mystery bookshop – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Murder on the Books review

July 2, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new series shown on Amazon as A Cozy Bookshop Mystery (no series shown on GR yet and the Amazon link isn’t an affiliate), and the author’s cozy mystery writer and cat lover, T.C. LoTempio aka Toni in her newsletters. I’ve loved all the cats I’ve read about in her series, and Poe in this series was definitely not a disappointment. In fact he was a hero just like Purrday in the Urban Pet Shop mysteries. Since the incorrect author was linked on GR, I looked up Ms. LoTempio’s GR page from her other books for her link above. I’m having a GR librarian friend look into it.

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #TCLoTempio

My Goodreads review:

Murder on the Books by T.C, LoTempio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this new setting and the key characters of Charley and Zane a lot. Charley was just what Zane had needed coming back to her hometown since Zane’s business partner basically ghosted her. Charley soon found out why and the hunt for a killer began. I loved that cat Poe that Charley adopted who quickly became an amazing little buddy for her, and big asset in the showdown! It’s awesome how any cat this author has in her various series is both a great buddy for the sleuth and helps tremendously with the showdown.

Charley was used to following clues but they were always clues she was in charge of writing, so this amateur sleuthing thing was pretty new for both her and Zane. She definitely held her own with the killer in the showdown, with a certain kitty’s help, of course. The ending was too fun since a certain female police officer who Zane and Charley went to school with was nearly throwing herself at the detective in charge. But he seemed to only have eyes for Charley—and the woman’s reaction was pretty funny. Can’t wait to read the next book!

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

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A Body at the Book Fair review

June 16, 2025June 16, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the sixth and final book in the Secret Bookcase Mysteries by well-known cozy mystery author, Ellie Alexander, best known for her Bakeshop Mysteries. Although I really liked her Sloane Kraus Mysteries too and the Pacific Northwest Mysteries she wrote as Kate Dyer-Seeley. Word around her newsletter says she’ll be reviving that series soon! You can find her social links and her website links on her Goodreads page shown above.

Back to the Secret Bookcase series, while it’s ending with book six, it’ll be continuing as Novel Detectives Mysteries and I’m super excited to read that. I highly recommend reading Secret Bookcase Mysteries in order to get the whole experience of how the characters changed and developed. I’m so glad these amazing characters get to continue on!

#NetGalley #EllieAlexander #StormPublishing #SecretBookcaseMysteries

My Goodreads review:

A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve absolutely loved these characters and was so sad at first that this was scheduled to be the last book in the series. But doing a little Nancy Drew digging of my own especially after reading what Annie and Fletcher’s plans were, I asked the author (replying to one of her newsletters) telling her how much I enjoyed the series and guessing/hoping there’d be a spin-off. Which she graciously told me I was right, then the most recent newsletter confirmed the new series was with our fave characters with a new series name. And I can’t wait to dig into it!

Annie had a book convention to go to, but she and her friends had an ulterior motive of that final step it was gonna take to bring justice to her friend Scarlet after ten long years. Justice was totally sweet in an epic showdown with the killer. I loved the side coffee tasing trip that Pri and Liam did. She’s come a long way from being so snarky to him to actually being a good pal now, and I’m sure Annie’s glad she’s got her bestie’s approval of her man. Pri was a hoot after having all that caffeine though as she rambled on and on, a little comic relief during the murder investigation and leading up to the showdown. I’m so glad that instead of goodbye, we just have to tell these characters ‘see ya real soon!”

I voluntarily read and reviewed and ARC of this book provided by Storm Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Murder on Tour review

November 27, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the ninth book in the Mystery Bookshop Mysteries by V.M. Burns aka Valerie Burns, and I’ve read it from the beginning. It didn’t take but that first book to make me love these characters so much that I couldn’t wait to go back for another visit. Aside from the main characters, I think my fave of Nana Jo’s friends has to be that rascally Irma, she’s such a hoot! And I always get a kick outta when Ruby Mae comes up with yet another relative, lol. I already can’t wait to see what everyone gets into in the next book!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ValerieBurns

My Goodreads review:

Murder on Tour by V.M. Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just love getting together with Nana Jo and her pals from the retirement village when they all get together to help Sam solve a murder. It never gets old to read Irma almost saying something she shouldn’t and the group going “Irma!” I love every one of those ladies’ characters and I know Sam feels blessed to have her grandma and her awesome friends as her sleuthing buddies. Everyone’s banter keeps me chuckling off and on throughout the book and Sam’s private thoughts and commentaries are usually pretty hilarious too!

I was never really sure whodunit until the final reveal. Hints were given but there was a good little twist and just as I was sure someone did it, they either died or were proven not guilty. I loved the authors references to a couple old TV shows and also thought Sam’s publicist’s name was a pretty clever mashup homage. 😉

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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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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