Whose Body in the Library review

Tari Hann

This is the thirteenth book in the long-running Lighthouse Library Mysteries by Eva Gates, better known to us cozy mystery fans as Vicki Delaney. There were some big changes in this book from what longtime readers might be used to, but as a longtime reader myself, I really enjoyed the changes and the new character, Nichelle. I can’t wait to see what adventures follow now!

#NetGalley #EvaGates #CrookedLane

My Goodreads review:

Whose Body in the Library (Lighthouse Library Mystery #13)Whose Body in the Library by Eva Gates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really liked the new assistant director character, Nichelle and how she seemed to fit right in at the library along with Lucy and the others. She sure never expected the job came with a cuddly, furry roommate or that she’d be amateur sleuthing with the best of them before the week was over. I enjoyed the storytelling method which was Nichelle’s part told in first person narrative and Lucy’s part told in third person. And while I’ve always loved it when Lucy sleuthed, I actually enjoyed Nichelle’s take on that and didn’t miss Lucy’s sleuthing as much as I thought I’d miss it.

But no worries, Lucy was in it plenty and giving Nichelle all the advice and support she could, while juggling her own promotion to Bertie James’s director job along with her mom role. Yep, Bertie and her sweetie went traveling after Bertie retired. There was lots to catch up on but it was all spelled out—although I’ll admit the very beginning was a tad confusing for me, lol.

I loved how Nichelle definitely had some gutsiness going on and used it on the perp when she confronted them. That could’ve gone really sideways, but her confidence must’ve won out. A satisfying ending was enjoyed by all with all the loose threads nicely wrapped up. I can’t wait for more adventures, especially with Nichelle and Louise Jane sleuthing together, now that was a hoot!

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


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The Chowder House Murder review

Tari Hann

This is the first in a new series, Downeast Maine Mysteries by Lee Hollis, the brother/sister writing team of Rick Copp and Holly Simason. I’ve enjoyed their Hayley Powell series for years now and also like Maya & Sandra as well as the Desert Flowers series, so I knew this series would be fun, full of quirky characters–and it really was. I’m eager for the next book now.

#NetGalley #LeeHollis #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

The Chowder House Murder (Downeast Maine Mystery #1)The Chowder House Murder by Lee Hollis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed meeting Maggie, Audrey and Jill who seemed to sorta be co-main characters which was pretty cool since with third person it’s easy to slip into another person’s lead. There were some other interesting characters like Iggy the coroner. That guy made me laugh and I couldn’t help picturing him as John Belushi’s “Animal House” character only in a lab coat lol. Deputy Mason Dooley was another good sidekick type character and I felt so bad for the guy getting pulled away from food all the time. Oh well, Jill was just trying to make him into a better cop.

It was cool how the three ladies figured out whodunnit but still lacked some info that came as a surprise toward the ending, who knew? But that perp was just such a scum that the outcome was super satisfying especially when the perp was so smug before. I liked the ending and can’t wait for the next book now.

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 Diva Hosts a Murderer review

Tari Hann

This is the nineteenth book in the long-running Domestic Diva series by one of the first cozy authors I ever read when I got into cozy mysteries, Krista Davis. Her Paws and Claws series made me a diehard cozy mystery fan ever since that first book, and I’ve come to love her characters in Sophie Winston’s series as well. Sophie and her pals were on their A-game as far as sleuthing went in this book, what a great adventure!

#NetGalley #KristaDavis #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

The Diva Hosts a Murderer (A Domestic Diva Mystery #19)The Diva Hosts a Murderer by Krista Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a super good mystery with a satisfying conclusion at the showdown. There were a few other side stories like Aunt Melly’s new marriage and just who was Sophie’s sister Hannah secretly dating? I felt bad for Sophie’s neighbor Dollie who felt like the police didn’t believe her every time she called in hearing noises in her house. At least she eventually found out the reason for those sounds.

There was a lot happening and once the perp was put away, a couple friends had some fun surprises in store. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book now.

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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Dungeons and Danger review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Ravensea Castle Mysteries by Elizabeth Penney, a fave cozy author whose work I’ve enjoyed whenever I’ve read it. I’m super eager to read the next book now.

#NetGalley #ElizabethPenney #St.MartinPaperbacks #MinotaurBooks

My Goodreads review:

Dungeons and Danger (The Ravensea Castle Book 2)Dungeons and Danger by Elizabeth Penney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nora’s brother Will was having a huge Viking Fest on the castle grounds and everything was going well until it wasn’t and a dead body was found. The dead person wasn’t well-liked at all and definitely eliminated one of the players in the hunt for the Viking hoard supposedly hidden on Ravensea property. Technically the family was entitled to it, but they’d offered to share a little in exchange for having help.

But maybe they wouldn’t need to share it at all since it seemed like someone was picking off the ghost hunting crew one by one. Who was gonna survive to find the treasure? This was a fun and suspenseful read that kept me turning those Kindle pages. Now I’m really eager to read the next book! This author never disappoints in any mystery of hers that I’ve read!

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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Ode to the Bones review

Tari Hann

This is the 30th book in the super long-running Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries by Carolyn Haines and I’ve read that it’s the second last book in the series so there’s lots going on in this action-packed installment.

#NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #Carolyn Haines

My Goodreads review:

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

It all started with Oscar hiring Tinkie and Sarah Booth to find a bank loan customer of his that he’d foreclosed on. The guy just disappeared and the whole town thought he was either dead or just laying low for some reason.

What followed was the wild adventure we’ve come to know and love about Sarah Booth and Tinkie’s PI business. Sarah Booth was shot at and nearly eaten alive by river bugs, not to mention sunburned to a crisp after spending a day looking for the missing man. There were a couple funny scenes too one which involved a sketchy land buyer and another with a really annoying woman Sarah Booth wanted info from.

The ending was pretty disturbing in a psychological kinda way and I’m more eager than ever to see what’s going on in Sarah Booth’s head and what really happened as far as that mysterious note she got. I believe I read this was the second last book in this very long-running series and all would be explained in the final book. Yikes, we have to wait until October for the next book!

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


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Death by Chocolate Ladyfingers review

Tari Hann

This is the ninth book in the Death by Chocolate series by Sarah Graves, and I’ve had the best time laughing and sometimes crying through all of them. This ninth book sure didn’t disappoint even after all that time. I think each one somehow one-ups the previous book, lol. As per my usual recommendations, this series is best enjoyed and savored in order. 

#NetGalley #SarahGraves #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

 

Death by Chocolate Ladyfingers (A Death by Chocolate Mystery Book 9)Death by Chocolate Ladyfingers by Sarah Graves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, just when I think the previous book was the most exciting adventure Jake and Ellie had, the next book (this one) came along and knocked it outta the park. From car chases to creepy basements to apprehending a killer, Jake pretty much did it all in this book. And she had plenty of bug bites and various injuries to show for it too. But Jake’s heart is as big as it can be and most of this stuff she went through for the sake of one little girl who lost her mother.

I loved the satisfying outcome and the very ending was tons of fun too. Jake and Wade are in for a bumpy ride for sure and I can’t wait to read the next book.

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


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Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in a new series, Bainbridge Island Mysteries by well-known cozy mystery author, Lynn Cahoon, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first book, maybe even more. I can’t wait to read the third book since there was a preview at the end of this one that got me interested.

#NetGalley #LynnCahoon #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

 

Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth (A Bainbridge Island Mystery Book 2)Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’d enjoyed meeting Meg and her friends in the first book last year, so I was glad to be able to continue the series with this book. It was another good murder mystery presented as Meg’s steps for her amateur sleuth book she was writing.

There were some side stories that were interesting but the best part was catching the perp and keeping them from killing anyone else. I’ll definitely be reading the next book since there’s a one-chapter preview of it at the end of this book that I enjoyed.

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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Murder in a Lavender Daze review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the new Aroma Wellness Mysteries, a fun spin-off of the Fairy Garden Mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber. If you liked the Fairy Garden series and miss it, some of the characters guest throughout in this book and the first one. No one’s made a series for it on Goodreads, so the link leads to Amazon, but no worries, I’m not an affiliate. 

#NetGalley #DarylWoodGerber #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

Murder in a Lavender Daze (An Aroma Wellness Mystery Book 2)Murder in a Lavender Daze by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emma had a client wanting a more unique type of girls’ gathering at the spa, a happily divorced party. Before that could happen though, the client’s mother was murdered and Emma was begged to investigate much to Det. Summers’ dismay. When Emma found herself facing off with a killer, she was thankful for a good security system and a grandma who worried.

I really enjoy Meryl’s character a lot and even the crazy jokes she tells. The side story involved her mom who worked as receptionist when her heart was really more into her standup comic acts. The team got a nice surprise at the end and things worked out for all involved.

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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Some Like It Fudgy review

Tari Hann

This is the fourteenth book in the Candy-Coated Mysteries by Nancy Coco, and I’ve enjoyed all the books to date in this series. It’s really best to read these in order since some relationships build on others and sometimes names might be mentioned. And the Mackinac Island setting really is one of the most awesome places I’ve had the pleasure of vacationing in. This series was what sparked interest in that and I’ve been ready to go back ever since. 

#NetGalley #NancyCoco #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

Some Like It Fudgy (Candy-Coated Mystery #14)Some Like It Fudgy by Nancy CoCo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When this author writes a character that makes readers dislike the person so much they just wanna toss that person in the slammer (or worse lol), you know that’s talent. There was definitely a character like that in this book but I won’t elaborate so it doesn’t spoil anything. I’d read the book blurb for this book and knew who the victim was so that in itself created a whole big can of proverbial worms between Allie and Rex.

It was kinda fun to see Allie switch up and sleuth with her girlfriends this time. I love the island seniors, no question about that but for reasons you’ll find out when you read this, she felt she needed a switch-up. There was plenty of comic relief going on in this book, and Allie ran the range of all the emotions she had inside her. Let’s just say I felt sorry for poor Officer Brown, lol.

The showdown and outcome were super satisfying and I really enjoyed the two-chapter preview of a new series being launched by the author. I won’t say more about it so I don’t spoil that either, but I’ll definitely be wanting to read it.

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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Between a Roquefort and a Hard Place review

Tari Hann

This is the seventh book in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries by Linda Reilly, and I’ve had the pleasure of reading it from the very beginning. Which is something I highly recommend to get to know the characters better and for maximum enjoyment. After the last book, I’d been hoping for another book in the series and was thrilled to be able to get this from NetGalley.

#NetGalley #BeyondthePage #LindaReilly

My Goodreads review:

Between a Roquefort and a Hard Place (Grilled Cheese Mysteries #7)Between a Roquefort and a Hard Place by Linda Reilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fun visit to Balsam Dell and Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery along with all her friends and family. Carly’s hubby Ari found out what it was like to be the prime suspect in a murder this time when the contractor he was working with was killed on the job. Carly made a good friend in the older lady who owned the house getting renovated and soon found herself facing off with a killer in that house. I’d sorta suspected that person but wasn’t sure why, so I was on the fence the entire time about it. The showdown could’ve gone seriously sideways but thanks to another new friend, Carly lived to sleuth another day. I can’t wait for the next book!

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


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