This story points you in a few directions as to who the suspect was and why. The town was in shock. It was written well and held my attention all the way. I love the British store idea. I will look forward to more of these characters in the future.

Dead to Begin With by Vivian Conroy is a new addition to the cozy mystery family.

In this first in a series, Vicky is coming home after years in England.
Her idea to open a British theme gift shop intrigues some local residents and leaves others smirking behind her back.
When a decades old cold case resurfaces, Vicky can't help but look for clues, especially since she has a crush one of the suspects.

This story was well written and the characters are quite interesting.
I look forward to reading more in this series.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

DEAD TO BEGIN WITH by Vivian Conroy is a wonderful cosy mystery novel with plenty of action and small-town antics to keep you hooked from the very first page. Vicky Simmons has returned to her childhood home to open a British gift shop but it seems that her timing isn't exactly perfect. As an old disappearance case from twenty years ago is making headlines again, and the community starts pointing fingers at each other, it isn't long before things start to get a little more dangerous. With an arson attack, a dead body, new friendships, and old secrets, life at Glen Cove is anything but dull. But can Vicky and her little band of sleuths unravel the mystery before someone else is hurt? With great characters, a stunning setting, and plenty of intrigues to keep a reader guessing, I couldn't put this book down. DEAD TO BEGIN WITH by Vivian Conroy is a wonderful story, perfect for fans of Murder She Wrote, and I cannot wait for the next in the series!!

Dead to Begin With is an enjoyable cozy mystery. Set in Glen Clove, a small seaside town, Vivian, the main character, returns home after many years in England as a reporter. She plans to open an English-themed gift shop that will cater to tourists and locals alike. Just after she gets home, she finds that the unsolved murder of a high school classmate has resurfaced. Both the murdered girl's old beau as well as her twin sister have come back to Glen Cove to finally find some answers. Everything Vivian thinks she knows about her old friends is challenged as she tries to help solve the murder.

The plot was well executed and it was a great read. There was more discussion than action, but I enjoyed the descriptions of the town and the characters were all people I could easily imagine meeting. The gift store is a place I'd love to visit myself! I look forward to reading future books in this series, and I'm going to seek out other books by this author.

I've really been enjoying Vivian Conroy's cozy mysteries. I"m a fan of her Lady Alkmene series, and when I saw this one I automatically requested it. She writes interesting characters and also interesting settings. This one was set in a small town, Glen Cove, where everybody knows each other and their business. You would think a place like that would be idyllic but then murder takes place. Vicky, along with some help from her new friends, helps try to solve the case. What else are you going to do in such a small town? Like I said, I really enjoyed the characters....none of them were annoying and I can't wait to see more of them in future books. Vicky was a good choice for an amateur sleuth. She was smart, likable, and didn't put herself into stupid situations. Vivian Conroy has written another series that I look forward to reading. Highly recommend for any cozy mystery fans.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgally for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.