Review of Fireworks In Paradise

 

Fireworks in Paradise

A Tj Jenson Mystery, Book #8

5 Stars

Kathi Daley

Synopsis:

“Daley’s characters come to life on the page. Her novels are filled with a little mystery and a little romance which makes for a murderous adventure.” – Tonya Kappes, USA Today Bestselling Author of Southern Fried

While on vacation in South Carolina, Tj Jensen receives a call that her father has been left in a coma after a devastating car crash. Back home in Paradise Lake, Tj learns the accident that killed family friend Judge Harper and left her father clinging to life wasn’t an accident at all—someone cut their brake lines. To make matters worse, her friend and police contact, Deputy Roy Fisher, is working with a new partner who has no intention of letting Tj anywhere near the case. Facing an investigation more explosive than the annual fireworks show, Tj enlists the help of her best friends to unravel the mystery, all the while navigating a new romance and the thought her father may never wake up.

Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), book club recommendations, amateur sleuth books, small town.

Books in the Tj Jensen Mystery Series:

PUMPKINS IN PARADISE (#1)

SNOWMEN IN PARADISE (#2)

BIKINIS IN PARADISE (#3)

CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE (#4)

PUPPIES IN PARADISE (#5)

HALLOWEEN IN PARADISE (#6)

TREASURE IN PARADISE (#7)

FIREWORKS IN PARADISE (#8)

 

Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you’ll probably like them all. (Goodreads)

 

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  In this installment Tj finds herself right in the middle of a family emergency and it will take all of her faith and family love to get through it.  She will have to rely on her family and friends to solve this mystery and bring her family back together again.  I love the tight knit group that she surrounds herself with, they are all caring and loyal. In all of her books, family and friends are very important and this book is no exception.

The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book.  There were plenty of clues to sift through and suspects to consider.  And as usual, there is more than one mystery to solve and they both are woven together like a beautifully made sweater.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The author is very talented in creating a cozy small town setting and I would love to visit the places that she creates.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  This book is a great addition to an already fantastic series.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.  I would like to thank NetGalley and Henery Press for the opportunity to read and review this book (and for granting wishes).

Review of Trick Or Treason

 

 

Trick Or Treason

Zoe Donovan Mystery, Book #26

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

 

Synopsis:

As is his tradition, Zak has gone Halloween Crazy, while Zoe is trying to overcome the baby bump blues and harness some enthusiasm for the annual Haunted Hamlet. Things seem to be on track for a Spooktacular good time until Zoe stumbles onto a Halloween mystery even she didn’t see coming. (Goodreads)

 

Review:

I have to say that I really enjoy all of this author’s series.  I find them all very entertaining and they are able to offer me an escape into the worlds that she creates. The Zoe Donovan series is my favorite of all.  Any time I get to spend time with Zoe, Zak, Ellie and Levi, I am one happy camper.  They really do feel like friends that I get to visit every so often and I greatly enjoy those visits.  I also like that throughout the series the reader can see the growth and development of all the characters.  

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The small town setting is homey and cozy and and welcoming.  The mystery is well developed and there are enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that even the best armchair detective will have trouble solving it on their own.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy.  Be sure to check out this book, this series and all of the other series written by this author.  You will be very glad you did.

 

 

 

Review of The Haunting

 

The Haunting

Seacliff High, Book #7

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Alyson Prescott moves to Cutters Cove, Oregon, after being placed, along with her mother, in the witness protection program. In her previous life, Alyson was an A-list heiress with the excitement of a trend setting lifestyle and the security of old money. After witnessing a murder she is forced to leave her old life behind and become a middle class girl, living in a middle class town. Alyson struggles with the duplicity in her life as she strives to reconcile her new life with the old.

In this seventh book in the series, the gang from Seacliff High are busy planning their annual Haunted Hayride. When strange things begin to happen Alyson suspects the house they have selected to host the party at the end of the hayride might actually be haunted. Alyson decides to pay a visit to the mischievous ghosts who are causing such a ruckus only to find that the ghosts who live there are not at all who she expected to find. Alyson sets out to discover how the ghosts came to be there, how they died, and who killed them in a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  Alyson, along with her friends Mac and Trevor, are really good friends and make a great team.  They are not afraid to investigate any of the strange things that are happening in Cutters Cove.  And Tucker and Shadow, Alyson’s dog and cat, are always there to help them investigate and they are very helpful.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy ready.  Not only is the author talented in her character development (they are always people that I would like to be friends with), she is also very talented in her descriptive writing.  While reading the book I felt like I was right there, walking through the haunted house myself.

There is more than one mystery to solve in this book, which is the norm in this author’s books.  Who is vandalizing the haunted house (human or ghostly), who is stalking Chelsea and whose bones are hidden in the haunted house?  All of the mysteries have plenty of clues to sift through and building suspense until the end of the book.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  I really enjoyed the paranormal aspects of this book and I am sure that you will too.

Review of Frankencat

 

Frankencat

Whales and Tails, Book #13

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Cait and Tara are holding a book club meeting at Coffee Cat Books the week before Halloween. There are twelve participants reading Frankenstein as a storm rolls in. The storm intensifies and the lights go out thrusting the store into darkness. By the time the electricity is restored one of the book club members will be found dead.  (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded and are people that you would want to spend time with. Although Cody, Cait’s boyfriend, is not in this book very much, her best friend, Tara, is in it more than normal. Relationships are continuing to grow and I am enjoying watching them develop.  I always enjoy visiting these characters and catching up with what is happening in their lives.  And as usual,the cat, Frank, adds quite a lot to the story.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing.  She is able to create cozy small town settings that are places you would want to visit.  The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery is well developed and is carried on well from the beginning of the book until the end.   I really liked the premise of the killer being one of the women at the book club, it had an Agatha Christie vibe to it.  There were enough clues to keep me guessing until it was revealed at the end.  I will say, this ending greatly surprised me.   

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  With great characters, a great setting, a great mystery and a mystical touch, this is a must read book (and series).

Review of Camp Carter

 

Camp Carter

Zoe Donovan Mystery, Book #25

Kathi Daley

5 Stars
Synopsis:

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

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

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

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

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

 

Review of Second Look

Second Look

Writers Retreat Mystery, Book #2

Kathi Daley

5 Stars
Synopsis:

Jack and Jill and the entire gang from the writers retreat agree to take a second look at a five year old murder investigation.

Five years ago award winning actor Rhett Crawford threw a Halloween party for a group of family members and friends. The party, which actually took place over a four day weekend, was held at his beachfront estate on Gull Island. On the third night of the party the groundskeeper, Wylie Slater, found the body of one of the guests, Georgia Darcy, bludgeoned and left in the toolshed beyond the garden. The authorities were notified immediately and interviews of all guests on the property were conducted. It was eventually determined that the victim’s date, a man named Dru Breland, had most likely killed the woman before fleeing the scene of the crime.

According to witness statements, Georgia and her date had been bickering constantly during the course of their stay, and more than one witness had seen Dru slap Georgia before stomping off on the night she died. The authorities conducted an exhaustive search but were unable to locate Mr. Breland. As far as anyone associated with the investigation could find out, he was never seen again. Dru was a wealthy man with a depth of resources. It was assumed by most that he had fled the country and started a new life elsewhere under an assumed name.

Then five days ago, the oceanfront estate, once owned by Rhett Crawford but now owned by an out of state developer, had been scheduled for demolition. During the destruction of the house a human skeleton was found in a hidden room off the wine cellar. After a thorough investigation by the medical examiner and his team, it was determined that the body in the hidden room was in fact the decomposed remains of murder suspect, Dru Breland. My friend Jackson Jones, owner of the fledging Gull Island News, latched onto the story and seems determined to find out who killed Georgia Darcy five years ago, and how her date, Dru Breland, ended up in the secret room.

Jack knew that the five year old mystery would be a complicated one to unravel, so he asked me, Jillian Hanford, if I would be willing to present the mystery to the writers group I currently lived and sleuthed with. I agreed to Jack’s request which brings us to the regular Monday meeting of the eclectic group of writers I call friend but consider family.   (Goodreads)
Review:

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I was drawn in right away to the setting, the action, the mystery and the characters.  The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  But I must warn you, once you start reading you will not want to stop, so be prepared to be in it for the long haul.

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  I enjoyed spending more time with all writers and getting to know them a little better.  I liked seeing all of their quirks and personalities come through even more.  The author includes a list of characters at the beginning of the book that came in very handy.

The mystery is carried on well throughout the entire book.  There are a lot of suspects to consider and enough clues to sift through that solving this one will keep even the best armchair detective second guessing themselves.  Add in Blackbeard, a parrot (and one of my favorite characters) and Mortie, a ghost, and you have an intriguing fun mystery to solve.  

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

 

 

Review of Taming Of The Tabby

 

Taming Of The Tabby

Whales and Tails, Book #12

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

A murder, a wedding, and a teenager in danger, all collide in this fast paced mystery set on magical Madrona Island. Cait is in a terrible accident resulting in a temporary loss of memory. She can remember the events leading up to the accident but cannot remember what occurred or how she came to be on a remote part of the island in the middle of the night. When she finds a dead body on the road which is there one minute and the gone the next she decides she must be losing her mind. Cait sets out to piece together the events surrounding the accident while Cody agrees to watch out for a teenager on the run in this fast paced cozy mystery. (Goodreads)

Review:

This book grabbed me from the first page and took me along for a tension filled ride.  The first chapter had mystery and suspension, wondering what was going to happen to Cait. Once that was resolved there was another mystery waiting in the wings right away.  

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  Not only did we get to spend more time with Cait and Cody, we also got to spend time with Alyson, a character from another on series of this author, The Seacliff High Mystery series.  The author does a very good job of writing a crossover book that is entertaining..

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place.  The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.

I really like the paranormal aspects of this book.  Not only do we have Shadow, the mystical cat that has appeared to help Cait solve the mystery, but we also have Alyson, who happens to be able to see ghosts.  These two things combined made for a bit more paranormal than usual in this series, which I enjoyed.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  The author continues to write great books for her readers to enjoy.

 

 

 

Review of Murder At Water’s Edge

 

Murder At Water’s Edge

Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery, Book #6

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Luana Akina, a good friend of Lani’s, calls and informs her that her sister Mailie has been killed in an auto accident. The accident was determined to be just that, an accident, but Luana isn’t so sure that is the case. it seems that prior to her accident Mailie was involved in a local contest with a grand prize of $25,000. She suspected the results were being tampered with so had been quietly snooping around. The night before her accident Mailie had called Luana and told her she was close to something and the next day she was dead. Luana knows that Lani likes to investigate homicides so she asks for her help in uncovering what really happened to Mailie. The contest, which involves unlocking clues which lead to locations around the island where the next clue can be found, has a clause which allows for a substitute to be named should one of the contestants be unable to finish. Lani decides that the best way to help Luana find out what happened to her sister is to enter the contest as Mailie’s replacement in order to find out what is going on from the inside. She takes two weeks off work from her job as a water safety officer and then travels to Maui with her boyfriend Luke Austin.

Once Lani gets a feel for the game she quickly realizes that someone has hacked into the computer system and is tampering with the results. Luke is good on the computer but not nearly as good as their new friend Zak Zimmerman, so Lani calls new friend Zoe Donovan-Zimmerman and asks if she and Zak would be willing to come to Maui and help them uncover the conspiracy behind the mystery.

Join Luke and Lani, Zak and Zoe, as they race to uncover the clues faster than anyone else while outwitting a hacker and identifying a killer.  (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed.  Lani, Luke, Zoe and Zak are all likable characters that you would want to be friends with in real life.  As usual, this author’s characters really shine.  It was great to read about these friends in the same book.  

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The author always has a solid story line that pulls you in from the very beginning.  The mystery is carried on well throughout the entire story and it is a bit more complex than what is typically found in a cozy mystery.  

I would recommend this book (and all of this author’s series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  You cannot go wrong reading anything that she has written.

 

 

Review of Easter Escapade

 

Easter Escapade

Zoe Donovan Mystery, Book #24

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

In the first ever crossover episode, Zak and Zoe join forces with Hawaiian visitors Luke and Lani, to find out who killed a historian visiting Ashton Falls in order to find a treasure map left by his grandfather a hundred years earlier. Meanwhile, Ellie and Levi move in with Zak and Zoe while the boathouse is being renovated and Alex helps Ellie prepare the nursery for baby Eli who is due to be born any day. Throw in some humor and Easter fun and you have a Zak and Zoe crossover mystery.  (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional.  The author is very talented in her character development and I love spending time with them.   I really enjoyed the fact that four of my favorite characters were all together, solving a mystery and getting to know each other.  I could picture all of them being friends in real life and hanging out together.  I was glad to get to spend a little time with Ellie and Levi and I look forward to spending more time with them and their new baby in future books.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read.  Through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place around me.  The mystery is carried on well throughout the entire book and it was not easy to solve.  

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. The characters, the small town setting and the skillfully constructed mystery all combined to make this a book well worth reading.  Any fan of this author will greatly enjoy this book.  And if you have not read any of her books, what are you waiting for?

 

 

Review of Treasure in Paradise

 

Treasure In Paradise

Tj Jensen Mystery, Book #7

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

 
Synopsis:

“Daley’s characters come to life on the page. Her novels are filled with a little mystery and a little romance which makes for a murderous adventure.” – Tonya Kappes, USA Today Bestselling Author of Fixin’ To Die

Tj Jensen and her family head to Turtle Cove Resort for summer vacation, but their plans for rest and relaxation are thwarted when they find a dead treasure hunter in the attic of the resort’s main house. Initially vowing not to get involved, Tj quickly changes her tune when the Gull Island deputy on the case closes it after a bare bones investigation. All evidence points to foul play, and Tj’s determined to uncover what the deputy wants to keep hidden. With the help of her best friend and a chatty parrot, Tj digs up a centuries old legend, a hidden map, and secrets buried deeper than pirate’s treasure.

“I’m a huge fan of Kathi’s books. I think I’ve read every one. Without a doubt, she’s a gifted cozy mystery author and I eagerly await each new release!” – Dianne Harman, Author of the High Desert Cozy Mysteries

Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), book club recommendations, amateur sleuth books, small town.

Books in the Tj Jensen Mystery Series:

• PUMPKINS IN PARADISE (#1)
• SNOWMEN IN PARADISE (#2)
• BIKINIS IN PARADISE (#3)
• CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE (#4)
• PUPPIES IN PARADISE (#5)
• HALLOWEEN IN PARADISE (#6)
• TREASURE IN PARADISE (#7)

Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you’ll probably like them all…  (Goodreads)

 
Review:

The characters are well rounded and three dimensional.  Tj is  a loyal friend, persistent, and she cannot leave a mystery unsolved.  Kyle is a wonderful friend and is very happy to help Tj and her sisters anyway he can.  It was nice spending time with TJ, Kyle and her sisters and some of the other characters that I have met from this series. I really enjoyed getting to meet Blackbeard and he added a lot to the story.  The author is very talented in her character development and as usual, she created characters that I would like to know in real life. I felt like I would like to visit Gull Island to spend time with the residents.  

The mystery is carried on well throughout the entire book.  There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that I was not sure who the killer was until it was revealed at the end.   And there is a second mystery, whether or not there is really a treasure buried on the island, and if so, where it is at.  As usual, the author intertwines a couple of mysteries to create even more suspense.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  If this a new to you series, you can read this without getting confused.  And if you are are regular to the series, this book is a great edition.

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