Murder on Devil’s Pond by Ayla Rose is the first book in a new series of cozy mysteries, Hummingbird Hollow B&B Mysteries.

Ayla Rose is a new pen name being used by an author whose books I’ve reviewed several times. I’ll reveal her name at the end of this review.

The cozy mystery genre is a crime fiction sub-genre. Sex and violence occur “offstage” (not on the written page), and the person solving the crime is typically an amateur sleuth. The crime and its detection always take place in a small community. Cozies typically contain only mild profanity, and the murders are not excessively violent. The amateur sleuth typically has an interesting job or hobby that is integral to the plot in some way.

Ayla Rose’s Murder on Devil’s Pond might push the boundaries of the “cozy” genre at times, but I was immediately hooked.

The Hummingbird Hollow B&B is in the fictional town of Jasper, Vermont. Hannah Solace returns to town to renovate and reopen the inn she now owns with her sister Reggie.

The two sisters seldom agree about the best way to run the inn, but they seem to be on the same side regarding the rift they have with their father.

After a fifteen-year absence settling into the community hasn’t been easy.

Hannah develops an unlikely friendship with her cantankerous elderly neighbor, Ezra Grayson.

Ezra has let the property go after the death of his wife, Molly, and he is being pressured by his niece, Maura, his nephews, Rob and Waylen, and members of the Jasper business community to go into an assisted living facility and sell his property.

When Hannah, finds Ezra’s body near the water at Devil’s Pond, everyone assumes he fell and died of a heart attack. When the evidence indicates foul play, Hannah won't rest until she finds the person or persons responsible.

Ezra sold some land to Hannah’s father, John, several years ago. Her family prospered while Ezra seemed not to benefit. Ezra visited John Solace the day he died.

Could John Solace have murdered Ezra to keep him quiet about a business deal?

What about Ezra’s neighbor who wanted the land so he could build a rentable guest house and sell a throughway for a road to the ski lodge?

How badly did the owner of the lodge need that road?

Were Ezra’s niece and nephews really concerned about his well-being or were they getting impatient waiting to inherit the family home?

What was Reggie’s cheating ex-husband Chad willing to do to get the commission on the sale of Ezra’s property?

Did someone want Ezra’s remaining land badly enough to kill for it?

Ezra's will and Hannah's quest make her a suspect and a potential victim as she learns that money and secrets seldom coexist willingly.

Murder on Devil's Pond kept me engaged and connected with the characters and the plot. The characters have depth and dimension in addition to the quirkiness you would expect in a small New England town.

An intricate plot filled with action, a long list of suspects, and a dose of humor will keep you entertained and invested.

Ayla Rose is a pen name used by Wendy Tyson. Tyson is an author, lawyer, and former therapist whose background has inspired her thrillers and mysteries. As Ayla Rose, she writes The Hummingbird Hollow B&B Mystery series. As Liv Andersson, she writes thrillers, including Leave the Lights On and Little Red House. As Wendy Tyson, she is the author of several mystery series, including the Amazon bestselling Greenhouse Mystery Series. Wendy’s short fiction has appeared in literary journals and crime anthologies, and she has written for The Big Thrill and The Thrill Begins, International Thriller Writers’ online magazines. Wendy is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. She and her husband live in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont with their sons and three dogs.

For more information visit her website, www.wendytyson.com