August Book Club: Antiques, Artifacts, & Alibis by Sally Bayless

Antiques, Artifacts & Alibis: A Dogwood Springs Cozy Mystery by Sally Bayless

The moment Libby Ballard arrives in Dogwood Springs, Missouri, she knows it’s the perfect place to start her new job as a history museum director. But her excitement is short-lived when she finds that the previous director hasn’t left the building. Because she’s dead.

Turns out the victim wasn’t well-liked by many folks in town, which makes the suspect list quite long. Since Libby won’t be getting any work done for a while during the police investigation, she decides to help them along by doing a little of her own sleuthing.

Through the author’s rich descriptions, readers are whisked off to the charming town of Dogwood Springs, where they get to explore its colorful past with Libby and her new friends. I liked all the historical layers brought on from Libby’s grandmothers’ connections to the town. And who can resist a smart golden retriever like Bella? Not me!

There was enough suspense and twists to keep me turning pages past my bedtime and I didn’t guess whodunit until the very end. This warmhearted small town mystery will make you consider moving somewhere cozy!

I recommend the Dogwood Springs series which has four books in it. Try them and let me know what you think! Sally Bayless also writes a sweet, clean romance Christian series with six books.

Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.

Parents, kids, and teachers love the children’s books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through fun, engaging stories. And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project coming together the night before it’s due.

A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.