Well-Offed in Vermont (A Pret Near Perfect Mystery)

Well-offed, is a cute cozy mystery and a really fast read. If you want something to read over a weekend or on the plane this will get you thru. Meade sets her book in Vermont with the lead characters of "flatlanders" Stella and Nick Buckley. Stella and Nick drive up the road to their new life and new home in Vermont. Nick is starting a new job and Stella is wondering what she is goi Well-offed, is a cute cozy mystery and a really fast read. Nick is starting a new job and Stella is wondering what she is going to do with her tapestries degree and no museum to ply her trade. Before they can unpack the first box, a dead body is discovered in their well, they are barred from moving into their house until the murder is solved.

Suddenly, they find themselves sleeping in a hunting cabin in the middle of nowhere Vermont with outdoor plumbing, no electricity, and a foldout couch that has seen better years. What else is there to do but jump in and help solve the murder, so they can get back to the modern amenities we all take for granted. When the murder victim turns out to be a less then beloved member of the community, the list of suspects and townsfolk they have to meet grows to include their neighbor "Crazy" Mary and Sheriff Mills.

How long can these flatlanders survive ruffing it in a Vermont hunting cabin with a murderer on the loose? I really liked the banter most of the time between Stella and Nick. The other characters were all entirely cliched. EVERYone was extremely quirky and crazy, but not in a fun way. One or two of these type of characters would suffice, but it seemed that everyone was just mad. The actual mystery wasn't bad. There were quite a few things that just didn't make sense either.

This is fairly close to the beginning, but feel free to skip if you don't want ANY kind of spoiler, but w Eh.

Bestselling Series

This is fairly close to the beginning, but feel free to skip if you don't want ANY kind of spoiler, but when they were talking to the ex-military crazy guy, they talked about how the teenager's boss was so loud on the phone, he could hear every word the guy said. Yet, somehow he couldn't hear what the teenager was telling his boss about his septic tank? They specifically state later on that the teenager comes back and tells the guy the truth and mention AGAIN that the old guy could hear the boss yelling at him over the phone, yet he couldn't hear what the teenager who was standing near him was saying?

There were a few of these type of things, but this was the most glaring. Aug 19, Sam rated it it was amazing Shelves: Where's the follow up?! Whatever happened with Stella and Nick in Vermont, now that they have finally moved into their new home? Well-Offed was a fun first novel from Meade. As a born Vermonter, I took exception to some of the "mountain hick" stereotyping that occurred from time to time in this novel, but I reminded myself that that's just the current "flatlander" in me. A true Vermonter would rejoice in seeing her beloved state captured in these pages! The one area that did stick in my craw was Where's the follow up?!

The one area that did stick in my craw was the town's acceptance of the sleuthing duo while they, well, sleuthed. It seemed a bit too easy that all and sundry would open up and confess their deepest, darkest secrets merely at the amateurish promptings of married newcomers. Particularly when part of the charm of the location is its suspicions of "flatlanders", leaf-peepers, and yellow-license-platers. That being said, I look forward to more in this delightful new series.

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This book merited a full 5 stars for the lovely repartee between the husband-and-wife sleuths, which truly tickled me. Apr 15, L rated it liked it Shelves: Yet, there it was on my Kindle and I was home sick.

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I almost quit on about page 3, when the young couple was getting ready to celebrate their new home in small-town Vermont--just them, a fire, an air mattress, and champagne. But I decided to read another page or two, and I'm glad I did. Before they could get down to business, they found the blood.

And the chase was on! The characters are enjoyable, including the stereotyped, small-town Vermont persons and those who are the stereotype squared. It's still impossible to understand why the young couple would leave Manhattan for small-town Vermont, but sometimes we have to suspect our sense of reality for the sake of the story. It was the perfect tale for snuggling under the blankie on the sofa. I might even order up another for when a good cozy is just what I need. And I do believe this represent the high end of the genre.

Jan 23, Melissa rated it liked it.

Not fabulous, but the characters are interesting enough that I will probably read the next book in the series just to see where the story goes. The police investigation forces the couple out of their lovely farmhouse and—since the motels are packed w Not fabulous, but the characters are interesting enough that I will probably read the next book in the series just to see where the story goes. Oct 06, Jennifer rated it did not like it. This book is set during the first week of October in Vermont where I live , so I enjoyed sharing a setting. While Well-Offed fulfills most of the Cozy Mystery requirements, the reliance on Vermont stereotypes for what little characterization there was, was perplexing at times, unfathomable at others, and always annoying.

There was also no, absolutely no, action at all. Even the discovery of the body is "tell, not show". The book is one long series of completely unrealistic interrogations by sni This book is set during the first week of October in Vermont where I live , so I enjoyed sharing a setting.

The book is one long series of completely unrealistic interrogations by snide, shallow, oversexed not always a bad thing, but in this case While I recognize the amateur detective is ALWAYS unrealistic, I argue that the genre can be crafted with a bit more finesse and subtlety than this offering. Jun 29, Dianne rated it it was ok Shelves: The lack of consistency is why only two stars for this one.

Early on there is comment made that she need not be concerned about being shot with a rifle because it was currently Bow season and then throughout the remainder of the book spoke of hunting season in terms of rifle season. Also the needle point vs cross stitch inconsistency mentioned previously. Then the town being so small but yet there are scenes of scads of shoppers in the town center.

Where are these people shopping in this small t The lack of consistency is why only two stars for this one. Where are these people shopping in this small town. Good premise,good use of humor particularly the outhouse scene , enjoyed when I wasn't irritated, perhaps a story board for the author would help keep track of these little things which can jump out at the reader. Not exactly the Vermont I live in! Feb 07, Stephanie rated it it was ok Shelves: I was excited about the prospect of a Vermont-based mystery series but this one was annoying and not particularly well-written.

The main characters, Stella and Nick, have picked up and moved from Manhattan to a small Vermont town but apparently know nothing about Vermont Bars that don't serve appletinis? The day they arrive to move in to their house, a dead body is found in their well.

The house becomes a crime scene and Nick and Stella take it on themselves I was excited about the prospect of a Vermont-based mystery series but this one was annoying and not particularly well-written. The house becomes a crime scene and Nick and Stella take it on themselves to interrogate the entire town and solve the crime. So much dialogue, so little description and reflection, such smug and unlikeable protagonists, and such stereotypical portrayals of the locals left me cranky.

Nov 14, Amanda Meggs rated it really liked it Shelves: A light mystery set in Vermont, USA. From other reviews I'm guessing the devil is in the details - any time you read a novel set in a place someone knows well the locals get upset hat the description isn't accurate. So unless authors only write abou where they live they are going to get picked on. I also know nothing about stitchery so dint notice faults with terminology.

I enjoyed the mystery and found the reasoning behind Nick and Stella looking into the murder a good one as often this is the A light mystery set in Vermont, USA. I enjoyed the mystery and found the reasoning behind Nick and Stella looking into the murder a good one as often this is the most implausible thing when the mystery isn't police lead.

I liked Nick and Stella, Mills the policeman was good too. The story was well told and flowed well, definitely one of the better novels in this genre.

Well Offed in Vermont

Mar 08, John rated it liked it. This was a fun read.

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The author was able to illustrate the difference between "flatlanders" and true Vermonters without being insulting or condescending of either. If "Mystery Novels Set in Vermont" were a genre, this is definitely a good addition.

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Not nearly as good as Archer Mayor, but a different viewpoint as it is the outsiders looking in. It is a straight forward murder mystery, couple from New York move to their dream house in Vermont and discover a body. With nothing else to do since thei This was a fun read. With nothing else to do since their home has been closed off as a crime scene, they work to solve the mystery. Lots of fun characters with different motives makes it a fun whodunit. I enjoyed this easy going mystery.

My initial attraction was the Vermont setting. The author tells a nice little story but I just didn't feel the male characters rang true. I'd like to think we men fall somewhere in between what the ladies say we are and what they want us to be.

But, that won't stop you from enjoying this if you can just keep picturing the lovely countryside. The author e I enjoyed this easy going mystery. The author even mentions "Murder, She Wrote" and that is really what this book reminder me of stylistically with a younger Jessica Fletcher with a doting, handsome husband. Oct 09, Ann rated it liked it. This was an easy read cozy. On their first night in the new house they find a body. The local plumber is found head first in their well. What they thought at first was an accident is quickly found to be murder when it is discovered that he was shot.

The couple have to move to a hunting cabin with no facilities while the murder is investigated. They drive a smart car and that takes them everywhere This was an easy read cozy. They drive a smart car and that takes them everywhere looking for a solution to the mystery so they can move back into their house. Not a very mysterious case but the characters are interesting and very "Vermont.

Feb 05, Beth L. I read it this afternoon. I was happy to find a new cozy mystery series but this one was just ok. Having lived in Maine for many years I thought the NE stereotypes were a bit much. I did like the occasional "literature" mentions that I felt were designed to go right over the top of the native's heads Jul 15, VJ rated it really liked it Shelves: I really liked these characters.

The book and story were rather simple and I'm sure Vermonters either love it or hate it.

Never having been to Vermont and never really wanting to visit Vermont, I really could not care less about whether it is accurate or not. I just know that I like the characters in this book. There were some really funny parts and a few witty parts. I felt the characters, especially Stella, really jump off the page to me. I'll definitely look up more of the Pret'near Perfect se I really liked these characters. I'll definitely look up more of the Pret'near Perfect series. There are no discussion topics on this book yet.

About Amy Patricia Meade. When not writing, Amy enjoys travel, testing out new recipes, classic films, and, of course, reading mysteries. Other books in the series. Books by Amy Patricia Meade. Trivia About Well-Offed in Ver No trivia or quizzes yet. A Pret' Near Perfect Mystery. Mere hours after moving to maple syrup country, she and her husband, Nick, find a dead man, Allen Weston, in a well on their property. The police investigation forces the couple out of their lovely vintage farmhouse and--since the motels are packed with leafpeepers--into a less than luxurious deer camp. Instead of mourning the loss of electricity and running water, Stella and Nick drive their Smart car all over the Vermont hamlet to question the quirky locals about Weston, a shrewd businessman who rubbed a lot of folks the wrong way.

Stella and Nick may never shed their flatlander reputation in this close-knit community, but can they get enough information from the taciturn townspeople to help Sheriff Mills solve the murder and sew up the investigation? The Best Books of Check out the top books of the year on our page Best Books of Product details Format Paperback pages Dimensions x x Looking for beautiful books?

Visit our Beautiful Books page and find lovely books for kids, photography lovers and more. Review quote "Meade successfully segues from her historicals Black Moonlight to this snappy yet traditional contemporary.