This is a fun book and series to read. It is a full on murder mystery but is a fun and mysterious cosy that I was entertained by and had no problems reading in no time at all. Seen from different viewpoints yet flowing easily making it easy to read without any confusion. Loved the tunnels, the historical aspect and the twists and turbs that kept me on my toes. Great characters and plenty of skeletons makes for and interesting read.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Book Review: Skeletons, Secrets & Speakeasies by Fran Heap

Rating: 3.5 stars

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing Skeletons, Secrets & Speakeasies, the latest cozy mystery by Fran Heap, and it was a pretty enjoyable read! The story follows Tammy Rumbelow, who moves to the charming town of Willowcroft, Michigan, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, she finds herself wrapped up in some deep-rooted mysteries dating back decades—including a long-forgotten bank heist, hidden underground tunnels from the Prohibition era, and even an unsolved murder. Alongside Tammy is a quirky team of amateur detectives: a bookseller/genealogist, a sharp teen tech whiz, a keen retiree, and a former sheriff. Plus, Tammy’s trusty cat adds a cozy touch.

What really stood out to me was the sense of community and found family within this group. They’re an eclectic bunch who genuinely support each other across generations, which added warmth and humor to the story—especially the antics of the “Knotty but Nice” chat group ladies, who had me chuckling more than once. The setting itself feels like a quaint small town with a surprisingly suspenseful past lurking beneath its peaceful surface.

The cover of the book is delightful too—definitely eye-catching and inviting for any cozy mystery fan.

That said, since I hadn’t read the first book in the series, I sometimes found myself a bit lost keeping track of all the characters and their relationships. There were quite a few names to remember, and at times it felt slightly overwhelming. But despite that minor hiccup, the story flowed nicely and kept me turning pages.

All in all, Skeletons, Secrets & Speakeasies is a warm, witty cozy mystery with heartfelt moments and a clever plot. I’m curious to see where Tammy and her unique sleuthing crew will go next—and I’d recommend this one if you’re into charming small-town mysteries with a dash of history and humor.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This story reminded me a lot of the Nancy Drew books. It has the same spirit of investigation, although it’s a group not, 2 or 3. I enjoyed it. #Skeletons,Secrets&Speakeasies#NetGalley

At the beginning of the book I was less than engrossed. The characters seemed a bit cardboard and cliched but as the story and their investigation evolved, I found myself being drawn deeper into both the characters and the tale. Now that they have proven Max murdered Mary, the group are determined to figure out what happened to the bank robbery money. They follow each clue that leads them to various family members of men who might have been involved. Some of these family members seem willing to talk whilst others take a more aggressive violent tack. In fact, they brazenly attack the least vulnerable member of the group, which speaks to their determination to maintain family secrets.

In spite of a number of false leads and cold trails, they do figure out what happened and who robbed the bank. When they do it flips everything on its head. They even discover the hidden loot. It is a cold case so even though Mary and the second skeleton discovered in the tunnels will not get justice from their killer, they do end up with some good coming from their murders. And the ill-gotten gains from the bank heist end up going to a good purpose. Four purrs and one paw up.

Thank You NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Fran Heap for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fran Heap did it again and even outdid herself! This book lived up to very expectation and exceeded them. This is the ultimate cozy mystery with a mixture of cold case solving and present dangers.

I will never cease to love this group of amateur detectives and their cat sidekick (Lockie is really the leader of the group)! Willy the retired sheriff is like a fun grandpa who truly shows he is still made of nails in this book, Olivia who feels like your nerdy aunt, Mrs. T your stern but loving grandma, Tammy a fun and curious older sister, and Xander gives such nerdy, shy younger brother vibes that you just want to protect him from the world. This book is like experiencing a crazy summer vacation to see your family.

This sorry had such a fun settling, taking place in underground tunnels and secret rooms used during the prohibition. The author does a great job describing the scene like you are right there with the characters discovering secrets that haven't been touched in 70 years. We even got a glimpse of a little romance in this book with the guy that repairs Olivia's window in EVERY book! The attraction might be one sided but I'm still holding out hope for further development! I loved seeing Xander come out of his shell a little more in this book and hope to see him continue to grow in the next. Of course this group can never stay out of trouble, and everyone knows it, so I'm excited to see what will happen in the next!

Thank you so much for this ARC, it has been a pleasure reading another Fran Heap book. I'm officially a huge fan! Also, apologies for the late review!

"Skeletons, Secrets & Speakeasies (A Willowcroft Cozy Mystery #2)" by Fran Heap is a multiple viewpoint cold case cozy mystery. Where the first book had a clear main character despite the multiple points of view, this one seamlessly jumps between viewpoints. I would say it does it well since I didn't get confused as to whose viewpoint we were on either.

This time the group is trying to finish solving the bank heist mystery. Mostly focusing on where the money is hidden rather than the who. Unfortunately, they find another skeleton in the process of exploring some underground tunnels. Each member of their team gets a moment to highlight their individual skills. They end up solving the bank heist mystery and as much of what they can for a 50 year old death.

I was charmed by this second outing with the Willowcroft team. The exploration of the hidden tunnels added a rich layer of historical intrigue and the mystery's clever twists and turns kept me thoroughly engrossed.

If you're seeking a lighthearted yet genuinely captivating read for fans of cozy mysteries, definitely pick up Skeletons, Secrets & Speakeasies. It's a perfect blend of intrigue and charm, seasoned with delightful characters, that will leave you eager for more. I'm already eagerly looking forward to the next installment, Podcasts, Pretenders & Pumpkins!

Thank you to BooksGoSocial for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: June 20, 2025

This was a cute, cozy mystery book that I would recommend as a palette cleanser from a heavier book. It is the second book in a series, but you do not have to have read the first to enjoy this one.
It was fun to imagine an underground world that would have supported unsavory characters during Prohibition. Here’s hoping one day I find my own adventure!

Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Heap for an advanced digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

I highly recommend reading the first book in the series to get the most out of this a zing suite of characters, all of which have their place in the plot. Yes, the cat is especially appealing, but the unlikely group all add something to the mix. It’s a fun read, definitely in the cosy genre, and entertaining more than challenging. Loads of fun,

I loved book one in this series and I loved book two too!
This is book 2 in the Willowcroft Cosy Mystery series and it follows on from the antics in book 1.

Skeletons, Secrets and Speakeasies follows a group of misfits - Tammy the mystery writer, Olivia who owns the local bookshop, Mrs Temperance - a 75 year old in the local knitting group who knows everyone in town, Wally the retired police sheriff, Xander the teenager who is into technology and coding and most importantly, Lockie the stray cat who Tammy adopted who is a great detective!

In the last book, it was discovered that a bank heist and a murder had taken place and while murder was solved, the bank heist wasn’t so that’s the case the group investigating in this book!

While investigating, they come across underground tunnels used in the prohibition, old letters between lovers and threats from a potential suspect.

I adored this book, it was so easy to read, the story flowed well and there was lots going on! It’s a breath of fresh air to read something quite straightforward with likeable and well rounded characters and a storyline that works well.

I can’t wait for book 3 in this series and to find out what other antics the team will get up to!

Thank you to Fran Heap for sending me the arc of this book. This review and all opinions are mine alone.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
While I only made it through a chapter, I really was not a fan of the writing or characters. It felt like I was reading a middle grades mystery and honestly I can’t tell if I made the mistake when picking it up to read and review or if it is just written really juvenile-y, but either way, this was not for me.

The game is back and ready to try and solve another cold case. Only this one ends up having been right beneath our feet the whole time. Come across tunnels right beneath the town that hold secrets, the gang finds a body. Well, they solve more than one mystery, or well the killer make them the next mystery to be solved?

The second entry in the series is really good. I’m gonna have to go back and reread the first because I just really enjoyed it that much. What a collection of characters as well. Young, old, male, female and a cat, they all just work well together. The author leaves a wonderful who dun it with lots of interesting twists, and turns along the way.

This book picks up right where the first one left off. This is not a serious where you can just pick up book two and jump into the story. I loved the continued storyline and still adore the quirky mix of sleuths. The mystery carried over from unresolved things from book one. Lockie the cash is truly the star though.

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. The mystery kept me guessing. I can't wait for the next one.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sure did enjoy this cozy. What a fun crew. The details for the mystery along with the characters and their personalities made for excitement and thrills as you helped them solve the mystery. I enjoyed the story and the writing. . I found it fun and easy to engage with. This was a totally new author for me. Sure do hope to see some more. Love this series.

Author Tammy Rumbelow had moved to Willowcraft to make a fresh start. She wasn’t expecting to be caught up in a 70 year old bank robbery/murder cold case. The $300,000 from the robbery had never been recovered. Along with her eclectic group of friends, she discovers part of a hidden past of the small town, one that someone is trying to keep buried.

For me, this book started out a little slow, but picked up steam as Tammy and her friends start hunting for the money. There were several twists and turns throughout the story that kept me engaged. Heap developed interesting characters and I enjoyed reading their interactions. All in all, this book had an appealing plot and setting. I think other cozy mystery readers would enjoy this book.

This is a cute mystery that emphasizes found family and second chances. It builds upon the storyline in the first book of a murder that happened years ago in the small house Tammy recently bought as a new start from a career catastrophe and betrayal of those closest to her. Now she and a group of new friends decide to try to find a money from a bank heist many years ago.

I liked this book even better than the first one. It didn't focus so much on the negativity that Tammy had experienced it had more povs from the other characters that make up her amateur detective group so we get to know them better. What's more: secret tunnels and forbidden love. A sure hit for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book wow it’s good!! This is the second book in the series of Willowcroft cozy mystery

Tammy Rumbelow never imagined her fresh start in small-town Michigan would lead her into decades-old mysteries. But beneath the cozy book readings and bakery scents, Willowcroft hides the tangled roots of betrayal, buried truths, and a heist that was never meant to be uncovered.

With the help of her cat and a mismatched team of amateur sleuths—including a bookseller and genealogist, a tech-savvy teen, a sharp-eyed retiree, and a former sheriff—Tammy stumbles upon a hidden past woven through dusty tunnels, long-lost letters, and the fading whispers of women history tried to forget.

Together, they’ll piece together a mystery that spans generations—one that may rewrite everything the town thought it knew

I liked this book because of its eclectic cast of characters including the cat Lockie. Tammy looking for a fresh start gets thrown into a mystery dating years ago. I found the book easy to read and hard to put down. It keeps you interested and guessing at some points. This is the second book in the series and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Skeletons, Secrets, and Speakeasies by Fran Heap is the second A Willowcroft Cozy Mystery. I have not read Murder, Mystery, & Mothers (nor the prequel Bears, Berries, & Beginnings) and I felt like I was missing vital information. I had trouble with the multiple points of view. I found it jarring as it bounced between the group of amateur sleuths and the main character. In addition, there was diverting internal dialogue. The characters lacked development. I especially felt that Tammy, as the main character, should have fleshed out more. I thought it was amusing that Tammy’s cat was the most realistic and developed character. The mystery was interesting. I cannot resist a whodunit that involves secret tunnels. I enjoyed the genealogical and historical aspects. Each member of the sleuthing group contributed to the investigation. I wish the pacing, though, had been peppier. There was more talking than action. There were times when I wondered if the mystery would ever get resolved. The story has good elements, but it needed more fine tuning. Skeletons, Secrets, and Speakeasies is a leisurely story about missing money, a network of tunnels, secret entrances, a murder board, a canny cat, an anxious teen, and a humorous radio broadcast.