Murder In a Cape Cottage

Murder in a Cape Cottage by Maddie Day is an enjoyable cozy mystery that transports readers to Cape Cod. I thought Murder in a Cape Cottage was well-written. The main characters are realistic and developed. I love Mac's grandmother and her African Gray parrot, Belle. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town with its cozy shops and the quaint homes. I like Tim's (and now Mac's) carriage house (a hundred-year-old home). Mac and Tim are busy getting ready for their wedding which is in a few days on New Year's Eve. Mac is fortunate to have her best friend, Gin and her mother taking care of all the details. The mystery was unique. Mac and Tim want a bathroom attached to the master. They are going to demolish a closet and a storage room for the purpose. When they break through the lath and plaster, they find a skeleton. The skeleton sitting in a chair and wearing a wedding dress. Someone wanted to make sure the unfortunate soul could not get out because they tied her hands behind her back and fastened a chain to a ring on the wall. Mac feels for the woman who never got to marry her sweetheart. Mac with help from the cozy capers book group looks into the crime. I thought the mystery was an easy one to solve but I enjoyed joining Mac as she asked questions and dug for clues. I like where information was discovered (spoilers) that helped Mac solve the case. There are two secondary mysteries as well. The skeleton bride's groom has not been seen either (since 1940s). Mac wonders if he did the deed, or did he flee town. There are robberies happening to the shops in town. Who is behind the thefts? The mystery is just the distraction Mac needs to keep her mind off the wedding. There is a good wrap up at the end. Murder in a Cape Cottage is the fourth A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series or if you have missed a book along the way (like me). There is repetition of case details. Mac will get information and then she shares it with various individuals. I thought the ending was sweet. I like books that leave me smiling. I loved the mention of Krista Davis's A Pen & Ink Mysteries. There is a shout out for Lucy Burdette's A Key West Food Critic Mysteries as well. There are recipes at the end for items made in the story (not by Mac). Murder in a Cape Cottage charming cozy with a chatty parrot, discontinued demolition, a butchered bride, a bevy of burglaries, a flower girl dilemma, and New Year merrymaking.