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 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 Holiday Hangover

Holiday Hangover

Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery, Book # 23

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

In this snowy cozy mystery, Zak’s is asked to track down the source of the breech for the surveillance system at a remote ski resort in the Canadian Rockies. Scooter is away with his dad leaving Zoe feeling depressed and deflated so Zak asks Zoe to go along on the trip. With Levi and Ellie away as well, Zoe decides to join Zak only to find that the sleuthing couple has really been invited to the resort to solve a murder. Join Zak, Zoe, Alex, and Charlie as they juggle fun filled days on the slopes with theory building sessions as they attempt to track down a killer. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  We got to catch up a little with what is going on with Zoe and Zak, and that is always a good thing.  I will say I was a little sad because we did not get to spend time with Ellie and Levi, who were off on their honeymoon.  I hope they had a great time and come back ready to solve more mysteries in the next book.  But we got to meet some other characters, which I enjoyed.  There is a list of the people we meet in this book, and it really helped me to keep them straight in my mind.

The author continues to excel in her descriptive writing, and I felt like I was right there at the ski resort, watching all of the action taking place around me.  The mystery is well plotted and there are plenty of suspects to consider.  As is usual with this author, there are plenty of clues and red herrings spread throughout the book.  The hard part is putting all the clues together to figure out the killer.  

I would recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  If you are looking for a good series, with excellent characters, superb settings and mysteries that are well plotted, look no further than the Zoe Donovan Cozy Mysteries.

Review of Candy Cane Caper

 

Candy Cane Caper

Zoe Donvan Cozy Mystery, Book #22

Kathi Daley

5+ Stars

Synopsis:

Things go from crazy to insane in the Zimmerman household when Scooter’s dad comes to town, Zoe tries to find the perfect gift for Zak while helping out with Hometown Christmas, and Levi finds the body of bakeshop owner Candy Kane dead in the pantry. It’s funny, it’s family, it’s a Zak and Zoe Christmas mystery. (Goodreads)

Review:

I have to say that I have read and greatly enjoyed all of this author’s book.  I have read them all and none of them have been a disappointment.  But I must say that the Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery series had always been my favorite series written by this author.  I love the setting, I love the characters and I love spending time with them.  And I have to say that I think Candy Cane Caper is my favorite one so far.  There is a lot more drama and emotional challenges for the gang in this book and I, for one, got caught up in all of it.   The characters are so life like that I always feel like I am getting to visit old friends when I am reading.   

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy quick read.  The mystery is carried on well throughout the entire book.  There were enough suspects and clues to consider and twists and turns to make finding the killer difficult.  I did not figure it out until it was revealed at the end.  

I would highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery with top notch character development.  There is a lot going on in Ashton Falls and I cannot wait for the next book to be published to see how things turn out.  

https://www.amazon.com/Candy-Cane-Caper-Donovan-Mystery-ebook/dp/B01M0QF5J9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476830932&sr=8-1&keywords=candy+cane+caper

 

 

 

 

 

Review of Costume Catastrophe

Costume Catastrophe

Zoe Donovan Mystery Series, Book #21

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

It’s Halloween in Ashton Falls and that means Haunted Hamlet and the annual haunted house. Zoe is determined not to have her plans for this annual event ruined this year especially since it is also the weekend of the big game and a lot of old friends are in town. Things look as if they are on track for a spooktacular good time, until Zoe receives a message from an anonymous source predicting a death. At first Zoe and the gang think the note is a prank until one of the friends Zoe went to high school with actually turns up dead. Once Zoe realizes the note might not be a prank, she sets out on a race against time before someone else dies. (Goodreads)

 

Review:

When I have a book by this author, I never feel like I am reading a story.  Instead I feel like I am going to visit old friends, spending time with them and catching up on all that is happening in their lives.  And there was a lot of catching up to do, especially with Ellie and Levi.  Things are changing for Zoe and her gang and I am happy to be able to read about all of the changes that are taking place.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick, easy read.  The author is so talented in character development and atmosphere that I always feel like I am right there, watching all the action taking place and listening in on conversations.  I become so totally immersed in the story that reality fades away.  That is one of the many reasons that I love all the series that are written by this author

The mystery is carried on well throughout the entire book.  There were enough suspects to consider and enough clues to sift through that I was kept guessing until the very end.  I thought the big twist at the end was excellent and I never saw it coming (that’s what I like when I read a mystery).    

I would recommend this book (and series and author) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  If you are already a fan, you will enjoy the this next installment in Zoe and Zak’z life.  If you have never read any books by this author, do yourself a favor and start reading this series and all of her others.  You will definitely not be disappointed.

 

Review of Kitten Kaboodle

 

Kitten Kaboodle

Zoe Donovan Mystery, Book #20

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Zak’s honorary grandmother Nona decides to come to Ashton Falls for the summer. After arriving she meets and befriends an animal activist set on shutting down a kitten mill just outside of town. When the kitten mill owner is found dead on her barn floor, Nona becomes the prime suspect and Zoe sets out to prove her innocence. Kitten Kaboodle is chalked full of humor, surprises, and life changing events, as we discover who really framed Nona, the reason behind a visit from Zak’s mother, and Ellie’s shocking secret. (Goodreads)

Review:

As usual, a book written by this author has great character development.  I really enjoyed getting to spend more time with Zoe and the gang and see what has been happening in their lives.  I could read about them all day long and not get bored.  They feel like friends I have known for a long time.  And I got to read about Nona again and enjoy her antics and get aggravated by Zak’s mom.   I would not want her as a mother-in-law.

The mystery is carried on well throughout the entire book.  The are enough suspects and clues to keep the reader guessing and I was surprised at the outcome. The author has the ability lead you in different directions with the twists and turns, making it very difficult to solve the mystery.  I love when that happens.

I really enjoyed reading more about Zoe and her animal sanctuary.  I loved reading about the way she was able to rescue some newborn pups and how she took care of some of the sickly kittens. It was heartwarming and added another level to the story.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  If you have not had the pleasure of reading any of Kathi Daley’s books, it is time you got them and read them.  All of her series are fantastic.    

 

http://www.amazon.com/Kitten-Kaboodle-Donovan-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B01E7TW1QK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1464096514&sr=1-1&keywords=kitten+kaboodle

 

Review of Shamrock Shenanigans

Shamrock Shenanigans

Kathi Daley

5 Stars

Synopsis:

Zak and Zoe are invited to spend a long weekend in a real haunted castle as part of a murder mystery celebrity event. When one of the guests turns up dead – really dead – on the first night of the event, Zoe shifts into sleuth mode to track down a killer.

 

Review:

In this latest installment of the Zoe Donovan Mystery series, (the 19th book in the series), Zak and Zoe have gone away for a Murder Mystery weekend.  They have traveled to Ireland to attend the event in a haunted house, which Zoe is very excited about.  When a dead body is found, that excitement turns into apprehension and forces Zoe to investigate the murder herself,  The castle is isolated because of a fierce winter storm that closes all the roads and limits communication to the outside world. Hopefully the weather does not affect Zoe’s Zodar because with a limited list of suspects, this mystery may be the hardest of all to solve.

I have to say that I missed the hometown feel of Ashton Falls in this book. But the descriptions of the haunted castle and the blizzard were very detailed and made me feel like I was right there, watching the activity all around me.  I really enjoy when that happens to me when I am reading.  I also missed the usual characters from Ashton Falls, but I did enjoy the ghost encounter.  I have always enjoyed a good ghost story and this one is definitely good.  And it is always fun to spend time with Zak and Zoe and Charlie.   The ending is a real shocker and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The mystery is carried on well throughout the book and there are some twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, which is always a plus.  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  And if you enjoy ghost cozies, you will enjoy this one very much. If you have not read any of the Zoe Donovan mystery series, I would suggest you make it your New Year’s resolution to do so.

Review of Hopscotch Homicide

Synopsis:

When Zoe finds the body of the lunch lady on the hopscotch course the week before the new school year, she is pulled into a mystery that will find her volunteering as soccer mom, classroom mom, and PTA board member. It’s funny, it’s family, it’s a Zak and Zoe murder investigation.

  Review:

Once again, Zoe finds herself coming face-to-face with a dead body, through no fault of her own.  After  talking to the principal about allowing Scooter to return to school, she goes outside to see the new playground equipment donated to the school by Zak.  Just her luck, she finds the lunch lady dead on the hopscotch course.    Zoe begins investigating because well, that’s what she does.  Things do not add up in her mind and she has many questions that need to be answered.   Why was the lunch lady at school while it is still summer vacation?   Who would want her dead and why?  Did someone dislike the food that she served to the children so much that they killed her?  With the help of her friends, Zoe is determined to find the answers to all of these questions and catch the culprit.

Zoe has a lot going on in her life right now.  She is a newlywed and is adjusting to life as Zak’s wife.  She finds herself in a mothering role for both Scooter and Alex.  And the new school that she and Zac are opening is about to be a reality.  With all the other things that are happening, it will be tough to find the killer but she is determined to do just that.

As is typical in all of Kathi Daley’s books, the characters are well developed and people that you want to hang out with.  The boarders that are staying with Phyllis are a welcome addition to the story.  There are now more people to get to know and to learn their stories, and I like this.  Ellie and Levi are helping Zoe and trying to figure out their relationship and I enjoyed getting an update on them.

And speaking of Phyllis, I enjoyed the added story of her and her new boarders.  I read those chapters separately and it felt like I was reading another new series by Kathi Daley.  That is a great thing.  I like the fact that Phyllis is older in years but not in experience and that her young boarders want to help her update her image.  And I love the bedtime ritual between Phyllis and her cat, Charlotte.  These additional chapters are a welcome addition to the Zoe series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy.  If you have already met Zoe, this book is great addition to the series.  If you have not met her, what are you waiting for?  Reading this entire series and get to know Zoe and her gang.  You will not be disappointed.

Ghostly Graveyard Kathi Daley

A message from author Kathi Daley about one of her future books:

So I decided to go a little different direction with the Ghostly Graveyard cover. I love the covers for Halloween Hijinks and Haunted Hamlet but they are very similar. I wanted a cover that would stand out so we decided to go with bright rather than traditional Halloween colors. What do you think? Personally I was a bit hesitant at first to use these colors but I like the way it turned out.

Hopscotch Homicide

#1 Amazon New Release in cozy culinary mystery.

It’s funny, it’s family, it’s a Zak and Zoe murder investigation.

When Zoe finds the body of the lunch lady on the hopscotch course the week before the new school year, she is pulled into a mystery that will find her volunteering as soccer mom, classroom mom, and PTA board member.

Hopscotch Homicide (Zoe Donovan Mystery Book 16)

When Zoe finds the body of the lunch lady on the hopscotch course the week before the new school year, she is pulled into a mystery that will find her volunteering as soccer mom, classroom mom, and PTA board member. It’s…

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