Review of Oh, Fudge!

 

Oh Fudge!
A Candy Coated Mystery, Book #5
Nancy Coco
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Life is always sweet in Allie McMurphy s delectable fudge shop. But murder can make things unpleasantly sticky . . .
A DEADLY CONFECTION

After Allie inherited her family’s McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, cousin Tori moved off to California in a bitter huff, and the two haven’t spoken since. So to have her cousin reappear on Mackinac Island without warning is a big surprise but not as surprising as finding her standing over a dead woman impaled with a garden spade in the Mackinac Butterfly House. Butterflies may be free, but Tori won’t be for much longer unless the cousins can bury the hatchet and work together to catch a killer who s taken flight. Because when it comes to family, blood is thicker than fudge . . .
Praise for Nancy Coco and the Candy-Coated Mysteries
Memorable characters, a charming locale, and a satisfying mystery. Barbara Allan
Beautiful Mackinac Island provides the setting for a puzzling series of crimes . . . plenty of plausible suspects and mouthwatering fudge recipes. Kirkus Reviews
I know I will be counting down the days until the next mystery with Allie McMurphy. Cozy Mystery Book Reviews” (Goodreads)

 

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed getting to revisit them and spending time with them again. I really like Jenn, Allie’s best friend, and the way the two of them interacted with each other. I liked Frances and Mr. Devaney, I thought they made an adorable couple and I enjoyed the way that he just wanted to make Frances happy. Tori is not one of my favorite characters, she was annoying to me. Even when Allie tried to be nice to her, she wanted nothing to do with Allie. And another thing that was a bit annoying was that the love triangle between Allie, Trent and Rex, continues. I would like Allie to make a decision and stick with it. That is only my opinion and other readers may not agree with me.

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 there, watching all of the action taking place and I could almost taste the fudge (I wish I really could taste the fudge). I liked the fact that there were fudge recipes included in the book. The mystery was carried of well throughout the whole book. There were plenty of clues to sift through and suspects to consider.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. The whole series is great and you cannot go wrong reading and of the books.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

 

New Releases For The Week Of August 27th, 2017–Part 4

 

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of August 27th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very many new releases this week.  Today 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.

 

 

 

 

Whose funeral will be next?
For residents of Salem, Massachusetts, the day after Halloween brings empty candy wrappers, sagging pumpkins, and a community-wide identity crisis. That is, until Lee Barrett s TV production class suggests extending the spooky season with the traditional Mexican celebration Dia de Los Muertos. But when the students discover not all of Salem s dead are resting in peace, the post-October blues don t seem so bad after all . . .
As if a series of haunting graveyard visits isn t disturbing enough, Lee and her policeman boyfriend connect the crime to an unsolved missing person case. Driven by a series of chilling psychic visions, Lee calls on her cleverest allies including her shrewd cat, O Ryan to go underground and dig up the evidence needed to put a lid on a cold case forever . . . before the latest headstone in town has her name on it!
Praise for the Witch City Mysteries
Perfectly relaxing and readable. Kirkus Reviews
This rewarding paranormal cozy series debut will have Victoria Laurie fans lining up to follow. Library Journal
[A]n entertaining story that keeps readers guessing until the very twisted and eerie end. RT Book Reviews“ (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

A winter camping trip turns deadly as two missing teenagers, a twisted love triangle, and the spectre of radicalism create turmoil in the remote Laurentian wilderness.

Amanda Doucette’s cross-Canada charity tour is in for a cold snap when she organizes a winter camping trip for inner-city young people in the stunning setting of the Laurentian Mountains. With a view to bridging cultural divides, she brings along a mixture of Canadian-born and immigrant youth.

Trouble begins when two of the teenagers disappear into the wilderness during the night: Luc, a French/English-Canadian with a history of drug use, and Yasmina, an adventurous young woman from Iraq who dreams of becoming a human rights lawyer. Although frantic, their parents are strangely secretive amid suspicions of drug use and forbidden romance. But when a local farmer turns up dead and terrorist material is found on Luc’s computer, the dangers turn deadly. Now in a battle against both the elements and police, Amanda and Corporal Chris Tymko discover a far greater web of secrets and deception.

As Amanda races to save the young people from danger, she finds herself fighting for stakes far higher than their own lives.  (Goodreads)

Bridget Sway is happy … because Bridget Sway is shopping!

At long last she has new clothes. New shoes. New makeup. Bridget is about to add some much needed underwear to her purchases but, instead of finding a frilly knicker and bra set, she finds a matching alive dead body and it’s ghost.

Despite her history with the victim no one is accusing her of murder so, this time, Bridget thinks she might just get to sit this murder solving spree out. Unfortunately for her, pretty much everyone else has other ideas.

With a handsome parole officer keeping a closer eye on her than ever, housemates to protect from a murderer (as well as each other), a new job to hold down and eyeliner to not smudge, Bridget’s afterlife is just not getting any easier.

But the important thing is she has new shoes …

(Amazon)

From USA Today bestselling authors Sally J. Smith & Jean Steffens comes another Mystic Isle Mystery that will leave you yo-ho-ho-ing with laughter…

Just when Melanie Hamilton thought things couldn’t get stranger at The Mansion at Mystic Isle, she finds herself in the middle of a true pirate treasure hunt! Fortune hunters have arrived Indiana Jones-style at the New Orleans resort where she and boyfriend Jack Stockton work, with their eyes on the prize of a long-lost and priceless letter stolen from the famous pirate Jean Lafitte. Two archeologists, a Hollywood camera crew, and a marauding gator suddenly have Melanie so busy she almost doesn’t even have time to quarrel with Jack over the arrival of his ex-girlfriend… Almost. But her romantic issues take a back seat when a dead body shows up at the home of the resort’s owner. Now it’s up to Mel and the rest of the odd crew at Mystic Isle to bring order back to the bayou and solve the murder. But if someone would kill once for a piece of parchment, would they kill twice? And could Mel wind up at the bottom of Davy Jones’ Locker?

Mystic Isle Mysteries:
Mystic Mayhem (book #1)
Mystic Mojo (shorts story in the Killer Beach Reads collection)
Mystic Mistletoe Murder (book #2)
Mystic Mischief (book #3)

What critics are saying about Sally J. Smith & Jean Steffens:

“Charming, cunning and clever, MYSTIC MAYHEM is a smartly paced murder mystery.”
—Romance Junkies

“Sally J. Smith and Jean Steffens bring the beauty of the bayou alive with this cozy murder mystery. If you like flirting and fun with your dose of fear this is a must-read.”
—Night Owl Reviews   (Goodreads)

 

 

When Autumn Wood, owner of the Harmony Café, covers her sister’s shift at a local hotel, she finds much more than wrinkled linens and dirty breakfast trays. What started out as a good deed to keep her sister from being fired, again, quickly turns into a murder investigation when a body turns up in one of the guest rooms. Autumn does some sleuthing of her own with the help of her adventurous Westie. But with an annual bow hunting trade show in town and an angry group of animal rights activists parading the streets, her list of suspects is quite long. The clock is ticking, and Autumn must uncover the truth before the killer takes another shot.

Book 2 in the Harmony Café Cozy Mystery series. A light-hearted, entertaining read with no cliffhangers, profanity, or gore. Recipe Included! (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Megan McAlister…

Megan McAlister is a recently divorced, thirty-year-old school teacher, whose marriage didn’t end exactly as she anticipated. When her best friend from college finds her a great paying summer job at the beach, Megan is lured by both the money and the promise of adventure at the coast. As her summer turns deadly, she is faced withboth solving a murder and falling in love…if she can stay alive long enough.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlie Henry, co-owner of a pawnshop and Iraq war veteran, has, for the most part, settled into his somewhat quieter life in Albuquerque. He is invited to attend the dedication of a memorial in a park, where he, other local heroes, and first responders are to be honored for their military accomplishments and dedication to the community. But trouble always seems to follow Charlie. When gunshots ring out, barely missing Charlie and hitting the man next to him, it’s clear that a dangerous madman is on the loose. More shots are fired, and two more veterans are injured.

Charlie thinks he might have been the target and looks around for the shooter. The crowd is in a panic, and he’s unable to spot the gunman. Charlie tries to help the man who took the first hits, Nathan Whitaker, a decorated former Army helicopter pilot who has been badly wounded. No one is dead, at least not yet. But Charlie vows to find the evil person who would attack American heroes—he refuses to go down without a fight and knows that the perpetrator will soon learn that he has messed with the wrong man.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katy McKenna’s good intentions are going to get herDEAD….

While battling a furry vermin invasion in the spooky attic of her old house, Katy discovers a vintage wooden chest hidden behind a wall. Although everyone assures her the box is legally hers, its incredible contents compel Katy to search for the rightful owner.

Meanwhile, she takes a temp job assisting her hunky P.I. neighbor, Josh Draper. The assignment: Trap a sleazy wife-cheater. Something Katy knows about all too well from personal experience. During a cozy stakeout in Draper’s two-seater, things get awkward as the sizzling tension builds. Who will make the first move?

Since she’s already been searching online for past owners of her home, Grandma Ruby asks Katy to use her sleuthing skills to discover what happened to her bigamist great-great grandfather. Katy’s quest leads her to find an extended family she never knew existed.

Family secrets are revealed, for better or worse….Romance blossoms, for better or worse….
And Katy’s good intentions lead her into a terrifying dilemma she may not survive.

If you’re a member of Kindle Unlimited and love mysteries, join Pam’s Facebook Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kindleunlimitedmysteries  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

As autumn washes over coastal Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, the Seaside Knitters anticipate a relaxing off-season. But when murder shatters the peace, the craftiest bunch in town must unravel a killer s deadly scheme . . .
After retrieving fresh lobster nets from a local Laundromat, Cass Halloran rushes to attend a last-minute gathering with her knitting circle. But Cass can t stop worrying about the lonely boy seen hanging around the dryers, and the school uniform he left behind in a hurry. When the ladies return the lost clothing the next day, they find the child and his younger sister alone, seemingly abandoned by their mother . . .
The knitters intend to facilitate a family reunion, not investigate a crime. But the death of Dolores Cardozo, a recluse from the edge of town, throws the group for a loop. Especially when the missing mother and one of their own become tied to the victim s hidden fortune and her murder . . .
Before scandalous secrets break bonds and rumors tear Sea Harbor apart, the Seaside Knitters need to string together the truth about Dolores while preventing a greedy murderer from making another move!
* Includes a knitting pattern *”     (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of August 27th, 2017–Part 3

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of August 27th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very many new releases this week.  Today is the third day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

 

Quelle horreur! A French holiday leads to disaster for American Anglophile Dorothy Martin in this engaging new cozy mystery. 

When Dorothy Martin goes to France – alone because Alan is stuck back home in Sherebury with a broken ankle – she worries about her ability to get along in a language she barely speaks, and in a country she hasn’t seen for over fifty years. But by the time Alan joins her a week later, Dorothy has found herself embroiled in one mystery after another: a woman drowning in quicksand; a man suffering a near-fatal fall in the abbey at Mont Saint Michel; and a missing American archaeologist – all seemingly connected to a monk named Abelard who has been dead for almost nine hundred years.

It isn’t until another body is discovered that Dorothy’s ability to ‘think outside the box’ finally unravels the threads of a despicable scheme. (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

There’s no business like show business . . . especially when a killer is involved.

Joey Darling’s local movie premiere was supposed to be a win-win for everyone involved. All the proceeds would go to the children’s wing at a local hospital, and the online buzz would create positive press for the area’s tourism. But things go awry when the event is sabotaged and Joey’s stunt double is seriously injured.

Suspects seem sparser than quality G-rated movies, and police fear the intended target was actually Joey. Detective Jackson Sullivan and neighbor Zane Oakley—two men competing for Joey’s affection—insist on trading off guard duty until the bad guy is behind bars. To make matters even worse, Joey’s ex shows up right before the release of his tell-all book about his life with the Hollywood sweetheart.

Someone seems determined to create real-life drama. But Joey isn’t one to be deterred. Though a movie-worthy villain wants to pull the plug on this production—and maybe even on a few people’s lives—Joey is determined that the show must go on.  (Amazon)

The 8th book in the BESTSELLING Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series!

A storm hits Peridale with disastrous effects. Barker’s cottage is destroyed, forcing him to move in with Julia, but she has more to worry about than him leaving his socks around and not putting the toilet seat up. Julia is shocked when the storm also uncovers a secret basement underneath her cafe and even more shocked when she finds the body of a teenage girl who has been missing for twenty years.

The cold case team rushes in, pushing Julia out of her cafe and leaving her to unravel the truth of the past one thread at a time. When she realises the girl, Astrid, was the daughter of Evelyn, the eccentric B&B owner, Julia vows to piece together the events that led to Astrid being trapped in a basement for decades. How did the girl die, and more importantly who killed her? Julia hunts for clues to a case the village had almost forgotten about so she can bring Evelyn the peace she deserves, but will she be able to do it in time before somebody she loves suffers a similar fate?

Book 8 in the Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series! Can be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed more as part of the series. A light, cozy mystery read with a cat loving and cafe-owning amateur female sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes!  (Goodreads)

A new business might add some much-needed charm to downtown Dorset Falls—and draw tourists to Josie’s yarn shop. But when someone gets murdered, a close-knit community could come undone . . .

Shop owner Josie Blair is finally settling into the pace of living in Dorset Falls, Connecticut. Between running Miss Marple Knits, jumpstarting a blog, and handcrafting items with the help of her knitting pals, Josie’s too preoccupied to worry about her past in New York. And thanks to Lyndon and Harry, the owners of the brand-new antique shop next door, she has another project in her midst—repurposing a box of vintage crocheted doilies adorned with the most curious needlework . . .

But before Josie can formally welcome her neighbors, she discovers Lyndon on the floor of his shop stabbed to death by a rusty old pair of sheep shears. Police have pinned Harry as the killer, but Josie isn’t so sure. Now, she’s lacing up for another homicide investigation—and no eyelet or stitch can go unexamined, lest she herself becomes ensnared in the criminal’s deadly design . . .

INCLUDES ORIGINAL KNITTING PATTERNS!

“A tale of murder and intrigue that will ensnare knitters and non-knitters alike. I couldn’t put it down.” —Barbara Ross on Yarned and Dangerous  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon to be eighteen, Rhiannon Reece lives with her grandparents. Her mother was killed when she was just one, and her father, unable to cope with events, fled to Australia, never to be seen or heard of again.

One morning, Rhiannon ostensibly sets off for school, but she doesn’t arrive, and worse still, in the evening she doesn’t come home. Her grandparents are distraught. Where is Rhiannon? She did not attend school, and she’s not with her friends or her boyfriend.

Frantic with worry, they ring the central Chester police station where Inspector Walter Darriteau and his team field the call. Within minutes they are on the case, if indeed there is a case to investigate, but already Walter has bad vibes. Something isn’t right, and his thirty-five years of experience tells him things are about to get a whole lot worse.

Join Walter and the team in the desperate search for Rhiannon Reece.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When up and coming knitting designer, Padraig Wilson, is found murdered at the start of the South’s largest fiber festival, FBI Special Agent John Smith has his hands full. Not just keeping his bff from buying every skein of yarn in sight, but in clearing her oldest friend’s name of murder.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book 3 in the Beauty Secrets Series

Ziva Diaz stepped in front of the camera and onto the set of a murder.

Her national television debut is a complete disaster, and when the host at fault is murdered, the detective sets her eyes on Ziva. As Ziva races to clear her name, the case lands on the front page of the tabloids. But there’s more to this investigation than a dead starlet and a jealous ex-husband. So much more.

P.S.
If you’ve been waiting for more of Finn & Ziva, this is *the* book. Get ready!  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

When a mysterious figure appears on the village green on a cold November day in Three Pines, Armand Gamache, now Chief Superintendent of the Sûreté du Québec, knows something is seriously wrong. Yet he does nothing. Legally, what can he do? Only watch and wait. And hope his mounting fears are not realized.

From the moment its shadow falls over Three Pines, Gamache suspects the creature has deep roots and a dark purpose. When it suddenly vanishes and a body is discovered, it falls to Gamache to discover if a debt has been paid or levied.

In the early days of the investigation into the murder, and months later, as the trial for the accused begins in a Montreal courtroom on a steamy day in July, the Chief Superintendent continues to struggle with actions he’s set in motion, from which there is no going back. “This case began in a higher court,” he tells the judge, “and it’s going to end there.”

And regardless of the trial’s outcome, he must face his own conscience.

In her latest utterly gripping book, number-one New York Times bestselling author Louise Penny shatters the conventions of the crime novel to explore what Gandhi called the court of conscience. A court that supersedes all others.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

When sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons agree to cater an extravagant Halloween party in their little upstate New York town of Longely, they figured a ghost or two and a blood curdling scream might be part of the menu, but they never expected to be haunted by the deadly specter of murder . . . 

Halloween is coming, and Darius Witherspoon isn t giving up on his plan for a catered costume party despite the recent disappearance of his wife, Penelope. He may be heartbroken, but perhaps throwing a big shindig in her honor will boost his spirits. He s going to hold it at his stylish new co-op apartment at the Berkshire Arms, where the couple had dreamed of moving in.
Darius hires Bernie and Libby to provide the treats. They d prefer to avoid the festivities altogether. As far as they re concerned, the Berkshire Arms is a haunted house or at least haunted by the memory of the murder that happened on the site, when it used to be The Peabody School. But as always, there are bills to be paid, so they accept the job. And in the midst of the celebration, Darius is discovered hanging from a noose outside one of the ballroom s French doors . . .
Was it suicide, induced by despair over his missing spouse? Bernie and Libby think not, once they read the note he left which includes a sum of money and a request for them to do something if anything should happen to him. Now, once the serving trays have been cleared and the decorations taken down, it s time for the sisters to unmask a killer . . .

Includes Original Recipes for You to Try!“ (Goodreads)

 

Sometimes you need a sweet tooth to take a bite out of crime . . .

Bailey King is living the sweet life as assistant chocolatier at world-famous JP Chocolates in New York City. But just when Bailey’s up for a life-changing promotion, her grandmother calls with news that her grandfather’s heart condition has worsened. Bailey rushes to Harvest, Ohio, where her grandparents still run Swissmen Sweets, the Amish candy shop where she was first introduced to delicious fudge, truffles, and other assorted delights.

She finds her grandfather is doing better than she feared. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for a local Englisch developer, whom Bailey finds dead in the candy shop kitchen—with Jebediah King’s chocolate knife buried in his chest. Now the police are sweet on her grandfather as the prime suspect. Despite the sincere efforts of a yummy deputy with chocolate-brown eyes, Bailey takes it on herself to clear Jebediah. But as a cunning killer tries to fudge the truth, Bailey may be headed straight into a whole batch of trouble . . . (Goodreads)

 

Three Amigos Summer Reading Club–Island Cozy

 

                         Welcome to the Three Amigos Summer Reading Club.

 

 

This week’s theme for our Summer Reading Club is Island Cozies.  My pick for this week is  Maui Madness by Kathi Daley.   It is the seventh book in her Zoe Donovan Series.  I have read all the books in this series and it is really good.

 

 

 

Come for the murder stay for the romance.

Recipes included.

Maui Madness is book 7 in the popular Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery series. Set in Maui, Zoe and the gang become involved in a kidnapping, murder, and search for a sunken treasure while on vacation in the tropical paradise. Join the gang as they dine in popular restaurants, go shopping, try surfing, and make new friends only to have to decide who they can trust and who may be hiding more than it would appear.  (Goodreads)

 

My Review:

Maui Madness by Kathi Daley was a great cozy read. Since I’ve read all the other books in the Zoe Donovan Mystery series, I was a little concerned that this book would not be taking place in Ashton Falls, the home town cozy setting the other books took place in. I had no reason to be concerned. The descriptive writing of the Hawaiian setting made you feel that you were actually there. The setting and traditions were characterized by someone who had first-hand knowledge of Hawaii. This added another level to the reading and made you want to be there to see for yourself where everything was taking place. The cast of characters continue to be well- developed and there were some unexpected things happening in their lives, making it a must to continue reading the series. As usual, the mystery was well thought out and not easily solved. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written cozy mystery. Wherever Zoe and the gangs lives take them, Kathi Daley will make it a fantastic adventure. Can’t wait to read about the next chapter in their lives

 

 

 

So before you pack a bag for you’re island vacation, grab this book to take along and enjoy.  Hang 10 and Catch A Wave!!!!      ALOHA!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

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/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of August 27th, 2017–Part 2

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of August 27th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very many new releases this week.  Today is the second day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

CHERRY-FILLED CHARGES, the thirty-third donut mystery from New York Times Bestselling Author Jessica Beck

It’s finally time for Barton Gleason’s pop-up bistro, but the grand opening is marred when a fellow chef and rival from culinary school is murdered nearby in one of the staging areas. Suzanne stumbles across the body, and while Jake is away dealing with his own family issues, she and Grace tackle the job of tracking down the real killer before someone else’s goose gets cooked!

(Goodreads)

Suzy, along with Josie and Chef Claire, is back in the Cayman Islands for the winter. With a new restaurant and an animal shelter about to open, their goal is to make sure both of the new enterprises get off to a good start while still being able to relax and enjoy the sun and sand. But when they head down the beach toward Suzy’s mother house on Christmas morning with the dogs, things take a major turn for the worse when Captain spots a woman and her dog clinging to an upended kayak and about to drown. And when the Newfie embarks on a rescue mission to save them, Christmas Day is dramatically altered. Fortunately, Captain performs a miraculous rescue, but soon after being discharged from the hospital, the woman disappears, and the task of caring for her dog falls to Suzy’s mom.

And when Rocco, their bar manager from C’s in Clay Bay, who’s in town helping them get ready for the opening of the restaurant, falls hard for Sylvia, the manager of the new animal shelter, he decides that perhaps a permanent move to the islands might be in order. But when Sylvia’s ex-husband, who’s recently been stalking her, is found dead in his car in the back of the restaurant, Rocco is suspect number one.

As Suzy embarks on her efforts to find the mysterious woman and return her dog, as well as do everything she can to find out who put two bullets in the back of the ex-husband’s head, she finds herself in the middle of a complex land scheme that has her, and everyone else, baffled. And as she works her way through a maze of questions and contradictions, she also learns a few things about family and making amends, as well as the importance of keeping one’s pants on.

The Thousand Islands Doggy Inn Mysteries features two of the smartest and funniest lead female protagonists to hit the cozy mystery scene in a very long time, and Suzy and Josie’s affection for food and their boundless love and devotion to their dogs puts this new series in the don’t miss category. The Case of the Klutzy King Charles is another fast-paced and funny installment in this series that affectionately focuses on dogs, food, and the natural beauty of the Thousand Islands region.  (Amazon)

Radio talk show host Dr. Maggie Walsh finds herself in the middle of a murder—again! An invitation to a glitzy fundraiser at a south Florida mansion sounds like the perfect evening. Maggie and her pals are digging up clues for a scavenger hunt when a real mystery lands in their laps. Suddenly the party’s over, and the killer is playing for keeps. Will Maggie and her team be able to crack the case and solve the crime?  (Goodreads)

 

World-class equestrian, Jessica Wyeth, is thrust into the middle of a game of geopolitical warfare. Reeling from revelations of her connection to the violent struggles to expunge Britain from Northern Ireland, she’s blocked by unseen forces from returning to the United States.

The facts of Jessica’s birth become her deepest secret. Her late mother was considered by Northern Ireland to be a terrorist and her father is a key negotiator between violent Irish Republican Army (IRA) factions in Belfast and the British Government.

Jessica vows to keep her father’s identity hidden at all costs.

Only one man knows Jessica’s truth. Michael Connaught, heir to an international crime family who profits from political uprisings, struggles with his own legacy. He is torn between protecting the woman he loves or using her secrets as a catalyst for inciting global unrest.

When a terrorist bomb rips through the crowd at the Atlanta-based Summer Olympic Games, Jessica is forced to fight for her life in ways she never dreamed.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

A sharp, witty and at times hilarious mystery for fans of Christopher Brookmyre and Colin Bateman, set in the world of book publishing

“Of Murder, Muses and Me is delightful. Chibici- Revneanu treats London as another rich character in this intriguing story of fan trying to uncover the truth behind her favorite author’s death.” Lois Lavrisa, author of Homicide by Hamlet, an award-winning bestselling cozy mystery novel.

When bestselling author Mark Drubenheimer is found dead in his studio, Rosalind Waterloo’s world collapses. The of cial story is that the author committed suicide, but for his devoted fan Rosalind, there is only one explanation: Drubenheimer was murdered, and Rosalind is the only person who can expose the killer.

Rosalind takes her investigation to London and to the heart of the publishing industry where she encounters an intriguing cast of characters; an eccentric editor, a modest muse, a wounded widow and a mesmerising mystery man.

With her sanity now in question, Rosalind is even more determined to uncover the truth behind Drubenheimer’s death regardless of the dramatic consequences.

“Preposterous and compelling…read this with sceptical pleasure!” Suzette A. Hill, author of the Revd Francis Oughterard novels and Rosy Gilchrist series.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

Life wasn’t all that great when you were dead.

Piper was the head baker of Secret Confections in the scorching hot small Texas town of Babylon. Or…at least she was until she died. Struck by one of her own out of control cupcake trucks, Piper’s soul left her body and managed to somehow find its way into Purgatory. Turned out, the waiting room for Heaven and Hell was a small, invisible town in Texas.

Just her luck. She’d always wanted to leave Texas and ended up being stuck there for the rest of her afterlife.

But things weren’t all bad. She has a new bakery and new semi-kind of life. Until a guy rushes into her shop and dies right on top of her brand new ceramic floor.

Which might not have been that bad until he uttered the one word that was instant death to the livelihood of a baker with a brand new business.

Poison.   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

Jack Raven is a psychic medium who has been talking to spirits since she was a child. Now, she owns Raven Eradications and her job is to assist the dead in moving onward– up or down as the case may be with her partner Mojo, a Tamaskan wolfdog.

She travels to Taw Ridge, Tennessee where a new hotel owner is being driven out of business by the ghosts of three murder victims whose cases were never solved. The victims were killed in separate rooms on the thirteenth floor on the same night over fifteen years ago.

Ellen Boshears inherited the hotel from an uncle she never knew existed. Having just buried her husband of one year, she’s eager to leave California and return to her home town. The building has sat empty for years, but its upkeep was maintained until her uncle’s death. Now guests report hearing screams, running in halls, and slamming doors.

Boshears doesn’t believe in ghosts. She’s spent many nights on the thirteenth floor without hearing a thing. She wants to put an end to what he sees as nothing but rumors. She plans a grand reopening party in two weeks and wants to use Jack’s services to boast publicity and money’s no object. She wants a certification that the Hotel Boshears is a ghost free.   (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

Minnie and Ben are back for more murder and mayhem!

Minnie Crockwell, recreational vehicle enthusiast and traveler, and her ghost companion, Ben, left Florida and headed north…northwest, anyway.

Yellowstone National Park beckons!

Bison, bears, wolves, elk, moose, antelope and deer roam the valleys, bighorn sheep and mountain goats climb the hills, geysers spew fountains of steam and water, hot springs and mud pots abound!

What’s not to like?

One tourist would be happy to tell you…if he were still alive.

Minnie and Ben discover what’s left of that tourist and now must solve the Trouble at Yellowstone!

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 13 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
Book 12 – Trouble at Yellowstone    (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

Life is always sweet in Allie McMurphy s delectable fudge shop. But murder can make things unpleasantly sticky . . .
A DEADLY CONFECTIONAfter Allie inherited her family s McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, cousin Tori moved off to California in a bitter huff, and the two haven t spoken since. So to have her cousin reappear on Mackinac Island without warning is a big surprise but not as surprising as finding her standing over a dead woman impaled with a garden spade in the Mackinac Butterfly House. Butterflies may be free, but Tori won t be for much longer unless the cousins can bury the hatchet and work together to catch a killer who s taken flight. Because when it comes to family, blood is thicker than fudge . . .
Praise for Nancy Coco and the Candy-Coated Mysteries
Memorable characters, a charming locale, and a satisfying mystery. Barbara Allan
Beautiful Mackinac Island provides the setting for a puzzling series of crimes . . . plenty of plausible suspects and mouthwatering fudge recipes. Kirkus Reviews
I know I will be counting down the days until the next mystery with Allie McMurphy. Cozy Mystery Book Reviews“(Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

New Releases For The Week Of August 27th, 2017–Part 1

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of August 27th, 2017.  I am going to divide the list into 4 days because there are so very many new releases.  Today is the first day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

A Second World War-themed murder mystery weekend ends in murder for real.

Having reluctantly agreed to make up the numbers at a World War II-themed murder mystery weekend at Mortmead Hall, Anna Hopkins and her fellow dogwalkers, Isadora and Tansy, enjoy themselves far more than they’d expected. Not for long. The weekend’s festivities come to an abrupt halt when a body is discovered floating in the ornamental pond.

Who was the mysterious woman in the red dress who attended the event without a ticket? As Anna and her friends delve further, they find themselves caught up in a web of intrigue that leads to a lost painting and a devastating wartime secret: a secret that involves Anna’s own family. Was her late father really guilty of a monstrous crime …?  (Amazon)

As the head of a bustling crafting retreat, Cora Chevalier could use a break of her own. So she and her creative cohorts temporarily swap small-town Indigo Gap for the Sea Glass Island Craft Retreat, where they teach classes and create beachy crafts like shell mosaics and sea glass chimes. Cora and her boyfriend Adrian are enchanted by their surroundings—especially the stunning wedding and blissful newlyweds they encounter on the beach. But awe becomes shock when the bride turns up dead the next day . . .

The woman’s death appears to be the result of a severe jellyfish sting. But when it’s revealed that she was murdered and Adrian becomes a suspect, Cora must hitch the real culprit to the crime—and fast. Because it just might take everything she has to crack a case more twisted than her most complex macramé knot! (Goodreads)

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin and the company are dragged to perdition. (Goodreads)

Angela and her grandmother are invited to an innocent little dinner hosted by Senator Clark. Everyone knows it’s a trap. The Senator has done too much to the Morgan family to be trusted, but the only way to find out what the Senator is up to, is to walk in with their eyes open.

But who is the trap really for? There is far more at stake than anyone can guess, even Abby Morgan. Will her famous wits figure out the mystery in time, or will the town of Red Pine Falls lose more than it can afford?

Find out by reading Dead Reckoning and Murderous Intent, Book 4 in the Red Pine Falls Cozy Mystery series.

(Amazon)

Scarlett and her daughters are recovering from all they’ve been through since their family fell apart and then being sucked into two murder investigations. Scarlett is further devastated by her life-long best friend leaving town, and she’s showing the strain.

Her family finally convinces Scarlett to stop working so hard and take a break. She finds a babysitter she trusts and takes some time for herself. When she comes home, she finds her daughters alone, her babysitter missing, and a disturbing foretelling that has been left behind.

(Amazon)

FREE WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED!  INCLUDES A DELICIOUS RECIPE FOR ORANGE CHICKEN BURGERS PLUS AN OFFER FOR A FREE PREQUEL TO THIS SERIES!

Nora Newberry is back in her latest whodunit!  And this time she’s going digital!

When a young lady disappears, Nora finds the residents of Milburn, Wyoming surprisingly unconcerned.  But this is because they knew it was coming.  After all, Lulu had been complaining about her “dinky, little town” for years, vowing to leave it one day.

But not everyone is convinced that she left of her own accord.

Lulu’s best friend, Val, swears that something isn’t right about her disappearance.  And it seems Nora is the only one who will listen.  Unfortunately, finding Lulu proves to be more difficult than either of them anticipated.  And the twisted trail they follow, both online & off, may prove more dangerous for the seekers than for the lost…

Join Nora on her latest adventure, Death On Social Media!

Death On Social Media is a novella-length installment of Bestselling Author Nancy McGovern’s popular culinary cozy mystery series, “A Murder In Milburn”.  There are 6 full-length novels & 4 other novellas in the series, one of which you can get for FREE!  Just look for the Special Offer in this book!

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 (inside) for even more goodies!  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the end of the summer and Journalist Penelope Trubble has returned home to help her father with the Private Eye business. With a contest prize of ten thousand dollars on the line, the town is full of summer vacationers on the hunt for the rare 1913 Liberty Head nickel that was lost to Bohemian Lake over fifty years ago. With the help of spitfire local, Eve Berns and Cody Lumos, the town’s handsome new detective, amateur sleuth Lucky Penny takes the bait and goes diving for the story behind the legend of the million dollar coin. Unfortunately, her dive turns up more bodies than missing treasure. The deeper she digs, the more secrets she finds hidden in the sand, but will she be buried along with them?  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Cornisea island and spend your summer holidays in a Cornish Castle.

Guinevere Evans has a dream summer job: cataloguing books at a castle on a tidal island off the coast of Cornwall. With her perky dachshund Dolly by her side she explores the island’s colourful history, tries fabulous local food and sees the gorgeous sunsets.

But when an old friend of her employer drops in, claiming a rare bejewelled wedding goblet is hidden in the castle gardens, strange events start to take place: several people turn up claiming they have a right to the elusive goblet, and a dead body is found on the beach.

An unfortunate accident, or does this death relate to the struggle for ownership of the goblet? Is there even a goblet?

Guinevere and Dolly dig in and discover plenty of motives to lie, steal and yes, maybe even kill. Can they prove what really happened to the victim and what became of the precious rubies that are at the heart of the mystery? (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the first in this cat-filled cozy series, aspiring mystery author Sabrina Tate is about to discover that when it comes to solving murders, her new feline friend Hitchcock is a master of sleuthing…

Sabrina has never been the superstitious type. Still, when she moves to Lavender, Texas, to write her first novel and help her Aunt Rowe manage her vacation rental business, Sabrina can’t avoid listening to the rumors that a local black cat is a jinx—especially after the stray in question leads her directly to the scene of a murder.

The deceased turns out to be none other than her Aunt Rowe’s awful cousin Bobby Joe Flowers, a known cheat and womanizer who had no shortage of enemies. The only problem is that Aunt Rowe and Bobby Joe had quarreled just before the cousin turned up dead, leaving Rowe at the top of the long list of suspects. Now it’s up to Sabrina to clear her aunt’s name. Luckily for her, she’s got a new sidekick, Hitchcock the Bad Luck Cat, to help her sniff out clues and stalk a killer before Aunt Rowe winds up the victim of even more misfortune… (Goodreads)

 

Review of Assaulted Caramel

 

Assaulted Caramel

Amish Candy Shop, Book #1

Amanda Flower

5+ Stars 

Synopsis:

Sometimes you need a sweet tooth to take a bite out of crime . . .

Bailey King is living the sweet life as assistant chocolatier at world-famous JP Chocolates in New York City. But just when Bailey’s up for a life-changing promotion, her grandmother calls with news that her grandfather’s heart condition has worsened. Bailey rushes to Harvest, Ohio, where her grandparents still run Swissmen Sweets, the Amish candy shop where she was first introduced to delicious fudge, truffles, and other assorted delights.

She finds her grandfather is doing better than she feared. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for a local Englisch developer, whom Bailey finds dead in the candy shop kitchen—with Jebediah King’s chocolate knife buried in his chest. Now the police are sweet on her grandfather as the prime suspect. Despite the sincere efforts of a yummy deputy with chocolate-brown eyes, Bailey takes it on herself to clear Jebediah. But as a cunning killer tries to fudge the truth, Bailey may be headed straight into a whole batch of trouble . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

Bailey is a smart strong woman who is not afraid of hard work.  She is up for a promotion as head chocolatier at a New York based chocolate shop.  But when she gets a call from her grandmother, telling her that her grandfather is very sick, she does not hesitate to leave New York and go back to Harvest, Ohio, where her grandparents live, to spend time with her grandfather and help him get better.  While she is there, Bailey finds a dead body in her grandparent’s Amish candy shop, Swissmen Sweets.  When her and her grandfather find themselves high on the suspect list, Bailey knows she has to find the real culprit to clear their names.

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  I really enjoyed getting to know Bailey and her grandparents.  They had such a special close bond and it was heartwarming to read how they interacted with each other.  Although Bailey did not grow up being Amish, she respected the ways of the Amish people in the town and her grandparents.  I really liked how the author combined both worlds seamlessly and gave this book a unique twist.  I also enjoyed meeting Cass, Bailey’s friend and coworker from New York.  She brought a lot of humor to the story.

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 taking place and listening in on conversations.  I could smell the chocolate and see all of the fantastic creations that Bailey and Cass made.  

The mystery was well plotted and difficult to solve.  With so many suspects to consider and clues to sift through, I was unable to solve it until the reveal at the end.  And I must say I was surprised at who the killer was.  I really like when that happens.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  It has everything that I look for in a cozy: great characters, a wonderful small town setting, humor, suspense and a hard-to-solve mystery.  I cannot wait to read the next book in this series whenever it is released.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.  I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

 

Review of Ghostly Interests

 

Ghostly Interests

A Harper Harlow Mystery, Book #1

Lily Harper Hart

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Harper Harlow lives in a world of ghosts.

She sees them. She talks to them. She investigates them. She sends them on their merry way.

She’s not embarrassed by her abilities, and she’s not afraid to be who she is. She’s also not looking for a relationship.

Enter Jared Monroe, a smooth-talking police detective who sees things in black and white and ignores any shades of gray. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, and while he’s intrigued by the feisty blonde ghost detective, he’s not interested in the paranormal.

When twenty-one-year-old Annie Dresden’s body washes up on the beach of Whisper Cove, Harper and Jared collide. Sparks may be flying, but so is confusion and mistrust.

Harper calls on her loyal band of ghost hunters to solve the crime, and Jared relies on his training to tackle the same problem. It doesn’t matter what approach they take because all paths are destined to intersect.

Can Harper and Jared learn to work together? And, more importantly, can new ghosts let go of the past and give in to an obscure future? It’s anyone’s guess when big personalities go to war and find they might have more in common than they think. (Goodreads)

Review:

Harper is a strong, smart woman who just happens to see ghosts.  She is able to help restless spirits cross over, after helping them with their unfinished business.  Sometimes that unfinished business involves finding whoever killed them, sometimes it involves finding their bodies.  Whatever has to be done, Harper is willing to help them.  So it is not surprising for Harper to find herself trying to figure out who murdered a young college student.  She had better be successful or she may find herself one of those spirits.

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  I so enjoyed the relationship between Harper and her best friend, Zander.  Their bickering and banter had me laughing out loud throughout the entire book.  You can tell how much they love each other, they are not afraid to call each other out when needed and they would do anything for each other.  That is what I call best friends.  I also really liked Jared, the police detective who is responsible to figure out the murder.  Although he does not believe in ghosts, he is willing to use Harper’s abilities if it will help the case.  The other characters in the book added to the story.

The authors is very talented in her descriptive writing.  She did a great job in creating a small town setting, where everyone knows everybody’s business.  The gossip line was in full swing throughout the book.  I did think it was a bit far fetched that one of the detectives, Mel, was feeding the gossip mill, he would know better.  The mystery was carried on well and there were plenty of suspects to consider.  I had it narrowed down to two possible culprits before it was revealed at the end.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted paranormal cozy mystery.   I was hooked just from reading the prologue and I really enjoyed the whole book.  I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.  

 

Review of Dog Dish Of Doom

 

Dog Dish Of Doom

An Agent To The Paws, Book #1

E.J. Copperman

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Cozy fans and animal lovers alike won’t be able to keep their paws off Dog Dish of Doom. Laugh-out-loud funny, E.J. Copperman’s series debut is “lots of fun” (Library Journal, starred).

Kay Powell wants to find that break-out client who will become a star. And she thinks she’s found him: His name is Bruno, and he has to be walked three times a day.

Kay is the Agent to the Paws, representing showbiz clients who aren’t exactly people. In fact: they’re dogs. Bruno’s humans, Trent and Louise, are pains in the you-know-what, and Les McMaster, the famous director mounting a revival of Annie, might not hire Bruno just because he can’t stand them.

This becomes less of an issue when Trent is discovered face down in Bruno’s water dish, with a kitchen knife in his back. Kay’s perfectly fine to let the NYPD handle the murder, but when the whole plot seems to center on Bruno, her protective instincts come into play. You can kill any people you want, but you’d better leave Kay’s clients alone. (Goodreads)

Review:

I really like the premise of this book, Kay being a talent agent for animals.  What a great job that would be.  This book has everything I look for in a cozy: great characters, a great mystery, humor and animals.  What more could you ask for when reading a book?

The characters were well rounded and well developed.  Kay is a hardworking woman who own a business and she will do whatever she has to do to be sure her business succeeds.  She loves the animals she represents and is willing to do anything to keep them safe and happy.  I really enjoyed the relationship between Kay and her parents. Much of the time Kay seemed to be the parent and her parents the children.  Her parents were quirky and crazy but I enjoyed them anyway.  I loved meeting Steve and Eydie, Kay’s dogs.  They were funny and adorable and acted just like dogs should act.  And Bruno stole the show (or play or commercial or whatever he would star in thanks to Kay’s negotiations)!   

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 taking place around me and listening in on conversations.  The mystery was carried on well throughout the book and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that it was difficult to determine the culprit before it was revealed at the end.  One thing I found refreshing was that the detective was a woman and was not in the least romantically interested in Kay.  In so many of the cozies I read, the protagonist and the lead detective fall in love.  This was a nice change from the normal.

I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  I have read other books (in other series) by this author and I can tell that she is great author.  I cannot wait to read more books in this series.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange of a honest review.  I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

New Releases For The Week Of August 20th, 2017–Part 2

 

Here is a list of some of the new releases for the week of August 20th, 2017.  Today is the second day of my list.  Hope you find some selections for your weekly reading.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

 

A Terrible Secret Hides in the Bulrushes

Amish bishop Henry Lapp eagerly awaits the annual arrival of 20,000 sandhill cranes to the San Luis Valley of Colorado. But his visit to the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge reveals more than just a miracle of God’s creation. Hidden among the bulrushes and cattails is the deceased body of a young woman.

As the local authorities attempt to unravel the mystery, Henry feels God’s calling to use his extraordinary talent to aid in the investigation. His ability to draw from memory in photographic detail could help solve this puzzling case.

Henry’s closest friend, Emma Fisher, has always urged him to embrace his gift. As their relationship deepens, Henry realizes his involvement could put him and those he loves in the direct path of a killer, one who is willing to do anything to cover up a brutal crime, including framing the bishop.

When the Bishop Needs an Alibi is a compelling story of faith, friendship, and finding courage only God can provide.  (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

In 1360 a deputation from Cambridge ventures to the Suffolk town of Clare in the hope that the wealthy Elizabeth de Burgh has left a legacy to Michaelhouse. Yet when they arrive they discover that the report of her death is false and that the college seems destined for bankruptcy.

Determined to see if some of its well-heeled citizens can be persuaded to sponsor Michaelhouse, Matthew Bartholomew, Brother Michael and Master Langelee become enmeshed in the town’s politics. They quickly discover that a great many other people in Clare have recently met untimely deaths. These killings, combined with the arrogance Lady de Burgh has shown over the refurbishment of the church and the grotesque behaviour of some of her entourage, have created a dangerous restlessness in the town: an atmosphere intensified when yet more murders occur.

One of the victims is a fellow traveller of the Michaelhouse contingent, and Matthew Bartholomew and Brother Michael feel honour-bound to identify his killer. It is a hunt which takes them deep into Clare’s murky foundations and which threatens their own survival as well as that of their beloved college. (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A picture is worth…
The clock is ticking. A dark shadow descends over Candlefield, and everyone looks to Jill for help. But where is she?
…precisely no custard creams.  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The darkest and most disturbing case report from the files of Kinsey Millhone, Y is for Yesterday begins in 1979, when four teenage boys from an elite private school sexually assault a fourteen-year-old classmate—and film the attack. Not long after, the tape goes missing and the suspected thief, a fellow classmate, is murdered. In the investigation that follows, one boy turns state’s evidence and two of his peers are convicted. But the ringleader escapes without a trace.

Now, it’s 1989 and one of the perpetrators, Fritz McCabe, has been released from prison. Moody, unrepentant, and angry, he is a virtual prisoner of his ever-watchful parents—until a copy of the missing tape arrives with a ransom demand. That’s when the McCabes call Kinsey Millhone for help. As she is drawn into their family drama, she keeps a watchful eye on Fritz. But he’s not the only one being haunted by the past. A vicious sociopath with a grudge against Millhone may be leaving traces of himself for her to find… (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From USA Today bestselling authors Gin Jones and Elizabeth Ashby comes “fresh” new mystery…

Labor Day weekend starts with a bang in Danger Cove when a dead body is found in the orchard of Maria Dolores’ mentor and maybe-boyfriend, Merle! While it’s clear the murder took place long ago, the police are still keeping Merle tied up, leaving Maria on her own to run the local farmers’ market. She’s prepared for the petty squabbles, disorganized vendors, and even a rowdy group of costumed pirates—it comes with the territory. But she isn’t prepared for the fresh body found in an isolated corner of the market!

Maria would like to leave the investigation to the local homicide detective, but he’s stretched thin with two separate murders, and her nemesis—the farmer who lost out to her for the manager’s job—is demanding quick answers or else. With a nearly endless array of suspects, since the victim had upset just about everyone at the market, Maria has her work cut out for her! Can she prevent another murder in the market… or will she end up the next victim?

The Danger Cove books:
Secret of the Painted Lady (a Danger Cove Renovation Mystery)
Murder and Mai Tais (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
Death by Scones (a Danger Cove Bakery Mystery)
Four-Patch of Trouble (a Danger Cove Quilting Mystery)
Deadly Dye and a Soy Chai (a Danger Cove Hair Salon Mystery)
Killer Closet Case (a Danger Cove B Mystery)
Tree of Life and Death (a Danger Cove Quilting Mystery)
A Killing in the Market (a Danger Cove Farmers’ Market short story in the “Killer Beach Reads” collection)
Killer Colada (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
Passion, Poison Puppy Dogs (a Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mystery)
A Novel Death (a Danger Cove Bookshop Mystery)
Robbing Peter to Kill Paul (a Danger Cove Quilting Mystery)
Sinister Snickerdoodles (a Danger Cove Bakery Mystery)
Hurricanes and Heroes (a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery)
A Death in the Flower Garden (a Danger Cove Famers’ Market Mystery)
Divas, Diamonds Death (a Danger Cove Pet Sitter Mystery)

About Danger Cove:
Danger Cove is a sleepy little town in the Pacific Northwest and home to renowned mystery novelist, Elizabeth Ashby. While Elizabeth swears the stories she writes are fiction, you can find the inspiration for her murderous tales all over Danger Cove…from the intriguing cast of local characters to the places to eat, play, and explore in Danger Cove. Don’t let our name fool you—we’re the friendliest (even if deadliest) town in the Pacific Northwest!   (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the strange new vicar arrives in Wendlebury Barrow, his ban on Halloween not only upsets the whole village, it also threatens to scupper Sophie Sayers’ fledgling romance with charismatic bookseller Hector Munro. What is the dark secret that the vicar is keeping about Hector, and whose is that body buried at the bottom of the vicarage bonfire on Guy Fawkes Night? Sophie is determined to find out… (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the Fourth of July, just as fireworks are about to go off in Aurora, Minnesota, Cork O’Connor and his new bride Rainy Bisonette listen to a desperate voicemail left by Rainy’s son, Peter. The message is garbled and full of static, but they hear Peter confess to the murder of someone named Rodriguez. When they try to contact him, they discover that his phone has gone dead.

The following morning, Cork and Rainy fly to Coronado County in southern Arizona, where Peter has been working as a counselor in a well-known drug rehab center. When they arrive, they learn that Peter was fired six months earlier and hasn’t been heard from since. So they head to the little desert town of Sulfur Springs where Peter has been receiving his mail. But no one in Sulfur Springs seems to know him. They do, however, recognize the name Rodriguez. Carlos Rodriguez is the head of a cartel that controls everything illegal crossing the border from Mexico into Coronado County.

As they gather scraps of information about Peter, Cork and Rainy are warned that there is a war going on along the border. “Trust no one in Coronado County,” is a refrain they hear again and again. And to Cork, Arizona is alien country. The relentless heat and absence of water, tall trees, and cool forests feel nightmarish to him, as does his growing sense that Rainy might know more about what’s going on than she’s willing to admit. And if he can’t trust Rainy, who can he trust? (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It may be easier to patch up an old home than a broken heart. But along the Louisiana bayou, where beauty and danger mingle all too seamlessly, thoughts of romance may have to simmer on the back burner . . .

Twin sisters and fellow divorcees Sunny Taylor and Eve Vaughn have established their home repair and remodeling business with an eye toward quality and personal attention. So when they’re approached by hunky Dave Price to fix up his bayou fishing camp, they’re more than happy to take the job—especially since they both secretly think he may prove to be more than just another satisfied customer . . .

The ramshackle campsite could certainly use a woman’s touch. What it does not need is a dead body—but that’s what the trio stumble across. Clearly, the poor soul was murdered—and once the town tongue-waggers get going, Sunny, Eve, and Dave come under suspicion of the police, not to mention potential clients . . .

Now, with their futures on the line, their brewing love triangle will have to wait. Helped—and harried—by the twins’ mother and her retirement home’s cadre of amateur sleuths, the trio starts snooping on their own. But when another dead body turns up, they’ll have to get their hands dirtier than a swamp-bottom snake if they hope to clear their names . . . (Goodreads)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for a new cozy mystery author to love? Dive in to this collection of excerpts from the Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press Fall 2017 season (books published from September to October). The Cozy Case Files collection includes:

The Essence of Malice by Ashley Weaver
Death at the Seaside by Frances Brody
The Witches’ Tree by M.C. Beaton
How the Finch Stole Christmas! by Donna Andrews
Gin and Panic by Maia Chance
Cat Among the Pumpkins by Mandy Morton
The Ghost of Christmas Past by Rhys Bowen
Vineyard Victims by Ellen Crosby
Ginger Snapped by Gail Oust
Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris
Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander  (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s not easy sharing a flat. Especially when you’re 95 years old.

Change is afoot at Sunset Grove retirement home, and its residents aren’t impressed.

Under threat from falling masonry, best friends Irma and Siiri are forced out of their home to negotiate twenty-first-century living in the centre of Helsinki. Their new surroundings throw up an endless number of daily challenges, from caring for the ailing Anna-Lisa to the mystery of which of the many remotes controls the TV.

The pair are joined by growing numbers of friends in their flat-share, and their new close-quarters living raises some unexpected questions. As the Lavender Ladies begin to dig a little deeper, they find themselves following a trail of corruption, deceit and intimidation that might just lead them to their own front door . . .

The Lavender Ladies must steel themselves for what is set to be their most dangerous case yet.

Escape from Sunset Grove is the second hilarious and heartwarming crime caper in Minna Lindgren’s Lavender Ladies trilogy   (Amazon)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Olivia Faulkner wanted when she left Chicago and returned to her childhood home in Grand Arbor was a fresh start and a safer life for her daughter, Vi. But when a professor is murdered with a poisoned maple bacon pastry from her family café, Olivia Faulkner must dive deep into a murder investigation and solve the mystery.
With the help of her daughter, an old flame, and the nosy old ladies who stitch and gossip at the café, can she catch the real killer before gossip spreads through tiny Grand Arbor and her business is ruined?

OLIVIA FAULKNER MYSTERIES
A Pie To Vie For (Book 0.5)
Maple Syrup And Murder (Book 1)
Dead As A Donut (Book 2)
Raspberry Tart Revenge (Book 3)
Tea Time Treachery (Book 4)
more titles to be announced soon!   (Goodreads)