Sniffing out Murder

 

Sniffing Out Murder (A Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery) by Kallie E. Benjamin

About Sniffing Out Murder

Sniffing Out Murder (A Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Indiana Berkley (December 5, 2023) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593547357 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593547359 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BXKHGG75

When a murder unleashes a widespread investigation through Crosbyville, children’s book author Pris and her trusty bloodhound, Bailey, must sniff out the truth before the whole town goes to the dogs.

After deciding that life as a teacher wasn’t right for her, Priscilla found inspiration for her first children’s book in her three-year-old bloodhound’s nose for truth, and so The Adventures of Bailey the Bloodhound was born. After the book’s massively pawsitive response led Pris to move back to her hometown of Crosbyville, Indiana, to continue the series, she’s surprised by how things have changed in the town, but even more so how they haven’t.

Pris is frustrated to discover that newly elected school board trustee Whitney Kelley—a former high school mean girl—is intent on making Crosbyville more competitive by eliminating “frivolous spending” on the arts and social programs, including Pris and Bailey’s beloved pet-assisted reading program. A minor altercation between them isn’t anything unusual, but after Bailey sniffs out Whitney’s body in a bed of begonias, locals start hounding Pris and Bailey as suspects for the crime.

With Bailey’s sharp senses and Pris’s hometown know-how, can they prove to the community that they’re all barking up the wrong tree?

What I Thought: 

This is the first Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery. I was drawn to this book because I think Bloodhounds are such cute doggies and I thought this would be an interesting read. I was not wrong. Bailey was the star of this book. In this one Pris his owner as a meeting with a students parents, Joe and Whitney, on her last day of bein a teacher. The mother of the student is her archrival from High School. Later on, Pris and Bailey are are Aunt Agatha's diner and  Joe and Whitney come in. There is a shouting match and threats are issued. The next morning while Pris has Bailey on his morning walk, he finds Whitney's dead body in a flower bed at the park. Even after being warned to stay out of the investigation, Bailey and Pris investigate anyone, I mean after all, Pris does write the popular Bailey the Bloodhound mystery books for kids. 

I enjoyed the setting of this book, a semi-small town in Indiana. There were some interesting characters as well, but Bailey stole the show, he was by far the best. The book flowed well and kept my attention throughout. I was not sure for a while who the killer was, then I thought I figured it out. I thought I knew but I could not figure out what the motive for the killing could be. Pris and Bailey do a good job investigating, even though Pris is juggling two love interests as well as trying to solve two murders. The reveal was a little surprising. As I said I thought I knew who the killer was just not why. I liked all the twists and turns that did leaving me second guessing if I really knew who the killer was. I will definitely be reading more in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. 

About Kallie E. Benjamin

Kallie E. Benjamin (Valerie Burns) is the author of the Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery series. The first book, Sniffing Out Murder releases on December 5, 2023. Valerie is an Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, and Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist. Writing as V. M. Burns she is the author of the Mystery Bookshop Mystery, Dog Club Mystery, and RJ Franklin Mystery series. Writing as Valerie Burns, she is the author of the Baker Street Mystery series. Valerie is also an adjunct professor in the Writing Popular Fiction Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie now lives in Northern Georgia with her two poodles.

Author Links Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/v-m-burns Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vmburnsbooks/ GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16534140.V_M_Burns Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vmburnsbooks/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/vmburns Website: vmburns.com

Knitmare on Beech Street

 

Knitmare on Beech Street (A Knit & Nibble Mystery) by Peggy Ehrhart

About Knitmare on Beech Street

Knitmare on Beech Street (A Knit & Nibble Mystery) Cozy Mystery 10th in Series Setting - Charming fictional town of Arborville, in northern New Jersey Kensington Cozies (November 28, 2023) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496738861 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496738868 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BZBM8P55

Knit and Nibble member Pamela Paterson, and her best friend, Bettina, stumble on a body in a once grand Victorian house when they join a group welcoming new residents to Arborville—and must figure out if old secrets killed the new neighbor . . .

When Pamela, Bettina, and their friends show up at the Voorhees House to greet its new owner, they’re met with a most unwelcome sight: a dead body on the kitchen floor. Tassie Hunt just inherited the old Victorian, which had been occupied by a reclusive widow for many years and had a reputation for being haunted. But Tassie would have been unlikely to be spooked since her career involved debunking such paranormal phenomena.

Her demise sets off a new flurry of gossip and ghostly speculation in the New Jersey town, of course—and it’s tempting to think spirits were indeed involved considering there’s zero evidence so far of foul play. A nosy neighbor reports strange lights and sounds, and a man obsessed with the Victorian era starts photographing the place from the street. But it won’t take long before Pamela and Bettina are moving in on a killer . . .

Excerpt

Pamela led the way down the steps, down the narrow concrete path, and along the sidewalk, until they reached another concrete path. From this path, steps led up to another porch, smaller and with a plainer railing, onto which the back door opened. Saying “I’ll try again,” Marlene hefted the gift basket and headed up the steps. As she pressed the doorbell, the rest of the group joined her on the porch one by one. Marlene turned away after a few minutes and much enthusiastic pressing of the doorbell. “No answer,” she murmured. “And I was sure ANGWY was clear about the date and time.” She shrugged, edged past the others, and started down the steps. Bettina, however, stepped closer to the door and tipped her head to peer at the doorframe. “I’m not sure it’s closed all the way,” she said and gave the door a tentative push. The door swung open easily. After a shrug and a glance at the other women, Bettina raised a stylishly shod foot and stepped over the threshold. “Tassie?” Her voice rang out with a cheerful lilt. “Hello? It’s the ANGWY committee.” She disappeared inside, but a moment later she was back in the doorway. Her cheer had vanished, leaving her face a wan canvas that made her careful makeup appear garish. Ignoring her heart’s sudden lurch, Pamela took a few quick steps and joined her friend in the doorway. Bettina backed up against the door, anchoring it in a fully open position, and Pamela slipped past her into the kitchen. A woman lay sprawled on the ancient linoleum, a slender blonde woman wearing a light cotton robe printed with small flowers in shades of blue and lilac . . .

What I Thought:

This is the tenth installment of the Knit and Nibbles Mystery Series. I have read the first several in this series, and I will have to say, this series gets better and better with each book. I love visiting with Pamela and Bettina in their charming own of Arborville, NJ. The two always seem to find trouble, no matter if they are trying to avoid trouble or not. In this one, Pamela and Bettina accompany the ANGWY committee to the Voorhees house to welcome the new occupant to town. But when they arrive, the new neighbor, Tassie, is found dead on the floor. Foul play is not suspected at first. But Bettina and Pamela are summoned by a neighbor of the Voorhees house who gives them a tale of strange lights and noises, and suggest the home is haunted. Pamela's new gentleman friend is hired by the boyfriend of the the deceased to help clear out the Voorhees home, Pamela and Bettina again arrive to the home to find another dead body. Of course they dig deeper into the mystery. When Pamela is baking a blueberry pie for the Knit and Nibbles group, she and Bettina realize a huge clue. Again, I will say, this series just keeps getting better. Pamela and Bettina are great protagonists and I enjoy hearing about the other members of Knit and Nibble as well. I enjoy the setting of this series as well. This town seems to be very charming. As with others in this series I have read, this one kept my attention from the beginning and I finished the book in one day. I was totally surprised by the reveal in this one, it was not what I was expecting at all, it caught me completely off guard. There were many twists and turns in this one, I thought I had it figured out, but nope. I am definitely going back and reading the others in this series I haven't gotten to yet, and I sincerely hope this series keeps going for a long time to come.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. 

 

About Peggy Ehrhart

Peggy Ehrhart is a former English professor with a doctorate in Medieval Literature. Her Maxx Maxwell mysteries, Sweet Man Is Gone(2008) and Got No Friend Anyhow (2011), were published by Five Star/Gale/Cengage and feature a blues-singer sleuth.

Peggy is currently writing the Knit & Nibble mysteries for Kensington Books. Her amateur sleuth, Pamela Paterson, is the founder and mainstay of the Arborville, New Jersey, knitting club, nicknamed Knit and Nibble. Knitmare on Beech Street is book #10 in the series. Peggy herself is an avid crafter, dating from her childhood as a member of the 4-H Club in rural Southern California.

Peggy is a longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She regularly attends mystery-writing conferences and participates in conference panels. She also gives talks on mystery fiction at libraries and other venues in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Author Links Website: www.PeggyEhrhart.com Yarn Mania Blog on my website: https://peggyehrhart.com/category/yarn-mania/ Goodreads Blog: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/534678.Peggy_Ehrhart/blog Purchase Links - Amazon - Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org Kobo

  

Murder, Mayhem and 4 of a Kind (High Cotton Mysteries) by Duffy Brown

About Murder, Mayhem and 4 of a Kind

Murder, Mayhem and 4 of a Kind (High Cotton Mysteries) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Georgia Independently Published (September 21, 2023) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 174 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8861824446 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CJK2BX4Y

When rotten-to-the-core Payton Wilder winds up dead in Savannah, Nola Cottonwood’s two aunts are suspects in the murder. Can Nola find the real killer, and how will the others help them get away with it.

About Duffy Brown

Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While other girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She has two cats, Spooky and Dr. Watson, her license plate is Sherlok and she conjures up who-done-it stories of her very own for Berkley Prime Crime. Duffy’s national bestselling Consignment Shop Mystery series is set in Savannah and the Cycle Path Mysteries are set on Mackinac Island.

Author Links: Website – Facebook

Purchase Link - Amazon

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Nutcracker Nightmare

 

A Nutcracker Nightmare (A Killer Chocolate Mystery) by Christina Romeril

About A Nutcracker Nightmare

A Nutcracker Nightmare (A Killer Chocolate Mystery) Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Setting - Montana Crooked Lane Books (October 17, 2023) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639104917 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639104918 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BSKRF471

Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Laura Childs, when twin sisters Hanna and Alex help out at the local high school reunion, volunteering takes a turn when they find a former classmate's dead body.

Hanna and Alex, owners of the Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop, are busy preparing for the Harriston High School’s reunion weekend. Neighbors will connect with old friends and perhaps try to avoid old foes. One person no one can avoid is Kyle, the former star quarterback, who is busy using his entire playbook to try and score with Hanna, even threatening her if she doesn’t play nice. At the reunion, Alex glimpses more drama than nostalgia as insults are flung around like a football at a Friday night game. The party is put on hold when Alex finds the dead body of none other than Kyle himself, bludgeoned to death by a nutcracker that the sisters admired earlier in the night.

Hanna quickly becomes the prime suspect—someone saw her slap Kyle in the face at the reunion dance. She’ll need her sister, their sleuthing canine, Watson, and their old friends and colleagues to help break this case wide open. While looking through old yearbooks and taking a stroll down memory lane, Alex uncovers a few secrets about Kyle, now, it seems like everyone had a motive to kill him.

But when the suspects start becoming the victims, Alex and Hanna know that they can’t melt under the pressure—they must find the killer before they become just another yearbook memory.

What I Thought:

This is the second installment in a Killer Chocolate Mystery Series. I really enjoyed the first one in this series and was anxiously looking forward to this one. I love cozy mysteries set at Christmas time. And this series is even better as the setting, which is Harriston Montana, which is at the foothills of the Rockies. Hanna and Alex, twin sisters, own Murder and Mayhem: Killer Chocolates and bookshop. The shop specializes in murder mysteries and chocolates with a twist, the candy is named after different poisons. It is Christmastime again, and this year, there is a class reunion scheduled during the holiday season. When a the former star quarterback is found murdered, Hanna is the main suspect, so Alex and Hanna have to investigate to prove Hanna is innocent. I was not disappointed with this second installment of this series, though there were a lot of characters to keep straight. I thought the story flowed well and it kept my attention from the beginning. There were some twists and turns in this one that threw me off when I thought I had it all figured out, which I didn't. The reveal did a good job of tying all the loose ends together, and I was totally surprised. I look forward to the next one in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  

About Christina Romeril

  Christina Romeril is the author of the Killer Chocolate Mystery series. The series is set in Montana at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, one of her favourite places to visit. She and her husband live a few hours away in a small village in Southern Alberta. When Christina isn’t writing she loves to hike in Waterton Lakes National Park, or just hang out there eating gourmet hot dogs and ice cream. When the former banker isn’t enjoying nature, she loves to create and consume chocolate confections. Not necessarily in that order.

Webpage https://christinaromeril.com/

Blog https://christinaromeril.com/blog/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/christinaromerilwriter

Twitter https://Twitter.com/romerilchris

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/christinaromerilwriter

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22222730.Christina_Romeril

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org

In the Wick of Time

 

In the Wick of Time (Magic Candle Shop Mystery) by Valona Jones

About In The Wick Of Time

In the Wick of Time (Magic Candle Shop Mystery) Paranormal Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Setting - Savannah, Georgia Crooked Lane Books (October 17, 2023) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639105077 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639105076 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BSKWTKZN

Tabby Winslow will help her twin sister Sage with anything and everything—and that includes putting out the flames of suspicion when Sage’s boss is found murdered in this magical mystery, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Sofie Kelly.

December in Savannah, Georgia, is a sight to behold. With all the festivities—including the traditional riverfront luminary display during the boat parade—twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow are busier than ever setting up for the big celebration. But that isn’t the only thing on the sisters’ minds. Both Sage and her fellow employee Mary Nicole are vying for the sought-after assistant manager job at the plant nursery. But when Loren Lee, their boss, is found dead, and Sage becomes the police’s favorite suspect, both Winslow girls know that they’ll need more than a flicker of magic and their sisterhood to solve the murder and clear Sage’s name.

Soon, Tabby realizes that this is just one of the many problems they have. If being a suspect for murder wasn’t enough, there are more magical problems that they have to fix: Sage’s boyfriend is having a paranormal experience of his own he can’t control, there’s an energy vampire searching for his supposedly lost cousin, her cat suddenly dislikes her, and oh—every time Tabby hiccups, she turns completely invisible. The suspect list grows with each day and it seems everyone has a reason or a connection to Loren Lee.

Tabby and Sage are burning the candle at both ends—but will it be enough to keep their friends safe and find this killer? Or will they be burned by their efforts?

What I Thought:

This is the second book in the Magic Candle Shop Mystery Series. I have read the first one, so have been looking forward to this one. Tabby and Sage are fraternal twin sisters who have "powers". Those powers are they can transfer energy. This installment is set at Christmastime in Savannah. Tabby is busy working full time at the family's candle and book shop, while Sage works part-time at the candle and book shop and part-time at a local nursery. Her boss at the nursery has been having health issues and Sage has encouraged him to go to the doctor, which he has refused to do. He is found dead and Sage ends up being a suspect because her and the boss argued about the boss going to the doctor. Sage is also having problems with her boyfriend as well. I enjoy the setting of this series, a magical candle shop in Savannah. While Tabby is a likable character, Sage comes off as somewhat rough around the edges and is not as likable as Tabby. There are several other characters in this story, some likable, some not so likable. The twins power is a little different and is sometimes kind of hard to figure out. The mystery in this one was well thought out and believable.  There were twists and turns in this one that kept me guessing and I was surprised by the reveal. I will be looking forward to more in this series. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review. 

About Valona Jones

Valona Jones, also known as Maggie Toussaint, writes paranormal cozy mysteries set in coastal Georgia. A former scientist, she’s drawn to the study of personal energy. She sharpened her people-watching skills as a lifelong introvert and had a bank vault of personal observations when she began to write fiction. Her newest release is In The Wick of Time, book 2 in the A Magic Candle Shop Mystery, preceded by Snuffed Out, which released Jan. 2023. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime with more than twenty-five published works of fiction. She lives in coastal Georgia, where she’s seen time and tide wait for no one.

Author Links Website https://www.valonajones.com Facebook https://facebook.com/ValonaJonesAuthor Amazon Author Page https://amazon.com/author/valonajones/ GoodReads Author Page https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22140872.Valona_Jones BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/valona-jones Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - BookShop.org

Murder by the Seashore (A California Bookshop Mystery) by Samara Yew

About Murder by the Seashore

Murder by the Seashore (A California Bookshop Mystery) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - California Crooked Lane Books (October 17, 2023) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639104933 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639104932 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BSKSHZF5

Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Ellery Adams, Scarlett Gardner’s dream was to open a bookshop in Southern California, but it soon becomes a nightmare when she finds the dead body of a customer—and becomes the prime suspect.

Southern California is where dreams come true—or so Scarlett Gardner thought. When she moved there and opened the Palm Trees and Page Turners bookshop, she thought her boyfriend and business partner would be part of the story. When he leaves her for a better job, Scarlett finds herself struggling to keep her new business afloat. That’s not the only thing she has to worry about—she discovers something underneath the pier by her bookshop that she didn’t outline for her life’s story: the dead body of a book-buying customer.

After Scarlett gives a statement to the police, she thinks her life can go back to business as usual. But when a lawyer, representing someone named Lorelai Knight, tells Scarlett that she now stands to inherit a small fortune, she’s left with more questions than answers. Before she can make sense of any of it, the police bring her in for questioning; the body she found was Lorelai Knight. And the evidence they have against Scarlett doesn’t look good. Business is booming as Scarlett returns to Palm Trees and Page Turners, but for all the wrong reasons – curious tourists don’t want books, they want a glimpse of the Bookshop Killer.

Who could really be behind all of this? And why frame Scarlett? To clear her name, she’s going to have get creative—and hope she can remain one page ahead of the killer.

What I Thought:

This is the first book I have read by this author and the first in a new series, A California Bookshop Series.  In this one, Scarlett is the owner of Palm Trees and Page Turners Bookshop in Oceanside California. Scarlett and her ex opened the shop and then he left her for a more lucrative job. One morning, Scarlett takes a walk on the beach before opening her shop and she sees a dead body under the pier. Scarlett has no idea who the dead woman is and calls 911. The police immediately suspect Scarlett especially after the identity of the woman is revealed and it is found out that she has left her vast fortune to Scarlett. Scarlett has to figure out who the real murderer is to clear her name and keep her shop open.

I enjoyed this one from the beginning though I did get angry that the police immediately suspected Scarlett even though she had no idea who the murdered woman was. I thought that was a little crazy. I thought the setting was nice, a bookstore on a California Beach. Bookstores and beaches are a great combination. There were a lot of characters in this one. so lots of suspects to choose from. There were many twists and turns in this one that kept me guessing to end and I was surprised by the reveal of the killer. 

I look forward to more in this series. I received a complimentary copy of this book. 

Samara Yew is a cozy mystery author who writes about adorable bookshops and dead bodies. A full-time mom, full-time dog servant, and part-time writer, Samara lives in British Columbia, Canada, where she can often be found watching Psych reruns. Samara loves to travel, especially visiting her husband’s home country of Singapore or donning Mickey ears in Disneyland. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.

Author Links Website https://samarayew.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/samara.yew.books Twitter (X) https://twitter.com/samarayewauthor Instagram https://www.instagram.com/samara.yew.author GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24259604.Samara_Yew Purchase Links - Amazon - PenguinRandomHouse - B&N - Chapters Indigo

 

Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman (A Salem B&B Mystery) by Traci Wilton

About Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman

Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman (A Salem B&B Mystery) Paranormal Cozy Mystery 7th in Series Setting - Massachusetts Kensington Cozies (August 22, 2023) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496741374 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496741370 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BNWG9V65

Saturday night at the movies has some added flair now that Darren and Elise Shultz are reopening one of Salem’s classic theaters. Charlene is delighted to help the couple with their venture, and Darren has lined up a cult classic double-header featuring Lon Chaney in The Wolfman. But things get hairier than expected when Elise starts to choke on her popcorn mid-movie—and once the lights go up, she’s dead . . .

When tests reveal Elise's popcorn was poisoned, Detective Sam Holden eyes her husband as the guilty party. Charlene doesn’t believe Darren would hurt his wife—even if his company’s specialty seasoned salts were sprinkled on the fatal snack. But who else had a motive to do something so unsavory? With a little help from Jack, the handsome ghost who haunts her B&B, Charlene delves into the ill-fated couple’s past. And the more she learns, the more Charlene wonders if this time, she’s bitten off more than she can chew . . .

What I Thought:

 It  is on my bucket list to visit Salem, MA, but till I can get there physically, I will have to continue to visit the town by reading, which is great too. I have read the first book in this series, so I knew some of the players in this story. I think Charlene is a great character and it is intriguing that she has such a unique relationship with Jack, who is a ghost. In this one, Charlene and Avery, have been invited to the opening of a new movie theater by Darren and his wife, Elise. Opening night features a old Wolfman flick. Darren's marketing manager, Klara, brings a bouquet of Wolfsbane to the premiere, Charlene thinks it is risky bringing a bouquet of poisoned flowers. After the first movie, Elise appears to be choking on popcorn and is rushed to the hospital, where she later passes away. Darren is of course a suspect. So Charlene and Jack work together to solve the mystery. There were many twists and turns in this one that kept me guessing, and no shortage of suspects. The story flowed well and kept my attention. Of course, again, I loved the setting of Salem with all of its witchy and spooky vibes. I will definitely be going back and reading more in this series. 

I receive a complimentary copy of this book. 

About Traci Wilton

From cozy mysteries to seaside romance, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over sixty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite tale for everyone. Mystery lovers, check out her Scottish Shire series, set in the seaside town of Nairn, or the Salem B&B Mystery series, as Traci Wilton. Her latest project is an Irish Castle cozy as Ellie Brannigan. Whether it’s her ever-popular By the Sea romances, an Appletree Cove sweet romance, or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, living right near the ocean.

Author Links Website https://www.tracihall.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tracie.hall.35/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/traciella/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Traciwiltonauthor/ Twitter https://twitter.com/tracihallauthor Amazon https://amazon.com/author/tracihall Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tracihallauthor/ Kensington https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author/traci-wilton/ Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Apple - Kobo

 

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas (Year-Round Christmas Mystery) by Vicki Delany

About Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas (Year-Round Christmas Mystery) Cozy Mystery 6th in Series Setting - Rudolph New York Crooked Lane Books (September 19, 2023) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639104631 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639104635 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BQLJWBN4

It’s beginning to look a lot like murder in the sixth installment of this charming cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Donna Andrews and Jacqueline Frost.

It’s the beginning of December in Rudolph, New York, America's Christmas Town, and business is brisk at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a gift and décor shop owned by Merry Wilkinson. The local amateur dramatic society is intensely preparing a special musical production of A Christmas Carol. But it’s not a happy set, as rivalries between cast and crew threaten the production. Tensions come to a head when a member of the group is found dead shortly after a shopping excursion to Mrs. Claus's Treasures. Was someone looking to cut out the competition? Everyone in the cast and crew is a potential suspect, including Aline, Merry’s mother, and Merry's shop assistant Jackie O'Reilly, who was desperate for a starring role. It could be curtains for Christmas—and for Merry—unless the killer can be ferreted out of the wings.

What I Thought:

This is the sixth installment in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. I have read several in this series and this one was just as good as the others I have read. It is of course Christmastime again in Rudolph, New York. The community theater is putting on a musical version of A Christmas Carol and Merry’s mother, Aline is the Ghost of Christmas Past and directing the chorus line. When one of the cast is found lying dead in Merry’s store, Jackie, Merry’s employee becomes the main suspect because she was the dead woman’s understudy. Even though Merry is warned to not get involved she does anyway, after all someone broke into her mother’s home while he dad was away so she is trying to protect her mom. I love the setting of this book, who wouldn’t love a town that is ready for Christmas all year. The plot of this one was well thought out and the story flowed really well. This is one of my favorite series and this installment did not disappoint me. There were twists and turns in this and the motive for the murder was never really clear until the reveal. I was totally caught off guard by the reveal and was surprised by the ending. I look forward to more in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

 

About Vicki Delany

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. Author of more than fifty books, she is currently writing the Tea by the Sea mysteries, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, the Year-Round Christmas mysteries, and the Lighthouse Library series (as Eva Gates). Vicki is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

Author Links Website – www.vickidelany.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor; Twitter: @vickidelany and@evagatesauthor Instagram: vickidelany Bookbub: Vicki Delany Books – BookBub Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org - PenguinRandomHouse

The Body in the Back Garden

 

The Body in the Back Garden (A Crescent Cove Mystery) by Mark Waddell

About The Body in the Garden

The Body in the Back Garden (A Crescent Cove Mystery) Queer Cozy ("Quozy") Mystery 1st in Series Setting - The fictional town of Crescent Cove on Vancouver Island, Canada Crooked Lane Books (August 22, 2023) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639104402 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639104406 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BN582M9W

In this queer cozy series debut perfect for fans of Ellen Byron and Ellery Adams, Luke Tremblay is about to discover that Crescent Cove has more than its fair share of secrets…and some might be deadlier than others.

Crescent Cove, a small hamlet on Vancouver Island, is the last place out-of-work investigative journalist Luke Tremblay ever wanted to see again. He used to spend summers here, until his family learned that he was gay and rejected him. Now, following his aunt’s sudden death, he’s inherited her entire estate, including her seaside cottage and the antiques shop she ran for forty years in Crescent Cove. Luke plans to sell everything and head back to Toronto as soon as he can…but Crescent Cove isn’t done with him just yet.

When a stranger starts making wild claims about Luke’s aunt, Luke sends him packing. The next morning, though, Luke discovers that the stranger has returned, and now he’s lying dead in the back garden. To make matters worse, the officer leading the investigation is a handsome Mountie with a chip on his shoulder who seems convinced that Luke is the culprit. If he wants to prove his innocence and leave this town once and for all, Luke will have to use all his skills as a journalist to investigate the colorful locals while coming to terms with his own painful past.

There are secrets buried in Crescent Cove, and the more Luke digs, the more he fears they might change the town forever.

Excerpt from The Body in the Back Garden

The drive back to the cottage took no more than five minutes, and when I got there, I found a Jeep Wrangler with RCMP markings waiting for me. My heart sank. I really didn’t want a third encounter with the police today.

With some reluctance, I trudged around the side of the cottage and found Jack Munro waiting for me, brawny arms folded across his tactical vest as he gazed out at the sea. My heart sank even further, but also fluttered a little as well. I had no idea how to behave around him now that I knew he was my old friend.

As I approached, shoes crunching on the stone path, he turned to face me. I paused. Jack looked mad. His square jaw was clenched and his eyebrows were drawn downwards in a fierce glower.

Uh oh.

“We need to talk,” he informed me, and I nodded jerkily after a moment’s hesitation.

“Sure. Okay. Do you want to come inside?”

With a shake of his head, Jack then advanced towards me until he was close enough that I had to look up into his face. “I want to know why you lied to me.”

I had to work moisture back into my mouth before I could reply. “What do you mean?”

“I spoke with Aleesha Perkins.” At my blank stare, he added, “Her mom runs the greengrocers in town. She delivered some groceries here yesterday.”

Oh yeah. I nodded again, mutely.

“Aleesha claims that she witnessed you assault Joel Mackenzie and then threaten him.” Jack’s resonant baritone was tight with anger. “Is that true?”

“I wouldn’t say assault, exactly,” I hedged. “I did push him, that’s true.”

“She says you pushed him off the front porch and that he landed on his back on the ground.”

“Uh. Yes.” Jack’s eyes narrowed and I added hurriedly, “But he provoked me. He called my aunt a thief and said she got what was coming to her. I…I got upset and pushed him harder than I intended.”

“And then threatened him.”

“No!” I protested. “No, I just told him that if he came back here he’d regret it.” I paused. “Okay. That sounds bad, I admit. But I didn’t mean anything by it. It wasn’t a threat.”

Jack said nothing. His features, familiar and yet not, were completely blank.

On a rising tide of panic, I reached out involuntarily and grasped his forearm. “Jack, please. Please believe me. I did not kill Joel Mackenzie. I didn’t see him again until I found his body this morning. I know how this looks, but…”

Jack stepped back from me, breaking my hold on his arm. “You assaulted and threatened a man who later turned up dead on your property, Luke.” His voice was cool now, dispassionate. “And you have no alibi for last night. How this looks is extremely bad for you.”

My feeling of panic increased as I stared up at him. “But you know me. You know I would never—”

He cut me off with brutal finality. “I used to know you. I’m not sure I do anymore.”

I had no response to that. There was nothing left to say. My panic slowly subsided, leaving hurt and fear in its wake.

A deep silence fell between us. Waves crashed in the distance and gulls screeched overhead. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?” he finally asked. “Because if there is anything, you need to tell me now.”

I shook my head once. “There isn’t anything,” I said, barely able to speak through the tightness in my throat.

He nodded without taking his eyes off me. “I strongly advise you to stay put here at the cottage while we continue our investigation.”

I said nothing, and after a long pause Jack brushed past me as he headed back to his Jeep. I watched him go with something close to despair.

I was now the only suspect in a murder, and the person in charge of investigating that murder clearly disliked me. I wanted to trust that Jack would figure out who the killer was rather than pin this on me, but given our recent interactions, that seemed far from certain. If I didn’t want to end up in prison, there was only one option left.

I needed to solve this myself.

What I Thought:

This was a refreshing, quick read that kept my attention throughout the book. This is the first in a new series, Crescent Cove Mysteries, and Mr. Waddell is a new to me author. I thought the plot of the story was well thought out and it flowed well. Luke has come back to Crescent Cove after the death of his aunt, Marguerite. Luke has not visited Crescent Cove in 20 years. The morning after he returns, he finds a dead body in the garden and of course he is the main suspect. The investigating RCMP officer happens to be his old friend, Jack, who is upset with Luke for never returning to Crescent Cove. Luke decides he better take matters into his own hands or he may be convicted of murder. I found the setting of this one to be charming and quaint. Luke did not really interact with a lot of the residents of the town, but there were a handful of suspects for the murder. There were a few different things going on in this book, blackmail after the blackmailer is murdered, plus the romantic element in this one. I sort of had the killer figured out, but I could not figure out why they did it until the end. The reveal of the killer was well written and played out very well. I am anxious to read more in this series and see where things go for Luke.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. 

About Mark Waddell

Mark is originally from Calgary, Alberta, and grew up on the cold, windswept Prairies of western Canada. Fleeing southward, he earned a Ph.D. in the history of science, medicine, and technology from the Johns Hopkins University and then worked as a professor at Michigan State University for fifteen years. Finally, he persuaded his amazing husband to move to Vancouver Island, where they now live. When he's not writing stories about murderous Canadians, he plays the viola in the Civic Orchestra of Victoria, walks his dogs along the seashore, and thinks up interesting ways to kill people.

Author Links Website: https://markwaddellbooks.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MWaddell34 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markwaddellauthor/

Purchase Links: PenguinRandomHouse - U.S. PenguinRandomHouse - Canada (includes links for Amazon, Bookshop.org, etc.) B&N Amazon

Take the Honey and Run

 

Take the Honey and Run (A Bee Keeping Mystery) by Jennie Marts

About Take the Honey and Run

Take the Honey and Run (A Bee Keeping Mystery) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Colorado Crooked Lane Books (July 18, 2023) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639103074 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639103072 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BJP8RN6Q

The town is all abuzz when a murder occurs in Jennie Marts’ debut cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Amanda Flower.

As a successful mystery author, Bailey Briggs writes about murder, but nothing prepares her for actually discovering the dead body of the founder of her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado. Bailey grew up at Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch and was raised by her beekeeping grandmother, Blossom Briggs, aka Granny Bee, and her two eccentric sisters, Aster and Marigold—which is why she drops everything to come home and help Granny Bee after a bad fall. A broken foot doesn’t stop her grandmother from ruling The Hive, her granny’s book club, or continuing to prepare and package her bee-inspired products. But when Bailey's grandmother’s infamous "Honey I'm Home" hot spiced honey turns out to “bee” the murder weapon and her granny is now the prime suspect, Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and "smoke out" the real culprit. With the help of Bailey’s witty bestie, a pair of meddling aunts, the feisty members of The Hive, and her computer-savvy daughter, this amateur sleuth is determined to solve the case. A malicious attack and an ominous threat reveal that someone wants Bailey to butt out of the investigation, but there’s no way she’s backing down. She must use her skills to uncover the truth and catch the clever culprit before her grandmother ends up bee-hind bars.

What I Thought:

This is the first book I have read by Jennie Marts and the first in a new series, The Bee Keeping Series. I thought the book was well written, with a believable plot and the story flowed well. Bailey has come home to visit her Granny Bee and her visit starts off with a bang when she runs into her old High School boyfriend. When she gets to Granny's house, Granny and the "hive" are throwing the Mayor of the town out and Granny threatens him. When he is found dead, Granny is the main suspect as her honey was the weapon due to his allergy. Bailey, Evie, and the "hive" investigate to prove Granny is innocent. Bailey gets herself into some sticky situations and there are laugh out loud moments in this book. The characters are all likable and the setting is enjoyable as well. There is no shortage of suspects in this one, as the Mayor was not a real likable person. The ending was a little different than a lot of cozies and  I was a little surprised by the reveal of the killer, though I had thought it was a possibility. This was and enjoyable and quick read that kept me turning pages. I look forward to more in this series. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. 

About Jennie Marts

Jennie Marts is the USA TODAY Best-selling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was “the most fun I’ve had reading in years.”

She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet who loves to tweet to the oldies. She’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends.

Her books range from Western romance to cozy mysteries, but they all have the charm and appeal of quirky small-town life. She loves genre-mashups like adding romance to her Page Turners cozy mysteries and creating the hockey-playing cowboys in the Cowboys of Creedence. The same small-town community comes to life with more animal antics in her latest Creedence Horse Rescue series. And her sassy heroines and hunky heroes carry over in her heartwarming, feel good romances from Hallmark Publishing. Her newest cozy mystery, Take the Honey and Run: A Bee Keeping Mystery, debuts this July.

Jennie loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, Twitter at @JennieMarts, and at jenniemartswriter on Instagram. Visit her at www.jenniemarts.com and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with the latest news and releases.

Purchase Links Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org - Alibris -