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Julia Buckley

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A Dark and Stormy Murder (A Writer's Apprentice Mystery Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Julia Buckley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 797 ratings

Book 1 of 5: Writer's Apprentice Mysteries

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An aspiring suspense novelist lands in the middle of a real crime in the first Writer's Apprentice mystery.

Lena London's literary dreams are coming true—as long as she can avoid any real-life villains...

Camilla Graham’s bestselling suspense novels inspired Lena London to become a writer, so when she lands a job as Camilla’s new assistant, she can’t believe her luck. Not only will she help her idol craft an enchanting new mystery, she’ll get to live rent-free in Camilla’s gorgeous Victorian home in the quaint town of Blue Lake, Indiana.

But Lena’s fortune soon changes for the worse. First, she lands in the center of small town gossip for befriending the local recluse. Then, she stumbles across one thing that a Camilla Graham novel is never without—a dead body, found on her new boss’s lakefront property.

Now Lena must take a page out of one of Camilla’s books to hunt down clues in a real crime that seems to be connected to the novelist’s mysterious estate—before the killer writes them both out of the story for good...

Book 1 of 5

Writer's Apprentice Mysteries
Print length

301 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Berkley
Publication date

July 5, 2016
File size

1162 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for A Dark and Stormy Murder

“What's not to love? Writing that flows beautifully, suspense that builds slowly and almost unbearably, and a setting that is perfectly beautiful and mysterious, yet also menacing.”—Miranda James, New York Times bestselling author of the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries

“A traditional mystery reader’s dream. A Dark and Stormy Murder has it all: plenty of action, a dash of romance, and lots of heart.”—Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author of the White House Chef Mysteries

“An engaging cozy with a touch of Gothic, A Dark and Stormy Murder is a not-to-be-missed page turner. Bring on book two in this charming series!”—Terrie Farley Moran, Agatha award winning author of the Read ‘Em and Eat Mysteries

About the Author

Julia Buckley is the author of the Undercover Dish Mysteries and the Writer's Apprentice Mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Chicago Writers Association. She has taught high school English for twenty-nine years.

Rebecca Mitchell is a performance artist and classically trained vocalist, as well as a professional host, emcee, and personality. Her natural flare for the dramatic, coupled with her love of being in the studio, brought her to the world of narrating in 2013.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B016JPTK46
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (July 5, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 5, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1162 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 301 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #368,531 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,586 in Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery
- #4,143 in Amateur Sleuth Mysteries (Kindle Store)
- #9,047 in Amateur Sleuths

Customer Reviews:
4.4 797 ratings

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Julia Buckley

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Julia Buckley is a Chicago author and teacher. A lover of mysteries herself, she spent her teen years absorbing the wonderful mystery and suspense fiction of the 20th Century, all of which helped to influence what she writes today. Her published series include the Writer’s Apprentice mysteries, the Undercover Dish mysteries, the first in the Teddy Thurber series, and the Madeline Mann mysteries. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and the Chicago Writer’s Association. Her first book in the Hungarian Tea House Mysteries, DEATH IN A BUDAPEST BUTTERFLY, is now on sale.

Julia lives with her husband, three cats and a big rambunctious Labrador. She has two grown sons. In her free time she likes to watch Netflix (on which she has discovered the joy of French cinema), tend to the potted plants on her deck, read great books, or take part in one of her two book groups.

Visit Julia at her website, JuliaBuckley.com or her Facebook page, Julia Buckley Mystery Novels, or see her on Twitter @juliabucks. You can also explore her inspirations for Blue Lake on her Pinterest page, or follow her on Instagram at jellenbuckley.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

797 global ratings

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S. Warfield

I loved this book! Reminds me of the old Gothic novels

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2017

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Julia Buckley's first book in her new series, A Writer's Apprentice Mystery series, is reminiscent of the gothic novels and romantic suspense novels that I loved reading so many years ago written by Mary Stewart, to whom this book is dedicated, Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt and others. There is no governess in the book, but there is a young, pretty and bright woman who is helping novelist, Camilla Graham do research for her next book and also the young Lena London helps to revise passages that Camilla needs some help with as her deadline approaches.

The story does have a brooding man in it who might be a villain and might not, so Lena takes it on herself to try to help with his investigation. Meanwhile, back at the big old house that Lena is living in with Camilla things seem to go bump in the night and disturb Camilla's highly trained pair of German Shepherd dogs who hear every little noise. There are a couple of mysteries going on at the same time in the book but we don't yet know if they are related. There is a murder that Lena tries to help solve and a mysterious man who everyone believes is evil, but is he really?

For some of the answers and to see how the romances are resolved, we have to read the second book in the series, which I can't wait to read. I loved this book and have the second one ready to read. Lots of fun!

3 people found this helpful

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Jill

The Title Says It All

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2016

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4.5 Star Review. A Dark and Stormy Murder (A Writer's Apprentice Mystery)is the first book in a new series by Julia Buckley.

Lena London wanted to be an inspiring writer after she read Camilla Graham’s novel, so how lucky was she when she landed a job as Camilla’s newest assistant! She will live with Camilla in a Victorian home, and help her with her newest mystery. All is right with the world for Lena, or so she thinks. In the small town of Blue Lake, Indiana, Lena is about to learn that anything can happen, especially when a dead body turns up on Camilla’s property.

Like the cover of the book and title, this book gives a dark tone to this mystery, which is pleasantly a nice change from reading other cozy where everything is sunshine and diabetic sweet. The characters are well put together, and for the most part likable. The plot is well thought out. There is actually two mysteries needing solved in this one. The author does a good job of intertwining them together, to where the reader doesn’t get lost or confused. I felt the speed of the book was perfect to where you can enjoy the book as well keeping up to speed with everything happening in the stories, while you caught up in the suspense of the mysteries.

For this book being the first in a mystery, I liked the fact that it really enhanced the fact that it was a mystery and we really didn’t have to spend three quarters of the book hearing all the backstories, and what brought them to where they are today, and then spend a few chapters for the murder to happen and then then a few chapters to find out who killed who. I do look forward to reading the others in this new series, as I have never read anything by this author, and I enjoyed the book so much.

One person found this helpful

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Shirley

A Dark & Stormy Murder

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2022

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I love books like this! It makes you think a little bit harder and really get to know the various characters. The descriptions of Blue Lake were delightful and somewhat entertaining. I loved how the dogs reacted to their walk/ run with Lena the first time. Then when she saw the body on the beach dead. I got cold chills like I could feel the chill of the cold rain. Then you felt close to Camilla, a sixty year old something , writer, who was Lena’s most favorite author and she was asked to be her assistant. What a dream to come true. Then weird noises started disturbing them in middle of night. Also, the neighbor Sam. Like a recluse, he has a storied past also. Such a good read, not to be missed😊😊

2 people found this helpful

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GLThaler

All the Best Ingredients and it is not even about food!

Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2016

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Oh the promise this first in a new series has. It only took moments for me to get engaged in this wonderfully written murder mystery which includes all the right ingredients. In some ways many of us aspire to become real writers so I guess A Dark and Stormy Murder is like hopping on the fantasy train (that mode of transport being more than ironic). What I wouldn't give to become an apprentice to a successful writer, and that is exactly what Lena London does by being hired by Camilla Graham, a successful and best selling author who finds not only a devoted fan in Lena, but a talented and imaginative one at that! It appears to be a dream job in a picturesque town of Blue Lake, Indiana...but that is almost where it stops if it wasn't for the inquisitive and tenacious author in training and her beloved cat, Lestrade. Then add Lena's ability for empathy and having a talent for hearing truth when no one else does. There are the good guys and the requisite bad guys, the handsome sheriff, the even more handsome outcast(did he or didn't he murder his estranged wife), and Lena's BFF, Alison who told Lena about this opportunity to apprentice with Camilla that brought her out from Chicago in the first place. I especially enjoyed the brief descriptions at the beginning of each chapter that played quite well into the weaving of this tale. I am already slathering for book number 2 in the series. Bring It On!

7 people found this helpful

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Paul McCullough

Perfect

Reviewed in Canada on June 16, 2021

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Received fast. Looks great.

Lisa_Rose

Eine meiner liebsten Cozy Mysteries bisher.

Reviewed in Germany on May 16, 2017

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A DARK AND STORMY MURDER ar eine meiner liebsten Cozy Mysteries in der letzten Zeit. Darin geht es um eine junge Frau namens Lena, die Autorin werden möchte. Durch einen Zufall wird sie von ihrem großen Vorbild unter die Fittiche genommen und zieht bei der schon etwas betagten Autorin ein - zusammen mit ihrem flauschigen Kater Lestrade. Doch kaum angekommen, findet Lena eine Leiche am Strand und eine spannende Verwicklung nimmt ihren Lauf. Hier fand ich das Setting am Besten. Das alte Haus der Autorin und das gemütliche kleine Städtchen haben mich direkt gefangen genommen und es war - trotz der Morde - sehr cozy. Der zweite Band dieser Reihe erscheint Mitte Mai und ist schon vorbestellt.

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sazmar

Fantastic reading

Reviewed in Australia on July 22, 2017

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This book has everything ,couldn't put it down,please tell me there is a second book. Can't wait too read it

C.M

Wow .... the best book in the year (and I loved several more)

Reviewed in France on August 28, 2016

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I don't even know what to say exactly with so many fine reviews having it covered already. But let's just say it's a cozy with a twist and more litterary style than is the custom in cozies. I definitively love that. The description of the area alone is marvellous, we're seeing it now in autumns and I can't wait to see it in winter. And spring. And summer. There ares several mysteries in one book and only one is solved so long so I'm now impatiently waiting for the next book. All in all I'm now officially addicted so as soon as the next one is out I'll be there....

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A Dark and Stormy Murder (A Writer's Apprentice Mystery Book 1) Kindle Edition

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