good friends – Page 2 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

The Game Is a Footnote review

January 7, 2023 Tari Hann

Happy 2023 to all! Glad to be back with my first review of 2023, the eighth book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries by Vicki Delany (aka Eva Gates who writes Lighthouse Library series.) This one was a fun puzzler for sure! Gemma got her sleuthing game on and even got a little assistance from her visiting sister. There were some crazy and seemingly unexplainable things going on at the museum, so grab the book when it’s released this coming Tuesday and enjoy!

#CrookedLaneBooks #VickiDelany

My Goodreads review:

The Game Is a Footnote by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Readers who enjoyed the spooky-ish elements in this author’s Lighthouse Library series she writes as Eva Gates will love the idea of a haunted museum…or is it haunted by a flesh and blood perp? I also loved the little nod to the Lighthouse Library given in the text of the book–see if you can spot it!

Gemma sure had her hands full with Jayne’s mom begging her to help out with the supposed haunting and ever-patient Gemma went along with it while attempting to explain she wasn’t a ghost chaser. When an innocent bystander was killer, it was pretty clear that someone was trying to get rid of the museum people, and Gemma’s always-inquisitive mind wouldn’t rest until it was solved. I enjoyed how Gemma’s sister somehow got involved in the case and the fun innuendos around who her esteemed boss was. It was a sweet nod.

There was a good side story featuring Gemma’s shop assistant Ashleigh which slightly tied in with the main mystery. I liked the outcome and how Ashleigh handled things. I wasn’t too surprised at the whodunit for the main mystery and as always, explanations were shared with friends and food, a super fun way to end the story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Vinyl Resting Place review

December 19, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Record Shop Mysteries by newer cozy mystery author, Olivia Blacke who’s got another cozy mystery series that came out in 2021. Now I’d like to read that series too. And I randomly stumbled onto the second book in the Record Shop series on Goodreads. It’s due out July 25, and it’s called A Fatal Groove. Isn’t that a great cover? You can see Daffy the cat even better on that second book’s cover! Unfortunately, there’s no description for it yet, but that makes it more exciting to wait for, right? At least it’s not a super long wait. In the meantime, enjoy this book and maybe even give the author’s other series a try.

#StMartinsPress #OliviaBlacke

My Goodreads review:

Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun new offering by a a newer cozy mystery author, and it looks super promising. I love the idea of three sisters working together. Their teasing banter is lotsa fun, but you can still tell they’d each do anything for the other sisters. After the murder, most of the book was spent chasing or trying to locate rascally Uncle Calvin. Having a record store with a coffee shop in it was a fun place to center the action what with the renewed interest in records with the younger crowd and some of the boomers and older who loved it–and pretty much everyone loves a good cuppa something. The names of the coffee or tea offerings were too much fun! And Juni was just an overall fun character! We could be mother/daughter with how I totally am all about her comfortable way of wanting to dress and not dress up, lol.

After a well-placed clue, I was pretty sure I knew whodunit, and I was right! The showdown was a good one with plenty of incriminations going on, but at the very end, I loved what definitively nailed the perp! Calvin and his ex-business partner/buddy Samuel were two old curmudgeons, but I could tell the girls loved them a lot, so it’ll be interesting to see what this sleuthing bunch gets into next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Bookclubbed to Death review

December 17, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in one of my fave cozy mystery series Mystery Bookshop by V.M. Burns (aka Valerie). I’ve followed this series since its beginning and absolutely love all these key characters. It’s always so fun how Nana Jo and her friends get with Sam to solve murders and each one has their own part they play in researching. And no meeting of the sleuths is complete without Irma nearly saying something unsavory and the group going, “Irma!” I laugh every time! We got some good ones this time! And I love those sweet pups, Oreo and Snickers (modeled after the author’s own poodle babies.) I just wanted to scoop ’em up and cuddle those babies when I read this book, well Oreo probably wouldn’t like that lol. Can’t wait for more in this series!

#KensingtonCozies #VMBurns #ValerieBurns

My Goodreads review:

Bookclubbed to Death by V.M. Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as Sam was gearing up for her big book launch, a nasty book reviewer was killed in her shop. And I just gotta thank the author for ridding the story of such an awful person, especially because she was so mean to poor little Oreo and Snickers. I seriously saw red at that point in the story! Good old Stinky Pitt was still on medical leave from being shot in the last book, and he actually decided to be of some help in the investigation when Sam just knew she’d be arrested instead of celebrating her book. That replacement detective really had it in for her for some reason.

I loved all the new “Irma!” moments too! (If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll know what I mean by that!) That woman’s such a hoot! I really enjoy Nana Jo and all her friends. The showdown was pretty awesome as we got to see the famous lawyer aka pit bull in action (Jenna, if you’re wondering!). The ending party was just great and I felt so happy for Sam for realizing two of her big dreams. Don’t miss this book when it releases on December 27, 2022.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, an my opinions are my own.

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A Streetcar Named Murder review

December 1, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series called A New Orleans Mystery by T.G. Herren, a new-to-me author. I enjoyed meeting Valerie and her two besties, one of which was crazy, the fun kinda crazy though. That was Lorna who’d pretty much say or do anything to help someone out, and boy was she good at telling people how it was gonna be, lol. But in a nice way, of course. I think Valerie would’ve loved her friend’s gift of schmooze!

My Goodreads review:

A Streetcar Named Murder by T.G. Herren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked the whole premise of Valerie inheriting a business and not having known her husband’s uncle and I liked the key characters a lot. Her friend Lorna cracked me up! Who wouldn’t love a bestie like her, right? Dee was a good character too and she made for a nice workplace companion for Valerie. Val’s sons were such characters, they were so funny in places.

I did feel in parts of the book that it got overly wordy and maybe a bit too descriptive of past events to the point that I had to hunt for the dialogue that was presently going on. Then I found a few name discrepancies and minor plot discrepancies, none of which I made a note of and none of which terribly affected the outcome or my enjoyment. But it’s something I felt I needed to point out. Maybe it was just to set the tone for this first book and give tons of backstory. The description of the town and shops was just about right, and I could almost feel like I was right there in NOLA. And that’s my favorite way to travel, by reading. 🙂

I was right about something that turned out to be a good plot twist. There were a few people I didn’t want to be the killer, so I was happy at that outcome but the person I guessed wasn’t right. That was one hairy showdown with Lorna right there in the thick of it with Val, so they both succeeded in outsmarting the perp. The book releases Dec. 6, 2022.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Death in the Margins review

December 1, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the seventh book in the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries by Victoria Gilbert, and I’ve loved this series since its very beginning. Amy and Richard getting married a couple books ago just sweetened the whole thing even more. These characters are like going back home and hanging with friends.

I was thrilled when I first found out there’d be a book 8 and 9. I tracked that post down so I could leave you guys a link to it. Anyone who follows the author probably knows this, but her blog’s article called New Book News is linked to that little announcement so you can read it at her own blog and sign up for updates.

My Goodreads review:

Death in the Margins by Victoria Gilbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was definitely a mystery with lots of twists and turns along with some good action. Richard even got in on the showdown with Amy, and not from the standpoint he’s usually at which is with the reinforcements coming to assist said showdown. He was in the thick of it right along with her. And he’ll have even more of a reason to worry about her sleuthing in the near future. 😉

I was never really sure whodunit and kept changing my mind. I didn’t trust any of those suspects, lol. After a couple incidents that Amy took as a personal threat, she could tell she was getting close. That was one exciting showdown that was fairly lengthy but I couldn’t read fast enough! A gorgeous horse got to be the hero (I LOVE when that happens!) and got some sweet revenge along with it. You’ll find out what all that means when you read this latest installment in the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries. I’m super happy that the author was contracted to do books 8 and 9! Yay, more time with Amy, Richard, Aunt Lydia and all these people I call my book friends in Taylorsford, Virginia. Don’t miss this book coming out on December 6, 2022!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Through the Liquor Glass review

November 29, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in the Literary Pub Mysteries by cozy author Sarah Fox. I’ve been reading this series since the beginning and each one’s always made me eager for the next, so this book was no exception to that. If anything, I’m more eager for another book. You might need to start this early in the day ’cause you won’t wanna put it down!

My Goodreads review:

Through the Liquor Glass by Sarah Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really had a hard time putting this down, and the sleuthing Grayson and Sadie did was definitely page-turning! I think I was as worried about Grayson as Sadie was when he went into hiding after the murder of a woman he had some bad history with when he was a private investigator. It was cool that some of the characters that in the past hadn’t had all that much page time got their little moments to shine, especially during the showdown! Jason, Joey and Cordelia were characters I hadn’t remembered reading much about but they got quite a bit of mentioning in this case.

I never guessed whodunit and it was a great showdown. The whole mystery was well-explained in great detail after the perp was hauled away. I love that Sadie’s mom finally got to come see Sadie’s new town and eventually got to meet Grayson…and who wouldn’t love that guy, right? Can’t wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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On Spine of Death review

November 28, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the By the Book Mysteries by Tamara Berry, and I loved it as much as the first. She’s got a great way of creating characters readers care about and start to like right away, and this was no different. By the time the book was heading toward its close, I couldn’t read fast enough! What a showdown! While it’s probably not necessary to read the first book in the series, I recommend reading it first for better enjoyment of this book since you’ll know the characters and some of their stories already. Can’t wait for the next book!

My Goodreads review:

On Spine of Death by Tamara Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow was this good! Probably as exciting as one of main character Tess’s books, without any gore of course! As with the first book, this one grabbed by the arm right away and pulled me right on in. Some interesting new characters came onto the scene and it’ll be even more interesting to see which if any gets to stay on in the next book, which incidentally I can’t wait for!

I absolutely love that Gertie! She’s such a crazy, fun kid and incredibly wise for her fifteen years. She really cracks me up sometimes! There were some good comic scenes in this from various characters just to relieve any tension going on.

The showdown was epic with a good twist at the end. It took me most of the book but I did figure out the killer right before Tess did. I’m not sure I’m a fan of the ending since Victor and Tess weren’t on the best terms, but I’m optimistic for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Bake Offed review

November 28, 2022November 28, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in the Five-Ingredient Mysteries by Maya Corrigan who started this series back in 2014. I have all of them up to this one and probably no excuse for not having read any except the first book. But I’m really impressed that this book didn’t have any spoilers or anything that’d ruin my enjoyment of going back and reading in order. Granddad was my fave character in the first book and he continues that role as I’m sure he’ll pick up once I get back to the series.

Just for fun, I read my GR review of By Cook or by Crook (the first book) but obviously it didn’t tell me much more than the official synopsis since I’m not one to repeat what the blurb already says as part of my reviews. I might just need to give it a quick refresher read because I can’t honestly remember who Val’s love interest was! But hey it was 2019 and I’ve read literally hundreds of books since then. Reading this latest book reignited my initial love of the series though!

My Goodreads review:

Bake Offed by Maya Corrigan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was so much fun and Granddad was at the top of his sleuthing game. Somehow I knew from the minute he found that Nero Wolfe recipe box that something was gonna happen to it. And it was so cool to read in the acknowledgement section that there was really such a thing as this publicity item back in the day. I haven’t quite had the time to curiosity-check it on eBay, but I’m really interested in seeing what it looked like.

It made perfect sense that at a mystery convention there’d be plenty of people with secrets and things to hide. Val’s old friend Roy was on the case. I felt sorry for poor Bethany through all this craziness as she tried to keep her event going as best she could. I was never completely sure whodunit, but everything including the saga of Granddad’s recipe box whereabouts were all wrapped up nicely at the end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley and my opinions are my own.

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Murder on the Class Trip review

November 23, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Maya and Sandra Mysteries by brother/sister writing duo Lee Hollis. I’ve read all their series and really love the characters they come up with along with the sometimes downright hilarious situations said characters find themselves in. A couple of PTO moms who’re different as night and day describe our sleuths Maya and Sandra, but they’re formed an amazing friendship and work relationship as well. It’ll be interesting to see what’s in store for them next!

My Goodreads review:

Murder on the Class Trip by Lee Hollis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This series isn’t quite as hilariously funny as the author’s Hayley Powell series, but there were some pretty funny moments in this since a group of high school seniors were on a class trip to DC. I could just picture good ole Clancy the bus driver maneuvering around DC while Maya and Sandra had him chasing down a wayward student. Can you just see him if the kids had talked him into stalking the red hot light at the famous donut place for them? It was funny enough just thinking about him getting 35 chicken nugget meals in the drive-thru, lol.

The murder was a twisty one where any number of people could’ve done it, but Sandra’s main concern was finding out Stephen wasn’t guilty-she never thought so. Sandra’s come a long way as an investigator since the very first book, and I believe Maya might just be pretty proud of how she’s turned out. With Maya’s ex out of prison now, both the ladies had some new futures to look forward to, although I’m pretty sure Sandra’s won’t include much of Stephen!

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Grilled 4 Murder review

November 11, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the tenth book in the hilarious Sophie Kimball Mysteries series written by husband and wife team J.C. Eaton also known as Sun City West residents themselves, Ann Goldfarb and Jim Clapp. I felt so bad for them when I read how the inspiration for the rascally Streetman, their Streetboy, had gone to Rainbow Bridge. I’m happy he’ll live on in silly Streetman who now has a little partner in craziness! It’s always so fun to get lost in the world of Sun City West and the ever-patient Phee who has to deal with everything.

#JCEaton #BeyondthePage

My Goodreads review:

Grilled 4 Murder (Sophie Kimball Mystery, #10 by J.C. Eaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Sun City West book club ladies and their buddies the pinochle guys were in rare form this time! There’s never a dull moment where either group is concerned, and there was plenty of hilarity to go along with it. Harriet and the ladies especially had an agenda since Paul and Herb were the top suspects in a guy’s death. The side stories that went along with it, especially little Streetman finding himself a cat friend just added to the usual craziness!

I love all these characters and think it’s pretty awesome that the couple who writes this series actually lives out there. I’ve heard them talking online about how everyday life is sometimes fair game to make it into a book, lol. I’m really crazy about Streetman, although in real life he probably wouldn’t like me that well since he doesn’t seem to like anyone except Harriet lol. Now that he had a partner in crime and mischief, there was no stopping him! The whodunit kept me guessing until the reveal. I absolutely can’t wait for the next in series. It’s always a barrel of fun!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Beyond the Page via NetGalley, an my opinions are my own.

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