Category: Amateurs Sleuths

Book Review

The Suspect by Fiona Barton [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Suspect

Author: Fiona Barton

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: January 22, 2019

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Kate Waters #3

My Rating: 4/5

The Suspect by Fiona Barton

BOOK BLURB

When two eighteen-year-old girls go missing in Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight: desperate, bereft, and frantic with worry. What were the girls up to before they disappeared?

Journalist Kate Waters always does everything she can to be first to the story, first with the exclusive, first to discover the truth—and this time is no exception. But she can’t help but think of her own son, whom she hasn’t seen in two years, since he left home to go travelling. 

As the case of the missing girls unfolds, they will all find that even this far away, danger can lie closer to home than you might think…

The Suspect by Fiona Barton

MY REVIEW

Two eighteen-year-old girls, Alex and Rosie, go missing in Bangkok, Thailand. Kate Waters, a reporter, is working on the story of the missing girls. While Kate makes connections to stay ahead of the story, she is reminded of her son, Jake. He left home and went to Phuket two years earlier, and Kate rarely hears from him.

Told from alternating points of view – the reporter, the detective, one of the girls, and one of the missing girls’ mothers. The missing girl, the mother, and the detective all have quite a few chapters, but most of the book is from Kate’s POV.

Alex and Rosie are young and looking for adventure on their gap year. Unfortunately for Alex, Rosie has no desire to follow Alex’s well thought-out itinerary. Rosie would rather party than visit the places Alex had in mind for the trip. This causes conflict between the girls. Alex and Rosie also have very different relationships with their parents, as is shown after the girls go missing. The characters are from the UK, so the parents are in the international spotlight when the story breaks.

The reporter, Kate, and the detective, Bob Sparkes, were in the previous books in this series. The Suspect is the third book in the Kate Waters series by Fiona Barton. Kate Waters is a journalist who works hard to stay on top of headline stories. Bob Sparkes is a detective who works the cases Kate reports on. I’ve read the previous two books, The Widow and The Child, and enjoyed them. The books can all be read as standalone novels.

The Suspect is a slow-moving mystery with intriguing characters and a compelling story. This reads more as a police procedural rather than a thriller. I enjoy Barton’s writing style, and found this be an interesting and entertaining read. This one is good for fans of Fiona Barton’s other books and British police procedurals.

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

Books in the Kate Waters series:
  1. The Widow
  2. The Child
  3. The Suspect
Book Review

Lie Like a Rug by Donna Huston Murray [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Lie Like a Rug by Donna Huston Murray

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BOOK INFO

Title: Lie Like a Rug

Author: Donna Huston Murray

Publisher: Donna Huston Murray

Publish Date: January 18, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: A Ginger Barnes Mystery #7

My Rating: 4/5

Lie Like a Rug by Donna Huston Murray

BOOK BLURB

While escorting Bryn Derwyn Academy’s most infamous student downtown to be scared straight by a Federal judge, Ginger Barnes is shocked to find her childhood babysitter, textile professor Charlie Finnemeyer, on trial for fraudulently aging an Oriental rug. Even more alarming, Gin learns that two witnesses against her beloved “Uncle Wunk” suffered suspiciously convenient heart attacks.
Eager to assist the professor’s attorney, the veteran amateur sleuth pries secret information from a university president and uncovers past transgressions of a TV craft show host—all while acquiring an overnight education in early American textiles from experts at Winterthur and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Others guilty of questionable behavior: two antique dealers, and Charlie’s overprotective wife.
Still, damning evidence can’t be swept under a rug. Before Gin can persuade anyone else that Charlie is innocent, she must first convince herself.

Lie Like a Rug by Donna Huston Murray

MY REVIEW

Lie Like a Rug is the seventh book in the Ginger Barnes mystery series by Donna Huston Murray. Ginger Barnes is a wife and mother, who occasionally acts as amateur sleuth to solve mysteries. Her husband is headmaster at a private school, and she often helps out at the school. This novel opens with Gin escorting a troublemaker student to the courthouse, and ends up spotting a familiar face in a courtroom.

Gin discovers an old family friend is on trial for antiquities fraud. She doesn’t believe him to be guilty of the charges, so Gin uses her amateur sleuthing skills to help. Unfortunately, the evidence seems to be against her friend, and the dead key witnesses are not helping his case.

This book is in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. I have read book 1 of the series, The Main Line is Murder, but not the other books. This book was originally published years ago (2001), but has been updated by the author.

An entertaining cozy mystery with some humor. Likable characters in an enjoyable, light mystery.

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

Books in the Ginger Barnes Mystery series:
  1. The Main Line is Murder
  2. Final Arrangements
  3. School of Hard Knocks
  4. No Bones About It
  5. A Score to Settle
  6. Farewell Performance
  7. Lie Like a Rug
  8. For Better or Worse
Book Review

Death at Whitewater Church by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Death at Whitewater Church by Andrea Carter

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Death at Whitewater Church

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: September 4, 2018

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #1

My Rating: 4/5

Death at Whitewater Church by Andrea Carter

BOOK BLURB

When a skeleton is discovered in the hidden crypt of a deconsecrated church, everyone is convinced the bones must be those of Conor Devitt, a local man who went missing on his wedding day six years previously. But the postmortem reveals otherwise.

Solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keeffe is acting for the owners of the church, and although an unwelcome face from her past makes her reluctant to get involved, when Conor’s brother dies in strange circumstances shortly after coming to see her, she finds herself drawn in to the mystery. Whose is the skeleton in the crypt and how did it get there? Is Conor Devitt still alive, and if so, is there a link? What happened on the morning of his wedding to make him disappear?

Negotiating between the official investigation—headed up by the handsome but surly Sergeant Tom Molloy—and obstructive locals with secrets of their own, Ben unravels layers of personal and political history to get to the truth of what happened six years before.

MY REVIEW

Ben O’Keeffe has the only law practice in town, and is working as the attorney for the land owners who are trying to sell an old church. While inspecting the church, a skeleton is discovered. The townspeople all assume it to be the body of Conor, a local man who went missing on his wedding day six years earlier. When the bones are determined to not belong to Conor, a real mystery begins. Whose remains were found in the church? And what happened to Conor?

Ben, short for Benedicta, has the most northerly law practice in Ireland. She moved to town several years earlier and opened her law office. With the recent developments of the skeletal remains, plus other happenings going on around town, Ben helps the police sergeant slowly uncover secrets from the past.

Death at Whitewater Church is the first book in the Inishowen Mysteries series. This was an entertaining mystery. Very atmospheric. Interesting characters. Great start to a series. I’m looking forward to reading more of the Inishowen mysteries.

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

A Wrench in the Works by Kate Carlisle [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
A Wrench in the Works by Kate Carlisle

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BOOK INFO

Title: A Wrench in the Works

Author: Kate Carlisle

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: November 16, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Fixer-Upper Mystery #6

My Rating: 4/5

A Wrench in the Works by Kate Carlisle

BOOK BLURB

Shannon Hammer’s younger sister Chloe left Lighthouse Cove after high school to make it big in Hollywood. And she did it! For several years now, Chloe has been the co-host of a popular home repair show on the Do-It-Yourself Network. Now, after ten years, Chloe returns to Lighthouse Cove with her crew and co-host to film several shows featuring her sister Shannon, along with some special mini-segments on Victorian style and design.

But Shannon realizes quickly that things are not exactly blissful in TV land. Her sister’s handsome co-host is being stalked by someone who turns out to be his estranged wife, Erica–who also happens to be the executive producer of the show. Erica’s got a knack for stirring up sticky situations and when she’s found dead, Chloe and the entire crew are under suspicion.

Shannon soon discovers the real reason why Chloe was so eager to move away from Lighthouse Cove all those years ago. Can Shannon figure out if that ten-year-old secret is connected to Erica’s death? And can she track down the real killer before her beloved sister becomes the next victim?

MY REVIEW

In A Wrench in the Works, Shannon Hammer’s sister Chloe is back in town, and they’re getting to work together. The sisters both work in home improvement. Shannon’s specialty is Victorian houses and Chloe works on a home makeover show. Chloe’s show is scheduled to renovate a house in her hometown of Lighthouse Cove, and Shannon is excited to help her sister work on a local Victorian house. Shannon is proud of her sister for doing so well with her show, but soon realizes not all is great in the entertainment business. For one thing, the executive producer is a bit of a nightmare to work with. When the executive producer of the show is found dead, the crew, including Chloe, are all under suspicion. While in town, Chloe also reveals part of the reason she left town right after high school, and why she rarely visits

A wonderful light read. The characters are entertaining, though sometimes a little immature. Shannon and Chloe are both likable. It is refreshing to read a story where the sisters get along and there is not a lot of family drama. The mystery is well plotted. Good for fans of cozies. I have some of Kate Carlisle’s books on my TBR, and I plan to read some of the earlier books in this series.

A Wrench in the Works is the sixth book in the Fixer-Upper mystery series by Kate Carlisle. I haven’t read the previous books in the series, but this one was easily read as a standalone. I don’t think Chloe was in the previous books, so she was introduced in this one.

A fun cozy mystery that combines home improvement and a television show. Delightful and charming.

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

Books in the Fixer-Upper Mystery Series:
  1. A High-End Finish
  2. This Old Homicide
  3. Crowned and Moldering
  4. Deck the Hallways
  5. Eaves of Destruction
  6. A Wrench in the Works
  7. Shot Through the Hearth
  8. Premeditated Mortar
  9. Absence of Mallets
  10. Dressed to Drill
Book Review

Glitter Bomb by Laura Childs [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Glitter Bomb by Laura Childs

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Glitter Bomb

Author: Laura Childs

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: October 2, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: A Scrapbooking Mystery #15

My Rating: 4/5

Glitter Bomb by Laura Childs

BOOK BLURB

It’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans and scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand is excited to be attending the Pluvius Parade along with her best friend Ava. Carmela’s ex-husband Shamus rides by the duo on his float at the head of the parade, when suddenly the revelry turns to disaster. Shamus’ float crashes and explodes, and although Shamus escapes unhurt, a member of his krewe is killed.

Carmela and Ava plunge into an investigation of the krewe-member’s death, but as they dig deeper it starts to look less like an accident and more like a murder….and Shamus seems less like a victim, and more like a suspect.

MY REVIEW

A deadly explosion occurs during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. Carmela, a scrapbook shop owner, and Ava, her best friend, are at the parade and witness the disaster. Carmela and Ava use their sleuthing skills to investigate and find out if the explosion was an accident or murder.

Glitter Bomb is the 15th book in A Scrapbooking Mystery series by Laura Childs. I have not read the previous books in this series, but this one was easily read as a standalone. I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery, and plan on reading some of the earlier books in this series.

Glitter Bomb starts with a bang, and keeps a fast and fun pace throughout the book. Carmela and Ava are a lively duo that go on quite the adventure to solve this mystery. Since it is set during Mardi Gras, the city is bustling and Carmela and Ava stay busy enjoying the festivities.

After the story, a few extras are included:
– Scrapbook, stamping, and craft tips from Laura Childs
– Favorite New Orleans recipes
– Excerpt from Eggs on Ice

A fun mystery in a dazzling setting. A great read for fans of cozy mysteries. Humorous, delightful, and sparkling.

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

Books in the Scrapbooking Mystery series:
  1. Keepsake Crimes
  2. Photo Finished
  3. Bound for Murder
  4. Motif for Murder
  5. Frill Kill
  6. Death Swatch
  7. Tragic Magic
  8. Fiber and Brimstone
  9. Skeleton Letters
  10. Postcards from the Dead
  11. Gilt Trip
  12. Gossamer Ghost
  13. Parchment and Old Lace
  14. Crepe Factor
  15. Glitter Bomb
  16. Mumbo Gumbo Murder
Book Review

Winter Gets Hot by David M. Hamlin [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Book Review

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Winter Gets Hot

Author: David M. Hamlin

Publisher: Open Books

Publish Date: December 6, 2017

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Emily Winter #2

My Rating: 4/5

Winter Gets Hot by David M. Hamlin

BOOK BLURB

Winter in Chicago journalist Emily Winter is the first reporter on the scene of a gruesome murder in the offices of CARD, a civic organization that investigates corruption in City Hall. Although she has proven herself to be a skilled reporter with at least one headline making story to her credit, her new TV boss assigns her to a more “ladylike” beat—lifestyle and feature stories.

Determined to overcome the sexism that inhibits her career, Emily works her way into hard news coverage, including the story of the murder at CARD, but she faces major obstacles on all fronts as she pursues the killer.

As the case twists and turns, Emily navigates the city she loves, relishing Chicago’s architecture, neighborhood restaurants, culture and her beloved, if hapless, Chicago Cubs.

Will she uncover the murderer and bring justice for those who depend on hard-working journalists to write the stories that define their lives? Find out in Winter Gets Hot!

Winter Gets Hot by David M. Hamlin

MY REVIEW

Emily is a journalist in Chicago. She does the lighter, fluffier pieces for the news station she works for, but she yearns to work on more hard hitting news. When she is the first reporter at a crime scene, she thinks she finally has a chance at a real news story. Unfortunately for Emily, the current crime news reporter is putting up a fight and doesn’t want her working on the story. Emily is not easily discouraged, so she works on not only reporting the crime, but solving it too.

This is the second book with the character Emily Winter. I have not read the first book, Winter in Chicago, but Winter Gets Hot is easily read as a standalone.

This story takes place in the late 1970s, and Emily deals with a lot of sexism in the work place. With her high standards for work ethic and career goals, she is ready to show the men that there is room for a woman in the news room. A smart, resourceful, and determined female protagonist.

Emily is an enjoyable character to root for. A solid crime mystery, with mostly realistic interactions. My only complaint was the conversations with her husband. He used odd phrasing that seemed dated, even for the 70s. Though it was sometimes humorous, it broke the flow of the story.

An enjoyable, quick read. Good for fans of lighter crime fiction with a female sleuth.

I received a digital copy of this book from Book Glow in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Winter series:

  1. Winter in Chicago
  2. Winter Gets Hot
Book Review

Berries and Birthdays by Leena Clover [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Berries and Birthdays by Leena Clover

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Berries and Birthdays

Author: Leena Clover

Publisher: Independently published

Publish Date: May 21, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Pelican Cove #3

My Rating: 4/5

Berries and Birthdays by Leena Clover

BOOK BLURB

July 4th parade ends in 100 year old’s gruesome murder.
He never cut the birthday cake Jenny baked for him!
The Pelican Cove police are clueless about why anyone would murder a 100 year old man on his birthday. With most of the victim’s large family admitting they hated him, Jenny decides the obvious suspects are innocent. She will pursue the most unlikely string of clues to uncover a mystery that spans generations. Her startling discovery will shock the entire community. Can she apprehend the murderer in time?
The busy tourist season spurs Jenny to dish out treats like iced coffees and crab cakes. She’s happy being wooed by two hot and eligible men while her friend Heather tries her hand at online dating.
Book 3 in the Pelican Cove Cozy Mystery Series promises a mystery you never saw coming. If you like beach settings, mouth watering food and mysteries that keep you guessing till the end, you will like Berries and Birthdays.

Berries and Birthdays by Leena Clover

MY REVIEW

Jenny moved to the small town of Pelican Cove after her divorce. She has settled in the community, making friends and working at a local cafe. In her short time in Pelican Cove, she has helped solve two murders – Strawberries and Strangers and Cupcakes and Celebrities. With Berries and Birthdays, a local man is killed on his 100th birthday, and Jenny is once again ready to help solve the mystery.

Berries and Birthdays is the third book in the Pelican Cove cozy mystery series. This book can be read as a standalone, though I do suggest reading the previous books to be more familiar with the characters.

I enjoyed the mystery in this one more than the previous book. This mystery hits all the high points for an enjoyable cozy read – amateur sleuth, charming setting, a little romance, and interesting characters.

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

Books in the Pelican Cove Series:
  1. Strawberries and Strangers
  2. Cupcakes and Celebrities
  3. Berries and Birthdays
  4. Sprinkles and Skeletons
  5. Waffles and Weekends
  6. Muffins and Mobsters
  7. Parfaits and Paramours
  8. Truffles and Troubadours
  9. Sundaes and Sinners
  10. Croissants and Cruises
  11. Pancakes and Parrots
  12. Cookies and Christmas
  13. Popsicles and Poisons
  14. Biscuits and Butlers
Book Review

Cupcakes and Celebrities by Leena Clover [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Cupcakes and Celebrities by Leena Clover

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Cupcakes and Celebrities

Author: Leena Clover

Publisher: Independently published

Publish Date: May 8, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Pelican Cove #2

My Rating: 3/5

Cupcakes and Celebrities by Leena Clover

BOOK BLURB

Celebrity groom is prime suspect in shocking murder.
Nothing’s going right for Heather’s TV star cousin. Her wedding at the Pelican Cove Country Club is canceled. Her musician groom is being investigated in a suspicious death. Eager to tie the knot soon, she talks Jenny into helping her out.

Jenny uncovers a web of lies and deceit in a world where popularity and fame are the only path to success. Almost everyone from the wedding party has a reason to kill. Jenny talks to a host of colorful characters in her search for the truth. Can she pinpoint the real killer and save the innocent in time?

Meanwhile, Pelican Cove is a finalist in the Prettiest Town in America contest. Jenny is busy settling down in her new life, getting friendly with the locals (some more than the others).

Book 2 in the Pelican Cove Cozy Mystery series promises a fast page turner that will keep you guessing till the end. If you like larger than life characters and a juicy mystery with twists and turns, you will like Cupcakes and Celebrities.

Cupcakes and Celebrities by Leena Clover

MY REVIEW

A celebrity wedding is disrupted with a shocking death. Jenny is asked to look into the death and find out who is behind it.

The second book in the Pelican Cove cozy mystery series. Jenny is an amateur sleuth with a solid mystery on her hands, and a little romance in her life. The same quirky, fun characters from the first book, Strawberries and Strangers, were back. It does help to have read the first book and be familiar with the characters, but this could easily be read as a standalone. A light and easy cozy mystery.

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

Books in the Pelican Cove Series:
  1. Strawberries and Strangers
  2. Cupcakes and Celebrities
  3. Berries and Birthdays
  4. Sprinkles and Skeletons
  5. Waffles and Weekends
  6. Muffins and Mobsters
  7. Parfaits and Paramours
  8. Truffles and Troubadours
  9. Sundaes and Sinners
  10. Croissants and Cruises
  11. Pancakes and Parrots
  12. Cookies and Christmas
  13. Popsicles and Poisons
  14. Biscuits and Butlers
Book Review

Murder Most Fermented by Christine E. Blum [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Murder Most Fermented by Christine E. Blum

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 Most Fermented

Author: Christine E. Blum

Publisher: Kensington

Publish Date: April 24, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery #2

My Rating: 4/5

Murder Most Fermented by Christine E. Blum

BOOK BLURB

Murder and merlot! The ladies of the Rose Avenue Wine Club are back to track down another killer…

When New York transplant Annie “Halsey” Hall starts digging for her tiny SoCal dream vineyard off Rose Avenue, the last thing she expects to unearth is an elderly woman. Between decanting chardonnays and rosés, Halsey and the women of the Wine Club pour over the list of suspects. Could the old woman have bottlenecked her great grandson’s latest scheme? Was it a case of super sour grapes with the local historical society? Or did a devious developer close a killer deal?

With the help of the Wine Club and her enthusiastic yellow lab, Bardot, Halsey must untangle the twisted tendrils of the mystery to clear her name and end a murderer’s reign of terror…

Murder Most Fermented by Christine E. Blum

MY REVIEW

Halsey and her friends in the Rose Avenue Wine Club are back! While digging to plant a small vineyard in the community garden, Halsey and her dog, Bardot, discover a body. Soon, Halsey is investigating the death. Of course, she has the help of the other wine club ladies.

Murder Most Fermented is the second book in the Rose Avenue Wine Club mystery series. I read the first book, so I was already familiar with Halsey’s story and the women in the wine club. This book could be read as a stand-alone, but the first book is referenced a few times.

The normal formula for a cozy mystery – female protagonist restarts her life in a new place and acts as amateur sleuth. Bonus points for the wine club and lovable, but hyperactive dog. Kooky neighbors and shenanigans galore… Halsey even gets herself arrested. A light, fun, and entertaining cozy mystery.

For wine drinkers – In the back of the book, a list of wines the women drink is included. There is also a food and wine pairing list.

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

Books in the Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery Series:
  1. Full Bodied Murder
  2. Murder Most Fermented
  3. The Name of the Rosé
  4. Clarets of Fire
Book Review

Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Mardi Gras Murder 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: Mardi Gras Murder

Author: Ellen Byron

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: October 9, 2019

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Cajun Country Mystery #4

My Rating: 4/5

Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron

BOOK BLURB

USA Today bestselling author Ellen Byron is back at it with fan-favorite plantation B&B owner Maggie Crozat in a fourth installment of the Cajun Country mysteries.

Southern charm meets the dark mystery of the bayou as a hundred-year flood, a malicious murder, and a most unusual Mardi Gras converge at the Crozat Plantation B&B.

It’s Mardi Gras season on the bayou, which means parades, pageantry, and gumbo galore. But when a flood upends life in the tiny town of Pelican, Louisiana—and deposits a body of a stranger behind the Crozat Plantation B&B—the celebration takes a decidedly dark turn. The citizens of Pelican are ready to Laissez les bon temps rouler—but there’s beaucoup bad blood on hand this Mardi Gras.

Maggie Crozat is determined to give the stranger a name and find out why he was murdered. The post-flood recovery has delayed the opening of a controversial exhibit about the little-known Louisiana Orphan Train. And when a judge for the Miss Pelican Mardi Gras Gumbo Queen pageant is shot, Maggie’s convinced the murder is connected to the body on the bayou. Does someone covet the pageant queen crown enough to kill for it? Could the deaths be related to the Orphan Train, which delivered its last charges to Louisiana in 1929? The leads are thin on this Fat Tuesday—and until the killer is unmasked, no one in Pelican is safe.

A simmering gumbo of a humorous whodunit, Mardi Gras Murder is the fourth piquant installment in USA Today bestselling author Ellen Byron’s award-winning Cajun Country mysteries.

Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron

MY REVIEW

In Mardi Gras Murder, a torrential rain hits the small town of Pelican, Louisiana. After the flood waters recede, a stranger’s dead body is discovered near the Crozat Plantation B&B. Maggie Crozat is determined to find the stranger’s identity and who is responsible for his death. Since it is Mardi Gras season, the town has a lot happening. As the town prepares for the local pageant and the opening of a Louisiana Orphan Train exhibit, Maggie attempts to solve the mystery of the stranger’s death.

Mardi Gras Murder is the 4th book in the Cajun Country mystery series by Ellen Byron. This is the first book in the series that I have read, but was easy to read as a standalone.

Realistic and quirky characters. Intriguing mystery. Inviting small Southern town setting. A light and easy cozy mystery. A fun read that includes a lot information about a favorite season in Louisiana, Mardi Gras.

I received a 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

Read and Gone by Allison Brook [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Read and Gone by Allison Brook

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 and Gone

Author: Allison Brook

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: September 11, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: The Haunted Library Mysteries #2

My Rating: 3/5

Read and Gone by Allison Brook

BOOK BLURB

Right in time for the holidays, comes Allison Brook’s second Haunted Library mystery, a perfect present for readers of Jenn McKinlay and Leslie Meier.

Twenty million dollars’ worth of missing gems bring Carrie Singleton’s long-lost and larcenous dad back into her life and it’s up to Carrie to clear his name.

A devoted dad is as precious as diamonds, but Carrie Singleton wouldn’t know since her dad Jim’s been on the lam most of her life. In an unusual family reunion, she finds Jim breaking into her cottage in the middle of the night. The fun really starts when he begs her to help him recover his half of a twenty-million-dollar gem heist he pulled off with the local jeweler, Benton Parr. When she refuses, Jim takes off again.

Carrie finds her father again behind bars for the recent murder of Benton Parr. Who made the connection? Unbeknownst to her, Carrie’s boyfriend Dylan, an insurance investigator, has been searching for the gems. Determined to find the jewels herself, she starts examining every facet of Parr’s life. She turns up a treasure trove of suspects, one of whom bashes her on the head as she’s searching the victim’s country cabin.

Retreating to the quiet confines of the library where she works, Carrie watches as Smokey Joe, the resident cat, paws at a hole in the wall. Is he after the library’s ghost Evelyn, or something shinier? The second charming Haunted Library mystery by Allison Brook, Read and Gone will be a delight for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Leslie Meier.

Read and Gone by Allison Brook

MY REVIEW

Carrie’s father is a thief. In Read and Gone, he shows up in the middle of the night, and wants her to help him recover his portion of the gems from a heist he did with a local jeweler. She refuses to help, but when the jeweler is murdered, and her dad is arrested, Carrie gets involved. She knows her father to be a thief, but not a killer, so she wants to clear his name. To complicate matters, it turns out Carrie’s boyfriend is an insurance investigator, and he’s looking for the stolen gems, too.

Read and Gone is the second book in The Haunted Library mystery series. This book doesn’t have much about the haunted library. I haven’t read the first book in the series, so I’m guessing that one features more of the library ghost. This book was good as a standalone.

A sweet and fun cozy mystery. Charming setting and, mostly, likable characters. Quick and easy read, good for fans of cozies that involve libraries and bookish characters.

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

Death by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge [Book Review]

Posted on by Darinda
Death by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge

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BOOK INFO

Title: Death by the Sea

Author: Kathleen Bridge

Publisher: Lyrical Underground

Publish Date: April 3, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: A By the Sea Mystery #1

My Rating: 4/5

Death by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge

BOOK BLURB

National bestselling author Kathleen Bridge presents a delightful new series set on a barrier island where waves meet sand—and mayhem meets murder…

The Indialantic by the Sea hotel has a hundred-year-old history on beautiful Melbourne Beach, Florida, and more than a few guests seem to have been there from the start. When Liz Holt returns home after an intense decade in New York, she’s happy to be surrounded by the eccentric clientele and loving relatives that populate her family-run inn, and doubly pleased to see the business is staying afloat thanks to its vibrant shopping emporium and a few very wealthy patrons.

But that patronage decreases by one when a filthy rich guest is discovered dead in her oceanfront suite. Maybe this is simply a jewel theft gone wrong, but maybe someone—or many people—wanted the hotel’s prosperous guest dead. Only one thing is sure: there’s a killer at the Indialantic, and if Liz lets herself be distracted—by her troubled past or the tempting man who seems eager to dredge it back up—the next reservation she’ll book could be at the cemetery…

Death by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge

MY REVIEW

Liz returns home to a small Florida beach town after 10 years of living in New York City and having a successful writing career. Her family runs a historic hotel, and Liz happily joins in working at the hotel when she returns. Everything seems to be going smoothly, until a rich guest is found murdered at the hotel. It seems there is a killer at the hotel, and Liz sleuths to discover who it is.

Death by the Sea is the first book in the By the Sea mystery series. A charming setting – loved the old hotel and nearby shops. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the books, the hotel library, and the local bookshop. The characters are fun, with the hotel and shops both full of eccentric staff and guests.

A great cozy mystery. 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 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