Halloweentown Mysteries

Ground Rules Mysteries

Fresh Brewed Murder (#1)

"Lively characters help propel the intricate plot. Cozy fans will hope to see a lot more of Sage and friends."

Publisher's Weekly

"Coffee-lovers, this book is for you...a great debut!"

Criminal Element

"Portland's beloved food carts provide a tantalizing backdrop for a new cozy mystery...Using a food cart pod as the setting for the story is a creative way to address both the quirkiness and the more dismaying aspects of life in contemporary Portland."

The Sunday Oregonian

"While the story is mostly light and fun, Emmeline brings important subjects such as homelessness, food insecurity, and gentrification into the story."

Kings River Life

"[A] brilliant kick-off to a new series with Duncan delivering a sweet treat infused with humor, suspense, surprises, and family drama."

Manhattan Book Review

"A promising start to a brand new cozy mystery series, Fresh Brewed Murder tackles some tougher topics but never loses that overall cozy vibe that readers love."

Read with Aimee

Double Shot Death (#2)

“Solid prose, a well-crafted plot, and plenty of coffee lore draw the reader in. A socially liberal vibe—Bax happily mixes with his ex-wife, their young son, and her husband—sets this cozy apart.”

Publisher's Weekly

"A clever sleuth, music trivia, and plenty of West Coast vibes add up to an enjoyable read."

Kirkus

"This is a well-written mystery that kept me guessing all the way to the end, filled with a delightful and diverse cast of characters, and of course, lots of coffee."

Kings River Life Magazine

"The possible killers and motives are well juggled and Duncan’s (AKA young adult author Kelly Garrett) writing is fresh and realistic."

First Clue

"I’m looking forward to reading the second installment of this cozy mystery series set in a food cart pod in Portland. This time, master barista Sage has brought her coffee cart to an eco-friendly music festival, where she finds the body of one of the band’s managers. I expect this story will bring the same great cast of characters and very real Portland vibe that made Fresh Brewed Murder so much fun to read."

Jennifer H of Powells.com, staff pick

Flat White Fatality (#3)

"Tips on coffee and a touch of romance combine in a mystery with a strong West Coast vibe."

Kirkus Reviews

"I enjoy every new book in this series more than the one before. Delicious coffee love paired with Portland vibes served with a twisty, cozy mystery."

Undine Reads

"Plenty of satire, lots of fascinating local detail, excellent friends and family, and an insider look at the world of special coffees."

First Clue

"'Flat White Fatality' evokes a contemporary vibe from its urban setting as well as coffee, brew pub, food truck and gaming details, making it a very non-stuffy type of cozy mystery. Duncan is skillful at including texting, security videos and chat-room conversations to aid the sleuthing, without asking the reader to be an IT expert or leaving the writing too clunky."

Yakima Herald

"I always enjoy visiting Ground Rules and all of the interesting characters in Emmeline’s books, plus you get a good mystery filled with twists and turns to solve along the way. What more could you ask for? Emmeline also addresses real-life issues such as homelessness and the environment, and there are recipes at the back of the book. This has become one of my favorite series! I can’t wait for the next one."

Kings River Life

Death Unfiltered (#4)

"Believable situations, a complicated cast of characters, and plenty of odd (really odd) occurrences."

Kirkus

"I’m always eager to read the next in this series."

Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery