What do you think?
Rate this book
Paxton Park Mystery #1
Peril in Paxton Park
This is book 1 in the Paxton Park Cozy Mystery series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author, J. A. Whiting.
After surviving a terrible car crash in Boston, twenty-eight-year old Shelly Taylor accepts a part-time job as a baker at a mountain resort in western Massachusetts. While on a hike one morning, she and a new friend make a terrible discovery that pulls them into peril and death.
Will Shelly's new ability help the police solve the crimes or will another murder be committed in Paxton Park?
This story has some mild paranormal elements.
After surviving a terrible car crash in Boston, twenty-eight-year old Shelly Taylor accepts a part-time job as a baker at a mountain resort in western Massachusetts. While on a hike one morning, she and a new friend make a terrible discovery that pulls them into peril and death.
Will Shelly's new ability help the police solve the crimes or will another murder be committed in Paxton Park?
This story has some mild paranormal elements.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2017
About the author
J.A. Whiting
157 books294 followersJ A Whiting is the author of the Olivia Miller mystery series. She lives with her family in Massachusetts where she works full time in education. Whiting loves spending time with family, reading, traveling, following New England sports teams, exercising, and being outdoors.
For exclusive content and new book announcements please visit www.jawhitingbooks.com and sign up for my mailing list.
Also please "like" my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jawhitingauthor
For exclusive content and new book announcements please visit www.jawhitingbooks.com and sign up for my mailing list.
Also please "like" my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jawhitingauthor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
February 18, 2018
An Easy Quick Read
Mixing blooming relationships and murder can be a satisfying read. The scenery is enjoyable for those with good imaginations of who have been to a year round ski/swim, fun resort. A simple believable story made a relaxing read.
Mixing blooming relationships and murder can be a satisfying read. The scenery is enjoyable for those with good imaginations of who have been to a year round ski/swim, fun resort. A simple believable story made a relaxing read.
September 1, 2018
This was a good story. The plot was familiar but the characters were unique and interesting. They reside in a recreational tourist town so the story includes sports and activities that were fun to explore in the context of murder and suspense. The murderer was too obvious and the story dragged in a few areas but overall it was an enjoyable read.
May 4, 2018
A quick, cosy read with a mystery that I couldn't solve till almost the end. In fact, like the characters in the story, I suspected everyone! And the kitten with guard dog instincts was lovely! Very good.
March 18, 2018
3 stelle e mezza
Confesso che sono stata attirata dalla copertina... Infatti, l'ambientazione è davvero interessante (mi piacerebbe vivere in un posto simile), i personaggi non sono male e la storia è buona, solo c'è qualcosa, non so bene cosa, che non mi ha convinta del tutto...
Confesso che sono stata attirata dalla copertina... Infatti, l'ambientazione è davvero interessante (mi piacerebbe vivere in un posto simile), i personaggi non sono male e la storia è buona, solo c'è qualcosa, non so bene cosa, che non mi ha convinta del tutto...
November 18, 2017
In this series we find a young woman recovering from a tragic loss, an accident, and just trying to get on with her life. Baker, Michelle (Shelly) Taylor has moved to Paxton Park. An area that is filled with tourists and adventurers. There is skiing, white water rafting, archery, bike riding, and more offered as daily events in this town. Of course depending upon the seasons.
Shelly loves her new home town, excepting the fact that a young woman was murdered. Then, when Shelly and her friend find another young woman under the crooked trees, she has to wonder if her move was wrong.
With the entire town nervous, Shelly has to keep a vigilant stance. Someone seems to be targeting her...or is it her imagination from dreams she is having?
A good start to a new series.
Shelly loves her new home town, excepting the fact that a young woman was murdered. Then, when Shelly and her friend find another young woman under the crooked trees, she has to wonder if her move was wrong.
With the entire town nervous, Shelly has to keep a vigilant stance. Someone seems to be targeting her...or is it her imagination from dreams she is having?
A good start to a new series.
June 15, 2020
Enjoyed !
The story read well. It was an easy read when that was exactly what I needed. I will be happy to read another by this author.
The story read well. It was an easy read when that was exactly what I needed. I will be happy to read another by this author.
February 3, 2020
This was a quick read, a freebe that I got on Kindle. A young woman moves to Paxton Park to take a job as a baker. She was in a horrific car accident six months previously, and her sister and her sister's boyfriend were both killed. She still limps from her injuries, and is looking forward to a new start. Paxton Park is a resort town with every outdoor activity including ziplining, kayaking and hiking in the mountains, and skiing in the winter. Our heroine, Shelly, meets her next door neighbour Juliet who tells her that a young woman was murdered two months ago in the woods. While walking in the same area, Shelly and Juliet discover another young woman's body in about the same location. Shelly, who has bad dreams as a result of the car accident, finds the murders are being featured in her dreams. A calico kitten enters Shelly's life by appearing on her doorstep and the kitten alerts her to strangers at the door and in the house.
This was a quick read, but a fun one. This is the first in a short series and I would read more.
This was a quick read, but a fun one. This is the first in a short series and I would read more.
November 28, 2018
4 books in this series, i am new to JA Whiting writing, love this cover! love a good mystery. Justice the cat steal the show. critters always do that, don't they??! i look forward to more from JA ...soon enough ... must read. well written. great characters.
January 14, 2019
I’ve missed reading a good easy to read mystery story. The writer has a knack of inviting you in as though you are the main character. Love the background stories Very well written and kept me guessing.
January 18, 2019
A pleasant read but uncomplicated and rather stock characters. I prefer more complicated plots, less repetition and mire intriguing characters populating the story.
November 25, 2019
I love fairy tales
I enjoyed reading this story as much as I loved to read Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Yes, this story is a fairy tale for "adults". While reading Snow White, I was Snow White and while reading Peril in Paxton Park, I was
Shelly and I'm starting a new life, getting a new BFF, living in a cute pastel cottage, in a quiet little tourist trap, working as a baker, solving a murder and falling for a cute co-star, who works at the resort, doing outdoorsy, manly boy things, but can also cook one heck of a meal and bring a girl wildflowers he actually picked for her. Read it in one day. Can't wait to get the next installment. I have read many of J.A. Whiting's books and they're all good. She is a prolific writer with a good sense of story and good characters. Enjoy.
I enjoyed reading this story as much as I loved to read Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Yes, this story is a fairy tale for "adults". While reading Snow White, I was Snow White and while reading Peril in Paxton Park, I was
Shelly and I'm starting a new life, getting a new BFF, living in a cute pastel cottage, in a quiet little tourist trap, working as a baker, solving a murder and falling for a cute co-star, who works at the resort, doing outdoorsy, manly boy things, but can also cook one heck of a meal and bring a girl wildflowers he actually picked for her. Read it in one day. Can't wait to get the next installment. I have read many of J.A. Whiting's books and they're all good. She is a prolific writer with a good sense of story and good characters. Enjoy.
April 1, 2022
I don't do book reviews
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way
May 6, 2018
Fatal Attractions
I love nearly all of J A Whiting's series but this one really didn't catch my interest. Maybe I need to read another in the series? A serious accident has left her still recovering months later and also with a brand new psychic ability. That is why the job of part time baker at Paxton Park is so welcome. However her new found peace is soon broken when she and a new BFF find the body of a young woman. Unable to help themselves, the two new friends start to investigate. Romance and unrequited attraction make this a decent plot but the characters just didn't gel with me. They seemed to be a bit two dimensional and the culprit was really just to easy to spot.
I love nearly all of J A Whiting's series but this one really didn't catch my interest. Maybe I need to read another in the series? A serious accident has left her still recovering months later and also with a brand new psychic ability. That is why the job of part time baker at Paxton Park is so welcome. However her new found peace is soon broken when she and a new BFF find the body of a young woman. Unable to help themselves, the two new friends start to investigate. Romance and unrequited attraction make this a decent plot but the characters just didn't gel with me. They seemed to be a bit two dimensional and the culprit was really just to easy to spot.
August 16, 2018
Loved this book. It was the first in the series and is one I will be keeping up with. Shelley Taylor moved to Paxton Park to get a fresh start. She was critically injured in a car accident that cost the life of her twin sister and her sister's boyfriend. She works as a part time assistant baker in the resort town and is loving every minute of her time there. Well, almost. She could do without the murders, and the unwanted attention of the local idiot who thinks he's God's gift to everyone, especially females new to the town, and the super jealous female resort worker who is obsessed with another new to town resort worker who has no idea she has made him her property. It's kind of like a popular soap opera meets M.C. Beaton.
April 7, 2019
Fun cosy, with a twist
Really enjoyed this book. Shelley was an interesting character who is recovering from a tragic accident. As the newcomer into a tight knit community she’s working overtime playing catch-up on all the gossip. But with the help of Juliet, her neighbour, and a sweet little calico kitten, Justice, Shelley just might make it.
Loved the small town atmosphere, and the suitably suspicious characters tossed as red herrings. The murders were well thought out, and executed very well as the reason for victims deaths wasn’t what I was expecting, and the identity of the murderer was a real surprise.
Can’t decide if it’s a 3, or 3.5 star read.
Really enjoyed this book. Shelley was an interesting character who is recovering from a tragic accident. As the newcomer into a tight knit community she’s working overtime playing catch-up on all the gossip. But with the help of Juliet, her neighbour, and a sweet little calico kitten, Justice, Shelley just might make it.
Loved the small town atmosphere, and the suitably suspicious characters tossed as red herrings. The murders were well thought out, and executed very well as the reason for victims deaths wasn’t what I was expecting, and the identity of the murderer was a real surprise.
Can’t decide if it’s a 3, or 3.5 star read.
June 21, 2022
Sweet story.
If you've ever read anything by this author, you know she writes clean, sweet, a bit romantic stories. There are murders but the focus is on the main character and how she helps to solve the murder(s). She often has some paranormal powers to help her. There are often animals involved, in this case a calico kitten. If you want a couple hours of reading enjoyment with very little violence, sexual situations, excess "flirting", this is a good choice for you. I've read many books by this author and have enjoyed them. I'm sure I will be reading many more in the future.
If you've ever read anything by this author, you know she writes clean, sweet, a bit romantic stories. There are murders but the focus is on the main character and how she helps to solve the murder(s). She often has some paranormal powers to help her. There are often animals involved, in this case a calico kitten. If you want a couple hours of reading enjoyment with very little violence, sexual situations, excess "flirting", this is a good choice for you. I've read many books by this author and have enjoyed them. I'm sure I will be reading many more in the future.
March 31, 2019
I read this little book on my flight yesterday. It was a very fast read. I read it to see if it was appropriate for my granddaughter to read. I have the first three of the series. It was very clean and even though a double murder case there was nothing disturbing or graphic. It was just a simple “who-dunnit.” I would say it is directed at middle school age in its writing. Not much plot, a lot of simple characters, and simple language. But it did keep me guessing as to who the murderer was until the last chapter.
August 30, 2018
Meh
While the storyline was good, as others have said it's a common storyline. That didn't bother me so much as the style of writing. It just did not flow well. I was often distracted by the way she phrased things and the way she told the story rather than the story itself. I'm a retired teacher, so maybe I'm more critical than some, but it felt like a persons' first writing attempt. I just did not enjoy this book.
While the storyline was good, as others have said it's a common storyline. That didn't bother me so much as the style of writing. It just did not flow well. I was often distracted by the way she phrased things and the way she told the story rather than the story itself. I'm a retired teacher, so maybe I'm more critical than some, but it felt like a persons' first writing attempt. I just did not enjoy this book.
September 22, 2018
Who's killing off the athletic brunettes?
Shelley has just moved to the resort town Paxton Park after a horrible accident in her life. She and a new friend go hiking and stumble upon a dead body. This makes the second murder in a short time. The friends try to help solve the crimes so the can feel safe again. Full of great characters and locations this is a well written book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Shelley has just moved to the resort town Paxton Park after a horrible accident in her life. She and a new friend go hiking and stumble upon a dead body. This makes the second murder in a short time. The friends try to help solve the crimes so the can feel safe again. Full of great characters and locations this is a well written book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
January 13, 2019
Occasionally the sentence structure and point of view can be a bit clunky and pull the reader out of the story, but in general this is an angst ridden page turner and an enjoyable read. I was particularly pleased by the unusual crowd of outdoorsy, fit characters. I wish the author had branched out in the use of names as the majority fall into M or J including both Juliet and Juile which made it a tad confusing at times.
January 13, 2019
If you are looking to a easy quick read and you like a mystery then this book is for you. It's another 'who dun it' book by a couple of newly formed friends rather than the police side of the investigation. The details of the scenery and the tourist activities that are available in this small town are outstanding, it's makes you want to believe that it is somewhere to go on holiday but without the murders of course.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2019
I bought this book solely because of its free status in Bookbub.. I was not enthused, but I already paid for book 2. I liked the character, even though I have serious questions about renting a house on a part time bakers salary in a resort town , not to mention all those “in resort” adventures she takes advantage of. But it could develop well as the author gains some experience so I am going to continue to read.
February 2, 2019
This is the first in the series. The main character is Shelley and she moves to Paxton Parks after she was in an accident that killed her sister and her sister's boyfriend. Shortly after she moves in, she with her new friend Juliet find a body in the woods. This is the second girl murdered in that town and no one knows who did it. With Juliet's help, they do manage to figure everything out before it is too late. Loved this book.
August 6, 2019
Who is killing young women?
Interesting characters people a small town where athletic young women are turning up dead. Good job of capturing the fear experienced by the living as the killer remains free. Be prepared to have all loose ends nearly tied up and disposed of in the book's last few pages, a facile practice i personally deplore. Life does not work that way, and a good book would not try to convince us that it does.
Interesting characters people a small town where athletic young women are turning up dead. Good job of capturing the fear experienced by the living as the killer remains free. Be prepared to have all loose ends nearly tied up and disposed of in the book's last few pages, a facile practice i personally deplore. Life does not work that way, and a good book would not try to convince us that it does.
August 22, 2024
Should I stay, or should I go
Shelly moved to the tourist town of Paxton Park to restart her life after the devastating car accident that killed her twin sister and left her recovering from serious injury. Her neighbor Juliet introduced her to others who shared the many outdoor activities available at the resort. But when a second woman was murdered Shelly questioned her decision to move to Paxton Park.
Shelly moved to the tourist town of Paxton Park to restart her life after the devastating car accident that killed her twin sister and left her recovering from serious injury. Her neighbor Juliet introduced her to others who shared the many outdoor activities available at the resort. But when a second woman was murdered Shelly questioned her decision to move to Paxton Park.
September 29, 2017
Paxton Park
WOW! I am in love e Paxton Park. Ideal place to be and lit. I didn't want to put this book down. I could just picture myself on the zip line's, riding on the bike trails. All the while thinking that I knew who the villain was only to find out it was someone else. Looking forward to the next book. A J Whiting does not disappoint you.
WOW! I am in love e Paxton Park. Ideal place to be and lit. I didn't want to put this book down. I could just picture myself on the zip line's, riding on the bike trails. All the while thinking that I knew who the villain was only to find out it was someone else. Looking forward to the next book. A J Whiting does not disappoint you.
October 10, 2017
Definitely a. 5-star read
This is another exceptional book by J A Whiting. It is well written and the plot is well defined. After the murders of two young women, people are worried about who is the murderer. This has a surprise ending that sneaks up on the reader. Very good book.
This is another exceptional book by J A Whiting. It is well written and the plot is well defined. After the murders of two young women, people are worried about who is the murderer. This has a surprise ending that sneaks up on the reader. Very good book.
January 13, 2019
Really enjoyed this book, very light-hearted. The characters were adorable and well written. Keen to know if this is based on a real place as I'd love to try the zip lining! Justice is possibly the most amazing cat ever... possibly a bit of Lauren in there??
Would happily read again in the future. Recommend for anyone who wants a little bit of a mystery with a while dose of fun!
Would happily read again in the future. Recommend for anyone who wants a little bit of a mystery with a while dose of fun!
January 13, 2019
Ok
This story turned out to be a viscous little one to do with jealousy and mental illness. It’s written in first person and narrated as well, Which I found just didn’t work all the time. It was a bit odd that way and although the story was interesting, the writing style messed with it.
This story turned out to be a viscous little one to do with jealousy and mental illness. It’s written in first person and narrated as well, Which I found just didn’t work all the time. It was a bit odd that way and although the story was interesting, the writing style messed with it.
January 13, 2019
Shelby has come to this mountain resort as a baker, working part time, and recuperating from an accident. It is still naps, and dreams yet. This time it was of a woman that had been murder. Which turned out to be real, the next morning, while out hiking with her friend she was found. Will the dreams help find the killer. Nice plot, and look forward to more by author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews