There’s something deeply comforting about a well-written cosy mystery. The promise of a close-knit community, a puzzle to untangle, and characters who feel like neighbours rather than strangers is often exactly what I want from a book.
A Cinnamon Falls Mystery by R. L. Killmore delivers that familiarity, but with enough sharp edges to stop it from feeling predictable.
From the outset, the novel establishes Cinnamon Falls as the kind of town that readers of the romance genre crave. It’s warm, distinctive, and full of personalities who feel convincingly embedded in the setting rather than dropped in to serve the plot. The sense of place is one of the book’s strongest features. Cinnamon Falls feels lived-in, with its routines, relationships, and quiet tensions simmering just beneath the surface. This grounding makes the mystery itself far more engaging because the stakes feel personal, not abstract.
What particularly stood out to me was the balance between cosiness and intrigue. Killmore understands the genre well enough not to lean too heavily on clichés. While the story offers the expected comforts of small-town life, it does not shy away from darker undercurrents. The mystery unfolds at a measured pace, allowing clues to surface naturally rather than being forced into the narrative. I found myself genuinely curious, not just about the solution, but also about how the truth would ripple through the community once it was revealed.
The protagonist is another highlight. Rather than a sleuth who feels implausibly brilliant or conveniently positioned, Killmore gives us a character whose curiosity and persistence feel earned. Her interactions with other residents are layered with history, affection, and occasional friction, which adds emotional texture to the investigation. These relationships are not merely decorative; they actively shape the development of the mystery and the revelation of information.
Tonally, A Cinnamon Falls Mystery strikes a satisfying middle ground. It is gentle enough to be comforting, yet never bland. There is humour woven through the dialogue and situations, but it never undermines the seriousness of the central puzzle. Importantly, the book respects the reader’s intelligence. It trusts you to notice details, to form theories, and occasionally to be wrong.
Recommendation
If you enjoy cosy mysteries that prioritise character, community, and atmosphere as much as the whodunnit itself, this book is well worth your time. A Cinnamon Falls Mystery feels like the opening of a world readers will want to revisit, and I would be genuinely interested to see where Killmore takes this series next. It is a reminder that cosy mysteries can still surprise, and that familiarity, when handled well, is a strength rather than a limitation.
A Cinnamon Falls Mystery Summary
Theme:
A classic cosy mystery framework rooted in small-town dynamics, with an emphasis on community, secrets, and the consequences of truth coming to light.
Description:
Best suited to an adult audience who enjoys character-driven mysteries without excessive violence or graphic content. The focus remains firmly on intrigue, relationships, and deduction.
Narration Style:
Written in the third person, the novel offers a close look at both the female and male protagonists while also allowing glimpses into the wider community, which helps build tension and deepen the mystery.
Author
Necole Ryse has been writing since she was four years old, when she triumphantly wrote her ABC’s on the hood of her grandmother’s brand new Volvo.
Alive and well, Necole has since authored several books that are light on love, and heavy on murder, available wherever books are sold on the interwebs. When she’s not writing, she’s weeping into a stack of unfinished manuscripts, abandoning exercise regimens, scolding innocent children in libraries, or listening to other people’s conversations.
References
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NecoleRyse/
Necole Ryse Website – https://necoleryse.com/aboutnecole/
Hannah Baller RSLM 
Leave a comment