Bottles, Blends, and Beginnings
(2026)(The first book in the Through the Lens series)
A Story by Lyla Blue
Sometimes even the most innocent scenarios...can be deadly.
Welcome to Cedarbrook, North Carolina...where charming streets, creative dreams, and small-town secrets never stay hidden for long. Food stylist Cora Hartley is ready to prove she has what it takes. Her first major job at Bright Nest Studios should be simple: style flawless scenes, manage a fast-paced set, and keep everything camera-ready.
Instead, it turns into murder.
When the studio lights go out and a brand ambassador is found dead beneath a towering backlight, Cora’s carefully planned debut unravels in an instant. With production in chaos and suspicion swirling among the cast and crew, Cora notices what others miss—the small details, the misplaced props, the moments that don’t quite add up...
Because this wasn’t an accident.
And someone on set is counting on the confusion to cover their tracks.
With her keen stylist’s eye, her loyal best friend by her side, and Mabel—her mischievous goldendoodle —never far behind, Cora pieces together the truth
.
But the closer she gets, the clearer it becomes:
• the set is full of secrets
• the timeline doesn’t hold
• and someone is willing to do it again
Now Cora must uncover what really happened before her first big break becomes her last—and the killer disappears behind the scenes for good. In Cedarbrook, even the prettiest setups can hide deadly secrets.
Perfect for fans of: small-town cozy mysteries, culinary cozies, and behind-the-scenes drama with a twist
Tropes: Amateur Sleuth • Found Family • Small-Town Secrets
Tone: Cozy, Whimsical, Light Suspense
Setting: Small Town • Film Studio • Coffeehouse
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Welcome to Cedarbrook, North Carolina...where charming streets, creative dreams, and small-town secrets never stay hidden for long. Food stylist Cora Hartley is ready to prove she has what it takes. Her first major job at Bright Nest Studios should be simple: style flawless scenes, manage a fast-paced set, and keep everything camera-ready.
Instead, it turns into murder.
When the studio lights go out and a brand ambassador is found dead beneath a towering backlight, Cora’s carefully planned debut unravels in an instant. With production in chaos and suspicion swirling among the cast and crew, Cora notices what others miss—the small details, the misplaced props, the moments that don’t quite add up...
Because this wasn’t an accident.
And someone on set is counting on the confusion to cover their tracks.
With her keen stylist’s eye, her loyal best friend by her side, and Mabel—her mischievous goldendoodle —never far behind, Cora pieces together the truth
.
But the closer she gets, the clearer it becomes:
• the set is full of secrets
• the timeline doesn’t hold
• and someone is willing to do it again
Now Cora must uncover what really happened before her first big break becomes her last—and the killer disappears behind the scenes for good. In Cedarbrook, even the prettiest setups can hide deadly secrets.
Perfect for fans of: small-town cozy mysteries, culinary cozies, and behind-the-scenes drama with a twist
Tropes: Amateur Sleuth • Found Family • Small-Town Secrets
Tone: Cozy, Whimsical, Light Suspense
Setting: Small Town • Film Studio • Coffeehouse
Genre: Cozy Mystery
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Used availability for Lyla Blue's Bottles, Blends, and Beginnings