Category: Amateurs Sleuths

Book Review

Buried in the Stacks by Allison Brook [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Buried in the Stacks by Allison Brook

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BOOK INFO

Title: Buried in the Stacks

Author: Allison Brook

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: September 10, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: The Haunted Library Mysteries #3

My Rating: 4/5

Buried in the Stacks by Allison Brook

BOOK BLURB

Librarian Carrie Singleton is building a haven, but one of her neighbors is misbehavin’. Can resident spirit Evelyn help Carrie catch the culprit who made her a ghost?

In winter, the Haunted Library is a refuge for homeless townspeople. When a group purchases a vacant house to establish a daytime haven for the homeless, Carrie offers the library as a meeting place for the Haven House committee, but quickly learns that it may be used for illegal activities.

As the new Sunshine Delegate, Carrie heads to the hospital to visit her cantankerous colleague, Dorothy, who had fallen outside the local supermarket. She tells Carrie that her husband tried to kill her–and that he murdered her Aunt Evelyn, the library’s resident ghost, six years earlier.

And then Dorothy is murdered–run off the road as soon as she returns to work. Evelyn implores Carrie to find her niece’s killer, but that’s no easy task: Dorothy had made a hobby of blackmailing her neighbors and colleagues. Carrie, Evelyn, and Smoky Joe the cat are on the case, but are the library cards stacked against them?

Buried in the Stacks by Allison Brook

MY REVIEW

Buried in the Stacks is the third book in The Haunted Library Mysteries series by Allison Brook. In this latest book, Carrie sleuths to solve the murder of her coworker Dorothy. Dorothy wasn’t a very pleasant person to be around, but as the new Sunshine Delegate, Carrie made an effort to be nice. When Carrie suspects foul play, she wants to find the killer. Plus, Dorothy was the niece of Evelyn, the library ghost.

I’ve read the previous two books in this series and have enjoyed each one. I do recommend reading this series in order, since it helps to know everyone’s backstory. Still, this could be read as a standalone if you don’t get the chance to read the first two books, Death Overdue and Read and Gone.

A charming cozy mystery with a touch of the supernatural. The supernatural part concerns the library ghost, Evelyn. A friendly ghost who only Carrie can see. I have found Evelyn doesn’t play a big role in these books, but it’s a unique way to include a character.

Great setting with the haunted library and plenty of quirky characters. Recommended to readers of cozy mysteries. A delightful read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in The Haunted Library Series:
  1. Death Overdue
  2. Read and Gone
  3. Buried in the Stacks
  4. Checked Out for Murder
  5. Death on the Shelf
  6. Dewey Decimated
  7. Overdue or Die
Book Review

Fatal Cajun Festival by Ellen Byron [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Fatal Cajun Festival by Ellen Byron

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Fatal Cajun Festival

Author: Ellen Byron

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: September 10, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Cajun Country Mystery #5

My Rating: 4/5

Fatal Cajun Festival by Ellen Byron

BOOK BLURB

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Ellen Byron cranks it up to eleven in the fifth fast and funny Cajun Country mystery.

Louisiana B&B owner Maggie Crozat kicks up her heels at a country music festival–but she’ll have one foot in the grave if she can’t bring the killer of a diva’s hanger-on to heel.

Grab your tickets for Cajun Country Live!, the pickers’ and crooners’ answer to the legendary New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Maggie Crozat, proprietor of the Crozat Plantation B&B, plans to be in the cheering section when her friend Gaynell Bourgeois takes the stage with her band, Gaynell and the Gator Girls.

The festival’s headliner, native daughter Tammy Barker, rocketed to stardom on a TV singing competition. She has the voice of an angel…and the personality of a devilish diva. But Maggie learns that this tiny terror carries a grudge against Gaynell. She’s already sabotaged the Gator Girls’ JazzFest audition. When a member of Tammy’s entourage is murdered at the festival, Tammy makes sure Gaynell is number one on the suspect list.

Gaynell has plenty of company on that list–including every one of Tammy’s musicians. Posing as a groupie, Maggie infiltrates Tammy’s band and will have to hit all the right notes to clear her friend’s name.

Fatal Cajun Festival by Ellen Byron

MY REVIEW

Fatal Cajun Festival is the fifth book in the Cajun Country Mystery series by Ellen Byron. Maggie Crozat and her family and friends are back in another fun book for this series. When mysteries happen in Pelican, LA, Maggie is quick to help investigate and find the guilty party.

In this book, a local festival is happening in Pelican. Tammy, a singer, returns to her hometown of Pelican to headline the festival. Tammy holds a grudge against Gaynell, one of Maggie’s friends. Along with Tammy are her manager and band members. When Tammy’s manager is killed, Gaynell becomes a suspect, and Maggie sleuths to prove Gaynell’s innocence.

I have now read three books in this series, and have enjoyed each one. I plan to go back and read the books I skipped. The mysteries for each book are standalone stories, but the personal events happening with the characters is a continuing storyline.

Fun characters in a delightful setting. I love the quirkiness and Southern charm of Pelican and its residents. An entertaining read for fans of cozy mysteries.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Cajun Country Mystery Series:
  1. Plantation Shudders
  2. Body on the Bayou
  3. A Cajun Christmas Killing
  4. Mardi Gras Murder
  5. Fatal Cajun Festival
  6. Murder in the Bayou Boneyard
  7. Cajun Kiss of Death

Book Review

Treacherous Strand by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Treacherous Strand by Andrea Carter

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BOOK INFO

Title: Treacherous Strand

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: September 3, 2019

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #2

My Rating: 4/5

Treacherous Strand by Andrea Carter

BOOK BLURB

Perfect for mystery readers who enjoy character driven mysteries, with a strong female protagonist and a powerful sense of place

A woman’s body washes up on a remote beach on the Inishowen Peninsula. Partially clothed, with a strange tattoo on her thigh, she is identified as Marguerite Etienne, a French woman who has been living in the area. Solicitor Ben (Benedicta) O’Keeffe is consumed by guilt: for the second time in her life Ben has failed someone who needed her, with tragic consequences. When local sergeant Tom Molloy dismisses Marguerite’s death as the suicide of a disturbed and lonely woman, Ben cannot let it lie. Ben uncovers Marguerite’s strange past as a member of a French doomsday cult, which she escaped twenty years previously, but not without leaving her baby daughter behind. Disturbed by what appears to be chilling local indifference to Marguerite’s death, Ben pieces together the last few weeks of the French woman’s life in Inishowen. What she discovers causes her to question the fragile nature of her own position in the area, and she finds herself crossing boundaries—both personal and professional—to unearth local secrets long buried.

Treacherous Strand is the second in a series of mysteries set in the fictional town of Glendara on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal with amateur sleuth, solicitor Ben O’Keeffe. These atmospheric and immersive mysteries are being adapted as elevision series to be filmed in Inishowen.

Treacherous Strand by Andrea Carter

MY REVIEW

Treacherous Strand is the second book in the Inishowen Mysteries series by Andrea Carter. Ben (Benedicta) O’Keeffe is back with another mystery in the small town of Glendara. When Marguerite, one of Ben’s clients, ends up dead, Ben believes the death to be suspicious. The more Ben uncovers about Marguerite’s life, the more she believes Marguerite was killed.

An atmospheric amateur sleuth story. Ben is an attorney living in a small Irish town. It is a very close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Ben moved to the town several years earlier, and is still considered an outsider. She doesn’t know the family histories and the stories from the town’s past. She’s learning though. With her work and occasional sleuthing, she’s picked up a lot of info about some of the locals.

I recommend reading the first book in this series, Death at Whitewater Church, before this one. While the mystery and some of the characters are new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books.

This book reads almost like a cozy mystery – small town, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth. There is a little romance thrown in, but the story focuses more on the mystery than Ben’s love life. An enjoyable read for fans of cozies with atmospheric settings.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Inishowen Mysteries series:
  1. Death at Whitewater Church
  2. Treacherous Strand
  3. The Well of Ice
  4. Murder at Greysbridge
  5. The Body Falls
  6. Death Writes
Book Review

The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Book Supremacy

Author: Kate Carlisle

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: June 4, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Bibliophile Mystery #13

My Rating: 4/5

The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle

BOOK BLURB

In the latest in this New York Times bestselling series, San Francisco book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright investigates a mysterious spy novel linked to a string of murders…

Newlyweds Brooklyn and Derek are enjoying the final days of their honeymoon in Paris. As they’re browsing the book stalls along the Seine, Brooklyn finds the perfect gift for Derek, a first edition James Bond novel, The Spy Who Loved Me. When they bump into Ned, an old friend from Derek’s spy days, Brooklyn shows him her latest treasure.

Once they’re back home in San Francisco, they visit a spy shop Ned mentioned. The owner begs them to let him display the book Brooklyn found in Paris as part of the shop’s first anniversary celebration. Before they agree, Derek makes sure the security is up to snuff—turns out, the unassuming book is worth a great deal more than sentimental value.

Soon after, Derek is dismayed when he receives a mysterious letter from Paris announcing Ned’s death. Then late one night, someone is killed inside the spy shop. Are the murders connected to Brooklyn’s rare, pricey book? Is there something even more sinister afoot? Brooklyn and the spy who loves her will have to delve into the darkest parts of Derek’s past to unmask an enemy who’s been waiting for the chance to destroy everything they hold dear.

The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle

MY REVIEW

The Book Supremacy is the 13th book in the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle. In this latest addition to the series, Brooklyn and Derek are on their honeymoon when Brooklyn finds the perfect gift for Derek – a first edition James Bond spy novel. When they return home, they visit a spy shop owned and operated by an old friend of Derek. The shop is celebrating it’s first anniversary and the owner asks to display the spy novel. Being a spy shop, security is top notch, so Brooklyn and Derek loan out the book. Soon after it goes on display, someone attempts to steal it and commits murder in the process. Brooklyn is on the case to sleuth and discover who is after the book and why.

As mentioned, this book falls later in the series. I’ve only read the first book in this series, Homicide in Hardcover, so I’ve missed out on a good portion of the books. Anyway, this one was easy to follow and could be read as a standalone. I enjoyed this book and the first one in the series, so it’s a series on my list to go back and catch up on.

I love that this series focuses on books, and the main character, Brooklyn, is a bookbinder and interested in books both professionally and personally. A great series for book lovers who enjoy cozy reads. Likable characters, fun plot, and entertaining setting. Light and charming.

I received a digital copy of this book from Penguin’s First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Bibliophile Mystery Series:
  1. Homicide in Hardcover
  2. If Books Could Kill
  3. The Lies that Bind
  4. Murder Under Cover
  5. One Book in the Grave
  6. Peril in Paperback
  7. A Cookbook Conspiracy
  8. The Book Stops Here
  9. Ripped From the Pages
  10. Books of a Feather
  11. Once Upon a Spine
  12. Buried in the Books
  13. The Book Supremacy
  14. The Grim Reader
  15. Little Black Book
  16. The Paper Caper
  17. The Twelve Books of Christmas
Book Review

Something Borrowed, Something Mewed by Bethany Blake [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Something Borrowed, Something Mewed by Bethany Blake

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BOOK INFO

Title: Something Borrowed, Something Mewed

Author: Bethany Blake

Publisher: Kensington

Publish Date: May 28, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #5

My Rating: 4/5

Something Borrowed, Something Mewed by Bethany Blake

BOOK BLURB

Daphne Templeton’s sister Piper is getting married—and their mother is getting carried away. She insists on hiring Sylvan Creek’s top event planner, Abigail Sinclair, who proposes an Independence Day theme complete with Statue of Liberty-inspired bridesmaid dresses. With all the bickering among the families, Daphne’s glad her only duty right now is pet-sitting for Abby’s cat, Ms. Peebles. But there are some fireworks coming that aren’t part of the ceremony. The Poconos will never be the same…

At a tension-filled dress fitting, the abrasive wedding planner is found strangled by a garter—a weapon both borrowed and blue. Now Daphne’s services are required not just for organizing the big day, but for figuring out whether one of the in-laws is an outlaw…

Something Borrowed, Something Mewed by Bethany Blake

MY REVIEW

Daphne Templeton returns in Something Borrowed, Something Mewed, the fifth book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting mystery series by Bethany Blake. In this latest book, Daphne’s sister Piper is getting married. Their mother insists on hiring a wedding planner who plans an extravagant wedding. When the wedding planner is found strangled with a garter, Daphne sleuths to find the killer.

Something Borrowed, Something Mewed is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I’ve only read one other book in this series, but I do plan to go back and read the others. It’s a cute cozy mystery series that has a small town setting, fun characters, and plenty of animals. Daphne is accompanied by her basset hound, Socrates, on her adventures. For the cat lovers out there, Daphne also has a cat and her pet sitting job in this book is for a cat.

One of the characters in this book is named Dorinda, so I thought that was cool. Not the same spelling as my name, but close enough. What made it even better was Dorinda’s mother’s name was Beverly. That’s my mother’s name. Weird coincidence.

A cozy mystery with humor and romance. A fun series for fans of cozy mysteries, especially cozies involving pets. I look forward to reading more of this series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery Series:
  1. Death by Chocolate Lab
  2. Dial Meow for Murder
  3. Pawprints & Predicaments
  4. A Midwinter’s Tail
  5. Something Borrowed, Something Mewed
  6. Of Mutts and Murder

Book Review

Murder by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Murder by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Murder by the Sea

Author: Kathleen Bridge

Publisher: Lyrical Underground

Publish Date: May 21, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: A By the Sea Mystery #3

My Rating: 4/5

Murder by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge

BOOK BLURB

When a murderer crashes a masquerade ball, it’s up to Liz to unmask the killer…

It’s been quite a year for novelist Liz Holt. She’s overcome a lot and is finally feeling at peace with her new life at her family’s hotel, the Indialantic by the Sea, on the beautiful barrier island of Melbourne Beach, Florida. She’s exactly where she needs to be to ring in the New Year at the Florida Writes Literary Masquerade Ball.

But when her ex-boyfriend surprises her at the ball, she can’t disguise her anger, and the two engage in a very public argument. Naturally, after her ex is found dead on the hotel grounds, shot through the heart, Liz tops the suspect list. With the help of family and friends, she needs to clear her name before the real killer waltzes away scot-free…

Murder by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge

MY REVIEW

Liz and friends are celebrating New Year’s Eve with a masquerade ball. When Liz’s ex-boyfriend shows up at the ball, Liz is surprised and angry with his arrival. Even more surprising is his sudden demise, and Liz is the primary suspect. Fortunately, Liz has some good friends to help sleuth and discover the truth.

Murder by the Sea is the third book in A By the Sea Mystery series by Kathleen Bridge. I recommend reading this series in order, starting with Death by the Sea. There are a number of characters, and their relationships progress through the series.

This is a highly entertaining cozy mystery. Quirky characters in a fun and light read. I especially enjoyed the masquerade ball of literary characters and the talk of favorite sleuths, including Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew. A recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the By the Sea Mystery Series:
  1. Death by the Sea
  2. A Killing by the Sea
  3. Murder by the Sea
  4. Evil by the Sea
  5. Buried by the Sea
Book Review

Read on Arrival by Nora Page [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Read on Arrival by Nora Page

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Read on Arrival

Author: Nora Page

Publisher: Crooked Lane

Publish Date: May 7, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Bookmobile Mystery #2

My Rating: 3/5

Read on Arrival by Nora Page

BOOK BLURB

Death, deadly omens, and a decades-overdue book put senior librarian Cleo Watkins on a collision course with a killer in the second Bookmobile mystery.

Septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins believes in gracious manners, sweet tea, and justice—library justice. For over forty years, Cleo has tried every trick in the book to get delinquent patron Dixie Huddleston to return the most overdue volume in Catalpa Springs, Georgia. When Dixie says she’ll finally relinquish the book, Cleo is shocked. She’s even more startled by the reason: superstitious Dixie says she’s seen the signs: she’s about to die and is setting her affairs in order.

Cleo dismisses Dixie’s ominous omens…until she and her gentleman friend, Henry Lafayette, arrive at Dixie’s home to find her dead. Cleo suspects murder. The police agree but promptly list Cleo among the likely culprits. To clear her good name and deliver justice, Cleo uses her librarian skills to investigate, with Henry and her trusty bookmobile cat, Rhett Butler, at her side.

However, the killer has opened a new chapter of terror. Death threats appear around town, and residents start seeing bad luck everywhere, including in Cleo and her beloved bookmobile Words on Wheels. With her bookmobile and legacy on the line, Cleo accelerates her sleuthing. Suspects and clues stack up, but so does the danger. Another death is coming due, and Cleo fears the killer may be about to turn the final page on someone she loves most.

Read on Arrival by Nora Page

MY REVIEW

Cleo is a 75-year-old devoted librarian. One of the library patrons, Dixie, has been delinquent on returning a book for over forty years, and it really irks Cleo. When Dixie agrees to finally return the book, it shocks Cleo. It shocks Cleo even more when she shows up to Dixie’s to get the book, and instead finds Dixie dead. The feud between Cleo and Dixie is well known, so Cleo jumps to the top of the suspect list. Cleo uses her sleuthing skills to investigate. As threats appear around town, it seems the killer is targeting everyone… including Cleo and her bookmobile.

Read on Arrival is the second book in the Bookmobile Mystery series by Nora Page. I have read the first book in the series, Better Off Read, and recommend reading them in order. The mystery is a standalone for this book, but, as is often found in a series, the relationships between characters grow with each book.

A fun cozy mystery with quirky characters and a charming Southern setting.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Bookmobile Mystery Series:
  1. Better Off Read
  2. Read on Arrival
  3. Read or Alive
Book Review

The Body in the Wetlands by Judi Lynn [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
The Body in the Wetlands by Judi Lynn

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Body in the Wetlands

Author: Judi Lynn

Publisher: Lyrical Underground

Publish Date: April 23, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: jazzi Zanders Mystery #2

My Rating: 3/5

The Body in the Wetlands by Judi Lynn

BOOK BLURB

High summer in River Bluffs, Indiana, turns chilly when house flipper Jazzi Zanders has to catch a killer while hammering nails and stripping paint.

When established house flippers Jazzi Zanders and her cousin Jerod donate a week’s worth of remodeling work to Jazzi’s sister Olivia, they’re expecting nothing more than back-breaking roofing work and cold beers at the end of each long, hot day. With Jazzi’s live-in boyfriend and partner Ansel on the team, it promises to be a quick break before starting their next big project—until Leo, an elderly neighbor of Olivia’s, unexpectedly goes missing . . .

When the friendly senior’s dog tugs Jazzi and the guys toward the wetlands beyond Olivia’s neighborhood, they stumble across a decomposing corpse—and a lot of questions. With Jazzi’s pal Detective Gaff along to investigate, Jazzi finds her hands full of a whole new mystery instead of the usual hammer and nails. And this time it will take some sophisticated sleuthing to track down the culprit of the deadly crime—before the killer turns on her next . . . 

The Body in the Wetlands by Judi Lynn

MY REVIEW

The Body in the Wetlands is the second book in A Jazzi Zanders Mystery series by Judi Lynn. Jazzi and her cousin Jerod are house flippers. Also on their work crew is Ansel, Jazzi’s boyfriend. Besides working on houses, Jazzi has a knack for stumbling into mysteries. In this book, Jazzi and crew are working on her sister’s house. They meet an elderly neighbor, who soon goes missing. When Jazzi helps look for him, she stumbles across a corpse.

I started reading this book and then realized it was book 2 in the series. So, I hopped on Amazon and got the Kindle version of the first one. These are quick reads, so I was able to read the first one fast and then go back to this book. I’m glad I read The Body in the Attic first, as it did allow me to have more background on the characters. That said, The Body in the Wetlands can be read as a standalone.

The mystery in this book starts with a missing elderly man. That soon leads to the discovery of two dead bodies. So, not only does Jazzi want to find the missing man, but now she’s looking for a killer. Jazzi doesn’t sleuth on her own, she is friendly with a detective who keeps her up-to-date on the cases and even brings her along when talking with witness and suspects. So, yeah, a little far-fetched.

This is a cozy mystery with romance and humor. I like Jazzi’s family and the house flipping aspect of the series. Personally, I don’t like Jazzi’s boyfriend Ansel. Or, maybe I don’t like Jazzi with Ansel. She’s mostly a strong character, but with Ansel, she’s weak and insecure.

A light and fun read for fans of cozy mysteries. The mystery is solid and has enough to keep the reader guessing.

Books in the Jazzi Zanders Mystery Series:
  1. The Body in the Attic
  2. The Body in the Wetlands
  3. The Body in the Gravel
  4. The Body in the Apartment
  5. The Body from the Past
  6. The Body in the Beauty Parlor
  7. The Body in the Trench
  8. The Body in the Buick
  9. The Body in the Wheelbarrow
  10. The Body in Someone Else’s Bed
Book Review

Foul Play on Words by Becky Clark [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Foul Play on Words by Becky Clark

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BOOK INFO

Title: Foul Play on Words

Author: Becky Clark

Publisher: Midnight Ink

Publish Date: April 8, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Mystery Writer’s Mystery #2

My Rating: 3/5

Foul Play on Words by Becky Clark

BOOK BLURB

Between a kidnapping, a double booking, and a crew of hapless volunteers, Charlee worries the writing conference will go to the dogs.

Mystery author Charlee Russo agrees to speak at a Portland writers’ conference organized by her friend Viv Lundquist. When Viv picks her up at the airport, she frantically tells Charlee that her daughter Hanna has been kidnapped.

Charlee takes over the conference preparation so Viv can search for her daughter, but the situation gets tense when the hotel double-books the event with a dog show. Despite this, Charlee is compelled to investigate after she learns shocking secrets about both Hanna and Viv. Can she find Hanna in time, or will a plot twist lead her to a ruff ending?

Foul Play on Words by Becky Clark

MY REVIEW

Charlee Russo heads to a writer’s conference to be a speaker. When she arrives, she finds out her friend Viv’s daughter has been kidnapped. Since Viv is organizing the conference, Charlee steps in to help so Viv can search for her daughter. It ends up being more than Charlee bargained for, including a double booked hotel and food poisoned volunteers.

The second book in the Mystery Writer’s mystery series by Becky Clark. I recommend picking up the first book, Fiction Can Be Murder, before reading this one. Personally, I enjoyed the first one more, but the second book is a good addition to the series.

In Foul Play on Words, Charlee is dealing with the chaos around the writer’s conference. Of course, Charlee also wants to investigate the mystery of her friend’s missing daughter. There is a lot going on in this book. Too much.

Charlee is a quirky character with a nice combination of paranoia and humor. An entertaining read. Good for fans of humorous cozy mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Mystery Writer’s Mystery Series:
  1. Fiction Can Be Murder
  2. Foul Play on Words
  3. Metaphor for Murder
  4. Police Navidad
Book Review

The Loch Ness Papers by Paige Shelton [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
The Loch Ness Papers by Paige Shelton

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Loch Ness Papers

Author: Paige Shelton

Publisher: Minotaur

Publish Date: April 2, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Scottish Bookshop Mystery #4

My Rating: 3/5

The Loch Ness Papers by Paige Shelton

BOOK BLURB

Bookseller Delaney Nichols befriends a Loch Ness monster enthusiast; when he stands accused of murder she’ll do whatever it takes to learn who the killer is—and whether Nessie herself is really lurking in the Scottish waters.

Delaney Nichols is delighted with her life in Edinburgh, working at The Cracked Spine—a shop that specializes in hard-to-find books and artifacts. With a job she loves, and her fast approaching marriage to devastatingly handsome Scottish pub-owner Tom Shannon, Delaney’s life could be straight out of a fairy tale—at least it would be, if the pastor meant to perform the wedding ceremony hadn’t recently passed away. Outside the church where Delaney is searching for another reverend, she stumbles across Norval Fraser: an elderly man obsessed with the Loch Ness monster. Always attracted to the interesting and unusual, Delaney befriends Norval. But when his nephew is found dead, the police decide Norval’s obsession has moved from monsters to murder.

With a wedding to plan, her family arriving soon from Kansas, and the arrival of an over-the-top Texan with a wildly valuable book, Delaney’s plate is full to bursting, but she can’t abandon her new friend. Determined to help Norval, she sets out to learn the truth. The Loch Ness buries its secrets deeply, but Delaney is determined to dig them up—whether Nessie likes it or not.

The Loch Ness Papers by Paige Shelton

MY REVIEW

Delaney Nichols is living the good life in Scotland. She’s engaged to a man she loves and she enjoys her job at The Cracked Spine. She also occasionally acts as an amateur sleuth when mysteries pop up around her. In The Loch Ness Papers, a local Loch Ness monster enthusiast, and recent friend of Delaney, is accused of murdering his nephew. Of course, Delaney steps up to help find the killer. Though Delaney is curious with the mystery, she has other things going on… she is getting married, and her family is in town for her wedding.

The Loch Ness Papers is the fourth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series by Paige Shelton. Delaney moved from the US to Scotland to work at The Cracked Spine, a rare books shop. Soon after moving to Scotland, she met Tom, and they fell in love. In each book, Delaney has a new mystery to solve. A light and entertaining series for fans of cozy mysteries. I recommend reading them in order, as it helps understand the characters better.

This book has Delaney helping a new friend… who is obsessed with the Loch Ness monster. Lots of talk about Nessie. Not much talk about The Cracked Spine, which, from previous books, sounds like an amazing book shop. Even though Delaney’s family is visiting from Kansas, she mostly focuses on the mystery, and not on her family and upcoming wedding.

I’ll admit, this is not a very exciting book. Personally, I like the characters and can handle the mostly predictable stories. If you like easy reading cozies, and Scotland appeals to you, then it’s worth picking up. A delightful addition to the series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series:
  1. The Cracked Spine
  2. Of Books and Bagpipes
  3. Lost Books and Old Bones
  4. The Loch Ness Papers
  5. The Stolen Letter
  6. Deadly Editions
  7. The Burning Pages
  8. Fateful Words
  9. The Poison Pen
Book Review

Murder at the Marina by Janet Finsilver [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Murder at the Marina by Janet Finsilver

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Murder at the Marina

Author: Janet Finsilver

Publisher: Lyrical Underground

Publish Date: April 2, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: A Kelly Jackson Mystery #5

My Rating: 4/5

Murder at the Marina by Janet Finsilver

BOOK BLURB

There’s a corpse among the chanterelles!

Kelly Jackson, manager of the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast, is fond of the Doblinsky brothers, Ivan and Rudy, members of the Silver Sentinels, a crew of crime-solving senior citizens in their Northern California seaside hamlet. After she discovers a jewel-encrusted dagger—with what appears to be dried blood on the blade—on their fishing boat, they share their family history with Kelly, and she learns that the knife may be part of a set from their long-ago childhood in Russia. Its sudden reappearance is eerie, but the mystery grows much more serious when a body is found on the boat. The victim was a member of the community and part of the Russian Heritage Festival, and some of the organizers were clearly harboring some bitterness. But the story behind this murder seems as layered as a nesting doll—and Kelly’s feeling completely at sea…

Murder at the Marina by Janet Finsilver

MY REVIEW

Murder at the Marina is the fifth book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series by Janet Finsilver. Kelly Jackson is the manager of Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast. With her job, she has had the opportunity to meet many of the locals and get involved with events in the community. Some of her favorite people are members of the Silver Sentinels, a group of crime-solving senior citizens. Kelly has gotten to know the members when she was also sleuthing in various local crimes.

In Murder at the Marina, a mystery first arises when a jewel encrusted knife is found aboard the boat belonging to two of the Silver Sentinels, brothers Ivan and Rudy. As Kelly helps the brothers, she learns about their family history. Also, the mystery gets more complex when a dead body is found.

A delightful cozy mystery series. Charming setting. Interesting characters. Entertaining plot. A nice addition to this series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Kelly Jackson Mystery Series:
  1. Murder at Redwood Cove
  2. Murder at the Mansion
  3. Murder at the Fortune Teller’s Table
  4. Murder at the Mushroom Festival
  5. Murder at the Marina
  6. Murder in the Wine Country
Book Review

Mother’s Day Mayhem by Lynn Cahoon [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Mother's Day Mayhem by Lynn Cahoon

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Mother’s Day Mayhem

Author: Lynn Cahoon

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Publish Date: April 2, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: A Tourist Trap Mystery #6.5

My Rating: 3/5

Mother's Day Mayhem by Lynn Cahoon

BOOK BLURB

Picturesque South Cove, California, is the perfect place to celebrate Mother’s Day, but not everyone is feeling motherly…

Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More is almost out of Mother’s Day cards. She has a few more in stock, but she’s set them aside because she needs Greg’s help choosing one for his mother. It’ll be Jill’s first time meeting her boyfriend’s mother, and she’s understandably nervous.

Turns out Jill isn’t the only one having feelings about mothers. Kyle, who works at the antiques store next door, needs to find the perfect card for a mother he hasn’t seen since he was five—when she went away to jail. But her arrival in South Cove isn’t exactly celebratory, her behavior toward her son unexpectedly restrained. Piqued, Jill discovers that a mother can never be replaced…

Mother's Day Mayhem by Lynn Cahoon

MY REVIEW

It’s almost Mother’s Day in South Cove, California. Jill’s boyfriend has asked her to meet his mother on Mother’s Day, signifying a big step in their relationship. That’s not the only story involving a mother though. Kyle, an employee at the antiques store, is looking for his mother. He hasn’t seen her since he was five years old, and, unfortunately, she is not all that eager to reconnect with him.

Mother’s Day Mayhem is a novella in the Tourist Trap mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. This was my first Tourist Trap mystery. I feel like I would have enjoyed this story a lot more if I had read the previous books in the series. So, I plan to go back and read the earlier books. This seems like a good cozy mystery series.

The mystery in this novella was very light. It focused on locating Kyle’s mother. The characters were all likable. The setting and story were charming. I look forward to reading more of this series.

I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

Books in the Tourist Trap Mystery Series:
  1. Guidebook to Murder
  2. Mission to Murder
  3. If the Shoe Kills
  4. Dressed to Kill
  5. Killer Run
  6. Murder on Wheels
  7. Tea Cups and Carnage
  8. Hospitality and Homicide
  9. Killer Party
  10. Memories and Murder
  11. Murder in Waiting
  12. Picture Perfect Frame
  13. Wedding Bell Blues
  14. A Vacation to Die For
  15. Songs of Wine and Murder