Juniper Grove – A Cozy Mystery Series
Here are the books in the Juniper Grove series, in the recommended reading order.
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Death of a Dead Man
In the small town of Juniper Grove, newcomer Rachel Stowe has finally found the good friends and quiet life she always craved. So when a stranger arrives in town and stirs painful memories of a baffling episode in the town’s past, Rachel vows to put an end to his mischief.
But events take a nasty turn when Rachel discovers a body in her own backyard and suspicion for the murder falls on her widowed neighbor. Despite being warned off the case by the town’s handsome but aloof police chief, Rachel makes it her mission to clear her neighbor’s name and find the real killer. Can she crack the case before another body turns up?
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Death of a Scavenger
More than a few people in Juniper Grove wanted Maureen Nicholson dead, so when her body turns up during the town’s annual October scavenger hunt, there’s no shortage of suspects or motives. But when suspicion for the murder falls on Rachel Stowe’s friend Holly, baker extraordinaire, Rachel must get to the bottom of the mystery.
Convinced there’s no romance in her future with the town’s police chief, Rachel dives headlong into the case, ignoring his disapproval and risking her own safety. But will she uncover the truth before the killer claims another victim?
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At Death’s Door
Thanksgiving in Juniper Grove is a time for family, good friends, and good food. But at Nora Barberton’s home, Thanksgiving ends in tragedy when one of her dinner guests is murdered and a precious artifact disappears from her house—seemingly vanishing into thin air.
When Nora pleads for help, Rachel agrees to tackle the case. Soon she uncovers a web of deception wove by those Nora trusts most. In a race against time, and as her relationship with James Gilroy, the town’s police chief, takes a surprising turn, Rachel must solve the mystery before the killer strikes again.
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Death of a Santa
Rachel never expected to be caught up in another murder investigation, especially at a wreath-making party. But when a member of the Four Santas, a Juniper Grove caroling group, dies at the party, minutes after telling her he fears for his niece’s safety, she is determined to act.
Eager to hunt down the truth, Rachel throws herself into solving the case, despite her blossoming romance with the town’s police chief. Convinced a killer is targeting the carolers, she must act quickly to get to the bottom of the mystery. Can she unravel a chorus of puzzling clues and crack the case before more carolers die?
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Scared to Death
When Rachel’s friend Holly is invited to cater a radio broadcast from the Grandview Hotel on the fiftieth anniversary of a mysterious murder there, Rachel and Julia come along for moral support. Their excitement quickly turns to dread when they see the state of the dilapidated hotel and are warned to expect strange noises in the night.
But ghostly sounds are the least of their worries after a body is found in the hotel’s library. To her shock, Rachel realizes that this latest murder bears an uncanny resemblance to the older one. With a fierce winter storm bearing down on the hotel, Rachel makes it her mission to discover the truth—about both murders.
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Cheating Death
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, but not everyone in Juniper Grove is in the mood for love. Convinced her husband is cheating on her with a mysterious dark-haired woman, Brigit Gundersen decides to tell the whole town about it—by plastering Main Street with flyers declaring his infidelity.
Desperate to discover the identity of her rival, Brigit asks Rachel Stowe to investigate, something Rachel is reluctant to do. But when Brigit is murdered, Rachel feels compelled to get to the bottom of the case.
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Death Trap
Promising a big announcement, Stuart Hunter invites a small group of friends to a party at his large, rambling house, among them Chief Gilroy and Rachel Stowe. But when one of the partygoers dies screaming Gilroy’s name, Gilroy becomes a suspect in his own department’s murder investigation. Rachel’s fears that someone is trying to target him are confirmed when incriminating evidence is found at the murder scene.
When the mayor removes the chief from the case, Rachel and her friends spring into action. As they attempt to clear Gilroy’s name, Rachel begins to suspect that dark forces from Gilroy’s past are working behind the scenes. Would they go so far as to murder an innocent woman? Or does the answer lie closer to home?
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Death Knell
A gathering of friends at a Juniper Grove cottage ends in tragedy when a woman plunges to her death from a bedroom window. Minutes later, bells at a nearby church begin to toll, waking the town’s residents. Rachel’s fears that the two events are linked are confirmed when Chief Gilroy declares the woman’s death a homicide and the pastor of the church says his computer-operated bell system was hacked.
The suspects are clear—every woman staying at the cottage—but the motive is a mystery. Who would want to kill a harmless substitute teacher and church worker? When the owner of the cottage begs Rachel to investigate, Rachel soon discovers that the victim was not what she seemed to be. With hard evidence in short supply, Rachel must dig into the victim’s and suspects’ personal lives to solve her most baffling case yet. Can she uncover the truth before the bells toll again?
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Garden of Death
Rachel’s neighbor, Julia, was thrilled to be chosen as a judge in Juniper Grove’s annual garden show, so when the owners of the prize-winning garden invite her to a celebratory party, Rachel tags along. But the party comes to a crashing halt when one of Julia’s fellow judges drops dead. As Rachel struggles to piece together the events that led to the judge’s murder, she soon discovers that lies and ruthless ambition rule the supposedly genteel world of gardening.
In her race to discover the killer, Rachel must juggle her worries about Julia’s safety with her increasingly frustrating love life. Convinced her romance with Chief Gilroy has stalled and that he is keeping secrets from her, she must decide whether to accept things as they are or rock the boat.
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Death of a Professor
When a murder game at a local professor’s house ends in death, it quickly becomes clear that the victim did not die of natural causes. As Rachel becomes embroiled in yet another mystery, she begins to suspect that the killer was threatened by a tell-all autobiography the victim was writing.
On top of solving the murder, Rachel must deal with personal doubts about her upcoming wedding to James Gilroy—doubts prompted by Julia’s nudging to cut back on the cream puffs. But when Rachel makes herself a target by uncovering a crucial clue, things get dangerous and she must put her worries aside and solve the case before she becomes the killer’s next victim.
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Still as Death
Rachel, Julia, and other members of Juniper Grove’s crafts fair committee are enjoying a fun evening at the home of Eve Coleman when the house lights suddenly go out. Two minutes later, finding her way in the dark to the breaker box, Rachel discovers the body of Eve’s husband.
Fortunately for the killer, the Coleman house is just outside Juniper Grove, within the county sheriff’s jurisdiction. Police Chief Gilroy’s investigative hands are tied. When the incompetent sheriff all too willingly jumps to the conclusion that Rachel is the killer, she and Gilroy must join forces to prove her innocence.
With her wedding to Gilroy a mere three weeks away, the last thing Rachel needs on her plate is another murder. But this time it’s dangerously personal. Between planning her wedding, dealing with Julia’s prickly attitude, and dodging the sheriff, Rachel must move heaven and earth to crack the baffling case.
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Grim Death
Rachel is enjoying herself at a New Year’s Day brunch when Mary Blackwell, the host, hands her a cryptic note instructing her to check her coat pocket and remain silent about what she finds there.
Later, on discovering four disturbing items in her pocket and no explanation as to why Mary put them there, Rachel is determined to unravel the mystery. But that puzzle is quickly put on the back burner when Laura Patchett, another guest, is found murdered in her home shortly after storming from the Blackwells’ brunch.
Concluding that the four items and Laura’s murder are connected, Rachel sets out to uncover the truth. When yet another brunch guest is murdered, she joins forces with her now-husband, Police Chief James Gilroy, to crack the case. Can they hunt down the killer before more bodies turn up?
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