A Whale of a Murder - by Valerie Taylor (Paperback)

About the Book

Welcome to Chatham Crossing, a cozy whaling village in New England. Join VENUS BIXBY, the owner of a retro-music store, as she tries to disentangle herself from the town's first murder in decades!

Book Synopsis

First in the Venus Bixby Mystery series from award-winning author Valerie Taylor.

Sea breezes and fireworks fill the air in cozy Chatham Crossing, the peaceful and historic whaling town situated between Providence and Cape Cod.

VENUS BIXBY, owner of the forever popular music store Oldies & Goodies, is counting on the festivities over the Fourth of July weekend to propel her to a position on the prestigious Town Committee.

After years of living in the shadow of her late husband, Venus will finally be the center of attention this holiday weekend: starting with her fiftieth birthday celebration and ending as the parade's Grand Marshal.

Faster than a cookie crumbles, her dream collapses on the morning of her party when she trips over orange platform shoes in the gardens of the Sofia Silva Whaling Museum and breaks her thumb. When it's discovered the shoes are attached to the body of the manager of the museum's gift shop, Venus becomes both a suspect and a sleuth in Chatham Crossing's first murder in decades.

Given this unexpected turn of events, will Venus ever sing and dance at her birthday party, or will her fractured thumb end up in handcuffs?

Includes cookie recipes and a playlist!

If you're a fan of Richard Osman, Katie Gayle, or Ellery Adams, give this cozy mystery a try. You just may find it a delightful diversion from some of the hair-raising, nightmare-inducing novels making headlines these days. Order A Whale of a Murder today!

Review Quotes

2024 Literary Titan Book Awards Gold Winner

2024 Firebird Book Awards Cozy Mystery

2024 Firebird Book Awards Summer Beach Read

2024 CIBA Murder & Mayhem Award Semi-Finalist

"A Whale of a Murder is a delightful mystery that has an idyllic setting, humorous dialogue, and plenty of surprises." - Readers' Favorite 5-star review

"Taylor's debut cozy hits all the beloved genre touchstones. There's an offstage murder in a small town, baking, cats, a small business...cozy indeed! But the author adds a little spiciness to the relationships, making the book ideal for fans of the subgenre and those who love Taylor's romantic-comedy What's Not trilogy ... (this is) a fun first in a series." - First Clue

"Perfect to read on the beach in the summer or by a fireplace in the winter (or actually, anytime you're in the mood for a whodunit)!" - Deborah K. Shepherd, author of So Happy Together