***USA Today Best Seller Chelsea Thomas delivers laughter, suspense and mystery in this cozy mystery must read!***
"I looked everywhere for a cute, light cozy that had lots of comedy. Book after book disappointed me. But this one is adorable, clean, and just the right amount of suspenseful."
There's one week until Chelsea's wedding...
...and she's got a killer to catch.
When Chelsea arrived in Pine Grove, she was fresh off a massive heartbreak, and she struggled to get back on her feet. Solving mysteries gave Chelsea the confidence she needed to finally move on, and now she's ready to give her heart to a new man.
But murder gets in the way, just like it always does.
And this time Chelsea's a suspect.
This captivating cozy mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Follow along as Chelsea sets out to solve the the most scandalous murder yet...seven days before "I do."
With the help of her elderly besties, Teeny and Miss May, Chelsea uncovers more secrets than a wedding planner. And as she gets closer to the truth, she realizes she'll have to put herself in harm's way -- and risk missing her wedding -- to catch the killer."Dead Man Cakewalking" is hottest new cozy of the year. You'll be swept away by the charming setting and colorful cast of characters, and you won't be able to put the book down until you discover the killer's identity.
This book has received rave reviews from readers, with many calling it a "page-turner" and "a must-read for mystery lovers."
Don't miss your chance to join Chelsea on her quest for justice. Order your copy today.
...Chelsea Thomas is technically two people, married writing team Chelsea and Matthew Thomas.
Matt and Chelsea write cozy mysteries set on an apple orchard in upstate New York. They also write television and film. As screenwriters, they have worked with several studios, including Nickelodeon, SONY and CBS.
Chelsea and Matt are graduates of Duke University and they are members of the Writers Guild of America. And they are USA Today Bestselling authors.
Chelsea enjoys spending time with animals and practicing yoga. Matt loves playing music. They both enjoy spending time near the water.
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The latest installment of our Pine Grove sleuths was a page turner. Chelsea, Miss May & Teeny kept us laughing and on our toes. In my opinion, this was the the best book so far. It was suspenseful, with many twists and turns. Chelsea has come full circle and is married to the man of her dreams and we've been teased with another spin-off from this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I always enjoy a new book in this series. This one is one of the best so far. Not only is the trademark humor and snark on display, there is a touch of sentimentality that isn’t present most of the time. The storyline was engaging and the story itself well written. The mystery was well thought out with occasional red herrings that kept it interesting. The characters banter was as usual a lot of fun. Don’t miss this addition to the series.
I received an arc of the book and voluntarily provided a review.
"Dead Man Cakewalking" takes readers on an enthralling journey to Pine Grove, where Chelsea's resilience shines amidst heartache and adversity. As the looming prospect of her wedding approaches, an unexpected and sinister turn of events thrusts her into a web of intrigue and danger.
Fresh off a devastating heartbreak, Chelsea's determination to rebuild her life through solving mysteries resonates deeply. With newfound confidence, she's poised to embrace a new love, only to have murder disrupt her plans. The story grips from the outset, weaving a tapestry of suspense that holds readers captive.
The heart of this captivating cozy mystery lies in Chelsea's relentless pursuit of truth. Framed as a suspect, she navigates a labyrinth of secrets with the aid of her endearing allies, Teeny and Miss May. The trio unearths a trove of hidden truths, mirroring a wedding planner's meticulous attention to detail.
With each revelation, Chelsea inches closer to a chilling realization—the killer is far closer than anticipated. The narrative artfully balances tension and intrigue, inviting readers to invest emotionally in Chelsea's quest for justice. As danger escalates, she confronts a dire choice: jeopardize her safety and her impending nuptials, or relent in her pursuit of the truth.
The book's charm lies not only in its compelling plot, but also in its vivid setting and eclectic cast of characters. Pine Grove springs to life through rich descriptions, immersing readers in its quaint yet enigmatic ambiance. Chelsea, Teeny, and Miss May are a trio of formidable personalities, their camaraderie evoking both laughter and empathy.
"Dead Man Cakewalking" has garnered effusive praise, with readers hailing it as an unputdownable "page-turner" that delights mystery enthusiasts. The narrative mastery at play, combined with the characters' irresistible charm, creates a symphony of suspense that crescendos to a breathtaking climax.
In the grand tradition of cozy mysteries, this novel compels readers to ride alongside Chelsea as she races against time. Will she sacrifice her own safety to expose a killer, or will the shadow of suspicion mar her wedding day? "Dead Man Cakewalking" is a literary gem that beckons readers to savor each chapter, an irresistible testament to the genre's enduring allure.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It's finally happening. Chelsea is at last marrying her love, Wayne, and nothing is going to spoil the wedding for her. That is, until her ex-fiancé Mike shows up at her Christmas tree farm with his new fiancée Priscilla, and they start arguing. Trying her best to ignore the situation, she comes across them once again at Teeny's diner and they've appeared to make up. But unfortunately, Mike leaves his wallet behind at the diner and Chelsea and Miss May go to his house to return it. Big mistake. When they arrive, Mike is dead, and there is a letter incriminating Chelsa.
Now she's a suspect in his murder. Mike, the man who left her at the altar in New York. But for some reason, police chief Sunshine Flanagan doesn't seem to be interested in her all that much, which is weird; or anything else, for that matter. Chelsea knows that if she's going to marry Wayne, she needs closure to her past. That means finding Mike's killer. But it isn't going to be easy, since she discovers that he made enemies everywhere he went, and people don't want to talk to her. How can she solve a murder in less than a week, finish planning her wedding, and get ready for Christmas?
This is the 20th book in the series, and I have read them all. This one brings Chelsea full circle from her disastrous relationship with Mile to her perfect one with Wayne (Wayne is the better deal). When she tries to question Mike's family members, they're haughty and cold (pretty pretentious for people named after pickles -- Gherkin -- just my observation, ha!). But she does get some information from Priscilla, and even Mike's cousin, which is surprising.
She also gets a chance to come to grips with all her old feelings about Mike, and that gives her something, at least. But finding a killer in the allotted time isn't a sure thing. It takes everything Chelsea has inside of her to figure it out, and when she does, it puts her in danger. Interestingly, help comes from an unexpected corner.
When everything is said and done, the murderer is found (as we know they will be) and Chelsea can once again look forward to peace and quiet in her life. I have loved this series for a long time, and I want it to continue. I've come to love the characters and Pine Grove, and I will miss them until the next book. Highly recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from Booksprout but this in no way influenced my review.
Getting married on Christmas day, Chelsea Thomas has only one week to prepare for her wedding to Detective Wayne Hudson. Her wedding planner is Kayla Bell, eagerly gathering all the important facts about Chelsea’s life until Miss May told her to quit the gossip and work on this wedding. They headed to the event barn and Teeny was already there adjusting the tea-lights. Chelsea was relieved that Kayla had not mentioned her former fiancé Michael Gherkin who had left her at the altar and stolen her business out from under her. Some time ago, he had moved here in town and his new fiancée Priscilla seemed to fight with him frequently.
Chelsea helped Teeny clean up the restaurant after closing and found a wallet filled with credit cards. On the driver’s license, she saw Mike’s smug picture. Miss May went with her to return the wallet. No one answered the door, but Mike’s car was in the driveway and the lights were on in the house. Climbing through an unlocked window, they called out to Mike. Chelsea saw a window broken in the corner and Miss May was kneeling next to a writing desk. Mike was on the floor there with blood pooled around him. She knew she would have to find his killer before she could move on and get married to Wayne. Then Miss May showed her a letter on a table allegedly from Chelsea to Mike about his getting married again and saying he was getting what he deserved! Who was trying to frame her? She certainly did not type up that letter to him. And at that moment, Priscilla walked in and with a scornful look stated that Chelsea had murdered Mike. The whole town knew the story of her being left at the altar by Mike, so that was a strong motive. Can she find the real killer and clear her name once and for all? And can she do that before she misses her own wedding… again?
Chelsea , Miss May and Teeny are on the case again to find a killer in Pine Grove. This is book twenty of the Apple Orchard mystery series but a standalone story . Michael/ Mike Gherkin is one of Chelsea’s exes who had just moved into town and was now engaged to Priscilla , yeah he’s the one who left her at the altar and absconded with her business to boot. Chelsea and Wayne are busy preparing for their upcoming nuptials in this story. When Priscilla and Mike had bought their tree from Chelsea they’d headed to Teeny’s restaurant and on helping her close up Chelsea found a wallet, Mike’s so resolved to return it to its owner. This is when she is confronted by another dead body and a case for the trio and despite her boyfriend Detective Wayne’s misgivings helping out the constabulary … This was a brilliant read , the great camaraderie of the characters and the relationship with Wayne. A quirky , fun , big hug of a murder mystery with plenty of clues and pancakes and stuff mmmm . Yes I digressed recalling a particular tower of scrumminous ( I know it’s not a word). Anyway Chelsea Thomas has brilliantly executed another sure fire hit of a reading experience. Very well written , great characters , good plots and apt immersive descriptions.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I decided to read Dead Man Cakewalking by Chelsea Thomas in my quest to find some new cozy mysteries to read and since I've been following this author for a while, I decided it was time to buckle up and go for a ride on the Apple Orchard Cozy Mystery train by jumping into Book 20.
The story is a murder mystery for sure, but the humor had me laughing out loud softening the murderous blow (so to speak) and the little bit of romance was just enough to make the characters believable and likeable. In preparation for her big wedding day, Chelsea's ex-fiancé who left her at the alter appears in her life once more only to die horribly not only leaving her at the scene of the crime but being framed for it as well.
I have to say, though, See-Saw is my favorite fictional therapist. I would pay money to have a talk with her.
That aside, I really found this book easy to read, the plot moved along perfectly, and the little bit of back story allowed this reader to follow along easily when characters were introduced that were obviously around for the previous stories. And well darn - short of telling you whodunit - get out there and read it yourself.
Pardon me now, I need to dig up the other 19 Apple Orchard stories!
This is the 20th book in the Apple Orchard Series and it is another winner! This is a fast-paced mystery with a lot of laughs along the way. With our favorite characters, Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny with Chelsea's hunk of a fiance, Detective Wayne. While Chelsea and Wayne's wedding is coming close - it's Christmas Day, Chelsea's ex, Michael, who left her on the altar and his new fiance, Priscilla, has moved into town. While Chelsea was helping Teeny clean up her restaurant before closing, she finds a wallet under a table and realizes it's her ex Michael's wallet. So with Miss May they drove to Michael's house to return it only to find him dead with a letter on his desk framing Chelsea. So of course, it is up to Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny with as much help as Wayne can give them without jeopardizing his job since the commissioner took him off the case. Add to all that and something is wrong with Chief Flanagan. She's not her normal in control self. There are so many twists and turns, but will the gang be able to solve the case before Chelsea and Wayne get married on Christmas Day? With lots of laughs along the way as Teeny spouts her sayings and ideas, you will love the surprise ending! I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Dean Man Cakewalking is book twenty in the Apple Orchard Cozy Mysteries series. It’s a very funny cozy mystery. For me, the best part of the book is the friendship of three ladies, one in her early 30s and two young seniors (early 60s maybe, they are very active). Their personalities are different but they complement each other very well. Most of all, they love to tease and joke with each other, which I love. Their teasing is so funny and the character Teeny is a complete riot (the things she says).
The mystery is a good one, and the supporting characters are great. I like how the book (and the others in the series) is broken into many smallish chapters, each with their own amusing title. That suits my reading style, I can pop in a chapter between other things I’m doing without feeling dragged down into a long chapter that darts all over the place. It’s well written and the overall feeling you get from reading the book is positive (which I like).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In the 20th edition of the Apple Orchard Cozy mystery series, which may be the end of the series, it comes full circle. When we all met Chelsea in Book 1, she was grappling with returning back to her hometown after being left at the altar by her former fiance Mike.
Now she is getting ready to walk down the aisle once again as a Christmas bride to her current fiance, Officer Wayne. However, Mike still finds a way to interrupt this special time when he turns up dead. Turns out he has made quite a bit of enemies along the way. Is it possible that karma has finally caught up to him and will Chelsea finally get her happily ever after or meet her end as well.
Where the ladies go from here is yet to be determined but begins Sunshine Flanagan's journey back to her hometown and possibly her redemption story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In the twentieth book in the Apple Orchard cozy mystery series, Chelsea has come full circle since the first book in the series. She returned to her hometown in the beginning after being left at the altar by her former fiancé Mike, but now Chelsea is prepared to walk down the aisle with Officer Wayne. However, before Chelsea can enjoy her new beginning, Mike returns to town and ends up dead. As usual it’s up to Chelsea and the ladies to ferret out the truth and discover who killed Mike, which is made more difficult because it seems he had made many enemies since he left Chelsea. This may be the last book in the Apple Orchard series, but even if it is, I think it’s a great ending to a wonderful series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Have you ever wondered 'why me'? Poor Chelsea is once again being held hostage by her ex-finance, Mike who jilted her at the alter and just recently moved to town with his new finance Priscilla. To say Chelsea's luck is questionable is an understatement!
She's ready for her life to begin with Mike and have her Christmas wedding. However, she's now being framed and accused of murder as the despicable Mike if found murdered by Chelsea and her Aunt Mae in his house. Just as the girls find the body arrives Priscilla to declare Chelsea is the murderer. Our dynamic group (Aunt Mae, Chelsea, and Teenie) must solve the mystery as our town chief of police is once again bias and incompetent.
Will our hero finally get her happy ever after? I recommend you read the latest installment and cheer Chelsea on to victory!
This is a great read...full of sorrow, happiness and suspense. It will keep you guessing right to the end. Will Chelsea be arrested for murder or find the real killer? Was the victim killed by Jealous Jenny, Frank, Steve, Priscilla or someone else..he wasn't a very nice guy so there's no shortage of suspects!! Chief Flanagan's a mess..she's "checked out " of the investigation and Wayne's been banned from the case because of Chelsea..so the girls will have to solve the murder so the wedding can go on. The murder's solved, the wedding's over...what's ahead for Chelsea, Wayne, Miss May and Teeny...only time will tell!! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
WOW book twenty in this series it seems as though the main heroine just came back home after being left at the alter The array of familiar characters vibrant, colorful and quirky drawing you in.Of course there's the deadly schemer enticing you further through murder and intrigue but this time it's more personal because they just might be out to get Chelsea herself while she's once again getting ready to go down the aisle. Can that be and if so is this the end or will Chelsea, aunt May and Teeny find out who's behind what's happening. This is the best of this fabulous series and you won't want to miss it. Acquire " Dead Man Cakewalking " today so you yourself can enjoy it as much as I have. Kat.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chelsea is looking forward to marrying Wayne (or Detective McBeefy as Teeny calls him) on Christmas Day. Mike, the man who left her at the altar, is engaged to marry Priscilla, and the fact that they have moved back to Pine Grove doesn’t bode well for the town. Chelsea and Miss May go to Mike’s house to return a wallet he left at Teeny’s diner and discover him dead along with a note, supposedly from Chelsea, confessing to the murder. Add in a stolen famous painting, Chelsea almost missing her wedding to solve a crime and a surprise from Chief Flanagan and you have an exciting mystery! I received a free copy of this book via BookSprout and write this review voluntarily, after thoroughly enjoying this book!
Chelsea and Wayne's wedding day, which also happens to be Christmas day, is rapidly approaching; so many things to do, Chelsea doesn't need any distractions, but her ex fiance and his new fiancee have moved to Pine Grove.
As Christmas draws near, folks are coming to the farm to choose their Christmas tree. Unfortunately, Chelsea is present then her ex, Mike, and his gal, Priscilla have come for a tree, but their discussion rapidly dissolves into an argument. Later, Mike winds up dead and Chelsea feels the need to find his killer.
Will Chelsea allow Mike's death to derail her wedding to Wayne?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I absolutely live this series and the characters that are in it. Chelsea Thomas writes a very intriguing cozy mystery, with plenty of twists and turns that keep you gripped and turning the pages well into the small hours of the night. In this instalment Chelsea and Miss May find the body of Chelsea's ex Mike, the one that left her at the altar, and his new fiancé is quick to point the finger at Chelsea. So the intrepid trio have got to investigate 🔎 this one. It's also close to Chelsea's wedding day to the hunk Detective Wayne Hudson. But thing's don't go to plan on that front either. I love these book's because they have everything in them that I enjoy, a murder mystery, some romance and some humour, especially with Teeny around 🤣 I'd definitely recommend this book 📖
Chelsea Thomas has been in Pine Grove for a little more than a year. During that time, in addition to solving murders she has met the love of her life Wayne Hudson, and they plan to get married on Christmas Day. Ironically her former boyfriend, Michael Gherkin, who left her at the alter, has moved to Pine Grove with his current fiancée. Michael winds up dead and it looks like Chelsea is the killer. Can Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny clear her name before her wedding day? I really enjoyed the book and hope there will be more adventures of these three ladies.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'm always so excited to get another helping of Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny! This one really fills the bill! It's one week until Chelsea and Wayne finally get married. The week should be full of last minute wedding plans, but things go horribly wrong when Chelsea and Miss May stumble on yet another body and Chelsea becomes a suspect! This murder hits too close to home! The murder has to be solved and Chelsea's name cleared before the wedding! I love this trio of ladies and their often hilarious investigating. They will stop at nothing to get their "man." Chelsea Thomas has done it once again!
It’s almost Christmas, it’s almost the day Chelsea will walk down the isle to become Wayne’s wife. But, true to form, there’s a dead body and a murder to solve.
Chelsea’s ex Mike is found (by Chelsea and Miss May) dead with an incriminating note pointing the finger at…The question is, will Chelsea figure out this murder before her wedding, or…
Great twists and turns! I kept thinking I knew who the murder was, but was mostly wrong. Oh, and learn more about Sunshine’s private life, it explains a lot.
Disclaimer: I am part of the ARC team. I received this book from the author, voluntarily read and reviewed it.
Chelsea was left at the alter by her ex, and stuck without a business, a home, or much dignity when Mike left her at the altar and stole what she had in her heart and her bank accounts
Will his move to her hometown with his latest fiancée upstage her wedding with her beau Wayne?
Plenty of Pine Grove unique wackiness, and too many lethal interactions as she tries to make it to and through her wedding this time!
nice to see how the bride and groom have grown throughout the series, and hilarious to hear tidbits from the romantic lives of Aunt May and Teeny
Bittersweet reflections on friendships, frenemies and yummy caramel french toast mixed in with mysteries and whodunnits
The 20th book in the Apple Orchard mystery series ftom Chelsea Thomas is a charming cozy mystery. Even though I hadn't read all 19 previous I was able to follow the relationships easily. Chelsea moved to Pine Grove following bad breakup & has been building up confidence by solving crimes since. She is a week away from her wedding when she becomes a suspect in a murder & must clear her name while finishing wedding prep. Loved the secondary characters & their interactions. Going back to read the previous booksI missed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dead Man Cakewalking is book #20 in the Apple Orchard Cozy Mystery series by Chelsea Thomas.
It’s wedding time for Chelsea. Will things go smoothly? Of course not! Things go full circle when the ex that left Chelsea at the alter to start the series shows up.
In some ways, Chelsea is still the same Chelsea but in other ways she has grown so much over the course of the series. There’s plenty of humor. The stakes are high to solve the murder if Chelsea wants to get married rather than go to jail.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
One week before her wedding Chelsea's exfinance, who left her at the alter, is murdered. The killer left behind a note implicating that it was Chelsea who killed him. With the help of Miss May and Teeny the trio set out to silver the murder before her wedding. A mix of suspects and the discovery of missing artwork lead the trio on a chase that puts Chelsea in jeopardy of missing her wedding. With just an hour to spare Chelsea confronts the murderer and with the help of an unsuspected ally is able to finally marry the man of her dreams.
We are finally here, Chelsea is in a happy relationship with a man that loves her and is getting married ... all the way this time ... except her ex has well and truly put a spanner in the works! Honestly I felt so terrible for Chelsea as she has had soo many bumps in the road to get to where she is so the ladies really need to work their sluthing magic and fast, whilst also giving Chief Flanagan a wide birth as she is definitely not full of Sunshine.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chelsea grew a lot from a hurt young woman into a stronger adult. Great characters like Miss May, KP, Teeny, Seasaw, Liz, the Mayor. Teeny at more times than not was annoying, over the top but what was great she admitted. Chelsea's low esteem was at times too pathetic and she knew it. The mysteries flowed, good plots, extra characters, good connections. I do wish all the food that is talked about from Grandma & The Bake house recipes were provided at the end as a bonus. Glad I read the series.
I’ve been reading this series since the beginning and enjoyed every one. A lot is happening in this 20th book. The wedding is only a week away & the ladies have a new murder to solve. Zany characters and nice twisty plots make these books fun and easy reads. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.
I’m not sure Chelsea grasped or accepted that she had lost her fiance. She wasn’t healed from losing her parents. She was fighting to make sense of a world in which the only logic, often, is that there is no logic. When we accept that fact when we surrender to the uncertainty while still holding trust in our hearts that’s when good things happen.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved this book. Chelsea is finally getting married to Wayne. It will be a simple wedding, but getting Chelsea to the church on time will be the usual problem since she is always late for everything. Follow Miss May, Chelsea and Teeney as they hunt for clues and eat their way to solving the crime. Cannot wait to read more about Sunshine and the next adventures awaiting Chelsea and the gang. Highly recommend this book and the entire series.
I received an ARC copy from Booksprout. This is my honest review.
I had read quite a few of the books in this series. Like the others, it's a "clean" cozy. It has some humor, and nice characters. The quick synopsis: when Chelsea's ex ends up murdered right before her wedding, she has to solve the crime, not only so she won't be framed by the real murderer, but because she wants justice for him...even though he was a jerk. The book has a happy ending. I recommend it.