Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for All Aboard for Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery) by Ellen Byron! Today we are featuring a review of the third book in this cozy mystery series. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews, and more! There is also a Giveaway for 1 PRINT COPY – ALL ABOARD FOR MURDER (US ONLY).

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All Aboard for Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 28, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496745418
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496745415
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496745439
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G23HXVT7
Audiobook
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G1RFKXTN
Audio CD
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8228793408
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G8DZ4KY7

About the Book:

Dee Stern is starting to feel at home running her Golden Motel in the quaint California village she moved to, leaving behind her LA life as a sitcom writer. But a killer sees the town’s Halloween celebration as a golden opportunity to write a script for murder . . .

It’s October in Gold Rush country and all manner of tricks and treats are happening in the lead-up to Halloween. October also happens to be the birthday of Angus Sprockles, the man responsible for the town being designated a historic landmark, and the residents are celebrating his memory as well. His only living descendant, Moses Sprockles, runs the narrow-gauge railroad—once used to ferry lumber from the mountains to the sawmill, now a tourist attraction. The Sprockles Railroad is hosting a Halloween-themed fundraiser for the Historical Society.

But when a body is found on the tracks, it’s not a Halloween prank. It’s Moses himself, seemingly felled by a fallen tree branch. Dee’s dad Sam is convinced his friend is the victim of foul play and urges his daughter to apply her sleuthing skills. Dee’s train of thought leads her to suspects ranging from a former child star and one-hit wonder, the owner of a nail salon with her claws in everything, and even the mayor. When a self-proclaimed ghost hunter throws his hat in the ring and claims to know who did it, the investigation really goes off the rails. No matter how crazy things get, Dee is determined to blow the whistle on a runaway killer with a one-track mind.

My Review:

Oh I love Ellen’s writing and this series! This latest entry was a great addition that had me turning the pages and enjoying some laughs along the way. If you’re ready to say goodbye to the hot summer temperatures,  All Aboard for Murder is set during the Halloween season and will transport you to fall. Or save this for the first book of your fall TBR – either way, you won’t be disappointed. 

As always the mystery is solid, the pacing perfect and the characters just as lively as previous entries. I think it is the dialogue between characters, as well as Dee’s inner thoughts that I love so much. It’s a perfect mix of mysterious tension and humor that makes me so eager to read anything that Ellen writes. This one also has a strong sense of place, captured by vivid descriptions that make me feel like I’m right there with Dee.  

Lots of fun! 

 About the Author:

Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries,  Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.

A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Visit her at her website. 

Author Links: | Website | Newsletter Sign Up | BookBub | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram |

Purchase Links: Amazon – Kensington – Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books – Target – Walmart 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

• July 20 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
• July 20 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
• July 20 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT
• July 21 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 
• July 21 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
• July 22 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• July 22 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
• July 23 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT
• July 23 – Baseball, Books, and Banter – REVIEW
• July 24 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
• July 24 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
• July 25 – Twirling Book Princess – SPOTLIGHT
• July 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
• July 26 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
• July 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• July 27 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
• July 27 – deal sharing aunt – SPOTLIGHT
• July 28 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT
• July 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• July 29 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• July 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
• July 29 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT
• July 30 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
• July 30 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
• July 31 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
• July 31 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

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