What an excellent cozy!! Though this is the 5th book in the Abby McCree series is, I hadn't read any books in this series before reading this one. I loved it so much I'm planning to immediately go back and read the earlier books. Thoroughly enjoyable with an interesting plot and likeable characters.

Abby and biker, Gil, organize the town's running race and, as the title indicates, there's a dead body near the finish line. While the characters seem to eat something on every page (OK, maybe every other page) they manage to progress on solving the mystery.

Highly recommended for cozy fans!!

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.) ( )

Abby McCree inherited her late aunt's Victorian home in Snowberry Creek, Washington. It was fortuitous because after her divorce, she moved in and suddenly the town took to her right away. Because of her business expertise, Abby has a habit of getting roped into events all year long by the mayor's assistant -- and her tenant, Tripp Blackston, is starting to become something more than just a tenant.

This time out she's working on the Salmon Scoot, a 5k run in which the proceeds of the event will benefit the high school. Her co-chair is the unlikely Gil Pratt, co-owner of a motorcycle repair shop along with his brother. Abby is surprised to find that Gil isn't scary at all, and they actually work well together. But the day of the race, she witnesses an argument between Gil's brother Gary and James DiSalvo, a city council member.

Later, when DiSalvo's lifeless body is found along the race trail, Gary is arrested for the murder. Gil is beside himself, knowing his brother isn't a killer. Now Abby, even though she's promised both Tripp and Sheriff Gage Logan that she will stay out of it, is somehow dragged into the investigation anyway. She's determined that any information she receives she'll turn over to Gage, but if the wrong person thinks Abby might know a little too much, it might also be the last thing she does learn...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have read them all and enjoyed every one of them. I do like the fact that Abby's relationship with Tripp is progressing (albeit slowly), so there's that, but in this book she befriends biker Gil, who somehow develops a soft spot for Abby, and, of course, her baking skills. We also get to see a little more of Gage's relationship with his daughter Sydney, and there's a sweet moment that should please anyone.

However, the dead man's daughter is haranguing Gage daily, and there's another woman who's muddying the waters, making it difficult for Abby to figure out the truth. But her friends are around her, and their tidbits of information are giving her a clue as to what the dead man was truly like, and it might make things easier in the long run.

I will not give out any more information on the plot, but I will say that this book is chock full of action, and the clues are there, even if they are few and far between. The murderer came as a surprise to me, and I am usually very good at this, so that was pleasant and enhanced my enjoyment of the book. It was one that I read in one evening, and a very good cozy to keep you entertained. We also get a hint as to what the next book will be like, and I truly wish I could read it now. Ms. Morgan is a talented writer that knows how to pull in the reader and make them want to be part of the book itself, and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review. ( )