If you are a cozy mystery fan, I highly recommend this book. The plot is beautifully crafted. The characters are realistic, and the story isn't as predictable as the average cozy. I was hooked from the first page. When is a simple music box not just a simple music box? How can it lead characters down several roads of suspense? How does the past co-mingle with the present? You'll have to read this superbly crafted book to find out!

The Music Box Mystery is book #8 in The Cook and Inspector Mysteries series by Joanne Pence.

What can go wrong getting a music box repaired? A lot when it is not an ordinary music box. Angie Amalfi and her fiancé, San Francisco Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith investigate murders as the bodies count rises. This is the first I’ve read in this new series, but I definitely plan to catch up on the earlier books. It held my attention with good pacing and interesting mystery. I enjoyed Angie’s attempt at being a live restaurant reviewer. I love anything with amaretto so I can’t wait to try the recipe at the end.

The Music Box Mystery is a thrilling and suspenseful read that kept me hooked from start to finish. When Angie Amalfi takes a seemingly innocent music box for repair, it sets off a chain of grisly murders that put both her and her fiancé, Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith, in grave danger. The music box turns out to be much more than a simple relic—it holds the key to uncovering dark secrets, and someone will stop at nothing to keep them buried.

The plot is fast-paced, the tension builds beautifully, and the twists are both surprising and satisfying. Angie and Paavo’s dynamic is fantastic, and the emotional depth adds an extra layer to the mystery. The connections to the past are revealed in a way that makes the story even more compelling, and the stakes feel incredibly high.

This book is a perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and emotional drama, making it a must-read for fans of gripping thrillers. I couldn't put it down!

Angie Amalfi takes a damaged music box to be fixed by an expert. The music box was a gift from her fiancé Paavo. This simple act triggers a series of events that is both dangerous and illuminating as Paavo begins to learn about his past. As one home after another is broken into and people begin to die, Angie and Paavo separately investigate the cause. This is my first book in this series that I’ve read. Great characters, enthralling mystery. Highly recommend. #NetGalley

The Music Box Mystery is a delicious blend of murder, mystery, and just the right touch of romance. Angie Amalfi, with her charm and culinary dreams, stumbles into a deadly secret hidden in a deceptively innocent music box. The pacing was spot-on, and I really enjoyed how the relationship between Angie and Paavo added warmth to the suspense. I’m a sucker for mysteries with strong characters and quirky twists, and this one hit all the right notes.

Y’all, I picked this up thinking it’d be a cozy little mystery—and boom! We’ve got a haunted music box, murder, and secrets bursting out like popcorn! Angie is a whole vibe, and watching her snoop (while dreaming of soufflés) had me snort-laughing and clutching my Kindle like it was evidence. If you like your mysteries with sass, suspense, and a splash of culinary chaos—this is your jam. 🎶🔍💀💋

When I saw this title I was thrilled that Ms.Pence had written another book about Angie and Paavo. Over 10 years since I first started reading Angie's adventures and I was immediately right back into it. Full of action, romance and mystery, I was swept away by the emotional impact of this book. Reading earlier books helps with the understanding of this plot line, but I would still recommend this book and the series as I found them to be excellent. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

#TheMusicBoxMystery #NetGalley is a gripping mystery that kept me reading until the last page.
Angie and her fiancé Paavo find themselves wrapped up in a crazy investigation, when Angie innocently brings a music box in for repairs.
The music box was a gift from Paavo, and has sentimental meaning since at one time it belonged to his mother, who disappeared from his life.
When Paavo, an investigator, and Angie become someone's targets, they feel no one in their family is safe.
Paavo's step father becomes the next victim and before long, all the pieces fall into place, and Paavo finally receives the answers to all his questions.
This was such an emotional story, but Angie's antics while trying to become a live restaurant reviewer had me laughing out loud.
This is a very good story that I am happy to recommend to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Music Box Mystery was an engaging ride from start to finish! The story kicks off with a seemingly innocent task- Angie Amalfi taking a sentimental music box in for repair- but quickly spirals into a mystery filled with break-ins, unaliving, and long-buried family secrets.

Angie is quirky, lovable, and full of determination, while her fiancé, Paavo, brings a grounded, investigative edge that balances the chaos perfectly. Their chemistry added warmth and depth to the suspense, and I enjoyed how the mystery tied into Paavo’s past in such a meaningful way. Plus, Angie's side hustle as a restaurant reviewer brought some much-needed levity to the darker moments- her antics had me grinning more than once.

The pacing was spot-on, and the plot was full of unexpected twists, though there were a few moments where I wished for a bit more tension or clarity around the villain's motivations. Still, that’s a minor quibble in an otherwise lovely read.

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with heart, humor, and just a dash of danger, Music Box Mystery absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR!