I enjoyed the first book in this series and came to really like Jenna, Mason and Rita and Keith and the juicy plot in this one (gasp THE DRAMA! clutches pearls) as it wound its way among the suspects and unraveled all the clues – which were right there all along but in the end the culprit was still surprising. Continue reading Murder by the Bookend (Antique Bookshop #2)
In Peppermint Peril (Book Tea Shop #1) by Joy Avon Callie has just returned home from traveling the world to the small town in Maine where she grew up. Staying with her great aunt Iphy and helping out at Iphy’s tea shop, Callie hosts a special tea party at Haywood Hall, a local manor owned by the elderly Dorothy Finster. But the party goes awry and a man is found dead, stabbed to death in the conservatory. Together with the delicious Deputy Falk, Callie begins to unlock the clues that lead to a killer. Fall is in full effect, all … Continue reading In Peppermint Peril
The Lacemaker’s Secret (Chloe Ellefson #9) by Kathleen Ernst Curator Chloe heads to Green Bay to consult on the restoration of an old Belgian-American farmhouse. When she arrives, she can’t help but check out a historic summer kitchen – and discovers a dead body in the bake oven! Alongside the the bake oven mystery is the tale of Seraphine, a Belgian immigrant skilled in art of making lace. The hardships she faced forging a new life in Wisconsin in the mid 1800s provided a background for the events in the modern day mystery. I can think of 2 authors off … Continue reading The Lacemaker’s Secret
In For the Kill (DI Fenchurch #4) by Ed James It’s always a pleasure to sit down with an Ed James book, because I know it will be a deftly plotted, action packed thrill ride and In For the Kill lived up to the hype. Fenchurch has a lot on his plate at the moment, with dealing with the aftermath of finding Chloe, his long ago abducted daughter, his wife nearing the birth of their second child, and a the terrifying case of a college co-ed found murdered in her bed at the same university Chloe attends. This was a … Continue reading In For the Kill
Dark Angel (DI Greco #4) by Helen H. Durrant I couldn’t put this one down, I’m sorry it took me so long to start it! I’ve long been a fan of Helen H. Durrant’s Calladine and Bayless books, but this is my first DI Greco. I can safely say this can be read as a standalone or an entry into the series, I wasn’t lost at all, any prior references are explained enough that they’re not a distraction. First off, I have to say that Durrant is skilled in drawing in a reader completely into the world she creates, making … Continue reading Review: Dark Angel
Death of a Russian Doll (Vintage Toyshop #3) by Barbara Early Poor Liz, her promising new romance with new police chief Ken Young was shattered when his estranged wife, Marya, blew into town looking to reconcile. Liz does her best to get over it, but when Marya is found strangled to death and Ken comes under suspicion, Liz steps in to help her dad solve the murder and uncovers the secrets Marya has been hiding for years. But who killed her? Another great chapter in the Vintage Toy Shop series, I loved the twisty plot, this wasn’t your ordinary cozy! … Continue reading Review: Death of a Russian Doll
Rip Your Heart Out (Ripple Effect #4) by Jeanne Glidewell I’m a bit late to the Ripple Effect series, this is the fourth book but only the first I’ve read and I can safely say this can be read as a introduction to the series or as a standalone. Following the adventures of retired couple Rapella and her husband, Rip, as they travel around the US in their RV, they find themselves in the middle of a mystery wherever they go. Rapella, a charmingly naive chatterbox, made for an entertaining sleuth (and I enjoyed Itsy as the sidekick!) and I … Continue reading Review: Rip Your Heart Out
The Advice Column Murders (Oakwood Mysteries #3) by Leslie Nagel This is the third book in the Oakwood series, I loved the first two, so I was really excited to read #3. I adore how well written this series in, from the creative and twisty plots to the lovable characters, and this one was no exception! Very nicely plotted, with two murders that occur just steps from Charley’s front door. After a new family moves in next door, Judith’s adult daughter, Sarah, is found murdered. Later, Judith is found murdered in the street, the blame falls on a carpenter with … Continue reading Review: The Advice Column Murders
Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot (Ditie Brown #1) by Sarah Osbourne I really enjoyed this one, it was relatable, realistic and inviting. The characters really made it for me; warm, true to life and charming, from the capable Ditie, stepping up to take in Ellie’s kids to the sassy Lurleen to the sweet romance between Ditie and Mason, I found myself roped in from the first page. Lurleen is really the one I want to know more about, her back story was hinted at several times in the book and I’m looking forward to learning more about her. The … Continue reading Review: Too Many Crooks Spoil the Plot
The Butterfly Conspiracy (A Merriweather and Royston Mystery #1) by Vivian Conroy A captivating historical cozy mystery, The Butterfly Conspiracy is an excellent debut to a new series! Suspenseful and thrilling, I was immediately sucked into the Victorian world superbly created, with intriguing characters and a puzzling plot that kept me turning pages. I liked the dynamic between Royston and Merula. She’s wasn’t a passive Victorian flower, he wasn’t a man strong-arming her into being a passive Victorian flower. Although the possibility for a romance was hinted at, it wasn’t overt and took a backseat to the plot. I appreciated that, … Continue reading Review: The Butterfly Conspiracy
Lost Books and Old Bones (Scottish Bookshop Mystery #3) by Paige Shelton For me, this one was just…okay. There was virtually no context to introduce the new characters and I just didn’t connect with them. It was an great plot, lots of twists and turns and the very creepy Dr Eben. I enjoyed the history (The Burke & Hare story is always fascinating) and of course, the little bookshop and its treasures, both human and inanimate, are a big draw for me but I found it was difficult to hold my interest and I struggled to finish it. Still, this … Continue reading Review: Lost Books and Old Bones
Til Death Do Us Party (Liv & Di #4) by Vickie Fee Hilarious! From the warm characters to the fun plots, this series always brings an enjoyable read. This one has the gang in Las Vegas for Mama’s Elvis themed wedding as she prepares to wed her hunka hunka burnin’ love, Earl but everyone is All Shook Up when the Elvis impersonator minister drops dead in the middle of the ceremony. The puzzling plot and many laugh out loud moments (like the Bachelorette party!) made this a very entertaining read. And poor Hard Headed Di, I really felt for her … Continue reading Review: Til Death do us Party
Murder at the Mansion (Victorian Village Mystery #1) by Sheila Connolly I’m a sucker for small town mysteries and when you have a mysterious mansion at the center of it all, well, you’ve got my attention. And this was an enjoyable read, with a likable main character in Kate; she’s a level-headed and unflappable sleuth and romantic interest Josh made for a good sidekick and added a sprinkle of romance. I liked the plot, surrounding a remarkably well-preserved mansion built a century ago by the mysterious Henry Barton and a very unlikable local woman who is found dead on the … Continue reading Review: Murder at the Mansion
The Marmalade Murders by Elizabeth Duncan Penny Brannigan finds herself volunteering at the local agricultural fair, checking in entrants to the culinary competition and judging the childrens’ pet competition. But shenanigans are afoot when Penny’s friend Florence learns her entries have gone missing, and even more troubling, a Women’s Guild member is also missing and later found dead. All Penny has to do now is sort out who sabotaged Florence’s entries and how her cake ended up under a table with a dead woman. This one was a fun, light read and frankly, I was more concerned about poor Florence … Continue reading Review: The Marmalade Murders
Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chen What a charming book! This will definitely appeal to any cozy mystery reader, but I can see it being a hit with younger readers (and by younger, I mean younger than my creaky middle aged bones! Young people in their 20s or perhaps even teenagers (there’s no bad language or sexual situations) would really like this.) With a sprinkle of romance, a bit of intrigue, adorable characters, a cute setting and a captivating mystery, what more can you ask for in a cozy? The Asian venue was a fresh and unique setting for the … Continue reading Death by Dumpling
Murder on the Sugarland Express by Angie Fox I love this series, it’s like a bag of potato chips – can’t put it down! The exciting plot is the real star of this book. A well crafted homage to the iconic Murder on the Orient Express, the rip-roaring dual plot combined a long ago ghostly unsolved murder with a current day murder under similar circumstances. Fast-paced with an ending that left my heart racing, it was thoroughly enjoyable and memorable and I admit, I was surprised by whodunit and why. It was an exceptionally well done mystery that even Agatha would … Continue reading Murder on the Sugarland Express
Survival of the Fritters (Deputy Donut #1) by Ginger Bolton Still reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Alec, 3 years ago, Emily is trying to move on with her life at the donut shop she owns with her father in law. Among the donut shop’s favorite regulars is a group of older ladies, who have a knitting club called Knitpickers. So when one of the Knitpickers doesn’t show up one morning, everyone is concerned. Later, they go to her house to check on her and find her dead, surrounded by donuts. Who killed Georgia and why? Is it … Continue reading Review: Survival of the Fritters
Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower Fiona’s going through a rough patch; her flower shop’s gone out of business, her fiancé cheated on her and then she gets word that her godfather has died and left her his cottage in Scotland. Arriving to reclaim her inheritance, she discovers the body of Alastair Croft, the lawyer handling her inheritance. Worried that the police suspect her godfather’s most trusted friend and employee may be implicated, Fiona asks a few questions around town and discovers that nearly everyone had a motive to kill Alastair. What a lovely book! The beautiful Scottish countryside … Continue reading Review: Flowers and Foul Play
Sitting Murder by A.J. Wright After Alice, a recent widow, develops the ability to speak with the dead after her husband dies in a mining accident, her aunt Doris takes advantage of it by bringing in people for spirit readings. After receiving a threatening letter, the police are contacted and Detective Sergeant Brennan and Constable Jaggery begin to investigate. Brennan initially dismisses the letter as a crank but the case heats up quickly when Doris is found suffocated, and there’s no shortage of suspects. But who was the target, Doris or Alice? Whoo, what a ride! Loved, loved, LOVED this, … Continue reading Review; Sitting Murder
Biscuits and Slashed Browns by Maddie Day Biscuits and Slashed Browns is the 4th book in the Country Store Mysteries, and the small town of South Lick, IN is gearing up for a Maple Festival when a visiting college professor ruffles some feathers and winds up dead with a chef’s knife stuck in his chest. Puzzle fanatic Robbie can’t seem to let the matter go, especially when the prime suspects are her best friend Christina and the father of one of her employees! Robbie ruthlessly chases the truth, and finds herself in a couple of sticky situations before being confronted … Continue reading Review: Biscuits and Slashed Browns
Death Plays a Part by Vivian Conroy With her theater closed for renovations, Guinevere lands a summer job cataloging books at a castle on Cornisea, a small island off the coast of England. Together with her little dachshund Dolly, she sets off, expecting an idyllic summer exploring the tiny island. When she arrives, she’s delighted to learn that the castle is hosting a re-enactment of a historic trial, but when a man is found murdered in the dungeon and her new employer is accused, Guinevere jumps into action to find the real killer, uncovering a greedy plot and family secrets. … Continue reading Blog Tour! Death Plays a Part
Sgt. LeeAnn Hogan is at Walter Reed, recovering from the disfiguring wounds and trauma suffered in a failed military operation in Afghanistan. Disoriented, angry and scared, she takes solace in the friendship with her hospital roommate, Marci. Continue reading Review: The Right Side
A very cute and enjoyable cozy mystery series! Continue reading New Release! Pressed to Death
Get Well Soon isn’t so much a historical book about plagues, it’s also about the human side of plagues; the healers, the sufferers and the people left behind. Continue reading Review: Get Well Soon: History’s Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them
Gliding down the slopes…blazing fires in the fireplace…the crunch of snow underfoot…steaming mugs of hot cocoa…the dead body in the hot tub – only Lynn Cahoon could make snowy Colorado a hot destination, even in the depths of winter! Continue reading Review: Fatality by Firelight
When the Grits Hit the Fan has the perfect recipe for a cozy mystery. Continue reading Review: When the Grits Hit the Fan
It’s evening at the lounge of the local pub and squire Matthew Scaife is ensconced in his usual seat, nodding off after a few pints. One by one, the regulars show up, a few local couples, including Scaife’s sons, Edward and Mark and author Crescy Hardwick, who is bitter over being thrown out of her cottage by Scaife. At the end of the evening, Edward goes to wake Scaife and realizes he’s dead and a local doctor called in to attend insists on an autopsy. When evidence of murder is found, Scotland Yard is called in and Inspector Guy Northeast arrives to investigate. All the circumstantial evidence points to Crescy, who was heard to threaten Scaife’s life but despite motive and means, no opportunity can be found. Did Crescy kill Scaife? If not, who did?
Continue reading Review: Death at the Dog
Dead to Begin With is a charming, entertaining and absorbing cozy mystery and a great start to a new series. Continue reading Review: Dead to Begin With
Purr M for Murder is a fantastic start to a new series and will appeal to cat fanatics and cozy mystery fans looking to curl up with a purr-fectly charming tale. Continue reading Review: Purr M for Murder
With a quick pace and a baffling plot, this locked room mystery, set in a small square in England, has several obvious suspects with several good motives and iron-clad alibis. Continue reading Review: The Cheltenham Square Murder
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