Memo to Murder: An Unintentional Sleuth Mystery by Barbara Emodi

Barbara Emodi’s novella, Memo to Murder-An Unintentional Sleuth Mystery, was a laugh-out-loud, cozy mystery that pokes fun at the House of Assembly, the Opposition Party, and all those who help run the Provincial Government.

The story kicks off with Heidi MacDonald being interviewed by the Chief of Staff for the position of Research and Communications Officer with the province’s Official Opposition. A position she is completely unqualified for, but she is hired because she was published in Threads, a magazine that was misconstrued as being about tires and roads, when in fact, it’s about sewing. Four people have held her position in the last 18 months, and none have lasted longer than the probationary period. There is even a pool running with the employees at the House of Assembly on how long she will last, with the odds not in her favour. Even her family doesn’t think she will last. Her mother believes that this job is definitely too much for her 27-year-old daughter to handle.

Heidi’s first assignment is to come up with a question for the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) she has been assigned to, Ralphie Porter, to ask during question period. With very limited knowledge of how the government works (she doesn’t even think she has ever voted), she begins by researching everything she can about the government. On the day that her question is due, she is no closer to coming up with one than she was when it was first assigned. But when she arrives at her office that day, she discovers a question written by the night cleaner on her whiteboard. Even the cleaning crew believes that she can’t do her job.

Before long, Heidi finds herself deciphering how two politicians died, and who on earth Frank, the night cleaner, is. Seeking the help of her new friends from the House of Assembly, Libby from the Library, Marcel from Maintenance, Tracey from Transcripts, and Peter the Page, she conducts her own amateur investigation.

I have enjoyed several of Barbara Emodi’s cozy mysteries. She writes with humour that will have you chuckling and wishing you had someone else to read and discuss the book with. What I loved most about this fun and humorous read was that Barbara draws parallels between the government and a grade six class.

“The legislature ran on the same rules as Grade 6. The leader of the opposition was the mean girl who lived to embarrass the nerdy kids with snide questions that would make the other mean girls laugh.”
― Barbara Emodi, Memo to Murder

I certainly hope that this novella is just the beginning of a new Canadian political cozy murder mystery series. With the current political climate, there is a lot of government fodder to potentially make fun of in future books. Barbara Emodi could create a mystery involving some of the undesirables and have Heidi, with her new friends, stumble through, connect the dots, and uncover who did it and why.

Barbara Emodi has written sewing how-to books and now writes cozy mysteries set in Nova Scotia, Canada. Gasper’s Cove doesn’t really exist, but it will seem awfully familiar to anyone who lives where she does. The community is based on all she believes matters in life – extended family, companion animals, good food, and more sewing, crafting, quilting, and knitting projects than any reasonable person would take on.

Barbara writes what she likes to read – whimsical, witty, warm books that reflect her belief that there is nothing ordinary about ordinary people. She also likes clever surprises, important in mysteries, and promises one at the end of each book. To visit Gasper’s Cove yourself, you can read Barbara’s novels in her Gasper’s Cove Mysteries series or her Gasper’s Cove Quick Cozies novella series. https://babsemodi.com/

Publisher: ‎Independently published (March 28, 2026)
Paperback | 156 pages
ISBN: 9798254142072

Audible Audio (English): Crabapple Press (March 30, 2026)
ASIN: B0GTJZHG7L

Sue Slade

Sue Slade has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. After working with children and adults with special needs, she now has her midlife dream job of working with books. Sue manages an independent, locally owned bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange, and is known for planning and executing amazing, engaging book events. Through her charismatic sharing centred around books and community, Sue has created an interactive cornerstone for authors, customers, and book lovers of all ages. Sue is an avid reader, and her reviews cross over many genres. As the East Coast Advocate for The Miramichi Reader, Sue champions Atlantic Canadian literature by featuring the diverse works and unique communities that define her home region.