Tag: cozy mystery

A Murder at the Movies review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Secret Bookcase Mysteries by Ellie Alexander, and it releases the same day as the first book, June 19, 2026. Hope book three comes soon! I’m really getting to be friends with these characters.

#NetGalley #StormPublishing #EllieAlexander

My Goodreads review:

A Murder at the Movies (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #2)A Murder at the Movies by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’d love to visit this bookstore if it was real! It sounds like the coolest bookstore ever and yeah, I’d probably be heading for the replica office of Jessica Fletcher that was one of the rooms. This was another amazing mystery which I never really committed a guess on. I loved how Liam was slowly changing in a good way and becoming someone Annie could be interested in. Will Pri finally get to say “I told you so”? Annie and Liam made an awfully good sleuthing team!

The main mystery was all wrapped up nicely at the end, but another thread of the Scarlet murder mystery continued at the very end. Now I’m really hoping that third book comes out soon! It was awesome for the first two books to be published on the same day. I’m finding myself wishing the third one had as well.

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

View all my reviews

The Body in the Bookstore review

Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series called A Secret Bookcase Mysteries by well-known cozy mystery author, Ellie Alexander. I absolutely loved this and can’t wait for everyone else to be able to read it when it comes out next week on the 19th. The second book in the series also releases that day, so I’ll be reviewing it soon.

#NetGalley #StormPublishing #EllieAlexander

My Goodreads review:

The Body in the Bookstore (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #1)The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isn’t Secret Bookcase just the coolest name for a mystery bookshop? Just like this author’s other cozy mysteries, this one pulled me in with some awesome characters and wouldn’t let go as the mystery unfolded and suspects pretty much lined the walls. Pri made such an amazing bestie for Annie who’d lost her college bestie eight years ago and had driven herself crazy since the case went cold, so I have a feeling that’ll be the side mystery thread that’s ongoing for however long.

But the main murder was all solved and wrapped up nicely at the end. I loved how Annie and Pri made a good sleuthing team. We met a character that I absolutely couldn’t stand in the beginning but toward the end maybe there’s a heart underneath all that snark. It’ll be interesting to find out. Luckily I’ve got the second book as an ARC to start now since both books release the same day.

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

View all my reviews

Olive You to Death review

Tari Hann

This is the sixteenth in the long-running Tourist Trap Mysteries by well-known cozy mystery author, Lynn Cahoon. She’s another author where you just can’t go wrong with anything she’s written. I love it all!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LynnCahoon

My Goodreads review:

Olive You to Death (A Tourist Trap Mystery Book 16)Olive You to Death by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fun visit to South Cove and a murder plus a side mystery were keeping Jill’s plates spinning as she worked to finalize her MBA along with other various things going on in her life. When Josh first came to South Cove, I remember not liking him too well at all. I still can’t really say he’s even at the bottom of my fave characters, lol, but he’s definitely come a long way from back then. He seemed like such a curmudgeon that I always thought he was lots older.

Aunt Jackie had good news, or bad if you looked at it from Jill’s standpoint, but like everything else, it all came together. Jill had the most unlikely showdown partner but they got the best of the perp and Jill lived to sleuth another day. Or watch her two friends get married. It’ll be interesting to see what the next book deals with. Will it be yet another one before Jill and Greg get married? Or is it gonna be closer to the wedding and a big old mystery comes up Jill just has to solve before getting married? I guess we’ll find out eventually!

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

Kill or Bee Killed review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Bee Keeping Mysteries by Jennie Marts, and I absolutely loved it! I sure can’t wait for the next book! There’re just so many great characters, and funny ones too like the great-aunts, lol. Daisy’s one of the best kid characters I’ve ever met in a cozy, and I was proud of her wisdom at times. I can’t say enough good things about the ending either!

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #JennieMarts

My Goodreads review:

Kill or Bee Killed (A Bee Keeping Mystery #2)Kill or Bee Killed by Jennie Marts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my gosh, if you love a good book hangover, this is the book that can provide it! It’s got funny moments, tense moments, sweet romantic moments, well it’s got all those moments I love in the mysteries I read. I couldn’t’ve hoped for a better ending! And the very ending was something I never saw coming. Now I really can’t wait for the next book!

I really enjoy all these key characters! Those great-aunts and Granny crack me up and how hilarious and fun when the two aunties decided to enter the festival pageant. Evie’s probably one of the best besties a girl could ever have, and Daisy’s just about the best kid anyone could want. Bailey’s lucky to have both these ladies in her life, and her handsome Sawyer! I love how Evie and Griff kinda got together. She’s been so good for him because he’s really different (in a good way) from before. Wishing the next book could come sooner than a year from now!

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

View all my reviews

The Stranger in the Library review

Tari Hann

This is the eleventh book in the long-running Lighthouse Library Mysteries by Eva Gates, a pen name for beloved cozy author, Vicki Delany who writes the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries, Tea by the Sea Mysteries and Year-Round Christmas Mysteries. You just can’t go wrong with anything this talented lady writes!

#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #EvaGates #VickiDelany

My Goodreads review:

The Stranger in the Library (Lighthouse Library Mystery #11)The Stranger in the Library by Eva Gates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While I’m not an art fan at all and the talk of it and history are slightly boring to me, I still enjoyed the mystery behind this book and seeing Lucy in action sleuthing again. I never would’ve thought I’d actually kinda like Louise Jane’s character, ever, but now even though she’s still snarky and everything, she’s a fixture I’d miss, lol. She’s always good for a laugh whether she meant to be funny or not 😉 Will good old LJ really find the love she’s been hoping for with someone from this book? Or…maybe she loves the lighthouse apartment too much to really fall for someone. I guess only time’ll tell on that!

Lucy and Louise Jane were together during the showdown and what led up to it as well as what followed. They did honestly work well together sleuthing and of course, LJ’s always got a trick or two up her sleeve. I’m eager to see what happens in the next book—will it be about what Louise Jane found out she’ll be doing soon?

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

View all my reviews

Murder at the Spelling Bee review

Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Maya and Sandra Mysteries by another favorite cozy author, Lee Hollis, which is the brother/sister team of Holly Simason and Rick Copp. I absolutely love the Hayley Powell series, and this one’s another really fun one that’s best enjoyed starting at the beginning.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LeeHollis

My Goodreads review:

Murder at the Spelling Bee (Maya and Sandra Mystery, #4)Murder at the Spelling Bee by Lee Hollis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This might be the first time I’ve ever been right in guessing the perp and some reasoning behind it especially in a more complex cozy mystery like this one, lol. It was lotsa fun going down the various rabbit trails and speculating, but I kept my perp in mind most of the time from one point fairly early on. I didn’t guess who wrote the note in Rocco’s locker though.

While this series doesn’t have the laugh out loud hilarious moments that the author’s Hayley Powell series has, I still love how Maya and Sandra, different as they could be had become best friends and now professional sleuthing partners. The scenes in this series are more the cool “gotcha!” moments when they figure out clues and confront killers. Or just have a revelation in a family issue. Can’t wait to see what these two soon-to-be empty nesters come up with for their next adventure!

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

A Limited Edition Murder review

Tari Hann

This is the tenth book in the Beyond the Page Mysteries by Lauren Elliott, and this time Addie’s in England still with her sweet pup Pippi. She’d made a bunch of new friends, and they all enjoyed hanging out together at the local pub. It sounded like a really cool little town! I just love the cover! 

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #Lauren Elliott

My Goodreads review:

A Limited Edition Murder by Lauren Elliott

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I’ve heard of people nursing their wounds for a long time but Addie must’ve held the record for it, lol. She did have a traumatic experience in the previous book, and some people heal differently so it’s totally possible. I guess since she’s just never been a favorite main character of mine and always seemed a little immature or sometimes unfair to others, maybe I don’t cut her enough slack or something. But it seemed like a long time and kinda hiding from reality. I’m glad she took Pippi the pup with her—that sweet dog could cheer anyone up.

But Addie was a fiercely loyal friend as it turned out and as we all know from previous books. I liked her new friends but I really missed Paige, Katherine and Serena. One character Addie always compared to Mrs. Danvers actually became a good ally for her sleuthing toward the end. I was never really sure whodunit so I just kept reading and hoped eventually Addie might decide she needed her people at home. You’ll have to read and see if she stays in England or returns to Greyborne Harbor. 😉

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

A Pose Before Dying review

Tari Hann

This is the first book in the brand new Cat Yoga Mysteries (non-affiliate Amazon link there because GR doesn’t have it set up for a series yet) by Alex Erickson, a fellow Ohioan and author of the long-running Bookstore Café Mysteries and the short but fun series,  Furever Pets Mysteries. This series starts with some good, strong characters and some adorable kittens as well. Sierra was an awesome bestie who worked at Snoots. And just how fun is the name of their friendly, Cheers-like hangout, Snoot’s Bar and Grill? I love it!

I really enjoyed this book a lot and can’t wait till the next one comes out. How fun to do yoga with virtual cats (real ones I’d just sneeze and get all itchy with even though I love kitties!). And for the record, I’d probably be better with chair yoga due to one bad knee and one fake one, lol.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #AlexErickson

My Goodreads review:

A Pose Before DyingA Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fun new idea for a series! I’d definitely prefer cats in the yoga studio over goats which I’ve read about in other cozies. I enjoyed meeting these new characters and by the end I felt like I was definitely getting acquainted and even had some favorites by then.

Edna and Pavan were apartment neighbors to Ash and made me chuckle at how they were always encouraging Ash’s currently non-existent love life. But Ash loved her yoga studio job a lot along owning a business, so maybe it’s best for her to think about growing her new business. It’d be much easier without a pesky murder she was insanely curious to solve not to mention clear her brother’s name.

There was a character I suspected for most of the book because of some well-placed early clues, but I still enjoyed the rabbit hole experience of considering various suspects/motives. The showdown was pretty cool letting Ash use some of her yoga abilities for defense/protect moves. Actually her loyalty to her siblings was overall awesome anyway, so of course she’d defend one of said siblings. After finding out something at the end of this book, I absolutely can’t wait for the next one. And thinking about what’s gonna happen when someone else finds out what was announced then makes me laugh about the possibilities.

View all my reviews

The Diva Goes Overboard review

Tari Hann

This is the 17th book in the long-running Domestic Diva Mysteries by fave cozy mystery writer, Krista Davis. (I love her Wagtail series too!) Sophie and her sorta-friend (maybe frenemy?) Natasha are going strong after all these years. Natasha’s sorta toned it down where Sophie’s concerned since she’s got all kinds of other people to insult LOL! The series is definitely like visiting old friends!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #KristaDavis

My Goodreads review:

The Diva Goes Overboard (A Domestic Diva Mystery, #17)The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was great having a visit to Old Town Alexandria with Sophie and her friends again and of course seeing what newest craze Natasha came up with this time for her business. She’s like a pesky relative who doesn’t really mean any harm, but everything she does is always about her lol. Sometimes she’s a real train wreck waiting to happen 😂. I’m not lying, wait’ll you read the scene that has to do with water.

Sophie and her pals had one heckuva of a mystery to solve this time and nothing was adding up…until it did and Sophie was able to figure out what happened. Orson was a smart man to leave her what he did and make that request he made. There was definitely plenty of suspects and a pretty cool twist was discovered toward the end.

The usual explanation session I’ve come to love about this series (along with them brainstorming along the way) was with Sophie and her close friends which always means including Wolf and his update of the case at hand. And Sophie’s always right in her element when she had a party for everyone and gets to take care of their food needs. She might not have actual kids of her own but over these seventeen books she’s definitely taken on a mom role more than once.

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

Lights, Camera, Bones review

Tari Hann

This is the 27th book in the long-running Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries by Carolyn Haines, and each one gets a little more exciting and funnier since Sarah and her bestie ran a detective agency. Tinkie always cracks me up! She’s an awesome sidekick for Sarah Booth. And Jitty was top of her game this time too, lol.

#NetGalley #StMartinsPaperbacks #CarolynHaines

My Goodreads review:

Lights, Camera, Bones (Sarah Booth Delaney, #27)Lights, Camera, Bones by Carolyn Haines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wouldja believe there’s a shark loose in the Mississippi? Didn’t think so, but when Sarah Booth’s on a case, I’ve gotten used to expecting the unexpected. I was completely surprised about the overall whodunit even though I’d wondered about that person earlier.

Jitty was at the top of her ghostly game taking on crazy shapes like she always does while giving cryptic clues. To me, her best one was a very cool nod to one of my all-time favorite skits from the 70s on that famous late show from Saturday night. And it was perfect for the theme of the book. 😉

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

View all my reviews