Trapped by a storm. Suspected of murder. Saved by a dog with nowhere else to go.
Ex-hotel accountant Sylvia Bennett skids into the wrong inn on the worst night. Over thyme‑scented stew, Grandma Jo's laughter draws stranded guests together. The lobby becomes a makeshift family. And by morning, the innkeeper Harris is dead.
Lucky, the victim’s limping spaniel, decides she's his person—whether she's ready or not.
When someone hides an oil-stained wrench in Sylvia's locker, the same tight‑knit town is ready to believe the worst about the outsider.
Her trained eye catches what others miss: the pointed silences when someone says Harris, the florist's grief she can't quite hide, the desk clerk who flinched at his presence. Everyone had a motive.
Under Lucky’s steady gaze, Sylvia starts to wonder if she can trust the intuition she’s spent years doubting.
The detective's filing charges. Lucky—the only witness—can't speak.
Sylvia must follow a trail of oil and silences before she loses her freedom, her future, and the spaniel who chose her first.
Inside The Evergreen Hearth Inn Cozy Mysteries
This is where Sylvia and Lucky's story begins—before they find their forever home at The Evergreen Hearth Inn. Perfect as a complete standalone or as the prequel to the full series.
What readers love:
- A small town that feels like your second home
- Lucky—always safe, always scene-stealing (we promise!)
- Clean slow-burn romance that earns every moment (door-closed, no insta-love)
- Mysteries that solve more than just the crime (includes book club discussion guide)
- Modern page- turning pace—finish each book in an afternoon, but think about it for days
- Wholesome comfort reading that sneaks up on you with unexpected depth—no explicit content
Perfect for fans of: Louise Penny's depth meets Gilmore Girls' heart—cozy mysteries where the coffee's always hot, the community feels like home, and the characters stay with you long after the last page.
Some series you read. This one, you live in.
