Death with a Dark Red Rose (A Writer's Apprentice Mystery #5) by Julia Buckley

Death with a Dark Red Rose (A Writer's Apprentice Mystery #5) Reviews

• 
  Julie

  Death with a Dark Red Rose by Julia Buckley is a 2020 Berkley publication.
  
  Great news for Lena and Sam! They are engaged- finally! But their happiness is tarnished when a disturbing phone call suggests their friend, Belinda, has gone missing. From there, Lena gets drawn into an investigation focused a new a polymer plant moving into her beloved Blue Lake-
  
  Certainly NOT a welcome development.
  
  Lena, and the gang are determined to keep the plant out, resulting in an investigation that unearths some possible shady dealings on the part of Plasti-source. However, all this snooping has made someone mighty nervous and this time- Lena may not be the only one who could be in danger…
  
  
  I have followed this series right from the start and it quickly became a favorite. This latest installment is just as fast-paced, perhaps a bit more action packed, and I loved the way the entire cast was involved in a hands on way this time. I also loved the developments between all the recurring characters.
  
  While, I did enjoy this book, but there was a weird vibe to it, that had me wondering what the fate of this series will be. While the mystery is a good one, and the characters are still their same charming selves, the chemistry in this one was a bit flat.
  
  However, despite the odd undercurrents, this is still a solid enough addition to the series, and I hope we hear from Lena and the gang soon!!
• 
  Wanda Pedersen

  ***2021 Dog Days of Summer***
  
  It's time for my summer theme and this year I have chosen to read books that include canine companions. This was the latest volume of the Writers Apprentice Mystery series, which includes two German Shepherds, Heathcliff and Rochester. They get to do their usual guard duty and Rochester gets to go on a clandestine vet visit in the name of surveillance.
  
  I have no idea if Julia Buckley plans to write more of these small town mysteries, but I do hope she will. I've enjoyed four of them this summer and even when read in fairly quick succession I didn't find them to be repetitive. Buckley has more than one or two plot lines, unlike some cozy writers who seem to recycle their plot details through every book. I was pleasantly surprised by the links that she wrote here between Camilla Graham, her senior novelist character, and Miss Marple.
  
  Having said that I'll gladly read more installments of the series, I would also understand if the author ended right here. She's got everybody in the Scooby gang matched up successfully and in relatively happy places. This could be a natural stopping point.
  
  If you enjoyed this book, might I suggest
  The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco by Laura Disilverio and the Murder-by-Month series by Jess Lourey.
• 
  Linda Langford

  Author Julia Buckley expertly sets the stage for murder with suspicions of environmental conspiracy in the fifth story of the Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. I halfway expected Erin Brockovich to appear and give the adversaries what for! The plot is immediately immersing when Lena London’s good friend Detective Doug Heller’s girlfriend, Belinda, disappears. From there, it’s a nail-biting merry-go-round as Lena and her fiancé, Sam, and Camilla Graham and her other half, Adam, join forces to solve a missing person’s case of a man who worked for a polymer materials manufacturer, Plasti-Source which has been accused of releasing toxic chemicals into the local community of lovely Blue Lake, Indiana.
  
  As the suspenseful mystery builds to a dire climax; Lena and Sam search for precious moments to plan their upcoming wedding. The ending scenes are tense as the conspiracy unfolds and the main characters’ lives are in grave danger. My heart was thumping right along with how fast theirs must have been pumping! Brava to the author for maintaining a tight grip on the storyline!
  
  Fast-paced, great characters, humor, a plethora of pets, smart people, and plenty of action combine to make this cozy Mystery a 5 Star read!
  
  I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishers. Thank you.
• 
  Mark Baker

  Life is going well for Lena London. Her latest collaboration with bestselling novelist Camilla Graham is doing well, she and her fiance, Sam West, are just starting to plan their wedding, and she enjoys spending time with her new friends in Blue Lake. The only shadow is the new factory that is being built just outside of town. It looks like the building is going to be an eye sore, and Lena is not happy about it and other ways it might change this area she considers home. However, a cold wind blows in when someone vanishes. Soon, Lena and her friends are caught up in another race to figure out what is happening before things turn deadly. Will they solve things in time?
  
  I thought this novel’s beginning was weak, but it was the weakest part of the story. Even then, that is a minor complaint since I was hooked from the very first page and could hardly put the book down until I reached the end. If real life didn’t interfere, I could have easily finished it in one sitting. I did see one or two twists coming, but there were plenty others I didn’t suspect, but they made perfect sense by the time we reached the end of the story. I love Lena and her friends, and we got plenty of time with them in these pages. Their relationships are fantastic. Each chapter starts with a quote from the projects that Lena and Camilla are currently working on, and I found they helped me better understand just how this series works Gothic elements into each book. Honestly, I’d love to read their books if they were real. It is best to read this series in order since some events of previous books are spoiled by necessity. That’s not an issue since all the books in this series are great. Set aside plenty of time when you pick up this book because you won’t want to put it down until you’ve read every thrilling page.
  
  NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
  
  Read my full review at
  Carstairs Considers.
• 
  Annette

  I absolutely love this series. The characters are like my friends. I get very involved in the plot and enjoy what is happening to everyone. I can’t wait for the next installment in the series.
• 
  Trish

  A very enjoyable, easy read. I do like this series.
  
• 
  Melissa Reads

  What a fun story! Lena’s life was moving right along in Death with a Dark Red Rose and hers was not the only one. Many changes were taking place for longtime Blue Lake residents and that was nice. I liked how the characters all interacted with each other and that they looked out for the well-being of not only themselves but for anyone associated with their friends. What a wonderful community feeling! Then there were the mysterious goings-on associated with Plastisource that were actually quite sinister and dangerous for the characters involved as well as their beloved lake. Definitely a mystery a cozy reader could sink their teeth into. This story would also appeal to readers who enjoy stories including authors because both Camille and Lena spent time hashing out plot ideas for upcoming books. Overall, Death with a Dark Red Rose was a fun cozy mystery that alternated between sweet and ominous as Lena and her husband-to-be tracked down clues in order to ferret out what was taking place in their community. This was a good read!
  
  This review is based on a complimentary book I received from Berkley Prime Crime. It is an honest and voluntary review. The complimentary receipt of it in no way affected my review or rating.
• 
  Lisa~Ilovemypug~ Currier

  There is nothing better than curling up on a snowy day with a new book by Julia Buckley.
  
  In Death with a Dark Red Rose, Lena London is beginning to settle into her life. She has a wonderful job working with talented author Camilla Graham, she's engaged to the handsome Sam West, and she has several close friends who she enjoys spending time with.
  It isn't until one of her best friends has disappeared and a strange new company plans on settling in her adopted town.
  When Plastisource begins scouting the area for available land, residents become concerned over the rumors that the company doesn't dispose of their waste correctly.
  Before long, Lena and Sam become involved in a whirlwind investigation, putting them all in danger.
  
  I enjoy how the author brings each of her characters to life, coloring their personalities with different quirks, sending the reader right into the story.
  I highly recommend this book to any reader.
• 
  Peggy

  I was happy to be able to finally sit down and pick up the fifth book in the Writer's Apprentice Mystery series. I have been a fan since the first book. I love the nod to the gothic mystery that comes with each book. Ms. Buckley has delivered a series with well defined and developed characters and mysteries that continue to engage and confound me. I was a bit concerned when the book opened with a missing Belinda, but with that quickly resolved, I was able to see how the author used that twist to set up the plot for the rest of the book. Lena London has settled into Blue Lake nicely if you disregard her penchant for getting into trouble. Her relationship with Sam is moving along to the next level, as are the relationships between the secondary cast of characters. They all seem to connect and work well as a group, even though they are diverse in age, background, and experience. The author crafted another wonderful mystery that kept me guessing. Ms. Buckley has a was of writing a mystery that leads the readers in circles following one misdirection after another. She expertly weaves clues throughout the story but tucks them nicely into the plot so that as a reader you really have to be on your toes the entire book. I very much enjoy this series and will happily preorder the next book in the series. I can't wait to see where the author takes these characters for their next adventure.
• 
  Barb

  3.5 stars, rounded up
  
  I have really liked this series, so I’ve been putting off reading this book because it’s the last one. It has been fun watching the relationships between the recurring characters develop and change over the course of the series, and I hate saying goodbye to all of them.
  
  Lena and Camilla, the two MCs, have developed an amazing working relationship, and I love that they are both still so excited about working together. The friends they have made – and their romantic interests – have contributed greatly to the stories, and I like the way they all work together, each bringing their own skills to the group.
  
  The mystery in this book was good, with several puzzling storylines to figure out. I listened to the book and didn’t care for the way the narrator let her voice get overly frantic during the “exciting” scenes, but otherwise, her narration was well done. I had the villain narrowed down to one of a handful of people, but was surprised when their identity was revealed. The confrontation scene was especially hair-raising, and it was hard to stop listening until it was over.
  
  Several stories that have been developing over the course of the series were resolved by the end of the book, but I would gladly read more about Lena and the rest if the author writes more about them.
  
• 
  Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews)

  Death with a Dark Red Rose is the fifth and final book in Julia Buckley’s A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series. Throughout the series, readers have been introduced to Lena London, who has gotten to live every reader’s dream of meeting their favorite author, being their apprentice, writing books as a duo, and even sharing a house with them. Lena has also had her fair share of drama, mysteries, and murders to solve. Since moving to Blue Lake, Indiana Lena has reconnected with a childhood friend, met the love of her life, Sam West, and made several new friends. Death with a Dark Red Rose finds Lena’s friend Belinda missing, which sets off an unforeseeable series of events. “Oh, Lena, what have you stumbled upon this time?”
  
  Blue Lake is known for its friendly people and appreciation of the environment. In fact, it’s been said that the water in Blue Lake is the best drinking water around. The open space found in Blue Lake has attracted the attention of a corporation called Plasti-Source. However, it’s tall, dark, and dreary looking building doesn’t match the aesthetics of Blue Lake. Could the new building currently being constructed be a sign of what’s to come? Lena and her friends, affectionately known as the “Scooby-Doo gang” are on the case.
  
  Death with a Dark Red Rose was an incredible mystery. Julia has put in surprises, twists, and turns. For the romance lover in me, she made this book truly about love. Sadly, this is the last book in the series. However, Julia wrapped things up nicely.
  
  ~ Favorite Quotes ~
  
  “Sometimes you can come through adversity and find life even better on the other side.”
  
  **Received a copy from the publisher and reviewed voluntarily.**
• 
  Ferne

  A Writer's Apprentice Mystery Series is a special cozy mystery series! As mentioned in previous reviews for novels in this series, the reader gets the gift of reading a preview of Camilla Graham and Lena London's latest writing collaborative efforts. In the 4th novel of the series, "Death Waits in the Dark" there were again a few sentences at the beginning of each chapter in the format of an italicized heading but they were "from the correspondence of James Graham and Camilla Easton, 1971," prior to Camilla's arrival in the United States to become the bride of James Graham. This time the italicized headings are either "from the notebooks of Camilla Graham" or "from Danger at Debenham Station, a work in progress." Camilla's publisher is urging Camilla to write some sort of memoir or writer’s advice book and upon hearing the update Lena makes an interesting suggestion so two (2) different writing collaborations are in progress.
  
  One of the many imaging delights while reading Camilla and Lena's interactions is to fantasize for a few moments being the reader fan that would be invited as the apprentice or writing collaborator with Julia Buckley.
  
  There's also a new real-life mystery to solve that brings the upcoming possibilities of water contamination to the precious water source of Blue Lake not only for the lake community but to neighboring towns that also use this water source. As always, Julia Buckley has a few surprises not only for her human characters but also the lovable furry faces.
  
  I hope there are many more novels to be written in this series as I'd like to keep reading them for years to come.
• 
  OpenBookSociety.com

  
  https://openbooksociety.com/article/d...
  
  Death with a Dark Red Rose
  A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery #5
  By Julia Buckley
  ISBN 9780451491930
  Author’s website: juliabuckley.com
  Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
  
  Synopsis:
  
  Writer’s apprentice Lena London is enjoying life in Blue Lake and being newly engaged, but is soon drawn into the terrifying disappearance of one of her closest friends….
  
  Lena is starting to feel like having it all may actually be possible! She and suspense novelist Camilla Graham are busily plotting their next novel and she’s got a brand-new diamond ring on her finger thanks to her fiancé, Sam West. The only blot on her Blue Lake life is a strange new corporation that has come to town called Plastisource. They seem to be intent on gobbling up prime real estate and changing the landscape of Lena’s lovely adopted home.
  
  When she and Sam get a call from their good friend (and Blue Lake detective) Doug saying that his girlfriend–and Lena’s pal Belinda–isn’t answering her phone and missed a date with him, they all head out to her home. The trio is shocked to discover that Belinda’s purse and phone are at her house, along with a single red rose on her countertop–but Belinda herself is missing. Has she been abucted? Could the strange new corporation play a role in her disappearance? Lena is determined to find out and rescue her friend because she knows that the truth can be stranger and much more deadly than fiction.
  
  Review:
  
  This mystery is so good! The characters are a perfect blend of endearing, engaging personalities and are well-defined. The atmosphere reflects the drama at any given time, just as the gothic novels do that Camilla, and now Lena, write. The Midwest setting has a distinct beauty at any time of year, including either brilliant fall colors or foreboding, dark trees. The mystery is equally brilliant or foreboding.
  
  Lena London has, to me, one of the best jobs in the world. She has been in Blue Lake, Indiana for almost a year, having moved to work for her favorite author and now mentor, Camilla Graham. Camilla has a career spanning several decades as a best-selling Gothic mystery author. In one short year, Camilla has become like a family member, close friend, confidante, and partner in crime-solving. In turn, Lena is an assistant to Camilla and now her co-author. Lena lives in Graham House with her, has Lestrade, a cat who adopted her, and now, a fiancé.
  
  Sam, a neighbor of Camilla, and Lena met in her early days in Blue Lake. He blossomed from a grumpy guy to a homicide suspect to the love of Lena’s life. They are planning their wedding even as Lena and Adam, Camilla’s gentleman friend, are planning Camilla’s 70th birthday party.
  
  A panicked phone call has Sam and Lena racing over to close friend Belinda’s home. Doug, a local detective who Belinda dates, is going through her kitchen. He came to pick up Belinda for Oktoberfest. Her door was unlocked, her purse and cell phone left inside along with a long-stemmed dark red rose. Not only is leaving everything behind totally unlike Belinda, she would never blow off a date. It looks as though she has been abducted.
  
  It seems to be going around in Blue Lake. A young man, Luis, has gone missing from his place of employment and his home. Luis works for Plasti-Source in nearby Stafford. Those who know him well know he is a loyal, hard-working employee, but management claims he is unreliable. His wife claims they had a fight and she doesn’t expect him home any time soon.
  
  Plasti-Source has had a less than stellar reputation with the EPA at their various factories. They are having a new, ugly behemoth of a plant being built in Blue Lake, and the citizens are concerned about release of toxic chemicals used in their manufacturing process. When police in a nearby town find Luis’ car, empty, with blood inside, they fear the worst.
  
  Camilla is highly respected in Blue Lake as a best-selling author and beloved citizen. One of the best descriptions I’ve seen of her is that if Blue Lake were a kingdom, Camilla and Adam are the king and queen in the castle at the top of the hill. Lena and her friends are close in age, and all look up to and love them. Lena has also gained a reputation, together with Camilla, of solving various crimes in Blue Lake. It is no surprise that they are involved in finding the missing and the culprit(s).
  
  The characters are three-dimensional, so real one could almost see them stepping out of the pages into real life. Because of their multi-faceted talents and close relationship, Lena and Camilla are my favorites. Sam and Belinda are a close second. We meet Belinda’s complex brother, who is also well-defined; I enjoyed getting to know him and hope we see much more of him.
  
  This mystery has many components which may or may not be connected. Plot twists add to the suspect list. There are new faces in town because of the construction of the new factory, some look less than friendly. When a creepy face appears, peering in the window at Camilla’s home, all are on edge, especially after he gets away. There are lighthearted moments with some of the surprises for Camilla’s birthday and seeing Sam’s brother Clifford try to make up his mind about taking out one of Lena’s friends. I was unable to determine the bad guy(s) and had quite the surprise at the end regarding who and why. I was satisfied with the solutions, and no loose ends remained. I highly recommend this novel and its series!
  
  *OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
• 
  Kirsten

  This has to be my favorite cozy mystery series and one of my favorite series of any genre.
  
  For a cozy mystery series, the storylines and characters are quite involved and three-dimensional. We have finally gotten to the point that Adam's issues have been resolved, but that does not reduce the suspense and enjoyment of this series. The devotion of the characters to one another is also wonderful. Plus! Dogs! Cats! Kittens!
  
  This installment even came with an evil corporation and a young man desperate to find out what happened to his friend. Can't wait for the next in this excellent series. Certainly hope this author doesn't end it any time soon (like other cozy mystery authors have done to me!)
• 
  Maria

  Lena London goes Erin Brockovich!
  (With a side dish of Master Chef.)
  
  The mystery in this one was my least favourite out of the five books, but I still liked it well enough.
  Lots of threads and clues spun together into a whole towards the end.
  
  All the characters are starting to pair up and I wonder how far into domestic life this series will go in the future. Will we follow Lena and Sam up the aisle? To the maternity ward?
  Or will they just end up with a very large collection of happy cats?
  
  I'm kind of curious.
  
  But most of all I'm curious if Sam will get away from his old life by taking Lena's fab last name. "Lena West London" is a really bad name, you know. He should totally go "London" and call it a day. #importantstuff 😆
• 
  Melissa aka Melmo

  Phenomenal read. Each and every book in this set is better than the last. I loved this mystery-it pulled me in from page 1 and didn't let up at all. I love the family these characters have created and how they work together to solve the mysteries that always seem to find them. This series is truly a joy to read and has become an auto buy for me. Can't wait for another adventure with Lena, Camilla, Sam and the rest of the crew.
• 
  Paula

  Nice milieu though the totality of nicey-nice combined with every single one of them being beautiful feels terribly artificial. Way too many scenes of the friends talking things over.
  
  Once again the German shepherds seem more place-marker than real. A bad guy steals up to an open kitchen window and the dogs don't notice. Later Lena cites them as a security resource. Huh?
• 
  Zermeena

  I'm sad to be at the end of this series. I love Lena and Camilla as well as the gothic elements in the stories. At times they are a little too melodramatic, but I enjoy them none the less. The mystery in this book was not what I originally thought it would be. That added an element of surprise to the story.
• 
  Shauna

  I find that sometimes this author writes too many unnecessary details. That can get tiresome, but I really like the characters. They are all very positive, pie-in-the-sky types even while trying to solve their mysteries.
• 
  Jenny

  Another fun read in this mystery series!
• 
  Maria

  I love this series. The twists and turns always keep me guessing. Would have been 5 stars but the group chats and the pairing off of all the characters is a little annoying.
• 
  Melinda

  This last instalment of the series fell flat for me. The characters didn’t have their regular camaraderie with each other. I really enjoyed the addition of Carl into the mix though. I would of liked to see some progression on Lena and Sam’s relationship for the series end. But happy for Camilla’s storyline in this book.
• 
  Katie Fitzgerald

  I love the characters in this series, and it was really enjoyable to spend another mystery with them. I would definitely not read this particular book out of order, as there are a lot of references back to events of the first few books of the series, and investment in the plot really depends on investment in a specific character's newly introduced sibling. For fans of the series, though, this is another excellent installment. I hope there will be a book 6!
• 
  Nicole

  I love this series so much!! I love all the couples getting their happily ever afters!!
  
  March Mystery Madness Prompt: Color
• 
  Annarella

  This is the first instalment I read in this series and I'm happy I got this ARC because it's an engrossing and entertaining read.
  The lovely setting, the great and likeable cast of characters and the solid mystery made me love this story that I read as fast as I could.
  The mystery is well crafted and the solution came as a surprise.
  I appreciated the friendship amongst the characters, and Lena, an interesting MC who is never tempted to do anything stupid.
  I can't wait for the next instalment and I'll surely read the previous stories.
  Strongly recommended.
  Many thanks to Berkley and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
• 
  Nancy

  Sorry Julia Buckley, but you lost me with this title. By the time I finished the book, I could not see how the title matched what you had written.
  
  What begins with a new company building an eye-sore of a structure is pristine Blue Lake, quickly jumps to Lena’s best friend Belinda missing and detective Doug going into panic mode not knowing where she is. This is where the whole red rose begins and ends. Which isn’t much considering there is an easy answer and minimal reference to it again.
  
  This is a fling it on the wall and see if it sticks plotting session where Julia Buckley is throwing everything she has, and some that she doesn’t, in hopes of keeping the reader engaged in a straight from Scooby-doo episode where the big bad guy is unmasked and the world is saved by the bumbling, and in the end a nice meal was prepared for all.
  
  If the author is going with the” oh gosh, gee golly” approach, she has hit her mark. If she is wanting to engage her readers with gothic suspense, she will need to up her game with darker twists and a bit more foreboding.