Gourd to Death
(2025)(The fourth book in the Pumpkin Spice Murder Mystery series)
A Story by Maisy Marple
When former forensic accountant June Blackwell moved to picturesque Nutmeg Valley to open The Grist Mill coffee shop, she expected to leave high-stakes investigations behind. But during the town's annual Gourd & Grain Festival, June finds herself at the center of a baffling mystery when a massive carved gourd crashes down during the Autumn Brew Championship, killing celebrity judge Francesca Romano. With June's coffee shop temporarily closed by police and her fingerprints mysteriously appearing at the crime scene, she'll need to dust off her analytical skills to find the real culprit before someone else becomes the killer's next victim.
Nutmeg Valley seems like the perfect riverside haven with its charming covered bridges, historic water wheels, and vibrant fall foliage, but beneath its idyllic surface lurks a dangerous scheme that threatens the town's very soul. As June investigates alongside her newfound friends—brewery owner Wes Donovan, artist Olivia Yang, and town historian Hattie Thornfield—she uncovers a complex web of property acquisitions, corporate deceit, and family secrets that puts her directly in the crosshairs of whoever sabotaged the festival centerpiece. Between serving perfect pumpkin spice lattes and following money trails, June races against time to protect both her business and her adopted hometown.
With dialogue as rich and stimulating as her signature coffee blends, June navigates small-town dynamics with wit and determination, finding that her accountant's eye for discrepancies might be the perfect skill for brewing justice. "Gourd to Death" blends the cozy charm of riverside autumn with edge-of-your-seat suspense, creating a mystery as layered and satisfying as the perfect fall dessert. Readers will find themselves completely immersed in this quaint community under siege, cheering for June and her friends as they fight to preserve Nutmeg Valley's authentic character against forces that would transform it into just another tourist trap. Curl up with this deliciously suspenseful cozy mystery—best enjoyed with your favorite pumpkin spice beverage and a crisp autumn breeze.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Nutmeg Valley seems like the perfect riverside haven with its charming covered bridges, historic water wheels, and vibrant fall foliage, but beneath its idyllic surface lurks a dangerous scheme that threatens the town's very soul. As June investigates alongside her newfound friends—brewery owner Wes Donovan, artist Olivia Yang, and town historian Hattie Thornfield—she uncovers a complex web of property acquisitions, corporate deceit, and family secrets that puts her directly in the crosshairs of whoever sabotaged the festival centerpiece. Between serving perfect pumpkin spice lattes and following money trails, June races against time to protect both her business and her adopted hometown.
With dialogue as rich and stimulating as her signature coffee blends, June navigates small-town dynamics with wit and determination, finding that her accountant's eye for discrepancies might be the perfect skill for brewing justice. "Gourd to Death" blends the cozy charm of riverside autumn with edge-of-your-seat suspense, creating a mystery as layered and satisfying as the perfect fall dessert. Readers will find themselves completely immersed in this quaint community under siege, cheering for June and her friends as they fight to preserve Nutmeg Valley's authentic character against forces that would transform it into just another tourist trap. Curl up with this deliciously suspenseful cozy mystery—best enjoyed with your favorite pumpkin spice beverage and a crisp autumn breeze.
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Used availability for Maisy Marple's Gourd to Death