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Murder on Tour–plot within a plot
Murder on Tour
By V.M. Burns
Samantha Washington is an independent bookstore owner in North Harbor, Michigan. As a local author with her first book, a cozy mystery, to her credit, she is invited to be on panels at the North Harbor Book Festival hosted by Michigan Southwestern University.
When a publicist is murdered, Samantha (Sam) recruits her Nana Jo and her friends from Shady Acres Retirement Village to join her in solving the crime. It turns out to be more difficult than one would imagine as Sam uncovers among the authors multiple layers of affairs and treachery that could rival a soap opera.
This series is unusual in that Sam is writing historical fiction. We witness the process in spurts as Sam turns to her laptop frequently when she is blocked or needs a break in her investigations. The occurrences in the book she is writing with a setting of 1939 mirror in some ways the current crime. The first time I read a book in this series I found the technique somewhat distracting. In Murder on Tour, however, I thought it played well. Either the author has become more skillful or I have incorporated this style into my reading mindset.
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: #9 in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone
Publication: November 28,2023—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
“But don’t discount the importance of escapist fiction. Books are subjective, and people read books for different reasons. Given everything that’s happened in the world, many of us need to escape to maintain our sanity.”
These women didn’t know a lot about mysteries, but they would defend me to the death if anyone said an unkind word about my book. Some days, you need people like that in your corner.
He stared at me for several beats…I didn’t flinch. I taught English to high school students who could smell fear a mile away. Woe to the teacher stupid enough to blink during a stare-down. But he was good. Really good.
Death in the Dark Woods–could it be Bigfoot?
Death in the Dark Woods
by Annelise Ryan
The idea of Bigfoot conjures up all kinds of feelings. In a tourist town, some want to capitalize on rumors of a sighting to draw in more visitors. Those are the people who sell hats and T-shirts and offer Bigfoot specials and tours. Others are concerned that the buzz will discourage fearful tourists. Morgan, a cryptozoologist with degrees in zoology and biology, owns a shop in Wisconsin that deals in weird and sometimes creepy inventory, but she also is willing to get involved in investigating possible sightings of cryptids, “creatures thought to exist despite there being no proof.” She charges her clients to be sure they are serious in their claim, but then does not actually collect or gives the money to a good cause.
Charlie (Charlotte) is a Department of Natural Resources officer in the Chequamegon National Forest near Bayfield where there have been some Bigfoot sightings and some vaguely resolved murders. She first meets with Hans, an Indiana Jones looking shyster, but soon decides that he is more interested in money than in the truth. Morgan agrees to work with her using Devon, one of her employees at her store to back her up with his outstanding computer skills. Jon, a police chief she has worked with before, volunteers some of his time to help Morgan. There is a slow developing romance in the works between Morgan and Jon, but Charlie is also interested in Jon.
The plot includes car chases to elude being followed, a camping trip and hikes that make Morgan feel she has a stalker. The closer she gets to the truth, the more danger Morgan finds herself in. The physical evidence doesn’t always match up with what Morgan thinks has happened, but she is cautious in her assumptions if not in her actions. The motivations and identities of those involved will keep you guessing as Morgan uses her professional knowledge to suss out the truth in her investigation of the murders. Has Bigfoot gone on an angry rampage? What would cause an animal or a human to kill someone in the two very different ways the murders occurred? What about the evidence—the huge footprint and some nonhuman hairs in the wound? I enjoyed following Morgan’s thinking all the way to the end. She definitely fits the role of a strong female protagonist.
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. #2 in the Monster Hunter Series but could be read as a standalone as the author provides background information as needed.
2. As a word lover, I enjoyed the informal game Morgan and her employee Rita played throughout the story. They would include special, less used words in their discussions, each complimenting the other over their word choices. (Yes, I did have to look a few of them up which was quite fun.)
3. Another favorite character who deserves note is Newt, Morgan’s large dog and constant companion. It is a case of “who rescued whom” in their relationship.
Publication: December12,2023—Berkley
Memorable Lines:
When it came to heavy emotional baggage—both known and hidden—Jon and I had enough between us to sink the Titanic without the help of an iceberg.
But while I’m open to the existence of such a creature and would be beyond delighted to encounter one, I’d have to see irrefutable scientific proof of their existence before becoming a staunch believer.
The silence, which was absolute, felt unnatural. Or rather preternatural. That was when we heard it, a sound both guttural and screeching, a sound filled with anger and fear, a sound that made my scalp tingle and my heart race. It was unlike anything I’d heard before and something I didn’t think I’d ever want to hear again.
Murder with Chocolate Tea–tea with everything
Murder with Chocolate Tea
By Karen Rose Smith
Chocolate Lovers Unite! At Daisy’s Tea Garden, the featured tea this month is Chocolate Tea which Daisy serves with a variety of sweet treats. It seems to go particularly well with chocolate chip cookies.
As always, delicious foods from soups and salads to high tea are served at Daisy’s teahouse. Daisy has a lot of things going on in Murder with Chocolate Tea. She and Jonas are planning their wedding, and she has put one of her enthusiastic employees, April, in charge of a tea celebrating a local covered bridge. Most importantly for the reader, Daisy is trying to solve a recent murder and a cold case. Is there a connection between the two? Daisy finds herself in danger as she draws closer to discovering the truth.
Daisy’s friends and family have their share of difficulties. Her daughter Jazzi is preparing to go to college. Her daughter Vi’s husband is overworking and over stressing over his new job. Aunt Iris still has two suitors who are getting impatient. Her kitchen manager’s boyfriend has begun a true crime podcast. He endangers many in his efforts to discover the truth including those he interviews.
As you can see, there is a lot going on in this mystery. Many friends of the the murder victims are suspected of the crimes, but we don’t get to know them as well as I would like. It’s mind boggling to watch Daisy juggle work and home commitments, but with the help of supportive employees and relatives, she manages well.
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. #10 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series
2. The author does a good job of reintroducing characters for the new reader. It could be a standalone, but there is a lot of backstory to be gained by reading the whole series.
Publication: November 28, 2023—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
Courage is just something that happens when you want to get out of a predicament you didn’t intend to be in, and you don’t have another way out.
Daisy stroked Pepper’s back, and the cat turned over in her lap, showing her white belly. Daisy ruffled it, giving affection and taking comfort. The cats were so good at that.
A Death in Door County–was the murderer a cryptid?
A Death in Door County
by Annalise Ryan
In a new series by Annalise Ryan, a mystery author whose works I enjoy, Morgan Carter is the protagonist. With degrees in biology and zoology, Morgan is a cryptozoologist, a passion she inherited along with a lot of money from her parents who taught her to be anonymously generous. She owns the Odds and Ends store in Door County, Wisconsin, and as cases arise she hunts cryptids, creatures like the Loch Ness Monster, whose existence is possible but never proven. She says she is a “professional sceptic,” but that she searches for “plausible existability.”
Morgan is hired by Jon Flanders, chief of a police force of three on Washington Island, to help investigate a drowning where the victim has surprising injuries. The author has created an unusual situation that takes Morgan and Jon on a number of adventures. Another important character is Newt, Morgan’s mixed breed dog whose lineage appears to be a combination of three large breeds, but he is a sweetheart and is devoted to Morgan, accompanying her everywhere.
A Death in Door County ends with several major plot twists that I guarantee you will not see coming. Morgan is a strong woman, both physically and intellectually, who makes an interesting protagonist. She knows a lot about the Great Lakes, history, and animals. What she doesn’t know, like her parents before her, she is determined to find out either through research or excursions. In this novel, treasure in the form of gold on wrecked ships plays a huge role. I highly recommend this mystery.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #1 in the Monster Hunter Mystery Series
Publication: 2022—Berkley
Memorable Lines:
Rich kids are just as mean and cliquey as public school kids—maybe more so—and even though my folks were members of the wealthy elite like most of the other parents at the private school, their unusual hobbies and interests were determined too “out there” for them to be included in any of the social outings or other gatherings attended by the rest of the “in” crowd.
I would repay her kindness to me and Newt with an anonymous scholarship for her son and a payoff of her husband’s medical bills. My father raised me with the belief that people who have a lot of money should try to do good with it, and it was a credo he lived by. I try to honor his memory by doing the same.
I’d never admit it, but I was impressed with this guy’s ingenuity. Too bad it was being wasted on something twisted, illegal, and deadly.
Keep Your Family Close–sisters and friends
Keep Your Family Close
by Annette Dashofy
With murders and multiple disappearances, this mystery will keep you turning pages. You’ll have to pay attention to figure out who did what to whom. Once you figure something out, you may need to double check your work, just as the detectives had to, because you may not have it right. Also, there is always the issue of who is telling the truth and what motivations the characters have for what they say and do. There is one egotistical, abusive man that the detectives (and I) would like to pin a murder on, but they have to stick to the evidence. If he did commit the murder, can they prove it?
Emma was a potential romantic interest for Detective Matthias Honeywell in the first book. She reappears in this book, and her focus is still on locating her sister Nell who has been challenged with drug problems since the death of their parents. Both women have found themselves in difficult, abusive situations. In this book we meet their childhood friend Eric who will do anything for them. Also returning is Kari, a yoga instructor, who becomes a good friend to Emma. Emma puts herself in dangerous situations by going to some seedy bars and a homeless tent area looking for Nell and following leads on the murderer.
I enjoyed Keep Your Family Close and look forward to the next book in 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: Fiction, Mystery
Notes: #2 in the Detective Honeywell Mystery Series. When I read the first book in the series, I suspected I would see some of the characters again, and happily I was right. You could read Keep Your Family Close as a standalone, but I felt more grounded having read the first in the series.
Publication: 12/8/2023—One More Chapter (Harper Collins)
Memorable Lines:
Carlisle turned his fierce glare on Matthias, who met it with the one he’d mastered long ago. No twenty-something with a trendy haircut could outlast Matthias where intimidating looks were concerned.
Where the Guilty Hide–#1 in a good mystery series
Where the Guilty Hide
by Annette Dashofy
Faced with multiple home invasions where the residents were present, but captive, Detective Mattias Honeywell relives old pain. His partner, the older Cassie Malone, makes a good foil for him as he navigates life and work as an investigator. The other main character is Emma Anderson, a freelance photographer who appears to be hiding out from something or someone in a small trailer in Erie, Pennsylvania.
This novel is full of twists and turns and plots that overlap. I enjoyed playing detective along with Honeywell and Malone. I liked Emma and hoped for the best for her as she tried to unravel trauma from her past, stay alive, and find her missing sister.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Mystery
Notes: #1 in the Detective Honeywell Mystery Series. I have an ARC of the second book in the series that I will read next, but knowing that I enjoyed Annette Dashofy’s Zoe Chambers Mystery Series, I chose to read the first in this new series before I moved my attention to #2, Keep Your Family Close. This is not a cozy mystery, but I anticipate seeing some of the characters again.
Publication: 2023—One More Chapter (Harper Collins)
Memorable Lines:
Emma’s bruises and scrapes were almost healed. The trauma to her heart and soul hadn’t even begun to mend.
Caught in the Traminette–NY winery mystery
Caught in the Traminette
by J. C. Eaton
I am by no means a wine connoisseur and had never heard of “traminette.” Learning new things is part of the fun of reading. Traminette is a variety of a grape hybrid and also the name of a type of white wine made from that grape. It is popular among wine growers in the northeast of the U.S.
In Caught in the Traminette there are a head spinning number of plot threads. The setting is Seneca Lake and Penn Yan in New York. Norrie, a screen writer, is part owner of Two Witches Winery and at her sister’s request is managing the winery while her sister Francine is in the Philippines with her entomologist husband. While reading this fun series you’ll find a lot of information about how a vineyard is managed and the wine is made and marketed. Hint: it’s a lot more involved than squishing some grapes and bottling the juice!
Norrie can jump into an investigating mode at the drop of wine bottle, and she does just that when a body is found wrapped in a tarp at a neighboring winery. To help Madeline, a fellow winery owner who has been arrested for the murder, Norrie puts on her detective hat. There is some self-interest (OK, a lot of self-interest) involved because neither Norrie nor any of the other winery proprietors want to take on Madeline’s role as facilitator of WOW (Wineries of the West), the promotional group for the wineries in their area.
On Norrie’s to-do list, besides discovering the murderer, is protecting the traminette at her own winery, improving the security at the winery and at her house, and stopping a developer from bringing high rises to the lake ruining the popular view currently part of the attraction of the area. Some days just getting from her house to the tasting room on the same property is a challenge given all the snow and ice storms.
On a professional level, Norrie has a rocky relationship with Deputy Hickman because of previous encounters where she just won’t leave mysteries alone. She has even caused Eugene, a technician in the forensics lab, to get a prescription for anti-anxiety medicine.
On a personal level, Norrie has lots of friends including her next door neighbors, Don and Theo, who own the Grey Egret Winery next door. Theo frequently gets roped into sleuthing with Norrie into illegal, dangerous, and sometimes disgusting adventures including “mud” on a cow farm. She has a great and supportive staff at the winery. One of her employees, Glenda, is involved in the paranormal and invites her friend Zenora to ward away evil. When this happens there is a lot of eye rolling at the wine tasting room. Zenora’s “day job” is research librarian at the University library and in that role she can provide some valuable information.
Norrie is dating a lawyer who frequently has to travel. When Bradley is away, she finds her eyes wandering to her dismay. So far, she has controlled her impulses in that area although she does manage to keep all of the men who want to date her content to be friends and serve as resources in her investigations. She is always upfront with potential suitors about her exclusive relationship with Bradley.
One important thread involves entomologists who are devoted to their research in a nerdy sort of way. Another focus is evidence of a break-in at Norrie’s house. Why would anyone rummage through her refrigerator without eating anything? Norrie sometimes does outlandish things, but this is a fun mystery with a lot of humor. Everything gets sewn up with a surprise ending.
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: Fiction, Mystery, Humor
Notes: #9 in the Wine Trail Mystery Series. Like many series, you’ll want to read more if you read this one,but it could be enjoyed as a standalone.
Publication: November 7, 2023—Beyond the Page Publishing
Memorable Lines:
Every winter day is a bad hair day in New York’s Finger Lakes. And those cute little snowflakes weren’t as adorable as they were back in November. By the beginning of January with the holiday decorations down, the dreariest part of the season was about to unfold.
“I’m eighty-six years old. I don’t act fast,” Rosalee said. “I only move at two speeds—slow and slower.”
“You snooped on the chitchat ladies?” “Didn’t have to snoop. They spread the gossip like fertilizer on a field.”
A Killer App–an AI mystery
A Killer App
by Linda Lovely
Someone called “The Chameleon” is out to do evil using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Through The Chameleon’s voice we get insight into the creative mind of this computer expert: “My app lets ordinary folks channel their anger and frustration into make-believe violence, thereby obtaining relief and staying out of jail.” But will The Chameleon be satisfied with this goal or take it a step further to actual violence? In the first chapter we become aware of this AI persona, but in subsequent chapters, the reader is gradually introduced to the person behind The Chameleon.
The point of view of the various chapters bounces back and forth between Kylee, a security consultant and retired U.S. Coast Guard officer, The Chameleon, and Grant, the teenage son of Ted Welch who owns Welch HOA Management Company. The whole series is based on real estate properties in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
As written, the reader gets to see the deranged thinking process in The Chameleon’s mind as well as the way The Chameleon’s actions are interpreted by Kylee and Grant who are actively trying to figure out the crazy things going on in the communities.
Not a fan of AI, I found the first part of the book somewhat confusing, but I think the author did that on purpose so the reader could experience the mystery in the same way the characters did. Although not a funny book, there are lighter moments where the author shares family gatherings and glimpses into some romances. There are humorous quips as well as very dangerous moments, especially for Kylee and Grant.
A Killer App is a decent mystery. It showcases some of the advances in AI (e.g. deepfake) which have the potential to control the minds of those susceptible to manipulation through realistic audio and video.
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. #3 in An HOA Mystery Series. It could be read as a standalone because there is a helpful list of characters and Homeowner Associations at the beginning of the book and the author introduces them within the text as they appear.
2. Includes a short section of definitions of some AI terms.
3. There is some swearing.
Publication: November 7, 2023—Level Best Books
Memorable Lines:
I’m always shocked by such ugliness in a community where well-off residents have so little to complain about. These people must be successful to afford their homes. Yet they squabble and name-call like kindergarteners.
Grandma’s sort of like Mighty Mouse. She may be tiny enough for a big wind to blow her away, but you better watch out when she blows her stack.
“I never cease to be amazed at how cruel gossips can be—especially when they don’t have to look whoever they’re abusing in the eye.”
I’ll Be Home for Mischief–giant gingerbread man
I’ll Be Home for Mischief
by Jacqueline Frost
The weather outside may be “frightful,” but an afternoon spent in Mistletoe, Maine, will be quite delightful for the readers of Jacqueline Frost’s I’ll Be Home for Mischief. With the whole tourist town celebrating its 150th Anniversary with full Victorian decor, the reader is immersed in all things Christmas. In fact, that is the town’s goal for visitors year round.
The main character, Holly, is the innkeeper for Reindeer Games Inn located on her parents’ Reindeer Games Tree Farm. As with most things in Mistletoe, citizens jump in to help each other when needed. Everything in Mistletoe has a Christmas theme and is intended to generate excitement and sales throughout the year.
Holly’s mom is determined to keep Mistletoe on everyone’s radar as she attempts to win the Guinness Book of World Records by baking the world’s largest gingerbread man. Everything has been carefully thought through and prepared, but when the dump truck disguised as a huge sleigh receives the tray with cookie dough on it via a crane, the unveiling for the audience produces an unwelcome surprise. Holly’s husband Evan is the local sheriff and he is immediately called to the scene.
The rest of I’ll Be Home for Mischief follows the usual next steps for a cozy mystery. Holly, who has a reputation for amateur investigating, just can’t resist despite her husband’s concern and warnings. There are lots of suspects and some danger lurking in the shadows. A little romance and some positive surprises are thrown into the mix.
Warning: these people bake and eat high carb treats like there is no tomorrow. They also caffeinate regularly. I think that must be how people survive the cold and snow of Maine. So, have some snacks and hot chocolate available for yourself while reading. After all, ambiance is critical when reading Christmas books!
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, Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Notes: #5 in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series. Thanks to the author’s skillful writing, it can easily be read as a standalone.
Publication: November 12, 2024—Crooked Lane Books
Memorable Lines:
My maternal grandmother had infuriatingly tight lips. She never repeated anything that might be construed as gossip. Her advice, on the other hand, rarely stopped flowing. Especially when no one asked.
No amount of caffeine would ever get me moving like a ten-degree morning.
The lesson I hated most was that people sometimes did things in the space of a few minutes that they’d regret for the rest of their lives.
The More the Terrier–guilty or not?
The More the Terrier
by David Rosenfelt
To read this book as a stand alone, you really only need to know two things. Both the author David Rosenfelt and the protagonist Andy Carpenter are crazy about dogs, particularly rescue dogs. Also, you will soon find out that Andy Carpenter is a crack, trying to retire lawyer in New Jersey who seems not to need money but maintains a small office above a fruit stand and a team of specialists to help him with investigations. Marcus is a man no one would want to mess with. Andy’s wife Laurie is a former cop. He also has a computer specialist on his staff along with others who can do research, act as bodyguards, etc.
Andy’s passion for dogs and justice intersect in The More the Terrier when a dog Andy formerly fostered finds his way back to Andy’s house. When he tries to return him to Brian, the young man who adopted him, Andy discovers Brian has been jailed for murder and has a lawyer with a dubious funding source. The prosecutor claims it is a clear case of guilt. Andy can’t imagine Brian doing anything violent, and the case is anything but clear cut. Throw in Russian gangs, professors who write secretive software, multiple other deaths and kidnappings, and a girl whose avatar was sexually attacked on metaverse. What emerges is no proof that Brian is innocent, but lots of criminal types who could have tried to frame him. It’s up to Andy to figure it all out if Brian is not going to spend the rest of his life in prison.
I like a good mystery, one that takes thought to figure out, a puzzle. This novel ranks high in that category, but my favorite aspect is Andy’s dry wit. He is able to insult and move on without the other person being able to figure out how to respond. Although there is a lot of planning, there is also action. All of his team are players; they do their jobs well, giving input as appropriate, but when all is said and done, Andy takes responsibility for the results and feels the pressure of doing what is right while helping his client. Andy has three dogs who are family and so are mentioned a lot. Murphy, Brian’s terrier, kicks off the story and is there when the plot comes full circle and resolves. The author says of Murphy: “…perky is pretty much his default position. Murphy is the type of dog that brightens up every room and car he is in.” The author’s love of dogs shines through in his books.
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, Fiction
Notes: 1.#30 in the Andy Carpenter Mystery Series, but can be read as a standalone. I have only read a few in the series, but I found background information was not needed to enjoy them.
2. Clean in all aspects
Publication: October 15, 2024—St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books)
Memorable Lines:
I can’t understand why anyone would want to barrel down a frozen mountain at high speed on two narrow ironing boards, carrying a couple of sticks and dodging trees and other lunatics out on the same mountain.
She is counting on me to give her back her son. That pretty much defines the word pressure.
Winter is coming to an end; the weather people are saying we won’t be getting any more snow. That means we’re heading for a few pleasant weather days before the mosquitoes start arriving. They’re probably making travel plans now.
education pathways 