My first book by Mary Ellen Hughes. I like the setting of small stores and cottages in this quiet little town. Residents are mostly friendly. There's a hint of magic/paranormal but not much which was fine with me. The dialogs were natural and not corny. ( )

Callie Reed travels to Maryland to visit her Aunt Melodie. She hasn't seen her aunt in 10 years. Not only does she want to reconnect with her aunt, but she needs time away to decide what to do about her troubled love life. Her aunt shows her around her music box shop, House of Melody, explaining the long time Reed family tradition of collecting music boxes. House of Melody is one of many collectible shops in Keepsake Cove, catering to the tourist trade on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Aunt Melodie's cottage is located just behind her shop, and the two continue their conversation for hours that night. The next morning Callie is shocked to find her aunt dead in a pool of blood in her shop. The death is ruled accidental. Suddenly Callie finds herself handing funeral arrangements and meeting with Aunt Melodie's attorney instead of spending a peaceful visit with family. Although the death was supposedly caused by a fall, Callie thinks that there is more to it than that. When she is named sole heir to Aunt Melodies shop and cottage, Callie decides to stay in Keepsake Cove. But if someone did kill her aunt, is it safe? She starts hearing her aunt's music box play by itself without being wound up -- is her aunt trying to give hints about who might have killed her and why?

A Fatal Collection is the first book in a new series, Keepsake Cove mysteries. As I read, I kept thinking that I would love visiting Keepsake Cove! A nice lunch at the Keepsake Cafe, followed by leisurely shopping at the various shops. Heaven! I wonder what interesting goodies I would find? I'm sure I would come home with a lot of great collectibles! :) Realistically speaking, I think shops dedicated solely to the sale of one type of collectible....music boxes, salt and pepper shakers, vintage sewing, etc....would have a hard time making it financially. But....cozy mysteries don't have to be realistic, so those thoughts didn't impede my enjoyment of the story at all.

I enjoy Callie as a main character. She is trying to iron out her life and move past a bad relationship. It's unfortunate that her aunt dies so soon after she arrives, but Callie diligently works to find out what happened to her aunt. I can't wait to see how her character develops as this new series continues. I also like the idea of a music box shop. I have loved music boxes since childhood. I enjoyed reading about all the different boxes in the shop and what songs they played.

The mystery moves along at a nice pace. There are plenty of suspects and some nice twists to the story. I liked the little bit of supernatural edge....it was like a touch of spice added to enhance the flavor of the story. Nice touch. Not overdone.....just a dab will do.

I will definitely be reading more of this series. Great start to a new series!

For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.maryellenhughes.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Midnight Ink via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**




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Callie Reed is visiting her aunt, Melodie at her cottage in picturesque Keepsake Cove. Home to a bevy of collectible shops on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The morning after her first night with her aunt, Callie discovers Melodie’s body on the floor of the music box shop. Grief-stricken, Callie doesn’t believe that Melodie’s death was accidental, but she’s not sure why. It just doesn’t make sense. How could her robust and healthy aunt take a fatal fall? Why was she even in the shop in the middle of the night?

Callie searches for the truth after finding out that her aunt left everything, the house, the shop, even the cat to her. Callie finally has a new life, away from her lackluster life thanks to her aunt. She is determined to find out the truth about Melodie’s death, and her aunt seems to be helping her from the grave, sending signs through an old family music box.

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Series: A Keepsake Cove Mystery - Book 1
Author: Mary Ellen Hughes
Genre: Business/Career Cozy
Publisher: Midnight Ink

A Fatal Collection is a beautiful start to a new series by Mary Ellen Hughes. It combines mystery, intrigue and a slight touch of the paranormal without overwhelming the reader. Ms. Huges’ writing is fluid, transitioning from one chapter or character to another without missing a beat or bogging down the plot. The characters are interesting, and even though this is the first book in a new series, the characters have established backgrounds and characteristics that make them believable and memorable.

Callie is a perplexed woman who has drifted from one thing to another most of her life. No real career or ambition. Her boyfriend is a country singer whom she has spent years trying to please and making herself miserable in the process. With the death of her aunt, she realizes that her life needs to change, including her boyfriend. She makes the decision to stay in Keepsake Cove and run her aunt's shop. She also decides it's time to ditch her useless boyfriend. This is probably the smartest thing she has ever done.

The character of Callie is very much in tune with today’s world. A young woman who really doesn’t know what to do with her life. It is easy for the reader to connect with Callie and her circumstances. Many young people in today’s world have no direction and no idea of what they should do for the rest of their lives. Many people dream of being able to start life over, with a new profession, home, town and most of all, new relationships. Callie is perfectly written to encompass all of these things.

Other characters in this book are a study in small-town life, and jobs that are dependent on the tourist trade. Delia and Brian are fantastic supporting characters who give a level of realism to situations that can sometimes be unimaginable. However, most of the situations in the story are very believable and not in any way outrageous for even the most grounded reader.

The town of Keepsake Cove would be a lovely place to visit with its old-time collectible shops. It has everything from children’s toys to glass ornaments, jewelry and music boxes, items from a bygone era. It has the feel of a small town where a person can spend endless days exploring and finding treasures at every turn. The author's description of the stores and restaurants are detailed without being flowery and at times are mouthwatering.

Readers will be entertained throughout the story from start to finish. A Fatal Collection is a fast-paced page-turning read that leaves the reader with a smile on their face. This book is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys small town politics and business based cozies. As well as characters that will evolve with the series into family and friends who are always there to help when Callie needs them.
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What a lovely mystery! The plot had a lot of good twists and turns, kept me guessing til the end and I enjoyed the characters.. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Many thanks to Midnight Ink and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book! ( )

A Fatal Collection by Mary Ellen Hughes
Book #1: Keepsake Cove Mystery Series
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars

Callie Reed’s life is something of a mess. She has a job she isn’t particularly passionate about and a boyfriend who takes lackluster to a whole new level. With a real need to re-set and re-focus, Callie heads to her beloved aunt Melodie’s home for a breather and a chance to figure out what she wants for her future.

As fate would have it, Callie’s future is laid out before her when her aunt is found dead in her own collectible music box shop. Though the death is ruled accidental, Callie isn’t at all certain. Her aunt Melodie was young, vibrant, healthy, and had no valid reason for being in the shop so late at night. What’s more, there were no signs of forced entry and nothing was stolen from the shop. Accident just doesn’t add up and as soon as she gets a free moment, Callie intends to find out what really happened to her aunt that fateful night.

But first . . . .

Much to Callie’s great surprise, her aunt not only left her a home, but also a successful business in a delightfully small town full of (mostly) welcoming and friendly folks. With the help and advice of the other shop owner’s and one delightfully quirky part-time employee, Callie is able to re-open the music box shop. With the steady stream of local and just-visiting-the-town customers, Callie is secure in her financial future which allows her some free moments to begin piecing together the last days of her aunt’s life. What Callie discovers is a great deal of mystery and not a lot of answers. Her aunt apparently had a significant other not even her best friend knew about, she had a burner phone, and access to a lot of valuable merchandise. Every question brings few answers and a host of new and more perplexing questions. Being new in town means Callie doesn’t know precisely who she can and cannot trust which eventually puts her shop and her life in jeopardy.

The Bottom Line: I got a great deal of pleasure out of this book! Keepsake Cove is such a wonderful world full of delightful and sometimes crazy characters. Each character, even the minor characters, are so well-developed and interesting. Each new person Callie encounters has a story of his/her own to tell and a willingness to help Callie acclimate into their world. There’s a great deal of misdirection in this read which will keep you guessing as to the identity of the big bad right up to the reveal. Between the characters, the fun plot, and the perfectly delightful town of Keepsake Cove, I am sold on this series and thoroughly look forward to the continuation of the series. ( )