Tag: amateur sleuths

The Bark Before the Dawn review

Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Magical Menagerie mystery series by Sarah Fox whose Pancake House series is one of her other cozy mystery series. I’ve loved this series from its beginning and it’s gotten only better with each addition. I highly recommend reading the series in order for the best and most fun experience.

#NetGalley #SarahFox #SevernHouse

My Goodreads review:

The Bark Before the Dawn (A Magical Menagerie Mystery, 4)The Bark Before the Dawn by Sarah Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Something about the ending almost made it sound like the final book, but I sure hope that’s not the case. If it really is, it was wrapped up just perfectly, although I think Georgie and Callum along with two amazing spaniels still have lotsa mysteries to solve.

This was a stumper of a mystery and seemed multi-layered in some ways. There were definitely plenty of suspects to pick from but only one had killed someone, and as always, the spaniels along with awesome Euclid got to help with the takedown. I absolutely loved the ending and really, really hope there’s more books being planned!

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


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Buried in a Book review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Cozy Bookshop Mysteries by T.C. LoTempio, another fave cozy author and author of several cozy mystery series. I loved the first book and absolutely devoured this one! Can’t wait for the next one. I just love that Poe kitty! 

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #TCLoTempio

My Goodreads review:

Buried in a Book (A Cozy Bookshop Mystery 2)Buried in a Book by T.C. LoTempio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed getting to know Charley and her friends better in this book, although honestly at the end of the last book they’d seemed like old friends, so this was a good reunion. Maybe it’s because the local detective and high school nemesis of Charley is named Barbara Jeanne that makes me think of a certain older TV show character by that name, lol.

This turned out to be a more involved case than Charley ever could’ve imagined. Sometimes she did make me a little impatient when she’d refuse to take something to the police first, but she’s a stickler for playing by the amateur sleuth rules of “I’ll be fine.” I absolutely love Poe, Charley’s awesome cat with special abilities not much different from Purrday in another of the author’s series. Poe sure came in handy several times and even in the showdown. I liked the cute ending of the book and can’t wait for the next one!

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



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Easter Egg Murder review

Tari Hann

This is the latest seasonal anthology from Kensington that always includes three favorite cozy mystery authors and their latest offerings in their series as in-between novellas. As always, there was murder and mayhem but plenty of Easter shenanigans. This is a great way to get your fix for these series before their next book comes out.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LeslieMeier #LeeHollis #PeggyEhrhart

My Goodreads review:

Easter Egg Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery, #31.6)Easter Egg Murder by Leslie Meier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

These were three fun Easter-themed murder mysteries from three of our fave cozy mystery authors who’ve been appearing together in these seasonal collections for several years now. Lucy Stone’s story kicked off the trio with a trip to France where she met up with an unlikely sleuth partner. It was kinda cool to see Lucy talking to someone besides Bill about a mystery.

Hayley Powell’s story as always was fun and funny—we even got a couple of my favorite things about the series, what I call Sergio-isms and his innocent stumbling over some words. He’s such an awesome character and brother-in-law to Hayley who again faced off with a killer proving something was definitely rotten in Bar Harbor.

Pamela and Bettina sleuthed together again and faced off with another killer after Pamela figured it all out. There was an extra awesome ending for this story too giving the Knit and Nibblers yet another reason for celebration.

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 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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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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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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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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The Cold Case and the Corpse review

Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in the Food Blogger Mysteries, a fun cozy mystery series by Debra Sennefelder that I’ve enjoyed since it first came out. It’s best to read the series from the beginning since you get to see how Hope’s relationship with Ethan started and grew to what it is now. And his police work history is kinda important too! 😉 

Note: The series link goes to Amazon since this book isn’t shown on Goodreads as being part of the series. Not an affiliate link.

#NetGalley #BeyondthePageBooks #DebraSennefelder

My Goodreads review:

 

The Cold Case and the CorpseThe Cold Case and the Corpse by Debra Sennefelder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hope can definitely be helpful and snooping to the point of being annoying, but she’s also very endearing, and something about her always makes you wanna forgive her. Luckily Ethan’s got the patience of a saint when it comes to dealing with her curiosity and penchant for getting herself into life and death situations. I liked how someone in the book put it, that she had more lives than her cat, lol.

The ending was awesome with food, friends and fellowship—along with an amazing announcement from someone. Can’t wait to read the next book now.

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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