All Aboard for Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery) by Ellen Byron

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Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for All Aboard for Murder (A Golden Motel Mystery) by Ellen Byron. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!

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

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 of All Aboard for Murder

I just love this series so much! All Aboard for Murder by Ellen Byron is the third book in the Golden Motel Mystery series, and though it can be read as a standalone, you’ll get a lot of enjoyment knowing the characters ahead of time. The main characters, Dee Stern and her business partner, ex-husband, best friend Jeff, own the Golden Motel in Foundgold, California.

It’s coming up on Halloween, but that’s not the main focus of the town. No. The more important event is celebrating the birthday of Angus Sprockles who’s responsible for the town being designated a historic landmark. When Angus’s only living relative, Moses, ends up dead, Dee and Jeff find themselves once again murder-adjacent to a crime, and they want to make sure their motel doesn’t end up with a bad reputation. So, they start their own side investigation.

Once again, I was completely delighted by this cozy mystery. I adore the small town(s) setting. (The motel is in Foundgold, but the neighboring town of Goldsgone is a big part of the series too.) The characters are so entertaining! The main series characters who are always around consist of several quirky ones. I’ve grown to love them all. All of the characters, both main and side, are well-written and believable. I loved all of the family-friendly Halloween activities that the motel provided for their guests. Getting a glimpse into Dee’s former sit-com writing career was entertaining too. (And considering that the author has some major experience in that department, I’m sure it was pretty accurate too!) There are plenty of suspects in Moses’s murder, so the actual murder mystery will keep you guessing! I highly recommend All Aboard for Murder! 4.5 stars!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

About Ellen Byron

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 http://www.ellenbyron.com/.

Author Links

Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-dirico

Goodreads: Ellen Byron (Author of Plantation Shudders) | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico

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