Three Amigos Summer Reading Club–Paranormal

 

                                   Welcome to the Three Amigos Summer Reading Club.

 

 

This week’s theme for our Summer Reading Club is Paranormal.  This was a very hard theme for me to pick from because it happens to be my favorite genre.  Since I couldn’t have more than one pick, I decided this week’s selection is Sketch Me If You Can by Sharon Pape.  It is the first book in her A Portrait Of Crime Mystery Series.  There are four books in the series and I have read three of them.  And I loved them all.  I would highly recommend this series.

 

 

She’s a police sketch artist. He’s a dead lawman. Together, they put a face on murder. 

When her uncle dies suddenly, police sketch artist Rory McCain inherits a list of clients from his private detective business and a beautiful, old house with a ghostly inhabitant: Federal Marshal Ezekiel Drummond, aka Zeke.

Having a ghost as a housemate is bad enough, but as Rory’s drawn into one of her uncle’s unsolved cases and faces a cold-blooded killer, she may need the marshal’s supernatural help to stay alive. (Goodreads)

 

So grab a copy of this book, leave the lights on and don’t be afraid if you see a ghostly apparition, it’s only Federal Marshal Ezekiel Drummond, keeping an eye on you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, enough about me.  Let’s check out what books my two amigos have picked for this week’s theme.

 

 

 

To find out what book Karen chose, head over to her blog by following this link:

A Cup Of Tea And A Cozy Mystery

And to see what book Lisa chose, head over to her blog by following this link:

http://lisaksbookthoughts.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

While you’re at their blogs, leave a comment and let us know what you think of our Summer Reading Club.  And of course, please leave a comment at my blog.  We would all love to hear from you.

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of July 30, 2017–Part 2

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of July 30th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into four days because there were so many new releases.  Here is the second day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 Costume shop owner Margo Tamblyn faces a deadly conspiracy when a small-town festival turns into big-time trouble.
It’s no secret around Proper City, Nevada, that the Sagebrush Festival, the town s annual family-friendly event, is the place to be. This year’s theme of board games has everything from Conspiracy to Clue. Margo Tamblyn’s costume shop, Disguise DeLimit, has been tasked with providing costumes for the festival headliner, the Domino Divas, but the night of the performance, one fallen Domino threatens to bring down the whole show. Head dancer Ronnie Cass is found in her dressing room, unmasked, unprepared, and very, very dead.
As the police investigate, Margo learns that Don Digby, her father’s best friend, is the prime suspect, tied to the victim by an unsolved robbery connected to Proper City’s past. As conspiracies abound and theories are debunked, Margo seeks to unmask the real killer, before her dad’s buddy winds up in a costume made with prison stripes. (Goodreads)

Life has dealt city girl Olivia Porter a series of bad hands, but just as she’s about to fold, fate intervenes and leaves her with a full house. Out of other options, she takes a gamble and moves to the countryside, hoping Lady Luck will follow along.

Olivia’s decision to embrace the single life is soon challenged by the arrival of local ace, Tate, and wild card, Warren, but little villages can hide big secrets and somebody thinks Olivia is holding the key to theirs.

As her opponent ups his game, Olivia gets one last roll of the dice with the arrival of a leather-clad stranger. Will she hit the jackpot or go bust?

Joker in the Pack is a standalone romantic suspense novel in the Blackwood UK series. No cliffhanger!   (Goodreads)

The auctioneer raises his gavel. Going, going, dead!

When a family auction leads to murder, Deena Sharpe will have to be a smart cookie to catch the culprit.

Deena is happy to babysit the thrift shop while her friend is out on maternity leave. But when strange things start happening, her sister-in-law thinks they are messages from the grave that point to the killer. Can they separate truth from fiction before someone else gets hurt?

Sharpe Cookie is Book 6 in the Cozy Suburbs Mystery Series by bestselling author Lisa B. Thomas. If you like a savvy sleuth and a twisty plot, this clean whodunit may be your new favorite cozy mystery series. Get your copy today!   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When her new kitten, Simon, suddenly disappears, 64-year-old amateur sleuth Beatrice Young chalks it up to bad luck. But when Petunia, her fluffy Himalayan, vanishes, Bee realizes something more sinister might be going on. The list of people who’d like to take revenge on her is long … after all, she’s put many the local criminal behind bars.

It’s time for the Cozy Cat Cafe owner to team up once again with new boyfriend Matthew and her old friend the sheriff to hunt down the catnapper before her other cats, Lucky and Hamish, are put in harm’s way…

This is the eleventh book in the Beatrice Young cozy cat mystery series set in the small town of Ashbrook, New Hampshire. The books can be read out of order but are extra delightful when enjoyed in sequence. This novella is a clean mystery with no graphic violence, sex, or swearing.  (Amazon)

From Edgar-nominated author Ashley Weaver, comes a short story rife with mystery.

On holiday in Capri, Amory and Milo Ames have expected to trade intrigue for a romantic month of blue seas and sunshine. Things take a strange turn, however, when Amory comes into contact with a mysterious woman and begins to suspect she is the missing opera star whose sudden disappearance has been the talk of Europe.

Before long, Amory and Milo find their peaceful holiday disrupted by the rumor of purloined pearls, a clandestine relationship, and a sinister stranger lurking in the shadows. It soon becomes apparent that wherever Amory and Milo go, mystery is not far behind.

 (Goodreads)

Disenchanted with life after solving her first real case, Jade Blackwell, successful blogger and amateur sleuth, throws herself into a new hobby…until murder rears its ugly head

But when Jade attempts to ferret out the killer of local pottery teacher, Paula Hexby, she comes up short and suspicion begins to descend on her daughter’s former boyfriend. Evidence and bodies are stacking up, as Jade finds herself caught between an untrustworthy client and her beloved community.

Now at a personal and professional crossroads, Jade must once again jump into the breech, along with partner Gabrielle Langdon, to uncover the truth behind this string of horrific murders. Is she really cut out for this life of sleuthing and danger? Has Jade been defending the real murderer all along? Or is there something much more sinister afoot?

Settle in for another cozy mystery full of twists and turns in A Time to Kiln. Join Jade in the quiet mountainside town of Aspen Falls for another super-sleuthing adventure in this second installment of the Jade Blackwell Cozy Mystery Series by Gilian Baker.   (Goodreads)

 

Inspired by the famous Girl Detective, the members of the Olentangy Heights Girls’ Detective Society, affectionately known as the Nosy Parkers, spent their formative years studying criminology, codes, and capers. Unfortunately, opportunities to put their unique skills to work were thin on the ground in the post-war boom of their little corner of suburbia and they eventually grew up to pursue more sensible careers. Until…

Heather Munro’s youthful devotion to The Girl Detective led to a passion for digging around in history. Now pursuing her Master’s Degree in Celtic Studies, Heather must balance exploring Edinburgh with her determination to excel in her all–male classes at the University. Unfortunately, on her first night working in the Archives room, she discovers the dead body of a visiting professor, the same would-be lothario she’d hoped never to see again.

As clues come to light, it’s clear someone hopes to frame Heather for the murder. Besides her quirky landlady, whom can she trust? How can she clear her name? The police and the American Consul have plenty of suspects, but only two seem to have both motive and opportunity: Heather and the quiet Scottish historian she longs to trust.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

The first novel in a frisky new mystery series set in a small New England town, where an unlikely citizen is called in to solve the purrfect crime. . .

Maddie James has arrived in Daybreak Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts, eager to settle down and start her own business―and maybe even fall in love. When a stray orange tabby pounces into her life, she’s inspired to open a cat café. But little does Maddie know that she’s in for something a lot more catastrophic when her new furry companion finds the dead body of the town bully. Now all eyes are on Maddie: Who is this crazy cat-whisperer lady who’s come to town? If pet-hair-maintenance and crime-fighting weren’t keeping her busy enough, Maddie now has not one but two eligible bachelors who think she’s the cat’s pajamas . . . and will do anything to win her heart. But how can she even think about happily-ever-after while a killer remains on the loose―and on her path?  (Goodreads)

New Releases For The Week Of July 30, 2017–Part 1

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of July 30th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into four days because there were so many new releases.  Here is the first day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

Expert clockmaker Ruth Clagan has another murder on her hands in the third Clock Shop Mystery from the author of Clock and Dagger.
Years ago, the serenity of picturesque Orchard, Massachusetts was shattered by a fire that destroyed the town’s beloved clock tower. Ruth inherited the dream of repairing it from her late grandfather. Now that she s returned home to run his clock shop, the Cog & Sprocket, she s determined to make it happen, despite wrenches that are being thrown into the works by her least favorite person, town manager Kim Gray.
A crowd of residents and visitors are excited to see the progress of the tower at a fund-raiser for the campaign, until Kim is found crushed under the tower s bell, putting an end to all the fun. The list of suspects is so long it could be read around the clock, and it includes some of Ruth s nearest and dearest.
Times a-wastin as Ruth tries to solve another murder in her beloved Orchard while keeping the gears clicking on her dream project.”   (Goodreads)

Life in post-apocalyptic France has finally begun to settle down.
Even to the point that the charming little village of Chabanel decides to go ahead with its annual pastry festival only for it to end on a sour note when one of the celebrity chefs down from Paris dies a gruesome death by poisoning.When the plate of chocolate éclairs that expat and amateur sleuth Jules Hooker brought to the fair turns out to be the murder weapon, will Chief DeBray assume the worst? And when another celebrity pastry judge falls dead of poisoning by cream puff and again the evidence points to Jules?Even her prior relationship with the sexy Chabanel police chief might not save her then.

Who is killing the judges? And why are they trying to make it look like Jules is the murderer? That’s what Jules will need to find out if she stands a chance of remaining free—let alone finding her way back home again to the US.

This book is a clean read: no graphic violence, sex or strong language
Genre: cozy culinary mystery, women amateur sleuth, cozy animal (dog) (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Landrum’s trip to Nashville to visit his best friend Charles hits a sour note when they learn of the death of the agent who had persuaded Heather, Charles’s girlfriend, to move to Music City to seek fame and fortune as a singer. Tagging along on the trip is Cal Ballew, an aging country music performer and owner of Cal’s Bar and Grill on Folly Beach, South Carolina. The visit sinks from bad to horrible when instead of finding stardom, Heather, who is already depressed and discouraged about her diminishing chances of succeeding in the music industry, is charged with the agent’s murder. Making matters worse, Charles, a man who finds the good in most anyone, is convinced that Heather is guilty.

Suspects stretch from the capitol of Tennessee to Chris’s retirement city of Folly Beach; in fact, so many suspects that it takes Chris and members of his cadre of quirky pals plus a couple of new acquaintances in Tennessee to cobble together enough clues to close in on the killer, something the police have been unable to accomplish. In this installment in the Folly Beach Mystery series, Chris must rely on his quick wits to solve the murder before the killer adds him to the growing list of victims.  (Goodreads)

When marital woes cause Charli May Parker to pack up and leave her husband and her life in New Mexico, and return to her childhood home of Alton Oaks, Illinois, little does she know that she is walking directly into a murder investigation. No sooner is she settled into her parents’ house, trying to catch up with her long-time friend Sadie, but she happens to overhear a heated conversation between a clerk and a young man outside of the local grocery store. She doesn’t give it much thought until the next day when the young woman’s body is found in the store––having been stabbed multiple times. Murder is a foreign concept to Charli’s hometown of Alton Oaks. And, as it turns out, another of Charli’s childhood friends, Jake, is now a local detective and is charged with investigating the girl’s murder, stimulating Charli’s interest. As Charli mulls over how and when to tell her family about her broken marriage, she is caught up in local gossip about the recent crime. Her own curiosity kicks in and she decides to find out for herself just what happened to the young grocery clerk, much to the chagrin of her family, friends, and Detective Jake. But Charli is determined, just as is the conniving killer who is also determined to prevent her from solving the mystery of the MURDER IN AISLE THREE.   (Goodreads)

 

 

Being the Keeper of the St. Angelus Thinning is a fate that Rue never thought she’d accept. But all sorts of things are changing. She might be falling in love. She’s discovered a whole new family just as her first family started to fall apart.

But when one of her new sisters and her grandmother ask Rue for help, she’s forced to decide just where her allegiances lie and just what she wants out of her life. (Goodreads)

Sushi Sauvignon & Murder is the second book in the Willa Friday Food & Wine Cozy Mysteries series by USA Today bestselling author Jamie Lee Scott. The series takes place in a small town in the Sonoma Valley, wine country.

Willa Friday has gotten used to her new assistant who replaced her daughter when she went away to college. Even so, she’s so happy to have her daughter, Tomorrow Friday, home for the college fall holiday. A whole week with her only child. Her ex-mother-in-law has threatened to put Tomorrow (affectionately known as Tommy) to work at the winery, but Willa wants her all to herself. That is until she finds out the real reason Tommy came home for the holiday.

Willa’s life is great, other than still living with her ex-husband and refusing to date. Her blog is taking off, and her daughter is home. But connecting with her daughter will take on a whole new meaning when they come across the body of a local boy.

Suspects run rampant, and the victim had most recently worked for Willa’s family winery, Vendredi. He hadn’t left on good terms, but did someone at the vineyard or winery really want him dead?

Grab a glass of wine and enjoy this second installment of the Willa Friday Culinary Cozy Mystery series.

Recipes and wine pairings are included in the novel.  (Amazon)

If you’re looking for a recipe so good it’s to die for, search no further. We’ve got fifteen of them.

Lovers wage war with deviled eggs and artichokes. A world-class baker turns to desperate measures to win the contest of a lifetime. An orphaned teenage girl with nowhere left to go finally takes a stand inside a farmhouse kitchen. Lawyers, financiers, and law enforcement turn to the culinary arts to defend their careers and solve their cases. All these and more can be found within the pages of the second volume of the Cooked to Death series.

Fifteen mystery writers have pooled their literary powers and culinary acumen to craft a five-course meal full of surprises both deadly and delicious. And if the crimes uncovered by these sleuths are too much for your stomach, they’ve got the perfect thing to restore your appetite: each story is followed by an easy-to-make recipe that plays some crucial part in its preceding tale. The game is afoot, and the burners are alit! Enter if you dare–and make sure to bring a fork.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

Summer means two things to Melanie Travis: a break from her teaching duties at Connecticut’s elite Howard Academy and a chance to plan the perfect wedding to her fiancé, Sam. She certainly doesn’t need the unwelcome arrival of a dinner invitation “peace offering” from Sam’s ex-wife, Sheila Vaughn. And dinner proves to be only the beginning of her problems. Sheila’s new man turns out to be Brian Endicott, an old buddy-turned-enemy of Sam’s. To make matters worse, Sheila announces her temporary stay in town is now permanent: she’s accepted a job as co-publisher of Woof!, a new gossip rag for the dog show world. But before the first issue is even out, a hotter story breaks when Sheila is found dead, strangled with a leather dog leash.

As far as Melanie’s concerned, the woman should have been on a leash long ago. And it seems she isn’t alone in her dislike of Sheila. Some of Woof!’s salacious stories threatened to expose the dirty paws of quite a few important exhibitors, and someone on Sheila’s staff may have found her high-handed attitude worth silencing. Then there’s the question of the life insurance policy Brian took out only days before Sheila’s death.

Even more troubling to Melanie is her faltering relationship with Sam, who’s hiding secrets-secrets that put him more deeply under Sheila’s spell in death than in life. Now, it will take the instincts of a bloodhound to sniff out a killer who’s bent on putting an end to Melanie’s amateur sleuthing…   (Goodreads)

Review of Camp Carter

 

Camp Carter

Zoe Donovan Mystery, Book #25

Kathi Daley

5 Stars
Synopsis:

Zoe struggles with a secret as the Zimmerman clan sets out for a week of fun in the sun at Camp Carter, where they find the cook dead in the pantry on the very first day of their family vacation.  (Goodreads)
Review:

The characters are well rounded and three dimensional.  It was great to visit with Zoe and Zak and get to spend some time with them.  We also get to spend a little time with Ellie and Levi, although they were not involved in solving this mystery.  The author excels in her character development and if there was no mystery to solve, I would be happy just hanging out with them.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there in camp, watching all the activities taking place around me.  I could picture the lake and the trees and all of the scenery vividly in my mind.  

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The mystery was well plotted and there were plenty of suspects to consider and clues to sift through.  I did not figure out the culprit until it was revealed at the end.

I would recommend this book (and author) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  You cannot go wrong choosing a book by this author (and you have plenty to choose from).    

 

Review of A Ghostly Secret

 

A Ghostly Secret

Ghostly Southern Mysteries, Book #7

Tonya Kappes

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Checking out!

Emma Lee Raines, proprietor of a small-town Kentucky funeral home, Eternal Slumber, is a “Betweener,” helps ghosts stuck between here and the ever-after— only murdered ghosts. After Emma Lee solves who murdered them, only then can they cross over to the Great Beyond, Big Guy In The Sky.

Emma Lee is up against a cold case that happened before she’d even gotten her “Betweener” gift. Not only is the ghost of eight-year-old Betsy Lynn Brady, but Mr. Whiskers Betsy’s cat needs to cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Betsy Lynn Brady has no idea who murdered her or why. With her heart in shambles, Emma Lee begs her sexy beau, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross to reopen the cold case because Betsy’s head is always stuck in a book and can’t remember exactly what happened to her.

Emma Lee learns real fast that someone doesn’t want her to snoop around the cold case. Can she help Betsy cross over and get Mr. Whiskers cross the Rainbow Bridge before someone helps Emma Lee check out from the living?  (Goodreads)

 

Review:

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional.  I enjoyed getting to spend more time with Emma Lee and catching up with what has been going on in her life.  She is still suffering from losing her sister, and she can tell that something has changed with Jack Henry, her boyfriend, when he tells her he is planning on changing his job.  And to top all of that off, she has a Betweener client who is unlike any she has ever had before.  It is a child, Betsy Lynn, who passed away before Emma Lee was ever able to see ghosts and she really has no idea how she became dead.  It will take all of Emma Lee’s Betweener skills and tricks if she is going to be able to send this client into the great beyond.  I also really liked the inclusion of Mr. Whiskers, a cat that has been protecting Betsy Lynn.  That was heartwarming.  And of course you have to love Granny, she is quirky and wild and you never know what she is going to say and do.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all the action take place and eavesdropping on conversations.  She is also very talented in creating small town settings, where everybody knows your name and your business.   I always love visiting Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky, and spending time there.  

The mystery of who killed Betsy Lynn was well plotted and difficult to solve.  I liked the fact that Emma Lee did not find a dead body.  It is refreshing when the protagonist does not find the murdered victim because in so many of the cozies I read, that is what happens. In this book, the victim has been dead for many years and it is difficult to get a handle on everything that happened years ago.  I did not figure out the culprit until it was revealed at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy paranormal.  I have been very pleased with this entire series, I think the books just keep getting better. Do yourself a favor and get reading this series.   

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of July 23rd, 2017–Part 4

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of July 23rd, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into four days because there were so many new releases this week.  Here is the fourth and final day of my list for this week.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

Egypt, 1912—Amelia Peabody and her dashing archeologist husband, Radcliffe Emerson, are once again in danger as they search for a priceless, stolen bust of legendary Queen Nefertiti and Amelia finds herself the target of assassins in this long-awaited, eagerly anticipated final installment of Elizabeth Peters’ bestselling, beloved mystery series.

Arriving in Cairo for another thrilling excavation season, Amelia is relaxing in a well-earned bubble bath in her elegant hotel suite in Cairo, when a man with knife protruding from his back staggers into the bath chamber and utters a single word—”Murder”—before collapsing on the tiled floor, dead. Among the few possessions he carried was a sheet of paper with Amelia’s name and room number, and a curious piece of pasteboard the size of a calling card bearing one word: “Judas.” Most peculiarly, the stranger was wearing a gold-rimmed monocle in his left eye.

It quickly becomes apparent that someone saved Amelia from a would-be assassin—someone who is keeping a careful eye on the intrepid Englishwoman. Discovering a terse note clearly meant for Emerson—Where were you?”—pushed under their door, there can be only one answer: the brilliant master of disguise, Sethos.

But neither assassins nor the Genius of Crime will deter Amelia as she and Emerson head to the excavation site at Amarna, where they will witness the discovery of one of the most precious Egyptian artifacts: the iconic Nefertiti bust. In 1345 B.C. the sculptor Thutmose crafted the piece in tribute to the great beauty of this queen who was also the chief consort of Pharaoh Akhenaten and stepmother to King Tutankhamun.

For Amelia, this excavation season will prove to be unforgettable. Throughout her journey, a parade of men in monocles will die under suspicious circumstances, fascinating new relics will be unearthed, a diabolical mystery will be solved, and a brilliant criminal will offer his final challenge . . . and perhaps be unmasked at last.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

In the latest from the national bestselling author of Much Ado About Muffin, newlywed baker Merry Wynter has some unwanted guests looking for ghosts at Wynter Castle…

While Merry is distracted by her quickly planned marriage to Virgil Grace and a blissful honeymoon in New York, her friend Pish invites the ghost-hunting crew from the TV show Haunt Hunt to investigate Merry’s home, Wynter Castle. Merry soon discovers that not only is the crew out of sync, there are so many feuds and squabbles, it’s a miracle they get a show produced at all.

It all goes from bad to worse when the show’s psychics claim to have contact with people murdered on Merry’s property. When two cast members are found dead, Merry and Virgil must figure out who’s picking off the Haunt Hunt team before their hard-earned happily ever after is cut short.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mack Dalton has named plenty of murderers since she and her barstool detectives began cracking cold cases. But as a new year looms, time is ticking on the hunt for her craftiest villain yet . . .

As Milwaukee counts down to New Year’s Eve, bar owner Mackenzie “Mack” Dalton has but one resolution—unmask the dangerous mastermind who has been taunting her and killed bouncer Gary Gunderson. Mack and her fellow barflies have fleshed out a suspect and arranged an invite-only party to put a cork in the murderer’s game for good. But when the clock strikes midnight and their suspect is found cold and stiff on the basement stairs, it seems the celebration may have come too soon. Now Mack must rely on her special talents to find the real criminal among the crowd of revelers—or someone won’t survive until last call . . . (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

Wicked to the rescue!

FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Soon-to-be-bride Amanda Meyer can’t wait to walk down the aisle with her fiancé Rick Rowling. Everything is falling into place for their long-awaited nuptials until Mandy’s BFF bridesmaid Fiona reveals that according to a cryptic message from her grandmother’s ghost, Fiona is soon-to-be-dead.

So before the happy couple can say I do, they’re off to Fiona’s family estate to find the murderer-to-be amid a bevy of paranormal ghost tour guests. Hidden affairs, family secrets and meddling spirits will keep the future Mr. and Mrs. Rowling tied in knots before they tie the knot in this seventh hair raising adventure in the Manhattan Mystery Series.   (Goodreads)

NOTE TO READERS: Although the pre-order is for ebook only, Capital Obsession will be available in paperback upon release!

Home isn’t always sweet…

With all the murder investigations Nicole Fitzhenry-Dawes has been involved in since leaving her career as a criminal defense attorney, she’s looking forward to a short vacation back to her hometown of Washington, DC.

The trip turns out to be anything but restful.

Her dog-sitter keeps calling with problems, her parents are up to some scheme that Nicole is sure she won’t like, and someone is sending her best friend messages that are both threatening and intimate. He knows things no stranger could possibly know.

With her best friend’s life on the line, the stakes for Nicole have never been higher. Can she put all the clues together in time? Or will the case that matters the most to her be the one she’s finally unable to solve?

Capital Obsession is the sixth book in Emily James’ Maple Syrup Mysteries. The series is full of small-town settings, quirky characters, and a touch of romance!

This book is a “clean” read and contains no swearing, gore, or steamy bedroom scenes. While the series is best enjoyed in order, each book is a complete mystery on its own.  (Amazon)

 In the late nineteenth century, Newport, Rhode Island, is home to some of America s wealthiest citizens. It s also the beat of society reporter Emma Cross, a less well-heeled cousin to the illustrious Vanderbilts, who occasionally moonlights in solving murders . . .

Covering a polo match for the Observer, Emma s job is to take note of the real players off the field Newport s well-bred elite. But the fashionable facade is breached when a woman in gaudy clothing creates a scene demanding to speak to the wife of Senator George Wetmore until she is escorted off the grounds by the police.
The next morning, police detective Jesse Whyte asks Emma to meet him at the Wetmores Bellevue Avenue home, Chateau sur Mer, where the senator s wife, Edith, has mysteriously asked to see her. Upon entering the mansion, Emma is confronted with a crime scene the intruder from the polo match lies dead at the foot of a grand staircase.
To avoid scandal, Edith Wetmore implores Emma to use her reporter skills and her discretion to investigate. When Emma learns the victim was a prostitute and pregnant she wonders if the senator was being blackmailed. As Emma peels back layers of deception and family secrets, she may have met her match in a desperate killer who will trample anyone who gets in the way…
Praise for Alyssa Maxwell and her Gilded Newport Mysteries!
MURDER AT ROUGH POINT
Pleasantly twisty . . . will appeal to lovers of atmospheric country house mysteries. Publishers Weekly
Emma is an interesting, independent career woman in this satisfying first-person account that includes well-drawn characters. Booklist
The characters are fun, the dialogue is both charming and intelligent, but the scenery that makes up that extravagant time period in New England really is the gem in these glorious tales. Suspense Magazine
MURDER AT BEECHWOOD
Another entertaining entry in this cozy series. Library Journal
Several cuts above the usual feisty heroine tale; it provides a good picture of life among the privileged and not-so-privileged classes in Gilded Newport. San Jose Mercury News
MURDER AT MARBLE HOUSE
Maxwell s second entry has a credible mystery, solved by a female detective who s likeable. Kirkus Reviews
Maxwell again deftly weaves fictional and real-life characters into her story. Publishers Weekly
MURDER AT THE BREAKERS
A promising start to an engaging mystery series filled with smart observations. Library Journal
Sorry to see the conclusion of Downton Abbey Season 4? Well, here is a morsel to get you through a long afternoon.Brew some Earl Grey and settle down with a scone with this one. Washington Independent Review of Books

Will keep you guessing. Historical Novels Reviews“   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

Who would want to kill and honest man….

In the town of Sea Oak, Jerry Barton was a nice average guy who never hurt anyone. He was intelligent, but a true introvert which made him socially awkward. A financial setback meant he had to work two or three jobs to pay off his debts.

But then, why was he targeted and murdered?

Investigative reporter, April Longmont, was a classmate of Barton’s and is stunned and angered by his death. Though there are few clues, she is determined to find his killer. Private Investigator, Clay Augustine, an acquaintance of Barton’s, shares her outrage. He joins her in the hunt and, while searching for a killer, they are increasingly attracted to each other.

Barton had no known enemies. He had no dark secrets in his life. At times, he worked 60 hours a week to pay his bills. What possibly could be the motive for killing an average and honest man?
The trail takes surprising twists and turns but ultimately leads to corruption in high places. April and Clay know time is running out. They must quickly figure out the few clues they have, or the unidentified killer will get away with murder…and millions of dollars.

Barton was a man of faith who believed in ultimate justice. April and Clay are determined that justice will be done… and their friend will rest in peace.   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of July 23rd, 2017–Part 3

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of July 23rd, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into four days because there were so many new releases this week.  Here is the third day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

Third in the Postmistress Mystery series by Jean Flowers, following Death Takes Priority and Cancelled by Murder…
Love is in the air for postmaster Cassie Miller and the residents of North Ashcot, Massachusetts. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and the town is gearing up for a special dinner dance at the senior center. With the local musical group performing at the dance displaced from their regular practice location, Cassie is all too happy to host them during off-hours at the post office.
But not everything is coming up roses. When one of the musicians, Dennis Somerville, is found shot in his home, rumors swirl over who might have wanted him dead. Cassie must determine if there is a link between a string of recent break-ins and Dennis’s murder before another victim winds up with more than a broken heart.   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

Minnie and Ben are back for more murder and mayhem!

Minnie Crockwell, recreational vehicle enthusiast and traveler, and her ghost companion, Ben, are taking a break from solving mysteries with a bit of relaxation in Florida and a trip to Island Castle, a popular theme park.

But relaxation, being highly overrated, escapes the two as they discover that the moans, groans and shrieks from the Creepy Castle buggy ride weren’t all fake. Someone didn’t make it out of the ride alive, and it wasn’t an accident!

Minnie swears she’s not going to get involved. She may have been on the ride, but she wasn’t the first to find the body…for once. But what Minnie says she’s going to do and what she really does are rarely the same thing as she determines to solve the mysterious death in Trouble at Island Castle.

Each story in the series can stand alone, but to avoid extensive repetition of the backstory, the books would be best read in order. Look for Book 12 soon!

Book 1 – Trouble at Happy Trails
Book 2 – Trouble at Sunny Lake
Book 3 – Trouble at Glacier
Book 4 – Trouble at Hungry Lake
Book 5 – Trouble at Snake and Clearwater
Book 6 – Trouble in Florence
Book 7 – Trouble in Tombstone Town
Book 8 – Trouble in Cochise Stronghold
Book 9 – Trouble in Orange Beach
Book 10 – Trouble at Pelican Penthouse
Book 11 – Trouble at Island Castle   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Fidelma returns in this brand-new 7th-century Irish mystery by Peter Tremayne, acclaimed author of THE DEVIL’S SEAL and THE SECOND DEATH.

Ireland, AD 671. King Colgú of Cashel is shocked to learn that his loyal Chief Bishop and advisor has been murdered in the old enemy fortress of the Uí Fidgente. When word reaches Cashel that the culprit will be executed under new law, a larger conflict threatens.

Dispatched to investigate, Sister Fidelma and her companion Eadulf discover that the man facing punishment is Gormán – commander of the King’s bodyguard. But Fidelma cannot believe Gormán would carry out such an act – and yet he was found locked in a chamber with the body, weapon in hand. The evidence is stacked against him.

If they are to save Gormán and keep the peace between the kingdoms, Fidelma and Eadulf must find the true culprit. As the threat of war looms, the date of execution drawers ever closer… (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mystery, Mayhem, and…Chickens? 
When a valuable diamond necklace is stolen, former American cop and classic movie buff, Maggie Doyle’s, peaceful vacation on a remote Irish island comes to an abrupt end.

An island lawyer hires Maggie to find the necklace before its owner realizes it’s missing. With a ticking clock and ten fractious hens to look after, Maggie and her UFO-enthusiast friend go in search of the thief before they strike again. (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One dog with two names, twice lost, yet always found. Two newly orphaned boys who love their dog and love each other so much they vow to stick together against all odds. Enter super sleuth Mina Calvi, the quasi-grown up Italian import who likes cats more than dogs. When she tries to locate the owners of a lost dog, Mina is drawn into tracking down a murderer in spite of her loneliness, absentee boyfriend, and the fact that even with an espresso machine worth more than a diamond ring, she still can’t manage to make a good cup of coffee.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 In the exclusive, gated enclave of Olympia Forest Estates, death investigator Angela Richman watches a mansion go up in a fiery blaze. With it, seventy-year-old financier Luther Delor, a drunken, bed-hopping rhinestone cowboy. Embroiled in a bitter divorce, Delor may have scandalized Chouteau Forest, but his murder has united it against the accused: Delor’s twenty-year-old girlfriend, Kendra Salvato, an “outsider.” With an engagement ring bigger than Chouteau County, she’s being railroaded straight to death row as a gold-digging killer.

All there is against Kendra is vicious gossip and anti-Mexican rage, and both are spreading like wildfire. Meanwhile, Angela is trying to douse the flames with forensic work that’s putting the Forest on edge. After all, facts could implicate one of their own. Now, sifting through the ashes of a vicious crime—and the guilty secrets of the privileged—only Angela can get to the truth, and prevent an innocent woman from getting burned.  (Goodreads)

NOTE: This is a special Novella-Length installment of Bestselling Author Nancy McGovern’s series, “A Murder In Milburn”.  It includes a delicious recipe from the story and a whodunit that will keep you guessing until the end!

Someone has thrown a brick through the front window of Nora’s diner and she thinks she knows who’s to blame.  After all, she’s had a run-in or two with the miserable new owner of Milburn’s local Bed & Breakfast, Mia Madford, and wouldn’t put her above such an act.  Proving it and forcing Mia to pay for the damage she’s done, however, may be a problem.

Especially when she is found dead!

Now, with a case of vandalism and a murder to solve, Nora springs into action.  After all, there’s a killer on the loose!  But, as good as Nora’s gotten at solving crimes, this time she may just find herself in over her head!

Find out if Nora has what it takes to bring another killer to justice in Death At A B & B, a special novella-length installment of Bestselling Author Nancy McGovern’s popular series, “A Murder In Milburn”!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of Nancy McGovern’s books & series on her Amazon Author Page (AuthorNancyMcG)!  Follow her there for updates on her future releases and be sure to join her mailing list to receive a FREE PREQUEL to the “Murder In Milburn” series!  You can sign up using the link inside any of her books!  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

When Second Springs wins a bid to hold the nation’s fifth largest dog show, the town goes into full blown K-9 fever. But when a prominent shower falls to his death during the preliminaries, it’s up to Rita to get to the bottom of this dog related death.

Did he fall? Or was he pushed? Was it an unfortunate accident? Or was this a calculated murder?

Rita’s on the case and the only way to investigate is from the inside. But how will Mayor McConnell take to being primped, polished, and forced to participate in a show that goes against his very prickly nature? Spoiler Alert: Not well!

Can Rita Redoux catch a killer? What connection does it have to the night she fell down the stairs? What’s going on with Peggy and Aiden’s relationship? Who is that Rita’s dad has been kissing on his front porch? Will she go on that date with Sammie and, if so, how will Darrin take it?

All these questions and more will be answered when Rita, Reincarnated solves a delicious doggie dilemma in TWICE DIPPED! (Goodreads)

 

Lighthouses

 

                               Welcome to the Three Amigos Summer Reading Club.

 

 

 

This week’s theme for our Summer Reading Club is Lighthouses.  My selection for this week is By Book Or By Crook by Eva Gates.  It is the first book in her Lighthouse Library Mystery Series.  There are currently three books in the series.

 

 

Get bound up in murder in the first Lighthouse Library mystery!

For ten years Lucy has enjoyed her job poring over rare tomes of literature for the Harvard Library, but she has not enjoyed the demands of her family’s social whorl or her sort-of-engagement to the staid son of her father’s law partner. But when her ten-year relationship implodes, Lucy realizes that the plot of her life is in need of a serious rewrite.

Calling on her aunt Ellen, Lucy hopes that a little fun in the Outer Banks sun—and some confections from her cousin Josie’s bakery—will help clear her head. But her retreat quickly turns into an unexpected opportunity when Aunt Ellen gets her involved in the lighthouse library tucked away on Bodie Island.

Lucy is thrilled to land a librarian job in her favorite place in the world. But when a priceless first edition Jane Austen novel is stolen and the chair of the library board is murdered, Lucy suddenly finds herself ensnared in a real-life mystery—and she’s not so sure there’s going to be a happy ending…. (Goodreads)

 

 

So before you follow the Light, grab a copy of this book and use the Lighthouse light to illuminate your reading and enjoy this book.  Happy Reading!!!!

 

 

 

 

Okay, enough about me.  Let’s check out what books my two amigos have picked for this week’s theme.

 

 

To find out what book Karen chose, head over to her blog by following this link:

A Cup Of Tea And A Cozy Mystery

And to see what book Lisa chose, head over to her blog by following this link:

http://lisaksbookthoughts.blogspot.com/

While you’re at their blogs, leave a comment and let us know what you think of our Summer Reading Club.  And of course, please leave a comment at my blog.  We would all love to hear from you.

 

New Releases For The Week Of July 23rd, 2017–Part 2

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of July 23rd, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into four days because there were so many new thisreleases.  Here is the second day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

 

The newest member of Martha’s close-knit quilting circle has an eye for couture. But when the designer’s fingerprints are found blanketing a crime scene, Martha must prove that he didn’t have a hand in homicide! 
 
Martha Rose is alarmed by the discovery of Dolleen Doyle’s dead body, especially when evidence suggests a fellow quilter committed the crime.  Set on clearing her pal, Martha searches for answers—but with ties to a convicted fraudster’s stolen millions and a secret office room, the victim’s past raises even more questions. As Martha inches towards the culprit, she learns that wrapping the case up—and living to baste another square—will be trickier than she ever imagined . . .

Praise for Mary Marks and her Quilting Mysteries 
“Characters are brilliantly written in entertaining situations . . . Gone are the stereotypes of mature women expected to stay at home and knit quietly by the fire.” —RT Book Reviews on Gone but Knot Forgotten
 
“A pleasurable and satisfying addition to any quilting mystery fan’s reading list. Recommend to those who cannot get enough of Terri Thayer, Elizabeth Craig, or Earlene Fowler.” —Library Journal on Knot in My Backyard   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Starry Hollow, where spells were made to be broken.

Short on both cash and time, Ember Rose does her best as a single mom in New Jersey, serving up attitude along with repossession notices. When a repo job goes sideways, she and her daughter find themselves in imminent danger–until a visit from estranged relatives turns their world upside down. Ember, Marley, and their Yorkie are transported to Starry Hollow, a paranormal town where witches rule and magic is as normal as pizza. Where Ember goes, though, trouble seems to follow. When a member of the coven turns up dead and the sexy werewolf sheriff identifies Ember as a suspect, she decides to take matters into her own hands like only a Jersey girl can.

Magic & Murder is the first book in the Starry Hollow Witches series.

For more information, please visit Annabel Chase on Facebook.

Other books by Annabel Chase include the Spellbound paranormal cozy mystery series. (Goodreads)

A fresh batch of trouble and a whole lot of dough…

Bakery owner Joy Cooke is pleased to be participating in a charity auction to raise money for her town’s Senior Center. The main prize up for grabs is a date with Florida’s most eligible bachelor, and some would kill to win. Joy’s sugar cookies aren’t the only things about to cause chaos when the grand prizewinner is found dead just moments after staking her claim. With the help of her sassy southern assistant and a sleuthing granny, Joy sets out to solve the case. But a long list of suspects, a cursed ruby broach, and a handsome aristocrat only bring more trouble. Will Joy find the killer before it’s too late? (Goodreads)

Natalie Taylor, High Priestess of the coven in quirky Giles, Massachusetts, just wants to stop seeing dead people. With all the elements needed for the spell now in place, she can finally complete the ritual to push the ghosts away.

But when a body is found in Corey Woods, giving her the opportunity to prove that her long-lost love wasn’t guilty of the identical murders years ago, some of the answers she needs to clear him lie on the far side of the veil. She’s going to need help from both the living and the dead to catch the real killer.(Goodreads)

Life at sixty isn’t quite what Kay Carrera expected. She’s working as a skip-tracer for a PI who is desperate to land his own reality TV show. She has a new roommate who arrived with more than the usual amount of baggage. And her attempts at knitting are less than stellar – way less than stellar. Worse, the cataract surgery that restored her sight has also delivered an unexpected and disturbing side-effect.
Kay sees ghosts. And when the dead turn to her for help, she just can’t say no.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

An Ancient Lock, Cursed Dice, and a New Villain

Cecilia and Clarence have their work cut out for them when a pair of cursed dice result in bad luck….of the fatal kind. Not only that, but an ancient lock is needed to keep the Cabal, an evil secret society, from stealing the artifacts. When Celilia and Clarence are captured by the Cabal, they must rely on a new acquaintance to rescue them. But is she working with the Cabal? And what secrets does she hide?

Find out in the second installment of this fast moving and thrilling adventure mystery series.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe struggles with a secret as the Zimmerman clan sets out for a week of fun in the sun at Camp Carter, where they find the cook dead in the pantry on the very first day of their family vacation.  (Goodreads)

 

New Releases For The Week Of July 23rd, 2017–Part 1

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of July 23rd, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into four days because there were so many new releases.  Here is the first day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

Hunting a killer within New York’s urban jungle becomes the biggest case of Alexandra Cooper’s career in New York Timesbestselling author Linda Fairstein’s latest unputdownable thriller.

A wild heart beats within New York City. Amid concrete and skyscrapers, the Wildlife Conservation Society works to preserve and protect the animal kingdom both within and beyond the borders of the five boroughs. But dangerous creatures don’t always have claws and fangs, as Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper and NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace know all too well. Predators lurk close to home, and in the aftermath of the shocking drive-by murder of an important city employee someone Alex has worked with for years the trio must discover who the bigger snake is: the killer or the victim.

Investigations into the death provide more questions than answers, as a tangled mess of secrets slowly comes to light. From bribes to secret societies, from big-game hunting to the illegal animal trade, from New York City zoos to behind closed doors in government buildings, Alex will have her work cut out for her if she wants to uncover the truth and uphold the integrity of the office she has so proudly served.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

As Laurie Cass continues the national bestselling Bookmobile Cat mystery series, librarian Minnie Hamilton is happy to take her bookmobile for a spin with her rescue cat, Eddie–but her tenacious tabby always seems to find trouble…

As the bookmobile rolls along the hills of Chilson, Michigan, Minnie and Eddie spread good cheer and good reads. But when her faithful feline finds his way into the middle of a murder, Minnie is there, like any good librarian, to check it out.

Eddie turns a routine bookmobile stop into anything but when he makes a quick escape and hops into a pickup truck…with a dead body in the flatbed. The friendly local lawyer who was driving the pickup falls under suspicion. But Minnie and Eddie think there’s more to this case than meets the eye, and the dynamic duo sets out to leave no page unturned.   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

It’s 1924 and spiritualist-medium Daisy Gumm and her fiancé, Detective Sam Rotondo, discover a dead body tucked away in the Pasadena Public Library’s bibliography stacks.

Worse, Daisy’s old friend, Mr. Browning, is holding the bloody knife, putting him at the very top of Sam’s suspect list.

But Daisy is not convinced, and sets out to exonerate her friend, only to stumble into a professor’s geological study, encounter a mad scientist, and uncover a phony gold rush that someone is killing to hide.

PRAISE for THE DAISY GUMM MAJESTY MYSTERIES
“Well plotted with a band of whimsical characters and genuine humor…” ~Diane Morasco, RT Book Reviews

THE DAISY GUMM MAJESTY MYSTERIES, in series order
Strong Spirits
Fine Spirits
High Spirits
Hungry Spirits
Genteel Spirits
Ancient Spirits
Dark Spirits
Spirits Onstage
Unsettled Spirits
Bruised Spirits
Spirits United
Spirits Unearthed

ABOUT ALICE DUNCAN:
In an effort to avoid what she knew she should be doing, Alice folk-danced professionally until her writing muse finally had its way. Now a resident of Roswell, New Mexico, Alice enjoys saying no smog, no crowds, and yes to loving her herd of wild dachshunds. Visit Alice at www.aliceduncan.net.   (Goodreads)

The crime solving trio of the Books To Die For series is back to solve another who dun it. This time Bonnie’s nephew discovers family relics for sale online belonging to his great, great grandfather who was buried 150 years ago on the family farm. Jake is hired to check out the grave of Captain Howard Scott on the Southern Missouri homestead. The investigation lands Jake in a grave with a corpse, and a suspect in a gruesome murder. Will he clear his name and find the real murderer. Of course he will, but along the way, Jake, Bonnie, and Fred have an adventure of a lifetime.   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Carnival week in Cherringham, but while most of the locals are looking forward to the regatta, the parade and the fireworks, Jack and Sarah are more interested in the mysterious body that’s been uncovered at the archaeological dig just outside the village …

No Roman soldier – but a young man, no ID. Definitely the victim of a cold blooded murder … from just a few decades ago.

It’s a baffling cold case – but one that soon heats up when a member of the carnival committee suddenly goes missing. Jack and Sarah investigate – and quickly come up against a wall of silence. Are the two cases connected? What dark secret from Cherringham’s past is being kept hidden?

As the Carnival rolls to its spectacular finale, Jack and Sarah race against time to stop the murderer before they kill again …

For fans of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series, Lilian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who series, Caroline Graham’s Midsomer Murders, and the American TV series Murder She Wrote, starring Angela Lansbury.

Co-authors Neil Richards (based in the UK) and Matthew Costello (based in the US), have been writing together since the mid 90’s, creating content and working on projects for the BBC, Disney Channel, Sony, ABC, Eidos, and Nintendo to name but a few. Their transatlantic collaboration has underpinned scores of TV drama scripts, computer games, radio shows, and – most recently – the successful crime fiction series Cherringham. First released as eBook novellas, this is the second full-length novel. Cherringham is popular around the world and has been adapted as a series of audiobooks in both English and German.  (Goodreads)

Wedding days are special, but they don’t usually pack as big a surprise as Jolie and Scoobie’s New Year’s Eve nuptials. Scoobie never knew much about his family — and after the way he grew up, who could blame him for liking it that way? A 9-1-1 call during the wedding changes everything. Suddenly Jolie has to help Scoobie figure out what he wants to know, and determine who seems to want someone in his family dead. Knowing more about Scoobie’s past could change their future together. But a special wedding arrival may cause even more complications. Book 10 in the Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series brings together the close-knit group of friends and zany Ocean Alley townspeople for a very special event. You don’t want to miss it!  (Goodreads)

Checking out!

Emma Lee Raines, proprietor of a small-town Kentucky funeral home, Eternal Slumber, is a “Betweener,” helps ghosts stuck between here and the ever-after— only murdered ghosts. After Emma Lee solves who murdered them, only then can they cross over to the Great Beyond, Big Guy In The Sky.
Emma Lee is up against a cold case that happened before she’d even gotten her “Betweener” gift. Not only is the ghost of eight-year-old Betsy Lynn Brady, but Mr. Whiskers Betsy’s cat needs to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Betsy Lynn Brady has no idea who murdered her or why. With her heart in shambles, Emma Lee begs her sexy beau, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross to reopen the cold case because Betsy’s head is always stuck in a book and can’t remember exactly what happened to her.

Emma Lee learns real fast that someone doesn’t want her to snoop around the cold case. Can she help Betsy cross over and get Mr. Whiskers cross the Rainbow Bridge before someone helps Emma Lee check out from the living?   (Goodreads)