Friday, November 13, 2026

Book Review and Giveaway - The Friar’s Last Curse: A Wren Meadows Mystery by Kathleen Bailey


My Review

Wren Meadows lives in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.  She works as an animal communicator and ghostwriter.  While trying to help someone who is in a desperate situation, she becomes inadvertently linked to a murder investigation ... and another mystery, about buried treasure, also becomes part of the case.  

I wanted to read The Friar's Last Curse because I am a cozy mystery reader and love Kathleen Bailey's Olivia Penn mystery series.   

This is a wonderful start to a new series!  There are so many elements I love.  I knew very little about animal communicator work or ghostwriting and found details about both fascinating.  I also loved the small town Southern setting, Olivia's community and found family, and of course her German Shepherd dog Scout.

The author does a good job at setting the scene and introducing the characters, and then the mystery develops in layers.  By the time I got to the buried treasure storyline, I was thoroughly hooked!

I look forward to the next book in this series!  I enthusiastically recommend The Friar's Last Curse for other cozy mystery fans - and especially for readers who love small towns, Southern/Blue Ridge settings, and animals.

Book Synopsis

A buried treasure. A murder rooted in local legend. Small towns hide the best secrets.

Wren Meadows is an animal communicator and ghostwriter living in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain town of Covington Crossroads, Virginia. Between helping lost pets reunite with their families and meeting deadlines for her latest client, life in her charming small town is just the way she likes it—until a frightened woman appears at her door with a desperate plea for help.

When Wren receives a cryptic message that triggers a memory from eleven years ago, she gets pulled into a murder investigation that quickly lands her on the police radar. Clues link the crime to a local legend of a buried treasure rumored to be cursed. Everyone connected to the victim seems to be hiding something, including the one person Wren needs to trust most.

As old secrets surface, Wren must form an unlikely alliance with a suspicious filmmaker to protect those she cares about. When a treasure hunt leads to a shocking discovery, the proof Wren needs fits into the palm of her hand. To bring the killer to justice, she must rely on her instincts, her German shepherd Scout, and her ability to see what others don’t before another life is lost.

Someone in Covington Crossroads knows the truth. And they’ll do anything to keep it buried.

The Friar’s Last Curse is perfect for readers who love atmospheric cozy mysteries, found family, small-town charm, hidden secrets, loyal animal companions, and page-turning suspense.

The Wren Meadows Mystery Series blends folklore, Southern atmosphere, heart, and humor in emotionally immersive cozy mysteries featuring a strong female amateur sleuth you’ll want as a friend.


Author Bio

Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series and The Wren Meadows Mystery Series. She writes atmospheric mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. For over twenty years, she worked as a pediatric physical therapist with children who have special needs, drawing on degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She now writes in Virginia with her feline assistant, who insists on supervising every draft. When she’s not writing, Kathleen can usually be found covered in cat hair, surrounded by far too many sticky notes, and plotting new twists to keep readers guessing. She is a member of Sisters in Crime. Visit her online at kathleenbaileyauthor.com. Follow on Instagram @cozycrimewriter.

Author Links

Website: https://kathleenbaileyauthor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cozycrimewriter/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-bailey

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/kathleenbailey

Purchase Links:
Amazon     Direct from Kathleen     Barnes & Noble     All Retailers

Giveaway