cozy mystery – Page 71 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

The Trouble with Truth–review

August 29, 2018 Tari Hann

It didn’t take me long to finish this second installment in the Gourmet Cat mystery series by Kathy Krevat, that’s how good it was! Trouble got to be on TV in this book and she took full advantage of living up to her name. 😉 The mystery was interesting and compelling. I think you’ll agree if you decide to read this series that it’s a lot of fun.

My Goodreads review:

The Trouble with Truth by Kathy Krevat

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this second book in the series so much I could barely put it down. Just like the first one, it was well-written and plotted. The story moved along at a good pace, not too slow or fast. I always like that everything gets wrapped up at the end and good explanations are always given, especially since Colbie and Det. Norma are friends.

Since Colbie’s cat food was accepted into a chain of stores, she had to step up production and had hired an 18-year-old girl named Mira, who had grown out of foster care. Mira had written a play about the abuse she and others had experienced while in foster care. Then the guy who was one of her foster dads turned up murdered, and the police had no choice but to think it was her. Everyone was asking Colbie to look into it since she had helped solve a murder a couple of months ago. When another body turned up and some vandalism was done against Colbie, she figured the killer must be feeling threatened. The showdown was great, and Mira got to be hero of the day.

I was glad to see that Quincy Powell returned to the story. He’s officially an investor in Meowio cat food and rents out a nice larger commercial kitchen to Colbie for a good rate. He’s the kind of amazing friend that every small business would be very lucky to have. His PR person, Indigo, was an interesting character. She made sure the biz was posted, tweeted and televised to ensure Colbie’s success. I’m still on the fence about Richard. I hope he doesn’t try to get Colbie back in his life, just Elliott. I like Colbie and Joss together, even their kids approve of the match!

Everything was wrapped up nicely, even with Elliott and his estranged dad who was now interested in being part of his boy’s life, but not in an intrusive way since he had a baby of his own on the way. Colbie had started officially dating Joss and Hank was dating his neighbor Annie (which was so cute). The cat food biz was booming too. I can hardly wait for the next book!

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The Trouble with Murder–review

August 28, 2018August 28, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first in a newer series that came out last December called Gourmet Cat Mysteries, by Kathy Krevat aka Kathy Aarons. She wrote The Chocolate Covered mysteries under that name. There were three in the series. I just love the cat in this series, Trouble. She’s only moody to people who seem to deserve the attitude, lol.

My Goodreads review:

The Trouble with Murder by Kathy Krevat

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an awesome new series! I’ve had this book since it came out, but since the second book was released today, I wanted to be sure I read this one first. There’s another really awesome cat in this story. I just love when the cats like people loving on them, and they do cute or even heroic things. Trouble, the cat in this story, was definitely a hero!

Colbie Summers and her 12-year-old son Elliott had moved to Sunnyside CA to be with her dad who had never totally recovered from pneumonia. Colbie was in a moms’ business group and when their leader was killed after a trade show they had and all the signs pointed to Colbie being the killer, she knew she had to clear her good name as well as her business’ name. With her good friends Lani and Piper on the sidelines cheering her on, Colbie did manage to come up with some information, and she even gained the respect of Detective Norma. There wasn’t exactly a showdown with the killer, but it was still exciting. With the killer confessing and behind bars, Colbie, her friends and family were able to enjoy the musical that Elliott’s summer theater camp was presenting.

I really came to like the detective on the case. She wasn’t so quick to judge Colbie and decide that she did it just because the (planted) evidence pointed that way–unlike her jerk of a partner. I was glad to see him reprimanded for the stunt he pulled, and another detective put on the case. I knew there was a strained relationship with Colbie and her dad, but now that he was living with his grandson and daughter, he was just an old softie. It was really cute when he decided to give Elliott guitar lessons. Colbie’s friend Lani is the type of friend anyone would be grateful for. She just took control when she needed to, with a heart as big as all outdoors. Her wife Piper was in it quite a bit and was also a friend of Colbie’s along with being a doctor. I liked how she could look in on Hank to see how his lungs were healing up and he wouldn’t mind it.

I liked Quincy Powell the minute Colbie met him. Anyone that would wear crazy sneakers because their granddaughter liked them is one good sport. I’m looking forward to him being in the next book more since he’s advising Colbie on her business and is now an investor. And sweet little Trouble–she’s not really a trouble maker unless she doesn’t know or like someone. She sure knew which of the detectives she liked and didn’t like! She’s really a good sport to let Colbie take her to the farmers’ market and sit there with a little chef hat on her head. Just like the cover!

I hadn’t guessed the killer in this, never really saw it coming. There were so many possible suspects, good clues and little twists. Since I have the second book, I’m going to read it right away so all these characters are fresh in my brain!

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Deserts, Driving and Derelicts–review

August 27, 2018August 27, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Campers and Criminals series by well-known author Tonya Kappes. I always love her quirky Southern characters and the down home charm they always bring to the stories she writes. Mae and her friends are quickly becoming some of my favorite Southern characters.

My Goodreads review:

This was another super fun visit to Happy Trails Campground in Normal, KY. I love reading about Mae and all her friends. The Laundry Club is always a lot of fun, I really like all those ladies she’s made friends with. I had absolutely no idea who the killer was, boy was I surprised.

When Mae and a wealthy woman named Tammy Jo found Tammy Jo’s dog nanny dead in her husband’s office, Tammy was jailed for the murder, but Mae knew she couldn’t have done it. Tammy might have been strange enough to have her dog Fifi cloned and have its offspring insured, but she was no killer. In the meantime, Mae’s foster brother, Bobby Ray was in town. Her friend Dottie had a bad feeling about him being there. Mae found Tammy Jo’s expensive watch that had gone missing while plumbing out Bobby’s toilet, so he was arrested for robbery–but was he the killer instead–and were Dottie’s instincts about him correct?

Everything got wrapped up in a fairly quick but very cool showdown. Bobby proved his worth then and the real killer was hauled away. Mae was finally ready for that elusive date with Ty…will it ever happen? I still think I might like Hank for her instead even though Ty is sweet. I guess we’ll just have to keep reading!

Goodbye Cruller World–review

August 25, 2018August 25, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the perfectly cozy mystery series Deputy Donuts. It features the sweetest little cat named Deputy Donut, or Dep for short. She seems to have a sixth sense about a lot of things, especially that she likes handsome Brent, Emily’s husband’s police partner. After her husband’s death, she had sort of abandoned Brent, not realizing he needed some closure too. In the first book, it had them reuniting over Alec as friends. But I do hope they’ll at least get to dating status eventually. He sounds so amazing! I love this book just as much, if not more than the first, and I can’t wait for the next one!

My Goodreads review:

Goodbye Cruller World by Ginger Bolton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even though I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was (and for once I was right!) this was still another fun trip to Fallingbrook, Wisconsin and the Deputy Donut shop. I just love that little cat, Dep! She was even more talkative and cute in this book.

When the groom at a wedding that Tom and Emily were providing donuts for collapsed and died of poisoning, Emily was worried that DCI detective Yvonne Passenmath was focusing on her as being at fault. She was since Passenmath had a major grudge against Emily, Tom and their police friends, but she was also looking at Emily’s friend Jenn who was the new bride. There was no shortage of suspects, and there were some interesting and quirky characters tossed into the mix as well.

I knew who was guilty, but it was interesting to see how the showdown went, which was pretty exciting. I kept expecting a last minute twist since I’m rarely right lol. Everything ended well, except I keep wishing that Emily would let Brent get to be a little more than just friends, but I guess since they just came to grips a year ago with how they both felt about her husband’s death 8 years ago (Brent was his partner and had seen him die), maybe they don’t want to rush things.

I just love the regular characters. Tom is such a sweetheart, who wouldn’t love to have a father-in-law like him? Misty and Samantha are awesome friends for Emily. The three of them are like Nancy, George and Bess when they work on a case. Although Misty is always quick to remind them to let the police do the actual investigating. I’m always anxious for the next book in the series! I hope it’s not a long wait.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book which was provided to me via NetGalley and the publisher.

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Bark Up and Smell the Coffee–review

August 24, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Paws Fur Play series by Stella St. Claire, the author of the Happy Tails Dog Walking series. I love the characters in this series and little Telescope is a pup I would just love to cuddle! He’s fiercely loyal to Willow, his human who adopted him, and he likes showing that just because he’s little and only has three legs, he can do anything he sets his mind to do. I think you’ll like this book as much as I did!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the author via InstaFreebie. The book releases next week, August 28. I’m now anxious for the third book!

My Goodreads review:

Bark Up and Smell the Coffee by Stella St. Claire

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was another awesome book in this series. I just love little Telescope and how intuitive he is to Willow’s needs or thoughts. He got to be a hero in this book too, proving that just because a dog is little, they can still be a good protector.

After the murder of a local B&B owner, Willow’s newest championship-bound client (actually the dog would be the champion-bound one) is suspected of the murder. Willow is sure she didn’t do it, so she sets out to find out who else may have wanted the woman dead. Her sister, Wednesday, was still working at the police department, but she seemed to be slacking a lot in her day job due to an assignment she got from a social news site. Then there was the matter of wanting to date again, and trying to figure out where she stood with Griffin, her high school friend and contractor. Tele got to save the day again in the showdown with the killer, who eventually confessed.

The book had opened with so many things going wrong for Willow, but I was pleased to find that it closed on a very happy note! Let’s just say she’s had an epiphany about dating! I’m really enjoying this series from the story itself to the adorable cover artwork.

I was able to enjoy this book a little early due to receiving an advance copy from the author as part of her ARC team. I would like to say thanks for that! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

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Support Your Local Pug–review

August 24, 2018August 24, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Pet Palace series by Lane Stone. I had only recently discovered this series and after reading the first one, I was hoping to find the second one. Imagine my surprise when I was able to request this second book from NetGalley and read it earlier than its release date (August 28, 2018). I really enjoy reading about Sue and her friends, who live in a real place, Lewes DE. Wags the Pug sounded adorable too!

My Goodreads review:

Support Your Local Pug by Lane Stone

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this second installment in this series, especially the cute Pug that turned out to be central in the story line. I got to visit Lewes, DE again on pages, but the more I hear about it, the more I would love to visit it for real, since unlike a lot of cozy mystery settings, it’s a real place.

What starts out as a murder mystery for Sue and her business partner/new friend Lady Anthea, may also turn into a case of dognapping. With her good friend the police chief John Turner somewhat approving of what she investigates this time, Sue has to make herself think that their good friend Rick’s father, Martin, may be guilty–of something. Sue can’t bring herself to think Martin could commit murder. He was such a character! He would only talk to Sue, and give fake answers as well as fake cry when John interrogated him. Martin was a good comic relief. Now to find a killer who may or may not know where Sue lives without getting herself killed first!

This was another good mystery, a little bit confusing at times, but it all sorted itself out towards the end. There were lots of things to wrap up and I was glad to find that everything was taken care of and explained at the end. Will John ever get his elusive date with Sue? I guess we’ll just have to keep reading and find out! I saw that there’s a third book coming next May and while it seems like a long wait, I noticed that the first and second books also had the same amount of time in between. I had only discovered the series recently, so I didn’t have to wait long to read this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher and would like to thank them for letting me take care of my Pet Palace fix a little early. Release date is August 28, 2018.

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In the Dog House–review

August 19, 2018August 19, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series releasing this Tuesday, August 21. It’s called the Dog Club Mysteries by somewhat newer cozy author V.M (Valerie) Burns, who is making a name for herself among cozy authors with her Mystery Bookshop series. I just loved the dogs in this book and the fact that they weren’t just pretty show dogs. They served an awesome purpose as well. I can’t wait for the next in series to come out!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this via NetGalley and the publisher, but would highly recommend it and will probably end up buying it (if I haven’t pre-ordered already–sometimes I pre-order and I forget!)

Update: I did pre-order this one and I found out the name of the next one and pre-ordered it too. The Puppy Who Knew Too Much comes out on February 12, 2019, my little dachsie’s third birthday!

My Goodreads review:

In the Dog House by V.M. Burns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, this is such a great beginning for this new series! I absolutely loved this book. And those adorable dogs just added to how much I loved it, especially little Aggie! I hope there’s another one coming up soon!

Lilly Echosby had just found out her husband wanted a divorce. He was leaving her for a dumb bimbo named Bambi. The next minute he was found shot, found by said bimbo. Lilly of course was the obvious suspect. With her two grown kids in town for their dad’s funeral and her bestie Dixie by her side, they were determined they were going to find the real killer and clear Lilly’s name. When a second body turned up and she was blamed for that, she only became more determined to tie those two killings together. With the help of a K-9 officer named Joe and his dog Turbo, they cracked the case open and even got the mastermind of it.

This was a really exciting mystery since there was more than the murder going on. Lilly being a CPA had discovered the car dealership her husband had owned had something hinky going on. Officer Joe said he’d help, which I thought was good because he did genuinely want to clear her name, but he could also keep the civilians somewhat safe. I loved reading about the SING self-defense method. I had only read one other book where it was used to take down a bad guy. It was pretty important in nailing someone in this story.

I haven’t despised a character as much as I loathed Bambi in forever. There have only been a handful of characters throughout the books I’ve read that I have literally hated or was hoping they’d become the next victim. The author must have a special gift for being able to instill that, just as she has a gift for describing and telling about adorable dogs. In one scene, I literally had leaky eyes reading about something that happened to little Aggie, the toy poodle Lilly was adopting.

I liked Officer Joe an awful lot and almost hate to think about Lilly possibly leaving town. I hope that her pal Dixie stays in the story, she’s such a hoot, I love her to pieces! Lilly’s grown kids, Stephanie and David were amazing. They had a great relationship with their mom, but were able to show their dad the respect he needed when it was time for the funeral. I hope they make an appearance in future books too! The dogs were definitely stars as well. Poodles may not be attack dogs but just the scene of a grown man being scared when one had taken him down was so comical. What awesomely trained dogs!

If you couldn’t already tell, I’m very anxious for the next book in the series! I volunteered to read this one early via NetGalley and the publisher. Release date is August 21.

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Fillet of Murder–review

August 16, 2018August 16, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Deep Fried series by Linda Reilly. This is a fun idea for a sleuth job, working at a fish and chips restaurant that’s owned by a couple from England who came to Massachusetts to live. I loved these characters and the sweet calico kitty that Talia found that had been abandoned. She named her Bojangles, since she’s living in her Nana’s house and that was Nana’s favorite song.

My Goodreads review:

Fillet of Murder by Linda Reilly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book so much! The main characters were all people that I would want to be friends with in real life. Bea and her husband Howie are such sweethearts, and Rachel is just about the coolest friend a person would want.

When Talia Marby comes home to Wrensdale MA to live in her Nana’s old house and work her old job at Lambert’s Fish and Chips, she never knew she’d be playing amateur sleuth to clear her friend Bea’s name. One of the shop owners who was an insufferable jerk, was found dead in his shop with all signs pointing to Bea since the knife that killed him was a fillet knife. In the meantime, Bea and her husband Howie wanted to sell the shop to Talia so they could start their retirement in Myrtle Beach. With so many events coming and going, Talia at least had her mom and Rachel–and an adorable little calico cat she’d found hanging around, to keep her at least partway sane.

I just loved how she met Ryan, an old classmate, whose dad had early Alzheimer’s. His dad was a sweetie too. I’m glad there’s some sort of guy interest there for her. Rachel has met a guy too, another shop owner had some baby news. Even Talia’s mom had something awesome to tell her.

I loved the showdown with the killer in this book! It was pretty exciting and well, you’ll just have to read it. Let’s just say Arthur, Ryan’s dad being a Shakespeare fan came in really handy. Arthur himself was somewhat of a hero as well. I’m anxious to read the next book in this series and hang out in Wrensdale again soon sometime!

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Staged 4 Murder–review

August 15, 2018August 15, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the third book in one of my favorite newer series, Sophie Kimball written by husband and wife team of J.C. Eaton (Ann Goldfarb and Jim Clapp). If it’s possible, I think they get funnier as they go. There was no shortage of laughs or suspects in this one as the book club ladies took to the stage.

My Goodreads review:

Staged 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m caught up reading in this awesome and hilarious series and now I’m just waiting for the fourth book to come out next year!

This book has Phee’s mom Harriet and her book club friends trying out for a local production of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.” When their main actress (who was also a major pain to work with) was found dead on the theater’s catwalk, there’s no shortage of suspects. As always, Phee was trying to juggle her accounting work at Nate’s office with talking to suspects. At the same time, the new investigator had joined their office. Nate had hired Marshall Gardner, a former detective from the same police department where Phee and Nate worked. Phee always had a secret crush on Marshall, and she was beyond happy to be able to work with him. Among the things they had to deal with were threatening notes left to some of the actresses, and a couple of the ladies swore they even saw the dead woman’s ghost. Nate and Marshall agreed to help and with some extra sleuthing help from an old computer pal, Rolo, they made sure the right person was arrested for the murder.

Boy was I surprised at the murderer! I had no clue, what a great twist at the very end too! I love that Phee and Marshall are in agreement now to get to know one another a little better. Just like in the other books, I found myself laughing like crazy at some of the dialogue with Harriet and her friends. I could just see this playing out on TV. Oh, if you’re reading in order and remember Aunt Ina from the last book, she’s baaack but not till the very end. I loved what Harriet told her when she said she had theater tickets for them all to see “The Mousetrap” in another city.

The end of the book says that the fourth book comes out January 2019. There is also a little preview section on the upcoming second book in the author’s Wine Trail series.

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The Uninvited Corpse–review

August 14, 2018August 14, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first in a new series by Debra Sennefelder that was released earlier this year. What a fun start! I hope you’ll like the characters as much as I did.

My Goodreads review:

The Uninvited Corpse by Debra Sennefelder

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an awesome first book in this new series! I immediately was drawn to the characters and their chemistry with each other. And who doesn’t love it when the pet (a dog in this case) saves the day and nabs the killer? I didn’t guess the killer until the clues pointed that way, great twist.

Hope Early was a lifestyle and food blogger who had just moved back to her hometown of Jefferson, CT. When a local realtor woman was killed in a friend’s home, and Hope’s sister was the main suspect, Hope knew she’d have to work fast to get to the real killer before her fashionable sister ended up wearing orange for the foreseeable future. After another body was found and a couple of attempts were made on Hope’s life, would she even be able to prove her sister’s innocence?

I thought it was sweet that Hope had gone to school with police chief Ethan and had a comfortable friendship type relationship, even though she admitted only to herself she has feelings for him. Although what cozy mystery would be complete without a triangle right? Now there’s also lawyer Matt, who is also handsome as Ethan. Part of me says Team Ethan, but I’m anxious to get to know Matt a little better too. I just loved how Hope, her reporter friend Drew and her mystery author friend, Jane would meet and discuss the case. Jane may have been older, but she had a good head for mysteries and seemed to put them on the right path. Her sister Claire is every bit the fashionista and not one bit crafty like Hope, who makes a living blogging about food, crafts and home. But the two sisters love each other fiercely as Hope showed when she tried to figure out who the real killer was.

I’m anxious to read the next book and spend more time with these delightful characters I’ve just met!

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