My Thoughts: Blackthorn Winter by Kathryn Reiss

3 frosted ginger cookies.

Cover Love:  Not really.  It's fine, but not overly eye catching.

Why I Wanted to Read This:  Just trying to read a few more books from my library collection.  I had seen this one a few times So I finally decided to give it a read.  Here's the synopsis from GoodReads:

The last place fifteen-year-old Juliana wants to be is halfway around the world in Blackthorn, England, an idyllic seaside artists' colony her mother has dragged her off to while her parents weather a trial separation.

Juliana misses her father terribly and doesn't understand why her mother needs to travel so far to resurrect her artistic self, which she claims to have lost in the marriage.

Soon after they arrive in the tiny village of Blackthorn, the artists' colony is set on its heels by the murder of one of its own.

Juliana feels compelled to solve the crime, but she is shocked and frightened when it seems that clues in the matter are hitting a little too close to home.

Can she figure out who the murderer is before anyone else--herself included--gets hurt?

Romance?: A little between Juliana and an English boy named Duncan

My Thoughts:
I loved the setting.  The author did a great job of creating a seaside English village.

I liked Juliana and her family.  I really liked that there were two mysteries, one from Juliana's past and then the murder in the village.

I liked the set up to the murder and could tell right away who the victim was going to be.  I am sure the author meant it to be obvious though.  The murder was a little bit harder to figure it out.  My guess was correct, however, it was nothing because of anything the author put in there.  I just kind of thought it would make sense and I was right!

I liked how the author gave Juliana reasons to want to stay in the village.  Especially Duncan who was just so sweet and kind, and did stick by Juliana even when she was making some weird accusations into the murder.

To Sum Up:  This is a good read that I can point kids in the direction of when they ask me for a mystery!  I am glad I picked it up and gave it a read.