Amateurs Sleuths Archives – Page 7 of 9

Glitter Bomb by Laura Childs [Book Review]

Posted on September 26, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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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

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:

Keepsake Crimes
Photo Finished
Bound for Murder
Motif for Murder
Frill Kill
Death Swatch
Tragic Magic
Fiber and Brimstone
Skeleton Letters
Postcards from the Dead
Gilt Trip
Gossamer Ghost
Parchment and Old Lace
Crepe Factor
Glitter Bomb
Mumbo Gumbo Murder

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

Posted on August 20, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

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!

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:

Winter in Chicago
Winter Gets Hot

Berries and Birthdays by Leena Clover [Book Review]

Posted on July 1, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

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.

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:

Strawberries and Strangers
Cupcakes and Celebrities
Berries and Birthdays
Sprinkles and Skeletons
Waffles and Weekends
Muffins and Mobsters
Parfaits and Paramours
Truffles and Troubadours
Sundaes and Sinners
Croissants and Cruises
Pancakes and Parrots
Cookies and Christmas
Popsicles and Poisons
Biscuits and Butlers

Cupcakes and Celebrities by Leena Clover [Book Review]

Posted on June 30, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

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.

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:

Strawberries and Strangers
Cupcakes and Celebrities
Berries and Birthdays
Sprinkles and Skeletons
Waffles and Weekends
Muffins and Mobsters
Parfaits and Paramours
Truffles and Troubadours
Sundaes and Sinners
Croissants and Cruises
Pancakes and Parrots
Cookies and Christmas
Popsicles and Poisons
Biscuits and Butlers

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

Posted on June 3, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

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…

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:

Full Bodied Murder
Murder Most Fermented
The Name of the Rosé
Clarets of Fire

Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron [Book Review]

Posted on May 27, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

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.

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:

Plantation Shudders
Body on the Bayou
A Cajun Christmas Killing
Mardi Gras Murder
Fatal Cajun Festival
Murder in the Bayou Boneyard
Cajun Kiss of Death

Read and Gone by Allison Brook [Book Review]

Posted on May 18, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

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.

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:

Death Overdue
Read and Gone
Buried in the Stacks
Checked Out for Murder
Death on the Shelf
Dewey Decimated
Overdue or Die

Death by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge [Book Review]

Posted on May 14, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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 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

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…

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:

Death by the Sea
A Killing by the Sea
Murder by the Sea
Evil by the Sea
Buried by the Sea

Better Off Read by Nora Page [Book Review]

Posted on May 14, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Better Off Read

Author: Nora Page

Publisher: Crooked Lane

Publish Date: May 8, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Bookmobile Mystery #1

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

When her best hope of saving her storm-damaged library is found murdered, senior librarian Cleo Watkins hits the road in her bookmobile in search of justice.

Septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins won’t be shushed when an upstart young mayor threatens to permanently shelve her tiny town’s storm-damaged library. She takes to her bookmobile, Words on Wheels, to collect allies and rally library support throughout Catalpa Springs, Georgia.

However, Cleo soon rolls into trouble. A major benefactor known for his eccentric DIY projects requests all available books on getting away with murder. He’s no Georgia peach, and Cleo wonders if she should worry about his plans. She knows she should when she discovers him bludgeoned and evidence points to her best friend, Mary-Rose Garland.

Sure of Mary-Rose’s innocence, Cleo applies her librarian’s sleuthing skills to the case, assisted by friends, family, and the dapper antiquarian bookseller everyone keeps calling her boyfriend. Evidence stacks up, but a killer is overdue to strike again. With lives and her library on the line, Cleo must shift into high gear to close the book on murder in Better Off Read, the charming Bookmobile series debut by Nora Page.

MY REVIEW

Better Off Read is a cozy mystery featuring Cleo, a seventy-five year old librarian in a small Southern town. After the library suffers storm damage, the mayor threatens to keep it closed. Cleo brings out the bookmobile, and looks for support to keep the library open. Plus, a local is found murdered, and Cleo’s best friend is the prime suspect. Cleo stays busy with her librarian duties, and playing amateur sleuth to prove her best friend’s innocence.

Better Off Read is the first book in the Bookmobile mystery series. A charming town with eccentric characters. I especially enjoyed the spry older protagonist. The story was a little awkward at first, but with the characters and setting in place, this could be a fun cozy mystery series.

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:

Better Off Read
Read on Arrival
Read or Alive

Strawberries and Strangers by Leena Clover [Book Review]

Posted on May 12, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Strawberries and Strangers

Author: Leena Clover

Publisher: Independently published

Publish Date: May 1, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Pelican Cove #1

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Exclusive beach party takes a murderous turn.

Dumped by her cheating husband, Jenny King is trying to build a new life in the small seaside town of Pelican Cove. Locals are lining up at the Boardwalk Café for her tasty cakes and muffins. But when her aunt, a local artist, is accused of killing a stranger, Jenny is forced to set her apron aside and put on her sleuthing cap.

Jenny battles with the cranky local sheriff and quirky local characters to get to the truth. Aided by her new friends, she will move heaven and earth to find out who the dead stranger was and what he was doing in Pelican Cove.

If you like cozy murder mysteries with friendly small towns, scenic settings, yummy food and a touch of romance, you will like Strawberries And Strangers.

MY REVIEW

Jenny is going through a difficult divorce, and relocates to Pelican Cove to start over. The small town is where her aunt lives, and a place Jenny used to visit when she was a kid. As Jenny begins to find her place in the community, she starts working at a local cafe and making friends. During a big social event, a dead man is discovered on the beach. The man is a stranger in town, but the local police have a suspect for his murder… Jenny’s aunt. To prove her aunt’s innocence, Jenny looks into identifying the dead man and discovering who in town wanted him dead.

trawberries and Strangers is the first book in the Pelican Cove cozy mystery series. There were a lot of characters, but it wasn’t too hard to keep up once the story got going. An enjoyable, easy read with some quirky characters, a little romance, and a solid mystery.

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

Books in the Pelican Cove Series:

Strawberries and Strangers
Cupcakes and Celebrities
Berries and Birthdays
Sprinkles and Skeletons
Waffles and Weekends
Muffins and Mobsters
Parfaits and Paramours
Truffles and Troubadours
Sundaes and Sinners
Croissants and Cruises
Pancakes and Parrots
Cookies and Christmas
Popsicles and Poisons
Biscuits and Butlers

Southern Discomfort by Caroline Fardig [Book Review]

Posted on May 7, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Southern Discomfort

Author: Caroline Fardig

Publisher: Alibi

Publish Date: March 6, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Southern B&B Mystery #1

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Southern hospitality meets deadly deception in the start of a charming new mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of the Java Jive novels.

Quinn Bellandini loves her life in Savannah, Georgia, where she runs her grandfather’s B&B with her sister, Delilah. From baking fresh scones and serving up grits every morning to ensuring the guests see the best of their historic city, Quinn can’t imagine doing anything else—even if it means dealing with nuisances like the occasional malfunctioning commode. But when Quinn drops by the local restaurant owned by her friend Drew Green, and stumbles upon a murder, her whole world comes crashing down.

Drew’s brother was always a little surly, but Quinn can’t imagine that someone disliked the prickly chef enough to kill him. The police, on the other hand, don’t believe that Quinn was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Before her guests can even digest the next morning’s gourmet breakfast, Quinn learns that she and Drew are suspects.

Drew thinks they should do some investigating of their own. Quinn is pretty sure she’s better suited to playing hostess than amateur sleuth. But with Delilah as her cynical sidekick, Quinn starts looking for the real killer—before she gets put away faster than you can say “sugar.”

MY REVIEW

Southern Discomfort is the first book in the Southern B&B mystery series. Quinn and Delilah run their grandfather’s B&B in Savannah. In this first book, Quinn stumbles upon a local restaurant owner’s dead body. The dead man’s brother is a friend of Quinn’s, and the prime suspect in the murder. Quinn decides to do some amateur sleuthing to prove her friend’s innocence and catch the killer.

A charming cozy mystery set in one of my favorite Southern towns. Colorful characters, including a helpful spirit. A solid mystery with a little humor and romance. 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 Southern B&B Mystery Series:

Southern Discomfort
Southern Harm
Southern Double Cross

Fiction Can Be Murder by Becky Clark [Book Review]

Posted on April 23, 2018January 14, 2024 by Darinda

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

BOOK INFO

Title: Fiction Can Be Murder

Author: Becky Clark

Publisher: Midnight Ink

Publish Date: April 8, 2018

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Mystery Writer’s Mystery #1

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Life Becomes Stranger than Fiction when Charlee’s Latest Novel Inspires a Real Murder

Mystery author Charlemagne “Charlee” Russo thinks the twisty plots and peculiar murders in her books are only the product of her imagination―until her agent is found dead exactly as described in Charlee’s new, unpublished manuscript. Suspicion now swirls around her and her critique group, making her confidence drop as severely and unexpectedly as her royalty payments.

The police care more about Charlee’s feeble alibi and financial problems than they do her panicky claims of innocence. To clear her name and revive her career, she must figure out which of her friends is a murderer. Easier said than done, even for an author who’s skilled at creating tidy endings for her mysteries. And as her sleuthing grows dangerous, Charlee’s imagination starts working overtime. Is she being targeted, too?

MY REVIEW

Charlee’s agent is killed in the same manner as a character in her new, unpublished novel. So, clearly, Charlee is suspect #1. Also on the list of suspects are her beta readers and critique group. The suspect field is small, but Charlee must look at her friends as suspects to find the killer.

Entertaining and fun. Charlee knows she is innocent, but everyone, even her friends, think she’s guilty. A quick read with some humor. I especially enjoyed the interactions Charlee had with her critique group.

Fiction Can Be Murder is the first book in the Mystery Writer’s series. I enjoy mysteries and books about books, so this one was right up my alley. This looks to be a good new series, and I look forward to reading more of it.

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:

Fiction Can Be Murder
Foul Play on Words
Metaphor for Murder
Police Navidad