🐾 Dot's Wander & Wonder Weekly
Traveling from one mystery to the next... with Margo and Dot.
🐾 Dot's Detective Notes
Happy October!
Dot here, reporting live from the officially declared Best Month of the Year.
October is practically a national holiday for mystery lovers. The days get shorter, the shadows get longer, and suddenly everyone realizes that wrapped up under a blanket with a questionable alibi is the superior form of entertainment.
Before we dive into the big countdown, here is your official October Cozy Bucket List to kick off the weekend right:
- [ ] Sip apple cider while wearing an oversized sweater.
- [ ] Read past 10 PM on a weeknight because "just one more chapter" turned into four.
- [ ] Pre-order a certain cozy mystery involving small-town garden feuds... (wink).
Speaking of which, we are officially 4 DAYS AWAY from launch day!
D.A. is pacing around trying not to spill her tea, while I’ve been keeping watch over our weekend file. Grab your favorite mug and let’s dive in!
📚 FRIDAY FEATURED READ
Paw, Prints and Poison: A Clair Mitchell Cozy Mystery
by Bentley Reese
Claire Mitchell is in desperate need of a break—but murder wasn’t on the itinerary.
Trading lattes for lakeside views at the cozy Pine Grove Inn, Claire is ready to unwind with her gossip-loving best friend, Lucy, and ever-loyal Labrador, Murphy, right alongside.
But before Claire can even unpack, a despised politician drops dead—his final moments steeped in more mystery than the inn’s over-brewed tea. Claire’s restful retreat suddenly turns into a race to catch a killer.
The Suspects & Clues:
- Professor Levenson: The silver-tongued linguist claims the politician laughed off his research, calling it foolish.
- Walter Langley: Had his fair share of disagreements with the politician—heated, relentless, and never quite settled.
- Murphy: Sniffing out much more than just table scraps.
With handwritten threats materializing, it’s clear the prowler is watching and hiding in plain sight. Can Claire crack the case before the killer sends her packing, for good?
Dot’s Verdict: "If you love lakeside drama, over-brewed tea, and dogs doing the actual heavy lifting in an investigation, this is your weekend binge!"
🗺️ SCOUTING BELLWETHER: Your weekend persona & Map Scouting game
With Murder at Bellwether Gardens dropping in EXACTLY 4 DAYS (October 6th!), D.A. and I are putting your detective instincts to the ultimate test on our town map!
If you were spending a crisp, leaf-crunching autumn weekend in Bellwether right now, where on the map would we spot you? 🧭
- A) ☕ The Caffeinated Sleuth — Tucked into a cozy velvet booth at the Town Square Diner or Bell & Briar, nursing a giant cinnamon latte while shamelessly eavesdropping on town gossip!
- B) 🍁 The Unsuspecting Stroller — Wandering the scenic Riverside Park trails near the footbridge with an audiobook, completely peaceful until a suspicious clue floats downstream!
- C) 🌺 The Garden Society Spy — Snooping around the Glasshouse Conservatory at Bellwether Gardens, pretending to admire rare orchids while keeping tabs on local rivalries!
If you asked me? 🐾 I’d be stationed directly under a diner booth waiting for an accidental pancake drop, or trailing Mrs. Harper down Maple Lane! Her lace curtains twitched three separate times when Margo and I walked by yesterday, and 100% sure she’s judging my tail fluff! 🕵️♀️✨
Tell us your Bellwether hangout spot! And if you want your front-row ticket to town scandals the second the gates open on Tuesday, lock in your pre-order today! 🎟️👇
🍂 📚 DOT’S WEEKEND TBR HAZARD STACK
D.A. tried to neatly organize this weekend’s reading list, but I personally stepped in to turn it into an absolute safety hazard.
If your weekend TBR pile isn’t tall enough to knock over a coffee cup when a Papillon wags her tail near it, are you even reading?
Here are the cozy mysteries we’ve pooled together to keep your Kindle warm all weekend long!📚
☕ Coffee with D.A.
Hey y'all! ☕
It’s officially day two of October, and my coffee intake is already fully matching my launch-week heart rate, haha!
October has always been my absolute favorite month to write, but having Murder at Bellwether Gardens drop on October 6th, just 4 short days away, makes everything feel a little surreal!
Right now, I’m nervously double-checking every single thing.
Bringing this town to life for you has been an absolute labor of love, and knowing that on Tuesday you’ll finally be walking through the Bellwether gates alongside Margo and Dot means the world to me.
Thank you for filling this community with so much warmth, clever deductions, and launch-week excitement.
Keep your mugs warm and your suspect list close,
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