will keep you reading cover to cover with excellent characters and a well developed setting.
February 22, 2020
Likeable first in series, but definitely setting up the characters and the place - the mystery was fairly secondary in this one.
May 12, 2021
This was a Hallmark movie in a book. Quick, comfy read but well kept my attention. It’s a one afternoon read.
January 22, 2021
Liked it nice read
Good solid characters to build a series with. Looking forward to the next book. Nice clean book with out porno parts.
Good solid characters to build a series with. Looking forward to the next book. Nice clean book with out porno parts.
December 2, 2018
The Inn At Holiday Bay
Boxes In The Basement, Book #1
Kathi Daley
5+ Stars
Synopsis:
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 1 of this series, a local girl has been murdered and the small seaside community is up in arms. When Abby finds boxes in the basement of her new home, which seem to provide a clue as to who might have killed the girl, Abby plants herself firmly in the middle of what has turned out to be a complicated investigation. Although Abby isn't a cop, or even a private detective, she isn't unfamiliar with the investigative process. As a New York Times Bestselling mystery writer she knows how to conduct research. As the widow of a homicide detective, she knows the questions to ask.
Join Abby, Georgia, Rufus, and Ramos, as they help Officer Colt Wilder track down a killer before kills the next victim in what looks to be a annual spree. (ŷ)
Review:
This is such a great new series, and I was drawn in from the first page. I liked the characters, the history of those characters, the storyline and the mystery.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Abby has had her share of heartbreak and tragedy, but she is trying to climb out of her sorrow and become whole again. Georgie has also had a rough life but she has not given up. Not only are the two of them becoming friends, they are helping each other rebuild their lives. It made me feel good to see that they have each other. Between the two of them and their animals,Rufus the cat, and Ramos, the gentle giant of a dog, I think they will be okay.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt I was right there, seeing the rundown mansion and watching all of the action taking place. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The mystery was fast paced and had a few different layers to it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written cozy mystery. It had a different feel than other cozies, (I think because of Abby’s back story) and I thought it was really good.
Boxes In The Basement, Book #1
Kathi Daley
5+ Stars
Synopsis:
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 1 of this series, a local girl has been murdered and the small seaside community is up in arms. When Abby finds boxes in the basement of her new home, which seem to provide a clue as to who might have killed the girl, Abby plants herself firmly in the middle of what has turned out to be a complicated investigation. Although Abby isn't a cop, or even a private detective, she isn't unfamiliar with the investigative process. As a New York Times Bestselling mystery writer she knows how to conduct research. As the widow of a homicide detective, she knows the questions to ask.
Join Abby, Georgia, Rufus, and Ramos, as they help Officer Colt Wilder track down a killer before kills the next victim in what looks to be a annual spree. (ŷ)
Review:
This is such a great new series, and I was drawn in from the first page. I liked the characters, the history of those characters, the storyline and the mystery.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Abby has had her share of heartbreak and tragedy, but she is trying to climb out of her sorrow and become whole again. Georgie has also had a rough life but she has not given up. Not only are the two of them becoming friends, they are helping each other rebuild their lives. It made me feel good to see that they have each other. Between the two of them and their animals,Rufus the cat, and Ramos, the gentle giant of a dog, I think they will be okay.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt I was right there, seeing the rundown mansion and watching all of the action taking place. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The mystery was fast paced and had a few different layers to it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written cozy mystery. It had a different feel than other cozies, (I think because of Abby’s back story) and I thought it was really good.
February 14, 2019
The Inn at Holiday Bay: Boxes in the Basement is the first book in a new series Kathi Daley. This story is set in the small town of Holiday Bay, Maine. The reader is introduced to Abby Sullivan, the protagonist, who recently relocated from California to a sight unseen house on a bluff. Abby is seeking to rebuild her life after the tragic death of her husband and son. Her dream is to renovate the house converting it to a bed and breakfast. As Abby’s plans develop, she develops friendships with other residents of Holiday Bay, adds a roommate, a cat and a dog and realizes she can easily become an active member of the community.
As this dream unfolds, Abby makes new best friends, acquires roommates, some a furry variety, and gets involved in the community. In the process of cleaning out the basement, Abby, inadvertently becomes involved in a local crime and mystery. As the clues are revealed a complex, cold case mystery becomes quite apparent. Read along to learn how the “detective traits� Abby picked up from her deceased husband help the local authorities put a cold case to rest. The sights and sounds of Christmas, developing relationships, a touch of humor, hint at romance combined to deliver a great start to a new cozy mystery series. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series. If you haven’t read this book, I’d suggest reading it by the fireplace on a cold winter night.
As this dream unfolds, Abby makes new best friends, acquires roommates, some a furry variety, and gets involved in the community. In the process of cleaning out the basement, Abby, inadvertently becomes involved in a local crime and mystery. As the clues are revealed a complex, cold case mystery becomes quite apparent. Read along to learn how the “detective traits� Abby picked up from her deceased husband help the local authorities put a cold case to rest. The sights and sounds of Christmas, developing relationships, a touch of humor, hint at romance combined to deliver a great start to a new cozy mystery series. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series. If you haven’t read this book, I’d suggest reading it by the fireplace on a cold winter night.
November 21, 2018
Wish the storyline had been more cohesive
A good read but it just felt as if parts of the storyline had been left dangling. Great characters and a very emotive writing style but the plot itself was just so, so. At least for me.
She has moved across the country to get away from the heartbreaking reminders of her husband and baby. Killed in a car accident a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Buying the house sight unseen might not have been the best plan. But she now has a plan and more importantly a contractor who shares her vision. Plus a large maine coon has decided to adopt her. The peacefulness of the town is broken by the discovery of a girl's body. Plus she has found pictures of not only the dead girl but three others in her basement. Two are now dead, one is missing and the fourth has moved away on police advice. Her sleuthing instincts are aroused. Can the killer be found? Is the other dead girl really an accidental death? Is the missing girl still alive and why did she go missing? After all she has left behind a baby she doted on? Will the answer become clear?
A good read but it just felt as if parts of the storyline had been left dangling. Great characters and a very emotive writing style but the plot itself was just so, so. At least for me.
She has moved across the country to get away from the heartbreaking reminders of her husband and baby. Killed in a car accident a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Buying the house sight unseen might not have been the best plan. But she now has a plan and more importantly a contractor who shares her vision. Plus a large maine coon has decided to adopt her. The peacefulness of the town is broken by the discovery of a girl's body. Plus she has found pictures of not only the dead girl but three others in her basement. Two are now dead, one is missing and the fourth has moved away on police advice. Her sleuthing instincts are aroused. Can the killer be found? Is the other dead girl really an accidental death? Is the missing girl still alive and why did she go missing? After all she has left behind a baby she doted on? Will the answer become clear?
January 13, 2019
Great Read!
This story covered just about every Christmas angle.
The story starts out with Abby Sullivan is buying a house in Maine that has been vacant for years.
She finds out that the house needs a lot of work to get it livable. She hires a local contractor to renovate the house.
Lonnie the contractor, is in love with the house and makes all good suggestions for the remodeling.
The best part of the book is when a young girl is found dead in the bushes. The story makes Abby start to write her books again after the death of her husband and 6 week old baby.
The book is very well written like all of Kathy’s books are and it is well worth the time to read!
This story covered just about every Christmas angle.
The story starts out with Abby Sullivan is buying a house in Maine that has been vacant for years.
She finds out that the house needs a lot of work to get it livable. She hires a local contractor to renovate the house.
Lonnie the contractor, is in love with the house and makes all good suggestions for the remodeling.
The best part of the book is when a young girl is found dead in the bushes. The story makes Abby start to write her books again after the death of her husband and 6 week old baby.
The book is very well written like all of Kathy’s books are and it is well worth the time to read!
April 2, 2019
Boxes in the Basement
The Inn at Holiday Bay, Book #1
By Kathi Daley
ISBN 9781731013798
Author Website: kathidaley(.)com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
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 1 of this series, a local girl has been murdered and the small seaside community is up in arms. When Abby finds boxes in the basement of her new home, which seem to provide a clue as to who might have killed the girl, Abby plants herself firmly in the middle of what has turned out to be a complicated investigation. Although Abby isn’t a cop, or even a private detective, she isn’t unfamiliar with the investigative process. As a New York Times Bestselling mystery writer she knows how to conduct research. As the widow of a homicide detective, she knows the questions to ask.
Join Abby, Georgia, Rufus, and Ramos, as they help Officer Colt Wilder track down a killer before kills the next victim in what looks to be an annual spree. (ŷ)
Review:
First in the new Inn at Holiday Bay series, this is a very enjoyable cozy mystery with characters who drew this reader in and held her attention. What would drive a young woman to leave behind her life in San Francisco and purchase a huge, time-worn home in Holiday Bay on the coast of Maine? It is on a bluff overlooking the sea with a fabulous view of the water. Nobody knows who she is or what she’d been through, they only know that someone has plans to remodel it, gutting part of the rooms to start over.
Abby Sullivan is an author and hopes to stay anonymous for a while in her new home. Healing from a tragedy and the need to get away coupled with finding out about this home and feeling that this was where she should go brought her here. She has only one family member left who currently isn’t speaking to her.
When going through the mansion the first time, a fluffy orange cat trotted in and up the stairs. Abby has never been a cat person, never had pets, and didn’t plan on getting one now. She later learned the cat’s name is Rufus and that his previous owner died, leaving him homeless. Rufus has decided to stay for the time being, in spite of Abby’s best plans. Abby and Rufus share the guest house, which was recently remodeled by the previous owner.
Abby is put in contact with a local, highly-recommended contractor who had once considered purchasing the home. He is a tremendous help in scheduling subcontractors, making suggestions for finishes, and how to best utilize the space available. Abby is turning the historic home into a Bed and Breakfast and hopes to open during the next tourist season. His wife, Lacy, is one of Abby’s first friends in Holiday Bay, after Velma, who owns Velma’s Café and is the source for local news and shopping recommendations in the area. The next friend Abby meets is Georgia, who lost everything except her pup, Ramos, and is looking for a place to start over. Close in age, they grow closer than either would have thought possible.
One day when heading home, the main turnoff to the bluff house is closed off due to the body of a local woman being found, murdered. The more she asks questions, the more curious she becomes. Abby writes mysteries and thrillers, and her husband had been a homicide detective who used to bounce some of his confounding cases and clues off of her. Abby had an instinct for helping him see things through a different lens. Whether the local police chief, Colter Wilder, will appreciate her help or not is yet to be seen.
In the basement of the bluff house, Abby found several boxes of what look like high school mementos and a mattress, as if someone had been hiding out there with the boxes. It stunned Abby, however, to discover that one of the boxes contained mementos of Darcy, the girl who was found murdered. Other boxes have belongings of a young local woman who disappeared, another young woman who was found dead, possibly of a hiking accident. The last contains photos and other memorabilia of a young woman still alive and well. Who left the boxes there and why, as well as what happened to the other girls all keep Abby’s writer’s mind busy. She now has many ideas to begin writing again for the first time in a year, and soon has much to do � not the least of which is helping look for a killer.
I like how the author builds each character, revealing little by little rather than giving their background at the time of their introduction. We know little about Abby when the story opens and learn about her throughout. I like Abby, Georgia, and their new friends in Holiday Harbor. The setting, as described, is gorgeous and suited to the people in the area, it sounds like. There is depth and beauty, in the town, in its celebrations, and its people.
There are interesting plot twists throughout that kept the pages flying. The layers of mystery are presented well without being overwhelming. Conversations are realistic, as are most of the actions. Watching Abby and Georgia have their first set of holidays in a new home, in a new town, and with new friends reminds us what it can be like for newcomers. The reader is also shown truths about grieving that are valuable through Abby’s perspective. The mysteries are challenging, and there were certainly surprises at the end. I highly recommend Boxes in the Basement to those who enjoy cozy mysteries, coastal living, and home renovations.
November 30, 2024
I loved the characters and the beginning of the book but the Boxes int he Basement left me hanging. Since I always read Kathi Daley's books I know she often includes a continuing story line as well as a mystery that wraps up in the book but I felt dropped at the end of the book.
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