cozy mystery – Page 78 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

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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The Plot Is Murder–review

April 16, 2018April 16, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Mystery Bookshop series by a newer author, V.M. or Valerie Burns. It was kind of nice that it focused completely on the mystery itself and solving it. Sam, the main character had recently lost her husband so there was no romantic hunky guy to sweep her off her feet. I’m not opposed to a little romance in my cozies, it’s fun. But sometimes it’s also fun to not have it at all.

My Goodreads review:

The Plot Is Murder by V.M. Burns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an awesome start for a new series! This was a well-written book with a mystery in a mystery. Bookshop owner Samantha Washington is also writing a British cozy set in 1938, so it was fun to get a peek first hand at what she was writing and see that case solved right along with the main case.

Sam had recently lost her husband Leon to cancer but carried out both their dreams of owning a mystery bookshop. When the shady real estate agent who was trying to block the sale at the last minute ended up dead out in her courtyard, Sam was of course the prime suspect. Her feisty grandma, Nana Jo (gotta love this lady, she’s awesome!) and her posse of equally feisty and fun senior ladies from her retirement village all stepped in to help Sam. In fact a lot of their sleuthing was done faster and easier than what Sam could find online, although Nana Jo was no stranger to an iPad. Hopefully the real killer would be found before they strike again.

I just love it when seniors are spotlighted as the clever and wonderful people that they are and when the younger people in their lives actually show some appreciation for them. Nana and her friends were so much like the Golden Girls and then some, lol. I laughed out loud when Nana kept calling the detective by his nickname from when she taught him in school!

I thought the idea of having Dawson there was really a good one. Dawson was a college age guy that Sam met early in the story and eventually hired him as summer help. He was being physically and verbally abused by his dad at home so Sam and Nana stepped in to get him away from that situation. I love how he just took over the baking of treats for the bookstore and I’m anxious to see what happens in future books–hoping that Sam’s tearoom will open and they’ll be able to sell his scrumptious goodies there.

The toy poodles, Snickers and Oreo were so adorable! Poodles this size may not be attack dogs but they sure made good guard and watch dogs.

I did guess the killer but I think there were enough clues planted so that the reader could do this if they wanted to guess. The take down was epic! Let’s just say perp + Nana and Co. can’t end well for him! 😉 When the main case was wrapped up, so was the book that Sam was working on. It was interesting to see her switch off to writing as her own life got hectic. Writing is what calmed her down so when Sam needed an escape, we got the next chapter in her mystery.

The end of the book had an excerpt from the next book. I can hardly wait to read that one!

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On the Chopping Block–review

April 14, 2018April 14, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first in the Callie’s Kitchen series by Jenny Kales. It takes place in fictional Crystal Bay, Wisconsin in the fall and the town is getting ready to award the Taste of Crystal Bay prize to a deserving restaurant owner. I’ve been wanting to start this series and am glad I finally did!

My Goodreads review:

On the Chopping Block by Jenny Kales

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a well-written and thought out mystery! I definitely didn’t guess who the killer was and there were plenty of suspects to pick from, some good twists and some little side mysteries as well.

Callie Costas is a divorced mom of a 10 year old girl who is trying to build her dream, Callie’s Kitchen, which is a Greek inspired restaurant. Everything seems to be going well until Callie finds her boyfriend, Drew, stabbed to death in his home the night they were supposed to have dinner there together. With Callie being first on the scene and also a contender for a local restaurant contest, it’s not looking very good for her since Detective Sands has her in his radar as #1 suspect. Of course Callie isn’t going to listen to him or her friend/lawyer, Samantha, so she proceeds to look into the case on her own to clear her name.

I just loved all these characters and their strong family ties. George, Callie’s dad was everything you’d expect in a protective papa bear type figure. He loved Callie so much especially since he and her Grandma Viv had raised her since she was little. Grandma Viv was such a cool character too. She even insisted on a ride along when Callie need to go do some snooping. Sam was definitely someone I would want as a friend and lawyer, very faithful but definitely earning her fees as Callie sometimes forgot to tell her things about the case.

I liked that Callie wasn’t bitter and hateful of her ex husband Hugh and his new wife Raine for her daughter Olivia’s sake. Raine wasn’t even the usual hateful new wife, she was almost like a puppy dog that wanted to please. I think she felt like she and Callie could be BFFs, lol and she was very good to Livvie (who called her Raine the Pain) It was more realistic because families do have to adjust to situations like this and try to get along with one another.

Max was another fun character. It’ll be fun getting to know him and the rest of the characters in the next books which I’m very anxious to read. I’m also anxious to see how things progress between Callie and her detective friend. There are some really yummy sounding recipes in the back of the book. Those creme brulee cupcakes sound amazing!

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Mayhem at the Orient Express–review

April 10, 2018April 12, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the League of Literary Ladies series by Kylie Logan which takes place on South Bass, an island in Lake Erie. I’d been wanting to start this series for a long time so when it was chosen for an online book club, I was happy to dive into it. The book discussion never happened since the club was discontinued but I wanted to read it anyway and I’m so glad I did!

My Goodreads review:

Mayhem at the Orient Express by Kylie Logan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an awesome start to a series I’ve been wanting to read for quite awhile. Who knew that three unlikely women could actually become friends? I really loved how reading was what brought them together, even though one of them started out by watching the DVD of the book. It was fun how parts of the mystery paralleled the Agatha Christie book “Murder on the Orient Express the ladies were reading.

Bea Cartwright, owner of a B&B on South Bass island in Lake Erie has just about had it with two of her neighbors. They all have mutual complaints and since they can’t get along, the court magistrate sentences them to one year of book discussions which he hopes will force them to get along. Toss in a murder investigation and the three women along with one woman, Luella, who actually wanted to be in the library’s book club, learn how to work together in a peaceful way to uncover a murder plot and the perp. There was no shortage of suspects and clues as well as some laughs along the way.

I really enjoyed the different characters in the book and thought it was cool how their life after the murder mirrored the book the group was reading. The murder happened in town but since a snowstorm started, no one had left the island. That told them that there may just be a murderer in the B&B since it’s been the safe haven from the storm since there’s a generator for power.

It’s interesting that Bea had a secret past as well, some of which she looked back at and explained. Bartender Levi had figured out part of it and I’m hoping that in future books we get to hear a little more about Bea’s past and that maybe she and Levi will become friends. I loved how the characters changed as the mystery went on. They learned to care about each other and of course due to the snowstorm, everyone had to come together and make the best of the situation.

This was a fun, well-written book and I am definitely going to continue reading this series.

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All I Want for Christmas Is Fudge–review

April 5, 2018April 12, 2018 Tari Hann

This is more of a short story/novella and is numbered as #3.5 on Goodreads so that’s the numbering I like to stay with. I love these little in between stories that series have but I tend to be a stickler on getting them put in the right place and in between the correct books. It was different reading it from Jenn’s point of view instead of Allie’s this time.

My Goodreads review:

All I Want for Christmas Is Fudge by Nancy CoCo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you want a quick, happy ending mystery, then this is definitely for you! I thought it was pretty cool to begin with that this book is written from Jenn’s point of view.

Time jumping from late summer to just before Christmas: Jenn is Allie’s best friend who has missed Mackinac Island so much from when she went back to Chicago at the end of summer, that she is there for a week for Christmas and the Santa Fun Run 10k.

I was so used to recently reading the previous books told from Allie’s viewpoint that I had to remember who “I” was, but it was a lot of fun hearing about the other characters from Jenn’s viewpoint–I also really liked her description of her bestie, Allie.

And just like Allie, Jenn must have a tendency to find bodies because she finds one of the Santa Run participants in a snow bank one of the first mornings she was there doing her morning run. Since no one else was around, of course she’s the person of interest even though the police realize she couldn’t have done it due to later evidence.

The dead man had a girlfriend, a dog and a couple of other friends plus a stalker so there were plenty of suspects. Even though this was a shorter book, it wasn’t lacking for clues and suspense since I didn’t guess who the killer was till it was revealed. I love when Allie gathers everyone around like in the old books and some TV shows, to reveal the killer.

One person Jenn was especially anxious to see was her summer boyfriend, Shane the CSI guy on the island but he seemed a little distant so that was a little side story which turned out really well at the end.

I would love to see a future book in the series set at Christmas but have it be a regular length book. I want to hear about the Christmas festivities on the island and spend time at the McMurphy with my character friends there!

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Dead As a Doornail–review

April 4, 2018April 12, 2018 Tari Hann

This is book five in the Kenni Lowry series by Tonya Kappes. I read and reviewed an advance copy of the book even though I have it pre-ordered for its release May 15, 2018. Every time I read one of these books, I thoroughly enjoy it and wish that I could really go to Cottonwood, Kentucky and meet all the fun residents there.

My Goodreads review:

Dead As A Doornail by Tonya Kappes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just love coming back to Cottonwood KY for a visit! I really enjoy these amazing and sometimes quirky characters that all live there. My favorite character of course is Poppa’s ghost who unfortunately only appears when there’s been a murder, but hey, it wouldn’t be a murder mystery series without one, right?

Kenni Lowry was trying to enjoy her day off by using a gift card given to her by her deputy now boyfriend, Finn Vincent. She was sitting in Tiny Tina’s hair and nail salon soaking in more than just the water Tina used on her cuticles. When local busybody and all around sometimes nuisance, Lucy Ellen Lowell is found dead at her home early next morning by her husband Darnell, Kenni knows just from Poppa’s presence that this is not just a heart attack.

Add the possible homicide investigation to the mix of Mayor Ryland and Polly Parker’s upcoming wedding and you have a sometimes hilarious combo going on. Polly is a bridezilla and has insisted Kenni be her maid of honor. The job comes complete with a very ugly green dress reminiscent of something from Gone with the Wind. It’s a juggling act for Kenni all through the book.

There were some great twists and turns as always and I definitely didn’t see the ending coming. I had jokingly thought in my head it might be the person that ended up being the killer but I had no idea why so I just enjoyed the ride of reading the story.

Mama is always such a hoot, not that she tries to be funny, she’s just ridiculous sometimes but Kenni loves her dearly and wouldn’t really want her to change.

Friendships are tested to the max in this page turner but everything turns out like it should and life goes on. I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for Kenni and Finn. I hope it’s a Christmas mystery!

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