Murder in the Upper Crust review

Tari Hann

This is the sixth book in the Deep Dish Mysteries by Mindy Quigley, and I’ve enjoyed it since the beginning. I always love how Delilah’s team works together at the restaurant and always have her back during an investigation. I really liked the new police chief’s character too. She’s nice but tough if needed and I’m eager to read more in this series.

#NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #MindyQuigley

My Goodreads review:

Murder in the Upper Crust (Deep Dish Mysteries, #6)Murder in the Upper Crust by Mindy Quigley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Delilah found herself doing a last minute catering job for a wellness guru’s retreat. When she and Capone attended the meditation part, one of the attendees was found dead in her little tent. Both Delilah and Capone knew it had to be murder.

I liked Capone’s new boss, the recently-arrived police chief who replaced the former one no one could stand. She was a strange combination of wanting to be everyone’s mom and friend, to hardcore, no-nonsense cop. I enjoyed her very down to earth way of talking to people. She was sure a foodie and loved Delilah’s place.

The showdown with the killer was tense and exciting. It was great what happened to that killer too, what an awesome group effort. The ending was filled with fun, food, fellowship and music, the perfect ending to a May evening after a busy Memorial Day weekend.

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



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Joy to the Bones review

Tari Hann

This is the 31st and final book in the nearly-30-years-running Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries by Carolyn Haines. After the last book, fans are gonna be desperate for answers, so I can guarantee you’ll get those answers in this book, what a wild ride but so worth it. 

#NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #CarolynHaines

My Goodreads review:

 

Joy to the Bones: A Sarah Booth Delaney MysteryJoy to the Bones: A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery by Carolyn Haines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Knowing this was the last book pretty far in advance had kinda helped take the edge off and did help with the enjoyment a lot more too. Although everything in this book was enjoyable especially the outcome of Sarah Booth finally learning the truth about her mom and dad’s deaths.

It was definitely bittersweet especially at the end, but the perp that was taken down and what happened afterward was sweet satisfaction. And the Christmasy ending was too much fun! Definitely read the author’s note at the end and her thoughts on ending this series. It might just make your eyes leak like mine did!

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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The Key to a Killer review

Tari Hann

This is the third and possibly final book (I haven’t heard officially, it just reads like the last) in the Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries by Olivia Blacke, and I’ve enjoyed every one of these fun books. I’d love to see the series continue, but if it’s done, this was a good place to end it since everything was answered. 

#NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #OliviaBlacke

My Goodreads review:

 

The Key to a Killer: A Ruby and Cordelia Mystery (The Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries Book 3)The Key to a Killer: A Ruby and Cordelia Mystery by Olivia Blacke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Since there was no current murder to distract them, Ruby and Cordelia were finally able to focus on who killed Cordelia since they both knew it was murder. Cordy’s brother Ian was in the book but he seemed changed for the better and was acting like a good friend to Ruby while they tried to figure out what happened to his sister. It was obvious that even though Cordelia was always warning Ruby about Ian and his conman ways, she still loved her ‘Booger’ as she called him, lol.

Ruby and Cordelia had a fairly primitive way of talking to each other via the magnetic words they used on the fridge, so I’d always hoped there could be a permanent way for them to talk instead of just that or a black light that usually ended up breaking.

Any continuing storylines came together so I’m wondering if this is the final book. I hope not, but if this is it, I’m pretty satisfied with how it wrapped up, especially what Cordy did to help catch the perp at the end, which was pretty hilarious.

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


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A Murder at Midnight review

Tari Hann

This is the fourth in the fun Novel Detectives Mysteries, a spinoff from the Secret Bookcase Mysteries which introduced us to some now-fave cozy mystery characters, all of which we get to visit with in this series as well. And the author behind it’s another cozy mystery favorite author, Ellie Alexander. This was really fun read for Halloween season!

#NetGalley #StormPublishing #EllieAlexander

My Goodreads review:

A Murder at Midnight (A Novel Detectives Mystery, 4)A Murder at Midnight by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Annie and Fletcher’s staff at the bookstore were excited when a famous ghost hunter came to film there, but it wasn’t so fun when something caused a death at midnight that first night. It was just creepy cozy enough for a fun Halloween story, but of course we know they were hunting for a killer that was very much alive. It’s great that Annie can officially work on cases now she’s a PI, and she pretty much had things right. The plan to flush out the killer was a good showdown. Then then ending was just too cool and was followed by a town Halloween party. As always, food, friends, candy and Halloween good times were had by all except the killer.

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


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Murder on Thin Ice review

Tari Hann

This is the fourteenth book in the long-running Bookmobile Cat Mysteries by Laurie Cass. I loved the series immediately when I picked up that first book about six years ago. That Eddie’s something else, what a cool kitty! 

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #LaurieCass

My Goodreads review:

 

Murder on Thin Ice (Bookmobile Cat Mystery, #14)Murder on Thin Ice by Laurie Cass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I gotta admit it took me a bit to recall characters at first since I also need to admit I haven’t read in this series since Book 2, but it’s nice to be able to report that the author does a great job of not spoiling any of the previous mysteries by naming killers or anything. Obviously I learned that Minnie was now married to her longtime best friend Rafe. Those two are so cute, and they crack me up. And speaking of cracking me up, Julia did just that too. She was a hoot! Eddie’s the same as I remembered reading about, basically lovable when it suits him lol. And he’s a great sounding board for when Minnie was thinking out loud.

When one of the bookmobile’s patrons was discovered dead by Minnie and Julia, Minnie went back into sleuth mode and went down a rabbit hole of info where she learned about a controversy back in 1990. She started wondering if a murder back then was connected to Gerald’s present death and found out when she faced off with a killer. Minnie survived, just barely and lived to sleuth another day along with being cat mom to Eddie and wife to Rafe. What a crazy survival tale!

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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Deck the Halls with Boughs of Murder review

Tari Hann

This is the seventh book in one of my favorite cozy mysteries that’s a Christmas series, The Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries by Jacqueline Frost, better known to cozy mystery fans as Julie Anne Lindsey. I was so glad when this book was announced so I’m definitely hoping there’ll be an eighth book in the works soon! Mistletoe, Maine’s one of my fave cozy towns to visit.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #JacquelineFrost #JulieAnneLindsey

My Goodreads review:

 

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Murder (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #7)Deck the Halls with Boughs of Murder by Jacqueline Frost
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holly’s turned into the model mommy with a super sweet baby, but she was running on caffeine and promises to herself she’d eventually get some sleep. Even though she said she’d given up on sleuthing a year ago, Holly couldn’t quite resist the urge to snoop, listen and hang out with Libby, Evan’s sister who was a real PI.

When Holly found herself facing off with a killer, someone I never would’ve thought of, I had no idea how she was gonna get out from under this crazy situation. But somehow she did and lived to celebrate her most awesome Christmas yet. There were some other really cool things that happened during the book that I know readers will love!

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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Death of a Grill Master review

Tari Hann

This is the nineteenth book in the long-running Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mysteries by brother/sister team Lee Hollis aka Holly Simason and Rick Copp. This is sadly the last book in the series which I’d had no clue was ending. I don’t spend much time looking at social media anymore (why do that when you can be reading lol) so if it was announced there, I totally missed it. It’s hard to let go of these amazing characters, but I love the sendoff they got by the authors. Well done, you guys. And I love the fact that sweet little Leroy’s been in every book.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LeeHollis

My Goodreads review:

Death of a Grill Master (Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery #19)Death of a Grill Master by Lee Hollis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It didn’t take long to figure out this was the last Hayley Powell mystery but it was wrapped up in such an awesome way. There were plenty of leaky eyes moments for sure, and I was so happy to find a few good Sergio-isms included, even a mention of one too. I’m really gonna miss these characters! And Sergio was among the most awesome fictional police chiefs I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading about. And note, this book probably requires a tissue alert in a few places, or maybe that’s just me. 😉

The mystery itself was good as always and Hayley was at her A-game sleuthing. She cracked me up how she was getting info and trying to keep it on the down low when Sgt. Earl passed her the intel, lol. There were lotsa changes going on in Hayley and her friends’ and family’s lives. But the main thing was everyone was happy and where they needed to be. I’d sure love to see a spinoff with Hayley and Bruce as PIs or something crazy like that. I’m already missing them!

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 Ghost and the Dead Librarian review

Tari Hann

This is either the tenth book if you go by Goodreads’ listing or the first in a spin-off subtly changed to A Haunted Book Shop Detective, (from Haunted Bookshop Mysteries)and now that I finished the book, I totally get the change up in series name and can’t wait for more in this series. It’d be nice if Goodreads got that message, lol.

The authors, Cleo Coyle, are the husband/wife team of Alice Alfonsi (they were formerly Alice Kimberly as the author of the first five in the regular Haunted Bookshop) and Marc Cerasini. Cozy mystery fans also know them as the authors behind the long-running (since 2003!) Coffeehouse Mysteries. I still need to catch up on a few in the original Haunted Bookshop series, but hey any time spent reading about Jack Shepard is pretty amazing, so twist my arm, right?

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #CleoCoyle

My Goodreads review:

The Ghost and the Dead Librarian (A Haunted Bookshop Detective Mystery)The Ghost and the Dead Librarian by Cleo Coyle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After the murder of a woman who seemed to’ve been everyone’s friend in town, Pen and Jack were unofficially on the case again. They visited in person via Pen’s dreams while Jack showed her an old case he’d worked while subtly teaching her things she needed to know about the present day murder.

Pen was a good student because she aced the showdown with the killer—it’s always good to know a ghost who’s got your back during a killer confrontation though. Pen got an amazing opportunity so I’m excited to see what happens next.

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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Countdown to Christmas Murder review

Tari Hann

This is book #32 in the very long-running Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier. Lucy’s always been a favorite cozy mom character of mine, but she seemed really sad at first in this book, kinda like Charlie Brown about Christmas. So of course she did what Lucy van Pelt told Charlie to do, get involved. It seemed to help and we all know Lucy gets very involved in anything she does, especially when there’s a murder. It was a fun and festive read with a super nice Christmasy ending.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LeslieMeier

My Goodreads review:

Countdown to Christmas Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery Book 32)Countdown to Christmas Murder by Leslie Meier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book started at 63 days until Christmas and poor old Lucy just wasn’t feeling the Christmas spirit at all. She felt burnt out at work, overworked and under-appreciated mainly because she knew her kids wouldn’t make it home for Christmas, or at least most wouldn’t.

Never one to stay gloomy, Lucy put all she had into her job that she may not’ve liked but was good at talking with people and getting her stories. When a beloved town member was murdered, it was ruled suicide, but his family and Lucy weren’t convinced. She teamed up with an old colleague but it took a fifth grader (who made me think of young Sheldon a lot) to figure it all out.

The showdown and search for said fifth grader when he disappeared was pretty exciting. It was great what Lucy did to that nasty perp! Everything ended peacefully, all calm and bright on Christmas Eve despite all the turmoil from before. For all poor Lucy went through in this book, I’d say she was pretty happy with how her Christmas turned out.

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



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The Pumpkin Vice Café

Tari Hann

This is the 23rd installment in the long-running Bakeshop Mysteries by a fave cozy author, Ellie Alexander. It’s always a good time in Ashland with Jules and all her family and amazing friends, and this time definitely didn’t disappoint. These books are hilarious, heartwarming and just plain fun, so if you haven’t discovered the Bakeshop Mysteries why not give ’em a try soon?

#NetGalley #St. MartinPaperbacks #MinotaurBooks #EllieAlexander

My Goodreads review:

 

The Pumpkin Vice Cafe: A Bakeshop MysteryThe Pumpkin Vice Cafe: A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lance always cracks me up and he definitely didn’t disappoint in this book while he and Jules sleuthed out the murder of the woman he’d been about to sign as a replacement wedding planner.

There was no shortage of suspects and it kept me guessing but I had a sneaky feeling about one of those suspects which did turn out to be the killer. Jules nearly faced off with them but she had a little advantage to start with then made sure she got law enforcement there to help. The baby shower and ending were super sweet. I’m eager to see what adventures are ahead for Jules and her family and friends.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.







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