The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor review

Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series called Welsh Village by Lucy Connelly, a cozy mystery author known for her Scottish Isle and Mercy McCarthy mysteries. While I haven’t yet read any of those, I have a few in each series. After reading this book, I plan to dig into her other series while I wait for the next book in this series. 

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #LucyConnelly

My Goodreads review:

The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor (A Welsh Village Mystery)The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor by Lucy Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed meeting Gwen and all her supporting characters in this book. I also really appreciate the author making it clear which guy ended up with Gwen too. For a while I kinda suspected a possible triangle but after a point in the book, I had a feeling she wasn’t gonna subject us to a triangle. And the ending proved that right.

I loved how Gwen and her teaching assistant Ellis were researching and ended up sleuthing when one of the professors from Gwen’s new department was killed. After some scary notes and creepy stalkers, Gwen faced off with a killer and got the upper hand just in time. The ending was so cool and now I can’t wait to read the next book. I have some of this author’s other books, but “so many books, so little time” always kicks in and this ARC is actually the first I’ve read from her, and I liked it a lot!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.


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A Whiff of Murder review

Tari Hann

This is the first book in the new Sixth Sense Mysteries* by Angela M. Sanders, and it’s a spinoff from her Witch Way Librarian series. The main character in this book, Lise, had an important role to play in the last Witch Way book, so it’s good to see her in her very own series. I did miss the presence of a cat in this series. Josie’s got Rodney, her amazing magical cat, so I hope maybe Lise gets either a dog or cat eventually. I really loved the residents of Blavatsky Manor, and what they all had in common was pretty unique and funny at times.

I’m not a fan of this cover at all, and had I not already known I liked this author’s work, and that it was a spin-off, I might’ve passed on it simply due to the cover, in fact I did the first time around. This cover’s really not typical of the cozies I’ve read from Kensington. But the story inside is what counts and I thoroughly enjoyed that.

*I linked the series name to the book’s Amazon page which is the only place I could find the series mentioned. There isn’t a series page on Amazon or Goodreads. The link isn’t an affiliate link.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #AngelaMSanders

My Goodreads review:

A Whiff of Murder (A Sixth Sense Mystery)A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed getting to know Lise better in this book. She’d appeared in the most recent book in the Witch Way Librarian series the author also has. Lise and Josie had gone through something epic and magical which rid the town of a real baddie. Then in this spinoff she ended up in Astoria, Oregon which I found out is a real town.

Lise probably had no idea she’d end up meeting such an amazing group of new friends, quirky but true friends who had each other’s backs during their amateur sleuthing when Lise’s boss was killed at the store she worked in. I had an idea of whodunit after hearing a clue of how Lise’s boss Dyann was killed, but I didn’t have the right perp at first.

Everyone played a good part in bringing justice to Dyann, especially Fran who’d previously suffered a major embarrassment of her own. I really enjoyed how the friendships grew throughout the book and how the characters renting rooms from Teddy evolved into a little family. I’m eager now to read the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.


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The Whisking Hour review

Tari Hann

This is the 22nd book in the long-running Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander, a fave cozy author of many and author of other cozy mystery series I’ve read and loved as well. When there’s a murder in Ashland, you better believe Jules and crew (meaning actually Lance recruiting Jules to sleuth) are gonna be sleuthing it out. What could possibly go wrong?

#NetGalley #St.MartinPaperbacks #MinotaurBooks #EllieAlexander

My Goodreads review:

The Whisking Hour (Bakeshop Mystery #22)The Whisking Hour by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Poor Lance sure had his hands full with the cast and crew members of the latest show. The director was causing all kinds of chaos among the cast, but who was upset enough to snap and kill someone? There were plenty of suspects. I hadn’t really decided on one, but I definitely was leaning toward the one who ended up as the killer. Jules doesn’t have long until baby time, so now I’m eager to read the next book and see if it’s happening then.

I loved the nod toward the end to one of the author’s other series. It was pretty hilarious and so appropriate how a character from that was connected to one in this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin/Minotaur via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.


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Buried in Shamrocks review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Irish Bed & Breakfast Mysteries by Lisa Q. Mathews who’s given us some super memorable characters so far in this series. I read the first book last October and devoured this one as well. Now I can’t wait for the next book!

#NetGalley #LisaQMathews #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review: 

Buried in Shamrocks (Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery, #2)Buried in Shamrocks by Lisa Q. Mathews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I read the first book back in October, I really took to these characters like they were old friends. It was great seeing them back in this second book and since there’s still a few little loose ends (nothing to do with the main mystery which was totally solved), I sure hope a third book’s in the works and maybe being planned for a summer release, but who knows.

Kate stumbled onto a murder and immediately hoped she wouldn’t be a suspect, but her ex was more of one than she was since he was engaged to the dead woman. There were some good things happening for Kate’s daughters. That little Bliz cracks me up! She’s so wise for her seven years sometimes, what a great kid! Maeve’s a good big sister to Bliz too. With the main mystery solved, there still were a few questions floating around, so I hope those get addressed in the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.



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Poison at the Wild Haggis Bookshop review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in The Highland Bookshop Murders which I was glad to see return since I read the first one back in October and really liked it. The author’s Jackie Baldwin who’s already a mystery author, but this looks to be her first cozy mystery series.  I’m definitely eager to read a third book in this series. 

#NetGalley #StormPublishing #JackieBaldwin

My Goodreads review: 

 

Poison at the Wild Haggis Bookshop (The Highland Bookshop Murders #2)Poison at the Wild Haggis Bookshop by Jackie Baldwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was glad when I saw a second book coming out in this series and was able to request it from NetGalley. I’d enjoyed Beth’s story from the first book and her awesome team at the bookstore. They definitely proved they were more than simply employees to Beth but kinda like a little family. Even with each other they proved they had one another’s backs.

When a customer was murdered, Beth took it personally especially when a subscription box from the store was blamed. DC Rhona seemed way more human in this book, and I loved how Beth and Logan were getting closer. I guess having a killer after you might do that lol. Either way, the killer was caught and there was another little twist toward the end I sure never saw coming, a good one too. I’m definitely eager to read the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Storm Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.


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Murder from A to Z review

Tari Hann

This is the eleventh book in the Mystery Bookshop series by V.M. (Valerie) Burns, a long-running series I’ve enjoyed from the very beginning. I just love Sam, Nana Jo and all the ladies from Shady Acres…and the two adorable poodles Oreo and Snickers are always the stars of every book cover! 

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ValerieBurns #VMBurns

My Goodreads review:

Murder from A to Z (Mystery Bookshop #11)Murder from A to Z by V.M. Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I never get tired of Nana Jo’s friends from Shady Acres especially the incorrigible Irma and always get a huge laugh going when she starts to say something raunchy and everyone goes “Irma!” There were so many good ones in this book, loved ‘em all! Irma might be a little questionable in her actions, but she managed to get some good info for the case as they all did.

After two bodies, I still hadn’t guessed whodunit or let’s just say I was wrong. The showdown was awesome and super satisfying as to what happened to that nasty perp. But someone nice got a good ending which the lady who died would’ve been happy about. Oh and I loved the nod to New Bison, the other Michigan city in another of the author’s current series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.


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A Spirited Supper at Dundoon Castle review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Food & Spirits Mysteries by Darci Hannah, and it’s a great way to get a trip in to Scotland without ever leaving the comforts of your home. I like that some of the characters that’d been in a book in the Beacon Bakeshop series were spun off into this new series. Giff has to be my fave, he’s such an awesome character! 

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #DarciHannah

My Goodreads review;

A Spirited Supper at Dundoon Castle (A Food and Spirits Mystery Book 2)A Spirited Supper at Dundoon Castle by Darci Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think my favorite Food & Spirits host is good old Giff himself. That guy’s such a hoot and has some of the best lines, not to mention the role of the ‘medium’ in the show. It’s cute how Bunny and Brett seem to’ve gotten closer, then they ended up facing off with a killer. Which gave them an extra incentive to stay alive and get that person into police custody.

Bunny mentioned England was their next stop, an island which definitely sounds cozy spooky just like this book was. My favorite way to travel, by Kindle!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.


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Tell-Tale Treats review

Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Magical Fortune Cookies mysteries by Jennifer J. Chow, another cozy series I’ve had the pleasure of reading from the first book. These characters are now like old friends and I just love that sweet little Whiskers, Felicity’s bunny who’s got a real nose for clues and evidence.

#NetGalley #StMartinPaperbacks #MinotaurBooks #JenniferJChow

My Goodreads review:

Tell-Tale Treats: A Magical Fortune Cookie NovelTell-Tale Treats: A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel by Jennifer J. Chow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve enjoyed these key characters since the very first book, so it was like meeting up with old friends to read about them again in this new adventure. Felicity’s pet bunny Whiskers was at his sleuthing best again as Felicity and Kelvin were hired by the B&B owner to have flowers and snacks for her wealthy guests every day. But one of said wealthy guests might’ve offed another one, and it wasn’t just human sleuths who helped figure it out. I wonder what these friends are gonna get into next time.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin/Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.


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A Very Novel Murder review

Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new spinoff series, Novel Detectives Mysteries by Ellie Alexander. The original series was A Secret Bookcase Mystery and ran for six books, all of which I absolutely loved and devoured. I was thrilled about this spinoff especially after the last couple books hinted at a new business venture for Annie and her coworker pal Fletcher.

No worries, all our other faves are here. Hal’s still living on the estate and working in the bookshop along with three additional employees, Liam and Annie are as closer or closer than ever, and Pri’s still delivering fun snarky banter with anyone she can. She’s still with Penny who’s coming along with her renovation of the property she bought.

I imagine this series could be enjoyed without reading the other series, but I’d still recommend reading the other series for backstory and all those awesome little details you won’t find in a recap.

My Goodreads review:

 

A Very Novel Murder (Novel Detectives Mystery #1)A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so glad when the author decided to spin off a new series from the Secret Bookcase which had quickly become a fave series. It unfortunately had to come to an end because the ongoing storyline was solved. I was hoping so hard she’d do another series when it came out in the last books that Annie and Fletcher were interested in running a PI agency.

Flash forward, here they are doing both jobs they love so much along with the characters we came to know and enjoy in the original series. Nothing’s really changed, just the fact that now Fletcher and Annie own the bookshop and added some employees, so their ducking out to talk to suspects was a legit thing and not just chasing down one of Dr. Caldwell’s cases.

The two detectives had one heckuva first case, and Fletcher was cracking me up with all the stuff he brought to a stakeout they did, lol. Annie came close to losing her life in a showdown with the killer, but as always something awesome happened and she lived to sleuth another day. I can’t wait to read the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Storm Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.


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The Devil in the Details review

Tari Hann

This is the eleventh book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries by beloved cozy mystery author Vicki Delany. I’ve had the pleasure of reading this series since its very beginning, and I’ve fallen in love with the character developments, the awesome mysteries and the relationship progress. Can’t wait to see what’ll be next on Gemma’s plate!

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #VickiDelany

My Goodreads review:

 

The Devil in the Details (A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery, #11)The Devil in the Details by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gemma’s elusive Uncle Arthur had just been in town for Christmas, but since he was invited to Jayne and Andy’s wedding, were we actually gonna get some page time with him? You’ll have to read and see, but there was plenty of other action going on. Poor Andy had his hands full with a couple employees who were always sniping at each other. He had no idea how bad things would get before he and Jayne got married though.

Luckily Gemma was on the case and as Det. Estrada reluctantly agreed, she knew what she was doing and always came up with something useful for the police. Toward the end something so typically Gemma happened, but everything turned out okay when a perp was put away for the murder. Just another week in amateur sleuth Gemma’s crazy life that I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t trade for anything else.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.


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