Crepe Factor by Laura Childs

Scrapbooking Mystery 14/14
October 3 - October 26

I love the books by Laura Childs and this one is always fun especially when it is set and released just before Halloween.

Carmela always seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and this tale is no different when she and Ava are around when first Martin Lash has a vicious argument  with Quigg Brevard and then appears a little later murdered by a chef's fork.  Quigg prevails upon Carmela to find out what happened since he appears as the prime suspect.

She and Ava dig into the background of the victim and eventually are placed into a dangerous situation that leads to the proper solution.
Great Story!

Send in the Clowns ★★★★ by Julie Mulhern

Challenge Book# 80


Perfect timing for the Halloween season - Ellison goes looking for her wayward daughter and instead a murder finds her.  Because the victim whispers her name before dying, Ellison feels a need to find the murderer.

Why was Brooks Harney killed?  Was it related to his surprise wife Stormy or a drug deal gone bad, or was he in he wrong place at the wrong time?  Ellison has to figure out the reason to solve the murder and keep both her "gentlemen friends" from errors that could prove deadly,

I absolutely adore this series, not only does it take back in time but the characters are funny and full of life.  Can't for the next one!

Series/ Progress: Country Club Murders 4/4
DATE READ: October 4 - October 12
NO. OF PAGES: 246
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

The Queen's Accomplice ★★★½ by Susan Elia MacNeal

Maggie Hope is back in London and working at the SOE where new female recruits seem to be disappearing.  She is also waiting for her half-sister Elise to be rescued from Nazi Germany.

MI6 recruits her to help with tracking and stopping the "Blackout Beast" who is copying Jack the Ripper's murders - the victims are the missing SOE agents.

Maggie's intelligence and determination carry through the book reacquainting us with old friends and old enemies.

I love the way that Maggie is drawn into different areas of the war effort through this series but in this one, it's the first time I didn't understand the title.

Series/ Progress: Maggie Hope 6/6
DATE READ: Sept 12 - October 1
NO. OF PAGES: 368
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

June: a novel by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

NetGalley Advanced Reader's Copy



The beginning of this book almost put me off but I persevered and it was well worth it.  The story told in this novel is about a young woman who during the 1920's was torn between an arranged marriage and an unexpected encounter with a film star which turned into the love of their lives but with repercussions. The truth of the story is revealed through research of a granddaughter nearly 100 years later.  I liked it.

Clouds in my Coffee] ★★★★ by Julie Mulhern

Ellison Russell has been having a rough few months - finding dead bodies including her husband, she feels a bit put upon when her mother insists that she attend the fundraiser and it doesn't get better when she is nearly killed by a falling statue.   Add in unwanted houseguests (her quirky aunt and selfish sister) and Ellison has her hands full with even more near death encounters.  Detective Jones even takes up residence to protect her since apparently she has become a murderer's target.     I absolutely love this series - the characters are so well thought out, the mysteries enthralling and the setting of the 70's takes me back to my youth.
Series/ Progress: Country Club Murders 3/3 DATE READ: April 17 - April 18 NO. OF PAGES: 256 Type of Book e-book SOURCE: NetGalley

Devonshire Scream ★★★★ by Laura Childs

Theodosia Browning of the Indigo Tea Shop is a witness to a smash and grab at a fancy jewelry show and agrees to try to find the culprit because of the accidental death of her friend's niece.  Drayton is concerned because the Heritage Society is holding an event which will be displaying a Fabergé egg.  Could the thieves plan to strike again? Are others possibly in danger?

Love the tea event background and recipes as well!
TITLE: [
Series/ Progress: Tea Shop Mysteries (17/17)
DATE READ: March 8 - March 12
NO. OF PAGES: 279
Type of Book ARC
SOURCE: from the author

Murder at the Courthouse by A. H. Gabhart

An unidentified body is found on the courthouse steps and the everyone in Hidden Springs is in an uproar.  Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane has to try to identify the body before he can even start an investigation.  At the same time, Keane is battling with a rebellious teenager. With all the players that are getting the way, the clues to the murder seem a bit out of the ordinary.

I really loved the mystery and the way that the history of the characters were interwoven into the story.  The characters need a bit more fleshing out but for a first in a series it was really good.

★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Michael Keane, Anthony Blake, Jay Rayburn, Judge Wilson Campbell
Series/ Progress: A Hidden Springs Mystery
DATE READ: November 9 - November 12
NO. OF PAGES: 336
Challenges: 75, Category, ALPHAKIT, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

Cardiac Arrest by Lisa Q. Mathews

Summer Smythe has settled into her late grandmother's condo in a senior community of Hibiscus Pointe and has found a job with a cardiologist, however on her first day Dr. A drops dead at her feet.

Dorothy Westin, a senior resident at Hibiscus Pointe, takes Summer under her wing when it appears that she may be in trouble when it comes to light that Dr. A was poisoned.

So Smythe and Westin set out to find the true murderer before one of them ends up dead or in jail.

A cute little cozy with a nice mixture of characters.

★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS:
Series/ Progress:
DATE READ: November 3 - November 6
NO. OF PAGES: 272
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: NetGalley

A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch

Charles Lenox and Lady Jane Grey have been friends since childhood so when the death of one of her former servants doesn't seem right, Lady Jane asks her friend to check into the circumstances for her.

Inspector Exeter doesn't want to offend George Barnard, the employer of the victim so he's perfectly happy to call the death a suicide until Charles convinces him that the death may be more than that and be critical to saving a major government problem from occurring.

The story was entertaining and the characters were well-developed.  I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more in this series.

★★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Charles Lenox, Lady Jane Grey, George Barnard, Dr. Thomas McConnell, Inspector Exeter
Series/ Progress: Charles Lenox Mysteries 1/10
DATE READ: October 20 - October 22
NO. OF PAGES: 324
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Kindle/NetGalley

Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon

First in this series and it was great!

Savannah Webb returns to town because of her father's untimely death and finds that he has left her a warning that he was probably murdered and that she is in danger.

When Samantha finds her father's assistant dead as well by apparently the same cause, she contacts the police who don't take her seriously.  With the help of her father's young apprentice and his "business partner"  Samantha has to determine for herself, what happened and how to convince the police that there really is danger.

The characters were likeable with lots of room for growth and the plot was well executed.

Will be waiting impatiently for the next one!

★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Savannah Webb, Edward Morris, Jacob Underwood, Reverend Kline, Frank Lattimer
Series/ Progress: Webb GlassShop Mysteries 1/1
DATE READ: September 30 - October 2
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , ALPHAKIT
SOURCE: NetGalley

Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver

Kelly Jackson has been working as an assistant to the owner of a hotel chain and now has been presented the opportunity to show what she can do when she is assigned to replace a resort manager who recently died.  Little does she know what she's getting her herself into when she arrives at the peaceful Inn at Redwood Cove and finds that the GM may have been murdered.

There are a group senior citizens who call themselves the Silver Sentinels who are determined to prove that the former manager did not die accidently and they enlist Kelly's assistance and then come to her aid when mysterious events continue to happen.

I loved the setting, the characters and the mystery- great start for a new series!


★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Kelly Jackson, Daniel Stevens, Helen Rogers, Tommy Rogers, Suzie Ward
Series/ Progress: Redwood Cove  1/1
DATE READ: September 16 - September 17
NO. OF PAGES: 256
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , ALPHAKIT, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

Parchment and Old Lace by Laura Childs

Carmela is dining with her beau, Detective Edgar Babcock, and on the way home, they are passing a cemetery and hear screams.  They discover the body of Isabelle Black (a bride-to-be) who was dining in the same restaurant.  Stabbed to death, Carmela and Edgar try to find the murderer before he escapes the vicinity.  Unable to capture him, Carmela is implored by the victim's sister to find out who did this.

Carmela's inquiries lead her to several interesting  scenarios as to who and why Isabelle was killed, but she has to battle a bridegroom who is somewhat uninterested and a to-be mother-in-law who appears delighted before she can find the motive as well as the murderer. 

I think that this series is getting better with each book and am very fortunate that the author honored me with an advanced copy.  
★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Carmela Bertrand, Edgar Babcock, Ava Grieux, Ellie Black, Vesper Baudette, Bobby Prejean
Series/ Progress: A Scrapbooking Mystery  13/13
DATE READ: September 3 - September 5
NO. OF PAGES: 300
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , AlphaKit
SOURCE: ARC from author

Devil's Bridge by Linda Fairstein

In this latest installment of the Alex Cooper series, the reader is given a jolt when Alex is apparently kidnapped and the story is reported through Mike Chapman's eyes.  

The bad guys are all still there and the good guys (Mike, Mercer and Vickee) are joined by others that have had smaller parts in the past.  Highlighted is the possibility of corruption around the DA's office but the big question is who has Alex?

Really enjoyed this as a change of pace for this series.

★★★½

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Alexandra Cooper, Mike Chapman, Mercer Wallace
Series/ Progress: Alexandra Cooper  17/17
DATE READ: July 25 - July 29
NO. OF PAGES: 406
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

Killer Run by Lynn Cahoon

The mission wall on Jill Gardner's property is nearing approval by the historical society so to add another nudge  South Cove is hosting a Mission Run/Walk in it's honor.  But the people that should be handling the promotion seem to be lying down on the job.  A promoter is discovered dead under the body of one of the walkers that passed out. 

This murder not only spools Jill and Greg's vacation plans but could end up slaying the romance as well.

I love the characters and the setting.  Together they make this a series where I can't wait for the next one!

 ★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Jill Gardner, Jackie Ekroth, Josh Thomas, Greg King, Rachel Fleur, Sandra Ashford, Ashford
Series/ Progress: A Tourist Trap Mystery  5/5
DATE READ: June 30 - July 1
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: NetGalley

Dressed to Kill by Lynn Cahoon

Jill, owner of the Coffee Shop/bookstore, is participating in a mystery theater charity event with her policeman/boyfriend.  At rehearsal one night  she discovers a real body.  Unable to say out of the investigation, Jill gets drawn in even more when the victim's girlfriend turns out to be her boyfriend's ex.  

The characters keep getting better and the situations are entertaining.  Glad I found this series!

 ★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS:
Series/ Progress: Tourist Trap  4/4
DATE READ: May 13 - May 14
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: NetGalley/Kindle

Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs

The latest of the Tea Shoppe mysteries has Theodosia trying to help her beau after he was suspended from his job following a murder of a major contributor at the museum.

Theo and her staff set out to find out who was responsible.  Numerous events carry the story forward keeping the reader thoroughly involved while visiting with old friends. 

 ★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Theodosia Browning, Max Scofield, Edgar Webster, Percy Capers, Charlotte Webster, Harlan Duke, Det. Tidwell
Series/ Progress: Tea Shoppe Mysteries 16/16
DATE READ: May 8 - May 10
NO. OF PAGES: 301
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: ARC from the Author

Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King

For those that follow the characters of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes in this series, the time frame of the story falls after Pirate King and Garment Shadows when they are cruising to Japan before returning home.

On the cruise Mary meets Sato Haruki, a current day ninja, while at the same time Holmes spies Lord Darley who he recognizes as a blackmailer.  The story carries Holmes and Russell with Sato through Japan and into the presence of Prince Regent Hirohito.  They are petitioned to aid in the recovery of a unique artifact.

Just as the reader thinks that the issues in the story have been resolved, Mary is back in Oxford and comes face to face with Haruki again asking for assistance for the same problem.

The actual resolution is exciting and totally unexpected.

★★★★

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes, Haruki Sato, Hirohito
Series/ Progress: Mary Russell/#13
DATE READ: December 30 - January 5
NO. OF PAGES: 330
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: LTER, NetGalley

Toured to Death by Hy Conrad

There are murder mystery weekends where the attendees try to solve the murder well, this was a road rally with the same idea.  Clues were spread throughout 4 countries and islands and the participants have time trials getting from one site to the next.  

The concept sounds like a blast until there is a real murder.  Then everyone is trying to solve the murder to save one of their own.

 ★★★½

GENRE: Cozy mystery
SUBJECT: perfect crime, murder mystery rally
Setting: Europe
CHARACTERS: Amy Abel, Otto Ingo, Marcus Alvarez, Jolynn Mrozek, Georgianna Davis
DATE READ: December 27 - December 29
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger

This book was filled with entertainment - Bertha drowning in the Matzoh Ball soup, hiring a burglar to search for evidence and more.

The mystery was light but still full of fun.

★★★

GENRE: Cozy mystery

SUBJECT: friendship, old age

CHARACTERS: Hazel Rose, Lucy Hooper, Carlene Arness, Evan Arness, Helen Adams, Vince Castrelli

DATE READ: December 26 - December 27

NO. OF PAGES: 188

Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 

SOURCE: NetGalley

Murder at the Book Group by Maggie King

Belonging to 3 book groups I couldn't resist this one.   Hazel belongs to a Book Group that also has members that include several of her friends as well as Carlene, the current wife of her first husband.  A bit creepy but it gets worse when Hazel finds Carlene dying of cyanide poisoning.

As suspect along with the other group members, Hazel works to determine who killed Carlene.

Fun book, glad it's not my Book Group.

 ★★★

GENRE: Cozy mystery
SUBJECT: jealousy, obsessions
Setting: Richmond, VA
CHARACTERS: Hazel Rose, Lucy Hooper, Carlene Arness, Evan Arness, Helen Adams, Vince Castrelli
DATE READ: December 17 - December 25
NO. OF PAGES: 400
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley