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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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Bodies and Battlements review

May 27, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series, Ravensea Castle Mysteries, released today by cozy mystery author Elizabeth Penney. I’ve always really enjoyed anything I’ve read by this author and this book definitely makes my “loved it” list. The key characters were awesome and I loved how close Nora and her sister Tamsyn were. Definitely not one to miss!

#NetGalley #ElizabethPenney #MinotaurBooks #StMartinPaperbacks

My Goodreads review:

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve never met any characters by this author that I haven’t really liked in the very first pages of the book, and this book was no exception. I enjoyed all the key players from the get-go and Nora’s dad cracked me up with his stories and just blatant innocent honesty when it came to different things.

There was quite a bit more to the murder than anyone first thought then when another one happened, things started to be revealed. I loved that Nora and DI Cole were getting closer. His dog sounded so darn cute and Rolf became good buddies with her. Tamsyn seemed to’ve found herself a guy as well. The showdown was tense but quick and a satisfying ending was enjoyed by all.

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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Doggone Bones review

May 26, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the 29th book in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries by Carolyn Haines. I haven’t actually read this series from the entire beginning, but I did read the first two books and at least can appreciate a little of how the characters changed. I’ve been blessed enough to be able to get ARCs of the last maybe five or six books so at least I know what’s currently going on in Sarah Booth’s life, lol.

I love how dogs play such a huge part in her life, so this is one book where you get to cheer on the doggos and they win! And not to downplay Pluto, he’s a great watch cat! And that silly, wise Jitty, I just love her character and how she’s a good constant for Sarah Booth. She appears as just the person Sarah Booth needs her to. But sometimes having her just being Jitty’s what Sarah Booth needs most.

#NetGalley #CarolynHaines #SarahBoothDelaney #MinotaurBooks #StMartinPaperbacks

My Goodreads review:

Doggone Bones by Carolyn Haines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had no idea that Sarah Booth’s friend Tinkie could be such a bada$$ but she was a regular hero at times in this book. The story grabbed me from the start and wouldn’t let go until I found out the good ending for some poor sweet doggos that were being used for fighting. And to think it all started with one little dog being taken. There was a lotta other things going on in this book as well.

Some involved definitely got their just desserts but another item left unsolved really bothered me a lot since it directly affected Sarah Booth and her friends. I absolutely can’t wait for the next book so some uncleared-up scum can be properly taken care of! 😉

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 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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Booked for Revenge review

April 29, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Tomes & Tea Mysteries, a spin-off from the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mysteries by Karen Rose Smith. Even if you haven’t finished Daisy’s series, you won’t be lost in this one, take it from me who’s been meaning to get back to Daisy but…there’s so many cozies I wanna read. Jazzi’s an awesome character on her own and once again didn’t disappoint.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #KarenRoseSmith

My Goodreads review:

Booked for Revenge by Karen Rose Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I read the first book I swore I was gonna get back to the Daisy’s Tea Garden series and try to get that more caught up, but here’s the second Tomes & Tea and I’m still no closer. Although reading it did make me interested in continuing the original series. Jazzi’s a great character and definitely learned a lot from her mom who’d sleuthed when Jazzi was just a teenager.

I’m sure Daisy would’ve been proud of Jazzi during the showdown and what she did to the perp to get away from them. Jazzi and Oliver were cute together as well as Dawn and her new guy. Not sure who I prefer Jazzi with, but I know I don’t wanna see this going into a triangle. Not a fan of triangles at all.

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

View all my reviews