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Category Archives: Cozy
Death by Committee–a mastiff mix takes center stage
Death by Committee
by Alexis Morgan
Looking for an exciting cozy mystery? Death by Committee has more action than is normally found in a cozy mystery. It is for sure a page turner.
Death by Committee by Alexis Morgan features likable characters with some depth to them that makes you want to get to know them even better. Its setup has potential for lots of variety in future stories. Main character Abby McCree, recently divorced, inherits her aunt’s house in a small town. She finds herself landlady to Tripp, a handsome veteran who lives in a cottage on her property. Abby has plenty to do sorting through her aunt’s possessions, but Aunt Sibyl’s elderly friends expect her to step into her aunt’s shoes as head of the quilting guild and as a civic leader.
A body is found buried on Abby’s property wrapped in a quilt. This gruesome discovery leads to her informal and unsanctioned investigation to clear her aunt’s name, but there is more intrigue to follow. A side mystery involves the disappearance of thirteen quilts. The quilts are valuable, but are they worth the penalties for theft?
My favorite character is the huge, slobbery Zeke: a mastiff cross who is Abby’s best buddy and defender. He is a constant throughout the story providing interest and humor. Zeke adores both Tripp and Abby (and treats) as much as the pair loves him. The book is filled with humorous repartee as Tripp and Abby struggle to understand each other, and fireworks of various kinds fly.
I did figure out before the reveal who the murderer is, but not the motive. I think this was intentional, making the final scenes even more dramatic. Abby put herself in danger sometimes through her own actions, but it does make for an exciting story. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. This one did not change my world, but it is a lot of fun, and it left me with a satisfied smile and wanting more.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #1 in the Abby McCree Mystery Series
2. The cute cover doesn’t depict what actually happened in the book.
Publication: January 29, 2019—Kensington Books
Memorable Lines:
If she didn’t know what a sweetheart he was, she might have been just as leery of a dog of his size, too. The truth was, the only real threat the bighearted fellow presented to the world was his ability to produce an excessive amount of drool, which often left behind an icky trail of mastiff goo wherever he went.
The day hadn’t gone well at all, and her reward was a crushing headache. For now, she wasn’t going to think about anything more complicated than what flavor of tea would go best with ibuprofen.
“Don’t worry. We’re fine, boy. Just out for a drive.” Okay, that was a lie, and not even the dog was buying what she was selling.
Pruning the Dead–cozy mystery with a gardening theme
Pruning the Dead
by Julia Henry
A new cozy mystery series. A different sort of mystery. In what way different? Don’t they all follow a general formula? Yes and no. There are common expectations for cozies such as the absence of graphic violence, sex, or language, and the presence of a likable main character who finds herself (or occasionally himself) drawn into solving a mystery, often in a small town. Pruning the Dead fits the bill. The manner of deviation is the amount of time the author spends setting up the backdrop, the small town of Goosebush, on the south shore of Massachusetts, the gardening theme, and the characters, some of whom take on the role of Garden Squad with the goal of replacing “weeds with plants” and restoring “order from chaos.”
Lilly Jayne is starting to emerge from a cloud of grieving and depression following her husband’s death. She is rich and considered somewhat of a matriarch in Goosebush. Having neglected her civic duties for years during her husband’s illness, she suddenly begins seeing the negative changes that have crept into her hometown.
Although the murder doesn’t occur until a quarter of the way into the book, don’t be lulled into thinking it is less than an interesting mystery. The time the author, Julia Henry, spends developing the characters and setting is time well-spent. Although I deduced the murderer as I approached the end of the book, I enjoyed reading how it played out, and there were many detours and suspects along the way that kept the journey interesting.
Even though the second book in the series has not been published yet, I anticipate that readers will benefit by starting the series by reading Pruning the Dead, the first book. I look forward to reading the next book to see how the Garden Squad develops and what happens next in Goosebush, Massachusetts.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #1 in the Garden Club Mystery Series
Gardening tips are included at the end of the book.
Publication: January 29, 2019—Kensington Books
Memorable Lines:
“Facts are facts, but the truth depends on the teller.”
“Choosing a kinder path is important. It makes the journey easier.”
“I made a decision a long time ago that hate is more exhausting for me than it is for the object on which I would bestow that energy.”
Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake–delicious cozy mystery
Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake
by Sarah Graves
Jake (Jacobia) relates this tale from the first person point of view as she and her friend Ellie struggle to survive the low tourist season in Maine. In this delightful cozy mystery, Jake and Ellie own their dream shop, The Chocolate Moose. Having recently purchased a vintage, mint green milkshake maker, they have added chocolate milkshakes to the treats featured in their chocolate themed bakery. Unfortunately, an abusive local drunk is found dead with one of their milkshake cups beside him.
In Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake by Sarah Graves, questions swirl like a milkshake in a blender. Was the victim poisoned by the milkshake? Will the tampered milkshake rumors prove deadly to their struggling business? The ladies are counting on a whoopie-pie wedding cake to keep their business afloat; but with the groom suspected of murder, will the wedding even take place?
There are other suspects, interesting extended family members, a competent, sympathetic sheriff, lots of action, and more than a little danger as Jake and Ellie try to save their shop, keep Ellie and her family from having to move, discover the murderer and stay alive. I was surprised by the ending and the revelation of the murderer.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #2 in the Death by Chocolate Mystery Series, but will work as a standalone.
It features a recipe for Ginger Chocolate Biscotti.
Publication: January 29, 2019—Kensington Books
Memorable Lines:
The landlady’s glare was so cold, you could’ve used it to freeze fish.
An old railroad trestle crossed the gap between two high bluffs over a grassy salt marsh. In the moonlight, the cattails in the marsh stood motionless as if at attention.
Basically, I thought, frogs lived in a puddle, ate flies, and never got warm; still they yelled out their happiness in doing it and I found that encouraging.
The Gun Also Rises–books galore!
The Gun Also Rises
by Sherry Harris
Another fun cozy mystery is now available in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery Series. I always like Sherry Harris’ books better than I like garage sales, which are just a vehicle for her delivery of a great story. The Gun Also Rises will particularly appeal to book lovers. Sarah Winston’s presence is requested by wealthy Mrs. Belle Winthrop Granville, III who asks her prepare a huge collection of mystery paperbacks for sale with the proceeds to benefit the local library. In the same house is a huge collection of old and rare books.
Sarah discovers a suitcase containing what appears to be manuscripts by Hemingway, and she finds herself thrust into a real mystery with murderers, thieves, impostors, literary treasure hunters, mobsters, law enforcement, and reporters. There are a dizzying number of possibilities and suspects that Sarah must negotiate to try to keep herself alive. As she tries to find the missing manuscript, she must also dodge reporters and the bad guys, but first she has to figure out just who they are. She also needs to coordinate a fund-raiser on the town common to raise money to bring back from Afghanistan the street dog adopted by Eric, a sergeant injured by a suicide bomber and now suffering from PTSD. In addition, she needs to complete her work for Miss Belle.
Despite many personal interruptions in my reading of this book, I enjoyed it very much. There are some relationship issues surrounding Sarah with her brother Luke and her D.A. friend Seth, but the mystery is certainly the focus. The story takes you down many pathways with various suspects and motives. The question of whodunit was complex, intriguing, and surprising. This is a great read for cozy mystery lovers.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #6 in the Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery Series, but works as a standalone.
Publication: January 29, 2019—Kensington Books
Memorable Lines:
Weariness crept over me like an incoming sea fog.
Part of the problem with our relationship had been blurred lines. Even though we’d divorced, the lines between our old life and our new one kept blurring, like watercolors that spread across thick paper.
The war was behind them, the stock market crash ahead, and the next world war off in an unsuspecting future. No wonder the twenties were roaring for the rich.
Not a Creature Was Stirring–A Christmas cozy for any time of year
Not a Creature Was Stirring
by Christina Freeburn
Cozy mysteries are often thematic, and Not a Creature Was Stirring by Christina Freeburn is no exception. Freeburn’s first series was centered around scrapbooking, but her new series focuses on crafting in general. Look for an emphasis on Christmas in this book and possibly in other books in the series since the main character, Merry, is captivated by all things Christmas.
There are many complications, but the basic plot is that Merry Winters discovers her ex-husband dead in the RV she purchased from her stepdaughter. This RV was supposed to be a wonderful bonus to her life to help her with her new handcrafting business as she travels to various craft fairs.
Merry is under suspicion for the murder, but she, in turn, wonders who would have killed her ex-husband and why. Her maiden voyage in the RV, when the discovery of the body is made, is of course, a disaster. It does draw in a host of characters who try to help Merry or are in pursuit for something they think Merry has.
My favorite characters are Ebenezer, a squeaky guinea pig, and Abraham, the young adult son of another crafter. Abraham will always mentally be a child and is easily frustrated by changes in his routines. He is a gentle giant who will always need help in life. Watching him interact with others is touching.
Bright is the other half of Merry’s crafting business, but we only meet her through texts. Perhaps her supportive role to Merry is the only one she will have in this series. She could also be cast as the main character in a future book in the series.
Not a Creature Was Stirring is a fast-paced mystery. There is a lot of action as well as investigative work. Numerous suspects come to light and there are lots of family relationships that play an important role. When the going gets tough, who will save the day—Merry’s Grinchy neighbor, the curmudgeon Cornelius, or her adorable Ebenezer?
I would like to extend my thanks to Edelweiss and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #1 in The Merry and Bright Handcrafted Mystery Series
Publication: January 22, 2019—Henery Press
Memorable Lines:
I swore the weather app on my iPhone worked like a Magic Eight Ball. If I didn’t like the forecast, check again in a few minutes and it changed.
Never take advice from a man who puts money in front of people.
I fled upstairs before any of the questions in her eyes came out her mouth.
Broken Heart Attack–good series
Broken Heart Attack
by James J. Cudney
The best way for me to describe the beginning of Broken Heart Attack is “hyperactive,” a label which is meant to be descriptive, not positive or negative. Author James J. Cudney packs a lot into the first several chapters as he brings readers up to speed on the events in the first book of the series and introduces a complex plot with a lot of characters.
The main mystery of Broken Heart Attack centers around the Paddington family, murder, and a missing will. Unfortunately, the Paddington family is quite dysfunctional, and there is not one member of the family that I could relate to or invest myself in. In other words, by the end of the book, I really didn’t care who the murderer was.
A side issue to the murder is a paternity case. Other stories that affect the main character, Kellan, continue from the first book but make little progress: the reappearance of a presumed dead wife, conflict with co-worker Myriam, a potential love triangle involving friends Connor and Maggie, and a possible softening in his relationship with Sheriff Montague.
I purchased this book; it was not an advance copy. Therefore, I was surprised to see a number of errors. Some were obviously a case of autocorrect gone wrong, some were spelling, and some were, more egregiously, pronoun usage. This is particularly startling because the author rarely has errors in his posted book reviews.
On the positive side, Nana D continues to provide humor and Kellan is a likeable character. Would I read another book in this cozy mystery series? Absolutely! I would particularly like to see what happens as Kellan is pressured by his wife’s mob family, the Castiglianos. I would urge the author to write the next book at a less frenetic pace with more character development. He has the beginnings of a good series with interesting plots and a college setting that provides a background with multiple possibilities. The Braxton Campus Mystery Series definitely has a lot of potential.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #2 in the Braxton Campus Mystery Series. It could be read as a standalone, but would be more fun in sequence.
Publication: November 25, 2018—Creativia
Memorable Lines:
I loved my nana, but her friends were harder to handle than standing upside down catching a greasy pig in a mud slide.
Eustacia and Nana D had some sort of symbiotic relationship where they often couldn’t stand to be around one another but if ever two days went by without time for tea or gossip, the world might’ve come to an end.
I woke up Thursday morning with a hangover so painful my head had put out a foreclosure sign.
The Lost Traveller–a mysterious victim
The Lost Traveller
by Sheila Connolly
I was delighted to have an opportunity to get my first taste of Sheila Connolly’s mysteries as she has a number of books and series to her credit. I don’t usually start a series this far in (#7), but Connolly does a good job of introducing her characters. She starts The Lost Traveller off with a nervous American family, first time travelers abroad, visiting Sullivan’s Pub, giving the author a natural opportunity to explore the setting with the reader and present Maura, the American owner of the pub. The pace continues briskly as Maura, on lunch break, spots what appears to be a trash bag down a ravine on her property. It isn’t trash caught by a bridge pier, however, but something more ominous. Next we are introduced to the local gardaí (police). The plot pace moderates as Maura struggles with various types of issues—relationship, crime, business, and legal. It picks up again at the end with the resolution of some of those problems.
I enjoyed the Irish brogue and sprinkling of Irish words and names throughout. I learned more about Ireland and the Travellers, a sort of Irish version of gypsies, but they are not Romani. More information about the Travellers would have been welcome along with some character development of Peter, the father of the Traveller family that Maura meets. In fact, character development is a weak link in the book. For example, there are a group of men who frequent the pub and try to help Maura discover the identity of the victim and who murdered him. This group stands as a Greek chorus, with little revealed about any of them. They serve to reflect Maura’s progress involving the murder mystery. Although I am not thoroughly taken by the book, I enjoyed the intricacies of the plot well enough to try another book in the series.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #7 in the County Cork Mysteries, but works as a standalone.
Publication: January 8, 2019—Crooked Lane Books
Memorable Lines:
Was she getting soft? She’d always been independent, mostly out of necessity. She hated to ask people for help, much less emotional support. Now she had someone in her life who offered both, although cautiously.
This was ridiculous: she was being bossed around by a child. Well, one who could definitely cook, and who knew more about computers than she did.
What had Ireland done to her? She’d gone soft. And, she realized, she kind of liked it.
One Taste Too Many–deadly rhubarb crisp
One Taste Too Many
by Debra H. Goldstein
Sarah Blair may be the amateur detective featured in One Taste Too Many, but she shares the spotlight with her twin sister Emily who unfortunately is suspected of murdering Sarah’s wheeling, dealing, skirt chasing ex-husband, Bill. Also claiming top billing is RahRah, her ex-mother-in-law’s Siamese cat. When Mrs. Blair passed away, the cat happily ended up in Sarah’s loving care. Three years later, why would a co-worker claim the cat is legally hers? Who would want to murder Bill, Sarah’s ex? Well, lots of people, but who would actually perform the deed?
Emily is a line cook working in a restaurant and displaying her talents at a Food Expo in Alabama. Sarah is a receptionist for lawyer, Harlan, who comes to the legal rescue for the twins several times.
Things are very complicated with a number of cooks involved in murderous scenarios. Sarah tries to unravel personal, professional, and business interests before her sister is arrested for murder and further crimes occur. The ending was a surprise to me when the murderer was revealed. The complex plot and interesting characters assure that the first book in the new series by Debra H. Goldstein will not be the last!
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #1 in the Sarah Blair Mystery Series.
2. Two recipes are included that are perfect for Sarah, who has no culinary talents, to make.
Publication: December 18, 2018—Kensington Books
Memorable Lines:
At one time she had added wife to her failure list, but after some reflection and a little counseling, Sarah concluded her problem in the marriage area was in her choosing ability rather than from any deficit in her performance.
“That sounds like Bill. He could take the shirt off your back and make you believe you’d given it to him.”
Hands intrigued her. His were strong and solid. She believed hands reflected the soul of a person.
Botched 4 Murder–endangered golf courses in Arizona
Botched 4 Murder
by J. C. Eaton
If you like your cozy mysteries with a heavy dose of humor, look no farther than J. C. Eaton’s Botched 4 Murder. Once more, Sophie, who works as an accountant for Williams Investigations, gets dragged into a Sun City West murder investigation by her mother, Harriet, who insists she use her connections to help solve a crime. The main thread is finding the murderer of Sorrel, an eco-activist who wants to change many of the community’s golf courses to neighborhood parks, a very unpopular cause with Harriet and many members of the community, mostly seniors and snowbirds, who are concerned about their privacy, their property values, and crime rates. Was Sorrel murdered because of her activism in this issue or were other factors at play?
This cozy mystery rapidly becomes and stays complicated with quite a number of threads. Sophie has trouble saying no, and she finds herself physically in danger. Her boss, Nate, and her boyfriend and coworker, Marshall, urge her to stay out of the investigation for her own safety, but they have to admit that she gets more information from her informal interviews than they do as private investigators. The whole book is peppered with humor, mainly centering around Harriet and the other seniors who tend to dramatize everything and oil the wheels of the rumor mill.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #4 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery Series, but, due to the author’s efforts and the nature of the book, it works well as a standalone.
Publication: December 18, 2018—Kensington Books
Memorable Lines:
Thank goodness I was at the other end of a phone line because my eyes were rolling around in their sockets like balls on a roulette wheel.
“The venom went through that guy like prep medicine for a colonoscopy.”
“I already made plans. With my mother and her friends. Bagels ’N More. You’re more than welcome to join me.” “And what? Get interrogated because we haven’t solved Sorrel’s murder yet? No thanks. The Salem Witch Trials would’ve paled in comparison to what I imagine tonight’s conversation will be like.”
Wine and Punishment–great literary themed cozy mystery
Wine and Punishment
by Sarah Fox
I stayed up obscenely late to finish Wine and Punishment, the first book in Sarah Fox’s new series, and I don’t regret it at all. Engaged in the plot all the way through, I could not have predicted the ending. It has an action packed conclusion, and the murderer reveal is quite astonishing.
Sadie buys a picturesque old mill located in Shady Creek, Vermont, that had been turned into a pub by its previous owner. Anxious to be successful in her first business venture, she participates in the town’s annual Autumn Festival. All but two of the town residents are welcoming until Sadie’s ex-boyfriend from Boston turns up in town—dead. Then rumors start to fly. Various threads, including a gambling problem and industrial espionage, lead to potential suspects. Sadie does some investigating on her own with a backdrop of personal attacks against her.
There are lots of interesting characters including Sadie’s two employees, a handsome, but mysteriously disgruntled craft brewery owner, her supportive Aunt Gilda, her new friend Shontelle, and lots of local regulars at the pub. Cat lovers will enjoy the frequent appearance of Sadie’s cat Wimsey.
What makes this cozy mystery extra fun is the literary theme of the pub which Sadie renames the Inkwell. In addition to all the bookshelves in the main room, there are more in the two overflow rooms. Sadie names one of them the Christie room for Agatha Christie, one of her favorite mystery authors, and she decorates it with appropriate memorabilia. These two rooms will also be reserved as needed for the book clubs she is forming. Going beyond the physical facility, Sadie creates literary themed cocktails and in the future, when she can find a chef, the pub will have cuisine with a literary motif. Book lovers will find all these details icing on the cozy mystery cake.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #1 in the Literary Pub Mystery Series, but this author has two more successful series.
2. Recipes are added at the end of the book for cocktails and carrot muffins.
Publication: December 18, 2018—Kensington Books
Memorable Lines:
…my business—and only—dealings with him hadn’t been pleasant experiences. I found him brusque and as prickly as a porcupine. If not for the fact that his beers were so popular with both the tourists and locals, I wouldn’t have bothered to sell them at the Inkwell.
I’d never managed to leave the store without at least one or two purchases. Not that I minded. I didn’t think there was such a thing as owning too many books.
I pushed open the coffee shop’s door, ill at ease and eager to get away, but even as I left the woman behind, I could still feel the icy touch of her glare on my back.
education pathways 