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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.”
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.
Much Ado About a Latte–Anita and Tanner’s story
Much Ado About a Latte
by Kathleen Fuller
Anita and Tanner had their first kiss as teenagers stuck in a closet playing Truth or Dare. Mostly they saw each other at tutoring sessions. Anita has a learning disability, feels stupid, and was bullied about her problems in school. All her life she hasn’t measured up to her family’s standards. Her siblings all have careers as professionals. Anita works as a waitress; she is kind, efficient, and customers love her. Tanner, whose father died when Tanner was young, immediately took over the role as head of the household fulfilling a promise to his father. He and his mother both worked two or more jobs to survive and to put his younger brother through college.
Anita has always had a crush on Tanner, but he has been too busy to see what is right in front of him. The pair worked together for three years as he was assistant manager at the Sunshine Diner (i.e. her boss).
Much Ado About a Latte is about their attraction and difficult relationship. They both have plans and dreams for the future, but they don’t share them with each other any more than they share their feelings about each other. Will they be able to reconcile their differences and proclaim their love?
Rating: 4/5
Category: Romance
Notes: 1. #2 in the Maple Falls Romance Series which should be read in order.
2. Includes a map of Maple Falls and Discussion Questions
Publication: 1/4/2022—Thomas Nelson
Memorable Lines:
Streetlamps lit up the dark street, but she didn’t need light to know every outer detail of #3, from the picture windows on each side of the dark wooden door to the splintered wooden façade that was in desperate need of repair and fresh paint….Six months ago she had come up with a crazy idea: opening a café in #3….But she always talked herself out of the idea, and tonight was no exception. She didn’t have the brains or skills to run a business. She wouldn’t even know where to start.
But spending time with her last night had been nice. More than nice. He appreciated the way she hadn’t hesitated to help him taste-test food she’d never tried before, and her gastronomical bravery in trying the anchovies—an ingredient most people either loved or loathed—was impressive. Best of all was her sigh when she tried the patatas bravas. That had been one of the sexiest things he’d ever seen and heard.
Through the Liquor Glass–—not the author’s best
Through the Liquor Glass
by Sarah Fox
Sadie and Grayson find a food critic’s body under a cask at Grayson’s brewery. It soon becomes clear that someone is trying to frame Grayson for the murder. He goes into hiding, and Sadie, owner of the Inkwell pub, tries to find the real murderer. She is also dealing with maintaining the Inkwell’s booth at the local food and drink festival, and running her business during this top tourist season. Add to that her mother’s first visit to Sadie’s new home and business in Vermont. Sadie wants her mother’s approval on her new life and her new boyfriend who is currently on the run from law enforcement.
I have enjoyed all of the cozy mysteries in The Literary Pub Mystery Series by Sarah Fox, but this one was disappointing for me. The plot was well-conceived, but the execution was repetitious. Just how many times do I want to read about Sadie drinking coffee at her apartment, at her pub, and at the local coffee shop? How many times does the author need to verbalize Sadie’s emotional distress over missing her boyfriend? They were only separated for a little over a week. Sadie, in her efforts to clear Grayson, does a number of stupid, dangerous and illegal things. One example is stealing a hotel key card, breaking into a guest’s room, and returning the key card—actions which she repeats! Grayson purposely does not tell Sadie where he will hide out so she can truthfully relate that to the police when she is questioned. Despite the police having surveillance over her pub and apartment, she works as hard at discovering his location as she does at uncovering the murderer, putting herself and Grayson in even more threat of being arrested unless the murderer finds them first.
The whodunnit part of the book is interesting and surprising, but not really worth the read for me. I want to read the next book in the series as I hope this was a one off.
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. Contains two recipes—a snack: Maple Butter Popcorn and a cocktail: Kiss of the Cider Woman
2. #5 in The Literary Pub Mystery Series, but can work as a standalone because the author does a great job of supplying information about each character as they appear in this book.
Publication: November 29, 2022—Kensington Books
Memorable Lines:
Even with my back to what was likely the murder weapon, I was keenly aware of its presence. It was almost as if it were emitting a palpable and dangerous energy.
When we left the cidery a few minutes later, I had a snack in hand to assuage any physical hunger pangs that might strike, but my appetite for clues remained unsatisfied.
Silence settled over our table, but it was a silence fraught with tension and apprehension. My mother stared at me from across the table and I had to fight to keep from sliding down any farther. I was already in danger of falling off my seat.
Starry Skies Over the Chocolate Pot Cafe–finding the magic in others
Starry Skies Over the Chocolate Pot Cafe
by Jessica Redland
Tara has worked hard to make The Chocolate Pot Cafe a success, but there are lots of heartaches and pain in her story. She has isolated herself on a personal level and focused on her professional life in response to the devastating events of her childhood and the wicked betrayals in her youth, betrayals perpetrated by those she had reason to trust the most. Now she has determined that if she doesn’t let anyone past her barriers, she can’t be hurt again.
In Starry Skies Over the Chocolate Pot Cafe, Jessica Redland has crafted a moving tale of a girl with a Pollyanna type personality, always looking for the good in others and in situations. As a child, she is wrapped in her father’s love and in the black cloak that surrounds her mother who battles depression and mental illness.
When disaster strikes the family, Tara is introduced to the foster care system. After several rough starts, she finds a real home with a loving family. Tara is finally convinced to open up to her friend Carla about her abusive experiences with her foster sister and with her own husband. In three different sessions, Tara manages to relate the trauma. In the telling, it is clear that Tara is a courageous young woman.
Another complication to the story is the return to Whitsborough Bay of Jed, the former owner of her cafe who scammed Tara during the purchase. There are many delightful characters who see Tara for what she is—kind, intelligent, caring, humble, generous, and innovative. A favorite character is Hercules, Tara’s Flemish Giant house rabbit.
Although there are difficult parts of the book that are hard to read, they are important in understanding why Tara is the way she is. Readers will enjoy following Tara’s growth as she learns to open her heart and take a chance on people again.
I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: General Fiction (Adult)
Publication: September 8, 2020—Boldwood Books
Memorable Lines:
There was no need for anyone to know anything about me outside of work. I let them see what I wanted them to see: a successful entrepreneur, an excellent chef, and a fair boss who stood for no nonsense. When you let people in—fully in—they have a habit of letting you down, so it’s easier to keep them at arm’s length. That way, they won’t break your heart.
…for the first time ever, I realised that my past had the power to do good. Instead of hiding from it, I could harness it and help others face their future.
“Facebook isn’t real, you know.” “What do you mean?” “It’s all about what people want others to see…most people I know use it to present the shiny side of life…And because it’s accompanied by a fanfare and smiles, we’re all fooled into thinking that everyone has a better life than us.”
Corned Beef and Casualties–St. Paddy’s Day novella
Corned Beef and Casualties
by Lynn Cahoon
How about a quick and easy read? Corned Beef and Casualties is good for St. Patrick’s Day or any day you want a brief distraction. It is a fun little novella from one of my favorite cozy mystery authors Lynn Cahoon. It is part of the extensive Tourist Trap Mystery Series.
Cahoon does a great job of making the novella into a standalone with necessary information about the characters relayed succinctly. We witness unusual cooperation between the main character, Jill, who owns a bookstore/coffee shop and Darla, the proprietor of a winery and also a reporter for the local paper. Be ready for a surprise ending!
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Lyrical Underground (Kensington Press) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. A Tourist Trap Novella
2. Cheesecake recipe included
Publication: February 5, 2019—Kensington Press (Lyrical Underground)
Memorable Lines:
“You need to stop worrying about her and get on with your life.” The look he gave me was filled with such love and sadness I almost teared up. “Miss Gardner, that sounds like a perfectly logical thing to do. Unfortunately, the heart isn’t logical.”
“Some couples just fight…I see couples at their worse. They get a few too many into them, and every slight becomes a big deal.”
Darla was always preaching about the free press and her responsibility to the newspaper-reading public, but deep down, she knew not to release something that might ruin someone’s life. Especially if he was innocent.
Back Stabbers–families, investments, and murder
Back Stabbers
by Julie Mulhern
If you are part of the Country Club set in Kansas City, Missouri, in the 1970’s, certain things are expected of you—the right clothes, the right committees, and the right friends. In Ellison Russell’s case, expectations are that she will find yet another dead body. Ellison really doesn’t want to be involved in murder investigations. She wants a simple life with her teenage daughter Grace, her art work, her country club friends, and her blossoming romance with Detective Anarchy Jones. Between being in the wrong place at the wrong time and having friends who expect her to help when they have a crisis (especially of the criminal type), Ellison’s life is anything but simple and uncomplicated.
When she discovers her investment advisor murdered in a compromising position and in an office where secretaries are treated like sex objects, Ellison is drawn into an investigation in which this is just the first of several crimes to be discovered. As always in the Country Club Murder series, Back Stabbers is set in shades of harvest gold and avocado with shag rugs making an appearance. Mr. Coffee with his liquid ambrosia makes multiple appearances.
Ellison’s half-sister Karma (from the “wrong side of the blankets”) pays a visit to meet her sister, and they have more in common than they would have thought. Lots of other interesting characters populate this book. The plot has humor, multiple threads, and a surprise ending. Fans of Julie Mulhern’s cozy mysteries will not be disappointed.
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. #8 in the Country Club Murders. It will work as a standalone, but is perhaps more enjoyable with nuances provided by more background.
2. A minor criticism for one of my favorite cozy mystery writers: the humorous Mr. Coffee references were overdone in this book. I’m not suggesting they be deleted entirely, just that there should be fewer of them.
Publication: October 23, 2018—Henery Press
Memorable Lines:
The squirrels stopped their chittering and stared at me. A robin leveled a most serious gaze my way. The other birds (there were many) silenced their tweeting. It was as if I was Snow White, the envelope was a poisoned apple, and the park animals were telling me not to bite.
If Mr. Coffee had a fault, it was that he couldn’t steam milk. Not that I’d ever tell him such a thing. I wouldn’t hurt his feelings for all the steamed milk in the world.
“Daddy, this is a really bad idea.” It was an epically terrible, bring-about-the-apocalypse bad idea. Rivers would run backward. The locusts would descend. Mother’s face would melt.
Shadow Dancing–society mom meets teenage prostitute
Shadow Dancing
by Julie Mulhern
Would this book be THE ONE? Would the seventh book in the Country Club Murder series be the one that would let me down? Would that great sense of humor mixed into a fascinating mystery fall flat? Would the 70’s backdrop become cliché? Would I tire of Ellison’s love affair with Mr. Coffee or her battles with her imperious mother? The answer to all of these questions about Julie Mulhern’s Shadow Dancing is a resounding “NO!”. I enjoyed the book all the way through and was sad when it came to an end.
As usual, the pace is perfect and the storyline is inventive. Mulhern’s use of descriptive language puts the reader in the scene as she transports Ellison through high society cocktail parties and into the danger of the night. This story focuses on homeless girls forced into prostitution and drug addiction; the seriousness of the theme gives an edge to the book with its fast-moving plot. Detective and boyfriend Anarchy Jones plays an important role in providing physical and emotional support for Ellison who finds herself in the role of protector as the murderer challenges her. This cozy mystery is full of surprises and suspense.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com 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: #7 in the Country Club Murder Series
Publication: June 19, 2018—Henery Press
Memorable Lines:
Aggie marched up to a second librarian—one who made the woman downstairs look like a congeniality winner in a beauty contest. The librarian on the second floor looked like the woman in American Gothic by Grand Wood: close-set eyes, marionette lines that dragged the corners of her lips into a frown, and a long, thin neck. The expression in those close-set eyes could have scared General Westmoreland into immediate surrender.
Winstead’s didn’t sell hamburgers; it sold steakburgers. The burgers were cooked to a deep shade of brown and flavored with salt and grease. They arrived at the table wrapped in wax paper sleeves and the first bite could change a life.
Outside, the night swirled with a heavy, cold mist. March deciding lion or lamb. The mist clung to my hair, and lashes, and coat. The click of my heels echoed on the pavement. The darkness breathed—thick and dangerous. I shivered.
Fiction Can Be Murder–death by poisoning
Fiction Can Be Murder
by Becky Clark
What does a pickle jar have in common with an unpublished manuscript used as the blueprint for murder? Take a trip to beautiful, sunny, snowy Denver to meet mystery author Charlee Russo and her writing support group who suddenly find themselves under suspicion of murder along with about ten other people in Becky Clark’s Fiction Can Be Murder.
This book follows the fairly standard expectations for a cozy mystery. The main character tries to solve the crime to clear herself and her friends. She has romantic entanglements to work through. Her brother, who plays a very small role, is a cop, but Carlee mainly deals with two detectives in an antagonistic role. The characters range from interesting to quirky.
While Fiction Can Be Murder will not go down as one of the greats in mysteries, it provides an enjoyable read that will keep you guessing at “whodunnit.” I particularly enjoyed Clark’s humorous turn of phrase in descriptions and dialogue, and I will be looking for the next book in the series.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Midnight Ink for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #1 in the Mystery Writer’s Mystery Series
Publication: April 8, 2018—Midnight Ink
Memorable Lines:
The closest I came to having servants was watching Downton Abbey.
This was one of the few times I longed for a sturdy landline I could slam down. Hanging up with attitude was simply not satisfactory on cellphones.
I will admit to getting sucked into the Grocery Store Apocalyptic Group-Think Drama once, the day before a blizzard. I saw there were only two pounds of butter on the shelf and I grabbed them both. I didn’t need butter, and certainly not eight sticks of it, but I felt the pull of that panic. What if I did need it? What if I ran out? How would I survive for two whole days with only the single stick of butter I’ve had in my refrigerator for the last three months?
Brew or Die–new Nashville P.I.
Brew or Die
by Caroline Fardig
Brew or Die is a fast-paced, multi-layered, cozy mystery. I had a blast reading this one. The main character, Jules, has just gotten her PI (Private Investigator) license which means she officially has two jobs now. She is manager of the Java Jive Coffeehouse, owned by her best friend Pete, and she will now work for her friend Maya who owns an investigation agency. In this tale she is attracted to three different men while juggling two investigations. Jules is one busy red-head with an impulsive disposition.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Random House (Alibi) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #4 in the Java Jive Mystery Series—worked well for me as a standalone
Publication: April 25, 2017—Random House (Alibi)
Memorable Lines:
“You, on the other hand, are always tangled up in your investigations, shoulder deep in them most of the time. You have to deal with your feelings and think about how your actions are going to affect everyone around you. And somehow you always manage to come out on top. That’s real strength.”
This time there wasn’t the crippling depression and the overwhelming urge to consume every piece of chocolate within my zip code.
“I didn’t invite you in,” I said, pretty much done with all males and their testosterone for the foreseeable future.
education pathways 