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.
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
NightBlooms and a Burial #1
Killer Crust #2
Whistle Stop Murder #3
Murder at the Heritage Festival #4
Murder on the Bunny Slope #5
Death by Choreography #6
Murder at Briar House #7
Buried Secrets and a Suspicious Death #8
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