I'm liking this cozy mystery set in FRance. It's a sort of fantasy as it requires a bit of suspension of belief but I have fun in reading about the setting and the cast of characters.
The solid mystery kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the second book in a series, and I requested it on NetGalley, because I read the first book, Murder Visits A French Village, some time ago, and I quite enjoyed it.

The protagonist, Ariel, was a likeable character; I remember that I liked her the first time around, so I was pleased to find another book where she was featured as a protagonist.

Just like with the first book, I felt the author did a lovely job when it came to capturing the French setting. That setting came to life for me, and I wanted to escape into it. I also warmed to some of the other characters.

The thought of the missing dog was something that went to my heart a little bit, and so I felt like that was a motivation to keep reading. I found this very light and easy reading, it was easy to read in one sitting. I also think that if I hadn't read the first book prior, I may have enjoyed reading this as a standalone. If you like cosy mysteries that will help you escape for a little while, this may appeal to you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Murder and the Missing Dog
Is a fun cozy mystery in a small town in France. American Ariel is fixing up a rundown chateau to open a bed and breakfast. Ariel finds the body of an elderly resident in the doorway of a shop. Her bag and her dog are missing which makes Ariel believe it is murder. With her two friends, she investigates.
This is the second book in the series A Chateau in Burgundy. I have not read the first one and it was easy to follow. I loved the characters and the town. Look forward to reading more.

This is the second book in the series and I haven't read the first. I did feel this might have mattered as I didn't get to know the characters very well. They did seem to be eccentric and eclectic but not very revealing of their characters. The mystery itself was interesting but fairly obvious. It was still an entertaining read however. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Many thanks to Net Galley for this early reader ebook copy of “Murder and the Missing Dog” by Susan C. Shea! I was intrigued by the genre; always love a mystery; the setting; a small village in France; and, as an animal lover, by the title’s missing dog! Our main character Ariel arrives at her village shop and finds a dead body on the doorstep: an elderly local woman who often visited her shop with her black tote bag and loyal dog … but both bag and dog are missing! Ariel and her friends cannot resist trying to solve the mysteries of who would kill their neighbor and why, while searching for both bag and dog, alongside the police. The mystery is pleasantly twisty, tho I never felt that I got to know the characters very well. This may be due to the fact that I had not read the first book in this series! I would still recommend to those looking for an easy-reading mystery, (PS. The dog is ok!) #MurderandtheMissingDog #NetGalley

Wholly Entertaining,,
Following on from ‘Murder Visits a French Village’ comes the second in the Chateau in Burgundy mystery series and Ariel Shepard is finally feeling at home in her surroundings. Nevertheless, murder and mayhem is never far away and it is not too long before she finds herself discovering yet another very dead body and begins to sleuth. Another very enjoyable mystery with a beguiling setting, a cast of deftly drawn eccentric and eclectic characters and an engaging plot peppered with lashings of humour. Wholly entertaining.

Don't worry if you, like me, missed the first book- this entertaining mystery will be fine as a standalone. Ariel, an American widow, is rebuilding her life, and her chateau in a small French village. And then, an elderly member of the community is found dead on her friend Katherine's doorstep- and the woman's dog is missing. These two intrepid outsiders solve the mystery and, well, no spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun cozy read.

new-series, France, widow, inheritance, pet-dog, cozy-mystery, cultural-differences, cultural-exploration, hospitality-industry, friendship, frustration, friends, family, verbal-humor, situational-humor, suspense, suspicion, small-town, small-business*****

Recently widowed American Ariel Shepard is working to renovate the old French chateau that her husband bought shortly before his death when he planned for them to do this together and to make it a vacation destination. Her best friends are British expat Katherine who is also a shop owner and Pippa. Together they try to fit in with the villagers, are motivated to find a murderer, and irritate the Brigadier. It's a fun story with quite a bit of situational humor, misunderstandings, red herrings, and amazing plot twists all held together by suspense. Loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from Severn House via NetGalley. Thanks!
Book 2 of A Château in Burgundy Mystery

In Susan C. Shea's second A Chateau in Burgundy mystery, Ariel Shepard is an American woman who is still in the process of renovating the old French chateau that her husband bought for her--without her knowledge-- prior to his unexpected death She hopes to turn it into a B&B full of local color and culture, but it's a bigger, more expensive project than she expected.

Just as she and her American and British friends are recovering from a murder (detailed in the previous book), Ariel comes upon a very elderly woman lying dead in the doorway of Katherine's shop, the victim of a murder. Mrs. Toussaint was a mysterious figure, leaving her home only to offer some items for sale at the shop. The motive for her murder is unclear, and the whereabouts of her beloved canine companion, without whom she is rarely seen, is uncertain. The mystery is an intriguing one, as Ariel and her friends try to unravel it, feeling a responsibility to bring justice for Mrs. Toussaint. They conduct their own investigation quietly and methodically, although sometimes ignoring the law, Was the woman somehow involved with the theft of valuable goods, or is there a much deeper and more significant reason for her murder?

I enjoyed the engaging characters, and I found the resolution of the case very gratifying. But even more satisfying is the author's detailed description of the chateau's renovation, as well as the beauty of this region of France and the culture of a particular small town. There is a hint of potential romance, which will hopefully continue in future series entries.

My thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.