No Egrets - Finishing up a Series

When I pitched the Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery series, I had the titles for the second and third books. Book #3 – No Egrets. What a great title!

Do you know what an egret is? Its feathers are white, and it has a slender body. An egret grows to be about two feet tall, and it has long black legs and bright yellow feet. The egret’s bill is thin and black. And egrets live in the Pensacola, Florida area, where the series takes place.

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Why did I choose an egret?

I have no idea. 😉

Book #1, Birds Alive!, is ultimately about the greed that arises from the discovery of a rufous hummingbird. These hummingbirds are barely three inches long. It glitters with burnished orange and copper tones that flash as it moves. The male’s throat gleams fiery red-orange, and his back and tail shimmer in rich rufous (reddish-brown) hues.

Book #2, Where’s the Quetzal? is about quetzals – a brightly colored tropical bird native to the cloud forests of Central America, especially Guatemala. The resplendent quetzal has shimmering emerald-green feathers that shift hues in the light, a bright crimson chest, and a small yellow beak. Males are especially striking, with long, iridescent tail plumes—sometimes two feet long—that trail behind them in flight like ribbons of light. They’re the ones we typically see pictures of.

In book #3, No Egrets, there are obviously egrets involved, but since it doesn’t release until February 24, 2026, I don’t want to give too much away!

No Egrets blurb:

But, I can share the back cover blurb of No Egrets:

Life in Stone Creek Cove is never dull—especially when the neighborhood egrets suddenly go missing. Peg Howard and her mother-in-law, Hazel, find themselves “volunteered” to head up the search. But tracking missing birds soon tangles them in a nest of secrets—complete with neighborhood gossip, suspicious business deals, and a body in the creek.

Between babysitting her grandson, wrangling her mischievous new puppy, and juggling two men who both want her heart, Peg already has her hands full. Add in a trail of cryptic clues and dangerous warnings from enemies who would rather Peg quit snooping, and things quickly spiral beyond missing wildlife.

As Peg and Hazel dig deeper, they uncover connections that reach far beyond their quiet Pensacola neighborhood. Every lead brings them closer to the truth—and closer to danger.

Can Peg balance family, friendship, and romance while unraveling a mystery that could cost more than feathers?

No Egrets is a warm, witty cozy mystery about friendship, family, and the unexpected adventures that come with neighborhood drama and a dash of danger. Perfect for fans of small-town sleuths, quirky neighbors, and mysteries solved over coffee and conversation.

When does No Egrets come out?

It will be released on February 24, 2026, bringing the Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery series to a close. Writing the third book in a series was a challenging task. I had to tie up loose ends and bring everything back to the very beginning.

Whew!

Although no more books are planned for the series, I’m still writing! Keep an eye out for what’s next!

Read Meet the Characters from The Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery series, and then follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to my newsletter to keep up with news about my book and any special offers!

Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 39 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery – Birds Alive! – released Feb. 27, 2024, and the 2nd in the series, Where’s the Quetzal? released Feb. 25, 2025! My romantic suspense novella, SeaBreeze Obsession in Trinity Sands Beach Club, released June 17, 2025!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – J DMugs!)