Into the Fire

When Rachel Stowe's pastry chef friend Holly is invited to the classic old hotel just outside of Juniper Grove to entertain a well-known radio host and his crew with her baked wares in exchange for his advertising of her bakery (Holly's Sweets), Rachel and Julia tag along for the adventure and to support Holly. It just happens to be on the 50th anniversary of an unsolved murder at the hotel of a man named Purdy, and the host is convinced of the reality of the tale that his ghost still roams the hotel looking for his killer.

The longtime owner of the hotel is a kind man who's kept the hotel in its aging condition to keep up its tourist appeal of being haunted. However, it doesn't much appeal to the trio of friends even though the owner is cordial and accommodating, having shut down the hotel to outside guests just for this occasion. Holly, Julia, and Rachel are given rooms next to each other but right across the hall from the room where Purdy was murdered and where the radio crew is set up. They're warned about a strange sound that happens sometimes with the added suggestion that it's the old pipes contracting. This of course makes no sense to Rachel, especially when it happens.Some think it's coming from the basement, and a few of them including Rachel decide to investigate after acquiring flashlights. Other than being creepy, there's nothing downstairs to explain the noise.

Before long there is a murder in the library. And a storm. And the power goes out. The couple who are caretakers at the hotel are rushed into service as the storm rushes in and the power goes out.

As you can imagine, in the dark with an unknown murderer in the bunch there is considerable suspense and suspicion.

And so goes the scary mysterious death in this Book 5 Scared to Death of the Juniper Grove Mystery Series by Karin Kaufmann. As always, the Queen of cozy mysteries is at her investigative best with Rachel Stowe doing her part to put the strange occurrences in order and helping her beau Sheriff Gilroy reach the right conclusions.  

Father, thank you for Karin's work, the clever voice and stories you've given her, and her ability to entertain readers while glorifying you. Keep her going, Lord, and bless her in your abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.