cozy mystery – Page 77 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Greyhound at the Gravesite–review

May 7, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series called Pets Reporter by Kyla Colby, who is a new author that just happened to also be a pet reporter at one time. I love dogs to begin with and was thinking how cool it was that Birchwood, IL was so into their dogs. And…my favorite dog, the dachshund, got mentioned several times, even calling a man who had two of them the Dachshund Dad. Hardly anyone mentions dachsies in their books if the dachshund isn’t the star so I just thought that was fun! I personally can’t wait until the next book comes along in this series!

My Goodreads review:

Greyhound at the Gravesite: Pets Reporter Mystery by Kyla Colby

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love this new book by a brand new cozy mystery author! I finished this in one sitting, it was that good. The story had just the right amount of details and the pace never lagged. Everything was just at the perfect speed for a satisfying cozy mystery book. I felt so sorry for Sam coming back to her home town and thinking she was going to be made fun of for leaving her reporter job in Chicago but that never really happened. She was treated with kindness and respect (for the most part!) by her former co-workers at the Bugle where she had done an internship.

Samantha Hodges had been a crime reporter in Chicago but after an embarrassing meltdown she came back to her hometown of Birchwood, IL and got the job of Pets Reporter, working for her old boss Frank at the Birchwood Bugle. I really liked her co-workers Tom and James too. I think they may both be interested in her and she in them so it will be interesting to see if who she ends up with, if either of them. Her good friend Greta was just awesome too, everything someone would want in a best friend who happened to own a cozy and comforting bakery/hotel/apartment where Sam would be soon renting her own place. Sam knew her job was no longer a crime reporter but when a local murder takes place, she feels like she would have been involved anyway since the person killed was supposed to be her first interviewee.

I got such a kick out of Sam’s sister Frances insisting on going along with her to pick up something at the deceased’s house that she’d wanted Sam to have. The police detective, Dan Jasper, wasn’t too happy with Sam when she was investigating. I think he knows and does his job but he isn’t a native to the town for one thing and another, he can’t figure out the fixation with dogs that the people there have. I’m hoping he comes around eventually and starts acting a little bit nicer.

There was a really good twist at the end that I never saw coming so needless to say I hadn’t guessed the killer but if I had I definitely wouldn’t have known their reason. I’m anxious to see what’s next in this series!

There are several yummy recipes in the book and I can honestly see me wanting to make these–they’re from Greta and written as Greta would tell people about them. I love that she uses simple things that aren’t really hard to come by. At the end of the book there’s a page telling how people can read a prequel to this series too.

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Bad Neighbors–review

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the 2nd book in the Agnes and Effie series by Maia Chance. I have the first one but had never had a chance to read it. I do plan to read the first one, Bad Housekeeping, but no worries, if you haven’t read it either, this book will still make sense and you won’t be lost. I know I am now a big Aunt Effie fan and can’t wait for more in the series so in the meantime I’ll need to read the first book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a hardback copy of this book that I was sent.

Bad Neighbors by Maia Chance

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was so funny and entertaining! I just loved the seniors who were staying at the inn, affectionately known as “the gaggle” when Agnes would have to take them all somewhere. Once I started reading, I just couldn’t put it down! Well written with lots of humor and some very fun and likable characters. I hadn’t read the first book but I never felt lost even once reading this one.

When a busload of senior citizens has their bus break down during a leaf-peeping excursion in Naneda, NY, Agnes and her aunt Effie who along with cousin Chester run the Stagecoach Inn, had to get the place ready very quickly for four guests. Since the inn was nowhere really being able to be used by the public, Effie looked at this as a free test run so she treated her guests like royalty. After it was decided that their bus mechanic was murdered and Otis, Agnes’s almost-boyfriend was fingered as the suspect, things went on a crazy roller coaster ride.

I loved how the seniors followed along and tried to help or advise during the unofficial investigation. Even if Otis was being led away from her by new cupcake shop owner Delilah, Agnes knew he wasn’t guilty and continued her investigation efforts. There were definitely plenty of suspects. I had my suspicions which turned out to be right but it was fun being led one way then another. The whole scene with the Leaf Peeping festival queen and princess was pretty funny even though it could have turned deadly. Everything was wrapped up neatly and Aunt Effie had a fun little surprise at the end for her niece and nephew.

Another scene at the hair salon involving Agnes’s eyebrow job was also a funny one that I could just picture in a comedy mystery movie. I think Lo and Myron were my favorite senior couple. Hank was a doctor but being retired he acted more like a 5 year old as far as his needs went and Dorothea just wanted him to notice her. I could imagine wanting to be friends with any and all of the characters in this book, with the exception of the perp and any mean girls that may be mentioned, lol.

I definitely want to read the first book to see how it all got started with the Stagecoach Inn and what mystery they got into in that first book.

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Lethal Licorice–review

May 4, 2018 Tari Hann

“When the pig went missing, I knew there would be trouble,” Bailey King, Lethal Licorice by Amanda Flower. How can anyone resist a book that has that for an opening line? Especially if that person has read the first in this series, Assaulted Caramel, and already knows about the silly little spotted pig known as Jethro! (If you don’t, you should really read that first book but this one works fine as a stand alone.)

My Goodreads review:

Lethal Licorice by Amanda Flower

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, this was a great second book in what I had already decided is one of my favorite series back when I read the first book. How could you go wrong with a book that has an opening line of “When the pig went missing, I knew there would be trouble.” And trouble there was! From murder to possible sabotage/framing to rumspringa, this story has a lot of issues to resolve.

In Harvest, Ohio the Amish Confectionary Contest was a huge thing. Since Bailey has moved there and given up her NY chocolatier career to help her Amish grandma in their shop Swissmen Sweets, she naturally assumed she’d be in the contest as well since even though she herself was not Amish, the shop was and she was using Amish methods, meaning no modern shortcuts.

Of course a local woman Josephine, who wasn’t well liked to begin with, found fault with this and complained every chance she got even though the judges were in agreement, one being kind of grudgingly in agreement. Most people thought Josephine got what she deserved when she was found by her niece Charlotte, who was going through her rumspringa time. Josephine didn’t have to worry about whether Bailey should be in the contest anymore. This put both Charlotte and Bailey first on the suspect list even though good-hearted deputy Aiden Brody knew in his heart neither had done it. Bailey was determined to find out what really happened.

There were definitely a lot of good suspects in this and I have to say I sure didn’t see the ending coming. I had no idea who did it and was very surprised by the person as well as the reason.

Going back to the first line in the book, yes the little pig Jethro who belonged to Juliet Brody, deputy sheriff Aiden Brody’s mother, went missing and the whole town went looking for him. I remember the little pig from the first book being such a stinker so this story line was pretty entertaining since I knew that nothing bad could possibly happen to little Jethro. He was found, the perp was caught and everything with Charlotte worked out as well. I really liked the character of Charlotte and I hope she might be in the next book or maybe drop by in the future.

I highly recommend this well-written and entertaining book that I read in one day. Can’t wait till the next book comes out!

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Murder at the Mushroom Festival–review

May 4, 2018May 4, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Kelly Jackson series by Janet Finsilver. Kelly is the new and now permanent manager of the Redwood Cove Inn and is enjoying her inn family and small seacoast town when another murder comes her way. With her friends, the Silver Sentinels, they now have another case to work on.

My Goodreads review:

Murder at the Mushroom Festival by Janet Finsilver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had only read the first book in this series but when this one was released I couldn’t resist jumping ahead. Just like the first, this mystery was well-written and plotted out. I did somewhat guess the killer (although I was second guessing myself at one point) but there were a couple of smaller mysteries going on that I didn’t really have any idea who was behind those.

Kelly jackson was still sort of new at her job as manager of the Redwood Cove inn and she was looking forward to the upcoming Mushroom Festival featuring a mushroom hunt and other outdoor activities. The meals at the inn were being put together by a woman named Elise running a class on mushrooms. Everything was going great until a local reporter (who a couple of people had had issues with) covering the event turned up murdered and someone else in the group was nearly poisoned. Kelly was worried that her friend Daniel who worked at a neighboring inn was going to be charged with the murder.

This was another job for the Silver Sentinels, a group of senior citizens who had formed in the first book to look into crime in the area and help the police with many extra sets of eyes. Kelly was an honorary member since her inn provided their meeting space. In fact, her boss had even named the conference room after them since he was so impressed by their previous crime solving attempts. I really enjoy each and every one of this special group. They all have their own special talents to contribute to the group and everyone discusses what they find out and assigns themselves to another aspect of the case.

I remembered the main characters from the first book and it was fun to go back and visit with Daniel, Helen and her son Tommy. A cute side story in this had Tommy trying to teach Fred the basset hound how to roll over. I really love that there were a couple of little side mysteries along with the extra real life touches such as the veterans with PTSD that were receiving service dogs trained at the community center that Scott ran, or just receiving a home at the community center. There was a nice shout-out to diabetes trained dogs as well as those dealing with their own diabetes. It was refreshing that Deputy Stanton wasn’t one of the grumpy cops I read about so much in these mysteries. He was kind, hard-working and genuinely interested in having the Silver Sentinels help with cases. He gave them respect and I really respected him for that.

I do want to go back and read the books that I missed. Redwood Cove is such a fun place to visit!

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Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes–review

April 25, 2018April 25, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first in a new series called Daisy’s Tea Garden by Karen Rose Smith. I love starting a brand new series–that way I can’t really be too far behind, right? The tea room is in a old Victorian and just seems like the perfect setting for such a place. Daisy and her aunt made sure it was pleasing to men and women, not so fancy and frilly that guys wouldn’t be caught dead there. Well one does end up dead but you’ll have to read it and find out why! I can’t wait for the second book. There was a teaser excerpt that definitely left me anxious for when it comes out!

My Goodreads review:

Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an awesome start for a brand new series. I thought it was really well-written, descriptions were just right as in not over the top descriptive and I could totally picture this little town in Pennsylvania near Amish country with all its fun shops. There were a lot of characters but I never felt overwhelmed since each one was dealt with in such a way that I felt like I knew them, even if it was someone the reader isn’t really supposed to like.

Daisy and her aunt Iris had opened Daisy’s Tea Garden in Willow Creek, PA a couple years ago after Daisy’s husband Ryan had passed. She and her girls, Jazzi and Vi, had moved back home from FL. The tea room and garden were doing pretty well until Aunt Iris’s almost-fiance was murdered in the garden. Since the police had it in their minds that Iris was guilty, Daisy knew she had to investigate and get it solved before her aunt ended up in jail.

Daisy’s old friend Cade who had been her high school crush was cautious and didn’t want her to investigate but her new friend Jonas who owned a nearby furniture store had been a detective in Pittsburgh and while he knew the dangers of investigating, he understood Daisy’s need to do that. With two guys in her life now, each one of them being super nice, Daisy had her share of confusion although she admitted to herself that Jonas sparked a little something in her when he was around. It’ll be interesting to see which one she ends up with. At this point, I don’t even know which one I prefer–I like them both! Jonas did seem more attentive but he was also helping with a little side story of helping Jazzi, Daisy’s adopted daughter, find out who her birth mom was.

The many fun characters weren’t hard to keep separate. They were distinctive and some were quirky. Aunt Iris was very sweet and could be feisty when riled so I really enjoyed reading about her. I was sad about her fiance but knowing her, she may find someone else. I also really liked Sean, Daisy’s dad who seemed to be the voice of calm and collected in the family when his wife Rose and her sister Iris didn’t agree on things. It wasn’t daytime drama disagreements or anything though. They were still a very close family and realized that family did indeed come first. I liked the addition of college age Foster helping in the tea room–Daisy’s daughter Vi was really eyeing him up!

I had a feeling and was right about the killer but there were lots of clues sprinkled throughout early enough that even though I got distracted thinking someone else could have done it, I kept coming back to the same person. It was a great take down, equally acted on by all parties and pretty exciting. The ending was pretty sweet too!

There were some of the tea room’s recipes in the back, definitely the one for the lemon tea cakes along with a little teaser excerpt for the next book which I know I’ve probably pre-ordered or will be getting. I am sold on this series and its delightful characters!

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A Disguise to Die For–review

April 24, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first in the Costume Shop series by well-known author Diane Vallere. I’d been hoping to get to this series soon so when one of the book clubs I’m in on Facebook chose it, I was excited to read it. I mean how cool is a costume shop called Disguise DeLimit, where the protagonist, Margo, dresses as someone different every day?

My Goodreads review:

A Disguise to Die For by Diane Vallere

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m so glad one of my online book clubs picked this for their April book because this is yet another one of the series I’ve been wanting to start for awhile. I loved the whole idea of running a costume shop and the fact that our main sleuth, Margo, grew up with the business and now she’s in a position to help out her dad when he needs the help.

Margo Tamblyn was a magician’s assistant by trade in Las Vegas but she was from small town Proper City, NV. She was still at the point of finding herself having gone through many jobs before settling into Vegas. Her dad’s health called her home and since it was just the two of them (her mom died giving birth to her 32 years ago) she went home, no questions asked. Her visit home and running the shop might be extended since she ended up trying to clear her friend Ebony of murdering the town spoiled brat man-child at his birthday party that Ebony had catered and Margo’s shop had sold the costumes to him. Ebony had been like a mom to her since she was five and Margo was determined, with the help of Tak, a DA office friend of just about everyone in town. Hopefully Margo herself won’t become the killer’s next victim!

I really loved this eclectic mix of characters! From Margo herself, her dad Jerry, Bobby Kay who was Margo’s bestie and of course Ebony who unfortunately was caught holding what looked like a murder weapon at the scene. The female detective wasn’t totally unlikable as in some books I’ve read and even the guy who was killed had his nicer moments especially when Margo’s friend Bobby explained about his charitable side and how down deep, he really was just missing his real dad who had passed away.

I definitely didn’t guess the killer this time, what a surprise along with an exciting but nail biting take down! The ending was really satisfying too and I’m anxious to read more in this awesome series!

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Read Herring Hunt–review

April 23, 2018April 23, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in V.M. (Valerie) Burns’s Mystery Bookshop series where protagonist Samantha “Sam” Washington runs a mystery bookstore but is also writing her own cozy, a historical set in 1938 England. Sort of a book within a book, a bonus story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book which releases, tomorrow, April 24, 2018. I am really enjoying this series and can’t wait for the next book!

My Goodreads review:

Read Herring Hunt by V.M. Burns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Six months have passed in this story line since the last book and it was now fall. Dawson had gotten back to college and was a star football player going out with a very overbearing girl that he ended up breaking up with mainly because he could tell she was just a gold digger. When she ended up dead, all fingers pointed to Dawson so Sam and the Senior Sleuths knew that they had their job cut out for them. Dawson’s abusive dad was in the picture again, making things even more complicated but the sleuths wouldn’t let that deter them from finding out the truth. Hopefully no one else will get killed in the process!

This was another fun read and I think it was even better than the first book. As with the first book, whenever Sam needed a break from real life, she turned to her historical cozy she was writing which was set in 1938 England.

I just love how Nana and her friends get into the case and can come up with information from personal contacts and as in the case of Dorothy, going on dates with various men. Sam had two new male interests in her life but was one of them someone she should watch out for? One of them ends up being ok to date and I’m looking forward to her continuing her friendship with this man.

I did guess who did it this time too but I credit that with good clues that led up to it. I didn’t know the full reasoning so I can’t say I totally guessed. The take down was once again really exciting because it involved the seniors. At the end, Sam got a couple of wonderful surprises, which is another reason I just love her Nana Jo!

There was an excerpt for the next book which I am anxious to read but I wanted to get my review done first. You can’t go wrong with this well-written, fun mystery!

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Knit, Purl, Die–review

April 19, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Black Sheep Knitting series and part of the first three book set that I borrowed from Overdrive recently. I’m really enjoying the story of five women who love to knit, gossip a little and solve murders. The reader gets a little glimpse into each one of their lives at different times in the book since the book is written third person.

My Goodreads review:

Knit, Purl, Die by Anne Canadeo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the first book in this series so much that I couldn’t resist going on to the second book and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The little knitting group had grown by one person, an old friend of Maggie’s, Gloria who had just moved back to Plum Harbor with her very young new husband, Jamie. The girls all enjoyed being around Gloria, she was so full of life…until someone decided to murder her. Only problem was that the police figured it was an accidental drowning since it happened in her own pool and her tox screen showed painkillers and alcohol in her system which apparently seemed normal to the investigators.

In true Black Sheep fashion, the friends took poor grieving Jamie under their wing and vowed to find out what really happened to Gloria.

I really enjoy how they have their little morning meetings and sometimes a few of them will join Maggie at the shop for lunch. This investigation was pretty much entirely done by the ladies in the group since the police had already dismissed it as accidental drowning. I did like that for once the ending didn’t have anyone in danger. The case definitely wrapped up well and even though I had some suspicions throughout the book, I hadn’t guessed the outcome that tied them all together.

Since I borrowed the first 3 books in one e-volume from Overdrive, I plan to go ahead and read the next book before it expires, a good way to cross off some TBRs.

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Sprinkle with Murder–review

April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the long running Cupcake Bakery series by Jenn McKinlay. Jenn also writes the Book Lovers series and the Hat Shop series. The latest Cupcake Bakery book just came out but I wanted to start at the beginning. I was glad when a Facebook book club I’m in decided to read this book for April 2018 because I’d been wanting to get started reading it. Book clubs are great for that!

My Goodreads review:

Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Melanie, Angie and Tate have been best friends for years and now Tate was getting married to fashion designer, Christie Stevens. The 3 friends co-own Fairy Tale Cupcakes who of course got the order for the reception. Christie was such a bridezilla though that she wanted to own the flavors. When Mel took over the samples, she found Christie dead in her studio and soon became the prime suspect. Of course with half the town thinking she did it as well as the police and the press, Mel was determined to clear her name and Tate’s, who somehow got dragged in and depicted as Mel’s old boyfriend by the press. Mel’s arch nemesis Olivia, who owns a rival bakery in another part of town would probably be thrilled if Fairy Tale Cupcakes went poof! Mel had to get answers fast before she ended up in jail.

This was such an awesome group of main characters! I loved the idea of three childhood friends meeting every week and watching old movies like these three did. Uncle Stan who was a detective seemed like a teddy bear and just the best person to have around. I could really relate to what Mel said about seeing her father’s face every time she looked at Stan. I have two uncles left that make me think of my sweet dad every time I see them. I loved how protective of Angie all her brothers were. I never had a big brother so even though to her it was a pain, I thought it was kind of sweet how they looked out for her, well maybe a little extreme at times! 😉

The only character I didn’t like one little bit was the rival baker, Olivia. She was just plain mean spirited and awful! Am I bad person for wishing she was out of the way or becomes out of the way in a future book?

I sure thought I had the killer picked out but what a cool twist at the end. The take down was exciting and actually kind of funny because I could picture it happening in a movie. Things got wrapped up and the killer was hauled off to jail. The story ending after the killer was dealt with was very sweet but I won’t give any of it away. I can’t wait to read the next book!

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While My Pretty One Knits

April 17, 2018April 17, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Black Sheep Knitting series by Anne Canadeo. If you like books like the Seaside Knitting series where a group of friends get together and act as the sleuths for the case, then you will also like this one. I really liked it a lot and plan to read on in the series.

My Goodreads review:

While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Five good friends have a knitting club at their friend Maggie’s shop, Black Sheep Knitting. When a rival yarn shop owner is found dead in her own shop, Maggie is the first one the police look to since it’s no secret the two of them didn’t get along well even though Maggie tried to tolerate the other shop owner, Amanda. Maggie had just hosted well known knitting author Cara Newsome who had just written her second book and was looking into having a TV series as well. She’d hoped that would help promote her shop but now with the town thinking she’s guilty of murder or even a person of interest, things aren’t looking too great for her business. Her faithful friends are not about to let Maggie go down since they all know she’s innocent.

This was such an enjoyable mystery and story of how five women came together over the love of knitting, something that has actually been making a comeback with younger people. The little group consisted of five very different women of all ages but the thing they all had in common was the love of their art and soon, their friendship and camaraderie with each other, along with helping Maggie of course.

I did guess the killer but not really for the reason that was given at first, although the clues were planted and as it unfolded I saw the why. There weren’t a whole lot of people in the story line that could have done it but I think it was written so we the readers could guess it. The take down was pretty cool, Maggie was proven innocent and the perp even confessed. After that the girls all thought they should name their knitting group the Black Sheep even though Maggie was no longer the black sheep in Plum Harbor. She said there was a touch of black sheep in all of them, referring to their snooping, gathering gossip and doing whatever clandestine thing it took to save her from a murder charge.

At the end of the book, Phoebe shares her Jell-o dye recipe, Maggie shares some felting resources, Lucy shares a few sock monkey hat resources since she was knitting those for her nieces and Suzanne shares her famous guacamole dip recipe. I thought it was fun that the notes were written from the actual characters. I’m definitely going to read more in this series!

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