No Filter Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery Heather Day Gilbert 5 Stars
Synopsis:
BOOK ONE in the ALL-NEW BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!
Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
Fed up with her go-nowhere job, newly single Macy Hatfield moves back to her small hometown in West Virginia. She joins forces with her brother Bo in his crazy new venture—the Barks & Beans Cafe, which caters to dog lovers and coffee drinkers alike.
When a golf instructor is murdered at the nearby spiritual center, Macy winds up adopting his Great Dane. Just after Macy finds a mysterious message sewn under the dog’s collar, her Dane is dognapped. She launches into a relentless search for her newfound canine friend, but along the way, she digs up a cruel and confident killer.
Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.
The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series in order: Book 1: No Filter Book 2: Iced Over (Goodreads)
Review:
The writing style flows smoothly and defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. In my mind’s eye, I could picture the Barks and Beans and all of the animals inside there.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Macy and Bo are siblings and I thought they got along really good. They cared about each other and they tried to watch out for each. They have both been hurt, but they try to help each other through their heartache. Bo has a secret that he finally reveals to Macy and she is not sure what to do with the information. Macy cannot seem to help herself, she has to figure out who killed the golf instructor, after all, she got his dog.
The mystery was well plotted and carried on well throughout the book. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. The mystery was intriguing and not easily solved.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This was a good first book in the series and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Bookfunnel, which I greatly appreciate. (Goodreads)
Set in the fan favorite Amish village of Harvest, Ohio, the latest novel in USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s Amish Matchmaker series brings back the unlikely sleuthing duo of an Amish widow and her zany, thrice divorced best friend. Will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries, small-town mysteries, wholesome romance, inspirational fiction, and readers of Jennifer Beckstrand, Charlotte Hubbard, Rachel J. Good, and other authors of Amish fiction.
Millie’s decidedly not Amish best friend, Lois Henry, is outspoken, colorful, and so hopelessly romantic, she’s had four husbands. Millie doesn’t judge, and she also doesn’t expect to run into Lois’s most recent ex, gambler Gerome Moorhead, in small-town Harvest, Ohio. With him is the very young, new Mrs. Moorhead, aka “Honeybee.” Lois is outraged, but Millie is completely shocked to learn the next day that Gerome is already a widower . . .
When a large wood carving at the cozy Munich Chalet falls on “Honeybee,” all eyes turn toward Lois. Who else would want a tourist—a complete stranger—dead? And half of Harvest witnessed Lois’s enmity toward the young woman. Suddenly Millie must put aside her sewing needle and flex her sleuthing skills. She’s no stranger to a murder investigation, after all, and if she doesn’t learn who killed Honeybee, Lois could go from Millie’s boisterous best friend to her horrified prison penpal . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
Millie and Lois have another mystery to solve:Lois’s ex-husband’s wife is killed. Lois is considered a person of interest and the sleuthing duo will have to find the guilty party so Lois can see the light of day. The characters are well rounded and well developed and I really enjoyed seeing some of the people from the authors’ other series.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions allowed me to get into the story right from the start. The writing style flows smoothly and the book as an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and it was not easily solved.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book and enjoy.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Melanie Travis is taking a much-needed break from the dog show circuit for a romantic Valentine’s trip with her husband Sam, but when someone at their cozy Berkshires inn has an unexpected date with death, Melanie must slip into something sleuthier for the weekend . . .
Melanie is delighted at the prospect of three uninterrupted days alone with Sam (and, of course, her prize-winning Standard Poodle, Faith). They’re booked at the White Birch Inn, a picturesque New England resort nestled at the foot of a snow-covered mountain. The inn has a full slate of couples activities planned for the busy Valentine’s weekend—date nights, sleigh rides, tobogganing, ice skating, and pop-up shops in the inn’s ballroom —from the bubbly to the bubble bath, the resort is a perfect match for Melanie and Sam’s vacation. But the first night of festivities feature an event that isn’t on the program: murder.
The sheriff quickly launches an investigation, but at the inn keeper’s urging—and because she suddenly finds herself a person of interest in the case—Melanie tries to sneak a little detective work into her romantic getaway. But with the resort nearly sold out for the holiday weekend, there’s no shortage of suspects, and Melanie’s secret sleuthing is already attracting the wrong kind of attention. Her Valentine’s trip is heating up faster than the chocolate fondue . . . just not in the way Melanie hoped. But if she doesn’t catch the cold-hearted killer soon, another innocent victim will get the kiss of death . . . (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Even when Melanie and Sam go on a romantic getaway weekend, she cannot get away from murder. When someone is found killed, and Melanie finds herself a person of interest, she must find the killer to clear herself. And still have that romantic weekend.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from page one. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and there was enough action taking place that I was fully engaged right from the start.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what trouble Melanie gets into next.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
When an e-sports competitor is found dead, Tiffany and Rosie are hired to uncover the truth… but their investigation leads them straight to another murder, and a tech-savvy criminal who thought he could get away with almost anything.
Meanwhile, has Nanna’s meddling in Stone’s love life actually worked out well?
And is Sue Giant really going to become Tiffany’s competitor? (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
a
When retired Guild Artemis Inquisitor Georgia Drake’s past comes back to haunt her, resulting in the disappearance of her mastiff, Benjamin, her choice to go after him is complicated by a murder that entangles her in local politics. Under scrutiny from an elite team, her magic blocked and with Harriet Quin asking for help, Georgia has to make a tough decision—throw caution to the wind and go after Benny or trust that he knows what he’s doing… (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
One friend’s been shot. Another is locked up in jail. Just another day at Gone to the Dogs Marina.
A cozy mystery from International Bestselling Authors Danielle Collins and Susan Harper.
No matter how hard she tries to avoid trouble, Reggie constantly finds herself in the middle of criminal investigations. This time, one person’s been shot and Stone is in jail, accused of all kinds of nefarious deeds. Can she solve one last mystery and finally finds some peace at the marina?
Fatal Fungus is the fifth and final story in the Dog Leg Cove Cozy Mystery series. If you like fast-paced mysteries with interesting characters, troublesome pets, and unexpected twists, you’ll definitely want to see what happens in the final mystery at Gone to the Dogs Marina.
Download Fatal Fungus and start solving your next mystery today!
Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
A big surprise threatens Angie and Octo-Cat’s future in Blueberry Bay. Will Pet Whisperer P.I. meet an untimely end? The series concludes with a bang, leaving our delightful gang of sleuths to solve their biggest mystery yet. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback
When a songbird’s serenade falls flat, someone clips her wings …
Everyone in Sanctuary Bay, South Carolina is dreamin’ of a White Christmas courtesy of former deputy sheriff Holly Daye’s mad decorating skills at the waterfront park Holiday Faire. The park is decked, residents are merry and bright, and there’s peace on Earth until pop idol turned choir director Brianna Bellamy is found under a snow drift stuffed with a pile of faux frosty fluff.
With the Holiday Season in full swing and her work calendar filling up, all Holly wants is a few weeks off to snuggle in bed and dream of sugarplums but when a detective with more hair than wit charges her new assistant with murder and the town is inundated with hordes of ratings seeking journalists, Holly must put aside her plans and hunt for an enraged killer. Can she find the culprit before a young woman’s life and reputation are destroyed?
Come on down to Sanctuary Bay and celebrate the Holiday Season, Coastal Style. The weather is anything but frightful, Snowbirds are jingling all the way to the golf course, and tis the season for locals to spread Christmas wishes and mistletoe kisses! (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback
Macy is still trying to figure out her new place with the witches. So, she’s making it up as she goes. She uncovers a clue to what the portals are and offers a mission to get more information. She trips some sort of trap and creatures rise up and fight. They’re very ancient and strong and they don’t know anything about them. When the first death occurs in the town, Macy knows that they need to stop the killers from coming back. (Amazon)
An antique fair. A dead stallholder. Can an amateur sleuth both bag a bargain and identify a killer?
Trainee antique expert, Dotty Sayers, is feeling vulnerable after being framed for art trafficking by a trusted friend. She welcomes the distraction of visiting a vintage sale but is alarmed when an exhibitor is found dead.
The police’s resources are stretched when a valuable antiquity is stolen at the same event. As Dotty conducts her own enquiries, this amateur detective can’t help thinking there is more at stake than one man’s death.
Can Dotty scratch off the varnish and expose the truth?
Antique Tragedy is the fifth book in the engaging Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series. If you like puzzling mysteries, real-life characters and a charming British setting then you’ll be enthralled by Victoria Tait’s page-turning whodunit.
Buy Antique Tragedy and discover a rare treasure today. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback
A successful attorney invites PI Claire aboard his yacht for a champagne brunch, but his rudeness annoys Claire, and she leaves before the champagne bubbles disappear. When he is found murdered on the yacht, Claire is arrested as the prime suspect. As soon as she gets out on bail, Claire is determined to find the real killer. She runs up against loan sharks, hired guns, and, scariest of all, her former underworld nemesis, Michael Bucanetti. On top of that, the dead attorney’s vicious children threaten her and make it plain that they’ll do anything to get their hands on their father’s money.
As if Claire doesn’t have enough to deal with, Detective Brian Corrigan, her former fiancé, gets involved in the case. It’s no surprise that tension between them heats up, tempting Claire even more than the irresistible chocolate fondant on her Aunt Lena’s cakes. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback
New for the Secret Library cozy mystery series!
Laura Lee and her friends are helping Mrs. Thornberry host a charity event for the local hospital. The dinner is a flurry with music, dancing, and celebrity guests. Everything seems to be going splendidly, including healthy donations piling in, until Mary sees the one person who Should Not be there.
The man is Timothy Skyler and is well known among the town’s criminals as one of the craftiest of the bunch. But when he shows up dead among the town’s elite, and with a piece of jewelry from Judge Katherine, everything explodes.
Life doesn’t settle back to normal though, when the mystery is dumped into Laura Lee’s lap as a mutual friend contacts her. Can the Secret Book Club untangle this mess before Laura Lee’s friend gets dragged in farther?
Perfect for those who like cozy books heavy on mystery, adorable animals, small towns, humor in relationships and escape. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback
After almost a year of marriage, Lord William Wethington and Lady Amy Wethington have put aside their sleuthing skills to prepare for their first child. ‘Twould be an easy thing except to their dismay, dead bodies are once again popping up.
A corpse discovered floating in the Roman Baths was startling enough, but the unfortunate victim turns out to be Amy’s and her sister-in-law Eloise’s midwife, Mrs. Jane Fleming.
“Do not get involved,” Lord William warns.
“We are ordering you not to entangle yourself,” incompetent Bath Police Detectives Carson and Marsh state.
Lady Amy reluctantly agrees and takes up a questionable hobby that William swears will eventually poison him.
Then another body shows up.
Now, really, what’s a bored mystery writer to do? (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback
A luxurious European luxury hotel. A charismatic musical icon Can our psychic sleuth solve a murder mystery before disaster strikes again?
Manhattan-based lifestyle journalist Nina Brown and her fashionista French Bulldog Jasper jet first-class to Switzerland to cover the re-opening of a historic luxury resort.
Though she enjoys the free-flowing Champagne and attentions of a handsome local vigneron, Nina (and her jealous co-workers) can’t understand why she, a relative rookie, receiived a personal invitation.
The reason becomes clear when the micro-managing general manager explains she’s heard of Nina’s previous success banishing ghosts. And that she’s expected to solve the hotel’s ‘ghost problem’ before the grand opening.
When the GM is murdered and the gorgeous vigneron is arrested, Nina’s natural sleuthing skills kick into action. Which of the quirky, disgruntled hotel employees could be the culprit?
Spooked in Switzerland is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny cozy mystery, packed with quirky characters, engaging ghosts, and the adorable fashionista French Bulldog, Jasper.
“One-click this fun, exotic, romantic, cozy mystery right this minute.” (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
Secrets long held are sometimes secrets best kept, right?
When the sweet but reclusive clockmaker in town reaches out to Harvey to ask for her advice about a situation, the bookstore owner finds herself wrapped in a web of tales that leaves her unclear about what’s true and what’s not.
As Harvey and her friends begin to unravel the truth from the legend, they discover a whole lot more than they bargained for, including a body.
Can they discover who is the villain and who the hero before they become lost to the story themselves? (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle. Paperback
Ancient legends and secrets threaten the Grand Dames of Luckland
Pippa loves her simple life in her cozy town of Luckland, but after her sister holds a yard sale, Pippa’s life begins to unravel, starting with six missing shoeboxes, the arrival of two very odd visitors, blackmail, and revealed secrets—including a Vegas bag of millions. If that isn’t enough, Devon—Pippa’s not-so-friendly friend from childhood—returns home. (Amazon)
V.M. Burns returns with the latest book in her popular Mystery Bookstore mysteries set in a Michigan bookshop specializing in selling murder mysteries!
When the bookshop she owns becomes a crime scene, mystery writer Samantha Washington discovers there is such a thing as bad publicity . . .
After the local library in North Harbor, Michigan, is flooded in a storm, Sam offers her bookstore as a new venue for the Mystery Mavens Book Club. Unfortunately, she immediately runs afoul of the club leader, Delia Marshall, a book reviewer who can make or break careers—something Sam can ill afford with her debut historical mystery soon to be published.
But the next morning, Sam opens her shop to find the unpleasant woman dead on the floor, bashed with a heavy—apparently lethal—tome: the Complete Works of Agatha Christie. While Sam is busy writing her latest British historical mystery in which the queen mother is suspected in the murder of a London Times correspondent, a pair of ambitious cops suspect Sam of the real-life crime. When she gathers Nano Jo and their friends from the Shady Acres Retirement Village to review the case, they discover every one of the Mavens a motive. With her novel about to hit the stores, Sam must find out who clubbed Delia before a judge throws the book at her . . .
Praise for KILLER WORDS
“Quirky characters are the heart of this cozy.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Charming . . . Newcomers will have fun, while established fans will relish the evolution of the characters and welcome Samantha’s bright new future.” —Publishers Weekly (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook
Set in the fan favorite Amish village of Harvest, Ohio, the latest novel in USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s Amish Matchmaker series brings back the unlikely sleuthing duo of an Amish widow and her zany, thrice divorced best friend. Will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries, small-town mysteries, wholesome romance, inspirational fiction, and readers of Jennifer Beckstrand, Charlotte Hubbard, Rachel J. Good, and other authors of Amish fiction.
Millie’s decidedly not Amish best friend, Lois Henry, is outspoken, colorful, and so hopelessly romantic, she’s had four husbands. Millie doesn’t judge, and she also doesn’t expect to run into Lois’s most recent ex, gambler Gerome Moorhead, in small-town Harvest, Ohio. With him is the very young, new Mrs. Moorhead, aka “Honeybee.” Lois is outraged, but Millie is completely shocked to learn the next day that Gerome is already a widower . . .
When a large wood carving at the cozy Munich Chalet falls on “Honeybee,” all eyes turn toward Lois. Who else would want a tourist—a complete stranger—dead? And half of Harvest witnessed Lois’s enmity toward the young woman. Suddenly Millie must put aside her sewing needle and flex her sleuthing skills. She’s no stranger to a murder investigation, after all, and if she doesn’t learn who killed Honeybee, Lois could go from Millie’s boisterous best friend to her horrified prison penpal . . .
Praise for Amanda Flower and her Amish mysteries
“As it turns out, Amanda Flower may have just written the first Amish rom com.” —USA Today
“At turns playful and engaging . . . a satisfyingly complex cozy.” —Library Journal (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook
This captivating Regency-era mystery inspired by the novels of Jane Austen is perfect for fans of Andrea Penrose, Lauren Willig, and Deanna Raybourn, as readers venture beyond the glittering ballrooms and elegant parties of Regency London to the dark side of the city and its unexpected dangers.
Rosalind Thorne may not have a grand fortune of her own, but she possesses virtues almost as prized by the haut ton: discretion, and a web of connections that enable her to discover just about anything about anyone. Known as a “most useful woman,” Rosalind helps society ladies in need—for a modest fee, of course—and her client roster is steadily increasing.
Mrs. Gerald Douglas, née Bethany Hodgeson, presents Rosalind with a particularly delicate predicament. A valuable pearl necklace has gone missing, and Bethany’s husband believes the thief is Nora, Bethany’s disgraced sister. Nora made a scandalous elopement at age sixteen and returned three years later, telling the family that her husband was dead.
But as Rosalind begins her investigations, under cover of helping the daughters of the house prepare for their first London season, she realizes that the family harbors even more secrets than scandals. The intrigue swirling around the Douglases includes fraud, forgery, blackmail, and soon, murder. And it will fall to Rosalind, aided by charming Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, to untangle the shocking truth and discover who is a thief—and who is a killer. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover
When a killer’s handiwork threatens Snowberry Creek’s first-ever arts and crafts fair, committee member and amateur sleuth Abby McCree starts looking for glues in this delightfully crafty new installment in Alexis Morgan’s USA Today bestselling cozy series set in the Pacific Northwest!
As the newest member of the Snowberry Creek City Council, perpetually overextended Abby McCree is picked to liaise between the council and the new planning committee for the town’s first ever arts and crafts fair. As far as gigs go, it’s a fun one—Abby’s spending the weekend tooling around Washington State, checking out similar fairs with her two besties, coffee shop owner Bridey Roker, and ceramic artisan Dayna Fisk.
As Abby spreads the word about Snowberry Creek’s fair, recruiting the industry’s biggest movers and makers, the trip feels like a glittering success. But then, someone is found murdered at one of the events and vendors begin disappearing amid suspicious circumstances. Abby’s determined to keep her hands clean, until Dayna finds herself stuck at the top of the suspect list. Now, Abby must weave the clues together and clear her friend’s name before the killer claims another victim—maybe even Abby herself . . . (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback
Antique store owner and ostracized paranormal hunter, Blaire Braden lives a quiet small-town life, running her antique shop and minding her business.
The hunter guild gave her the boot thirty years ago when they discovered she was pregnant with a half-shifter baby. Since then, the wolf pack her daughter belongs to has become her extended family, complete with fur, fangs, and claws.
Life is good and drama free.
Until Lachlan James, her baby-daddy, Alpha of the local wolf pack, and a very good friend comes to her for help. One of his wolves is being haunted, and Blair is just the non-hunter for the job. She’s got an affinity for hauntings, despite not technically being a hunter anymore.
Of course, she has to help. It’s not like she has a ton of things to do herself, like selling her antiques, keeping an eye out for cursed objects, and trying to figure out if her shop is being haunted. There are strange things happening, that’s for sure.
She’ll drop everything and help the haunted wolf because that’s the right thing to do.
And Blaire always does the right thing. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
An Annie Archer Paranormal Mystery
Annie Archer is called upon to locate the bodies left behind by a serial killer in the last six months. Using potions and visions, Annie and her friend Sheriff Adam Parker locate five coffins with the missing bodies. However, there’s a sixth coffin and it’s empty. Is there another body or was it a spare coffin?
The Case of the Missing Coffin is the third story in the Annie Archer Paranormal Mysteries.
Fast-paced and fun Cozy mystery with slow-burn romance and paranormal mischief for all
Book 1 of the KITTY KATS AROUND series. It all starts here in the summer of 2022.
Kitty is the mom, a cat whisperer, and a keen observer. Left with a boatload of debt when her husband died, she has taken up catsitting in order to avoid losing her house. This takes her into some…shall we say…interesting situations.
Diana is the daughter, a tech geek, and soon-to-be divorced. Her husband went to prison for his Ponzi scheme. Diana lost everything, has moved back in with Mom, and is trying not to let depression overwhelm her. Her mom’s catsitter caper could be just the distraction she needs.
Muse is the cat. The king of cats in exile, to be exact. Literally. This rascally tuxedo follows Kitty around and lends his own keen observations on the people, places, and hijinks they encounter. He thinks he’s being helpful.
Wyrdwood is the setting, a town on the Oregon Coast that serves as a refuge for magickal, mythical, and mystical beings who want a safe haven from persecution. Those with magick in their blood live side by side with normal humans, though most of the human remains—I mean humans…remain—unaware of this. All the people there are just living their lives, falling in love, and trying to make a buck. And, of course, engaging in shenanigans.
Excerpt from The Catsitter’s Conundrum (book #1 of the Kitty Kats Around series):
KITTY: One moment—that’s all it takes for your own life to suddenly become unrecognizable. My husband and I had moved to the neighborhood when we were first married. We’d spent thirty-three years there, raised our daughter there, and then my Bob had died there. As I watched the fire devour my neighbor’s house, I felt it like a wound to my world. It may as well have been my own home burning. Tears welled and flowed down my face. They blurred my vision, turning the sight of the flames into a bad acid trip. It was all just too much! Until it wasn’t. I come from stoic Oregonian stock, so I mustered, wiped my eyes with my sleeve, and joined a cluster of my neighbors to watch the spectacle. They glanced up as I approached, nodded, and then went back to spectating. The atmosphere was somber. “I hope everyone got out,” I said. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
A little sweet tea and a whole lot of spells won’t always put out the fire…
Ruby Mae Jewell is getting ready to marry to her hot vampire boyfriend. With so much going on from her cousin learning how to change from a pig back into his human form to her future mother-in-law visiting from Italy to all of the wedding planning stuff, she’s being pushed to her limits.
A sudden visit from her long-lost mother almost tips her over the edge, except the new witch who came with her mom might come in handy when it turns out there’s a ghost haunting new brides—and Ruby Mae could be next. Will the newcomer be able to help her stop the spirit from causing more harm or will the soon-to-be-bride be at risk until the ghost is clear?
Grab your copy of this scorching tale and enjoy Bargain Haunting, Book 5 of the Southern Relics Cozy Mysteries! (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
Sherry Harris gives readers a new adventure to dive into with the latest installment of her Florida-set mystery series, as local bartender Chloe Jackson’s search for treasure shores up the dead body of a contestant in the upcoming Panhandle Barback Games…
The Florida Panhandle Barback Games are coming up and Chloe’s been drafted to represent the Sea Glass Saloon—competing in various obstacle-course events that conclude with rolling an empty keg up a hill. The rivalries are so fierce that some of the participating bars even stoop to bringing in ringers.
Meanwhile, Chloe’s friend Ann—a descendant of the famed pirate Jean Lafitte—asks her to come along for a boat ride as Ann dives into the Gulf of Mexico. She’s found some old papers that may identify the location of sunken treasure. Instead, she finds a sunken body—of one of the ringers hired for the Barback Games. Now that murder is in the mix, Chloe has to figure out whether one of the competitors went overboard . . . (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback
Meeting your boyfriend’s mother is stressful enough without murder taking centre stage When Izzy Paterson—horse trainer, coffee-holic and computer geek—attends a medieval pageant, everyone performs brilliantly—until the star of the show, a Mary Queen of Scots re-enactor, drops dead.
With her boyfriend’s mother, Violet MacDonald, cast as the prime suspect, the police think they’ve silenced the critics and aren’t auditioning anyone else for the part of villain. It’s up to Izzy to investigate, shining a spotlight on the many suspects so she can bring the killer front and centre, and prove the police wrong.
Can Izzy solve the mystery before the final curtain drops and it’s ‘lights-out’ for Mrs MacDonald?
Find out in A Poisoning at the Pageant, a clever cozy mystery with a relatable sleuth, set in a small town brimming with eccentric characters in the beautiful Scottish countryside. (Amazon)
A new hometown. A murdered aunt. Mysterious talking animals. Divorce just turned interesting.
Ellie Byrne’s pending divorce from her cheating husband threatens to leave her broke and homeless. But when she inherits a bed and breakfast in the unique town of Salem Falls, her prayers may be answered.
That is, until she finds out her aunt didn’t just die on the property, she was murdered. And shortly after Ellie arrives, she finds herself the target of threatening messages and hostile attitudes from almost everyone in town. And after someone chucks a rock through her window, she begins to fear for her life.
Can Ellie discover which one of them offed her aunt? Or will the bed and breakfast she’d hoped would provide a fresh start put her in the grave?
If you love middle-aged heroines, talking pets, and quirky small town settings, you’ll love book 1 in this charming paranormal women’s fiction cozy mystery series.
Scroll up and grab your copy today! (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback
In Muffin But the Truth, Torte’s pastry chef and amateur sleuth Juliet Capshaw finds herself in deep water… in another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series from author Ellie Alexander, set in Ashland, Oregon!
Ashland is known for its Elizabethan charm and touches of Shakespeare around every corner, but the surrounding Rogue Valley draws adventure enthusiasts to its outdoor wonderland of high alpine lakes, mountain ranges, and pristine rivers. Jules Capshaw and the team at Torte have been hired to cater a weekend getaway on the mighty Rogue River. Jules is going to have to put her culinary skills to the test while baking gooey chocolate chip skillet cookies over an open flame and preparing extravagant feasts under a canopy of stars. The executive team at a big city firm will be rafting the Rogue’s rapids and gathering around the campfire for spooky stories, but their dysfunction quickly begins to show. Between constant bickering and heavy drinking, Jules wonders how the team can accomplish anything. She’s happy for a brief reprieve when they zip up their lifejackets and head out in their boats, but the serenity of the scene quickly vanishes when Jules discovers one of the execs floating face down in the water. She’s going to have to uncover the truth before she gets pulled under. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook
Books, beach roses… and bodies.
Bookstore owner Max Sayers of Seaside Cottage Books is starting to settle into Snug Harbor, Maine when a local playboy plunges to his death… and Max’s best friend Denise is on the hotseat for murder. Denise is an obvious prime suspect—the dead man just nabbed the coffee house she’d been planning to buy for years right out from under her—and Max seems to be the only one in Snug Harbor who believes her friend isn’t Maine’s answer to Lizzie Borden.
To top things off, business at Seaside Cottage Books is not exactly putting the store at the top of the Snug Harbor bestseller list. Add in a challenging ex-husband, a mother who’s fangirl crushing on her ex’s new girlfriend, and a daughter who’s boycotting the bookseller’s own budding romance, and Max finds herself wishing she were buried in a book instead of a real-life murder mystery. Then Max stumbles across a second body… and realizes if she doesn’t think fast, this new chapter of her life may come to a very sudden end. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
A VALUABLE INHERITANCE, NO SIGN OF THE HEIRS…and a looming deadline. Can the women of the WISE ENQUIRIES AGENCY track down the missing men in time? Or are there good reasons for them not wanting to be found?
The sixth book in the series finds the women of the WISE Enquiries Agency looking forward to spending their first Christmas and New Year together as guests of the Duke and Duchess of Chellingworth. They’re expecting some memorable festivities – which might owe more to ancient Welsh traditions than mince pies and plum puddings if Dowager Althea has anything to do with it.
What they aren’t expecting are the worrying twists and turns they encounter while tackling the troubling case of missing triplets and a deepening mystery, and tragedy, associated with a trove of antiques…not to mention the bizarre and disturbing “gifts” being left on the front doorsteps of some very puzzled and perturbed locals.
A further complication arises when Duchess Stephanie’s parents arrive to support her through the imminent arrival of her first child; did the seemingly squeaky-clean businessman they got involved with on their recent holiday strike a deal with them that was too good to be true?
Join our softly poached professional investigators for Christmas and New Year in Wales…and find out!
“…perfect reading for Anglophiles…should appeal to fans of Alexander McCall Smith and MC Beaton.” crimefictionlover.com
“A gratifying contemporary series in the traditional British manner”Library Journal starred review of The Case of the Dotty Dowager
“…cozy fans will find plenty to like…” Publishers’ Weekly
“Ace spiffs up the standard village cozy with a set of sleuths worth a second look.” Kirkus Reviews
“…the people here felt like old friends I was catching up with after having been apart for a while” Amanda Bishop, Reviewer (Net Galley) (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback
It’s Christmas time in Dead End.
And this year Santa’s bringing … murder!
Join Tess, Jack, and the gang for the craziest Christmas since Fluffy the taxidermied alligator was still alive and got into Otis’s moonshine.
Because in Dead End, that reindeer you thought you saw might have been Bigfoot in disguise … and you never, ever want to see elves. Christmas might be merry after all, if Tess can investigate Santa and Jack can use his tiger’s eye to see the truth.
Warning: This book contains a taxidermied alligator, shapeshifters, Santa, elves, a dead body, magic, hideously bad singing, horrible puns, a slow-burning romance, mystery, mayhem, and “I laughed so hard I almost peed myself”* humor.
Read at your own risk.
*From a reader review of the Tiger’s Eye Mysteries (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
Sometimes when you think you’re sure you know where you’re headed in life, something comes along to turn your world upside down. In these situations, it’s how you land that matters. And the dead guy on Goblin Avenue didn’t do a great job of landing.
In the final chapter of a Pumpkin Hollow Mystery series, Mia and her husband Ethan are happy as clams with the direction their lives are going, and they know where they’re headed in life. Business at the candy store is booming, and the town of Pumpkin Hollow is looking forward to a peaceful Christmas. Then someone gives the town a Christmas present that will keep on giving for years to come. Or is it keep on taking for years to come? But someone has a trick up their sleeve, and they pay back that unwanted gift giver by murdering him.
Welcome to the warmth and charm of Pumpkin Hollow, where you’ll find a family-owned candy store, loveable characters, and a dead body or two. Pumpkin Hollow Mysteries are clean cozy mysteries without paranormal elements. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
Reference librarian Tenny “Tenacious” Taylor enjoys her nice, quiet life. But when her beloved aunt falls ill, she discovers nice and quiet don’t go hand-in-hand with nursing her aunt back to health and starting a local library.
Before she knows what’s happening, she finds herself in the tangle of small-time life complete with unrequited love and a mean girl with an agenda.
Between navigating those unexpected turn of events, she stumbles into a bovine secret and life-long rivalry that turn the town upside down and her peaceful existence into a mystery of epic proportions.
Can she untangle the mystery while creating a rural bookmobile service or is she in way over her head? (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
enchanted peridot is missing. The future of a sleepy mountain town is in jeopardy. Now it’s up to Holly, the once reluctant spirit communicator, to save them.
All of Glenwood Springs is gathered at the Red Castle Hotel for a much-needed Christmas celebration. It’s been a brutal fall with the Precious Peridot missing. Businesses are struggling, the town barely made it through a freak blizzard, and the mood is bleak overall. A party is just what everyone needs.
Until Holly and her friends find a body slumped against the trash dumpsters. The beloved Chaplain Palmer. Rumors run wild that the town’s newest resident is a shifter. He’s also the primary suspect. But Holly fears her beloved town is singling him out for being different. A pain she knows all too well.
With the mayor pressuring her to locate the Precious Peridot before New Year’s Day, Holly juggles two major investigations, fearing she’ll be unable to solve either before the clock strikes twelve. (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle
Melanie Travis is taking a much-needed break from the dog show circuit for a romantic Valentine’s trip with her husband Sam, but when someone at their cozy Berkshires inn has an unexpected date with death, Melanie must slip into something sleuthier for the weekend . . .
Melanie is delighted at the prospect of three uninterrupted days alone with Sam (and, of course, her prize-winning Standard Poodle, Faith). They’re booked at the White Birch Inn, a picturesque New England resort nestled at the foot of a snow-covered mountain. The inn has a full slate of couples activities planned for the busy Valentine’s weekend—date nights, sleigh rides, tobogganing, ice skating, and pop-up shops in the inn’s ballroom —from the bubbly to the bubble bath, the resort is a perfect match for Melanie and Sam’s vacation. But the first night of festivities feature an event that isn’t on the program: murder.
The sheriff quickly launches an investigation, but at the inn keeper’s urging—and because she suddenly finds herself a person of interest in the case—Melanie tries to sneak a little detective work into her romantic getaway. But with the resort nearly sold out for the holiday weekend, there’s no shortage of suspects, and Melanie’s secret sleuthing is already attracting the wrong kind of attention. Her Valentine’s trip is heating up faster than the chocolate fondue . . . just not in the way Melanie hoped. But if she doesn’t catch the cold-hearted killer soon, another innocent victim will get the kiss of death . . . (Amazon)
Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover
First in a new series by Olivia Blacke, Vinyl Resting Place follows three sisters who discover that opening a family business can be murder.
“A charming cozy for a new generation of mystery readers . . . Vinyl Resting Place is a delight!” –Elle Cosimano, USA Today bestselling author of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It
“Vinyl Resting Place is bolstered by the sisters’ genuine bond, colorful personalities, and not-so-gentle conflicts. It’s a winning combination.” –New York Times Book Review
When Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie put all their beans in one basket to open Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas, they knew there could be some scratches on the track, but no one was expecting to find a body deader than disco in the supply closet.
Family is everything to the Jessups, so when their uncle is arrested by Juni’s heartbreaking ex on suspicion of murder, the sisters don’t skip a beat putting Sip & Spin up for bail collateral. But their tune changes abruptly when Uncle Calvin disappears, leaving them in a grind. With their uncle’s freedom and the future of their small business on the line, it’s up to Juni and her sisters to get in the groove and figure out whodunit before the killer’s trail―and the coffee―goes cold.
Music and mocha seem like a blend that should be “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” but caught up in a murder investigation with her family and their life savings on the line, Juni wonders if she might be on the “Highway to Hell” instead. (Amazon)
Apples are at the core of the family business run by Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe. But this year’s crop is unseasonably ripe with murder . . .
ONE ROTTEN APPLE
Blossom Valley, West Virginia, is home to Smythe Orchards, Winnie and her Granny’s beloved twenty-five-acre farm and family business. But any way you slice it, it’s struggling. That’s why they’re trying to drum up business with the “First Annual Christmas at the Orchard,” a good old-fashioned holiday festival with enough delicious draw to satisfy apple-picking locals and cider-loving tourists alike–until the whole endeavor takes a sour turn when the body of Nadine Cooper, Granny’s long-time, grudge-holding nemesis, is found lodged in the apple press. Now, with Granny the number one suspect, Winnie is hard-pressed to prove her innocence before the real killer delivers another murder . . .
Includes Recipes! (Goodreads)
Review:
This is the first book in a new series and I thought it was great. It has everything I look for in a cozy mystery: fantastic characters, a charming setting and a killer mystery.
The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. I really enjoyed meeting Winnie and her Granny. They have a deep love for each other and they will do anything for each other. The secondary characters added a lot to the story and brought the story to life.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. Each scene was so vivid in my mind and at times I felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading a book. I think this is a hard thing to do but this author pulled it off perfectly.
The mystery was well plotted and well paced. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I was very surprised at who the culprit turned out to be, which is how I like my mysteries.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to read the next one. If I could, I would give this book more than 5 stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Roast Date (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) Cozy Mystery 7th in Series Setting – West Virginia WoodHaven Press (December 20, 2022) Number of Pages ~250 Digital ASIN : B09Z8NYHX9
I’m so excited to be a stop on the blog tour for author Heather Day Gilbert and her newbook Roast Date. It is the seventh book in her Barks and Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery.
Roast Date (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Heather Day Gilbert
Need a date with a good book? Pick up Roast Date, a good cup of coffee, some snacks, a blanket, and get ready to snuggle up with another delightful mystery from Heather Day Gilbert! I highly recommend Roast Date and am looking forward to the next book in the Barks & Beans Cafe Mystery Series. ~Christy’s Cozy Corners
Roast Date is the seventh book in this wonderful series. I really wish the next book was right around the corner, I have trust and faith in Heather Day Gilbert that the wait will be worth it.~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
BOOK SEVEN in the bestselling BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!
Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
After much cajoling, Macy gives in to her neighbor, Vera, and agrees to come to her book club’s Christmas party so she can share about the cafe. While public speaking isn’t Macy’s thing, she wants to brighten Vera’s lonely holiday season…and she can sell a little house blend on the side.
When a lively book discussion spirals into a public roast of the mayor—who happens to be sitting in their midst—things get uncomfortable. Soon afterward, the mayor shows up dead in Vera’s bathroom, and no amount of gingerbread cookies or eggnog can restore Vera to the club’s good graces. ‘Tis the season for Macy to find the murderer, or else Vera might be taking a long winter’s nap in a jail cell.
Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.
The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series in order: Book 1: No Filter Book 2: Iced Over Book 3: Fair Trade Book 4: Spilled Milk Book 5: Trouble Brewing Book 6: Cold Drip Book 7: Roast Date
Award-winning novelist Heather Day Gilbert enjoys writing mysteries and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather’s realistic characters—no matter what century—feel like best friends. When she’s not plotting stories, this native West Virginian can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.
When someone from her past comes to town to cause trouble, Kari Stuart and her sassy kitten Queenie will have to work hard to protect the Serenity Sanctuary in this new Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery.
Kari Stuart is finally starting to relax into her role as the new owner of the Serenity Sanctuary and is looking forward to the various fun autumn activities in the beautiful Catskills town of Lakeview, like the annual Oktoberfest celebration. It’s time for friends and quality bonding with handsome vet Angus McCoy. Until the unexpected arrival of her unpleasant ex-husband, Charlie Smith.
He comes bearing a shocking revelation—the paperwork on their divorce never went through, and they are still married. Worse yet, he thinks this entitles him to half of her lottery winnings—although he’ll happily take partial ownership of the sanctuary instead. Kari isn’t sure if he’s telling the truth, or if it’s just another one of Charlie’s lies.
But things go from bad to worse when an unexpected death makes Kari the main suspect in a murder investigation. Will she and Queenie be able to find the real killer and keep the home they’ve built at the sanctuary safe, or is their string of luck finally tapped out? (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. When Kari’s ex-husband shows up at the sanctuary, she knows that will only mean trouble. He claims that their divorce was never finalized and that they are still married. When Charlie is found dead Kari is a person of interest and she must find the real culprit to prove her innocence.
The author is very talented in her descriptions and they allowed me to see everything more clearly in my mind’s eye. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am waiting patiently for the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing , and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
We’re just inviting you to take a timeout into the rhythmic ambiance of our breakfast, brunch and/or coffee selections. We are happy whenever you stop by.
mjbreviewers 