Something Buried, Something Blue: A Lily Dale Mystery
Something Buried, Something Blue: A Lily Dale Mystery book cover

Something Buried, Something Blue: A Lily Dale Mystery

Hardcover – October 11, 2016

by
Price
$7.00
Format
Hardcover
Pages
304
Publisher
Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1629537726
Dimensions
6.44 x 1.03 x 9.52 inches
Weight
1.27 pounds

Description

Praise for Something Buried, Something Blue : “A touch of the paranormal, a hint of romance, and a sweet and sympathetic protagonist will lure readers to enchanting Lily Dale again and again.”— Publishers Weekly "Charming... Anyone who enjoys Nancy Atherton's "Aunt Dimity" mysteries will be drawn to this cozy."— Library Journal "A rousing success."— Kirkus Reviews "Laced with humor... Staub conveys Bella's frustrations well as she deals with an unusual series of circumstances."— RT Book Reviews , four stars Praise for the Nine Lives : “[A] charming series launch...[Staub] introduces a host of warmly appealing characters and throws in a touch of the otherworldly. Recommend for readers who enjoy the TV show Charmed .”— Library Journal "Bestselling author Staub takes readers...on a spooky journey into the unknown while lightening the mood by weaving in sweet, heartfelt, hopeful moments."— Booklist "Staub doesn’t overplay the quirkiness of the guesthouse residents for color, nor does she rely on ghosts and psychics to solve the murder, opting instead to pull the heartstrings of readers."— Publishers Weekly "Wendy Corsi Staub’s writing sparkles and the book fairly crackles with suspense. Her characterizations are spot on and you are sucked in from page one...If you’re looking for a different type of cozy, then this one’s for you!"— Night Owl Reviews , Top Pick"A tantalizing tale mixed with small-town politics and secrets, while also capturing the authentic feel of a woman struggling through desperate times...This is a terrific start to what is hopefully going to be a series featuring Bella Jordan and her son."— RT Book Reviews " Nine Lives has everything...Wendy Corsi Staub has done it again."— New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd"Wendy Corsi Staub's Nine Lives hooked me from page one. In fact I didn't want to put it down: with warm characters, an intriguing setting and just a touch of the unexplainable it's a thoroughly satisfying read.—Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteries“I loved visiting Corsi Staub's magical world, cover to cover, and can't wait for the next in the series.”—Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of Give Up the Ghost “Wendy Corsi Staub weaves a spectacular tale of suspense ... Lily Dale would definitely be on my must visit list. It’s an appropriately quirky town with an even quirkier cast of characters—and a cat, Chance, who’s adept at pulling Houdini acts. Who could ask for anything more? Definitely a must read.”—T. C. LoTempio, national bestselling author of the Nick and Nora mysteries Praise for New York Times and USA Today bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub: "If you like Mary Higgins Clark, you'll love Wendy Corsi Staub."— New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson "Once Staub's brilliant characterizations and top-notch narrative skills grab hold, they don't let go."— Publishers Weekly "As always, Staub leaves us wanting more."— RT Book Reviews "When it comes to mysteries of the home and hearth, Wendy Corsi Staub is unrivaled. Just when you think you've figured her out...think again!"—John Valeri, Hartford Book Examiner From the Inside Flap Praise for Something Buried, Something Blue : “A touch of the paranormal, a hint of romance, and a sweet and sympathetic protagonist will lure readers to enchanting Lily Dale again and again.”-- Publishers Weekly "Charming... Anyone who enjoys Nancy Atherton's "Aunt Dimity" mysteries will be drawn to this cozy."-- Library Journal "A rousing success."-- Kirkus Reviews "Laced with humor... Staub conveys Bella's frustrations well as she deals with an unusual series of circumstances."-- RT Book Reviews , four stars Praise for the Nine Lives : “[A] charming series launch…[Staub] introduces a host of warmly appealing characters and throws in a touch of the otherworldly. Recommend for readers who enjoy the TV show Charmed .”-- Library Journal "Best-selling author Staub takes readers...on a spooky journey into the unknown while lightening the mood by weaving in sweet, heartfelt, hopeful moments."-- Booklist "Staub doesn’t overplay the quirkiness of the guesthouse residents for color, nor does she rely on ghosts and psychics to solve the murder, opting instead to pull the heartstrings of readers."-- Publishers Weekly "Wendy Corsi Staub’s writing sparkles and the book fairly crackles with suspense. Her characterizations are spot on and you are sucked in from page one...If you’re looking for a different type of cozy, then this one’s for you!"-- Night Owl Reviews , Top Pick"A tantalizing tale mixed with small-town politics and secrets, while also capturing the authentic feel of a woman struggling through desperate times...This is a terrific start to what is hopefully going to be a series featuring Bella Jordan and her son."-- RT Book Reviews " Nine Lives has everything...Wendy Corsi Staub has done it again."-- New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd"Wendy Corsi Staub's Nine Lives hooked me from page one. In fact I didn't want to put it down: with warm characters, an intriguing setting and just a touch of the unexplainable it's a thoroughly satisfying read.--Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteries“I loved visiting Corsi Staub's magical world, cover to cover, and can't wait for the next in the series.”--Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of Give Up the Ghost “Wendy Corsi Staub weaves a spectacular tale of suspense ... Lily Dale would definitely be on my must visit list. It’s an appropriately quirky town with an even quirkier cast of characters – and a cat, Chance, who’s adept at pulling Houdini acts. Who could ask for anything more? Definitely a must read.”--T. C. LoTempio, national bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries Praise for New York Times and USA Today bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub: "If you like Mary Higgins Clark, you'll love Wendy Corsi Staub."-- New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson "Once Staub's brilliant characterizations and top-notch narrative skills grab hold, they don't let go."-- Publishers Weekly "As always, Staub leaves us wanting more."-- RT Book Reviews "When it comes to mysteries of the home and hearth, Wendy Corsi Staub is unrivaled. Just when you think you've figured her out...think again!"--John Valeri, Hartford Book Examiner |After agreeing to stay in Lily Dale through the winter as caretakers of the Valley View Guesthouse and its feline residents, widowed mom Bella Jordan and her son Max are looking forward to the peaceful off-season after a hectic summer—that is, until the medium next door, Odelia Lauder, recruits Bella to host a destination wedding for the world’s most petulant bride, Johneen Maynard, a friend of Odelia’s granddaughter.Things take an even more stressful turn as the wedding day looms amidst an October blizzard, when suddenly the Spirits start giving Odelia a major heads-up that the bride might be fated for death. And if there’s any truth to her premonitions, the wedding is off—and that’s the least of their problems.It's a race to figure out who would want to kill Johneen before her attacker has a chance to strike in Something Buried, Something Blue . Praise for the Lily Dale mystery series :[A] charming series launch[Staub] introduces a host of warmly appealing characters and throws in a touch of the otherworldly. Recommend for readers who enjoy the TV show Charmed .”-- Library Journal "Best-selling author Staub takes readers...on a spooky journey into the unknown while lightening the mood by weaving in sweet, heartfelt, hopeful moments."-- Booklist "Staub doesn’t overplay the quirkiness of the guesthouse residents for color, nor does she rely on ghosts and psychics to solve the murder, opting instead to pull the heartstrings of readers."-- Publishers Weekly "Wendy Corsi Staub’s writing sparkles and the book fairly crackles with suspense. Her characterizations are spot on and you are sucked in from page one...If you’re looking for a different type of cozy, then this one’s for you!"-- Night Owl Reviews , Top Pick"A tantalizing tale mixed with small-town politics and secrets, while also capturing the authentic feel of a woman struggling through desperate times...This is a terrific start to what is hopefully going to be a series featuring Bella Jordan and her son."-- RT Book Reviews " Nine Lives has everything...Wendy Corsi Staub has done it again."-- New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd"Wendy Corsi Staub's Nine Lives hooked me from page one. In fact I didn't want to put it down: with warm characters, an intriguing setting and just a touch of the unexplainable it's a thoroughly satisfying read.--Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of the Molly Murphy and Royal Spyness mysteriesI loved visiting Corsi Staub's magical world, cover to cover, and can't wait for the next in the series.”--Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of Give Up the Ghost Wendy Corsi Staub weaves a spectacular tale of suspense ... Lily Dale would definitely be on my must visit list. It’s an appropriately quirky town with an even quirkier cast of characters and a cat, Chance, who’s adept at pulling Houdini acts. Who could ask for anything more? Definitely a must read.”--T. C. LoTempio, national bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries Praise for New York Times and USA Today bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub: "If you like Mary Higgins Clark, you'll love Wendy Corsi Staub."-- New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson "Once Staub's brilliant characterizations and top-notch narrative skills grab hold, they don't let go."-- Publishers Weekly "As always, Staub leaves us wanting more."-- RT Book Reviews "When it comes to mysteries of the home and hearth, Wendy Corsi Staub is unrivaled. Just when you think you've figured her out...think again!"--John Valeri, Hartford Book Examiner New York Times and USA Today bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than eighty novels and has twice been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband, their two sons, and a pair of rescued stray cats named Chance and Li’l Chap. This is her second Lily Dale mystery after Nine Lives . Read more

Features & Highlights

  • New York Times
  • bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub is back with the second in her critically-acclaimed cozy mystery series.After agreeing to stay in Lily Dale through the winter as caretakers of the Valley View Guesthouse and its feline residents, widowed mom Bella Jordan and her son Max are looking forward to the peaceful off-season after a hectic summer. That is until the medium next door, Odelia Lauder, recruits Bella to host a destination wedding for the world's most petulant bride, Johneen Maynard, a friend of Odelia's granddaughter.Things take an even more stressful turn as the wedding day looms amidst an October blizzard, when suddenly the Spirits start giving Odelia a major heads up that the bride might be fated for death. And if there's any truth to her premonitions, the wedding is off—and that's the least of their problems.It's a race to figure out who would want to kill Johneen before her attacker has a chance to strike in
  • Something Buried, Something Blue
  • .

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(164)
★★★★
25%
(69)
★★★
15%
(41)
★★
7%
(19)
★
-7%
(-19)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Love this series

I have enjoyed Wendy Corsica Staub's writing for a number of years. I am also fascinated by what I've read about the Lily Dale community (including Staub's YA books, including Lily Dale : Believing). A very interesting culture. If you have an interest in paranormal fiction or cozy mysteries, give this new series a whirl. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
1 people found this helpful
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A few good twist, but not as funny as the first book

Something Buried, Something Blue lacks the pizazz that "Nine Lives", the author's previous book in this series. had.
It does have some good twists towards the end of the story, but the first part isn't very exciting.
The only real reason to read it is if you liked the first book, hope the author continues the series, and want to stay up
to date on what is happening. It is cute in a few place, but not nearly as funny as the first book.
1 people found this helpful
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Entertaining Cozy Mystery/Romance With Many Flaws

SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE is a mildly entertaining, spiritualist-themed cozy mystery set in Lily Dale, NY (a real-life center of the Spiritualism movement). For a novel, it's oddly written--the actions of the viewpoint character (Bella) are described in present tense (e.g., "Wearing comfortable old jeans ..., Bella steps out the front door of Valley View ...") as if they were stage directions in a play, or as if the reader were an outsider looking on. This is the second book of a series, but it works fine as a standalone.

In the novel, Bella is persuaded by a local medium (Odelia) to organize a "destination wedding" for a young couple (Johneen and Parker) at Valley View Guesthouse. Beautiful Lily Dale is not anyone's dreamed-of "destination" (it's no Paris or Cabo), but if Bella can pull off the wedding, she may be able to stay at Valley View year-round as the events manager. This would be wonderful, not only for the penniless, recently bereaved Bella, but also for her young son (Max) and for Chance the cat and her eight tiny kittens. (Yes, the cats play a significant role in the story.)

Johneen is the worst sort of "Bridezilla", but Bella must deal with more serious complications. Odelia is telling Bella that Spirit is uneasy about the bride's safety. A letter arrives, warning Bella to stop the wedding. And Bella's mother-in-law (Millicent, but "Maleficent" to Bella) shows up without warning, determined to rescue Bella and Max from the Lily Dale "cultists".

As a cozy mystery (with a sizable dollop of romance novel), the story moves along pleasantly enough. Unfortunately the perps can be identified early on, and the ending is silly. At many points, I wanted to strangle Bella, who is generally likable, but overly timid and suggestible. There were also too many temporary "disappearances" of key characters, employed to add suspense to the plot. Because SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE is entertaining despite its many flaws, I rate it at 3 stars ("It's okay" on the official Amazon scale).
1 people found this helpful
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Second book in the Lily Dale mystery series

This is the second book in the series about Lily Dale, a mystery series. I have not read the first book in the series, only this one. It was just okay as my rating of a 3 indicates. I am familiar with this writer though as I have seen her name before but don't remember having read anything by her.
This story surrounds planning for a wedding for Johneen Maynard who is a friend of the neighbor, Odelia's granddaughter. That's not really important but what becomes significant is that the wedding day opens with an October blizzard that gets the "spirits stirring."
The minor issues are that the wedding might have to be rescheduled because "someone" wants the bride dead.
This is really not my desired reading genre but if it's yours maybe I've piqued your interest enough to pick this one up.
1 people found this helpful
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Book 2 in a terrific mystery with a lot of humor (see the summary ...

Book 2 in a terrific mystery with a lot of humor (see the summary below to bring you up to speed). Widow Bella Jordan and her 5 year old son Max are temporarily living in Lily Dale, NY (a town primarily consisting of "Spiritualists and Freethinkers" founded in 1906 to "further the science, philosophy, & religion of Spiritualism). They are staying through the winter as caretakers of a B&B and it kitties. The only big event is hosting a destination wedding that approaches just as a blizzard hits. Well, that and bride may be doomed to die.

I grew up in northern New Jersey and never heard of Lily Dale, NY. The author grew up near Lily Dale and she captured it vividly. Incorporated in 1879 as Cassadaga Lake Free Association, "a camp and meeting place for Spiritualists and Freethinkers". The name was changed to Lily Dale Assembly in 1906. The village is founded to "further the science, philosophy, & religion of Spiritualism". dvd [[ASIN:B003YJEO1A No One Dies in Lily Dale]] [[ASIN:B003YJEO1A No One Dies in Lily Dale]] [[ASIN:0061153745 Lily Dale: The Town That Talks to the Dead (Plus)]]

2015 Nine Lives: [[ASIN:B013VONO6S Nine Lives: A Lily Dale Mystery]] A New Lily Dale Series: In this warm and witty series debut from New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub, a widowed young mom plans a fresh start in Chicago--but instead finds her way to a quirky lakeside village that just happens to be populated by mediums. When reluctant road trippers Bella Jordan and her son Max detour to Lily Dale, New York, they're planning to deliver a lost cat to its home and then move on, searching for one of their own. But the footloose feline's owner Leona Gatto has unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind a pregnant pet without a mistress, a busy inn without a keeper--and a lovable circle of neighbors who chat with dead people. After agreeing to help out temporarily, sensible Bella doesn't need psychic gifts to figure out that a houseful of tourists and a litter of kittens lie in her immediate future--or that Leona was murdered. It's up to her to solve the case so that she and Max can leave town, but their new home--like Leona's killer--might just lurk where she least expects it.

FYI - this title should not be mistaken for the Young Adult Lily Dale series written by the author 2007 to 2009:

2009 Discovering: [[ASIN:B004IK8FFA Lily Dale: Discovering]] After finally learning who was behind her mother's death, Calla still doesn't understand why it happened. Somewhere out there, someone seems to share the powerful psychic abilities that allow Calla to see not only into the past, but to the Other Side-someone who apparently doesn't want to be found. Will Calla's journey lead to the closure she's been searching for, or will it force her to accept yet another loss and forever wonder what might have been? As new mysteries unfold and old ones are solved, this spine-tingling series continues. With an eye-catching new look, Wendy Corsi Staub's fans will not be disappointed.

2008 Connecting: [[ASIN:B004IK8FD2 Lily Dale: Connecting]] Now that Calla has accepted her ability to communicate with the Other Side, she's desperate to connect with the one spirit whose energy she can't seem to feel anywhere: her late mother. As ominous supernatural signs imply that the devastating loss might not have been an accident, Calla sets out to uncover the truth, convinced that a shadowy stranger may hold the key. But she gets more than she bargained for when she stumbles across a shocking secret about her mom's past―one that will change Calla's own future forever.

2008 Believing: [[ASIN:B004G5YX08 Lily Dale: Believing]] After her tumultuous summer in Lily Dale, Calla has decided to stay, hoping to unearth more about her mother's untimely death. As she starts school at Lily Dale High and begins to explore her relationships with Jacy and Blue, her visions begin to occur with greater urgency. There may be a killer on the loose, and he may be after Calla for her role in solving his first victim's disappearance. Now that Calla believes in her ability, can she learn to use it properly before it leads her into more danger? In this thrilling sequel to Lily Dale: Awakening, readers will find an even larger dose of mystery, suspense, and romance that will keep them coming back to Lily Dale.

2007 Awakening: [[ASIN:B004FEFS90 Lily Dale: Awakening]] Calla thought that her boyfriend breaking up with her in a text message was the worst thing that could ever happen to her. But just two weeks later, her mother died in a freak accident, and life as she knew it was completely over. With her father heading to California for a new job, they decide that Calla should spend a few weeks with the grandmother she barely knows while he gets them set up. To Calla's shock, her mother's hometown of Lily Dale is a town full of psychics―including her grandmother. Suddenly, the fact that her mother never talked about her past takes on more mysterious overtones. The longer she stays in town, the stranger things become, as Calla starts to experience unusual and unsettling events that lead her to wonder whether she has inherited her grandmother's unique gift. Is it this gift that is making her suspect that her mother's death was more than an accident, or is it just an overactive imagination? Staying in Lily Dale is the only way to uncover the truth. But will Calla be able to deal with what she learns about her mother's past and her own future?

There is also this early title that can be described as a Gothic mystery:

2002 In the Blink of an Eye: [[ASIN:B0092QX5EG In the Blink of an Eye (Lily Dale)]] Welcome to Lily Dale, New York . . . a sleepy summer resort, home to a population of psychics, and the place where Julia Garrity (a practicing psychic medium) and Kristin Shuttleworth formed a fast friendship broken only by death. The dilapidated Victorian at Ten Summer Street is no ordinary house. It was there, fifteen years ago, that Kristin saw something on a Halloween night that would haunt her until the end of her days. Three years ago Kristin died in a drowning acident and now her blind six-year-old daughter, Dulcie, has come to Lily Dale with her father Paine Landry to settle the estate of Kristen's mother who has also drowned. Appointing herself protector, Julia is determined to coax the secrets of the house out into the light, to discover what the little girl "sees" roaming its halls . . . before the murderous force residing there makes them both its next victims.
1 people found this helpful
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A good cozy mystery.

I really like cozy mysteries when I have just read something that was really taxing or when I still want to read but I don't really want to have to turn my brain on all the way. This book fits that criteria perfectly. This is the 6th in the series but you can read it without having read the others. I really enjoyed the story and I will probably be going back to read some of the other books. There was enough twist and turns to keep me guessing till the end and I didn't figure out who did it.
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Five Stars

love this series
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Fun read, quirky setting

Although I have not read the first book in this series, I had no problem following the story and the characters. I prefer to start with book one when reading a new series, but dropping in on book two worked fine here.

Lily Dale is a unique place, and it is a great setting for mysteries. There are lots of colorful characters around.

Something Buried, Something Blue is an enjoyable read. Great for plopping down on the sofa to read while sipping your favorite beverage.

One minor complaint is something I am noticing in some other mysteries, too: Where is the crime? In this case, it happens about 3/4 of the way into the book. There is a lot of foreshadowing, but it is kind of like a romance heroine meeting the hero a couple of chapters before the end.

Even with that flaw, if you like cozy mysteries you should drop in on the folks in Lily Dale. I think you will enjoy your stay.
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I always love Wendy's books

I always love Wendy's books! She is a great writer. And the book came in great condition & in a reasonable amount of time.
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LOVE this book!

Since we're moving I wasn't able to read as fast as I'd like. I didn't want to put this book down. However, I permitted myself to read one chapter per night. I really enjoyed the nostalgia of Lily Dale and all the spiritualistic characters Bella has for neighbors. The story is based on Bella Jordan and her young son, Max. Bella is a young widow. She was supposed to move-in with her mother-in-law in Chicago after her husband died. But Bella has a connection with Lily Dale, and she decided this was home for herself and her son. Bella and her medium neighbor and friend, Odelia, are running Valley View Guesthouse and have promised to stay for the off-season winter as caretakers. But they want to expand doing destination weddings. It just so happens that they have booked an October wedding for bridezillia, Johneen Maynard (fiance' Parker). Who happens to be a friend of Odelia's granddaughter, Calla. But it's not long when Odelia comes to Bella to reveal that the Spirits have shown her that the bride, Johneen, is in extreme danger. Bella receives a note from someone (but who?) to call off this wedding, and she has told no one thinking it's a hoax. In the midst of all the chaos, Bella's mother-in-law just shows up out of the blue believing Bella and Max have been taken over by crazy people. Bella doesn't even want to mess with her as she's extremely busy getting ready for the wedding. Bella's local veternarian and friend, Drew (whom she's sweet on), shows up and takes her son, Max, along with him for the day. Once the bride and groom along with the guests arrive, strange things start happening around Bella. Her cell phone goes missing behind her bedroom locked doors. Perhaps a mysterious guest(s) have made a set of keys or they know the secret passageways to her bedroom. Bella also has other guests that she keeps locked up in her bedroom. A momma cat and her adorable kittens. One of the kitten's shows up in the house even though Bella knew she had locked her bedroom door. Then her cell phone suddenly reappears but all the photographs that she took of the bride and groom are gone! And when she's cleaning the sister (Virginia) of the groom's room, she finds a gun under her mattress. Everything seems to be spinning out of Bella's control. The groom reveals to Bella that the bride's ex-boyfriend has posed a threat to their wedding. And now the eccentric medium neighbor, Pandora, has also told Bella she had a vision that Johneen is doomed. So now Ms. Detective Bella is on the hunt for whomever is causing all these weird happenings. Could Johneen's Ex be stocking Johneen secretly watching all of them? Hmmm...got to read the book for further details. - - - - I was glad that Bella and her mother find a common path of forgiveness. I found this book fun to read. I noticed I had some confusion remembering all the characters and needed to refer back a couple of times. But that happens when you can only read one chapter per evening. Ms. Staub also used some words I had never read before so I'd look them up. Ha! (Thank you for expanding my vocabulary). I certainly hope that Drew and Bella connect up in the next book.

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