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

Hair of the Dog–review

May 23, 2018May 23, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Cypress Cove series by Carlene O’Neil. She is a new to me author and while normally I would rather have started at the beginning of the series, I couldn’t resist when I saw some of the other reviews coming in. I definitely like this author’s style. It’s smooth, easy reading meaning it has just enough description to picture where it all takes place but there isn’t anything unnecessary. The dialogue sounds natural too–that’s always a huge factor for me.

My Goodreads review:

Hair of the Dog by Carlene O’Neil

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the first book in this series I’ve read but it was so good that I’m going to go back and read the first two books. I’m really liking these characters!

Penny Lively had been a photojournalist and now that she was back in her hometown of Cypress Cove, running the winery that was left to her by her aunt, she seemed to be a dead body magnet. Unfortunately the latest one she’s found is the body of her cousin Annie’s business partner at their veterinary clinic. The suspects are plentiful and when Penny discovers a second body, she knows the killer isn’t just playing games. Things are getting dangerous and she’s afraid she or her cousin could be next! Of course warnings from her winery manager (and favorite guy) Connor as well as Lucas, the police chief have never done any good to keep her off the case. It does get wrapped up fairly nicely with an odd twist at the end but it was so good!

With all the great twists and turns in the plot and so many good suspects, I never guessed the killer but definitely enjoyed the ride in finding them out. One clue planted by the author told me who it was but by then I think we were supposed to be figuring it out.

I really enjoyed these characters. I’m not sure if Annie was in the other two books but Connor and Hayley, Penny’s manager and assistant manager at the winery are amazing to have as friends and family–Hayley is also Penny’s niece who happens to date chief Lucas. Lucas is sort of a good mix of the typical cop in these stories. He’s not so hardened that he’s ready to toss Penny in jail for interfering. He does actually admit that she’s helped and even gave her a little assignment of her own this time. I do have some other books I want to get to but I ordered the first two in this series so I’m ready to read when I find some extra time! (I hope there is going to be more in the series since I like what’s developing between Connor and Penny!)

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Mission Impawsible–review

May 22, 2018May 22, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the fourth in the Paws and Claws series by Krista Davis. This is one series that I could so easily read and re-read as long as I was in between books that I want to or have promised to read for reviews. I can’t get enough of Wagtail and would love to stay at the Sugar Maple Inn!

My Goodreads review:

Mission Impawsible by Krista Davis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was another fun adventure spent in Wagtail. Just like the others, there is never anything dark or depressing about these books, they are just sheer enjoyment. I don’t think I’ve ever guessed who the killer was in any of them due to the amazing plot twists and turns the author takes us on. Every time I read a Paws and Claws book, I feel like I’m back among friends.

There was a matchmaking event going on in Wagtail in this installment. It was summertime and people were wanting to fall in love. Renowned matchmaker Macon Stotts had matched up the guests at Sugar Maple Inn that weekend. It was also a weekend where people could hang out with a dog and see if they were compatible. The local shelter WAG had sent some sweet candidates over to spend the weekend. Everything seemed fine until the first body was found. It was a man who was not well-liked and he had a note in his pocket from Holly’s grandma. Holly wasn’t sure if this would implicate Oma or not but she wasn’t going to stand around and let it happen. As it turned out, Ben, her ex-boyfriend was among the people coming to be matched. He was able to help with the investigation. Holly herself might have even found a new guy to be interested in but as with a lot of the folks, she was finding out all was not what it seemed.

This mystery featured Zelda, who worked at the inn and was a self-proclaimed pet psychic. I’ve always liked Zelda and thought it was fun to have her included in a lot of the book this time. That way we readers get to know the not-quite-main characters a little bit better. In this series, Holly doesn’t quite have the typical best friend that we see the main character having and I like seeing her interact with either Zelda or Shelly, although Shelly wasn’t in this one very much, just mentioned as serving here and there. I was really pleased with the happy ending–not only did the humans (who weren’t the killer) have a good end, the dogs did too!

I’ll have to say bye to Wagtail for awhile since I have a real and virtual pile of books calling to me but I will be back, Trixie and Twinkletoes! Even if I have to re-read until another book comes out! 😉

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A Battered Body–review

May 18, 2018May 18, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in the Supper Club series by Ellery Adams. The series has become one of my favorites. I’m always anxious to see what my friends in Quincy’s Gap, VA are up to. I did jump ahead a little bit since I wanted to do a review for NetGalley but I since bought the book as well. I’m definitely going to read books 3 and 4 so I can feel caught up more to go on to the sixth.

The seventh book is releasing soon after quite a hiatus. Ellery Adams teamed up with author Rosemary Stevens for book 7 which will be “Pasta Mortem.”

My Goodreads review:

The Battered Body by Ellery Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really love this series and these wonderful friends who originally got together to lose weight but have become more than just sleuths. They’re true best friends that have each others’ backs no matter what.

In this book, James’ dad and a cooking teacher name Milla (Camilla) were getting married on Christmas Eve. Since Milla’s younger sister was a celebrity baker, she had agreed to make the cake and other items for the wedding. When Paulette was found with her cake batter all over her face, it appeared to be an accident but Lucy who was now a deputy, didn’t feel right with the accidental ruling so she and her supper club friends set out to do one of the things they did best together…investigate!

It seems like all of the friends had some sort of epiphany in this book that was really enjoyable to read about. What’s cool about this series is that it’s not just a mystery story. Each story is one that’s also about friendships. I’m not sure why I wanted to read this book out of order (it wasn’t a problem at all, I’m just particular that way). It didn’t ruin anything for me. There are a couple of fun surprises that happen to some of our favorites. I love that James now has a mom in his life again and that his dad is living grouchily happily ever after! I think I will go back and get caught up before reading the sixth book though.

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Murder Most Howl–review

May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 Tari Hann

In one of the Facebook book clubs I’m in, we’re discussing an entire series, a month at a time. The series is Paws and Claws by Krista Davis. I adore this series! The whole town of Wagtail is based around dogs and cats so that would be a fun place to go visit if it was real. For May, we are reading the third book in the series, Murder Most Howl, which happens to be the name of the murder mystery weekend game that the guests at the Sugar Maple Inn in the book are playing. I may just hang around Wagtail and read the fourth book. That way I’ll be a little bit ahead for our June discussion!

My Goodreads review:

Murder Most Howl by Krista Davis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fun visit to one of my favorite fictional towns, Wagtail! As usual, this one didn’t disappoint at all. It was a murder mystery weekend in January at the Sugar Maple Inn and Holly’s friend Val who owned the pub Hair of the Dog, was one of the people planning it. Val had come up with 100 clues to be placed in the inn and around various businesses. Players collected fake weapons which allowed them to find out secrets about their fellow players. This was a great idea to boost business in January but no one counted on a real murder, later followed by an attempted murder to complicate things!

I loved how the weekend also included letting people interact with various dogs from the Wagtail If the Dog Fits program. Three dogs got their forever homes that weekend and Trixie, Gingersnap and some of the guest dogs and cats got extra playmates for a few days.

As with the previous books, this one was a page turner and had me guessing the whole time who the killer was. I was pretty surprised at the end and the interesting reasoning/plotting. The take down was great, assisted by who else, one of the soon to be adopted dogs, Rooster, whose name got changed to Duke.

I missed the presence of Holly’s grandma Oma and her good friend Rose (Holmes’s grandma) but I do love Mr. Huckle who did an amazing job of filling in. At the beginning it explained Oma and Rose were on a two week relaxation cruise. When Oma returned, she was super proud of Holly and how she’d managed to keep her cool despite a murder, power outages, blizzards and everything else that happened that weekend. I’d like to stay in Wagtail awhile so I might just start the fourth book soon!

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Cake and Punishment–review

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the very first book in what I hope will be a long-running series by well-known and established author Tonya Kappes, writing under the pen name of Maymee Bell. I love the other series books I’ve read by Tonya so I knew this was going to be a fun series as well. I know that Tonya went all out to make this the really awesome book that it is. She even took cake decorating lessons so she would completely know what it’s like to bake and professionally decorate a cake like what Sophia does in her story. You will love this book!

My Goodreads review:

Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I did not want this book to end, that’s how good it was! From the small town Southern setting to the amazing characters and their overall chemistry with one another, I loved everything there was about this mystery. I do admit that I was able to guess the killer but it was fun seeing how that person got caught. Retribution came swiftly to the killer at the end, but to me it was very satisfying.

Sophia Cummings was head pastry chef for The Manhattan, an exclusive New York restaurant, who, after finding her boyfriend Noah, their main chef, with the hostess, needed some time away to keep herself sane. She came back to her hometown of Rumford, KY where just about right away she found herself the cake baker for her good friend Charlotte’s wedding. The more word spread about Sophia’s amazing desserts, the more people just assumed she would be staying. Sophia even let herself dream about staying every so often when she saw that the local bakery had closed. Conveniently, her friend Madison was the listing agent for it as well as a very cute little cottage.

Sophia didn’t think there would ever be a murder in this small town but when the country club chef was found dead and Evelyn, the general manager became the main suspect, Sophia felt it was only right to clear her longtime friend who had given her her first job right there at the country club. Hopefully Sophia and her other friend Madison can figure out who the killer is before Sophia becomes the next one killed!

This book had so many fun and likable characters! Sophia’s mom, Bitsy, was a real trip! She had a way of getting her way all the time but everyone loved her for the kind person she was. I felt like any of the main characters would make for some really good friends especially Madison and Charlotte. At first I wasn’t sure whether to trust Charlotte’s fiance Brett or some of the other suspects to choose from. I did pick the correct one but I feel like the author helped a lot by planting clues that I picked up on.

I could totally picture this book as a TV mystery movie since it has everything they look for in a very sweet but compelling mystery. There was a wedding, a budding romance, a few tense or scary moments but the very happy ending that I always love when I read a cozy mystery. This book fit everything I have come to expect in a great cozy! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance e-copy of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

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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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