New Releases For The Week Of May 12th, 2024–Part 1

From author Jamie L. Adams comes a cozy mystery with a western twist!

Lily Cranston is basking in the fruits of her labor and enjoying the idyllic life of Grady, California. As the hard-working manager of the Calico Rock Mine and Ghost Town attraction, she’s found success, and she’s even rekindled a romance with her high school crush. However, when a scuffle disrupts the tranquility of the annual town festival, little does she realize that another tragedy looms.

A body is found in the river, and Lily is unexpectedly drawn into a web of secrets. An invitation to tea from the town historian and family friend, Irene Fletcher, presents a secret mission: protect the matriarch’s grandson from being blamed for a crime he did not commit. Lily must navigate the conflicts of a century-old family feud, but when she stumbles on a secret meant to stay buried, the real killer has no choice but to try to silence her for good.

“The Ghost Town Mystery book series is going to be a favorite of mine!”
~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

“Murder at the Mine Earns 5/5 Calico Bonnets … Clever Cozy Fun!”
~ Kings River Life Magazine (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

A man presumed dead is suddenly wanted for murder in this thriller of secrets, lies, and dangerous conspiracies that threaten to cover up the truth.
 
Three years ago, sports agent Myron Bolitar gave a eulogy at the funeral of his client, renowned basketball coach Greg Downing. Myron and Greg had history: initially as deeply personal rivals, and later as unexpected business associates. Myron made peace and moved on – until now, when twofederal agents walked into his office, demanding to know where Greg Downing is.

According to the agents, Greg is still alive—and has been placed at the scene of a double homicide, making him their main suspect. Shocked, Myron needs answers.

Myron and Win, longtime friends and colleagues, set out to find the truth, but the more they discover about Greg, the more dangerous their world becomes. Secrets, lies, and a murderous conspiracy that stretches back into the past churn at the heart of Harlan Coben’s blistering new novel. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook

Brian and Stephané Are Back!

Mischief & Mayhem Follow in Their Wake!

Dive into the uproarious world of Brian and Stéphane in The Lady in Gray & the Bessie Mae Diamond, the dazzling fourth installment of the Twilight Manors cult series. Seeking a respite from solving The Strange Case of the Follies Dancer, the dynamic duo heads to the sun-soaked haven of Carlsbad for a weekend getaway, where the Seashell Cove Hotel becomes the stage for a riotous encounter with the mysterious Lady in Gray.

In this side-splitting adventure, author St Sukie de la Croix weaves a tapestry of spies, jellyfish sting remedies, rubber ducks, and the unforgettable Mitzi, the Chihuahua from hell. As the duo races against time to save the Lady in Gray and the coveted Bessie Mae Diamond, readers are treated to the comedic spectacle of Brian donning a Maidenform bra and the suspenseful question of whether Stéphane can survive his hysterectomy with his dignity intact.

Brimming with wit and charm, The Lady in Gray & the Bessie Mae Diamond promises a rollercoaster ride through a world where laughter reigns supreme and nothing is sacred. Join Brian and Stéphane on another of their unpredictable journeys of madness and mayhem, with a cast of bizarre characters you’ll never forget—however much you’d like to.

Laughs, love, and ludicrous escapades await in this unmissable Brian & Stéphane adventure. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

When Stefanie and Thomas meet in Bermuda for time alone away from the demands of the Artifact Retrieval Team that Thomas heads, their romantic rendezvous is waylaid after an archaeologist requests their help to recover an emerald bracelet that’s been stolen from his site.

Thomas is reluctant, but Stefanie can’t resist the lure of buried Spanish treasure. Then one of the archaeologists is murdered, and they find themselves on the suspect list. Spanish gold isn’t the only thing uncovered. Secrets can be deadly, and Stefanie and Thomas must find the killer before it’s too late. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

When mobile cat groomer Molly Stewart asks her friend Evan to photograph her new feline clients, they both get more than they bargained for when the body of Evan’s old art teacher is found bludgeoned to death in his photography studio darkroom. After one of Evan’s photos catches suspicious activity in the background, Molly is ready to call the authorities with the newest piece of information. However, an anonymous phone call, which threatens not only her but Evan and their pets, convinces Molly to clam up and find the murderer herself. Will the tenuous situation end up being picture-perfect or a photo bomb? (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Readers of Robert Dugoni, Kendra Elliot, and Ann Cleeves will be captivated by Kay Jennings’ sensational 7th installment in the Port Stirling Mystery series.

A body hanging from a rafter. An estranged husband bent on revenge.

Police Chief Matt Horning and State Department Special Agent Fern Byrne return in a thrilling tale of international intrigue that begins with a heartbreaking death on a mysterious island in the Pacific Ocean, and ends up on powerful desks in Washington, D.C.

West Coast billionaire Rohn Reid calls his old friend, the U.S. Secretary of State, to tell him he’s just found a dead body on his private island – Cold Rock Island, about thirty minutes off the southern coast of Oregon. The victim is Hiroshi Matsuda, a military hero who once worked on the island.

The nearest police jurisdiction is Port Stirling, and Matt and Fern are enlisted to investigate, and are soon at odds with the billionaire and his family. But the Port Stirling PD has another problem, as new detective Tamryn Gesicki can’t seem to begin her new life in peace.

In the high-powered heritage of Harlen Coben, the puzzling island death turns into a suspenseful challenge for the local law enforcement team. Will it stretch them to the limit?

Praise for A Port Stirling Mystery Series:

Quite the thriller – Emily
Ok. Must say this is the best one so far, but I have said that as I progressed through the volumes in this series.

Excellent series by Kay Jennings – Elaine E.
I am addicted. It has everything – great characters that you instantly become attached to, intense stories that keep you on the edge, twists and turns. I can’t wait for book 7!! Thank you, Kay Jennings.

An effective and compelling writing of the effects of a major earthquake and tsunami – James D.
The opening of the book is chilling as the author takes you on a wild ride post cataclysmic earthquake and tsunami. My book club read the book and we are now more prepared. I’d recommend this book!

Nice series – Rebecca H.
Small town character with big city crime. Roger is a smiling star.🤗 More please.

Almost too realistic! – Kindle Customer
As a survivor of the 1964 Alaskan Good Friday quake, I can attest to this story’s authenticity. Kay Jennings always writes an intriguing story with lots of suspense and mystery.

Another winning read – AEK
I think Kay Jennings is one of the top authors of today.

Great Read – Christine H.
The continuing story of how this small town recovers from disaster, all while solving a brutal murder. I enjoyed the inclusion of native American culture and history told from more than one perspective. I’m recommending this one for book club this!

Loved it – David M.
The author has created characters who are believable. My wife and I refer to the characters by their first name, as if they are personal friends.
Another fantastic story from Kay Jennings – Claudia H.
I thought that Code: Tsunami was the book to top her list. Wrong. Mourning Bay kept me puzzled until the end to figure out “who done it.” Rumor has it that books 7 and 8 are in the pipeline. Can’t wait.

A great beach read – lkr1109
I read many thrillers, and this was at the top of the list.
Great read, beautiful location, detailed characterization – texsunrose
The stories are well paced, her characters are so well drawn, and I can smell the ocean! Write on, Ms. Jennings!!
Unique and original – Kindle Customer
Author in credits proved not a quitter and kudos to her as final novel deep, dark and original. A surprise ending.
Outstanding! – Craig M.
This is a well-crafted, tightly told story of intrigue, discovery, loss, and love. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Mystery • Animals • Romance

In the picturesque town of Raton, Natalie Davis finds herself thrust into a whirlwind of mystery when a hunter is found murdered in the heart of the forest. With the tranquility of the community shattered, Natalie must team up with Sheriff Jake Dwyer to unravel the truth behind this chilling crime.

But time is of the essence, as Natalie’s plans to host a bachelorette getaway for her dear friend Kathryn hang in the balance. With Kathryn’s wedding on the horizon, the pressure is on to ensure the weekend celebration isn’t marred by fear and suspicion.

As Natalie and Jake delve deeper into the investigation each clue leads them closer to the killer. They race against the clock to bring justice to the victim and restore peace to their beloved town.

Can Natalie and Jake solve the case to save the party?

“Firearms and Foxes” is a gripping tale of suspense and intrigue, where friendship, loyalty, romance, and determination collide in the face of danger. Join Natalie and Sheriff Jake on a thrilling journey where every twist and turn brings them closer to the truth.

Don’t miss out on this electrifying mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback

Death stalks the decks of the SS Andromeda, and Lady Elizabeth Hawthorne, alongside Major Sinclair, finds herself in a race against time to unravel the twisted threads of deceit before the killer strikes again.

When the captain of the SS Andromeda dies under mysterious circumstances, Elizabeth’s journey escorting a priceless Greek artifact to London takes a sinister turn. Trapped aboard a ship where every passenger harbours dark secrets, she joins forces with Major Sinclair to unmask the killer.

As they navigate a labyrinth of clandestine soirees and covert conversations, the line between friend and foe blurs. The ship’s grandeur masks a web of deception, and trust becomes as elusive as the shifting Mediterranean winds.

With each twist and turn, Elizabeth inches closer to the shocking truth. But as the Andromeda approaches Liverpool, time is running out. Can she and Major Sinclair solve the mystery before the murderer vanishes into the dockside crowds?

Step into a world of luxury, intrigue, and deadly secrets, where the past’s shadows loom over a treacherous present. Murder on the SS Andromeda is a riveting journey that will keep you guessing until the astonishing final revelation. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

He Was Putting for His Personal Best…Now, He’s Dead

When golfer, William Pickney is found on the ninth green of Emerald Greens Public Golf club with a bloody wound on his head and eye witness testimony that he was struck by a golf ball while lining up a putt, Detective Patterson is called in to solve the mystery. There’s just one little problem — he doesn’t believe the witnesses.

This is the seventh story in Maisy Marple’s Bite Sized Mystery series. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

 

Review Of Marshmallow Malice

Marshmallow Malice
Amish Candy Shop, Book #5
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Caught in a sticky situation . . .

With Juliet Brody and Reverend Brook tying the knot in Ohio’s Amish Country’s most anticipated nuptials of the year, Bailey King is determined to do everything in her power to make the event a sweet success. Except midsummer heat waves and outdoor ceremonies don’t mix, and an exasperated Bailey soon finds herself struggling to fulfill bridesmaid duties and keep her stunning marshmallow-frosted wedding cake from becoming a gooey disaster. Then much to everyone’s shock, the entire ceremony crumbles when a guest drops dead, and the cause isn’t sunstroke . . .

Turns out, the uninvited victim came equipped with lots of dirt on the devout reverend’s hidden past. As Reverend Brook tops the murder suspect list on what should have been the happiest day of his life, Bailey and her sheriff’s deputy boyfriend vow to clear his name. Can the duo boil down a series of baffling clues before Juliet considers her marriage a bad mistake–or the killer whips up another deadly surprise?

Recipe Included!

Praise for Amanda Flower and her Amish cozies

“As it turns out, Amanda Flower may have just written the first Amish rom com.”
— USA Today

“Flower has hit it out of the ballpark . . . and continues to amaze with her knowledge of the Amish way of life.”
— RT Book Reviews

“At turns playful and engaging . . . a satisfyingly complex cozy.”
— Library Journal

Review:

The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. I was so happy that Cass was very involved in this book, she and Bailey make a great crime fighting duo. The situations that they find themselves are funny and dangerous. I am very glad that Juliet and Reverend Brook finally tied the knot, they were made for each other. And what can I say about Jethro, Juliet’s little pig. I love all of his antics, they made me laugh.

The writing style flowed smoothly and defined 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 see all of the action taking place during the festival and at the candy shop.

The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I considered the culprit for a moment and then discarded her as a suspect. Sleuthing is not an easy thing to do.

I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I know that anytime I pick up a book written by this author, I am in for a real treat.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Review Of No Small Murder

No Small Murder

A Mini-Meadows Mystery, Book #1

ena Gregory

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Mini Meadows, a Tiny Home community in rural Central Florida, is home to Emma Wells, a downsize specialist who left her daddy’s mansion and her inheritance behind in favor of a simpler, more peaceful life in a tiny home that was once two shipping containers. But when she opens a shipping container and discovers her dead client sitting in a rocking chair, neatly wrapped and labeled, and two of her friends end up on the suspect list, Emma pitches in to help find the killer. With plenty of clues to unpack, Emma narrows down the suspect list, but as she begins to close in on the culprit, she realizes if she’s not careful she could end up in a box of her own.

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Emma is happy helping people downsize .  She had to downsize herself when she moved into her tiny home and she decided to make a living doing it.  When she finds her client dead in a shipping container, she will have to find the killer because a couple of her friends are persons of interest.   So that is what she does.  

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and there were plenty of suspects to consider and clues to sift through. I did not know who the killer was until it was revealed at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Level Best Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Review Of What Comes Around

What Comes Around

A Zoe Chambers Mystery, Book #13

Annette Dashofy

5+ Stars

Synopsis: 

Just as Monongahela County Coroner Zoe Chambers-Adams decides to fire her abrasive chief deputy, Dr. Charles Davis, and put an end to his constant undermining of her position, a suspicious car crash severely injures the county’s only other forensic pathologist. To keep the office operational, Zoe has little choice but to keep Davis on staff.

When Zoe and her husband—Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams—respond to a brutal homicide, they quickly learn the victim had come to town for the sole purpose of sharing vital information with Zoe. And the decedent’s ex-husband is none other than Zoe’s deputy coroner.

As Zoe and Pete dig deeper into the victim’s past, more questions arise along with a tangle of connections between multiple cases, including a very cold one that leads Zoe and those she cares about directly into the crosshairs of a crazed killer.  (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  When Zoe is about ready to fire her chief deputy coroner, her other county pathologist is involved in a suspicious car crash and she cannot fire him. She also has a dead body to deal with and the deceased’s son tells her his mom was there to talk to Zoe about her ex-husband:the coroner Zoe wants to fire.  Zoe and her husband, Police Chief Pete Adams, have a lot to figure out and solve.

The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words.  The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions kept me engaged in the story from the very beginning.  The mystery is well plotted and there are enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider.  

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  Any time I get to spend with Zoe and Pete I am a happy camper. 

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher Level Best Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

New Releases For The Week Of May 5th, 2024–Part 4

A tenacious sleuth.
And a suspicious death.

Veronica Vale is a sensible woman. And one thing she doesn’t believe in is ghosts! When a renowned paranormal investigator holds a book signing and ghost hunt in her family’s pub, the Craven Arms, Veronica is less than amused but accepts their presence, providing they make a sizeable donation to her beloved dogs’ home.

Upon receiving an invitation to join the hunt, Ruby and Benji the dog, join Veronica for the evening and creep around the pub, convinced they won’t find anything untoward. But when the paranormal expert dies during the investigation, rumours circulate that a ghost committed the heinous crime!

Veronica is certain a human hand was involved and sets forth to uncover the scoundrel and salvage her pub’s reputation. With Ruby’s help, they uncover rivalry, grudges, and corruption. But which motive led to the spooky demise? And does the pub now have a haunting new presence?

***

Find out in book 3 of the Veronica Vale Investigates series. This is a delightful 1920s British historical cozy murder mystery set in the charms of London, with a swirl of classic whodunnit to tempt every mystery reader. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

Enjoy this clean, paranormal, cozy mystery by award-winning and bestselling author Lucinda Race.Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying…Lily Michaels is working on her craft as a new witch, enjoying life, and running her shop in the quaint town of Pembroke Cove. …Until four magicians show up at the Cozy Nook Bookstore determined to get Lily’s book, Practical Beginnings. The book isn’t for sale—not that they could use it anyway, as they’re not a Michaels’ family members. Her familiar, Milo, is ready to do all he can to protect his favorite witch.Upon opening her store the next day, Lily discovers a body—one of the men who tried to buy her book. Detective Gage Erikson, her fiancé, turns the case over to Dax Peters since Lily is the main suspect in the murder. Despite her confidence in her friends on the police force, she must move quickly to learn who is responsible. She’s pretty sure one of the three remaining magicians should be the prime suspect, but which one? Or did they conspire to commit murder together?As Gage and the rest of her friends from Pembroke Cove stand beside her ready to solve the case, Lily knows this puzzle will be her greatest challenge. Not only does she need to clear her name and protect her book but Lily discovers dark magic can lead to murder.Magicians & Murder is the seventh novel in the A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series; although each book can be read as a standalone, it is best to read them in order. It is a sweet, clean, cozy mystery that guarantees the culprit is caught. Happy reading!  (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

A mystery on a boat…
Can leave you swimming in doubt.
Onboard Kitchen Manager and amateur sleuth, Lorelei Baker, got more than she bargained for on her first river cruise. It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, but she’s looking forward to her second voyage.

When a guest’s jewelry goes missing, however, and two of her kitchen helpers come under scrutiny, Lorelei dives into an investigation.

With a handful of possible suspects, and a clique of passengers who seem determined to create as much drama as possible surrounding the case, Lorelei has to get creative in her attempts to get to the truth.

Unfortunately, the more she looks, t he more it seems that one of her kitchen helpers might indeed be the guilty party.

Can she crack the case and locate the culprit before her crew’s reputation is sunk?
Find out in this exciting Culinary Cozy Mystery! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

Just when she thinks her day can’t get any weirder, she finds a baby dragon …

Deandra Hendricks works her fingers to the bone at two jobs to keep her Los Angeles apartment. With a rapidly dwindling savings account, the prospects for her future are bleak. So when her cousin invites her to visit Axia—the hidden, magical hub their grandparents retired to—she agrees. Deandra doesn’t possess a stitch of magic herself, but a long weekend vacation in a strange new town might be just what she needs.

Her first day in Axia is so bizarre, though, she wonders if her bleak life in Los Angeles hasn’t been so bad after all. And, just when she thinks her day can’t get any stranger, she finds a baby dragon trapped in a dumpster. At a loss, she takes a trip to the vet, hoping they can help find the little guy’s owner.

The dragon, it turns out, only appears in its true form to her, while everyone else sees a dire wolf puppy. She and the vet discover that as long as the dragon wears his bespelled collar, his true identity is hidden. Someone went to great lengths to keep this supposed-to-be-extinct animal a secret.

Then the “dog” is accused of arson and is seized by authorities. Determined to help him, Deandra searches for the real arsonist. She catches wind of a thriving black market that’s populated by those who would stop at nothing to claim an animal this rare. She must work quickly to clear her dragon’s name, because if he falls into the wrong hands, she could lose him forever. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

Hettie Bagshot and Tilly Jenkins are hired to investigate a spate of mysterious deaths at Mr Whisker’s Academy for Wayward Cats

Hettie Bagshot and Tilly Jenkins are hired to investigate a spate of mysterious deaths at Mr Whisker’s Academy for Wayward Cats. Before Tilly even opens her notebook, the hockey mistress is brutally murdered on the playing field.

Faced with an increasing body count, our feline detectives sharpen their claws and set out to catch a serial killer. Did Pomadora Moseley really murder her family on the rollercoaster at Butlins? Is Clara Toddlebury’s Country Dance Class under threat? And why does Mr Whisker lock himself in his headmaster’s study?

Join Hettie and Tilly as they chalk up another case, revealing a school full of scandal, a dormitory of death and the latest Butters’ pie filling.

PRAISE FOR THE NO. 2 FELINE DETECTIVE AGENCY

‘I loved it. The whole concept is just so “real”!’ Barbara Erskine


‘Mandy Morton’s Feline Detective Agency instigates a new genre, both wonderful and surreal’ Maddy Prior


‘The world that Morton has created is irresistible’ Publishers Weekly


‘Witty and smart. Prepare to be besotted’ M.K. Graff

‘Mandy Morton’s series is both charming and whimsical’ Barry Forshaw


‘Hettie Bagshot might be a new face at the scene of a crime, but already she could teach most fictional detectives a thing or two’ The Hunts Post (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Audiobook

This bakery is known for its killer recipes…literally.

Witch and bakery owner Daisy Wallace was just looking to get her bakery on top. Until socialite Tori DuBois drops dead during a cake tasting, and all fingers point to the baker. With her reputation crumbling and a killer on the loose, Daisy is

determined to clear her name and find the real murderer before she’s toast.

Teaming up with handsome William DuBois, her quirky assistant Zoe, and her cat familiar Motley, Daisy turns to amateur sleuthing. But beneath Tori’s beignet-like exterior lay a tangled web of romantic affairs, family drama, and business backstabbing.

Can Daisy crack this case of the killer cake and cover ups before she gets burned?

Or will digging into this mystery only unearth Daisy an early grave? (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

It’s the weekend before Valentine’s Day and the lodge is full of happy couples ready to celebrate over two very special days. The guests include not just Abigail’s boyfriend, but also Mandy and her boyfriend. Everyone is having a wonderful time until they all go on a hayride at the local park.

When Mark first spots something out of place in one of the fountains, Abigail tries to tell herself that it’s nothing important. But when they stop the hayride to investigate, they find a dead man.

As usual, Abigail doesn’t want to get involved, but that doesn’t stop most of the dead man’s family and friends from seeking her out. In a small town where everyone seems to know everyone and everything, the dead man’s mother has been keeping a huge secret for thirty years. Now Abigail can’t help but wonder if that secret is the key to finding the killer. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

New Releases For The Week Of May 5th, 2024–Part 3

OCEAN’S 8 meets Janet Evanovich, this fast-paced crime caper features one badass mother, with a certain set of skills who is forced to come out of retirement to protect her son, and teach a few men a few lessons!

Ex-con artist Bee Cardello is going legit. Divorced from her mafia boss husband, she is determined to stay on the straight and narrow. So, when ex-hubby Charlie steals $37.5 million from a dangerous kingpin, who puts out a hit on Bee and her ten-year-old son Oliver, she finds herself pulled back into the life she’s worked so hard to escape.

Part of that old life being one Adam Gage – an old flame and all-round sexy badass who Charlie’s now employed to keep her and Oliver safe . . . well, that’s what he tells her. Bee has been in this game long enough to know that everyone is in it for themselves, and she’d be stupid to trust Adam . . . again.

When Oliver is snatched from right under their noses, rather than risk losing him forever, Bee gathers her old team, dusts off all her old grifting tricks, and comes out of retirement to get her son back! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

Perfect for fans of Elle Cosimano and Kellye Garrett, in this second Hollywood mystery, film costumer Joey Jessop discovers that Hollywood buries its secrets deep when a superstar’s assistant turns up dead.

Costumer Joey Jessop is working on a movie set in 1930s Hollywood and starring two of the world’s biggest stars. The male lead is also a dedicated social activist, and the female lead, Gillian Best, is known for her lifestyle brand. After a hit-and-run near the set, Joey realizes that the car involved belongs to Gillian, and she begins to wonder if the actress has more to hide than her Botox appointments.

Her suspicions deepen when Gillian’s personal assistant, Rita, vows to get revenge for Gillian replacing her and is found dead shortly after. Gillian quickly labels Rita’s death a suicide, and the police seem to agree–but Joey isn’t so sure.

With the police standing aside, it’s up to Joey to dig up the truth—but Hollywood stars know how to keep their secrets close, and a woman like Gillian Best won’t take kindly to someone sniffing around her affairs. Joey is certain that Gillian has something to hide–and she’s determined to find out what. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

Welcome to Tanton Towers! Explore the eccentric, history-filled house, take tea in the café . . . and visit the site of a recent murder?! First in a delightful new traditional British cozy mystery series.

Everyone told Cara Shelly that she was crazy to set up a café in the shadow of eccentric Kentish stately home Tanton Towers. But now, three years later, the forty-something single mother can’t believe her good luck. The Happy Huffkin café is thriving, and Cara considers the Tanton Towers staff – and its equally eccentric owners, Max and Alison – to be more like family than colleagues. Three cheers for Tanton Towers!

But one beautiful summer evening, when Cara’s hard at work clearing up after closing time, Alison comes hurtling down to the café to beg her for help. It’s trouble – and of the worst kind. Daphne Hanson, queen of the Towers’ costume-clad dancing troupe – and the greatest nosy parker in Kent – is lying dead in the orangery. Strangled! But by whom? And why?

Determined that the culprit should not be one of her friends, and suspicious of the detective assigned the case – the deeply annoying, and annoyingly attractive DCI Andrew Mitchem – Cara launches her own investigation. But the more secrets she uncovers, the more she’s forced to consider the unthinkable: that one of her dear friends could be the killer . . .
Fans of Richard Osman, M.C. Beaton, Simon Brett, and Nancy Atherton won’t want to miss this charming British cozy with a twist of romance! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

Sift Through the Secrets of Bristol Lake in ‘One Deadly Batch’ – Can Agatha Serve Up Justice in Time?

Return to the quaint streets of Bristol Lake, where mystery and intrigue brew as richly as the coffee at One Deadly Chapter Books and Brew. In this latest installment of the Agatha Royale Mystery series, our beloved sleuth, Agatha, finds herself entangled in a web of deceit that threatens to unravel the peace of her cherished town. When a scandalous crime shakes the community, all eyes turn to Eliza’s bakery, known for its delightful pastries and now, a recipe for murder. Agatha must sift through the secrets and lies, armed with nothing more than her wits and the loyal companionship of her miniature schnauzer, Mike, as well as her friend Emma. But in a town where everyone knows your name-and possibly your alibis-uncovering the truth proves to be a recipe for danger. With the clock ticking and suspicion rising like dough in the oven, Agatha works to clear her friend’s name and catch a cunning culprit. Can she serve up justice before the real perpetrator puts an end to her investigation? Pre-order your copy of “One Deadly Batch” now and be the first to discover the twists and turns of Bristol Lake’s latest mystery. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

When a Man Falls from a 13th Floor Balcony, Rapella Suspects Murder in Rip Chord, A Cozy Mystery Adventure from Jeanne Glidewell

Seeking a peaceful retreat amid the beauty of the Redwood National Forest, Rip and Rapella Ripple are camping at the serene Mystic River RV Park in Klamath, California. Their inspirational Sunday morning church service turns to intrigue when Charlie Short invites Rip to fill in as the tenor singer in a barbershop quartet competition. Henry Harpodingle, their original tenor, mysteriously died in what was deemed an accidental fall from a thirteenth-story balcony.

Rapella finds the circumstances of Henry’s death anything but accidental and quickly amasses a list of suspects, including the peculiar Charlie Short and his wife, Fern.

Will Rapella solve this deadly melody, or will they find themselves in grave danger? Don’t miss this thrilling adventure in the beloved series featuring Rip and Rapella Ripple, where each clue is a note closer to exposing a killer.

From The Publisher: The Ripple Effect series will be enjoyed by fans of Joanne Fluke, Madison Johns, Ceecee James, and readers of cozy mysteries who enjoy light-hearted, clean & wholesome mysteries featuring female amateur sleuths and senior citizens.

“Glidewell succeeds in maintaining a rapidly paced storyline that dramatically builds suspense, while her tongue-in-cheek sense of humor provides plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.” ~Booklist on Leave No Stone Unturned

“Jeanne Glidewell’s mysteries are fast-paced, complex, and has just the right hint of romance.” ~Jill Churchill, author of the Jane Jeffry and Grace and Favor Mysteries

“I hope this series continues. Being Rip and Rapellas’ age I am happy to see them featured in adventures. I can recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries, cozy or not.” ~Anna, Reviewer

THE RIPPLE EFFECT MYSTERIES, in series order
A Rip Roaring Good Time
Rip Tide
Ripped to Shreds
Rip Your Heart Out
Ripped Apart
Ripped Off
No Big Rip
The Grim Ripper
Rip Chord

THE LEXIE STARR MYSTERIES, in series order
Leave No Stone Unturned
The Extinguished Guest
Haunted
With This Ring
Just Ducky
The Spirit of the Season – a holiday novella
Cozy Camping
Marriage & Mayhem (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

A quaint charity tea party at the infamous Hollowcrest Manor takes a wickedly enchanting turn when amateur sleuth Octavia Grimstone and her friends are entrapped in a curse.

But as they begin regressing in age, that’s not so bad for midlife witches, right? Yet the change is rapid and perhaps never-ending, which means sooner rather than later, they will no longer exist.

Their only chance? Solving an old murder case that’s been whispering through the cobwebbed halls of the manor for years. One that might be related to the death of Octavia’s late husband.

With her teaching days behind her and a career as a cozy mystery author and bookstore co-owner proving more dangerous than expected, Octavia’s flair for unraveling mysteries is sharply tested.

Alongside her, the ever-snarky feline familiar Elzadora and the attractive Cassius Morgenthrall, a witch doctor whose steady hand in magic and medicine is suddenly vital, dive into the heart of the manor’s supernatural secrets.

Beneath the manor’s gilded surface, the tea party guests are not just a glittering array of Grimstone Grove’s elite but a collection of suspects with motives as murky as the manor’s hidden passageways. As the grandfather clock runs backward, they must sift through enchantments and echoes of forbidden lore to piece together the motive behind the murders.

Maneuvering through a tangle of high society’s false courtesies and her own tangled emotions regarding her late husband’s death, Octavia’s resolve is challenged. They have until sunrise to unmask the killer and halt the effects when the curse draws near. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

A disturbing death threat. A baffling black veil. Without our magical sleuth to break the curse, will the next bride end her day wed or dead?

Skylar Blackwood is rediscovering the thrill of using her magical powers. And her grey wolf familiar is loving vanquishing the witch hunters who appear every time a spell leaves her fingertips. But when a guest is found murdered at the most flower-filled wedding of the season, it sparks more than a firestorm in a witch’s cauldron.

Skylar is shocked when her handsome detective ex-husband enlists her help on the case. Finally, he’s taking her and her sleuthing skills seriously. But the witnesses were wasted on mojitos and there’s more than one dead body in this mystery.

Will the magic party-trick spells Skylar learned as a young witch be enough to expose the killer before the case becomes a spellbinding murderous mess?

This is the third book in the Wedding Witch paranormal cozy mystery series.

If you like a cunning criminal to catch, an unlikely team of quirky characters, and a witchy amateur sleuth who left home without her grimoire, you’ll love You May Curse the Bride.

Grab your copy and start solving the crime. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

New Releases For The Week Of May 5th, 2024–Part 2

Washington, D.C.-based photojournalist Sophie Medina is not a murderer – but someone is determined to make sure she goes down for a crime she did not commit in this gripping mystery.

When billionaire philanthropist and art collector Robson Blake hires Sophie Medina to take photographs for him, she doesn’t expect to show up and find her client dead. It seems he was the victim of a burglary gone wrong. But why was his state-of-the-art security system turned off . . . and why, in a house full of priceless Old Masters, is the only thing missing a beautiful but insignificant Ukrainian religious icon?

Before long, Sophie finds herself in the crosshairs of a D.C. homicide detective who suspects she knows more than she is saying about Blake’s murder – and he’s not wrong. To Sophie’s mixed delight and horror, she’s recently learned she has a half-brother . . . who might also be an international art thief, with eyes on Blake’s collection.

As the police get closer to finding Blake’s killer, Sophie is certain someone is trying to frame her for his murder. Can she find the real killer in time – even if it means turning in her own brother to prove her innocence?

The latest instalment in this gripping series featuring fearless photojournalist Sophie Medina is a great choice for readers who enjoy high-flying female sleuths, deft red-herrings, page-turning plot twists, and glamorous settings. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover

Just as Monongahela County Coroner Zoe Chambers-Adams decides to fire her abrasive chief deputy, Dr. Charles Davis, and put an end to his constant undermining of her position, a suspicious car crash severely injures the county’s only other forensic pathologist. To keep the office operational, Zoe has little choice but to keep Davis on staff.

When Zoe and her husband—Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams—respond to a brutal homicide, they quickly learn the victim had come to town for the sole purpose of sharing vital information with Zoe. And the decedent’s ex-husband is none other than Zoe’s deputy coroner.

As Zoe and Pete dig deeper into the victim’s past, more questions arise along with a tangle of connections between multiple cases, including a very cold one that leads Zoe and those she cares about directly into the crosshairs of a crazed killer. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

Rune Sarasin is about to learn just how quickly the life of a jewel thief can spiral out of control.…
Seven days are all it takes for Rune Sarasin’s life to completely derail. It starts with a routine heist: lifting a pouch of rubies from the Bangkok hotel room of wealthy smuggler Charles Lemaire. Rune nearly gets caught when Lemaire’s goons give chase, but she manages to escape with her boyfriend Kit. Then Kit delivers some terrifying news: his teenage sister Madee has gone missing. They track her cell phone to the dangerous Khlong Toei slum, but the trail ends there. The night gets even worse when Rune realizes she lost the pouch of gems somewhere in the slum while searching for Madee.

Charles Lemaire is the wrong man to mess with. He is a perfectionist when it comes to both his attire and his crimes, and he isn’t afraid to kill to get what he wants. When he catches up to Rune and Kit, he gives Rune an ultimatum: return his rubies or she will never see her boyfriend again. Now Rune must race against time to either recover the lost gems or find something even more valuable with which to ransom Kit back from Lemaire. But she also still needs to find out what happened to Madee. As Rune investigates deeper into the shadows of the Khlong Toei slum, she uncovers a web of crime with consequences far more insidious than just one missing girl and a handful of stolen rubies.

Hurtling from the back alleys of Bangkok to the glamorous auction houses of New York City, Mailan Doquang’s heart-pounding debut will leave readers questioning just how far they would go for the ones they love. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

A Chicago news reporter chasing her big break in jazz-age Paris, an exclusive with a renowned couture designer, and a stepmother lying dead among the silk and sequins…

Paris 1925: When news reporter Abigail Dixon trades the Chicago newsroom for the Paris fashion scene, she finds herself dazzled by the latest looks from Coco Chanel, sipping champagne at the Ritz, and interviewing a famous designer. Stepping into his luxurious atelier on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Abigail is ready to swoon over the exquisite gowns. The last thing she expects to find is her estranged stepmother lying dead on the fitting room floor – and Abigail framed as the prime suspect.

With only her high school French to defend herself to the debonair Inspector Henri Deschamps, Abigail must use her investigative skills to unravel a tangled web of family secrets and find the real murderer if she is to clear her name.

Aided by new friends including young news reporter Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel and dashing Lord Frederick, Abigail explores the elegant city of lights – from the magnificent Notre-Dame to the alabaster halls of Versailles – in search of the clues that will solve this deadly mystery.

But over coffee and croissants one morning she reads a letter warning her that she is in grave danger and must leave Paris immediately.

As Abigail swaps her très dowdy two-piece for a très chic silk chemise and a sharp bob to match, can she keep her wits about her, find the cunning couture killer, and prove her innocence so she can stay in the city that’s captured her heart?

Lose yourself in the gripping pages of this captivating and witty cozy historical mystery set in 1920s Paris. Fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss will be utterly charmed by Murder at the Paris Fashion House.

This book was previously published as Death of a Flapper.

Readers love Abigail Dixon!

‘A beautifully and witty written book!! Paris and mysteries have my heart, this book was a meant to be for me lol!!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Bravo, what an excellent start to a new series! A brilliant cosy mystery that’s full of fashion and intrigue. Abigail Dixon is a fantastic character – strong, sassy and confidant.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Cozy mystery at its finest!!!!!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Think Agatha Christie in Murder She Wrote… A fast-paced historical cozy with interesting characters, beautiful descriptions of couture gowns, a touch of romance and a surprise killer.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘What a delight! Set in 1925 Paris, there is the overhang of the war yet the twenties sparkle is starting… The plot was well crafted, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes. This was a most entertaining read.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Absolutely loved this! I fell in love with the plucky reporter and can’t wait to read more about her and her newspaper assignments. 5 stars – praying for more!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘It’s a superbly well-written historical mystery. I loved it so much that Abigail met Hemingway and Coco Chanel, among other personalities.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Awesome murder mystery. I loved how it all came together in the big reveal. The mystery was complex with lots of layers and red herrings. Cannot wait for the next book.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘A delightful murder mystery that leaves the reader eager to follow Abby’s adventures in Paris.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘I devoured this right away… I love the 1920s Paris setting. And the characters are a delight.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook

Thirty-four, newly divorced and parenting two little girls, Jan Weatherly is determined to make it on her own doing what she knows best: do-it-yourself home flipping. With her BFF Pam Bacchus by her side, she purchases their first fixer-upper—a cute Craftsman cottage with quick profit potential in rainy Rainier, Washington. With the first swing of her claw hammer, however, Jan pries back faux cedar paneling and reveals a nude, snow-haired corpse floating in a makeshift aquarium. If that didn’t fully sour their dreams in a plume of formaldehyde-tinged air, Sergeant Daniels arrives and bans the women from the crime scene. Will they continue sleuthing, despite Daniels’s warnings, or simply wait for their dreams of financial independence to fall apart? (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

a

A page-turning journalistic thriller starring a rookie female reporter for the Boston Standard who’s determined to chase down a big story…with potentially deadly consequences.

Boston Standard journalist Emily – Em – Kelton is desperate for a big story. As a new reporter Em covers the police beat, which has her responding to every crime that comes across the newsroom scanner. Despite the drudgery and the largely nocturnal hours, it’s a beat that suits her – especially with her affinity for the low-level criminals she regularly interacts with and what she considers a healthy scepticism for the rules.

But she’s sick of filing short news briefs about random street murders that barely merit a byline, and when she sets out to cover yet another shooting of a low-level dealer, she begins to wonder if these crimes are somehow connected.

With not much to go on but her instincts, Em sets out to uncover the truth behind these sordid crimes. But the more she investigates and uncovers a pattern, the more she digs herself into a hole from which she might not come out of alive . . .

Drawing on her career as a journalist, Clea Simon delivers a fast-paced, intricate plot and intriguing characters that bring the city of Boston to life. Mystery fans who love a strong female protagonist, unexpected twists and turns and a mind-blowing ending won’t want to miss Bad Boy Beat! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover

There’s nothing like a camping trip in wilderness to soothe your soul. Or dispose of a dead body.

A new cozy mystery series from International Bestselling Author Danielle Collins.

Skye needs to start generating cash so she can build the resort she dreams of, and decides the best way to do that is to set up campsites and attract clients who want to rough it in the wilderness. When a group of American tourists signs up to stay at her new campsite, she feels like everything is falling into place. Then one of the guests is killed. Can Skye solve the murder mystery and save her campground or will her dreams go up in campfire smoke?

Campfire Fatality is the second story in the Skye Williams Kenyan Cozy Mystery series. If you like fast-paced mysteries with interesting characters, exotic settings, and unexpected twists, you’re going to love Skye Williams.

Download Campfire Fatality and check out this authentic Kenyan cozy mystery series!

Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

What happens when Michigan’s most famous ghost hunter can’t see a ghost but her daughter can? Harper Harlow-Monroe is about to find out. When her daughter Poe starts talking about a new ghostly friend nobody else can see, one who brags about hiding from Harper, Whisper Cove’s favorite paranormal investigator is on the case.
Unfortunately, the new ghost comes along with a fresh body…and nobody can figure out why—or how—a woman who died years before is going after people in the present.
Poe is confused. She likes her new friend and doesn’t want to listen to her mother. There’s just one little problem. The dead woman is holding a grudge against Poe’s grandmother, and she’s ready to add another name to her body count. Now things are getting personal.
Harper has friends and they want to help but this is the sort of war that only Harper can fight.
Poe’s life is on the line, and there’s nothing Harper won’t do to protect her…including sacrificing herself.
Strap in, because it’s about to get wild in Whisper Cove.
The past is threatening to ruin the future, and Harper and company will do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen. They just have to survive to win the day. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Audiobook

Doughnuts, divination, and danger… Just another day in Willow Hollow, Tennessee, where sleuthing is stickier than a maple glaze.

Harper Dade’s more comfortable with a pastry bag than a magic one, but when Sheriff Frankenfurful—the gentle giant of a bear shifter who upholds the peace—gets tagged for a past crime, she’s out to prove his innocence. A recipe in one hand and a list of suspects in the other, Harper, with the help of Knox, her wise-cracking black cat familiar, sets out to unravel a sugar-coated web of secrets.

Harper Dade’s one paralegal life favors the sweet simplicity of sugar dusting over the complexity of spellcasting. So, when local peacekeeper and bear shifter Sheriff Frankenfurful catches a bad rap for an older crime, Harper rolls up her sleeves, because someone’s got to whip the truth to stiff peaks. With Knox, her whiskered wise cat of a familiar, by her side, they’re wading into a confection of concealed motives.

While stirrings of turmoil threaten to send the town’s coziness crumbling quicker than a stale pastry, Harper navigates a maze of misleading trails, each as twisty as her favorite cinnamon swirl donut.

And Crank Cranson? The wizard mechanic who can torque a wrench as skillfully as he can twirl a spell? The guy’s definitely mixing more than just car repairs, especially those lingering glances he shares with Harper.

Harper’s up to her elbows in flour and intrigue, and it’s going to take a hefty scoop of moxie and a pinch of pluck to knead through these half-baked clues. Grab a donut and come along for this feast for the senses stuffed with thrills, chock-full of chuckles, and glazed with that warm, comforting feeling of home. Donuts and Divination just goes to show, Harper’s homespun wit may be the icing that cracks this case wide open, or the very thing that gets her batter-dipped into deeper trouble.

Savor this charmed Witches of Willow Hollow expanded second edition, now freshly conjured with additional magic and mystical intrigue! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

A serial killer’s obsession. A woman’s dark secrets.

In the shadows of a peaceful island, a serial killer leaves behind a trail of bodies that strike a close resemblance to the local antique shop owner.

Left on each victim’s body is a knife-pierced note, the initials L.H., and haunting song lyrics that point to a connection only one person can decipher.

Guided by her intuitive telepathic cat and supported by her fiancé, Lola Hutchinson must delve into the darkest corners of her own past to uncover the truth behind the killer’s twisted obsession.

Confronting long-buried secrets and deciphering the psychopath’s clues wasn’t on her wedding planning list.

In this gripping cozy mystery, one woman’s determination to stop a ruthless killer will push her to the brink, testing the strength of her resolve and the power of the bond she shares with her extraordinary cat. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

New Releases For The Week Of May 5th, 2024–Part 1

“Tough-but-tender cop Lindsay Boxer” (People) leads the Women’s Murder Club in the high-profile murder investigation of a billionaire San Francisco couple. As enemies lurk in the shadows, will Cindy, Claire, Yuki, and Lindsay still be standing when the clock strikes midnight?
​
SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer, Medical Examiner Claire Washburn, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano, and crime writer Cindy Thomas gather at one of San Francisco’s finest restaurants to celebrate exciting news: Cindy is getting married.
 
Before they can raise their glasses, there’s a disturbance in the restaurant. A woman has been assaulted.
 
Claire examines the victim. Lindsay makes an arrest. Yuki takes the case. Cindy covers it. 
 
The legal strategy is complicated by gaps in the plaintiff’s memory—and the shocking reason behind her ever-changing testimony.
 
As Yuki leads the prosecution, Lindsay chases down a high-society killer whose target practice may leave the Women’s Murder Club short a bridesmaid … or two. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook

In the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, a teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

How would you react in a life-or-death situation?

It’s a question everyone asks themselves, but few have to face in real life. English teacher Richard Boyle certainly never thought he would find himself talking down a former student intent on harming others, but when Mark LeDrew shows up at Richard’s school with a bomb strapped to his chest, Richard immediately jumps into action. Thanks to some quick thinking, he averts a major tragedy and is hailed as a hero, but not all the attention focused on him is positive.

Richard’s brief moment in the spotlight puts him in the sights of a deranged blackmailer with a score to settle. The situation rapidly spirals out of control, drawing Richard into a fraught web of salacious accusations and deadly secrets. As he tries to uncover the truth he discovers that there’s something deeply wrong in the town—something that ties together Mark, the blackmailer, and a gang of ruthless drug dealers, and Richard has landed smack in the middle of it. He’s desperate to find a way out, but everyone in his life seems to be hiding something, and trusting the wrong person could cost him everything he loves.

What price will he pay for one good deed? (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Paperback. Audiobook

Introducing the Secret Society mystery series, and kick-ass red-headed heroine Sidney, a Black historian poised on the brink of discovering her true past . . . and her hidden witchy powers!

“Poignant and entertaining, this one is loaded with intrigue – a feast for anyone, like myself, who loves action, history, secrets and conspiracies. A stellar read” STEVE BERRY, New York Times bestselling author

Thirty-year-old Black woman Sidney Taylor is a talented early American history professor, working in fast-paced Washington DC, with her eyes on promotion. She’s also currently persona non grata. Who knew that making an inconvenient historical discovery would see her stuck at her desk, shuffling paper?

So when she receives an anonymous and very cryptic invitation to visit historic small-town Robbinsville, North Carolina and hunt for a missing archaeological treasure – with a million-dollar pay out at stake – it’s one she can’t refuse. Besides, her beloved grandmother lives in Robbinsville, and it’s been too long since she’s paid her a visit.

Soon, Sidney’s on an exciting treasure hunt, following two-hundred-year-old clues that lead her ever closer to the artefact she’s searching for. But what is the artefact? And why is Sidney starting to feel like she’s at the heart of a terrifying conspiracy she doesn’t understand?

The answer blows Sidney’s world apart, plunging her into a dark, glittering world of secret societies, ancient bloodlines, witches and magic, linked to an ages-old conspiracy that could destroy the very principles upon which America was founded.

This delicious genre-blend of cozy thriller, contemporary fantasy and mystery is National Treasure meets the supernatural treasure hunts of Indiana Jones, with a dash of A Discovery of Witches. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

I was excited to finally be making the trip to Colorado that I’d planned for earlier in the year. Sure, July was going to be hotter than May would have been, but I was still going to enjoy the breathtaking scenery on my first-ever trip to Colorado Springs.

Breathtaking was the right word, though, as I found myself slightly lightheaded from the city’s altitude. That didn’t stop me from getting out to enjoy the sights, though. I was only a few minutes into my first hike when I found myself being yelled at by a total stranger, though. It was a case of mistaken identity, even if he really didn’t want to believe me.

I went back to my hotel hoping I’d seen the last of Garrett Braun. In spite of my recent run of bad luck, I wasn’t anticipating what happened next. The police woke me the next morning with the news that Garrett had been found dead near the campsite where he’d been staying. And the police weren’t any more convinced than Garrett had been that I wasn’t the woman who’d stolen a fortune from him twelve years earlier.

I still think I could have proven my identity without any help, but my best friend, Gina, wouldn’t hear of it. She sent her brother, George, to talk to the police on my behalf, in spite of the difficult history between George and me. And once he’d arrived, George was determined to stay in Colorado Springs until my name was completely crossed off the list of suspects in the murder investigation.

I only got involved in the investigation to get rid of George. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Sgt. Windflower Mysteries Best Selling and Award-Winning Light Mysteries
# 1 Best Selling Cozy Mystery on Amazon
Winner of the Bony Blithe Award for Best Light Mystery
Silver Medallist at Reader’s Choice Awards
Short-Listed for LOLA 2024 Must Read Book of the Year

When danger threatens Grand Bank, will Sgt. Windflower step back into the line of fire?
Winston Windflower is sort of enjoying his retirement from the RCMP in Grand Bank, Newfoundland, happily spending time with his young family, but feeling a little restless. Corporal Eddie Tizzard is running the Marystown detachment and struggling with the demands of the role while his own family grows. When a new kind of drug threatens the community, a body (the wrong body) is found dead in a hearse, and then another drug-connected mysterious death occurs, Tizzard knows he’s dealing with a deadly menace in their quiet, close-knit community.

Windflower finds himself inexorably and not unhappily drawn back into the action, first in an unofficial role to help snare the dealers and then back to active duty in a community that desperately needs his steady hand and good judgement.

Our favorite Mountie, Sgt. Windflower and his fellow courageous cops in small-town Grand Bank, Newfoundland are back to fight a new threat in this compelling page-turner. Award-winning author, Mike Martin once again brings us a stirring story, blending down-home Newfoundland charm with the warmth of family life. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Get ready for a thrilling backstage ride in the world of theatre as seasoned stage manager Hattie embarks on a new production at London’s Tavistock pub theatre. Here, the drama doesn’t just occur on stage.

Troublesome directors and fastidious assistants soon become the least of Hattie’s worries as, a week into rehearsals, an actress is found dead backstage on the same day that an extremely valuable theatrical mask goes missing.

Hattie begins investigating both mysteries, all the while trying to keep the dysfunctional cast and crew on track for opening night. As she delves deeper into the secrets behind the scenes, her allegiance to her theatre, cast and crew will be tested to destruction.

Follow this unconventional detective as she delves into the alluring and exquisitely perilous world of the theatre. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

Marooned after a garden party turns sinister, Lady Ellen finds herself in the midst of an unsettling mystery.

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback 

Moving house can be stressful, especially when your new neighbour is murdered on your doorstep.
In the picturesque seaside village of Pevensey Bay, where crashing waves serenade the rocky cliffs, Helen finds the perfect property to spend her advancing years – not to relax and enjoy her retirement, as many would expect, but to set up a business running a bed-and-breakfast establishment. Little does she know that her idyllic fresh start would soon be marred by a chilling mystery.
Helen’s decision to change her life was huge, especially as she spent most of her marriage working as a housewife and mother. Her only daughter now works abroad, and her husband died last year, leaving Helen with little purpose left until she comes up with the brainwave idea to start up a new business venture. Little did anyone know that she had secretly held onto this dream for years.
Before she opens to the public, she invites three of her closest friends to stay to test her hospitality skills. Meg, Harry and Robert first met Helen at university where they studied criminology together in their youth. Only Robert put his learning to good use, working as a college lecturer. Meg owns a café and Harry is an accountant. They are keen to help Helen make a success of her new enterprise and are busy chatting about that when there is a knock on the door on their first evening together. Having recently met the nosey neighbour from across the road, Jimmy Chase, and taken an instant dislike to him, Helen is surprised to see him calling.
Surprise soon turns to shock and horror as the friends discover he has been stabbed.
Now the foursome gets the chance to investigate a real live crime as they find themselves thrust into a web of deception and danger. They are not going to let a murder upset their holiday as they revel in unearthing the secrets and lies that surface in the tight-knit coastal community.
From Jimmy’s affairs to money going missing at the cricket club, there is plenty to unearth and Helen forms close bonds with two of Jimmy’s ex-lovers with almost disastrous consequences.
In this gripping tale of suspense and camaraderie, Helen and her friends navigate the shadows of the seaside paradise and piece together the clues.
Can they unravel the truth hidden within this peaceful village before it is too late, and the killer strikes again?
The secrets of Pevensey Bay are about to surface, and no one will come out unscathed.
What will Helen do when death comes knocking?
Great for fans of LJ Ross and Richard Osman.
Grab your copy now and delve into the first of this exciting new series. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

a A Scottish village is turned upside-down by a Gaelic pagan festival, an archaeological dig, and a murder, in this absorbing new cozy mystery.

Amelia Adams, proprietor of Stone Manor, is hosting four archaeologists at her luxurious hotel as they excavate a ruined abbey. Meanwhile, the village is preparing for a festival that heralds the start of summer—an event that’s brought Moira, a tarot reader and practicing white witch, back to her hometown.

But relics aren’t the only things being unearthed—as the locals air resentments about the dig, an old mystery is resurrected and a dead body turns up.

Has a peace-loving Wiccan become a predator, or is something deeper going on? (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback

Presley, an avid pet enthusiast, is thrown into a fur-raising mystery that’ll have tails wagging in Hope Springs! When the beloved show dog Lord Bentley disappears without a trace from the prestigious Hope Springs Dog Show, Presley discovers the fiercely competitive world of dog shows, where winning is everything and the stakes are higher than she ever imagined.

But could this fierce competition have driven someone to dognap Lord Bentley in a desperate bid for victory? With fur flying and suspicions abound Presley digs her paws into the cutthroat world of competitive canine glory, determined to unravel the mystery and bring Lord Bentley home before the final bark is heard! (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

A new series for fans of M.C. Beaton, Agatha Christie, and Jessica Fletcher.

Daphne Noble is looking forward to a quiet country Christmas with her beloved grandmother. All is calm. All is bright. It is the tiny village of Mill-Upon-Mortlake in sleepy Somerset, after all.

Unfortunately, Christmas spirit turns to Christmas spite when the village’s age-old rival, the larger town of Shrewsberry, decides to put on the same Christmas panto as Mill-Upon-Mortlake. (The nerve!) However, once Lady Mortlake chooses Mill-Upon-Mortlake as the recipient of the priceless Star of Somerset and her annual Christmas largesse, Shrewsberry is the one left sulking!

When the silver and sapphire heirloom goes missing from the church hall, suspicion blankets the village. Could it be an infiltrator from Shrewsberry? A disgruntled employee of the Mortlake Estate? Or is it someone closer to home?

Daphne is determined not to let an unsolved mystery ruin her first Christmas in the village. She just has to find the star, manage the village shop, and keep tensions between Shrewsberry and Mill-Upon-Mortlake from turning into a minor civil war.

Thank goodness she has her reluctant sidekick, Mr. Gainsworth, beside her and her faithful terrier, Bertie, at her heels.

Now all Daphne needs is a little Christmas miracle to bring peace back to the village before Christmas Eve!

Welcome to Mill-Upon-Mortlake, Somerset, England. This late Victorian-era village is picturesque, the apples are the best in the county, the locals are kind (as long as you’re local, too), and mysteries are never far away.

Join Daphne Noble, a London lass who moves to Mill-Upon-Mortlake expecting to work in the village shop and keep an eye on her elderly grandmother, but instead ends up embroiled in one mystery after another.

You’ll root for Daphne as her grit, gumption, and stubbornness slowly endear her to the locals–even if all of them wish she’d hurry up and get married like a respectable girl!

British Cozy mystery

Humor and heart

Low-violence

Victorian/Edwardian Era (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

The longest day unveils the darkest secrets. A midsummer party ends in tragedy, and Harper must navigate a labyrinth of lies under the solstice sky. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle

Nonna Maria, “one of the most charming amateur sleuths ever created” (Tess Gerritsen), dodges assassins and hunts for hidden treasure in this transporting mystery from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lorenzo Carcaterra.

As Nonna Maria’s longtime pal and sometimes colleague, Captain Murino, in charge of the local carabinieri, never wanted to see harm brought to the doorstep of everyone’s favorite espresso-brewing, counsel-giving amateur sleuth. But when you live a long life, you’re bound to make a few enemies. And when those enemies come calling, you have to rely on friends. Faced with an assassin seeking revenge for a decades-old grudge, Captain Murino has no choice but to turn to Maria, who must use all her neighborly resources, clever faculties, and web of connections to save him from his perilous predicament.

On the other side of the island, a second mystery begins to unfold at the deathbed of another of Maria’s old friends, as he hands his granddaughter a yellowed map and tells her of a treasure to be found in one of Ischia’s secret caverns. However, there are traps and pitfalls. There will be others with sinister motives who will do all they can to make the treasure their own. But this map is a guide—the only gift he has to give. When the granddaughter needs help cracking the code, she turns to her grandfather’s most trusted friend: Nonna Maria.

From battling foes in medieval castles to exploring the notorious caverns where smugglers hide their goods, Nonna Maria and her friends—some old, some new—embark on their most swashbuckling adventure yet. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

In this stunning debut by a South Carolina attorney, Zach Stander, a lawyer with a past, and Addie Stone, his indomitable detective and lover, find themselves entangled in secrets, lies, and murder in a small Southern town.

A high-profile murder case—A white woman has been bludgeoned to death with an altar cross in a rural church on Cicada Road in Walterboro, South Carolina. Sam Jenkins, a Black man, is found covered in blood, kneeling over the body. In a state already roiling with racial tension, this is not only a murder case, but a powder keg.

A haunting cold case—Two young women are murdered on quiet Edisto Beach, an hour southeast of Walterboro, and the killer disappears without a trace. Thirty-four years later the mystery remains unsolved. Could there be a connection to Stander’s case?

A killer who’s watching—Stander takes on Jenkins’s defense, but he’s up against a formidable solicitor with powerful allies. Worse, his client is hiding a bombshell secret. When Addie Stone reopens the cold case, she discovers more long-buried secrets in this small town. Would someone kill again to keep them?

Ideal for fans of mystery, suspense, and thrillers in the vein of Karin Slaughter’s Pretty Girls and Stacy Willingham’s A Flicker in the Dark, as well as for readers who followed the high-profile Murdaugh murder trial, held in the same small town as in When Cicadas Cry. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook

a

From the international and instant New York Times bestselling author John Connolly, the beloved and brilliant Charlie Parker series returns with a heart-wrenching crime only one man can solve.

In Maine, Colleen Clark stands accused of the worst crime a mother can commit: the abduction and possible murder of her child. Everyone—ambitious politicians in an election season, hardened police, ordinary folk—has an opinion on the case, and most believe she is guilty.

But most is not all. Defending Colleen is the lawyer Moxie Castin, and working alongside him is the private investigator Charlie Parker, who senses the tale has another twist, one involving a husband too eager to accept his wife’s guilt, a group of fascists arming for war, a disgraced psychic seeking redemption, and an old, twisted house deep in the Maine woods, a house that should never have been built.

A house, and what dwells beneath. (Amazon)

Editions Available: Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook

Review Of Toxic Toffee

Toxic Toffee
Amish Candy Shop Mystery, Book #4
Amanda Flower
5 Stars

Synopsis:

A sweet tooth for murder . . .

Bailey King’s in New York wrapping up a six-week shoot on her first cable TV show, Bailey’s Amish Sweets, when she gets a call from her Ohio town’s resident busybody. With Easter around the corner, Bailey’s been recruited to create a giant toffee bunny for the weeklong springtime festival that will also feature live white rabbits. But back home in Harvest, death becomes the main attraction when Stephen Raber keels over from an apparent heart attack—with Bailey and Raber’s pet bunny as witnesses.
.
Except it wasn’t Raber’s heart that suddenly gave out—a lethal dose of lily of the valley was mixed into a tasty piece of toffee. Who’d want to poison a jovial rabbit farmer who reminded Bailey of an Amish Santa Claus? To solve the murder, she and her sheriff deputy boyfriend Aiden must uncover a twenty-year-old secret. She’ll need to pull a rabbit out of a hat to keep a healthy distance from toxic people, including one venomous killer . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and this description pulled me into the story from the very beginning. She seems to know a lot about the Amish way of life and that shines through in her books. I really enjoy learning about the Amish.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and well developed. Any time that I get to spend time with Bailey, Charlotte and Bailey’s grandmother, you can tell how much they love each other. Aiden, her boyfriend and a sheriff deputy, is a great guy and I am enjoying how well their relationship is evolving. Jethro, Aiden’s mom’s pig, steals the show and I enjoy reading about all of his antics.

The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a nice pace. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider and it was not easily solved.

I would highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am already looking forward to reading the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Review Of Four-Alarm Homicide

Four-Alarm Homicide

A House-Flipper Mystery, Book #6

Diane Kelly

5 Stars

Synopsis:

The sixth in the delightful cozy mystery series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville, TN—where the real estate market is to die for.

Some properties are too hot to handle…

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are hot for a historical property that has just come on the market—a fire station in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood that was built nearly a century ago.

The cousins have just begun the interior demolition work at the fire station when Joanna Hartzell, who lives in a townhouse around the corner, comes by with a plea for help. Joanna owns the right half of her building, which she proudly maintains in perfect condition, while the left side falls into disrepair: the seven adult children who inherited it years ago refuse to lift a finger on repairs. Never one to turn down a challenge, Whitney and Buck manage to acquire the rundown townhouse—though it turns out Joanna is only one of the many neighbors interested in buying the property once they’ve worked their magic.

Then Joanna shows up at the fire station confused and rambling, then collapses, never to recover. Alarm bells go off for Whitney: she suspects something—and someone—evil could be the real cause. Can she and Collin put the clues together and smoke out a killer?  (Amazon)

Review: 

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  Whitney and Buck have purchased an old fire station and they plan to work their magic on it.  Then a neighbor of the fire station asks them to look at the left half of her townhouse. Her half is well maintained but the left half not so much.  The two decide to purchase the townhouse also.  Then the neighbor comes to the fire station and collapses and eventually dies.  Whitney has to figure out who killed her and why.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled into the story from the very beginning.  The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words.  The mystery was well plotted and I was surprised who the culprit was. 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  Grab a copy and see what Whitany and Buck have been up to. 

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.