The Greenleaf Murders

A Historic Homes Mystery

By: R. J. Koreto

Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith

Young architect Wren Fontaine lands her dream job: restoring Greenleaf House, New York’s finest Gilded-Age mansion, to its glory days. But old homes have old secrets: Stephen Greenleaf—heir to what’s left of his family’s legacy—refuses to reveal what his plans are once the renovation is completed. And still living in a corner of the home is Stephen’s ninety-year-old Aunt Agnes who’s lost in the past, brooding over a long-forgotten scandal while watching Wren with mistrust.

Wren’s job becomes more complex when a shady developer who was trying to acquire Greenleaf House is found murdered. And after breaking into a sealed attic, Wren finds a skeleton stuffed in a trunk. She soon realizes the two deaths, a century apart, are strangely related. Meanwhile, a distraction of a different kind appears in the form of her client’s niece, the beautiful and seductive Hadley Vanderwerf. As Wren gingerly approaches a romance, she finds that Hadley has her own secrets.

Then a third murder occurs, and the introverted architect is forced to think about people, and about how ill-fated love affairs and obsessions continue to haunt the Greenleafs. In the end, Wren risks her own life to uncover a pair of murderers, separated by a century but connected by motive. She reveals an odd twist in the family tree that forever changes the lives of the Greenleafs, the people who served them, the mansion they all called home—and even Wren herself.

©2022 R. J. Koreto (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Low marks given for an unreal love interest

It was overall a great mystery and entertaining. I did not appreciate the “romance” portion as it was forced and false, and it distracted from the overall story. Every other aspect was good.

okay

Greenleaf Murders is okay. The plot is interesting, but the pacing is slow. While the story is engaging, I didn't connect with the characters. I probably won't get the next book.

Outstanding Book

I read daily and I rarely leave a comment; however this was one of only a few books that I will recommend to my friends. As a side note, I will read this book again in the not to distant future.

Murder and architecture

Murder luv n architecture. A renovation to a great house brings unlikely people together and a murder mystery ta boot. The descriptions of the house amazing and characters well done. Enjoyed this book. Will look up another by this author.

A Good Cozy RUINED

I got about half way through this mystery, which was progressing nicely . . . and BOOM the author sneaks is scenes that I do NOT want to hear about. There should be a warning on exactly what is in the story . . . Taking the next in the series OUT of my wish list. ;( UGH

Just. Just felt forced.

I feel like this could have been a great story. Everything just felt forced and odd. And not in a good way. It takes a lot for me to be this disappointed in a cozy. I don’t expect much from them and so I can let the goofy improbabilities go. The secret research job. The “strained” relationship between father and daughter, the romance, the awkward lack of confidence… it just all felt forced and unsubstantiated. Narrator was fine. I’m. I feel like the story made me not appreciate her as much. Her dry tone fit the story. I don’t think I’ll get the next.