Mostly Murders

“Did you ever threaten Rose Martin?” “Yes,” Laura whispered. Sam swore.

Emma Stewart and her best friend Laura couldn’t be more different. Emma is an introverted, single, no-nonsense sports fan, dog lover, while Laura is an outgoing, married, frills-and-flowers, prim-and-neat HOA president living in a very attractive neighbourhood in Harbor Shores, Florida. When a house suddenly becomes available in her area, Laura convinces Emma to come see it for herself, but in the process the two of them literally stumble upon the body of Rose Martin, the neighbourhood’s former HOA president who had many enemies, including Laura, who usurped the HOA presidentship from Rose.

With her best friend in the spotlight for murder, Emma is determined to help prove Laura’s innocence with the help of the very charming lawyer, Sam Turner. At the same time, Emma is facing an important, life-altering decision about her career, and her natural reserve and tendency to worry threaten both her potential relationship with Sam, and her long-time friendship with Laura.

A fun, cozy mystery filled with lots of banter, jokes and best friend energy, coupled with romance and red hot passion in both good and bad ways. The friendship between Emma and Laura carries the story as the two of them sleuth, gossip, support each other and bicker, and Dying to Live Here is a great debut mystery with humour, heartbreak and HOA drama on the Florida beachside.

Many thanks to Fawkes Press for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The expected publication date for Dying to Live Here is February 10th, 2026

Cozy mystery – Contemporary