Becca Gables, an irrepressibly positive young widow, has her hands full. She not only homeschools her three children—Violet, Oliver, and Hazel—but also owns Tales & Tails, a whimsical local bookshop and café. Her days are filled with lesson plans, great literature, and creamy coffee as she educates her children and tries to keep her struggling bookshop afloat.
To earn extra income for Tales & Tails, Becca agrees to cater a cocktail party at the Paper Palace, hosted by Phyllis Grant, the self-proclaimed matriarch of a long line of paper magnates. This party serves as an opportunity for Phyllis to showcase the importance of her family in the community.
Everything seems to be going smoothly until Becca visits the old mansion the following day to collect payment. She is shocked to discover that the hostess has died overnight. What initially appears to be a terrible accident is soon revealed to have a more sinister cause. Guided by her faith, her family and friends, and her insatiable curiosity, Becca peels away the layers of this mystery, leading to a conclusion that will rock their little town of Crystal Run, Wisconsin.
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Sexual Content - 0/5
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Violence - 0/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
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Summary
3.5 stars
"The bedroom filled with a great pulse of light. Then darkness fell on the body of Phyllis Grant."
It all started with a party. Becca Gables, homeschooling mother of three and owner of a cozy combo of bookstore and bakery cafe, had been invited to cater a prestigious event at the home of one of Crystal Run, Wisconsin's elite townspeople. Known as the Paper Palace, the stately old mansion with historical roots was showing its age, much like its owner. But no one expected the rather unpopular matriarch, Phyllis Grant, to expire that very night. Something wasn't adding up, and Becca knew it.
Continuing to juggle motherhood as a young widow while managing her business through-out the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Becca stays in touch with her Uncle John, a local police captain, about the case, which has become more and more suspicious. Phyllis Grant was not particularly loved within the community, but who might want her dead, and for what reason? It was time for Becca to don her amateur sleuthing hat.
A delightful homespun story full of vivacious characters of all ages who sport equal doses of curiosity and charm while living their lives upon a confident foundation of faith. And yes, the who-dun-it component made the story all that more enjoyable!