Tag: cozy mystery

Tails from the Crypt review

Tari Hann

This is the third book in the absolutely fun and adorable Magical Menagerie series by Sarah Fox, another fave cozy author. I loved this series from the very first book and always am eager to read the next when it comes out. Twilight Cove celebrating Halloween was awesome!

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #SarahFox

My Goodreads review:

Tails from the Crypt (A Magical Menagerie Mystery #3)Tails from the Crypt by Sarah Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve enjoyed Georgie’s character and those of her friends and family since the very first book. I just love those sweet spaniels, Flossie and Fancy as well as the cool abilities they’ve got and can do. Fancy’s so cute when she howls “a-roo” and Flossie cracks me up when she opens locks with just her paw. That’d be some crazy prints the police might find, lol!

The mystery was fun since it was set around Halloween, and I was never really sure whodunit until the actual reveal which was a good surprise. And of course the sweet doggos had a part in making that showdown happen and causing the perp to have to stick around. Can’t wait to read the next book!

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

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A Brew for Chaos review

Tari Hann

This is the third and long-awaited book in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series by Esme Addison, and I absolutely loved it! It took a little while to get reacquainted with everyone, but it didn’t take super long for me to remember what I liked about each character. I’d love to see more books in the series!

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #EsmeAddison

My Goodreads review:

A Brew for Chaos (Enchanted Bay Mysteries Book 3)A Brew for Chaos by Esme Addison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the first two books in this series, then it took a hiatus, but since I get the author’s newsletter, I knew it was gonna return at some point. This book was bigger than the first two combined with shocking revelations and secrets, but there was plenty of family love, support and togetherness going on as well. There were so many different things happening, it was hard to trust anyone except for the main players meaning Alex and her immediate family. Her boyfriend Jack had a secret, his mother had one she didn’t realize she had, there was a murder and a friend of Alex’s was looking into an old cold case. But there was an epic showdown, and help came for Alex from a really unexpected but super welcome source. After the very ending, I’m so eager now to read the next book!

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

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Murder Pays a Call review

Tari Hann

This is the first in what I imagine from the cover is gonna be called the Keri Armstrong series by a familiar cozy mystery author Nancy J. Cohen who also writes The Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring MC Marla who got a shoutout in this book. Keri’s an awesome main character with some fun, quirky friends/coworkers and I can’t wait to see another book in this series!

#NetGalley #NancyJCohen #OrangeGrovePress

My Goodreads review:

Murder Pays a CallMurder Pays a Call by Nancy J. Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed meeting Keri and her office colleagues at her personal concierge agency. Purdy cracked me up always juggling his dates with different women. It was sad that a really nice person was the victim, although according to some, she wasn’t the nicest person. And that meant there were more suspects than anyone knew what to do with. Keri’s bestie Lora was also part of the cast and I was glad to see she was working out as the graphic artist Keri needed.

I enjoyed the twist at the end and the reveal which was really exciting as both Keri and her new friend Diane took on the killer. I’m definitely wanting to read the next book and see what Keri and her friends get into next!

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

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Mrs. Morris & the Day of the Dead review

Tari Hann

This is the tenth and sadly the final book in the Salem B&B mysteries by Traci Wilton, the talented writing team consisting of Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton. This final book was bittersweet and I’m really gonna miss this series a lot, but the authors sure did a nice job of wrapping it up.

#NetGalley #TraciWilton #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead (Salem B&B, #10)Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead by Traci Wilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s always sad to say goodbye to a favorite series, especially one I’ve read since the very first book. But I thought it was really fitting that the first book and this last one should take place on Halloween, the heart and soul season of Salem. It showed a lot how the characters grew and developed and was basically an emotional rollercoaster for this reader. There were still plenty of funny Jack and Avery moments now that she could see and talk to the ghost. It was hilarious how he could still get her to almost answer him in front of people.

Without giving away any spoilers, just trust me that if you’ve followed this series, you’ll want to read this, although I give this a strong tissue alert. I absolutely loved it. If you’re just starting with this book, I actually recommend not doing that and reading this series from the beginning. You’ll be very glad you did!

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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Laying Down the Latte review

Tari Hann

This is the 21st book in the long-running Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander, and it’s definitely  a good one featuring a trip to Costa Rica that Jules and Carlos wanted to make sure Andy got to go on with them. Poor guy had no idea what was in store, but neither did they as murder and mayhem was afoot.

#NetGalley #St.MartinPaperbacks #MinotaurBooks #EllieAlexander

My Goodreads review:

Laying Down the Latte (A Bakeshop Mystery, #21)Laying Down the Latte by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was fun reading about Jules, Carlos and Andy being in Costa Rica and even cooler when I read Ellie Alexander’s newsletter the same day telling how she’d gone there last year. I figured she must’ve been there at some point since the coffee facts and everything was described like someone who’d actually seen all this firsthand. Obviously except for the murder, lol.

Jules found herself investigating a murder even while on vacation and getting a little help/encouragement from back home from her mom and Lance. Lance was a hoot without even being there while he was energetically searching for a wedding venue for him and Arlo, and bouncing ideas off Jules probably the same way he was bouncing on caffeine.

My final guess for the killer was right (after a couple fails and my suspects didn’t pan out), and it was awesome what Jules did to said killer. The ending was filled with food and fellowship as everyone was now at home celebrated Andy’s trip to Costa Rica with Jules and Carlos and their safe return. 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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Claws Out review

Tari Hann

This is the ninth book in the very sweet Cat Cafe Mysteries by Cate Conte also known as Liz Mugavero of the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries. Maddie James is an awesome main character and I just love her Grandpa Leo! As a former police detective, he’s always in the thick of things when there’s a murder to be solved, at home or away as we find our Daybreak Harbor pals at an event in Provincetown.

#NetGalley #CateConte #St. Martin #MinotaurBooks

My Goodreads review:

Claws Out: A Cat Cafe Mystery (Cat Cafe Mystery Series Book 9)Claws Out: A Cat Cafe Mystery by Cate Conte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just love Grandpa Leo’s character—he’s probably been my fave throughout the series, and this book was definitely no exception. He was probably in his police glory helping local police when one of the cat literary event authors was murdered. Plenty of people loved the author, but there were some that would’ve had a good motive to want her gone.

The planned showdown that Grandpa orchestrated using Maddie’s suggestion was great and got the results they hoped for. Now to take care of a family-sized surprise!

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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Sour Crime Donuts review

Tari Hann

This is the tenth book in the super enjoyable Deputy Donuts Mysteries by Ginger Bolton, a series I’ve enjoyed since the very first book. Dep’s just the sweetest little cat and she’s definitely got a nose for mystery! And she got to go along on a mystery with Emily and her friends this time too, doing what she did best.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #GingerBolton

My Goodreads review:

Sour Crime Donuts (A Deputy Donut Mystery)Sour Crime Donuts by Ginger Bolton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emily and her two employees who were also good friends did some major sleuthing in this case and took little Dep with them a couple times. The cat had a nose for clues and dead bodies. When an old friend of Emily’s came to town, it was a fun reunion since the girl was now grown up with some impressive career goals.

When a body was found on the land Izzy was gonna own soon, Izzy was an obvious suspect, so Emily and her pals worked hard to help Brent get the clues in place to find the real perp. And when that perp came face to face with Emily, I’m pretty sure after what she did, they were really sorry they ever met her lol. I was so sure someone I had in mind was the killer, but I was wrong. 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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Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library review

Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series by Amanda Chapman who I was happy to find out was none other than Amy Pershing who wrote the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries that I read a few years back. This book was really different and I found myself wanting to read more about these characters and hang out with Mrs. Christie some more. Can’t wait to read the next book and I’m hoping so much I get approved for it when it comes up on NetGalley!

#NetGalley #BerkleyPublishing #AmyPershing #AmandaChapman

My Goodreads review:

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library (Mrs. Christie, #1)Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was absolutely awesome! I haven’t read a lot of Agatha Christie but I’ve read enough to recognize the basic style the author was going for and totally enjoyed the idea of the Queen of Mystery herself visiting a smallish library that had a library room just like her own. I really liked the key players in the story as well and that young girl that joined the mystery solvers, Mairead, she was a hoot sometimes and honestly just a very cool kid.

The extreme detail of the explanation definitely reminded me of reading an Agatha Christie mystery, and even the skeptical Adrian found himself believing in…something. I loved the lengthy author’s note that told a lot about her writing journey of the book and just mentioned some things that I thought were pretty cool. It looks like it’ll be a series, so I look forward to visiting more with Mrs. Christie.

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

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The Mango Murders review

Tari Hann

This is the fifteenth book in the long-running cozy series Key West Food Critic by Lucy Burdette. Hayley’s grown a lot and changed throughout the series but only in a good way. She’s got a new adventure ahead in this book and rumor has it her mother-in-law might just be sleuthing with her at one point (if anyone remembers Hayley and Helen sleuthing in a previous book, it was pretty funny! Helen’s scary good!). It was just as good in this book too. And little Ziggy even got a moment to shine. Can’t wait for the next book!

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #LucyBurdette

My Goodreads review:

The Mango Murders (Key West Food Critic Mystery #15)The Mango Murders by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this book and how it was completely and totally focused on the mystery at hand and the characters’ lives like it always used to be. For a while there, it seemed some of these books took too much of a political turn, something I absolutely don’t wanna read about especially in cozy mysteries. But there’ve been a few recent books that’ve gotten better and this was definitely one of those! I might have to call this one my fave so far.

When the party cruise Hayley, her mom and Sam were on and helping cater blew up, Hayley did her usual sleuthing thing and once again had Nathan’s mom sleuthing with her. That lady cracks me up! She’s a tough cookie but boy can she get things done in an investigation. Helen did have a little run-in with someone’s motorcycle though. Hayley found herself facing off with a killer again but thanks to a couple of awesome helpers with a sweet four-legged along, quick work was made of the nasty perp. The ending was super sweet and I can’t wait for more in this series!

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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Picking Up the Pieces review

Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Jigsaw Puzzle Mysteries by J.B. Abbott, a pen name for the writing team of Brian Tracey and Jeff Ayers. It appears from the GR bio page to be the team’s first cozy mystery effort and I think they really nailed it! I hope they’ve got a second book in the works because I’ll definitely be reading it.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane

My Goodreads review:

Picking Up the Pieces: A Jigsaw Puzzle MysteryPicking Up the Pieces: A Jigsaw Puzzle Mystery by J.B. Abbott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Katie’s friends all cracked me up! They were the most loyal group of people and all so fun and different, from Mildred who was ninety to Hannah who was still in high school. But they made up the puzzle crew who did puzzle testing for the company Katie worked for. And when there was a murder, they sleuthed together like they’d been amateur sleuths all their lives. Everyone’s particular talents came in handy too.

I felt that Katie was being unnecessarily harsh on Connor at times when he was being sweet and supportive. Then when the entire story of their breakup revealed something else, I really thought she owed him an apology. But once the showdown was over and the perp was caught, it seemed like there might be some hope for the two, even if they just start over as friends at least. And you can always tell who’s worth keeping around when the cat approves! 😉

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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