One of the most frustrating symptoms of my POTS is the brain fog – it makes it hard to focus on the long, dense novels I usually gravitate toward. So this week, I’ve been reaching for shorter mysteries that still deliver all the drama, intrigue, and plot twists I crave. Maryellen Winkler’s Emily Menotti Mystery series has been a perfect fit. She’s a local author from the Wilmington, Delaware area (and such a kind person – I had the pleasure of meeting her this spring at the North East Library), and her books always hit that sweet spot of being quick reads with tons of substance.

Each book in the series works well as a standalone, which is good news for someone like me who likes to read out of order. Winkler clearly sets the timeline at the beginning of each chapter, so you’re never confused about where you are in the story. Emily, the main character, is always fun to follow, and if you’d like to check out my thoughts on another one in the series, you can click here to read my review of Murder on the Brandywine.

This week’s read was A Killing in Kennett Square, and I took so many notes in my trusty reading log while devouring this one! Set in October 2001 around Halloween, the mystery unfolds at a retirement community in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Emily visits the community with her boyfriend, Bob, to meet his mother, a resident there. Things take a turn when residents begin reporting missing money, and then the body of the activities director, Shay, is discovered murdered behind the local Walmart. Shay was known to rub people the wrong way, so the list of suspects is long: her brother-in-law (who also happens to be the director of the facility and was having a secret affair with her), coworkers who thought she was the thief, the mysterious handyman with a criminal past… and even some of the residents themselves.

For a story told in just 137 pages, there is no shortage of red herrings, motives, and juicy small-town secrets.

One thing I really enjoy about Winkler’s writing is her use of lightly paranormal elements. Just a few ghostly elements sprinkled throughout – it’s never overdone, but adds the perfect eerie touch. Combine that with a Halloween setting and you’ve got yourself the ideal cozy autumn weekend binge-read.

I also love that Winkler sets her stories in real towns throughout the Delmarva area. As a Maryland native, it’s extra special for me to read mysteries that take place in familiar communities. There’s something especially immersive about a whodunit that unfolds in places you’ve actually been. I flipped through the list of her other books printed in the back of this one and spotted that one of her books takes place in Rehoboth Beach, so that one is definitely going on my TBR next!If you’re looking for a quick mystery to curl up with this fall (or now for Summerween vibes, since it’s June), A Killing in Kennett Square is a solid pick. A cozy, twisty tale with local flavor, a touch of the paranormal, and a heroine you’ll want to follow again and again.