Writing is Murder by Susan Lynn Solomon is a standalone cozy mystery in the author’s Emlyn Goode Mystery series. In addition to being a cozy mystery, there is a paranormal aspect to the story as Emlyn Goode is a descendent of a purported witch.I loved the rich details Ms. Solomon included in her descriptions of the area. The author vividly describes an area of New York with which she is clearly familiar. Her descriptions of haunted locations are bone chilling!

Emlyn Goode is a writer who happens to be dating the local law enforcement. She can’t help but become involved in solving some local crimes since her witchy senses frequently lead her to trouble. I loved the historical fiction aspects in Writing is Murder as well as the inclusion of Emlyn’s writing group.

The characters are all likable, and their banter is fun. Their relationships definitely gave a homey, small town feel to the setting. The plot has a few intertwined threads that are all pulled together by the end of the story. Ms. Solomon has delivered a smart, engaging cozy mystery with plenty of clues and red herrings to keep her readers guessing until the end.