Murder at the Maplewood Inn: A Cozy Mystery Series Starter

Eleanor Cross arrived at the Maplewood Inn seeking nothing more than a quiet holiday. A retired librarian still grieving the loss of her husband, she wanted a warm fire, a good book, and a respite from the loneliness that had become her life. But when the innkeeper is found dead in a locked library—a silver locket clutched in his hand and a letter opener in his back—Eleanor's librarian instincts take over. Details are meant to be noticed. Questions are meant to be asked. And this question—who killed Arthur Bell?—demands an answer.

Trapped in the inn with a handful of strangers, each harbouring their own secrets, Eleanor must navigate a web of lies, hidden passages, and a fifty-year-old tragedy buried in the garden. The suspects include a prickly retired professor, a couple whose marriage is crumbling, a novelist who spends more time watching than writing, and the innkeeper's grieving widow. As the clues mount and the danger grows, Eleanor discovers that the truth is never as simple as it seems—and that she has a gift for finding things others overlook.

Fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, and M.C. Beaton will delight in this classic cozy mystery full of warmth, wit, and satisfying twists. Perfect for readers who love small-town settings, amateur sleuths, and puzzles that keep you guessing until the very last page.

Welcome to the Maplewood Inn. The tea is hot. The fire is crackling. And murder is on the menu.