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An Otter Lake Mystery #3
Snowed In with Murder
There’s no retreat and no surrender when Erica Bloom finds herself stuck in a snow storm with a stone-cold killer. . .
Erica has returned to Otter Lake, New Hampshire, to rekindle her romance with Sheriff Grady Forrester at her mom’s island retreat, currently closed for the off season. Just ahead of a rapidly advancing storm front, Erica arrives to discover Mom has rented the lodge to a reality TV show. They’re filming the wealthy but awful Boatright brood, who’ve been summoned here by their patriarch because—so he says—one of them wants to kill him.
SNOWED IN WITH MURDER
Great television, terrible timing. Not only are Erica’s romantic hopes snuffed out like a candle flame, the nasty Nor’easter just became a superstorm…and no one is getting off the island ’til it blows over. When the power fails, it’s lights out for the patriarch. Now, marooned with a murdered millionaire and his feuding family, it’s up to Erica to take the killer by storm and get back to the business of reuniting with Grady—until death do they part!
Erica has returned to Otter Lake, New Hampshire, to rekindle her romance with Sheriff Grady Forrester at her mom’s island retreat, currently closed for the off season. Just ahead of a rapidly advancing storm front, Erica arrives to discover Mom has rented the lodge to a reality TV show. They’re filming the wealthy but awful Boatright brood, who’ve been summoned here by their patriarch because—so he says—one of them wants to kill him.
SNOWED IN WITH MURDER
Great television, terrible timing. Not only are Erica’s romantic hopes snuffed out like a candle flame, the nasty Nor’easter just became a superstorm…and no one is getting off the island ’til it blows over. When the power fails, it’s lights out for the patriarch. Now, marooned with a murdered millionaire and his feuding family, it’s up to Erica to take the killer by storm and get back to the business of reuniting with Grady—until death do they part!
322 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published February 7, 2017
About the author
Auralee Wallace
11 books828 followersAfter spending her formative years reading Grimms’ fairy tales and stirring up potions in the creek behind her house, Auralee Wallace knew she would grow up to be a witch. When that didn’t work out, she decided becoming a writer was the next best thing. Now, Auralee is the author of multiple novels, including the Otter Lake mystery series and The Evenfall Witches B&B mysteries. She lives in Ottawa with her husband, kids, dog, and cat.
She can be found on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and her website http://auraleewallace.com/.
Auralee is represented by Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary and Media.
She can be found on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and her website http://auraleewallace.com/.
Auralee is represented by Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary and Media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 16, 2018
This was the book that nearly killed me!!!
I wanted to pay homage to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, but killing nine, ten people really wasn't coming off all that...cozy:)
I think I hit a nice balance between humor and suspense in the end.
I wanted to pay homage to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, but killing nine, ten people really wasn't coming off all that...cozy:)
I think I hit a nice balance between humor and suspense in the end.
March 24, 2017
While this was still a great addition to the Otter Lake series, it wasn't as cozy and humorous as the two books that came before. Mostly because what makes this series great is the interactions of the quirky main characters and in this mystery they were all separated by a huge snow storm. It was more of a standard mystery. I usually spend most of time laughing out loud while reading these books, but this time the story fell a little flat. However, several plot points were furthered and I can't wait to see where the next book takes Erica, Freddie, Grady, Rhonda, and Otter Lake! But please, more laughs next time! Parkour!
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 29, 2020I picked this up in the library based on the cover - it looked cute and fit into a challenge in the SRC group. I think it was supposed to be comic, but I didn't like the feel/tone of the book. The main character was too whiny. She seemed to want everything to revolve around her. I gave up in chapter 3, before the murder occurred. (I think that's too soon to put a star rating, since it's based on my feeling rather than on whether or not it was well-written.)
February 6, 2017
If you are not yet familiar with the Otter Lake Mystery Series, you should get acquainted. This is a really funny cozy mystery that I can not get enough off. I was thrilled to get an advanced reading copy of Snowed In With Murder by Auralee Wallace. This is the third book in the series and I loved the first too, but this one was such an action packed mystery I read it in one sitting. I could not put it down! As main characters go Erica is pretty much a magnet for murder, but it is her BFF who steals the show. While I love Erica, this series is made with the antics of best bud Freddie Ng! If ever there was a chance to have and meet these fictional characters in real life this would be a duo at the top of my list. This Cozy is crazy, fun, unconventional and a hoot to read!
February 15, 2018
Erica has big plans for the weekend. She's coming back to Otter Lake, and hopes to mend her fences with sheriff Grady. Surely he'll forgive her for her problem with committing! Of course, things go wrong. Her mother has rented the island retreat to a reality show about a dysfunctional wealthy family, the storm of the century is about to hit, and the patriarch of the wealthy family has suddenly died. Erica finds the generator has been sabotaged, which means that when the power goes out, they'll be stuck in the dark. And her friends Rhonda and Freddie keep phoning her to tell her about a movie where the serial killer sabotages the generator before he--, no! Erica won't listen, even when she's dragging a teen-aged boy across the island trying to escape from a seven-foot tall serial killer. Suspenseful and funny.
January 26, 2024
I thought this book was a lot of fun and had some laugh out loud funny moments.
February 7, 2017
In the spirit of full disclosure I beta read this gem. Our poor Erica just can't get a break when she blows into town just ahead of an epic Nor'easter her plans to woo back the oh so handsome Grady Forester are dashed when she finds that the retreat has been rented out and if possible even worse to a clan that has to be read to be believed! If ruining her best laid plans weren't enough, they are there to film the pilot for a reality TV show! To add insult to injury this is no Bachelor reboot, before she can come up with a Plan B to try and save this weekend from epic failure status the Boatright family patriarch very suspiciously meets his maker leaving Erica in the now unfortunately familiar position of having to unmask a killer. Be prepared for madcap antics and hi-jinks a plenty! I loved the absurdity of our poor sleuth's attempts to solve this crime before some decides to cut what could be Erica's final scene.
May 15, 2022
I liked this one a lot better than the first two books. There was a lot less of the inane banter Erica usually has with Freddie and Rhonda, which was a blessing. Sure there was some, but not as much as in the earlier books, just enough to move the story along. The plot was more focused on Erica and the murder mystery. And the whole Grady relationship thing was more peripheral to the story, than a main driving factor.
That being said, I had some real problems with details surrounding the storm and how the people were dealing with it. Major plot points were dropped into the story, then totally ignored.
Brody takes off into the storm and it says, "His clothes wouldn't protect him from this type of weather. He'd die of hypothermia if he got lost out there, and the way the snow was driving, he'd get lost for sure." Yet, he's outside for the majority of the night, and when he finally shows up again, Rhonda handcuffs him in an unheated, outdoor, metal shed. But he ends up with neither hypothermia nor frostbite.
Erica and Kyle go down to the police boat. On the way down the steps it says, "Water rushed by my boots, and I felt the first little trickle of frigid water find its way through the seams. If the temperature dropped anymore, I'd probably lose a couple of toes...". Soon after, Erica falls off of the dock and into the icy water up to her knees. She and Kyle make it onto the boat and she strips off her mother's too small boots and tries to rub some warmth back into her feet, but soon she and Kyle decide they can't stay there and they are back out into the storm. One has to assume Erica somehow managed to get the soaking wet, too small boots back onto her frozen feet and then took off, back into the storm, still soaking from the knees down. And yet, like Brody and the possible hypothermia and frostbite, Erica's wet clothing and nearly frozen legs and feet are never mentioned again. They ceased to be a factor in the story.
Erica and Kyle find her mother, Summer, tied up in the closet of her office. She'd been knocked out and tied up before the storm ever arrived. Shortly after, someone is trying to get to them in the office and they make a hasty exit though the window and out into the storm. One has to assume that Summer wasn't lying in the closet clad in outdoor winter clothing, and yet nothing is said about her bundling up before hopping out into the storm. Not even putting on a coat.
As Tom Clancy has said, "The difference between reality and fiction? Fiction has to make sense." A lot of the handling of people out running around in a Nor'easter didn't make sense. I don't think Ms. Wallace knows much about what a true Nor'easter is. It's basically a snow hurricane. Hurricane force winds driving snow and sleet. You can't go out into one and expect to survive. The repercussions of the storm were only a factor when it was convenient, then totally ignored or forgotten about when it was not.
That being said, I had some real problems with details surrounding the storm and how the people were dealing with it. Major plot points were dropped into the story, then totally ignored.
Brody takes off into the storm and it says, "His clothes wouldn't protect him from this type of weather. He'd die of hypothermia if he got lost out there, and the way the snow was driving, he'd get lost for sure." Yet, he's outside for the majority of the night, and when he finally shows up again, Rhonda handcuffs him in an unheated, outdoor, metal shed. But he ends up with neither hypothermia nor frostbite.
Erica and Kyle go down to the police boat. On the way down the steps it says, "Water rushed by my boots, and I felt the first little trickle of frigid water find its way through the seams. If the temperature dropped anymore, I'd probably lose a couple of toes...". Soon after, Erica falls off of the dock and into the icy water up to her knees. She and Kyle make it onto the boat and she strips off her mother's too small boots and tries to rub some warmth back into her feet, but soon she and Kyle decide they can't stay there and they are back out into the storm. One has to assume Erica somehow managed to get the soaking wet, too small boots back onto her frozen feet and then took off, back into the storm, still soaking from the knees down. And yet, like Brody and the possible hypothermia and frostbite, Erica's wet clothing and nearly frozen legs and feet are never mentioned again. They ceased to be a factor in the story.
Erica and Kyle find her mother, Summer, tied up in the closet of her office. She'd been knocked out and tied up before the storm ever arrived. Shortly after, someone is trying to get to them in the office and they make a hasty exit though the window and out into the storm. One has to assume that Summer wasn't lying in the closet clad in outdoor winter clothing, and yet nothing is said about her bundling up before hopping out into the storm. Not even putting on a coat.
As Tom Clancy has said, "The difference between reality and fiction? Fiction has to make sense." A lot of the handling of people out running around in a Nor'easter didn't make sense. I don't think Ms. Wallace knows much about what a true Nor'easter is. It's basically a snow hurricane. Hurricane force winds driving snow and sleet. You can't go out into one and expect to survive. The repercussions of the storm were only a factor when it was convenient, then totally ignored or forgotten about when it was not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2024
I'm on the fence about this one. There are parts of the book that I really liked, and parts that had me so frustrated I wanted to just delete the whole thing and move on to the next book. The whole subplot of her trying to woo back her law enforcement former boyfriend held no interest to me at all, but as a reality TV junkie, the idea of her plans being unexpectedly thwarted by the discovery that a reality show was being filmed in her childhood home (also some kind of retreat whose purpose I never quite understood) drew me in. There was not only person vs person conflict, but also person vs nature with the arrival of a brutal late winter storm. Then the plot got way too bloated and I got frustrated with one obstacle and plot complication after another being thrown at the main character as the plot dragged on past my point of irritation. Every time I put my Kindle down in frustration, I found myself needing to pick it up again to find out what happened next, even though it just moved on to the next plot obstacle that kept getting in the way of resolution. Still, I was satisfied with the ending, and not at all surprised at who did what.
I suppose this is what happens when a Kindle Daily Deal entices you to buy a book in the middle of a new to you series. It either confuses the heck out of you and turns you totally off the series or it pulls you in and makes you want to load your Kindle with the whole series. I haven't read the first two books in the series which leaves me confused as heck about the relationships that have already been established (or at least I hope they were) in previous books. Maybe reading them would have left me less confused. I don't understand why Erica would ever want to come back to that less than "glad to have you back" environment, but then home has a strong draw on the psyche. I also don't understand the relationship between Erica and her mother, and Erica and Freddie. The important part is that I want to understand, so I think I'll go back to the beginning and read the first book. If that one starts giving me a better understanding, and less frustration with the pace, then I'll go on to the second book. If by then I find myself understanding Erica better, I will most likely continue the series.
I suppose this is what happens when a Kindle Daily Deal entices you to buy a book in the middle of a new to you series. It either confuses the heck out of you and turns you totally off the series or it pulls you in and makes you want to load your Kindle with the whole series. I haven't read the first two books in the series which leaves me confused as heck about the relationships that have already been established (or at least I hope they were) in previous books. Maybe reading them would have left me less confused. I don't understand why Erica would ever want to come back to that less than "glad to have you back" environment, but then home has a strong draw on the psyche. I also don't understand the relationship between Erica and her mother, and Erica and Freddie. The important part is that I want to understand, so I think I'll go back to the beginning and read the first book. If that one starts giving me a better understanding, and less frustration with the pace, then I'll go on to the second book. If by then I find myself understanding Erica better, I will most likely continue the series.
February 9, 2019
"Snowed in with Murder" is third book in Auralee Wallace's Otter Lake Mystery Series. In this book, Erica returns to Otter Lake to try to rekindle her relationship with Sheriff Grady. Her plans go awry when she shows up to her mom's retreat, which is supposed to be empty for a romantic rendezvous, and there is a reality television crew there. A strong winter storm ends up stranding everyone on the island - with a murderer!
Once again, Wallace brings together a crazy cast of characters to solve a murder mystery infused with a lot of humor. I always enjoy the outlandish situations that Erica gets herself into when "investigating," and my only complaint would be that there wasn't enough interaction with her BFF Freddie in this book since she was stranded on an island without him. Nevertheless, this is another enjoyable trip to Otter Lake, and I look forward to returning again soon!
Once again, Wallace brings together a crazy cast of characters to solve a murder mystery infused with a lot of humor. I always enjoy the outlandish situations that Erica gets herself into when "investigating," and my only complaint would be that there wasn't enough interaction with her BFF Freddie in this book since she was stranded on an island without him. Nevertheless, this is another enjoyable trip to Otter Lake, and I look forward to returning again soon!
December 27, 2021
Erica Bloom is back in Otter Lake, this time to apologize to Grady and try one last time to repair their relationship. What she doesn't know is that her mother has rented out the retreat to a reality TV show on the same night as her romantic date, and there's a huge snowstorm coming. One of the reality stars gets poisoned, and now Erica is stranded in the snow with a murderer and a bunch of strangers.
While Wallace does a good job of building up the intensity and isolation caused by the snowstorm situation, Erica and Rhonda's neurotics without Freddie and Grady to temper them are a bit less fun. While I admit it's good to see them play off each other, I missed the rest of the characters, especially since the foreseeable twist makes the rest of the relationships built in this story a little less enjoyable. Still, it was great being in Otter Lake, and I'm looking forward to the next.
While Wallace does a good job of building up the intensity and isolation caused by the snowstorm situation, Erica and Rhonda's neurotics without Freddie and Grady to temper them are a bit less fun. While I admit it's good to see them play off each other, I missed the rest of the characters, especially since the foreseeable twist makes the rest of the relationships built in this story a little less enjoyable. Still, it was great being in Otter Lake, and I'm looking forward to the next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2021
Returning to Otter Lake, Erica is hoping for a nice quiet evening at her mom's island house to try to rekindle her romance with Sheriff Grady Forrester. When she arrives, however, she finds that her mom has rented the place to a reality tv series shoot. To top that off, a killer Nor'easter is bearing down on the island and, when a body turns up, Erica knows she has to find the killer herself since the island is about to be cut off from the mainland by the storm, which has just become a Superstorm.
August 16, 2022
This was my least favourite in the series so far. It was extremely convoluted, way over the top, and I disliked that thw Grady/Erica story was missing so many chunks that were slooooowly doled out throughout the story. The only reason I’m giving it 3 stars is because the ending redeemed itself and sets up the next books in a way that insures some humourous, crazy, and fun adventures at Otter Lake.
December 1, 2016
I just finished this third book in the Otter Lake Mystery series and I can't wait for more! It was hilarious, well written, with great characters. I cried with laughter during the first chapter. Erica and Freddie are my favorite characters from any mystery book, and I've read a lot. I can't say enough about this series, my favorite hands down!
November 23, 2017
Well the plot was good, lots of red herrings and twists and turns. The characters were totally annoying. There was no need to fill space with useless humor which doesn't push the story along. I also can't stand when characters are moronically stupid for laughs when there is danger. I don't know that I will read any others in this series.
October 30, 2018
A twist on a traditional locked room mystery as we are snowed in on an island in this installment of the Otter Lake series. I enjoyed this one and thought it was probably the best in a mediocre series so far - hinting that the author may be hitting her stride. At least enough that I'll stick it out for the next book.
December 8, 2019
This is the first book in the Otter Lake series that I have read. I enjoyed it. I wasn't too fond of the reality TV situation because I find "reality" TV annoying! But the dysfunctional family was rather funny. Anyway, it was quite the wild story and I didn't figure things out, the story kept me guessing. I would read another Otter Lake mystery.
December 23, 2019
I like these books because there is humor mixed in with the murder mystery. This one starts as a classic rich family/who will inherit all the money type story and then turns into snowstormy chaos. Erica is trying to survive and keep innocent people alive throughout, but outrageous things keep happening. I really enjoyed this action-packed story.I'm ready for the next one.
June 20, 2022
Wow. This was so fantastic! The drama kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The whole evil twist at the end was… killer. Pun intended. The character growth was a very nice change of pace as well. With all that said, it’s not a series that I have to keep reading. If I see a book that I haven’t read yet, then sure, I’ll pick it up, but if it’s not there, there are others to read instead.
December 15, 2017
In my opinion, this is the best of the first three Otter Lake books. It kept me interested and I couldn’t put it down. I do wish there were more interactions with Grady this time around, but maybe in book four? I will absolutely be picking up the next few books to continue on with the series.
April 25, 2018
I am beginning to wonder if this series of books is really a spoof on cozy mysteries.
I just do not find this heroine the least bit believable and the events of the mystery are either predictable or off the wall.
Not impressed.
I just do not find this heroine the least bit believable and the events of the mystery are either predictable or off the wall.
Not impressed.
January 5, 2019
I can't remember if I've read either of the previous books in this series, but this one is neither memorable nor enjoyable - basically, it's silly, the characters are more like caricatures & the plot has been done to death (literally!) by better authors.
August 5, 2020
Honestly, I get the feeling that the same love interests in this series never get together and It's getting slightly off-putting and annoying. I'm going to be taking a break from the series but I do love the characters and their development just that ONE romance is driving me nuts!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2016
Erica Bloom's adventures just keep getting better and better! And her sidekick Freddie is hilarious!
March 25, 2017
I absolutely loved this book!!!! I enjoyed the humor throughout the story. Was sitting on the edge of my seat through most of the book! And was totally shocked in the end!! I just added a new favorite author to my growing list!
July 11, 2017
Thankx for the read.
October 8, 2017
A fun and fast paced who dunit.
March 16, 2018
Cute, light, no need to read this series.
September 7, 2018
Really enjoyed this. Quite funny and likeable characters, now to pick up the first book in this series.
January 14, 2019
Fun read with several laugh out loud moments. I'm enjoying this whole series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews