cozy mystery – Page 83 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Death by Didgeridoo–review

January 11, 2018 Tari Hann

This was such a fun and quick mystery to read, only took a couple hours or so. I’m really glad I had the chance to read and review it.

Here’s my Goodreads review:
Death by Didgeridoo by Barbara Venkataraman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a satisfying and fun to read mystery that’s a little shorter than what I am used to but I liked it for that. It was a really great story about Jamie, a divorce lawyer, who is called on to represent her autistic cousin Adam who is accused of killing his music teacher. Poor Adam thinks he actually did it so his therapist tries hypotism and that seems to work for making him feel like it wasn’t his fault.

In the meantime, Jamie gets Duke, a not-so-on-the-up-and-up P.I. to do some investigating for her surrounding the music teacher, Spike’s, death. Spike also happens to be a rock star with several people who may have wanted to kill him.

I loved how the ending and catching the perp was set up like a sting instead of having the sleuth in a lot of danger of being killed herself. I think it was a really awesome storyline of how someone with Asperger autism experiences the world. I don’t personally know anyone like that but just from the writing, I can see that the author either does know someone or has done extensive research on the subject. It was just kind of cool that something that isn’t usually talked about became part of a mystery.

And good old Duke! I just loved that character, what a hoot! He definitely added a lot of great comedy relief to a serious case. I really like this author’s writing style and will be reading and reviewing the other two in the boxed set of 1-3.

I received this book as a gift and am giving an honest review of it because I really enjoyed it.

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Fireworks in Paradise–review

January 10, 2018 Tari Hann

I finished Fireworks in Paradise, #7 in the TJ Jensen series by Kathi Daley today. This was another mystery where there wasn’t a current murder that took place but a recent death that was a few weeks ago and had been proven as non-accidental. TJ and her friend Kyle were also investigating an eight-year old killing so there were plenty of suspects and speculations as to whether the killer was one and the same.

Here’s my Goodreads review:

Fireworks in Paradise by Kathi Daley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

TJ Jensen comes home from a South Carolina vacation to find her dad in a coma. He was riding with his good friend Judge Harper when the brakes gave out and the car crashed. The judge didn’t make it. It was discovered the brake line was cute so TJ and Kyle decide to investigate. Unofficially, they have Deputy Roy Fisher’s blessing but he warns them to be careful because his new partner, Kate, is very by the book and doesn’t believe civilians should interfere with police work.

Even though the circumstances were bad, TJ is glad they are back home for the annual July 4 celebration in Paradise Lake. She just feels bad that her dad will be spending it in the hospital instead of right in the middle of all the fun and activities.

In digging up a lot of various information pieces from the judge’s files and other sources, TJ and Kyle soon have a list of suspects which they either talk to together or each take one and interview them. In the meantime, TJ’s dad is doing well and is getting stir-crazy in the hospital, wanting to come home.

The last TJ Jensen I read was the second book so there have been a few things going on that changed a little between book 2 and book 7 but this book could still stand alone since the author is really good at explaining without going into too much detail. Most of the characters were familiar so it was like visiting some old friends again. The mystery was solved and everyone felt better knowing the killer would be put away for a long time.

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Kept in the Bark–review

January 9, 2018 Tari Hann

I just finished book five of the Happy Tails Dog Walking series and it just keeps getting better! I like how the author leaves a little bit to think about for the next book. The main mystery is always wrapped up nicely but just like a TV show or even real life, there are some little tails hanging, and not the wagging tails that Olivia takes care of. 😉

Here’s my Goodreads review:

Kept in the Bark by Stella St. Claire

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off there are a lot more than 21 pages in this book just wanted to let anyone know who is planning to buy it that it’s the same length as the other four books.

Olivia has promised herself to be the perfect girlfriend to Andrew and also that she will not turn everything into an investigation. This doesn’t last too because Andrew has to go out of town on a business trip for a week just when she was wanting to ask him to move back in with her. She tries her best to keep communication open while he’s gone. But something in the form of another case has gotten her interest and it turns out, Andrew actually approves.

A local woman who was helping Andrew develop his new app has gone missing. She’s Jackie’s next door neighbor and it was actually Jackie and Olivia who noticed since Andrew sent Olivia on an errand to give the woman (Hattie) a message. Hattie is known to be agoraphobic and spends most of her time inside doing computer and tech work for people and companies. From the looks of her house when Jackie and Olivia go in after Hattie’s cat comes rushing out the partially open door, it seems as though Hattie’s not been there for a few days.

This was an interesting case and believe it or not there was no murder involved. That didn’t make it any less intriguing though. There were little mysteries here and there to solve. Jackie and Olivia both had another incident of vandalism so that aspect is still not cleared up.

In the end, everything works out. Janelle’s mood swings and crazy stressed-outness over a wedding she’s catering all turns out well–I won’t spoil it though! This series continues to intrigue me and I love how the author wraps up the case but leaves enough dangling to entice the reader to read the next book. I am super interested in reading book six!

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All Bark and No White Knight–review

January 9, 2018January 9, 2018 Tari Hann

I finished this book on January 9. Amazon wouldn’t let me post a review there even though I’ve not made any rule infractions so I guess here and Goodreads will have to do. In fact, Amazon has totally wiped away ALL my reviews, even the non-book ones. I have no clue why. If anyone knows how to get those back, please let me know too!

I’ve been reading the Happy Tails Dog Walking mysteries from the beginning so these characters are always like coming back to old friends.

My Goodreads review:
All Bark and No White Knight by Stella St. Claire

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Olivia Rickard and her boyfriend Andrew are back together but lately he’s been a little distant and not talking much as well as postponing or cancelling their dates all together. Olivia follows him to one of these meetings since she eavesdropped on his conversation when they were together and he took the call. She sees him with a blonde and a rose. When the blonde ends up dead, Olivia is worried that Andrew would be the main suspect since he was probably the last to see her alive so of course she can’t have that and starts investigating.

In the meantime, Janelle hasn’t been in a great mood since she’s wanting to expand into catering which also means needing to expand her bakery. As if two things weren’t bad enough, Jackie tells Olivia she’s had a vandal in her book store. Soon after that, Olivia’s office is trashed and a warning note is found. Despite Nick’s warnings to stay off his investigation, Olivia feels the need to keep on but has to keep watching her back because she is afraid she could be the next murder victim.

Like the other three books, this books was fun and quick read and had plenty of great clues and suspects. I really didn’t see it coming as to the killers identity. Andrew’s secret was revealed and all was right with the world after the killer was caught. The vandal was never caught so I’m guessing that story line will continue into the next book which I will actually be reading…next!

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Murder with Peacocks review

January 8, 2018January 8, 2018 Tari Hann

I borrowed this one from Overdrive and managed to finish in a day. This is definitely a good series for laughs and comedy along with murder. I knew that from when I borrowed the audio book for #15 in the series, Hen of the Baskervilles. This one is the first in the Meg Langslow series.

Here’s my Goodreads review:

Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had borrowed an audio book in this same series earlier this fall and really enjoyed it so I got curious as to how Meg’s story started out, was she always married, when did the little boys come along, etc. So I borrowed this first book from Overdrive and found out!

Meg Langslow is a blacksmith by trade but this particular summer she is juggling the planning of three weddings: one of a good friend (who will not be such a good friend if said friend doesn’t choose a wedding gown soon), her mother and her brother, Rob. She’s home in Yorktown, VA for all three weddings since Meg is currently unattached.

After a body is discovered, a crazy chain of accidents starts occurring, all seemingly aimed at Meg’s dad, who is a doctor and who is investigating the murder along with the local sheriff. Meg and her new friend whose mom owns the wedding dress shop but he’s watching it for her while she recovers from a broken leg out of town, set off to figure out what’s going on and to see if they can avoid any more mishaps or murders.

I didn’t think it was possible to have so much murder, mayhem and hilarity in one book but this book was so funny in places then murderously exciting in others. It’s actually the first book I’ve read that’s had three bodies show up. The fact that it was always around a wedding was what made it so funny because I could just picture all the chaos happening in a funny TV mystery movie, peacocks included! If you’re really a huge fan of peacocks (which I’m not) you might want to know that they are only decorations for two of the weddings.

Meg has to be the most patient person in all of mystery land. I think her mom would drive me bonkers even as well-meaning as she is. There were so many good characters/suspects, leads and clues that it was kind of possible to figure it out but I wasn’t really sure about it until the author chose to start revealing the killer. I’m going to continue this series in order (unless I get an itch to listen to another one lol) so I can see just how Meg’s current married status came about. I’ve heard the whole series is just as funny and fun to read so it’ll be a good adventure!

Not sure why Amazon won’t let me post a review about this book there. I haven’t tried to review it before today, I didn’t have a previous review of this product and I have no interaction with the author or anyone that it would be looked at as not the right kind of review. Yes, I did borrow this from Overdrive but that’s never been an issue before. I can’t even get beyond giving it stars when the message comes up, so if Donna Andrews happens to see this review, I really tried to post it on Amazon but they won’t let me.

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Better Dead–review

January 7, 2018 Tari Hann

This was a really awesome paranormal cozy. It wasn’t the scary type at all (trust me, I’m a chicken and can’t read anything seriously scary) but just a cozy that happened to have the ghost of a woman’s husband or had he lived he would have become her ex-husband–she’d caught him cheating on her and she wanted a divorce. He couldn’t get to heaven until he got his wife to help him with some unfinished business. She finds out you just can’t divorce a ghost!

Here’s my review from Goodreads:

Better Dead by Pamela Kopfler

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holly Davis owns a bed and breakfast in Delta Ridge LA. She’d just been getting ready to serve her husband with divorce papers when he was killed in a plane crash. Easy out? Think again. Burl appears to her now as a ghost with a favor. If she can’t help him out then he’s doomed to stay in the B&B forever.

Holly figures she should make the best of it while she tries to come up with a way to help Burl. He had been involved with drug smuggling and she figures if she can bust their operation, Burl will be free and clear to go to heaven like St. Peter had told him. She convinces Burl that if he learns how to haunt the house, her B&B will become popular and she’ll get the reservations she needs to make ends meet.

In the meantime, Holly’s former boyfriend, Jake McCann is in town working at the Gazette and he needs to stay at the B&B for awhile. This could get interesting with her dead husband’s ghost and her very real current interest. As much as she doesn’t want to admit it, Holly still has feelings for Jake. Can Jake help her help Burl without Holly having to tell her about Burl and risk Jake thinking she’s nuts? Read it and find out!

Oh my goodness, I haven’t read a good fun ghost story in awhile so this is just what I needed! It was funny, a little sad, very exciting and hard to put down. Once the action started I just kept on reading and boy what a good twist. This cozy was a little bit different in that there was no murder, well aside from Burl dying before his time.

The main characters were all so real (aside from the Burl being a ghost thing) and likable and yes, even Burl grew on me. I can’t wait to visit Delta Ridge again. I’m kind of hoping that Burl turns up in the next book, but since I’m not familiar with ghost protocol, and it’s all in the hands of the author anyway.

There was plenty of suspense along with plenty of suspects, a very satisfying take down and ending that was a touch sad. I just about devoured the first chapter provided for the next book. I pre-ordered that book but yikes, I have to wait until September to read it!

This book was a paperback ARC provided by the author. I was thrilled to read and review, which I did voluntarily.

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Death by Eggnog by Alex Erickson

January 6, 2018January 6, 2018 Tari Hann

Ok, so I kind of got off my book-a-day thing but my website needed some attention and it still does. But I still finished this in not quite 2 days. It was another fun Christmas read. Here’s what I wrote about it on Goodreads:

Death by Eggnog by Alex Erickson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Krissy Hancock has somehow gotten herself volunteered to be an elf in the local Christmas play so there goes her two week vacation from the book store/coffee shop that she co-owns with her best friend Vicki. In true Krissy fashion, a body is discovered, one of the actors in the play and her ex, Robert, is jailed for the murder. Krissy still thinks Robert is a jerk but she knows he’s not a killer so she feels compelled to investigate despite having to come to practices that are doing a real number on her body as far as aches and pains go.

This is the first book in the series that I’ve read but the author does a good job of briefly telling who is who. I never felt confused just dropping in on book 5 but I do want to start at the beginning and read the rest of them. The characters are all very likable, and even the old lady next door who has always been spying on Krissy, comes around a little after her daughter comes to town and they have a meal together. The old lady just needed a friend and a purpose. That part seemed a little unrelated to the mystery but had I read the previous four books, I’m sure it would have seemed a little more relevant.

I never guessed the killer because the author did such a good job of spreading out red herrings along the way. Just as I’d suspect one person, they would be cleared. I like his writing style too, humorous at times and to the point as far as he’s not overdoing descriptions or anything. I felt like I could picture all the places that were talked about. This author gets more into the head of the main character and it worked out great. I loved the final scenes, very exciting and again, a little bit funny at times. The ending was awesome so once I’m caught up with this series, I’ll be anxious to read the 6th book!

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