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Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Review: Buried Secrets and a Suspicious Death (A Poppy James Cozy Mystery #8) by Gemma Harper

Buried Secrets and a Suspicious Death

A Poppy James Cozy Mystery #8

by Gemma Harper

Published: July 22, 2026

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Cozy Animal Mystery, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense 

Blurb:


Café owner Poppy James expects Willowbrook High’s reunion to bring stale punch, awkward memories, and a shortage of cinnamon scones—not a body beside the pried-open class time capsule.

When Diane Caldwell, the town’s meticulous history-keeper and reunion chair, is found dead, Poppy is pulled from Perk & Page into a puzzle of missing photos, scratched metal, and secrets older than the bunting. With loyal Nadine bringing heart, Theo digging through dusty records, and Midsip sniffing out trouble one crumb at a time, Poppy follows a trail that points in too many directions.

A prickly yearbook editor with a past grudge and a charming former classmate with something to protect both had reasons to fear what Diane remembered. But as the clues tighten and someone starts covering old tracks, Poppy realizes the truth may cost her more than her quiet place on the sidelines.

If she fails, Willowbrook’s past won’t just stay buried—it will claim another victim.


Goodreads ~ Amazon


My Review:

Diane Caldwell is discovered dead next to a time capsule from the class of 1976. The capsule had been unearthed prematurely, and its contents were scattered on the grass beside Diane, with several items missing.

It seems that someone from the past had secrets to conceal, someone willing to go to great lengths to keep those secrets buried, or at least to keep them where they preferred them to remain.

Poppy receives a warning from the Sheriff to steer clear of this case. She assures him she will, but deep down, neither of them truly believes that. Poppy is not the type to turn away; she can't help but notice what’s in front of her. Moreover, she despises leaving questions unanswered; she feels compelled to dig deeper until she uncovers the truth.

As Poppy investigates, she explores various leads and encounters numerous suspects. With each clue she uncovers, she inches closer to becoming the next target. I found myself questioning what could be so significant that someone would resort to murder to keep it hidden. The suspense kept me flipping pages as I hurried to the conclusion, eager to solve the mystery myself.

I often wondered if the individual responsible for Diane’s demise was someone who contributed to the time capsule fifty years ago. However, it was also possible that it was merely someone linked to a donor of the time capsule.

Buried Secrets and a Suspicious Death captivated me from the very first page and maintained its grip until the end, and even now, I find myself clinging to every word as I write this review.

I wholeheartedly recommend Buried Secrets and a Suspicious Death to all mystery lovers! Don’t miss out on grabbing your copy of Buried Secrets and a Suspicious Death today!

Check out all the books in the Poppy James Cozy Mystery Series I’ve read.


Caffeine and a Corpse

Goodreads

Amazon


NightBlooms and a Burial #1

Goodreads

Amazon


Killer Crust #2

Goodreads

Amazon


Whistle Stop Murder #3

Goodreads

Amazon


Murder at the Heritage Festival #4

Goodreads

Amazon


Murder on the Bunny Slope #5

Goodreads

Amazon


Death by Choreography #6

Goodreads

Amazon


Murder at Briar House #7

Goodreads

Amazon


Buried Secrets and a Suspicious Death #8

Goodreads

Amazon


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