Jeweler Edwin Wildermuse’s body is found in an alley of New York City, missing one hand and the courier case carrying expensive jewelry to which it had been handcuffed.   ID on the body leads Detective Eric O’Shaughnessy to contact Sheriff Cas Larkin of Maryvale, Tennessee,  searching for relatives of Edwin. Cas locates Edwin’s cousins, Bedrov Dedd and Svetlana Wildermuse, living in a large, rundown house on the outskirts of town. The cousins tell Cas that Edwin had a nephew in New York City, master chef Edgar Wildermuse. Edgar is devastated by the news and surprised to learn he stands to inherit millions from his uncle. Edgar wants to make sure Bedrov and Svetlana are taken care of so he and his partner visit Maryvale and hire a contractor to begin renovating the old place, unaware the two criminals who murdered his uncle are in the area searching for a valuable set of jewelry they suspect Edwin buried shortly before his death.

Reading the Maryvale series is as comforting as visiting well-loved family and friends. The town of Maryvale is enchanting, it’s characters warm and likable. Griffey adds a touch of the paranormal to this latest installment , enhancing the story even more, and introduces new characters who will hopefully appear in future books. A charming cozy readers, mystery and otherwise, will enjoy.