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Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas–Rudolph, a tourist destination
Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas
by Vicki Delany
I am disappointed when I read an apparently Christmas themed book that has little to do with Christmas. Sometimes the only Christmasy aspect is a beautiful cover. Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas is NOT in that category! From start to finish the book depends on a Christmas theme because its setting is Rudolph, New York, a town that aspires to be known as “America’s Christmas Town.” In a show of unity, the business owners specialize in shops with cute names and sponsor town-wide Christmas events.
The protagonist, Merry, owns Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, located on Jingle Bell Lane. The community theater group decides to produce a musical version of A Christmas Carol. It is an amateur group with the exception of Merry’s mother, a retired opera singer. There are a number of ego-driven conflicts among the performers, but Merry, not a part of the cast, is drawn into the undercurrents of discord when a cast member is killed in her shop. Is the death somehow related to the play? Merry just can’t let it go!
Merry’s mother is a diva, but Merry is down-to-earth. Her kind father plays Santa Claus at various events and looks the part. Her boyfriend Alan is a talented woodworker creating furniture and children’s toys. He also is “Santa’s head toymaker at public events.” Merry has a lumbering Saint Bernard, and Alan has a Jack Russell; both dogs have important roles in this cozy mystery.
It’s probably hard to write a mystery with strong Christmas vibes, but Vicki Delany is very successful in doing just that. With good characters, a mystery that offers a true puzzle and numerous motivations, and a little danger thrown in, this cozy had me turning pages and ended for me with a gentle “aww!” reaction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: General Fiction, Mystery
Notes: #6 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery Series, but could definitely be enjoyed as a standalone. I had not read any others in the series, but now I would like to.
Publication: September 19, 2023—Crooked Lane Books
Memorable Lines:
“A Christmas Carol, however,is not to be trifled with. It, more than most works, is firmly locked in time and place. That is what people expect. That is its appeal. The tradition of the Christmas season and the emotions it arouses.”
“Jackie O’Reilly, of all people, has asked to stay for a private lesson once the chorus practice has finished. Making silk purses out of sows’ ears comes to mind.”
Ranger leapt up and down, yipping in an excess of excitement. He’s a Jack Russell and excess excitement is his entire nature. He sniffed my boots, ran in circles around my legs, and then headed toward Mattie for more greetings. Mattie woofed in warning; Ranger decided discretion was the better part of valor and he hurried to sniff at the wheels of my car.
Strike Out 4 Murder–softball themed cozy
Strike Out 4 Murder
by J.C. Eaton
The husband and wife team who write the Sophie Kimball Mysteries, as well as several other cozy mystery series, are on their eleventh book in this series with Strike Out 4 Murder. If you have read other books in this series you will find this one fits into the comfortable, predictable pattern of the rest. Sophie Kimball is a bookkeeper/accountant for a private detective agency in Sun City West, Arizona, where her retired mother, Harriet, lives. Newly married to one of the detectives in the agency, Sophie continues to get involved in investigations. Over time she has gotten more comfortable with searching for clues and putting together the pieces of a mystery puzzle. Sometimes she disregards the questionable legality of her actions.
The reader knows only too well Sophie’s eating habits and her need for caffeine and a good swim. Despite being a little too predictable, this cozy mystery does offer up a good plot—very complicated. It is actually too involved for even the most astute reader to be able to predict the outcome. Several times Sophie thinks she can solve the crime only to discover a missing piece of information that changes everything. Her mother’s dog Streetman, a Chiweenie, and the inclusion of a new dog character Thor, a Great Dane, both add humor, interest, and excitement. Harriet’s book club friends and the men’s pinocle club have major roles in Strike Out 4 Murder with some amusing threads involving Paul and his passion for fishing and Herb who takes up softball.
At this point in the series, I think I enjoy the books more as a reunion with characters than as a captivating mystery. It is fun and well written, but the series probably needs to draw to a close soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #11 in the Sophie Kimball Mystery Series and probably should not be read as a standalone.
Publication: March 21, 2023—Beyond the Page Publishing
Memorable Lines:
“I can’t be deciphering initials all day long. I blame it on texting. No one can write a full word anymore that’s longer than four letters.”
Intelligence information? Is that the new euphemism for gossip-mongering?
“She can pick up gossip faster than a Hoover vacuum on full speed.”
Wined and Died in New Orleans–discovery of hidden wines
Wined and Died in New Orleans
by Ellen Byron
Ricki fled from Los Angeles to New Orleans to escape a past tarnished by her innocent association with a Ponzi scheme billionaire. Now connected with the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum, Ricki opens her own museum gift shop, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop. She purchases old cookbooks and kitchen tools for resale in her shop.
The plot centers around a murder. Ricki leads friends who are also her co-workers at the museum in trying to solve the case. She feeds any information she discovers to Nina, a local detective with whom she “collaborated” on a previous case. The plot is good and has plenty of complications and surprises involving some very old wine discovered on the property. Suddenly the family tree expands as people claiming to belong to the Charbonnets descend on Louisiana in hopes of a share of wealth and fame. Also the reader gets a taste of Louisiana from references to food, dialect, and an impending hurricane.
I have enjoyed other books by Ellen Byron with a Louisiana setting, but this one does not appeal to me and is definitely not a page turner. I didn’t identify or empathize with any of the characters. Ricki and her friends/coworkers seem to go round and round in their efforts to discover the murderer. Ricki has a revelation of a personal nature that is an interesting twist. Ricki and her neighbor, Chef Virgil, are co-parents of two dogs, making the potential for interesting scenarios which never develop. The dogs have very minor roles.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 3/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. The author provides a list of characters at the first of the book which helps orient the reader.
2. This is the second book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery Series. I have not read the first book in the series, but I don’t think that affected my reflections on this cozy mystery.
3. There is a recipe section describing selected vintage cookbooks and any information about them that emerged during the author’s research. She also chose a recipe from each book to add to that section.
Publication: February 7, 2023—Berkley
Memorable Lines:
“You need a drink.” “Everyone keeps liquoring me up. Is a drink New Orleans’s answer to everything?” “Pretty much.”
“I guess you could call me a California Charbonnet. Kind of like a California chardonnay but with notes of murder and bizarre family dynamics.”
“Sam’s on the Crisis Negotiation Team. I din’t pass the training. Apparently, sarcasm isn’t perceived as an ‘effective oral communication skill.’ “
Sycamore Circle–rebuilding a life
Sycamore Circle
by Shelley Shepard Gray
Madisonville is a prison in the novel Sycamore Circle. Lincoln was formerly incarcerated there, as were the men who work under him in the organization called T-DOT (Tomorrow Depends on Today). The group tries to rehabilitate former inmates, giving them practical skills by restoring houses and flipping them. They also learn self-discipline and how to survive in the outside world. Lincoln has earned the respect of law enforcement, probation officers, and prison officials. The program is voluntary, but the men who sign up agree to certain rules and will be kicked out of the program if they don’t abide by them.
Bo is Lincoln’s friend and his right hand man at T-DOT. He spent three years incarcerated as a felon, but has turned his life around. He is attracted to Joy, a literary tutor he met in a coffee shop, but he realizes that she is a special lady and he doesn’t know how to approach her. Joy has been divorced for 4 years from Tony, a man who constantly put her down. He had an affair and wanted to move on. Despite being a terrible and stingy ex-husband, he is a good father to their 16 year old daughter Chloe.
Joy and Bo are moving extremely slowly into a friendship when Joy starts receiving calls, texts, and letters from a stalker. Bo realizes how serious this could be and turns on his protection mode.
This story is well-written with likable characters, understandable relationship hesitations, and a lot of suspects for who the stalker might be. There is a subplot of an abused teenage boy who is trying to decide on a commitment to the Amish way. I was fortunate to read this on a day I could devote a lot of time to it as I wanted to keep reading until the end to find out who the stalker really is and what the future holds for Joy, Bo, and Chloe.
Trust is one of the themes of this series. It is a problem the former inmates and the people they come in contact with both have. Can someone who has done hard time in prison be trusted again? Even family members can have difficulty trusting their love ones, questioning if the changes are real. If they can’t be integrated into society again and find meaningful, financially sufficient employment, how can they survive without breaking the law again? Although this theme is not stated directly, it is the undercurrent of the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Mystery and Thriller, Romance
Notes: 1. #2 in the Rumors in Ross County series, but could be a standalone.
2.I found that the stalker element leaned this mystery slightly into the thriller category.
Publication: February 7, 2023—Blackstone Publishing
Memorable Lines:
…he realized that he was going to need to be real patient if he wanted a chance with Joy—and that he was going to have to bring his A game too. She was not the kind of woman to accept a date on the fly or put up with him being anything but respectful and kind. I had been noted.
But he wasn’t worried about the Lord being upset with him. He’d started talking to God on his own years ago. Though it wasn’t something that he was comfortable sharing, he was pretty sure the Lord was still going to have his back whether he was Amish or not.
She treated him to a fake smile too. The kind women gave to security guards and annoying salespeople. Like she was glad for his place in her world, but she didn’t want them to connect on a regular basis.
In Farm’s Way–the heart of the farm
In Farm’s Way
by Amanda Flower
There is a lot going on in Cherry Glen, Michigan, land of cherry orchards, snow, and ice fishing. Shiloh Bellamy left her L.A. producer job to return to Cherry Glen to save the family farm by reinventing it as an organic farm.
In the brief time since she returned to her home town, she has gained a reputation as someone who is nosy and can solve crimes. She helps her aging father as much as he will allow, but their bonds have never been strong as her father could not step up to the plate emotionally after Shiloh’s mother passed away. Along the way, they have both developed a relationship with the exuberant Hazel who loves to help on the farm. Hazel’s father Quinn, an EMT, was Shiloh’s deceased fiancé’s best friend. Complicated, right?
When Shiloh discovers a body under the ice at an ice fishing competition, and her friend Kristi’s husband is a prime suspect, Shiloh is asked to investigate. Woven into her sleuthing are topics like ice fishing, birding, beer brewing, and organic farming. Shiloh continues her search for something her beloved grandmother left for her at the “heart of the farm.” There is also a potential romance or two that mainly produces tension, but also ends the book with a cliff-hanger.
As with most mysteries you will meet some interesting characters along the way. there are two sheriffs who become a little territorial, a widow who doesn’t seem at all sad, and an organic beer brewing association with internal politics. Jesse’s Place is the cafe to go to if you want to pick up the latest local gossip, and Jesse herself is civic minded and kind hearted. Shiloh’s older cousin Stacey is fulfilling a personal dream by reviving the town theater using money she got from the sale of her half of the family farm. I mustn’t forget Shiloh’s animals. Her adorable pug is Huckleberry. He goes almost everywhere with her. She also has a Siamese cat who rules over the barn cats and Diva who rules in the hen house. Shiloh anthropomorphizes her animals and that adds humor to the story.
I have read most of Amanda Flower’s cozy mystery series and have enjoyed all of them. Her characters are interesting, and the plots are well conceived with lots of threads. In Farm’s Way continues her stellar reputation for good cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #3 in the Farm to Table Mystery Series, but can be read as a standalone. Amanda Flower excels at providing background information as needed for the reader, so don’t be afraid to jump in with In Farm’s Way.
2. Includes tips and a recipe for suet for feeding birds in the winter.
Publication: February 21, 2023—Poisoned Pen Press (Source Books)
Memorable Lines:
I wasn’t one for the crowds, at least not crowds in Cherry Glen. I hadn’t really minded them in LA because they had anonymity. However, in my hometown, everyone knew who I was, what I was a doing. Gossip was a town pastime.
The Siamese looked over her shoulder at me and gave a very slow blink. I had read that a slow blink from a cat meant she was saying, “I love you.” However, when it came to Esmeralda, I was certain it meant, “I am your queen. Sit down, peasant.”
Huckleberry looked at me with wide pug eyes in alarm. To be honest, pugs looked alarmed the majority of the time. When they didn’t, they were asleep.
Rum and Choke–friends and treasure hunts
Rum and Choke
by Sherry Harris
Surprise, Chloe! Your boss/business partner Vivi Slidell aided by Joaquín Diaz, the Sea Glass Saloon’s bartender, has entered you in the annual Florida Barback Games! Soon Chloe learns that “Barback” is the term for the person who does the prep work for the bartender and assists him in whatever will make the job easier. Of course, the “games” are more complicated than that, making for great entertainment.
In scoping out the local competition who are all professional athletes brought in as ringers, Chloe finds herself past inebriated. Could someone have spiked her drink with a drug? Things turn even more serious when Ann, the mysterious local fixer, confides a secret to Chloe, requests her assistance, and discovers a body. Both women come under suspicion of murder.
An additional backdrop to the story is Chloe’s relationship to Rip, a former lawyer and currently a volunteer firefighter. He worries about her, but is always supportive.
If you are interested in underwater treasure hunts and nice people who find themselves deep in troubles that were previously not even on their radar, I think you will enjoy Rum and Choke. Previous readers of the series have been introduced to the “fixer” Ann. To Ann’s amusement, Chloe originally thought Ann was a handywoman. Whoops! Ann fixes sticky situations, and there are lots of gray areas to her business. Chloe and the reader learn a lot more about Ann in this book. I have enjoyed the whole series as well as other cozy mysteries by Sherry Harris.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #4 in the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Saloon Mystery Series. Although I recommend reading the series from the beginning to understand why a child librarian is part owner in a bar, this can be read as a standalone as far as the mystery goes.
Publication: December 27, 2022—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
This place could be a hotbed of gossip at times. Mostly on days that have a d in them.
I worked my way through the crowd to the bar and ordered a drink. I didn’t believe in going into a place and not ordering anything. It was almost as bad as leaving a library without a book.
The paved road became a dirt road, which wound around until I wasn’t sure which direction we were headed. Talk about a metaphor for my life.
Bookclubbed to Death–story within a story
Bookclubbed to Death
by V. M. Burns
Samantha “Sam” Washington owns Market Street Mysteries Bookshop on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Her grandmother Nana Jo helps out at the bookstore and with the mysteries in which Sam manages to get enmeshed. Nana Jo lives in a retirement community and has a cadre of friends who always want to help out too. Sam’s sidekicks are her two toy poodles Snickers and Oreo. Her fiancé Frank is retired from secretive government agencies and still has contacts that prove to be invaluable when Sam needs to prove her innocence after a murder victim is found in her store.
Sam is also a writer awaiting publication of her first book. She needs a distraction when the investigation becomes overwhelming. Then she involves herself with manuscripts that are in process. They are historical fiction pieces; the novels she writes mirror her real-life problems and help her think them through. In this case we read her book about King George VI who needs Lady Elizabeth’s help in unraveling a murder mystery at Windsor Castle. Just as in Sam’s real-life mystery, Lady Elizabeth surrounds herself with trusted volunteers and assigns them jobs. Then Lady Elizabeth puts the clues together to discover opportunity, motivation, method, and the killer.
In the present day murder, Sam has to deal with Delia Marshall, an important reviewer who could ruin Sam’s writing career. Sam agrees to allow Delia and her book club, the Mystery Mavens, the use of her bookstore for their meeting when the library is closed for repairs after a tornado. At first Sam caters to Delia’s unreasonable requests, but eventually stands firms. She soon discovers that Delia is quite unpopular, and it becomes necessary for her to find out why.
The author’s technique of echoing the theme and plot of one story within another is interesting. It is not my favorite way of storytelling, but the author does it well. It will appeal to lovers of cozy mysteries, historical fiction, royalty, and dual timeline as Bookclubbed to Death combines all into one work of fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #8 in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone. I have only read one other in the series, #6, so you can see that the author does a good job in providing any needed details.
Publication: December 27, 2022—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
“But rather than using her brains to help others, she used hers to sleuth out secrets. Everyone has secrets they’d rather weren’t made public. Delia found out what they were and figured out how to use them to her benefit.”
“You inspired me. You came into that room like a … giant. You weren’t afraid of Delia. You knew she could destroy your career, but you still burst into that room and challenged her. You weren’t afraid of Delia Marshall. That’s when I gained courage. I knew I needed to do something.”
… writing allowed my subconscious to sort through the clues and figure out things my conscious mind couldn’t, then I needed to write. I needed all of the help I could get.
Death by Arts and Crafts–danger and murder
Death by Arts and Crafts
by Alexis Morgan
Although Abby and Tripp, the protagonists of Death by Arts and Crafts, are good main characters, my favorite character in this series is Zeke, Abby’s faithful mastiff-mix, with a huge drool factor and a sweetly manipulative personality. Abby doesn’t need to work, at least temporarily, and spends a lot of time volunteering on civic events. As the title indicates, in this cozy mystery, she is the liaison between the town council and the committee for Snowberry Creek’s first arts and crafts fair. Tripp is a twenty year veteran for the Special Forces and rents the mother-in-law house on Abby’s property while he attends college. He and Abby have grown close, and his protective instinct clicks in quickly when she is in danger—which happens a lot in this mystery.
Abby and two of her friends enjoy a girls’ weekend visiting neighboring fairs and are surprised to discover when they return home that a murder occurred under their noses. They are interviewed by Ben, a homicide detective, and Gage, the local police chief. From that point, things get more complicated and dangerous for Abby and her friend Dayna. Dayna is a potter who discovers her art partner Wendy has been less than honest in her business dealings. This mystery has lots of threads, several murders, some attacks, and a kidnapping. There is resolution in the end along with the revelation of surprising motivations. I enjoyed coming along for the ride, watching the mystery play out, and observing the growing friendship of Tripp and Abby.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #6 in the Abby McCree Mystery Series, but sufficient background is supplied for it to be a standalone.
2. Although there is a character who reads palms and tarot cards at the fair, her booth is considered an amusement by the other characters with no real involvement of the occult in the book.
3. There is a little too much emphasis on food—who eats what—for my “taste.”
Publication: December 27, 2022—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
“So, gentlemen, how many treats has Zeke conned you into giving him?” No one made eye contact, but Gage did his best to look innocent. “Let’s just say not as many as he wishes we had, but more than we probably should have. That dog has turned mooching into an art form.”
“I’ve found a home and a renewed purpose in knowing that I can help people in so many ways.”…”But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy or that bad things don’t happen to make me question some of the choices I’ve made. I think that’s true for all of us. It’s just part of life.”
“I’m not the only one who can’t resist him when he looks at you with those puppy dog eyes.” Tripp didn’t bother denying it. They both knew who held all the power in their little threesome, and it wasn’t either of the two humans.
Frozen Detective–ski resort mystery
Frozen Detective
by Amanda Flower
I returned for a second serving of the Piper & Porter Mystery Series with the cozy mystery Frozen Detective. Darby Piper and Tate Porter are still getting used to working together as private investigators in the Finger Lakes area. Needing more work than just background checks, they accept a job from Cecily, Tate’s old classmate, from Harrington, NY. Clearly, now a sophisticated and rich businesswoman from New York City, Cecily hires the duo to find out who is sending threatening notes to her husband.
Darby and Tate find themselves working undercover at the Garden Peak Lodge, the most expensive ski resort in the area as “guests” of Cecily and her husband Dr. Madd, a dermatologist with a successful line of expensive skincare products. After a New Year’s Eve bash with a lot of uncomfortable guests, Darby spots someone lying in the snow in the early morning chill. Darby and Tate’s investigations, of course, refocus to find the murderer. There are lots of people invited to the weekend with motivation and opportunity. The spotlight bounces to various possibilities including the victim’s daughter and son. The clock is ticking as guests are eager to leave since the host, their potential gravy train, is out of the picture and a blizzard is on the way. Will Piper and Tate be able to solve the crime with the help of Tiny a lovable St. Bernard?
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: # 2 in the Piper & Porter Mystery Series but could be read as a standalone.
Publication: December 6, 2022—Hallmark
Memorable Lines:
“I’m usually easy to find around the lodge. Tiny is always at my side.” He let his hand rest on the massive dog’s head.”
There weren’t many things I was afraid of, but hurling myself down the face of a mountain on a couple of slick boards was one of them. Any bravado I’d been feeling when I first said yes to the idea had dissipated.
Instead of doing as I asked, he ran farther away from us and then stopped to look back. He barked again. “He wants us to follow him,” I said. “Sheesh, did this dog go to Lassie school or something?” Tate wanted to know.
Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous–greed!
Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous
by Amanda Flower
Where you see zany, flamboyant Lois, an Englisch grandmother who helps out in her granddaughter Darcy’s café, you will probably also find Millie, her Amish best friend from childhood. Millie tries to stay within the rules of her Amish district, but it’s hard when Lois encourages her as the “Amish Marple” to pursue investigations. This time the victim almost literally falls in their laps in a particularly bizarre means of murder.
There are personal complications also as one of Lois’ many ex-husbands shows up in the little town of Harvest with his new bride of two days. What a shock for Lois to see “Rocksino-Guy” again and in her own hometown. The bride is very interested in Amish furniture specially designed with secret compartments. Millie and Lois investigate three local furniture makers to try to discover what the compartments might be used for.
Millie is an unofficial matchmaker, and she is called on by various Amish locals to determine if a match is suitable. She doesn’t go out looking for people to match, but she has a good feeling about whether a couple is compatible or not. If asked she will give her opinion, but she never offers it unsolicited or charges for her service. Even Millie’s matchmaking skills are an important thread in this mystery.
Harvest is always supporting some community event. In this story, it is a Valentine’s Day Spaghetti Supper that is a fundraiser for a drug counseling treatment program. Both the Amish and the Englisch citizens are concerned about the rising drug problem in Holmes County especially following the recent overdose death of an Amish teenager.
Millie and Lois, in their late sixties, find themselves in dangerous situations as their investigations draw them ever closer to discovering the truth. With someone slinking around the widowed Millie’s isolated farm and the discovery of a threatening note, Lois and chief deputy Brad determine to get the district bishop Yoder to allow Lois better phone access for emergencies. Even Ruth Yoder, the bishop’s strict wife, softens up to Lois and encourages the pair in their investigations.
A visit to Harvest wouldn’t be complete without Jethro, the pot-bellied pig, who puts in an appearance. Millie’s mischievous goats have prominent roles and even come to Millie’s rescue. Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous is a good cozy mystery with lots of threads and humor. The series always shows the ways the Amish and Englisch can work together with respect despite their differences.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #4 in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone.
Publication: December 27, 2022—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
What I saw was a man with bloodshot eyes, sunken cheeks, and a heart shattered into a thousand shards.
Even with her zany Englisch ways, my parents welcomed her onto our farm and let her stay as long as she wished. They knew she needed a safe place to go.
“I can speak to bad marriages. They are hard. In fact, I can’t think of anything about the single life that’s as awful as a bad marriage.”
education pathways 