Dearly Deleted (Book Blogger Mystery 2), by Sarah E. Burr

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It's almost Christmas in Copper Bay, Massachusetts and Winnie Lark is preparing to welcome her parents and twin brother into her home. Her friend, Owen, is preparing to make his acting debut, but when someone is murdered his bookstore is the scene of the crime. Winnie, Strider, and their friend group set out to untangle this mystery and save Owen's reputation.

Dearly Deleted is another strong installment in the Book Blogger Mysteries. The setting is delightful. Early in the book there aren't a lot of references to Christmas, but later there are some very merry scenes that gave me all the holiday feels. I also felt a strong sense of community, which is something I love in cozies.

I enjoyed visiting with the Lark family and their friends in December. Winnie has a complicated relationship with her family. She's making progress with her twin brother, Strider, but this is the first time in a while that she's seeing her parents. I would like to have seen more of Winnie's interactions with her parents, but the end left me feeling hopeful that there will be more in future installments. 

Winnie's romantic relationship is also evolving, which was wonderful to read. Winnie is fortunate to have such great friendships in Bex, Owen, and Teddy. Teddy especially makes me smile, which is saying a lot because he is someone I had to warm up to in the first installment, Over My Dead Blog. He's become one of my favorite characters in this series.

Another character we learn a little more about in this book is Detective Rosemary Fox. I am intrigued by her character because I think there's a lot we still have to learn about her. And speaking of the detective, I love the way the authorities are portrayed as being competent. It is clear that they are fully capable of doing their job. Winnie, Strider, and their friends certainly do their fair share of amateur sleuthing, but it does not downplay how effective the authorities are. 

Although I did correctly identify the whodunnit early in the book, this was still a complex mystery with lots of fun twists and turns. I knew the who, but I did not know the details until all was revealed. I enjoyed the sleuthing that eventually led to the epic reveal. It was jaw-dropping to see it all unfold. 

The Book Blogger Mysteries is a series I highly recommend you prioritize on your TBR list. Start with book 1, Over My Dead Blog, then read Dearly Deleted so you can see the characters grow over the two books. I am really looking forward to spending more time in Copper Bay when book 3 is available.

Thank you to author, Sarah E. Burr, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.