This was a somewhat slow paced mystery - the only heart pounding, thrilling moment was at the very end and it was over very quickly. That being said, it was intriguing and held the reader's interest with the other life, relationship and friendship issues presented to Emma. She had a lot to unpack as her whole life was changing completely from the life she had mapped out for herself, and I enjoyed finding out how she would deal with the various changes.
All the male characters are quite aloof, except for Arthur who is an absolute sweetheart.
Looking forward to further Justice Bay Mystery books.

Thank you to Netgalley and Level Best Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first time I’ve read a book written by Patricia Smiley. And, A Dark September Night is the first book in her new series. I didn’t know what to expect but, what I discovered is a book that I really enjoyed.

Emma returns to Justice Bay after her aunt is tragically killed in a hit-and-run. Lydie wasn’t just “an aunt”. She was Emma’s beloved aunt and someone she spent time with as a child. When Emma begins to sift through Lydie’s belongings, she becomes increasingly suspicious of the events surrounding the so-called accident. She also begins to re-connect with Justice Bay, the residents, and her childhood memories.

A Dark September Night combines a mystery with grief, and the ability to rebound stronger and more resolved. The author is quite adept at weaving in the backstories of her characters without disrupting the pace and cadence of the story. And, there’s just the right amount of supernatural twists that makes this book even more interesting.

There are so many things to like about A Dark September Night. I loved the setting, the plot, the characters (Arthur is one of my favorites) and Boo, the awesome feline. This is a well-written mystery and I’m certainly looking forward to the next book in the Justice Bay Mystery series. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

This was the perfect book to get me back into my spooky girl era, This book had everything, spies, town weirdos, laugh out load characters, cozy settings, a little bit of the supernatural.

When her beloved aunt dies, a grieving Emma thinks she'll sort out her belongings in two weeks. She doesn't anticipate the almost psychic knowings, the break-ins, and the sense of belonging and community. I enjoyed the mystery behind Lydie's death and the way the pieces of the puzzle align slowly. Though the romance was a bit boring, the friendship between Emma and Arthur was fun, especially the shop they set up to sell her knick-knacks. The small town setting was perfect too - castle, shops, police department and all!

A Dark September Night by Patricia Smiley is the beginning of A Justice Bay Mysteries. The story is easy to read. The pacing is a little slow in the beginning, but it does pick up. I liked the descriptions of Justice Bay and the surrounding area. I liked hearing about Emmaline’s aunt. She sounded like a unique woman (it is a shame that someone ran her over). I do not know how Emma could bear to part with her aunt’s treasures and the wonderful books (she had no idea of their value). Emma has questions about her aunt’s death, and she is not happy with the response she receives from the police department. She feels that foul play was involved, and Emma begins asking questions. It seems Emma’s aunt had a special ability, and Emmaline may have inherited the same trait. Emma gets help from her neighbor, Walter, and his handsome nephew, Cooper. Emma was a tad slow at picking up clues. I loved Arthur, Emma’s pop-up shop employee, and Boo, the cat. Now that Emma has solved one mystery, you know she will not hesitate to do it again in the future (it is like eating a potato chip, you cannot stop after eating one). A Dark September Night is filled with emotion, mystery, suspense, atmosphere, and psychic elements.

A Dark September Night is a beautifully layered mystery that blends grief, grit, and a touch of the supernatural into a compelling coastal tale. Patricia Smiley introduces Emmaline McCoy, a corporate professional thrust into amateur sleuthing after the sudden, suspicious death of her beloved Aunt Lydie. What begins as a quiet trip to settle an estate in Justice Bay quickly spirals into a haunting investigation—complete with antique treasures, eerie visions, and a killer who’s closer than she thinks.

Smiley’s prose is crisp and evocative, painting Justice Bay with charm and shadow in equal measure. Emma is a refreshingly grounded heroine—witty, vulnerable, and determined—with a supporting cast that sparkles: Boo, the wise Siberian Forest cat; Walter, the retired FBI agent next door; and Cooper Dane, a sailor with secrets and smoldering appeal.

The mystery unfolds with satisfying twists, and the paranormal elements add a subtle shimmer without overpowering the emotional core. Smiley’s observations on love, loss, and resilience are tender and true, making this more than just a whodunit—it’s a story about finding clarity in chaos.

Perfect for fans of character-driven mysteries with heart, A Dark September Night is a strong start to a series that promises depth, charm, and plenty of intrigue.

With thanks to Patricia Smiley, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the perfect mystery that captured this reader from the beginning. The author is a masterful writer and the atmospheric settings and vibrant characters are written to perfection.
Thank you for the ARC to the publisher, Net Galley and the author. My review opinion is my own.
Emmeline is returning to her Aunts seaside home after her sudden death by hit and run. As she packs up her home she decided to open a temporary shop to sell her Aunts many antiques. She soon finds clues leading her to investigate if her Aunt was murdered. With the help of the locals and comfort from her Aunts cat she finds evidence her Aunt was murdered. As her investigation continues she experienced visions which lead her to the right suspects and reasons her Aunt was murdered.
I enjoyed this fascinating mystery. It is a compelling read with a great mystery. This I highly recommend.

A Dark September Night was a solid mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. While it wasn’t groundbreaking, I thoroughly enjoyed the read. The relationship with Cooper felt a bit forced—either it needed more development or perhaps it would have worked better as just a friendship. Overall, the characters lacked much relationship depth, with the exception of Arthur in the shop, who was the most layered and memorable.

I didn’t manage to figure out the killer beforehand, which is always a plus in a mystery. The spy element at the end was an unexpected twist, but it felt very random and I’m not sure I loved it. All in all, it was a decent and enjoyable read.

I love a good thriller!
This was tense, suspenseful and a page turner.
If you like thrillers definitely give this one a try

4 stars for me. My first book by this author,and I enjoy it.
Emmaline McCoy’s beloved aunt Lydie died in a hit-an-run accident. Emmaline plan to sell her aunt antiques and the house,so she can come back to her job and life in Los Angeles. Then she start to suspect there is more to her aunt death ,and wanting to find out the truth.

With meeting Walter her aunt neighbour ,his nephew Cooper and opening up popup store,Emmaline star to question her life back in LA ,and maybe opening herself to new beginnings?

Will she find out what happened to her aunt?
Is there a killer on the loose?
Is she safe?

Great for mystery fans .

Thank you netgalley and publisher for ARC.

This book kept me guessing. It was a bit of a slow burn but then it got really interesting and had me wondering who the bad guy was. This was my first book by Patricia Smiley and I look forward to reading another. It was a good mystery book.

Atmospheric, twisty, and totally immersive.

A Dark September Night is everything I want in a cozy mystery—with a chilling twist of the paranormal and a cast of characters I didn’t want to leave behind. Patricia Smiley weaves a gripping tale of grief, small-town secrets, and unexpected second chances.

When Emmaline McCoy returns to Justice Bay after her aunt's sudden death, she expects to pack boxes—not uncover a murder. But as she opens a pop-up shop and connects with locals (including a swoon-worthy ex-attorney-turned-sailor), Emma starts unraveling more than just vintage treasures. Her aunt's death wasn’t an accident... and the truth may cost Emma everything.

I devoured this story. From the moody California coastline to the slightly magical undertones and the lovable, quirky characters (special shoutout to Boo the cat!), this book nails the balance between emotional depth and page-turning suspense. Fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Finlay Donovan will feel right at home in Justice Bay.

The death of Emmaline McCoy’s beloved aunt Lydie in a hit-an-run accident shatters her world. Granted two weeks of bereavement leave from her corporate Los Angeles job, Emma heads to the small Northern California coastal town of Justice Bay to settle Lydie’s estate and sell her waterfront cottage. As Emma navigates grief and lookie-loo home buyers, she opens a popup store in town to re-home the antiques and collectibles accumulated from her aunt’s travels. The sluggish pace of the police investigation and a growing belief that her aunt’s death was not an accident compel her to search for clues on her own. Her investigation uncovers alarming information and stimulates the onset of bizarre paranormal visions! This book is sort of like a cozy mystery but with some bite! It had great suspense, thrilling mystery, murder, intrigue, and very interesting characters! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Very interesting read I enjoyed it keep me going till the last page just when I thought I had it figured out I really didn’t but the twist came swinging!! Thank you for this read

3.5 stars. A DARK SEPTEMBER NIGHT follows Emmaline (Emma) as she navigates through settling her aunt’s estate after her aunt’s unexpected death. Once Emma reaches her aunt’s house in Justice Bay, she discovers some unusual circumstances surrounding her aunt’s death which leads her to investigate what happened.

The setting is nicely described, as are the supporting characters. Emma’s aunt’s neighbor, Walter, is a bit cagey, but he warms up to her over time. I really liked her friend, Maddie, as well as Walter’s nephew, Cooper. And of course, Arthur, her employee at the pop-up shop, was adorable. I liked Emma, too, but I felt she was a bit slow to pick up on some of the clues.

The pacing was a bit lethargic in the beginning, but it did pick up after the halfway mark. I especially enjoyed the supernatural element and hope to see more of it in the next book.

Overall, I enjoyed A DARK SEPTEMBER NIGHT, and am looking forward to continuing the series.

A Dark September Night by Patricia Smiley is a really interesting and easy to read mystery. I had never heard of this author before so finding this arc on NetGalley and reading a brief description about the book was why I decided to give it a try. And I’m really glad that I did because I really enjoyed it and I’ve now found a new author to read and follow. The location of the story takes place in Justice Bay which I believe is probably a fictional place but it sounds absolutely beautiful and breathtaking there. The main character, Emmaline McCoy, inherits her aunts home and all her assets after she is run down in a hit and run accident not far from her property and left there dead. Emma, as she goes by in the book, travels to Justice Bay to sell her aunts home and her many collections with plans of returning to Los Angeles where she works at Fortuna Cruise Lines as a Marketing Director. But once back in Justice Bay around all of her aunts belongings and in the cottage where so many wonderful memories were made, Emma decides she’d really like to stay. With absolutely zero help from the local police, Emma decides to investigate her aunts death since she feels it wasn’t just an accident and that fowl play was involved. What added a little extra spice to the storyline is that her aunt was believed to be a little psychic and that just maybe Emma is too. On a couple of incidents, she spaces out and is able to get glances at things that others around her don’t see. It was a nice touch that added an extra something special to the story. I thought Emma was an exceptionally smart and caring individual who wouldn’t give up until she learned the truth and could bring peace to her deceased aunts spirit. I’d like to thank Level Best Books and NetGalley for the arc that I found on the Read Now section. This was a really great mystery and it’s one I’d recommend to other readers. I’m giving this a 5 star rating and would be very interested in reading more by this author in the future.

5 stars are not enough.

Emma McCoy has to leave LA behind to go to Justice Bay to handle everything after her beloved Aunt is a victim in a hit and run.
Thankfully there are a lot of helpful new friends to stand by Emma because the sheriff doesn't do much.

This book had everything, spies, town weirdos, funny characters, cozy settings, a little bit of the supernatural. So it is a perfect read to lounge on the sofa on a rainy day, or like I did, out on my balcony while it's gloomy.

The author describes everything perfectly which helps you be right in the middle of the story.

From beginning to the end this was fantastic and I do hope we can return to Justice Bay sometime.

A new series by Patricia Smiley makes me happy. I look forward to more. The characters are all interesting, place, and plot - just right.

#ADarkSeptemberNight #NetGalley is a wonderful cozy mystery that grabbed my attention from the beginning and I could not put it down.
Emmaline returns to Justice Bay after receiving the news of her Aunt Lydie's tragic death.
Lydie was a world traveler who loved Emma as if she were her own.
Emmaline has a lot of questions regarding her aunt's death, but the police chief brushes off her concerns, eager to close the case and label it accidental.
Emma refuses to be ignored, even though her boss is pushing her to return to work, even threatening to replace her.
Emma will not back down and she refuses to believe her aunt's death a simple accident.
I really liked this book, it hooked my interest immediately and I hope there will be more in this new, unique series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.