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Spicetown Mysteries #1

Welcome to Spicetown

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When a crime stopper senior citizen starts to act oddly, a new business sells fake products and the New Year’s Eve fireworks display disappears, Mayor Cora Mae Bingham and the Spicetown Police Chief Conrad Harris have to get involved.

Cora keeps an eye on her quaint small town nestled in the southern hills of Ohio. Although Spicetown is sprinkled with culinary street names, stores full of spices, and quaint life-long citizens, out-of-towners can bring in a dicey element.

274 pages, Paperback

Published February 12, 2019

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Sheri Richey

28 books97 followers

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5 stars
436 (37%)
4 stars
378 (32%)
3 stars
265 (22%)
2 stars
70 (5%)
1 star
24 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
Profile Image for Shirley Chapel.
633 reviews129 followers
November 14, 2022
When I first seen this pretty cover I thought it would be a Christmas book. It wound up being a winter story that began on New Years Eve. I was quickly drawn into this book and Spicetown cast its charm over me and made me want to live there. I loved every character in the book and each one made the story a interesting book. I don’t think I could say anyone of the characters played a more important role than all of the others. They all fit into the book so wonderfully. What I enjoyed most was that no one was murdered in this mystery yet I was so drawn in that I couldn’t seem to put the book down. I’m going to be sure to read the second book in this series because I want to keep up with what’s happening in this wonderful town. Love it!
11.1k reviews160 followers
October 9, 2020
A wonderful story that has you gripped. There’s mystery and seniors to make this one outstanding book. The narrator definitely adds to the story.
Profile Image for Carol.
1,628 reviews58 followers
January 1, 2020
The quaint town of Spicetown can be
located in Ohio’s southern hills. The
street names are culinary, spices fill
the stores and most residents are live
long abiding citizens.
A new store has opened called Ivy’s
Oils & Organics. It is an interesting shop
selling all types of oils for different
ailments such as marjoram mixed with
either wintergreen or peppermint to
relax muscles for joint pain, cypress is
used to help clear and calm the mind
while chamomile and vetiver to promote
sleep.
Come along and meet the crafty created
characters of this town such as Mayor
Cora Mae Bingham, Police Chief Conrad
Harris, Amanda Morgan (assistant to the
mayor), Wink (the chief’s right hand man)!
Sheriff Bobby Bell, Harvey Salzman better
known as Saucy ( the town’s curmudgeon),
Denise Ivy plus many others that add to the
story.
Something is not right in Spicetown but what
is up needs to be determined. A truckload of
Fireworks is stolen plus other robberies are
occurring.
An interesting, intriguing read with some humor
even a touch of romance.
Profile Image for Amanda.
329 reviews
February 13, 2019
Spicetown Mysteries is a new amateur sleuth series by Sheri Richey. I have heard this style of mystery referred to as cozy mystery or cozy crime, meaning the usual sex and violence associated with other sub-genres in crime is missing. I tend to prefer that dark grittiness with my crime. It feels more real for me. But there do come those times when it's nice to get caught up in and enjoy a more innocent atmosphere. That's what happened with Welcome to Spicetown, the first book of the series.

Spicetown, Ohio, with its street names like Paprika Parkway and Sage Street, is running high on the cutesy factor. Mayor Cora Mea Bingham plays the main character role and you can't help but adore her. She's funny and the dynamic between her and the other main character, police chief Conrad Harris, is amusing to read. Despite the saccharine setting, the mystery is something you find yourself totally immersed in solving. And after all, isn't that the whole point of a mystery novel?
Profile Image for Shanell Meek.
580 reviews7 followers
February 18, 2019
I excited to read the rest of the series.

This was the perfect afternoon read today! I really just sat down to relax for half an hour or so with a good book and ended up completely immersed in solving the Spicetown mystery instead! Spicetown is a cute little town nestled in the southern hills of Ohio. With street names like paprika and thyme and everybody knows everybody, one doesn’t expect a string of crimes to start bringing the citizens of Spicetown down! But when things start getting a little out of control the Mayor Cora Mae and the police chief Conrad Harris must step in and take matters into their own hands to solve the mystery.
This is the first book in The Spicetown Mystery series and I’m so excited to see what else is in store for this little town!
Profile Image for Ferne.
1,311 reviews40 followers
December 28, 2022
What a delightful beginning to the series and my first introduction to writing by Sheri Richey! The cozy opens on New Year's Eve, so if you haven't read it yet, I can highly recommend adding it to your holiday tbr list, but truly it is a charming read at any time of the year.
"People coming through Spicetown and seeing all the street names and businesses left thinking that Spicetown grew spices when that was not the case at all."
When I started reading the cozy, I thought the leading business in town might be a manufacturing plant that produced all kinds of spices. It was fun to learn the origin of the town's name and that one of the mayor's plans for the new year includes a change on Paprika Parkway so all residents and visitors will learn and/or be reminded of the town's origins.

In this "Welcome to Spicetown," the reader meets Mayor Cora Mae Bingham, Cora's assistant Amanda Morgan, Amanda's mother Louise, hair salon owner and gossipmonger, Amanda's father Hymie, local veterinarian, Police Chief Conrad Harris, self-appointed crime stopper Harvey Salzman better known as Saucy, Bryan Stotlar, best known as the owner of the Christmas tree farm and for driving the town snow plow in winter, and Denise Ivy, new business owner of Ivy's Oils and Organics. Each character adds something unique to the storyline and is realistically portrayed, reminding me of different individuals in my hometown.

I enjoyed the dynamics of the small-town police force, the county sheriff, and his team. As individuals shop at Ivy's Oils and Organics, there is also a sprinkling of information about oils and diffusers that adds interest. The cozy also provided an opportunity to learn of drops of oil varieties that can be applied to the wrist or neck for various health-related reasons.
Profile Image for Karyn H.
541 reviews10 followers
February 20, 2019

This is the first book that I have read by American author Sheri Richey. Cora Mae Bingham, mayor of Spicetown and Conrad Harris, Chief of Police force are main characters. Conrad had memories spent with George Bingham, Cora Mae’s late husband. Conrad was introduced to all citizens in town and Bing had supported his decisions regarding the police force and later they became friends. Cora also a queen of note-taking used to record her thoughts on town planning. Everything seemed perfect until a fireworks truck went missing and the doubt landed on Harvey Salzman also called as Saucy. The book is a definite reading for most young readers but is suitable for almost all age groups. This book is filled with good humor and has a nice flow of the story
Profile Image for Tricia.
130 reviews24 followers
May 31, 2019
Nice, clean, cute little cozy.
April 6, 2022
I am ashamed at how long this book sat in my kindle unread. I am enamored with Cora (love because that was my Granny’s name) and Chief Conrad. Plus Bryan and Amanda are just adorable.

This was a different cozy mystery as there was no murder just a mystery to solve. I never guessed the mastermind behind the whole thing. I’m still shocked.

It is a very quick read due to you just want to know what happens next. No foul language in true cozy fashion.

Chief Conrad is my guy on how he feels about coffee. “He wasn’t sure which was better, the smell or the taste. He was grateful he had the benefit of both.” As I get older I enjoy my coffee more and more. Although I only let myself have one cup a day due to the caffeine.

I will definitely be reading the next eight books in the series.
Profile Image for Leah.
1,913 reviews
June 22, 2022
January/Ohio

This cozy mystery has no murder in it. I liked that. This one involves theft, a unexpected crime ring, and a essential oil shop. Some of the people involved were obvious, but some of them were a surprise. I didn't like that someone got away with it, but I hope they learned their lesson. I'm not optimistic about it though. I like the romance in this story, and I think there will be another down the line.
Profile Image for Judy.
489 reviews
April 21, 2023
One of the earlier ebooks I downloaded free from Ebub but has been moved 17 pages down my Kindle.

Pleasantly surprised with this cozy. a) our amateur sleuth Cora Mae is no spring chicken - she is mayor of SpiceTown. And her counterpart / confidant s the town's chief of police, Connie (Conrad) which practically greenlighted all possible investigations and queries Mayor wants to make. Cora Mae springs into action and impatient, has a nose for what is off in her town but tries to balance being the mayor who protects her constituents. Meanwhile, Connie is by the book, slow and steady. b) no murder - small town setting, yes, but a case of something amiss and odd behavior, like a senior version of Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown together. c) what a cute town to live in.. excited with all the spices but turns out, its not the case and more is to be revealed.

The mystery was easy enough yes, and I liked how Ms. Richey was able to throw out a couple of red herrings and tie them up neatly in the end. The town's supporting cast from city hall to the PD can be interesting, character development in the works.

A 9 book - mostly free in KU - breather series. Borrowing number 2 soon!
Profile Image for R.
628 reviews2 followers
February 18, 2023
I ended up DNFing this one.

Let me start with the good. It's a charming little town, and it's a themed (spice) cozy mystery. There's a crew of cute and quirky characters.

Essentially, it's everything you want in a cozy mystery, and it's well-written, so you won't be overcome with typos, terrible grammar, or stilted dialogue.

Of course, I know you're asking why I DNFed it, and the answer is that it's me, not the book.

The book has a lot of characters (since it's the first in a series) and a lot of backstory for you to get into, so that you're ready for all that may be to come.

For me, personally, I didn't find the mystery compelling enough to commit to everything that I needed to learn to fully immerse myself in Spicetown and her inhabitants.

That's not really on the book or the author, to be honest, it was just that my laziness and unwillingness to absorb everything outweighed my desire to know the resolution to the mystery that's presented.

I'm still saving the book as a "maybe later," and I do recommend that you give it a try, especially if you're in the market for a nice, new cozy series.
Profile Image for Jan.
5,322 reviews75 followers
April 9, 2019
Small town southern Ohio is a lot like small town anywhere but with more nice folks than some. Everybody knows everyone else and gossip is a given, but here there is very little that's malicious. This is a comfortable story about some interesting mysteries but no murder of people or their character, and the characters you get to know are the kind of people you'd want for friends.
The audio is narrated by Nicole KandeLind who is well suited to the task.
I won a free audio copy in a giveaway.
Profile Image for Carol .
148 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2022
A delightful read

Spicetown is a little town in Ohio. Cora is the mayor and Conrad is the police chief. Its New Years Eve and the county sheriff calls Conrad to have him and his police officers be on the lookout for the stolen fireworks the county was setting up for the NYE celebration. In trying to solve the crime, you get to meet some of the townsfolk and find out who is behind the theft. I enjoyed the read and was able to finish it in one setting. This is a new author for me and a new series. I look forward to reading book 2 in the series.
Profile Image for Genevieve.
1,081 reviews8 followers
May 8, 2020
I have had this book on my tbr list for ages and never quite got around to reading it. I am sorry that I haven't read it sooner. This is a fast read with some great characters. There are a couple of story lines going on at the same time but they are easy to follow and I want to see the Mayor and Sheriff or was he the chief get together. I found the small town charming to visit and am looking forward to another visit there.
Profile Image for Ida Lukasik.
243 reviews2 followers
October 19, 2021
A town with a bit of trouble

A mayor,police chief, A store owner and towns people.
I liked Bryan and Amanda, I can see things working out for them after a rough start. Amanda has good ideas to help him build his business. The chief figured things out about what was going on in town. You must read to find out.
Profile Image for Georgene Doyle.
56 reviews
October 23, 2021
Certainly a Different Cozy

I was bit frightened in the beginnin
g because characters were introduced so rapidly I thought I would never keep them straight, but, their each personality was so well developed that the key players were easy to remember.
It was a bit different than most of the many cozies I've read but a well developed mystery.
Profile Image for Janet.
431 reviews11 followers
January 3, 2022
A mystery without a murder! Sometimes it's just refreshing to Read a well-written mystery that doesn't involve murder. This series got off to a good start, introducing diverse characters who live in a small town called Spicetown. The mystery involves stolen New Year's fireworks and develops from there. Fun read.
168 reviews
February 23, 2019
Pleasantly Surprised!

When I began reading this book, I wasn’t sure if I liked it but as it progressed I began to really enjoy it. I love the interaction between the Mayor & the Chief and the budding romance between Amanda & Bryan. Can’t wait for the next chapter of Spicetown.
76 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2019
Nice little cozy

Quick easy read with an enjoyable plot. I enjoyed the budding romance between Amanda and Bryan and hope to see there relationship develop. The date in the snowplow was also a nice little twist for the couple.
Profile Image for Beverly Owens.
Author 14 books9 followers
June 6, 2019
A wonderful read

Well, I am so glad to have found Spicetown! A great mystery in an interesting small town. Mayor Cora and Chief Conrad are a fun sleuthing team and the other characters completed the story so nicely. Will definitely read book two in the series!
Profile Image for Candice Lisle.
65 reviews2 followers
June 26, 2019
Just Enough Spice

Wonderful mystery. Who stole the fireworks? Meanwhile fireworks of another sort are happening between the mayor's administrative assistant and a local landscaper. Fun read.
17 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2021
A little spice is nice!

Very good first book in what seems to be a good series. Well written, good story line with a different type of mystery without a murder. Love the quant characters and small town. Looking forward to the next book!
Profile Image for Faye Sexton.
8 reviews1 follower
October 5, 2021
A delightful read.

This was a light and enjoyable read. I love reading cozy mysteries, and this book was full of optimism with a spot of mystery. If you're looking for something to read that is relaxing, but still in the mystery genre, I think you'll enjoy it!
163 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2021
a warm and fuzzy cozy mystery with a little spice

A warm and fuzzy cozy mystery with a little spice, Mayor Cora and Police chief Connie have a conundrum of who is guilty in a theft and perhaps more illicit events.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
1,178 reviews24 followers
October 28, 2021
Excellent

This was a great cozy mystery that didn't fit the mold. I wasn't sure in the beginning because there were a lot of characters introduced early on, but they all fell into place.
47 reviews
November 27, 2021
Good read

When I started to read this book I had no idea where it was going. Was it a mystery, crime story or horror? But I really got involved with the characters and the author did a great job of hooking me in.
242 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2021
Strange Action in Small Town

This is an interesting story about a lively town and mayor and active police chief working hard to solve a mystery going on. They have pride in their town and are angry when someone is messing it up. Can their determination stop it?
8 reviews1 follower
March 12, 2019
Best little who dun it

Societies comes alive with vivid scene settings. The character development is cunning and smooth. This was the perfect plane ride read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews

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