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Volume 9 • Issue 3
Thursday, October 1, 2026
🍂 FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
Happy first day of October, y’all! 🎃
We made it. October is officially here, which means I can no longer complain that everyone is decorating for Halloween too early.
Well... within reason.
More importantly, our Fall and/or Halloween Decorating Contest officially begins TODAY! I announced it yesterday, and now I want to see what you've got. Inside, outside, front porch, mantel, yard, Halloween tree, pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts—I don't care whether you decorate one little corner or transform your entire house.
Send me those pictures throughout October! You can simply reply to this email with your photo or send it directly to helloelly@mycozymurdermysteries.com. At the end of the month, I'll choose a winner, and that reader will receive a special prize from me.
I'll put all the details below so you have them handy.
But first, we have a brand-new mystery making its way to readers.
Today's featured book doesn't officially release until October 6, but you can preorder it now so it lands right on your Kindle on release day. And if you're a reader who loves the classic mysteries of Agatha Christie, I think you're going to want to take a closer look at D.A. Sweeten.
We've also got three more mysteries making headlines and plenty of free books waiting in today's promos.
October is starting strong around here.
Let's open today's edition.
🐾 PERRY'S PAW PRINTS
"I assume I'm still judging."
No.
"We've discussed this."
You tried to award automatic bonus points for cats.
"An objective measure of quality."
That's not objective.
"Fine. Maine Coons receive bonus points."
That's considerably worse.
"Green-eyed Maine Coons?"
Perry.
"I am attempting to compromise."
For the record, Perry is not judging the Halloween contest.
"We'll see."
🔦 TODAY'S MYSTERY SPOTLIGHT
PRESTIGIOUS GARDEN SHOW TURNS DEADLY WHEN A BODY IS FOUND AMONG THE BLOOMS
Murder at Bellwether Gardens
A Wander & Wonder Cozy Mystery
by D.A. Sweeten
COMING OCTOBER 6 — PREORDER NOW
The flowers are blooming... and so are the secrets.
A prestigious event hosted by the beloved Bellwether Gardens Society brings excitement to Margo's hometown of Bellwether, Pennsylvania. Margo expects a relaxing day strolling through the town's historic gardens.
Instead, peaceful blooms quickly turn deadly.
The society's notoriously difficult president is discovered dead among the flowers, transforming one of Bellwether's most beautiful landmarks into the center of a chilling mystery.
And in a town like Bellwether, there are plenty of secrets hiding beneath the surface.
With rivalries blooming and long-buried secrets beginning to emerge, Margo and her loyal Papillon, Dot, start looking more closely at the things others may have overlooked.
Because someone knows what happened in those gardens.
And Margo intends to uncover the truth before someone else becomes the next victim.
Because in Bellwether... even the prettiest gardens can hide deadly thorns.
If you enjoy mysteries in the tradition of Agatha Christie—secrets, suspects, careful clues, and an investigation where the details matter—take a look at D.A. Sweeten's newest Wander & Wonder mystery.
Murder at Bellwether Gardens releases October 6, but you can preorder your copy now and have it waiting on your Kindle when release day arrives.
📰 MORE MYSTERIES MAKING HEADLINES
FOUR MORE CASES HAVE ARRIVED
One garden murder isn't nearly enough for the first day of October.
I've also got FOUR mysteries from fellow authors on today's news desk. Have a look through the case files and see what catches your eye. Maybe you'll discover a new author, a new sleuth, or another suspicious little town where the residents are considerably better at keeping secrets than staying alive.
Our October TBR is already in trouble, isn't it?
📚 COMMUNITY BOOK EXCHANGE
START OCTOBER WITH FREE BOOKS
New month.
New TBR.
That's how we're going to justify this.
Today's book promos are open, and there are plenty of free books waiting for you. Browse the collections, investigate some covers, and grab anything that looks like your kind of mystery.
You might discover a new favorite author.
You might accidentally start another series.
You might download enough books to make your Kindle quietly question your life choices.
All perfectly acceptable outcomes.
🎃 AROUND SUNSET COVE
THE HALLOWEEN DECORATING CONTEST IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!
Yesterday I warned you.
Today it's official.
🎃 THE SUNSET CHRONICLES HALLOWEEN DECORATING CONTEST BEGINS NOW!
All month long, I want to see your Halloween decorations.
Show me the inside of your home, the outside, your front porch, yard, mantel, Halloween tree, pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts, witches—or whatever else you've dreamed up.
Your display doesn't have to be huge or elaborate. We're doing this for fun. If you love it and it makes your home feel like Halloween, I want to see it.
📸 HOW TO ENTER
Take a picture of your Halloween decorations anytime during October and either reply directly to one of my emails with your photo or send it to:
helloelly@mycozymurdermysteries.com
At the end of October, I'll look through the entries and choose my favorite. (Perry, Perry will look through)
🏆 ONE WINNER WILL RECEIVE A SPECIAL PRIZE FROM ELLY GREY!
And yes, I'm already excited to see what everyone does.
Sunset Cove will be decorating right along with you throughout the month, so we'll check in on the town as porches change, pumpkins appear, storefronts get spooky, and the residents inevitably turn this into a competition.
Because of course they will.
🌊 OCTOBER ARRIVES IN SUNSET COVE
The calendar may say October 1, but Sunset Cove won't transform overnight.
Over the next few weeks, we'll start seeing the town slowly change. Pumpkins will appear on porches. The shops will decorate their windows. Autumn wreaths will give way to ghosts and witches, and I fully expect someone to put a skeleton somewhere it absolutely does not belong.
We'll keep checking in as Halloween gets closer.
By the end of the month, our quiet little coastal town should be looking just spooky enough.
And knowing Sunset Cove, we should probably make sure all those skeletons really are plastic.
🗞️ THE WEEKEND EDITION IS CLOSED…
And with that, Volume 9 is officially closed.
Today we welcomed October, opened the Sunset Chronicles Halloween Decorating Contest, investigated a murder among the flowers in Bellwether Gardens, added three more mysteries to our TBRs, and grabbed even more free books from today's promos.
That's a pretty productive first day of October.
Remember, Murder at Bellwether Gardens releases October 6, so if Margo and Dot's newest investigation sounds like your kind of mystery, get that preorder in now and it'll be waiting for you on release day.
And starting today...
SEND ME THOSE HALLOWEEN PICTURES! 🎃
Reply right to this email or send them to helloelly@mycozymurdermysteries.com.
I can't wait to see what you've done.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. We'll be back next Tuesday with Volume 10 • Issue 1 and another mystery waiting to be investigated.
Until then, stay cozy, keep reading, and enjoy the first few days of October.
Happy Reading!
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