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Cedar Fish Campground Series #1
Between a Rock and a Deadly Place
Cedar Fish Campground was supposed to be a peaceful refuge, not grounds for murder.
Thea Pagoni is desperate to flee her stress-filled city life for the quiet of the woods after a painful divorce. When her grandmother passes away and leaves her the family campground, it seems like the perfect opportunity to find peace. But not everything is crickets and campfires.
The handyman she was promised is less than handy, the campground has fallen into severe disrepair, and with a dwindling reservation list, there’s no money to make improvements. Things are looking grim, and then a dead hiker makes everything worse. Can Thea find the killer before Cedar Fish Campground is forced to close forever and she loses everything… again?
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A DEADLY PLACE is the first novella in Zoey Chase’s Cedar Fish Campground cozy mystery series. For lovers of the outdoors and clean mysteries with a side of romance.
Thea Pagoni is desperate to flee her stress-filled city life for the quiet of the woods after a painful divorce. When her grandmother passes away and leaves her the family campground, it seems like the perfect opportunity to find peace. But not everything is crickets and campfires.
The handyman she was promised is less than handy, the campground has fallen into severe disrepair, and with a dwindling reservation list, there’s no money to make improvements. Things are looking grim, and then a dead hiker makes everything worse. Can Thea find the killer before Cedar Fish Campground is forced to close forever and she loses everything… again?
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A DEADLY PLACE is the first novella in Zoey Chase’s Cedar Fish Campground cozy mystery series. For lovers of the outdoors and clean mysteries with a side of romance.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2019
169 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Zoey Chase
7 books17 followersZoey Chase received her MFA in creative writing from Carlow University. She lives in the Pittsburgh area with her husband, three daughters, three cats, and vast book collection. Can usually be found doing something bookish.
Get my first book free on my website!
Get my first book free on my website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 23, 2020
A very cute and well paced campground mystery. The old man Curtis made me chuckle quite a few times...what a guy. LOL
After I bought the book on Amazon I checked out the authors homepage and found out that you get this first installment for free if you sign up to her newsletter. - So if you are interested head on over, sign up and start reading.
After I bought the book on Amazon I checked out the authors homepage and found out that you get this first installment for free if you sign up to her newsletter. - So if you are interested head on over, sign up and start reading.
May 18, 2022
Yet another book I started meaning to read it a little at a time... you know me, that didn't happen. This time, though, it actually was because I was completely invested in the book and characters, and not just because I wanted to read more books for challenges. Seriously, this one was great. Zoey Chase uses a lot of tropes that can be hit or miss in cozy mysteries, and she pulls them off really well.
The first thing I noticed was the "tragic past" trope. From the beginning, the reader knows that the struggles in Thea's past are real, and that they go beyond just her divorce. I'm not saying abuse makes for a good story, because it doesn't, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, but the backstory is so much more than a breakup. On top of that, Thea actually addresses her emotions. She has a therapist and actively addresses what's hard for her. Seeing a cozy mystery female who processes their emotions at all is super rare, and Thea does it in an incredibly healthy way (even if that way just happens to involve inheriting a family campground in the Ozarks - a totally usual thing thing happens to everyone). Chase doesn't just hint at this past, she actively paints a picture of Thea's healing process. I actually saw a lot of similarities between her and a friend who's been carrying around (at least) a lot of gaslighting and verbal abuse from her former husband and who basically did start a new life (by changing her career path and going back to college, not by moving her life to an inherited family campground in the middle of nowhere), so I guess her story was a lot more relatable because I do have a real-life point to connect Thea's experience to. Thea shows herself to be using strategies that work for her, and her healing process is recognizable.
Then there's the almost-but-not-quite love interest. Nolan Cade is not a cop or a detective investigating the main character, which already provides a breath of fresh air for the genre. He also has his own backstory that is interesting, but not explicitly told. I can already tell there's a lot of room for him to grow both as a character and as a romantic partner, and I'm interested to see what else can be done with his character.
The mystery itself did fall a bit behind the characters and setting, but the latter were truly captivating enough that the plot was enough. The story was very character centered, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way everything unfolded. I plan on buying the second book at some point.
The first thing I noticed was the "tragic past" trope. From the beginning, the reader knows that the struggles in Thea's past are real, and that they go beyond just her divorce. I'm not saying abuse makes for a good story, because it doesn't, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, but the backstory is so much more than a breakup. On top of that, Thea actually addresses her emotions. She has a therapist and actively addresses what's hard for her. Seeing a cozy mystery female who processes their emotions at all is super rare, and Thea does it in an incredibly healthy way (even if that way just happens to involve inheriting a family campground in the Ozarks - a totally usual thing thing happens to everyone). Chase doesn't just hint at this past, she actively paints a picture of Thea's healing process. I actually saw a lot of similarities between her and a friend who's been carrying around (at least) a lot of gaslighting and verbal abuse from her former husband and who basically did start a new life (by changing her career path and going back to college, not by moving her life to an inherited family campground in the middle of nowhere), so I guess her story was a lot more relatable because I do have a real-life point to connect Thea's experience to. Thea shows herself to be using strategies that work for her, and her healing process is recognizable.
Then there's the almost-but-not-quite love interest. Nolan Cade is not a cop or a detective investigating the main character, which already provides a breath of fresh air for the genre. He also has his own backstory that is interesting, but not explicitly told. I can already tell there's a lot of room for him to grow both as a character and as a romantic partner, and I'm interested to see what else can be done with his character.
The mystery itself did fall a bit behind the characters and setting, but the latter were truly captivating enough that the plot was enough. The story was very character centered, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way everything unfolded. I plan on buying the second book at some point.
March 14, 2020
I absolutely loved this book! Such a fun mystery to read, that’s situated in a picturesque atmosphere (which really adds to the experience). I took a 3 day break from reading, so I technically devoured this book in 2 reading sessions. It’s a short read, but so much happens in such little time, that it feels much longer and doesn’t leave a feeling of “that’s it?”. The characters were dynamic and funny and had such big personalities, and there’s lots of past histories to discover about Thea’s family, her former marriage, and what happened when Nolan was a cop. The descriptions were incredibly vivid, and the campground made me long for summer so I can go camping. Ahhh... I never wanted this story to end, but I can’t wait to start the second book!
(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, via Voracious Readers Only, for an honest review)
(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, via Voracious Readers Only, for an honest review)
March 5, 2020
A wonderful cozy mystery. An ex-lawyer Thea takes over her Grandparent's campground with the help of a fun cast of characters. The murder mystery is interesting, providing the right amount of clues, although the culprit wasn't a surprise. The author includes well-written emotion, memories and drama to the fun resulting in a good book.
March 7, 2020
This was an enjoyable read. Thea has been left in charge to run the campground. At first everything is going wrong. Then a dead body shows up. Thea then spends the book trying to figure out what happened and who was behind it. Luckily in the end she gets it all figured out and on top of that she gets the campground up and running smoothly too.
August 27, 2020
4 stelle scarse
Il libro non è male, ma è l'ennesimo che leggo di una persona che arriva in un campeggio per gestirlo perché l'ha ereditato o qualcosa di simile e lo trova sull'orlo del fallimento: un po' più di fantasia? E in più, se devo dire la verità, è stato più interessante leggere la storia di contorno che il mistero vero e proprio.
Il libro non è male, ma è l'ennesimo che leggo di una persona che arriva in un campeggio per gestirlo perché l'ha ereditato o qualcosa di simile e lo trova sull'orlo del fallimento: un po' più di fantasia? E in più, se devo dire la verità, è stato più interessante leggere la storia di contorno che il mistero vero e proprio.
May 26, 2021
Between a rock and a deadly place
I love the characters Tra and Nolan Jennie and of course Gar
I made the mistake of reading Fishy first bit I enjoyed that also. The plot was cute Girl get dead without giving it away
The Police and the suspects were the right blend of people
I love the characters Tra and Nolan Jennie and of course Gar
I made the mistake of reading Fishy first bit I enjoyed that also. The plot was cute Girl get dead without giving it away
The Police and the suspects were the right blend of people
January 8, 2020
Thea Pagoni’s decision to leave her law practice and take over her grandparent’s campground surprised the locals and maybe even Thea herself. She needs a change after the ugly divorce from her husband. So, after the death of her beloved grandmother, the fond memories of Cedar Fish Campground from her childhood brought her back for that fresh start. What she didn’t count on was the poor condition of the campground, the lack of competent help and the murder that happened within days of her arrival.
The police don’t seem to care about finding the murderer. The locals are full of gossip about the dead woman, which leads to bad publicity for Cedar Fish Campground. Thea and Hennie, who seems to be a fixture at the campground, decide to do a bit of investigating on their own. Lucky for them, Nolan Cade. the newly hired handyman/security guard is a former cop as well as former military. The fact that he is drop dead gorgeous was not missed by either of the women.
The plot thickens when Thea receives a threat to stop sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong. She is close to finding the murderer, and is determined to find him or her. She has to do this in order to carry on her family’s legacy, but will she live to bring the campground to its former glory?
Between a Rock and a Deadly Place is a fast-paced cozy mystery with a cast of interesting characters. There are secrets in Thea’s past that haunt her, but she is doing her best to work through them. Hennie is a hoot – she has many surprising characteristics that amused me as I got to know her. Nolan, like Thea, has a history he is trying to get past. Don’t overlook his brilliant mind because beneath the good looks is a smart, caring man.
There is humor laced throughout the book. Small towns are often known for their quirkiness and Outer Branson is no exception. Ricky, the baby racoon, is adorably naughty adding to the comedic side of the solid story.
his is Zoey Chase’s first book. I assumed she was a seasoned cozy author with dozens of books penned because Between a Rock and a Deadly Place is the perfect mix of mystery, romance, quirky characters and an interesting setting. I can’t wait for the next book in her series as well as many more to follow.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Reedsy Discovery (https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/bet...) in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2020 Laura Hartman
The police don’t seem to care about finding the murderer. The locals are full of gossip about the dead woman, which leads to bad publicity for Cedar Fish Campground. Thea and Hennie, who seems to be a fixture at the campground, decide to do a bit of investigating on their own. Lucky for them, Nolan Cade. the newly hired handyman/security guard is a former cop as well as former military. The fact that he is drop dead gorgeous was not missed by either of the women.
The plot thickens when Thea receives a threat to stop sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong. She is close to finding the murderer, and is determined to find him or her. She has to do this in order to carry on her family’s legacy, but will she live to bring the campground to its former glory?
Between a Rock and a Deadly Place is a fast-paced cozy mystery with a cast of interesting characters. There are secrets in Thea’s past that haunt her, but she is doing her best to work through them. Hennie is a hoot – she has many surprising characteristics that amused me as I got to know her. Nolan, like Thea, has a history he is trying to get past. Don’t overlook his brilliant mind because beneath the good looks is a smart, caring man.
There is humor laced throughout the book. Small towns are often known for their quirkiness and Outer Branson is no exception. Ricky, the baby racoon, is adorably naughty adding to the comedic side of the solid story.
his is Zoey Chase’s first book. I assumed she was a seasoned cozy author with dozens of books penned because Between a Rock and a Deadly Place is the perfect mix of mystery, romance, quirky characters and an interesting setting. I can’t wait for the next book in her series as well as many more to follow.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Reedsy Discovery (https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/bet...) in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2020 Laura Hartman
March 27, 2021
After a very unpleasant divorce, Thea is ready to start over. She left her law practice, packs only her most important possessions into her car, and sets off for the campground she inherited from her grandparents. But, the place is nothing like her memories. Completely run down, it will need a lot of work to get in shape for the summer. When an unexpected death results in cancellations, Thea realizes it's up to her to figure out what happened in order to save her new home.
I loved this novella for many reasons. It opens with a map of the campground that is difficult to read on the kindle. However, if you click on the link, you can download a free, color, annotated map that looks so authentic, I was picking out a site for my RV this summer.
Since this is a novella, there were a few places where things felt a little rushed, but overall I liked the story. I found the characters very relatable and look forward to reading more about them. The story itself felt well-executed, although the ending may have been a little rushed. I wanted to see more of Nolan addressing his obvious PTSD, but I figure that will come out in a future book.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series.
I loved this novella for many reasons. It opens with a map of the campground that is difficult to read on the kindle. However, if you click on the link, you can download a free, color, annotated map that looks so authentic, I was picking out a site for my RV this summer.
Since this is a novella, there were a few places where things felt a little rushed, but overall I liked the story. I found the characters very relatable and look forward to reading more about them. The story itself felt well-executed, although the ending may have been a little rushed. I wanted to see more of Nolan addressing his obvious PTSD, but I figure that will come out in a future book.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series.
January 5, 2020
Lawyer Thea Pagoni inherits her grandparents' campground and quickly works to restore it as a destination to which vacationers will want to travel. On site are Nolan, a good looking ex-cop who shows up to answer to her add for a handyman, Hennie, a helpful honey farmer, and somnolent, white haired Curtis, who together help Thea get things organized and repaired. When a woman is found murdered on one of the trails it looks like their work may be in vain unless they can quickly solve the case and wipe the stain of murder from the campground. Zoey Chase creates an inviting setting for a new series of cozy mysteries. The campground is just the place to escape when the urge for curling up and reading gets hold of you! It is a quick read and enjoyable all the way. I look forward to further character development and maybe some romance in the future! Thanks to Ms.Chase and Voracious Readers Only for the complimentary copy.
January 25, 2020
I absolutely adored Between a Rock and a Deadly Place! I've never heard of a cozy mystery before so didn't really know what to expect. The story introduces you to Thea Pagoni, an ex-lawyer who inherits her family's campground after her grandmother passes away. Thea arrives, fragile after a messy divorce, to find the campground is run down and needs considerable attention. As she attempts to come to terms with the amount of work needed a local is found dead on one of the trails. Was it an accident or a murder? Thea and her motley crew of employees attempt to find out.
What follows is a wonderful story with well thought out characters, a little romance, humour, and lots of suspense. Cozy is the perfect word to describe how this book makes the reader feel. I loved it and cannot wait to read more about Thea and her loveable posse. Hopefully Ricky the raccoon makes an appearance.
I received a free copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
What follows is a wonderful story with well thought out characters, a little romance, humour, and lots of suspense. Cozy is the perfect word to describe how this book makes the reader feel. I loved it and cannot wait to read more about Thea and her loveable posse. Hopefully Ricky the raccoon makes an appearance.
I received a free copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2020
I enjoyed this book. Even though it was a crime book with a murder it was also quite light-hearted.
It was definitely different to the normal crime books I read but it was still enjoyable.
I was gripped from the first chapter and once I got into it I couldn't put it down. There was just something about it that I couldn't put down. There was also a romantic story running alongside the murder.
The author kept me reading and it was written in a nice style.
I connected with the characters...mainly the main character. I got a sense of who she was and who she became towards the end of the book. She definitely grew as a person.
The book was intended for late teens to late 20's.
The blurb made me interested and the book lived up to it. The book didn't turn out as I thought it would after reading the blurb.
I would purchase the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
It was definitely different to the normal crime books I read but it was still enjoyable.
I was gripped from the first chapter and once I got into it I couldn't put it down. There was just something about it that I couldn't put down. There was also a romantic story running alongside the murder.
The author kept me reading and it was written in a nice style.
I connected with the characters...mainly the main character. I got a sense of who she was and who she became towards the end of the book. She definitely grew as a person.
The book was intended for late teens to late 20's.
The blurb made me interested and the book lived up to it. The book didn't turn out as I thought it would after reading the blurb.
I would purchase the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
June 27, 2020
This book was a great read. It tells the story of a former big-city lawyer, Thea, looking for a change in life. She takes over her grandparents' campground and is ready to take on the challenge of running it for the summer but gets more than she signed up for when there's a murder on the campground.
The story is simple and easy to follow but is also fulfilling. A mystery novel with a bit of romance, it's perfect for anyone looking for a wholesome read. The characters are likable and the plot keeps you wanting to read until the very end. It's easy to keep track of everything that happens, perfect for anyone looking for something to read on a short vacation, or just looking for a break. I only wish that there had been a little more background to the two main characters, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this book.
*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review*
The story is simple and easy to follow but is also fulfilling. A mystery novel with a bit of romance, it's perfect for anyone looking for a wholesome read. The characters are likable and the plot keeps you wanting to read until the very end. It's easy to keep track of everything that happens, perfect for anyone looking for something to read on a short vacation, or just looking for a break. I only wish that there had been a little more background to the two main characters, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this book.
*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review*
August 14, 2020
I cannot express how much fun I had reading this book. It was so easy to get into (Cozy Mystery), easily caught my attention the whole way through, and was hard to put down once I picked it up each time I was finally able to pick it back up. I really enjoyed Thea, Hennie, and Nolan's dynamic and loved Ricky's short albeit humorous appearances. The way Thea, Hennie and Nolan worked together to solve this murder while still focusing on bettering the campsite was heartwarming in its own right, most simply because of Thea's connection to the campgrounds. I had my ideas on the murderer and I ended up being right, but the majority of the way through I consistently second-guessed myself and other characters' motives. The ending was perfect.
I am absolutely looking forward to the sequel as well as any other books from Zoey Chase.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I am absolutely looking forward to the sequel as well as any other books from Zoey Chase.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
June 12, 2020
This was a very enjoyable read. And as "Between a Rock & A Deadly Place" is the first in a series there is much to look forward to.
Thea inherits a Campground from her grandmother and takes the opportunity to get away from the city where she has only bad memories of her divorce.
As soon as she arrived she expected the amount of work, organising and, incidentally money, required to make the Campground viable again after years of neglect. What she had no way of anticipating was the death of a visitor on one of the trails. She is drawn into solving the murder because of lack of action by local authorities and fear that it would keep people away from her somewhat renovated facility.
Fortunately all turns out well.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers, and am grateful for the opportunity to review it. I will certainly be looking out for further books in the series.
Thea inherits a Campground from her grandmother and takes the opportunity to get away from the city where she has only bad memories of her divorce.
As soon as she arrived she expected the amount of work, organising and, incidentally money, required to make the Campground viable again after years of neglect. What she had no way of anticipating was the death of a visitor on one of the trails. She is drawn into solving the murder because of lack of action by local authorities and fear that it would keep people away from her somewhat renovated facility.
Fortunately all turns out well.
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers, and am grateful for the opportunity to review it. I will certainly be looking out for further books in the series.
January 25, 2020
***I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
I was so excited when I got this book, because I'm a huge fan of murder mysteries, and I was expecting the usual formula of a whodunnit. What I actually got out of this book was much better than what I was anticipating. This book wastes no time getting right into the action, and doesn't cringe away from handling more serious topics while still keeping a bit of a lighthearted energy to it. From its handling of abuse and trauma to a silly cast of characters that I grew to love almost immediately, this is one I'll definitely reread a few times between longer titles! And I look forward to reading more of Zoey Chase's work in the future!
I was so excited when I got this book, because I'm a huge fan of murder mysteries, and I was expecting the usual formula of a whodunnit. What I actually got out of this book was much better than what I was anticipating. This book wastes no time getting right into the action, and doesn't cringe away from handling more serious topics while still keeping a bit of a lighthearted energy to it. From its handling of abuse and trauma to a silly cast of characters that I grew to love almost immediately, this is one I'll definitely reread a few times between longer titles! And I look forward to reading more of Zoey Chase's work in the future!
April 13, 2020
Such a fun book! Classic cozy with an idyllic setting, amateur detective, kooky characters. But this one goes beyond the formula and creates characters with real depth and back stories that are not always bright and sunny. This book is the first in what I hope is a long series. In it, our protagonist returns to the campground she recently inherited from her grandparents. She has given up her career as a lawyer to try and make a go of the campground. Unfortunately, on her first day, a woman dies on one of the campground's trails. Can she find the killer before the bad publicity kills her dream of making the campground work? I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
November 30, 2020
I received this eBook from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
Now, normally I don't read cozy mysteries. I picked this out because I needed it for a prompt in a reading challenge I've been doing. I think I've read maybe 3 or 4 cozy mysteries in my life, but this one was pretty decent! It's a fairly quick and simple read that will check off cozy mystery boxes: murder, mystery, humour and of course, romance!
I enjoy Thea's character story, it was believable for sure but I absolutely loved Hennie, she was that lovable strong, independent woman. I definitely recommend this for any reader who isn't familiar with cozy mysteries and yet, even for those who are very familiar with cozy mysteries.
Now, normally I don't read cozy mysteries. I picked this out because I needed it for a prompt in a reading challenge I've been doing. I think I've read maybe 3 or 4 cozy mysteries in my life, but this one was pretty decent! It's a fairly quick and simple read that will check off cozy mystery boxes: murder, mystery, humour and of course, romance!
I enjoy Thea's character story, it was believable for sure but I absolutely loved Hennie, she was that lovable strong, independent woman. I definitely recommend this for any reader who isn't familiar with cozy mysteries and yet, even for those who are very familiar with cozy mysteries.
December 17, 2021
Awesome book!!!!
I loved this book, the characters are great. I felt like i was right there getting things together to get the campground up and running.
Nolan is a great fit for Thea.
She has been through a lot before she moved to the campground she inherited from her grandparents and then so has Nolan ex-cop turned handyman/security. The misfits of the small area Curtis ( the so-called handyman), Enid, Hennie.
Then you have the police officers Randall and Longshore they are a trip.
When a person wants to walk on a trail to help exercise doesn't come back, what happened and why?
That's what Thea and the gang has to find so they can re-open the campground.
You have to read for details and you won't be disappointed!!!!
I loved this book, the characters are great. I felt like i was right there getting things together to get the campground up and running.
Nolan is a great fit for Thea.
She has been through a lot before she moved to the campground she inherited from her grandparents and then so has Nolan ex-cop turned handyman/security. The misfits of the small area Curtis ( the so-called handyman), Enid, Hennie.
Then you have the police officers Randall and Longshore they are a trip.
When a person wants to walk on a trail to help exercise doesn't come back, what happened and why?
That's what Thea and the gang has to find so they can re-open the campground.
You have to read for details and you won't be disappointed!!!!
December 31, 2019
Thea inherits her grandparents' camp ground just as her marriage ends and she finds out that the ex has drained their accounts. She arrives in a storm and a tree has fallen and blocked her way in. And things don't get any better. Thea finds the campground isn't in good shape, that she has a deadbeat employee and a quirky neighbor. Then someone is found dead on one of the trails. The police are incompetent so Thea and her new handyman/security guard start their own investigation. There are several people who might have killed the woman. This is a very fun read and I really enjoyed this book. I think we'll be seeing some engaging stories from this author. I recommend the book.
January 28, 2020
Just finished ‘Between a Rock and a Deadly Place’ by Zoey Chase and… I LOVED IT!! From the first line of the book (easily setting emotion and location of the story) to the last sentence tying everything together… I just loved it!
It was fun to read and fun to try to solve the mystery. The characters were ‘real’, the dialogues were all true to each of the characters and their personalities and the locations described made me want to book a tent site at the campground (and honestly, I don’t like to camp!).
My recommendation – READ IT… then read the next one in line…. And hope for many more to come!!
It was fun to read and fun to try to solve the mystery. The characters were ‘real’, the dialogues were all true to each of the characters and their personalities and the locations described made me want to book a tent site at the campground (and honestly, I don’t like to camp!).
My recommendation – READ IT… then read the next one in line…. And hope for many more to come!!
February 27, 2020
I received Between a Rock and a Deadly Place from Voracious Readers Only and the author. It is an amazing story that I could not put down. I loved all the characters and their instant connection to each other. Thea is a great main character as she is funny and strong. I would love to see her get back what her ex took from her. I loved Nolan's character and would love to learn more about his past. I enjoyed how they tried to figure out who was the killer. The ending had my heart racing and I stayed up way too late finishing it. I look forward to more of their adventures and hope Ricky visits once in a while.
June 14, 2020
3.5
Complimentary copy thanks to Voracious Readers
I enjoyed this quick read about a recently divorced city lawyer who inherits her grandparents camp ground. She leaves city life to start afresh in the campground, which is full of good memories from her childhood. She finds out it is in need of much work, she doesn't have a lot of money due to her divorce and then there is a murder on one of the hiking trails.
Murder investigations are not common in this fairly remote area and she can't have this bad reputation affecting the business, so she starts snooping herself.
I enjoyed the simplicity of the various characters.
A quick, fun read.
Complimentary copy thanks to Voracious Readers
I enjoyed this quick read about a recently divorced city lawyer who inherits her grandparents camp ground. She leaves city life to start afresh in the campground, which is full of good memories from her childhood. She finds out it is in need of much work, she doesn't have a lot of money due to her divorce and then there is a murder on one of the hiking trails.
Murder investigations are not common in this fairly remote area and she can't have this bad reputation affecting the business, so she starts snooping herself.
I enjoyed the simplicity of the various characters.
A quick, fun read.
September 17, 2020
I got this book via Voracious Readers and loved it. I read it all in two hours. Thea inherits the run down Cedar Fish Camping Ground from her Grandparents just after a messy and distressing divorce. the cozy mystery tells about her struggles to get the campsite back into enough shape to open in time for the new season. With limited assistance she is appalled to find a murder has taken place on one of the hiking trails on her land. A very refreshing mystery combined with clean humour but a budding romance is in the air. Very disappointed to finish the book but looking forward to book two and hope there are more to come;
November 16, 2022
Thea leaves her life as a corporate lawyer, dumps her embezzler of a husband, and moves out to the country to run the campground her grandparents left to her. But it's a little rundown, the only employee is more of a charity case, she has very little money of her own left, and she doesn't really know anyone there. AND THEN one of the locals gets murdered on the grounds and the local cops are a total spoof. So, she and her new friend plus the new handyman/ex-cop have to get it together and work at solving the murder while trying to solve the business problems. Great start to a new series with great characters and lots of laughs!
July 3, 2025
After closing the door on a volatile relationship, Thea decides to start over with new home and job. She moves to Cedar Fish Campgrounds, once lovingly run by her grandparents and filled with fond memories. Now, as the new owner, she’s greeted not by nostalgia, but a rundown campground in need of many expensive repairs. With limited resources she sets out to restore the campground and coax visitors back. But when tragedy strikes, it casts doubt on everything—maybe even the future of Cedar Fish Campground.
This is a quick, easy to read mystery with hints of romance and a charming cast of characters who bring warmth, wit, and a bit of mischief to the story.
This is a quick, easy to read mystery with hints of romance and a charming cast of characters who bring warmth, wit, and a bit of mischief to the story.
December 31, 2019
Thea left her life after a disastrous divorce to reopen her Grandparents’ campground. She is overwhelmed by the amount of repairs needed, and the dead body found on one of the trails may signal the end of her dream. Between A Rock And A Deadly Place is a well written mystery, with appealing characters. I enjoyed reading this novel and will be following this series.
Although I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review, I purchased a copy to enjoy again.
Although I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review, I purchased a copy to enjoy again.
April 25, 2020
Leaving her life of law behind, Thea is off to reopen the old camp grounds that her grandparents owned but a murder on day one has caused a huge problem. Can she and her new friends solve the murder or will her new business go under.
This was an interesting read. It's quite short for a murder mystery but doesnt come across as rushed. The plot is simple and effective. The story builds to a good ending and left me wanting to read more about them. The murderer wasnt too hard to figure out but was still a good read especially if you want a nice short story.
This was an interesting read. It's quite short for a murder mystery but doesnt come across as rushed. The plot is simple and effective. The story builds to a good ending and left me wanting to read more about them. The murderer wasnt too hard to figure out but was still a good read especially if you want a nice short story.
May 17, 2020
Between a Rock and a Deadly Place is a great escapism read. This is the introduction to the Cedar Fish Campground Series and it nicely lays out the setting and the characters. There was a great map (love those!) at the beginning of the book but it was tiny. Luckily the author had the forethought to recreate it on her website (thank you!) and it made visually everything so much easier.
I cheered for the heroes and booed the villains. By the time I'd finished, alas, the book was over! Looking forward to the next.
I cheered for the heroes and booed the villains. By the time I'd finished, alas, the book was over! Looking forward to the next.
June 12, 2020
I was given this to read by Voracious readers. This is a light hearted murder mystery. The equivalent of a 'chick flick'. The heroine has an unhappy past and this is her new start. The 'hero' also has something in his background he's getting over and there is a hint of sexual tension. Meanwhile, there is also a murder. The minor characters are rather two dimensional and the 'sleuthing' rather amateurish but that is not really the main purpose of the story. For a piece of undemanding and pleasant reading, this is to be recommended.
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