The cover is cute. I was a little skeptical when I saw the cat had a pov, but those pages were short and sweet and I found myself looking forward to what she had to say. Great character development. I loved the setting. The fact that the mountain lodge was hosting a yoga retreat was interesting. There's lots of other things thrown in this book to make it solid, not just focusing on a murder right from the get-go. I was sent an opportunity to review the next book in this series, that's what got me in gear to read this one - a great first installment. What was I waiting for?! I'm going to read the second one right now!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an ARC. ( )

Misty Murphy is celebrating her 50th birthday in an unusual way - signing her divorce papers and purchasing a rundown mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge that she used to visit as a child. Her first guests are a Yoga group looking for a retreat type location but when the Yoga instructor turns up dead it's not such a relaxing venue for her guests. Trying to keep her first guests from being her last, Misty needs to find the killer before the lodges doors are shut for good.

This was a good start for a new series, however, I thought that Misty made some decisions a bit to quickly - hiring her assistant manager, the handyman living on the premises, catering arranged from the diner - but all in all, putting those aspects aside, it was an entertaining group of characters and a well done mystery. ( )

"Getaway with Murder" features a newly-opened mountain lodge as a backdrop for murder. When Misty hosts a yoga retreat at her mountain lodge, she never expects to host a venue for murder. Suspects abound, with plausible reasons for many of them to commit murder. There are plenty of rabbit trails and red herrings to satisfy readers of cozy mysteries.

I would have liked to see less detail and repetition in the story, so I skimmed parts of it to get to the ending. The characters are interesting and diverse, and the stage is set for future novels in this series. I liked that the love interest did not detract from the mystery aspects of the story, and there is room for development of that relationship in future stories as well. Law enforcement was treated with respect, not made to look like bumbling idiots as in some mystery novels.

Readers who enjoy clean and cozy mysteries set in unique locations will find this an intriguing addition to the genre.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

Thanks to Goodreads and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I always enjoy starting a series at the beginning, when the characters and situations are introduced and both author and reader are freshly enthusiastic. In this first of what promises to be a very readable series, Misty Murphy moves into the mountain lodge she has just purchased in North Carolina. Newly divorced with a plan to open a vacation spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the lodge will be her business as well as her home. She is fortunate in hiring handyman Rocky Crowder to help her with all the things that need upgrading in the aging lodge. And there is a hint of romance to come, with -at least for the time being - a comfortable developing friendship.

Author Diane Kelly skillfully describes the beautiful outdoor scenes so that I felt like I was there: the fresh air, the flora, waterfalls, hikes, and sunsets. Into this setting come Misty's first guests - a group gathering for a week-long yoga retreat as well as a pair of newlywed hikers. Now we meet the characters and personalities. And then the murdered body is discovered.

So Misty is asked by the police to help solve the murder while her current guests are still around, since it's likely the murderer is probably among them. There are plenty of possible suspects and the clues continue to accumulate. This story never dragged as some tend to do. I thought it was interesting that the sheriff actually welcomes Misty's assistance since she is on-site 24/7 and is an intelligent, drama-free person.

This was an easy-to-read cozy with the promise of more mysteries to come. I'll be on the lookout for book two, as I'm already anticipating another visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Mountaintop Lodge. ( )

This is the start of a new cozy mystery that I cannot wait for the second book in this series. I love Misty, Yeti and Rocky. I love that Misty is a 50 year old that is starting something new. There are quirky characters and maybe a love interest. This has all the best parts of a cozy mystery. I received a copy of this book from Minotaur for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )