amateur sleuths – Page 4 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Icing on the Murder review

July 29, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Baker Street Mystery series by one of my fave cozy authors, Valerie Burns, She also writes the Mystery Bookshop series as V.M. Burns, and it’s another favorite cozy mystery series.

I’ve enjoyed this series from its beginning and definitely fell in love with the drool-monster known as Baby the Mastiff. He’s soo adorable! And a great bodyguard whenever Maddy needs one. As with any of this author’s series I’ve read, she just comes up with some of the best, funniest and most memorable characters. I can’t wait for the next book now!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ValerieBurns

My Goodreads review:

Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh that Baby’s such a big, drooling Mastiff of a sweetheart most of the times, but boy if you need a bodyguard or someone to help with a killer, he’s your man, er dog. I loved how Miss Hannah got a really much better part in this book and actively helped with the investigation. She cracks me up and I just know I’d love her if I met her, what a cool lady!

The Baker Street sleuths were at it again when murder hit the bridal expo and Maddy was trying to clear herself along with an unlikely ally who said she needed cleared of the crime too. The showdown was tense and I was actually wondering what Maddy had up her sleeve for this. But no worries, Baby’s always got something up his sleeve, er paw. I absolutely can’t wait for 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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Murder on the Books review

July 2, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new series shown on Amazon as A Cozy Bookshop Mystery (no series shown on GR yet and the Amazon link isn’t an affiliate), and the author’s cozy mystery writer and cat lover, T.C. LoTempio aka Toni in her newsletters. I’ve loved all the cats I’ve read about in her series, and Poe in this series was definitely not a disappointment. In fact he was a hero just like Purrday in the Urban Pet Shop mysteries. Since the incorrect author was linked on GR, I looked up Ms. LoTempio’s GR page from her other books for her link above. I’m having a GR librarian friend look into it.

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #TCLoTempio

My Goodreads review:

Murder on the Books by T.C, LoTempio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this new setting and the key characters of Charley and Zane a lot. Charley was just what Zane had needed coming back to her hometown since Zane’s business partner basically ghosted her. Charley soon found out why and the hunt for a killer began. I loved that cat Poe that Charley adopted who quickly became an amazing little buddy for her, and big asset in the showdown! It’s awesome how any cat this author has in her various series is both a great buddy for the sleuth and helps tremendously with the showdown.

Charley was used to following clues but they were always clues she was in charge of writing, so this amateur sleuthing thing was pretty new for both her and Zane. She definitely held her own with the killer in the showdown, with a certain kitty’s help, of course. The ending was too fun since a certain female police officer who Zane and Charley went to school with was nearly throwing herself at the detective in charge. But he seemed to only have eyes for Charley—and the woman’s reaction was pretty funny. Can’t wait to read the next book!

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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An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder review

June 25, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series, Bainbridge Island Mysteries, by a favorite cozy mystery author Lynn Cahoon. She’s well-known in cozy mystery circles especially for her long-running Tourist Trap Mysteries and some other really good series you can learn about on her Goodreads bio linked to her name above. I really fell in love with the setting of this book and as I’ve found in her other series, the key characters quickly became book friends. Can’t wait for the next book!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LynnCahoon

My Goodreads review:

An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this fun trip to Bainbridge Island so if we ever get out west again, I might have a new bucket list place to visit. I liked Meg and her friends’ characters a lot, as well as the older generation especially Aunt Melody. Her sister Felicia who was Meg’s mom was just a little too uptight and eager for Meg to go back to a previous relationship that didn’t work out. I was proud of Meg for how she finally told the guy she was done. Would’ve loved to’ve seen the look on his face when she told him what she did with the ring!

I hadn’t guessed the correct killer at all and enjoyed that the arrest took place off page but it was after tons of sleuthing by Meg, Dalton and Natasha, aka the Mystery Crew. The ending was awesome since they all celebrated at the bookshop with food and fellowship—all provided by Meg’s new boss Lilly since Meg and her friends had worked tirelessly to prove Lilly for one was innocent. Natasha was another one being looked at, but the three friends weren’t having that, lol. I’m super eager 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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A Purrfect Date review

June 24, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Cat Yoga Mysteries by Alex Erickson who cozy mystery fans know as the author of the long-running Bookstore Cafe Mysteries. I like Luna, Ash’s cat much better than Christie’s disagreeable bookstore cat though, lol. Poor Ash couldn’t cut a break as far as a blind date went as she found out again in this crazy adventure. Come for the yoga…stay for the cats and comedy!

#NetGalley #AlexErickson #CatYogaMysteries

My Goodreads review:

A Purrfect Date by Alex Erickson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At times I don’t like Ash so much for her extreme interfering, but she’s really hard not to like at all lol. Sierra’s an amazing friend to her and trust me, Ash needs that with the piece of work she’s got for a mother. That lady’s uptight and way too into her kids’ business. I’m sure she wasn’t happy about Ash chasing down a killer in this book, but at least she’d come to the reality that one of her daughters wasn’t gonna be working for her.

The showdown with the killer (never saw that person coming!) was tense but Ash managed to keep her wits about her. Although it’s a really good thing Sierra showed up right when she was needed the most. I love what she did to the perp! Now there’s a baby in the family for Ash to spoil so maybe she’ll be able to just run her yoga studio and love on the little one for a while.

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 Poaches a Bad Egg-review

May 29, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the eighteenth book in the long-running Domestic Diva Mysteries by beloved cozy mystery author Krista Davis. I love her Paws & Claws Mysteries too–fans of that series are gonna have a fun little surprise in this book.

#NetGalley #KristaDavis #DomesticDivaMysteries

My Goodreads review:

The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg by Krista Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a wild and tangled bunch of secrets and family drama Sophie stumbled into when an interior designer asked her to help find who killed her business partner. It’s always fun when Sophie sleuths with her friends either all together or usually just her and Nina or Sophie, Mars and Bernie.

When another body turned up along with a surprise found at a wealthy family home, Sophie and her pals had their work cut out for them. In true Sophie style, she quite literally beat the killer in the showdown. The story ended with all the explanations and everyone having a good time sharing food and fellowship.

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 Spirit Moves review

May 25, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Haunted Haven Mysteries by Carol J. Perry who cozy readers know for her Witch City Mysteries. I’ve read a few in the original series but since this was a new set of characters, I started Haunted Haven when it first came out and I’ve loved every book so far. This one’s probably been my fave so far! Can’t wait to see what else Maureen and her friends get into!

#NetGalley #CarolJPerry #StMartin #MinotaurBooks

My Goodreads review:

The Spirit Moves by Carol J. Perry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really love those four seniors Gert, Molly, George and Sam who live at the Haven House Inn and help out there as well. They’re the most awesome people and I know Maureen wouldn’t know what to do without them. I was happy that the thing I’d been rooting for between Maureen and Ted finally happened and all during a murder investigation too.

I’m crazy about Lorna and Reggie’s ghosts—those two crack me up! Actually Reggie got more of a part in this book than he’s ever had. Mostly it’s Maureen reminding him he’s not supposed to smoke in the building, but this time he was actually advising her on the case. I was as surprised as she was to find out he was actually qualified for that when he was alive, lol. And the piano player ghost Billy Bedoggoned always knows just the tune to play and how to make it sound like it’s just another player piano song.

Maureen got into a tense showdown with the killer but she used her head and kept them talking all while finding something to use against them. Good thinking on her part and now the town could have some relief, and the inn was able to enjoy some new prosperity as well. Can’t wait 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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Shot Through the Book– review

May 8, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the twelfth book in the long-running Lighthouse Library Mysteries by Eva Gates, better known to cozy mystery fans as Vicki Delany, author of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries, Year-Round Christmas Mysteries and Tea by the Sea Mysteries, all of which quickly became fave series to me. The author has the awesome talent of creating characters you won’t forget and that you’d really wanna be friends with. It’s like coming home to old friends whenever I read another Lighthouse Library or any of the others.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #VickiDelany #EvaGates

My Goodreads review:

Shot Through the Book by Eva Gates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I never thought I’d see the day when Louise Jane’s character actually didn’t get on my nerves. In some ways, she’s pretty helpful and fiercely loyal to Lucy and the library. I guess all it took was Lucy getting married so Louise Jane could live in the lighthouse apartment and work there.

One of the characters who’s always been on the sidelines with a few mentions actually got a bigger part in this book during the showdown that Lucy never saw coming. Someone else did a good job controlling the perp and was gonna have one crazy story to tell friends after it was over. There’d been a little side thing going on all along which I totally guessed. A few things happened toward the end of the book that really makes me eager to read the next book!

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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Hounding a Killer review

May 6, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Bailey the Bloodhound Mysteries by Kallie E. Benjamin, better known to her cozy mystery fans as Valerie Burns or V.M. Burns who writes two of my other fave series, Baker Street Mysteries and Mystery Bookshop Mysteries, respectively. Bailey had me at the get-go when I borrowed the first book from the library, but I was thrilled to get approved this time to read and review an ARC of this second book. My review below says it all, and I can’t wait for the next book!

#NetGalley #BerkleyPublishing #KallieEBenjamin #ValerieBurns #VMBurns

My Goodreads review:

Hounding a Killer by Kallie E. Benjamin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just love Pris and all her friends’ characters! I really enjoyed that first book, but this one might just be even better. There was so much going on with Pris juggling a looming deadline, wanting to investigate but not let Gilbert know and being one of three adults watching over three tween-age girls, one of which was boyfriend police chief Gilbert’s own daughter. No pressure there, Pris, lol.

Bailey was at his sniffing best as he found clues and alerted when help was needed. The showdown was a good one and Pris’s pitching arm was still in great form. Everything that hadn’t been explained came out at the end as did Pris’s newest manuscript. I loved the title “The Case of the Dancing Dachshund” since I’ve got my own little dachshund who dances for food, lol. Very much hoping this series continues because I’ve definitely not read enough about Pris, Bailey and all their friends, I need more!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC provided via NetGalley by Berkley Publishing, and my opinions are my own.

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Fatal Brouhaha review

April 30, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in the Ground Rules Mysteries by Emmaline Duncan, and I’ve enjoyed each one of the series and how the characters changed and developed. One character never did change and I’m just grateful the author decided to do what she did to him. 😉 I can’t wait to read the next book!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #EmmalineDuncan

My Goodreads review:

Fatal Brouhaha by Emmeline Duncan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’d been waiting since the get-go to see something happen to Sage and Harley’s nemesis who was such a condescending jerk. He truly deserved what the author had in store for him, thank you Ms. Duncan! But Sage had an extra interest in sleuthing this one, to keep the police off Harley’s back since she and the victim had argued publicly.

Sage faced off with yet another killer after getting the final clue from a really unlikely source, which she rightfully credited later on. Thanks to her quick thinking and some nearby security personnel, Sage lived to see her wedding day. It’ll be interesting to see what she and her pals get into next—if they don’t get into murder and mayhem on the honeymoon lol.

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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Bait and Swiss review

April 28, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the sixth book in the Cheese Shop Mysteries by Korina Moss, and I’ve enjoyed this series as well from the beginning. Willa and her crew couldn’t really enjoy the shop’s second birthday because of the murder that happened at the newspaper office. Not to mention her ex-fiance and his girlfriend were opening a pop-up in her friend Hope’s Cakery. A feud ready to happen? Catch this latest release tomorrow, April 29 and see!

#NetGalley #KorinaMoss #TeamCheese #MinotaurBooks

My Goodreads review:

Bait and Swiss by Korina Moss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Willa’s team at the cheese shop and her sleuthing buddies are like visiting old friends now. Her protégé Archie’s grown and changed so much since the first book, and now they had not one but two new employees. I remembered June from the last book and how she’d hit it off well with Archie at the dairy festival.

Willa’s worst nightmare came true when the pop-up shop going in with Hope’s Cakery was her ex-fiancé and his girlfriend, so poor Willa had a ton on her emotional plate including being a person of interest in the murder case. She and her sometimes-buddy AJ from the paper did their own sleuthing. He cracked me up going under cover dressed like some 1940s detective, lol. Willa said the same thing I was thinking: he’s gonna attract more attention that way.

After a tense and crazy showdown at Hope’s Cakery, the perp was going away for a long time and peace reigned in Yarrow Glen once more. Willa and her friends celebrated my favorite way with food and fellowship. And Willa had a special moment with her detective who finally wanted to give their relationship an official label. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

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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