A Likely Story

Mysteries of Blackberry Valley #4

by Roseanna M. White, Guideposts

A Likely Story is the fourth book in the Mysteries of Blackberry Valley fiction series.

All of Blackberry Valley is buzzing when a novel hits the shelves featuring their very own town! Hannah Prentiss isn’t the only one who quickly snatches up a copy and sits down to read…nor is she the only one who is shocked to realize that this novel isn’t mere fiction. It uses the real names of real families from the area—and apparently digs up the real dirt of those families from years gone by.

When the end of the book mentions a treasure buried somewhere in town, everyone is determined to find the author and demand answers. As Hannah and her friends piece together the mystery of long-forgotten town secrets, she’ll learn more about the ancestor she is named after, her great-grandmother Hannah Jane.

Could learning about her family’s past be the key to unlocking the truth behind the author’s identity and the so-called treasure?

Genres: Mystery, Christian Fiction

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2025

About the author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
see also Roseanna White

Reviews

[Bonnie Fakhri · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a surprising amount of depth in this delightful, feel-good mystery. I enjoyed the dual timeline aspect and themes of community and kindness. This is an easy read with no angst but enough suspense to keep me eagerly reading as I tried to figure out who wrote the story that got the whole town talking. This novel is part of a series, but I read it as a stand-alone. I would imagine reading the earlier books of the series would add some additional insight into some of the main characters, but the book functions fine on its own.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story within a story. A new book has hit the shelves in Blackberry Valley, and all the town’s residents are captivated by it. The novel is a mystery set in their town nearly a hundred years ago. And it names names and dishes up some decidedly unsavory stories. All the townsfolk, Hannah Prentiss included, are eager to discover who really wrote the book under a pen name. They all know it has to be a resident of the town: this person knows too much about the town to be a stranger. Did the author really mean to tell so many secrets? And what about the treasure mentioned in the story? Was it ever found? More importantly, will the people ever find out who the author is? This novel deals with both time periods equally well. Both periods have engaging characters and interesting storylines. There is a mystery in both storylines. And while Christian beliefs are evident in the novel, they are seamlessly and thoughtfully woven into the story. There is a twist at the conclusion of the story that is not exactly a twist, but is rather a delightful surprise. It’s a well-written novel, intriguing and entertaining.

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The dual timelines are handled perfectly so that the reader learns new information about the people in the town and the mysteries from each in turn, with great pacing of suspense. The characters are wonderful. Themes of friendship, kindness, and realizing we never know a person's whole story are illustrated in many different relationships and situations.

[Sherry Walljasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

This book is truly awesome! I did not figure out who did it which is always a plus and the motives were so honest and loving that it is well worth the read. I love these God inspiring books.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This was sweet and sappy, but it didn't stop me from wanting to live in a town like Blackberry Valley. :)