The Gargoyle's Secret

by Linn Chapel

[Mystereity Reviews]

I found this book on BookSirens and thought it sounded cute and I'm a sucker for paranormal mysteries. This proved to be a cute, easy read and I loved the spooky atmosphere, made for a great read late in the evening.

Laurel is a photojournalist with an assignment for a piece on Stonehaven Mansion and the family that owns it. There seems to be several mysteries at Stonehaven; a man who went missing decades ago, someone searching the grounds for something, and even the master of the house, Marc, seems to be hiding something. Although the plot moved along quickly due to not being a very long book, it unrolled leisurely, with lots of detail to bring the story alive without dragging it down. The picture created of the beautiful Maine setting and the Gothic mansion and of the many characters really brought it to life. There was a bit more romance than a typical cozy mystery, so I'd call this more a romance mystery than a cozy mystery but it wasn't graphic or in your face. If you like a bit more romance in your cozy, this is for you.

Overall, a great start for a newer author and if there's a second book, I'll definitely pick it up.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.