Tag: book group amateur sleuths

A Poisonous Page review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mysteries by Kitt Crowe, the pen name of Marie Harte who looks to be a romance author under that name. I’m glad she started writing cozies or I’d have never gotten to know her sense of humor and what fun characters she weaves. I absolutely love Uncle Jimmy and Uncle Elvis! They always crack me up and now that Elvis joined the Macaroons Murder Club, er I mean, Book Club, he’s having to actually do some reading. Well maybe not regular books, but they did accept his suggestion of a comic surprisingly well!

A Poisonous Page (Sweet Fiction Bookshop #2)A Poisonous Page by Kitt Crowe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’d been a year since I read the first in this series, but it didn’t take long to catch up with all the hilarious antics and snarky comments/zingers these characters exchange on a regular basis. I love the author’s sense of humor, and that sweet Cookie dog! OMG I just wanted to hug her like crazy. Chad even sorta made friends with her by letting her be involved in a kids’ police safety event.

Boy this was one involved mystery! It was sometimes hard to keep track of who was with what person and when, but I got the general idea. I really didn’t zero in on one specific person but holy cow, at the end I was telling Lexi NOT to go somewhere! I’m totally Team Chad for her and hopefully she’ll realize he’s not really the jerk she thinks he is. Sometimes Lexi herself could be a real jerk to him too, so I felt bad for the guy. Cat and Teri crack me up wanting all the crazy details as every good bestie would, lol. And sweet Abe’s a heck of a lot nice neighbor to Lexi than his grumpy dad who got offed in the first book.

I loved that the whole book club got involved trying to solve the case and it was too funny how they hurried to hide their murder board whenever Chad came around. That showdown was wild, hilarious and super tense! All was explained in the end though, and now I’m eager to see what all these fun and crazy characters find themselves involved in by the time the next book comes out!

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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Murder at the Taffy Shop review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the fun new Cozy Capers Book Group series by Maddie Day who write the Country Store series under the same name, aka Edith Maxwell. I’m really enjoying this series and definitely recommend reading the first one before this for the most enjoyment. It’s not totally required, because there aren’t any spoilers, but getting to know the characters and Mac’s crazy parrot, Belle, seems more fun that way. I’m super anxious for the third book in the series now.

I did order my own copy from Barnes&Noble (it’s an exclusive now for a year), but I was also sent a paperback ARC from the publisher, @Kensington Publishing, which I voluntarily reviewed, and my opinions are my own.

My Goodreads review:

Murder at the Taffy Shop (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery, #2)Murder at the Taffy Shop by Maddie Day

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m glad I read the first book recently, because the characters were all still fresh in my mind. Being a new series, I’m sure if I’d read it when the first book came out, I’d have forgotten a lot. I’m not a fan of birds at all, but I just love Belle the gray African parrot! She’s such a hoot and talk about being handy during a killer showdown!

I liked the main characters a lot the first time around, but they’re definitely among my faves now. I hadn’t guessed the killer, so the reveal was a surprise for me. I hope that Mac and Tim can work out their differences, but I think toward the end of the book, it was looking that way. I’m so anxious now for the next book, but I’m pretty sure we’ll have to wait at least a year.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a paperback ARC of this book provided by the publisher, and my opinions are my own.

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