Mystery Review: Home at Night | Paula Munier

A perfect Halloween read set on an historic farm in Vermont full of dead poets, a mysterious letter, a rundown Victorian mansion, and a murder victim in a library. What more could you want for an October mystery?

About the Book | Home at Night

Mercy has just recently married her now-husband Troy Warner and the two were set to purchase an old Vermont lodge when the real estate deal fell through. They wouldn’t mind except Troy has already sold off his old fireman’s tower and Mercy’s beloved cabin is getting a bit too crowded for their found family—which includes Mercy, Troy, a teenager Mercy took in named Amy and her daughter Helena, and Amy’s boyfriend Brodie. Not to mention Mercy and Troy’s large and loveable dogs, Elvis and Sugar Bear.

At the prodding of her mother, Mercy and Troy go visit an old Vermont farm that isn’t even on the market yet to see if they might be interested. Grackle Tree Farm has a lot of history—it was previously owned by a famous poet, Euphemia Whitley-Jones. Not only is she a favorite poet of Mercy’s from her teen years, but Mercy has a small bit of history herself with the property when she accepted a dare to spend the night there in her teen years. When she and Troy arrive, they are greeted by 30 acres of beautiful forestry land, a pond, a rundown Victorian mansion, and a place they already know they want to call home.

But before they can fully tour the property with the realtor Jillian, they discover that a charming library holds more than books—there is a dead body on the floor.

The next morning Mercy is visited by her great-uncle Hugo Fleury and a billionaire named Daniel who sometimes hires Mercy to assist with investigations. Hugo shares that when he was stationed in Europe during his time in the army, he attended a party at the French estate owned by Euphemia Whitley-Jones. Hugo and Daniel have heard that an old letter is rumored to be hidden somewhere at the Vermont farm.

The rumor is the letter is a love letter, and Mercy shares that she had recently learned of the rivalry between Euphemia and her sister over a man who died and whose body was never found. However, when she had visited the farm, Mercy observed a memorial to a Captain Michael Emil Robillard on the grounds, and Hugo confirms that the captain had been engaged to Euphemia when he and her sister eloped.

Euphemia was left heartbroken while Robillard and her sister Maude left together. But after Robillard’s death, Maude (Euphemia’s sister) discovered a love letter from Euphemia hidden in his bag. The sisters never reconciled and neither was ever known to have a child.

Despite the dark history of the farm and the dead body, Mercy and Troy still want to purchase the property. But it seems they aren’t alone—there are other developers, non-profits, and a mysterious possible heir of Robillard’s who all want the farm as well. Solving the murder would certainly help move along the sale of the property.

As Mercy and Troy tackle the case, looking to understand who the murder victim is and why he was murdered (as well as who committed the act), things become more dangerous. Someone wants to keep them away from Grackle Tree Farm and the secrets it holds.

My Review | Home at Night

Paula Munier’s Home at Night is the fifth book featuring retired military soldier Mercy Carr and her dog Elvis. This easily can be read as a standalone book. I didn’t actually realize it was part of a mystery series until I look up the author partway through to see what else she has written.

The mystery is compelling—not only the mystery of the current murder that has occurred at the farm, but also the historical mystery of Euphemia the poet and her heartbreak. Mercy and Troy aren’t the only ones interested in the secrets that may reside at Euphemia’s farm, every poet in the state of Vermont seems to be after any hidden treasures that may exist at the property.

The story is fall of Halloween and fall vibes that set the perfect tone for the story. Throughout the book are quotes and references to the theme of what determines a home (not just a house). While Mercy is struggling at the idea of leaving the cabin that has been her home for many years, she’s also looking to create a new home with her husband and her found family.

The mystery is compelling without being too dark. Munier’s writing style adds an element of fun to a darker topic. The mystery is central to the plot, but throughout I also grew to love Mercy, Troy, and many of the supporting characters. Mercy is a unique heroine with her military background. She’s not someone we would normally see in a cozy mystery, though I’d argue this book fits into the more serious end of the genre.

The settings are a standout in this book. Not just the farm, but the mansion itself, Mercy’s cabin, and the grounds. Munier writes with very descriptive language so I could envision the scenes vividly.

A cozy mystery that is more serious overall and less kitschy, while still avoiding anything overly graphic or too dark—this is an outstanding mystery made all the better by the Halloween setting!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

About the Author | Paula Munier

PAULA MUNIER is the Senior Agent and Director of Storytelling for Talcott Notch Literary and the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Mercy Carr mysteries. 

A Borrowing of Bones, the first in the series, was nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award and named the Dogwise Book of the Year. Blind Search also won a Dogwise Award. The Hiding Place and The Wedding Plot both appeared on several “Best Of” lists. Home at Night, the fifth book in the series, was inspired by her volunteer work as a Natural Resources Steward of New Hampshire, and released on October 17, 2023.

Along with her love of nature, Paula credits the hero dogs of Mission K9 Rescue, her own rescue dogs, and a deep affection for New England as her series’ major influences.

She’s also written three popular books on writing: Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, and Writing with Quiet Hands, as well as Happier Every Day and the memoir Fixing Freddie: The True Story of a Boy, a Mom, and a Very, Very Bad Beagle. 

She lives in New England with her family and Bear the Newfoundland-retriever rescue, Bliss the Great Pyrenees-Australian cattle dog rescue, pandemic puppy Blondie, a Malinois rescue (much like Elvis in her books), and Ursula The Cat, a rescue torbie tabby who does not think much of the dogs.