From Newsprint to Footprints: First River's Edge Cozy Mystery (River's Edge Mystery Series) Paperback – 6 Jan. 2020

An unusual story which had a small town, ex reporter who became a gardener as the main character. A murder mystery that was full of suspense and intrigue. Characters were well crafted.

Just finished this first in a new series and loved it! I have read a number of Elaine Orr's books and enjoyed every one of them, so thought I'd give this new series a try, and I'm so glad I did. Small town newspaper reporter, Melanie, is fired by her unhappy at life editor, Hal. Out of a job, she does what she loves best, besides reporting, working in the dirt with plants/flowers, when she discovers Hal's body in a pile of mulch. As a strong possible suspect, she investigates to clear her name. Love the small town setting and comradarie among the friends and townspeople, which is so realistic and in keeping of most small towns. The characters are well developed, events believable, and the hunt for the murderer very well done. A second questionable death adds to the suspense. Loved the dog, Mr. Tibbs! All in all, this is a really good 5 star debut cozy, by an experienced, talented author. Really hope this series takes off, and the next book appears soon.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. This story was about a news reporter Melanie who was fired from the local newspaper and started working fixing up a house with overgrown yard. Within the first day she was a suspect of the killing of her old boss who was buried in the mulch she had ordered and her hoe was left there. With her reporter instinct she was always one step ahead of the law and the real killer. The story was a bit drawn out at times with some unnecessary details and other times things were written and more details would of helped answer questions I had.

Full disclosure: I have loved everything of Elaine Orr's that I have ever read, so I came to From Newsprint to Footprints with high expectations. Fortunately for all of us avid readers, all my expectations have been more than met.From Newsprint to Footprints at first appears as a leisurely cozy mystery written by a skilled author who has a delightful way with language. A book written for easy going moments, when you are reading for shear pleasure. One passage that describes a minor moment serves as an example. Just a couple of sentences captures the scene. It's not a momentous scene, but it fully brings to mind the moment:About a mile from Keosauqua, a large maple tree lurched into the water. More of the river bank had fallen in since I'd last driven this way. Pretty soon there wouldn't be much land between the road and the river, so there would be some fancy engineering to reinforce the bank. Still, it would be cheaper than moving the road.However, about half way through the twists and turns of plot the book turns into something more, I don't know, real, on a deeper human level. It's not terrorizing or creepy, just more touching I guess. A much more satisfying read than one usually finds in a cozy. The plot proceeds to unexpected places before the resolution.Elaine Orr is a joy to read. From Newsprint to Footprints is no exception. The characters grow in subtle ways that are not demanded by plot, but adds to the richness of the novel. Individuals are not obviously good or obviously bad, and figuring out which is part of the experience. I'm thrilled Ms Orr is gracing us with a new series and I can hardly wait for more installments. If you like cozies without on screen violence, if you like authors with a full command of their craft, you'll love this book.

Reporter Melanie Perkins loses her job at a three day a week tabloid paper. What to do? Well, what Melanie has always enjoyed doing...gardening. The issue is...who will hire her. Her degree is in Journalism.Luckily, Melanie is given a 'scoop' from a former co-worker and reaches a plum job before the classified ad goes in to the paper. Wealthy landowner, Sylvester Seaton, or 'Syl' hires Melanie but the shortfall hits when her former boss, nasty Hal, accosts her in the grocery that evening and screams and throws an orange at her.Little does Melanie expect to find a body on the job the next morning, but she does, and there we go. Last person seen...Melanie and Hal fighting in the grocery.Melanie's reporter skills come to the front and as chief suspect, she knows she needs to solve this crime now.This book felt slow to me. I followed Melanie through her investigation but thought some things were easily overlooked to her. I won't say which as that would give everything away. I got a bit tired of her 'reporter' friends always pumping her for information.This is just not my type of book. I'm sure I'll read another novel by this good author in another series. I do like Elaine Orr's writing.

The first book in a new cozy mystery. It is a relaxing read, characters developed. It set in rural Iowa along. a river bank. The town is slowly changing from farms to a small town. Melanie Perkins was writing for the newspaper until she was fired for taking too many pictures of flowers. Melanie doesn't want to leave the area so she accepts a job redoing the landscape of a Victorian house. Gardening is her first love. The owner of the newspaper, Hal Morris has an argument with her in the local store. The next morning, Melanie find him buried in a pile of manure. Melanie works to clear her name as some of the law enforcement officers decide she is guilty. I am looking forward to Melanie and friends next adventure.