It never ceases to amaze me how entrenched in the lives of the residents of the small town of Redwood Grove I have become while reading the new series “A Secret Bookcase Mystery” by Ellie Alexander. Each book in the series advances the character development as well as provide the reader with a new murder mystery to solve in every story. Additionally, we get ever closer to having the main protagonist, Annie, get closer to the truth about her best friend Scarlet’s death… and who caused it… and maybe even why!
Given the name of the book, A Victim at Valentine’s, one can surmise that there might be a “love” theme to this book, and there is ☺. Annie Murray (part owner of the Secret Bookcase bookshop) and the gang at the bookshop are partnering with a professional matchmaker (Storybook Romances) to provide a romance themed weekend. A weekend, I might add, that sounds like a lot of fun. Well, until George Richards (Redwood Grove’s largest benefactor), business advisor and potential investor of Storybook Romances ends up dead. With a murder to solve, Annie’s efforts to pursue the investigation into who murdered her best friend Scarlet are put on hold temporarily… or are they? Some interesting turn of events do push Annie ever closer to finding out who did murder Scarlet – and this puts Annie is some danger of her own.
As stated previously, the character development seems seamless from one book in the series to the next. Every story arc progresses and provides the reader with just the right amount of development while also leaving the reader wanting to learn more about each character…and the mystery surrounding Scarlet’s death. We get to see Annie sift threw the clues and suspects to come to a conclusion as to who the murderer is. I did not definitively know who the culprit was until the end – which I have said before – is just the way I like my cozy mysteries.
In this book, we get the added bonus of watching Fletcher Hughes (Annie’s colleague and soon to be co-owner of the bookstore) pursue a new love interest. This surprised Annie -> seeing Fletcher flirt! And of course, Annie’s relationship with Liam is still progressing organically. Nice to see Annie having someone close to her that will look out after her and provide her with love and support as she still is working through the trauma of Scarlet’s death, even all these years later.
I love the cover art for this series but I must say, I especially liked this books cover art. I liked the fact that the crows, Jekyll and Hyde, are on the cover – as they do play a role in this book.
This fifth book in the “A Secret Bookcase Mystery” series is a true winner in my mind. It encompasses all that I hope a cozy mystery will be. A mystery to solve, many options as to “whodunit” and a clever amateur sleuth. Let’s not forget a great location (and a bookstore certainly is in my view ☺). I will anxiously await the next installment of the series. So I suggest grabbing your beverage of choice, sit down in a comfy spot and set aside numerous hours (well – at least for me) to immerse yourself in a truly delightful cozy mystery by Ellie Alexander!
I cannot wait until the next installment of A Secret Bookcase Mystery is released!!!
Historical fiction is a relatively new genre for me but I must say, with writers like Noelle Salazar and books like The Roaring Days of Zora Lily, I am happy to incorporate historical fiction into my reading mix!
I am not always into dual timelines but this title seems to make it work. Most likely as it begins in current times (2023) and does not switch back and forth too often.
The story begins with a curator setting up an exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History – displaying fashion from the 1920’s, when she comes upon another name under the designer label of one of the dresses. And so the story begins – who is Zora Lily? The Roaring Days of Zora Lily then switches to the 1920’s where the reader follows the life of Zora Hough as she follows her dreams of becoming a seamstress. In the early days, Zora is trying to assist her family in surviving poverty by helping her mother with sewing repairs until she takes a job with the Harrington’s as a nanny. Zora spreads her wings as a young woman in the 1920’s in Seattle by enjoying the night life of the time – going to speakeasies in the evening with her friend, Rose after her work day as a nanny is done. Gosh how I would have loved to hear all that jazz in person ☺. During these night time excursions, Zora meets Harley – a business man whom Zora immediately becomes smitten with (always love a good love story). All the while Zora is working on designs of dresses she hopes to create one day.
When Zora was deciding what to wear on one special day…. The following demonstrates the beauty of her designs…
“It was the shade of blue that the sky turns right before it goes navy. Structured cap sleeves, my signature wide neckline to accentuate the collarbones, and then faint scalloped stitching that started at the top and turned to beads midway down before cascading to my knees in overlapping pieces that fluttered prettily when I walked.”
I was intrigued and engaged not only by the storytelling, but by catching a glimpse of life back in the 1920’s. As I am a fan of the music of that era, I was delighted to be immersed in that aspect in addition to the fashion of the time period. Zora had a hard life with many ups and downs, but through it all, she seemed to be filled with her hopes and dreams and she just continually strived to accomplish them and become the woman she was meant to be.
The cover art enhanced my desire to read the book. I loved Zora’s creation(s) – they were depicted beautifully. Fashion was unique then, as was the music and era.
If you enjoy historical fiction at its finest, both storytelling wise and the story itself (and you have a love for fashion (and who wouldn’t with fashion designers from that time period?), then I suggest picking up The Roaring Days of Zora Lily and spending a few hours back in the roaring 20’s....more
Gobble, Gobble Murder is a compilation of two of Leslie Meier’s Thanksgiving themed cozy mysteries that have been released previously: Turkey Day Murder (book #7) and Turkey Trot Murder (book #24). I have always had Ms. Meier on my to-be-read pile of cozy mystery writers to read, but these two books made it to the front of my pile first. A nice introduction to her writing style of story telling.
First up – Turkey Day Murder. What can I say? It was crafted well enough and the mystery was sufficient but for some reason, I was not able to “love” this story. It seemed to fall flat for me. The main storyline was a divide amongst the town members who want a casino and those that do not. Also, it seemed that Lucy Stone should have been more prepared for her child going off to school. She seemed a bit whiny, if I must say. And to me – that is not attractive in an amateur sleuth.
My thoughts are that the story felt like it was progressing very slowly at the beginning (snails pace actually). It seemed that in the beginning all we got was Lucy worrying about the Thanksgiving meal she was going to serve now that there were extra guests (and that her son’s friends were rather thoughtless as guests in her house) and stressing over being an empty-nester.
I do think, if I was a part-time reporter and had to sit through the town’s Board of Selectmen meetings (usually long and boring) – I might be a bit grumpy and whiny as well. Lucy sets out to discover who killed killed Mettincut Indian activist, Curt Nolan.
There were enough twists and turns (i.e. red herrings) to keep this reader guessing, for the most part, as to whodunit. And of course – that is a must for me to enjoy a cozy mystery. Well – that and an interesting amateur sleuth.
Second – Turkey Trot Murder. I did find this story capturing my interest a bit more.
One day as Lucy is training for the Turkey Trot run – she notices a body of a girl, who appears to have fallen through the ice and frozen to death during Lucy’s run. As Lucy learns more about the victim – she is not convinced it is an accident. And of course, this leads to Lucy trying to solve the murder. What really amped up the angst in this book is that the father of the deceased girl (Alison Franklin) goes on a bit of a rampage and starts blaming the towns opiate problem for his daughter’s death. He then proceeds to blame immigrants (especially the Mexican immigrants) for the problem. Then he is shot to death in his car. Now Lucy must try and find out who killed both Alison and her dad.
If that isn’t action packed enough, I don’t know what is. I found my interest held and I really could not wait to find out “whodunit”.
I thought the cover art was clever, but then from what I have seen, most of Ms. Meier’s covers are fun and engaging.
If you are in the mood for Thanksgiving cozy mystery reads, then Gobble, Gobble Murder will provide you two complete Lucy Stone Mysteries in one volume to read (both have been previously published). You will be kept on your toes (turkey toes that is) guessing whodunit. And of course – you will probably be craving a delicious turkey dinner as well ...more
Evergreen Christmas has certainly started my holiday reading off! As Ms. Dailey has passed more than ten years ago and from notes in the beginning of the book – a close associate of Janet Dailey’s along with notes, ideas and favourite themes left by Ms. Dailey were used to be able to capture relatable small-town characters and heartwarming holiday magic stuffed with new beginnings, family and romance and carry on her literary dreams. And for this – I am happy. I am new to Janet Dailey’s writings and will most undoubtedly go back and read many more J. Meanwhile – this newest book had me enthralled from the very beginning.
Jordan Banks comes into the quaint town of Noel, North Carolina with her horse, Star. Jordan has purchased a vacant farm (Chestnut Ridge) of her own with enough acreage to start working on her dream of breeding horses now that she has retired from barrel racing on the rodeo circuit. All she wants to do is settle down and have a home of her own, since she was in foster card from the age of four onwards. Jordan is spotted by four women (whom are in their seventies) and better known as Noel’s Nanas: Carol Belle Bennett – self-appointed leader, Kandy Lyons, Eve Knight and Holly Wyld. I got the sense that these four women could certainly cause challenges for Jordan – and let me tell you – they certainly played an integral part in some of the mayhem that ensued! All I can say – certainly chuckle worthy!!!
The male protagonist is Nate Reed, widower of six years and father to an adorable six-year-old child named Roxie (Roxanna). Nate happens to own the ranch next door (Frosted Firs Ranch) to the property Jordan has bought. Oh, and did I mention that the single women of Noel think he is a real catch, if only he was emotionally available! Hmmm… I get the sense that there will be something between Nate and Jordan? Okay – who am I kidding – of course there will be. What the reader gets to experience is the mischief that the Noel Nanas orchestrate. Just plain fun is all I can say.
The characters have depth and their back stories come out in what seemed like a very organic way. The story line was not rushed and neither was the romance either. I really enjoyed the pacing in the story. This is especially true when a young child is involved. I am a firm believer that the adults must certainly take into consideration any child and their feelings. And I am happy to report that Nate was cautious (well – maybe a little too cautious?). But it is a process and the reading audience get to experience Nate’s process. Good thing his brother is around to give him a nudge (or shove) in the right direction J.
Walking the reader through all of the events leading up to the towns Christmas competition’s conclusion with the Christmas Crown being awarded to the participant with the highest score after all the events was a fun journey with many moments that kept this particular reader smiling. I must say, some of the contests were very funny and I was surprised at the outcome of each and every contest.
The romantic, Christmas themed journey I was lead through was enchanting, engaging and down right fun (and funny at times). As I have a penchant for Christmas books (and romance), I try to read them all year (or at least try when I am not satisfying my fondness for mysteries). I recommend this book and am looking forward to the continuation of this series....more
Having read many Science Comics, I must say, that while Human Spaceflight: Rockets and Rivalry was filled with lots of information and really great graphics, I found the pace and content a bit overwhelming.
At times I found it hard to follow as it seemed to jump back and forth quite a bit between the history of launching rockets and the rivalry between the USA and Russia re: spaceflight. In all fairness, compared to many other Science Comics – it may just be the topic. I have always really enjoyed the other ones that I have read!
The graphic novel was filled a lot of information. I did enjoy learning about the history surrounding the launching of rockets since the early days of rockets. Guess I am just not that interested in the rivalry between the USA and Russia.
I think readers who are a bit reticent to read would enjoy this format – who doesn’t love a comic book :). The reader gets a lot of information in a fun way and easy to read format. ...more
Finally, having read Pumpkin Spice Puppy I have begun reading the Melanie Travis Canine Mystery series by Laurien Berenson. Beginning at book 30 has not been a problem, other than to say to myself – why did I wait so long to read one of Ms. Berenson’s books???
What attracted me first was the cover of the book! The Chow Chow puppy is SO cute. Got me going down a rabbit hole looking at pictures of this breed of dog. That was fun. And then I began reading the story…
Melanie Travis is first and foremost a mom to a kindergartener who attends Howard Academy (and another son as well). The school has come up with the following fundraiser -> the students will partake in a town-wide treasure hunt where they will pick up tokens. Everything is going very well, until one town merchant lodges a complaint. And then before Melanie is able to have a talk with him to smooth things over, she discovers him dead! During Melanie’s inquiries, we learn of many potential suspects for the murder!
Seems there are many potential suspects…unhappy neighbours, an ex-wife who is NOT happy with him, and his adult daughter to name a few. And Melanie must sift through the list of people to determine whodunit! There are a number of twists and turns but in the end – we are lead to the killer (whom I had an inkling of who it might be ...more
The fourth book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander is a definite hit with me! A Holiday Homicide embraces all that I cherish in a cozy mystery, infused with a holiday seasoned theme – what more could one ask for? Engaging characters, interesting whodunit which captured my interest throughout and wonderful character development.
Redwood Grove is abuzz with the latest event being hosted by the Secret Bookcase – a gingerbread house competition. Talk about getting someone in the holiday mood – the following passage certainly got to me:
“The bookstore was my favorite place on the planet on an average ordinary day, but during the holidays, it was pure magic. Festive jazz music drifted along the corridors of the restored English country estate that now housed the largest mystery bookshop on the West Coast. I made my way to the Foyer, where dazzling golden twinkle lights greeted me, along with two small Christmas trees flanking the front doors.”
Okay – back to the story. The Secret Bookcase is holding a competition, with many Gingerbread House baker’s in attendance. Stiff competition unfortunately yields a tragic event – the death of Lily – a social media influencer and baker! And of course with this happening, Annie is driven to piece together the series of events that have lead to this death. We find out the baking community is certainly not all sweetness, but a ruthless bunch of baker’s! Who would have thought? There are many red herrings to keep readers guessing. And if I am being truthfully honest – that is the way I like my cozy mysteries – guessing until the end.
Annie and her new beau Liam are also progressing nicely in the advancement of their relationship. I am quite enjoying this slow burn; happy they are not rushing their relationship.
I enjoyed the interaction between Pri (Annie’s bestie) and Annie as they are walking to the pub, moving towards Annie’s opportunity of taking a step to bringing Scarlet’s killer to justice – talk about nervous (both Annie and this reader). This also reminded me of discussions re: Santa I had with my parents previously as a child:
“I can’t remember a time I was this nervous, and also strangely excited,” I admitted. “It’s kind of like Christmas Eve. I was also super excited for presents and slightly terrified of actually seeing Santa Claus.”
“Totally normal. It’s a strange dude coming down the chimney. Think about the lyrics to ‘Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town’. ‘He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake.’ Stalker much?” She laughed and squeezed my hand tighter as the pathway spilled out onto the village square.”
Concurrently, she is also moving along her fact finding mission with respect to the events that lead to Scarlet’s death all those years ago. The death which occurred while Annie and Scarlet were investigating a cold case as part of the requirements for a criminology course they were taking.
The continuing steps Annie is taking towards solving the murder of Scarlett throughout this series is a theme which, if you have not read the series from the beginning, warrants the reader to start the series at the beginning as this will add depth to the stories as each are read. The reader will understand Annie’s motivation and get a real sense of her history. Though note that A Holiday Homicide can be read as a stand alone.
I am so thrilled with this series and this latest installment. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, excellent story telling, Christmas themed stories and baked goods (and who doesn’t), then pick up a copy of A Holiday Homicide and get settled for a cozy read ...more
he Book Club Hotel was bound to be a hit with me as I love reading, I am in a book club, Christmas is a favourite time of year for me and I really enjoy the writing of Sarah Morgan (though to date I have only read two books, soon to be rectified ...more
What can I say about My Missing Daughter? Brilliant! I was totally engaged throughout the storytelling and was surprised how the story unfolded in the end. It began a wee bit slow but once it caught fire (so to speak), the story, red herrings and everything else unfolded fast and furious. I have read a hand full of books by Ellery A. Kane and fully enjoyed each and every book. This author does not disappoint!
The tale begins with two best friends embarking on a road trip to finish the book they have been writing “The Road Trip” and provide some much needed hype abut the book through various avenues of social media. The girls, Amelia Ford and Willow Barrett, have been friends since elementary school and their respective family homes are on the same street. Both girls are aspiring writers who have embarked upon the journey of writing a thriller. As they take this journey, many twists and turns emerge. Willow and Amelia, while best friends have been keeping secrets from each other…and this is going to cause a whole lot of hurt between them.
The story is told from two different points of view (POV). One POV is from the mother (Tracy) of the missing girl Willow, while the other is from postings on social medial that Willow has made during the trip to Niagara Falls. After getting familiar and used to the different perspectives, I found the read very engaging. At times, I did not want to put the book down!
During this road trip, for finishing the book and creating hype for its release many “unusual” events happen. There are accidents, deaths, money “events”, intimate relations, etc. To go into too much detail would spoil it for the next reader – so I shall not expound upon the actual storyline(s) themselves. Suffice it to say – many events happened which kept me thinking “what next” and “why” and “by whom”???
There was a lot of tension between the mothers of the two girls. Their tenuous “friendship” is very rapidly disintegrating and there is a lot of “the blame game” going around. This also produces some interesting moments and provides lots of fodder for my thinking now that I have finished the book.
This book was engaging and still (even a few days later) has me thinking about the story and all the twists and turns (and secrets!!). The truth was hard to come by… but I think this is what made the book such a page turner.
Do you like mysteries with an edge, psychological thrillers, murder and mayhem? If so, I suggest you read this newest book written by Ellery A. Kane – My Missing Daughter. You will be in for a wild ride which will keep you on the edge of your seat!...more
The second title in the series, Cold Brew Corpse, by Tara Lush has been a delight to read (just like book #1 – Grounds for Murder – I might add). Engaging, entertaining and kept me guessing throughout.
As Lana settles into life running Perkatory (the family coffee house business) and training her new puppy (Stanley), a cutie of a golden Shih Tzu puppy, after leaving her journalist job in Miami, she is hit with an opportunity from the local newspaper. Write a story about the missing yoga studio owner, whom was Lana’s next door work neighbour…and when she is found dead – that just adds to the story that needs to be told. This may pique Lana’s interest in potentially returning to Journalism – time will tell.
Lana’s inner amateur sleuth (though is a journalist at heart really an amateur sleuth) will be working overtime to find out who and why Raina Rose was killed. Turns out Raina is not the nicest person and thus there are a number of enemies (both past and present) for Lana to sift through in her quest for the truth about Raina’s demise. Many red herrings to keep the reader entertained, if not a wee bit annoyed!
There is a secondary mystery, which really, really needs to be solved. Why is the cold brew beverage from Perkatory tasting off? As expected, that mystery is also solved, but the road to pleasant tasting cold coffee is not as easily achieved as one would think. But thankfully, it is achieved ...more
Officer Elvis is the second book in the Darla Cavannah Mysteries series. Though this is the first book by author Gary Gusick that I have read, I am happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery :) I plan on reading the first book as well now!
This is a novel featuring Darla Cavannah. She is a strong-willed female detective from the North, living and working in Jackson, Mississippi. In this story Darla is investigating the murder of a fellow law enforcement officer (and her former partner) and part-time Elvis impersonator on the side, Tommy Reylander. Lieutenant Darla Cavannah is with the MBI – Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (statewide agency), Jackson Office. While Tommy’s death is a local matter, Darla pushes to have the case…..
“Remember the line at the end of the movie The Maltese Falcon? When somebody kills your partner, you’re supposed to do something about it.” Major Shelby Mitchell does not want a dud of a case hanging around, and I quote:
“the unsolved murder of a fellow police officer is not the kind of case a law enforcement official in my position wants hanging around his neck, not if he has in mind to keep his job. As you well know, I officially serve at the will and pleasure of the governor. Which means I can be sacked without so much as a never you mind. …Lookie here, Miss Darla, the media is going to have a feeding frenzy if Tommy’s killer ain’t caught. And I don’t favor them feeding on me.” Shelby finally capitulates and gives Darla 3 days to solve the crime, or it gets dumped back to a local county sheriff. There is no one on staff that Darla would want to work with (their thoughts “Darla had a directness and lack of gentility that most Mississippians-including most of the other detectives in the bureau-saw as offensive.”) So, Darla is paired up with Rita Gibbons, a quirky character that once you get to know her idiosyncrasies, she is quite the character…which Darla learns and comes to appreciate. They made quite the crime solving team.
The twists and turns abound. One murder turns into another and then another….looks like a plot to kill all Elvis impersonators? With superior sleuthing skills, Darla uncovers something bigger than first anticipated, a serial killer of Elvis impersonators. But why? Well that you will have to discover for yourself. The mystery was well laid out and kept my attention throughout the book.
The manner in which all the different Elvis’ were introduced kept my interest. And Cilla (Tommy’s widow) kept me smiling. I could SO picture her! Big hair and all. I was said though when that beautiful car was trashed by way of explosion. Really??? Sacrilegious to blow up such a fine vehicle – in my opinion. I also loved all the song title dropping. Like a blast from the past of a well-loved entertainer. “All Shook Up”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, etc.
If you are a fan of Elvis, murder mysteries and could use a few good laughs at the same time, pick up this book and give it a read. You won’t be sorry. Thank you, thank you very much. :)
*OBS would like to thank the author and TLC Book Tours for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Officer Elvis is the second book in the Darla Cavannah Mysteries series. Though this is the first book by author Gary Gusick that I have read, I am happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery :) I plan on reading the first book as well now!
This is a novel featuring Darla Cavannah. She is a strong-willed female detective from the North, living and working in Jackson, Mississippi. In this story Darla is investigating the murder of a fellow law enforcement officer (and her former partner) and part-time Elvis impersonator on the side, Tommy Reylander. Lieutenant Darla Cavannah is with the MBI – Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (statewide agency), Jackson Office. While Tommy’s death is a local matter, Darla pushes to have the case…..
“Remember the line at the end of the movie The Maltese Falcon? When somebody kills your partner, you’re supposed to do something about it.” Major Shelby Mitchell does not want a dud of a case hanging around, and I quote:
“the unsolved murder of a fellow police officer is not the kind of case a law enforcement official in my position wants hanging around his neck, not if he has in mind to keep his job. As you well know, I officially serve at the will and pleasure of the governor. Which means I can be sacked without so much as a never you mind. …Lookie here, Miss Darla, the media is going to have a feeding frenzy if Tommy’s killer ain’t caught. And I don’t favor them feeding on me.” Shelby finally capitulates and gives Darla 3 days to solve the crime, or it gets dumped back to a local county sheriff. There is no one on staff that Darla would want to work with (their thoughts “Darla had a directness and lack of gentility that most Mississippians-including most of the other detectives in the bureau-saw as offensive.”) So, Darla is paired up with Rita Gibbons, a quirky character that once you get to know her idiosyncrasies, she is quite the character…which Darla learns and comes to appreciate. They made quite the crime solving team.
The twists and turns abound. One murder turns into another and then another….looks like a plot to kill all Elvis impersonators? With superior sleuthing skills, Darla uncovers something bigger than first anticipated, a serial killer of Elvis impersonators. But why? Well that you will have to discover for yourself. The mystery was well laid out and kept my attention throughout the book.
The manner in which all the different Elvis’ were introduced kept my interest. And Cilla (Tommy’s widow) kept me smiling. I could SO picture her! Big hair and all. I was said though when that beautiful car was trashed by way of explosion. Really??? Sacrilegious to blow up such a fine vehicle – in my opinion. I also loved all the song title dropping. Like a blast from the past of a well-loved entertainer. “All Shook Up”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, etc.
If you are a fan of Elvis, murder mysteries and could use a few good laughs at the same time, pick up this book and give it a read. You won’t be sorry. Thank you, thank you very much. :)
*OBS would like to thank the author and TLC Book Tours for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*...more
Call me pleasantly surprised ☺. Death in the Romance Isle by Lynn Cahoon is an engaging cozy mystery which garnered my attention from the beginning and kept me captivated throughout the entire read. I don’t usually say such things when I enter a series late, but in this case, it is appropriate.
Death in the Romance Isle begins with the main protagonist, Rarity Cole, running her bookstore (The Next Chapter – love the name) as usual. What is disconcerting is that shortly after Marcus comes to town (the brother of Rarity’s best friend – Sam Aarons), a body is found – the body of a new hire of the bookstore (Janey Ford). Janey and Marcus had just met, gone to a party and a date the next day… and then she turned up dead. Yikes! To add in a bit of complexity – previously in Marcus’ life, he was briefly thought of as a suspect in a death of a previous girlfriend (her death was later classified as a suicide). So when the body of Janey turns up in the quarry – Marcus is thought of as a prime suspect. We cannot also forget about the other new hire at the bookstore, Caleb, as a suspect as he seems to be a love struck young man for the newly departed. Ah – unrequited love. And possibly more suspects (?) as one will find out as they read this engaging story.
Rarity does have a trusty side-kick – her tan Yorkie named Killer. Love the name – especially for such a small dog, who turns out to actually be a very friendly, but protective dog of Rarity. There are, of course, many other characters in the book whom I find endearing. Unfortunately, one of them is the newly departed Janey. Sure wish we had been able to get to know her a wee bit before her demise. But such is the life of a character in a cozy mystery.
I really enjoyed the progression of another character, Shirley, throughout the story. Good to see her place of importance as oftentimes it seems that senior citizens are portrayed with a brevity as to their life experiences. In this story – that is far from it. And I loved it!
One fact that made me bond with this book is that part of the story was centred in a couple of towns in Arizona – Sedona and Flagstaff. Flagstaff is the town I lived in for many years before my family immigrated to Canada. This definitely evoked warm and fuzzy thoughts of the location. As this is a series – I plan on going back and starting at book one – something I rarely do ☺. Okay to be fair – I also really loved that this book is centred around a book club…what is not to love about that?
As far as cozy mysteries go, Death in the Romance Isle contains many possible suspects, which the amateur sleuth works through. There are many red herrings but in the end, after much trial and tribulation, the sleuth (along with the help of the local constabulary) do solve the mystery. The other story lines were also engaging and entertaining. I am not giving many details of the solving of the mystery and I want each new reader to discover and enjoy this aspect of the story themselves. Suffice it to say – I recommend this book!I really enjoyed this story and if you were to pick up only one cozy mystery this year and you are a lover of books, might I suggest Death in the Romance Isle. Lynn Cahoon did justice to the mystery and the progression of the main character (and many others I might add) throughout the story. An enjoyable, engaging and a good whodunit right to the end. Had me guessing up to the end – just the way I like my cozy mysteries!...more
Cover Story is a delightful addition to the Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery series by Erika Chase. We join the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society (now isn’t that a mouthful!) as they welcome back to town Teensy Coldicutt, a friend of Molly Mathews.
The crux of the story is that Teensy (a published author now) brings to town 150 copies of her novel and then the books are stolen! What the heck is that about? And then Teensy’s publisher turns up dead. To top it all off, the person charged with the crime is fellow book club member Bob Miller, a retired police chief. This is not good, but the club is on it.
I loved the word plays – for example: Lizzie to Mark:
”Time for a quickie? Espresso, I mean.” He grinned. “Yeah”.
Always friction between Lizzie and Mark with respect to her involvement in solving murder cases: ...more
What I can say about One Good Thing by Alexandra Potter is that it is one of my favourite books I have read in book club this year! A new to me author who stands out as being able to bring many emotions out in me as I read, which is frequently NOT the case.
Olivia (Liv) Brooks is starting over following a divorce. She has decided to move from her London home to a sleepy village in Yorkshire – Nettlewick. Interesting choice – but when one wants a transformation, what better way then to move to a location where their childhood was happy and filled with wonderful memories? So Liv buys a fixer-upper of a home as well as adopts a dog. As Liv is completing the paperwork to adopt a puppy, she sees “Harry”, an older dog who looks so sad and forlorn. The rescue charity employee tells Liv “he just needs something good to happen”. That clinches it – Liv adopts this dog and names him Harry. I must say – I love that Liv got the older dog and not the puppy. And the bond they developed throughout the story was priceless.
While Liv takes Harry on short walks around town, they come upon various and sundry people -> a young boy named Stanley who is playing in his yard all alone and Valentine, an old man who seems so lonely. Also playing a prominent part in the story is Maya – a young girl who is rebellious teen about to embark on a new phase of her life.
Liv’s house needs massive renovations to become liveable and as it turns out, the crew she hires includes Ben – Liv’s crush from when she lived there previously, Ben is also Stanley’s father (which she finds out farther on in the book).
While this is a wonderful read, one must also be aware that there is an undertone of grief and anxiety for many of the characters which must be worked through so that life is once again happy and fulfilling. Liv of course is working through the trauma of her husband of many years running off with a young woman. As Liv develops a passing friendship with Valentine as a result of Liv’s and Harry’s daily walks past Valentine’s home – we discover that Valentine is trying to come to grips with his wife’s advancing dementia. In many respects, this type of loss is much more difficult than a sudden loss… watching ones loved one forget them slowly. I could not imagine the pain that Valentine is going through. But Valentine takes a shine to Harry. While on the walking route, Harry and Liv pass by Stanley’s home and this young, extremely shy boy takes a shine to Harry, seemingly coming out of his shell with the dog.
It is amazing the healing power of pets. Each of these characters were able to heal as a result of their interactions with Harry. And the walks slowly allowed Harry to regain his mobility and his own vim and vigor.
The comment by Naomi -> “Ageing is a privilege” -> definitely hit home. Not everyone gets a long and fulfilling life – so we should all embrace what we have and love and enjoy the people in our lives while they are in it. The scene where the reader learns of Gisele’s passing made me tear up, and this is usually not something I do when I read a book. Very powerful, because the writer made this reader become invested in each of the characters and their lives.
I found the descriptions of the countryside very encompassing, so much so that I easily visualized the walking route that Liv and Harry took and the countryside visited during various outings.
And lest we forget, the romance portion of the story was well done. The locations of the dates that Ben and Liv went on were nice. The pace of their romance was perfect – not too slow and not too rushed. Even when challenges arose – I felt like they were handled in a relatively mature manner ...more
Sweet Troublemaker is the first in the Indigo Bay Second Chances series by Canadian author Jean Oram. This is a “new to me” series by this author, whom is also fairly new to me as well. I found her writing style engaging, witty and with a bit (or a lot) of romantic angst.
I found the main characters (Polly and Nick) both had depth and substance as characters. Both were flawed as well as slightly injured with respect to their individual past romances, which added to their relatability. And for this Canadian reader – I found that Polly was from Canada and Nick from the US kind of fun.
Nick and Polly were involved as teenagers but have not seen each other in over two decades. You could tell that the “spark” from their teen years was still present. They come together to celebrate the wedding of Nick’s uncle and quickly become involved in the preparations for the wedding when the wedding planner quits. Can these two work so closely together to pull off a wonderful wedding? I quite enjoyed the ingenuity of Polly and Nick when problem solving various aspects of pulling together the wedding. Let me tell you – there was also some HEAT between the two – and that certainly added a fun dimension.
In the end – would the cowboy from Texas end up with the gal from Canada? Guess you will have to read this engaging romance and find out! I anticipate you will enjoy the writing of Ms. Oram as much as I have. So much so that I have gone ahead and gotten more of this delightful series (Indigo Bay Second Chances) to read ...more
As a lover of coffee as well as cozy mysteries, when I saw this title at my local library, by a “new-to-me” author, I could not resist. And I must say, I am very glad I picked up Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush as I was truly engaged and entertained throughout the entire story.
The premise -> Lana Lewis has had a bit of bad luck. Following the disillusion of her marriage, getting let go from her dream job as a reporter and then the passing of her mother, Lana goes home to Devil’s Beach, Florida to run her mother’s coffee shop - Perkatory (what a great name!!!) - and recoup from the bout of bad luck. Just after entering the Sunshine State Barista Championship, Lana’s talented barista Fabrizio quits and goes to work for her rival coffee shop. So what shall Lana do without Fab and his talents in the contest? Perkatory is sure to lose now. After Lana has a big blowout with Fab, but before she can explain her bad behaviour and make things right with Fab - he turns up dead. Oh my…not good on so many levels. Many people from the rival coffee house witnessed the blow-up. So what’s a girl to-do? Well, when her journalistic instincts kicked in, Lana began investigating on her own in hopes of figuring out what happened. To note, with Fab now deceased, who will look after his shih tzu? Luckily for this pup - Lana took a shine to Stanley as there are no relatives close by and the only one Lana knows of does not care about Fab’s puppy. Whew…as I would hate to see a pup get lost in the shuffle.
While trying to figure out what happened to Fab, Lana must also hire more staff and learn to perfect her latte artwork, if there is a hope of winning the Sunshine State Barista Championship. Luckily for Lana, she hires a seasoned barista with mad latte artwork skills. So there may be a hope of winning now? If only one could solve the mystery of how Fab died. The way Lana used her journalistic reporter skills (and her pushy attitude) to elicit information from a variety of sources was thought-provoking. Gave me a whole new appreciation for journalists.
What I found interesting and engaging about this story was that there were many unique characters -> starting with Lana’s hippy dad. A character he was. Also - Fab was an interesting character albeit short lived in the living category. A man who did not shy away from dating many, many women. He also seemed involved in some shady business with alligators. Oh my! Regardless, the reader did get a sense of who Fab was prior to his death. Chief Noah Garcia and his budding connection to Lana is certainly something to watch in future books - how romantic can they go? I liked their pace so far -> slow and steady.
I loved the picture of Stanley on the front cover. He is such a cutie. But then - I am a sucker for a cute looking animal on the cover.
In the end, Lana did solve the mystery (was there any doubt? and yes you will have to read the book to find out “whodunit” as there are MANY viable suspects to sift through), write her article (sort of), get a bit cozier with the chief and settled in at Perkatory with her new barista Erica. And as far as the results from the Sunshine State Barista Championship event - well you know the answer…read the book!
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, a scenic location, dogs and of course coffee…then might I suggest you pick up this first in a series book - Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush. A great start to a new series, which I shall continue on reading! In fact - on to the next book in the series - Give Me Chills - Book 1.5....more
I must say that to date Ellie Alexander and her storytelling have never failed me. This first book, Body in the Bookstore, in her new series – A Secret Bookcase Mystery series – does not disappoint. Then again, I think back on all the books I have read by this author (specifically the Sloan Krause series) and I realize I have always been totally engaged in the books I read and most often, had difficulty until the end figuring out ‘whodunit’. Which I must admit is the way that I like my cozy mystery reads :)
This reader was lead through a wonderfully executed introduction to the residents of Redwood Grove and especially our amateur sleuth, Annie Murray. The town of Redwood Grove is picturesque. Who wouldn’t want to live one hour away from the Pacific Ocean and a couple hours away from a ski hill? I did ponder about the word “amateur” when referring to Annie as she has a degree in criminology. Unfortunately, due to Annie’s best friend being murdered just before their college graduation, Annie’s criminology degree and training are going unused. As we quickly learn, Annie feels a massive amount of guilt over Scarlet’s death. Scarlet was murdered while following up on a lead for their final criminology project which was to examine an unsolved murder. The class was tasked with reviewing the crime scene, suspects, and case notes and extrapolating any new insight. Scarlet and Annie went all in… and it seems got too close to finding out who the murderer was.
Scarlet’s murder haunts Annie to this day as told by the musings of Annie early on in the book:
“…Scarlet’s life had been cut short. The guilt of her unsolved murder clung to me like a persistent shadow. Until I tracked down Scarlet’s killer and ensured they were behind bars for good, I knew that shadow would never dissipate.”
Annie has been working at the Secret Bookcase as a bookseller and event coordinator for eight years, since graduation. The bookstore needs more sales if it is to stay afloat. Annie comes up with the idea of a mystery-themed book festival for the town. A win for everyone. In fact, the event is going along better than anyone’s wildest dreams…until one of Annie’s old college acquaintance (Kayla Minter) is found dead within the shelves of the bookstore! Further involving the past, her past criminology professor, Dr. Caldwell, is the police detective involved with solving the murder of Kayla.
Annie is asked by Dr. Caldwell to keep her eyes and ears open as people are more likely to talk to her than anyone in law enforcement. Annie does that and more. She wants to figure out who killed Kayla and why. As Annie runs through the potential list of suspects, we see her come out of her shell more. By the end of the story, Annie seems more self assured and willing to pursue who killed Scarlet. Time will tell how this part of Annie’s story plays out, though if I was a betting woman, I would say that this will be a recurring theme and part of the plots for all future books in this series. Hopefully Dr. Caldwell will also be a part of this story arc as well.
I loved the name of some of the town’s establishments -> Cryptic Coffee – the local coffee house. Or
Stag Head (owned by Liam Donovan) – a bar in town, which hosts historical trivia nights. And lest we forget – Artifacts -> a clothing boutique.
I got a chuckle out of Annie’s bestie – Pri (full name Priya Kapoor) who works at Cryptic Coffee. Pri has a crush on one customer and she only knows him as “Double Americano with cold foam”. Can’t wait for future books in this series so we get more information on this particular customer!
I found Body in the Bookstore a wonderful addition to the long list of books written by Ellie Alexander. I did not figure out completely ‘whodunit’ until the end. The character development was well told and the townspeople are interesting. It was a read which drew me in and would not let me go until I had read the last page! I cannot wait (and luckily I don’t have to as both books were released together ...more
Furever After is the 16th book in the Magical Cats Mystery series by Sofie Kelly. To my surprise, this is the first book by this author that I have read! I say “to my surprise” because I am always on the lookout for cozy mystery authors who incorporate cats and kittens into their story (well, if truth be told – I also like dogs too). And, whenever possible, I like to read and support Canadian authors. I fell down in this respect, but now that I have found this series and this author – I will rectify the situation ...more
Ellie Alexander and her storytelling have done it again. This second book, A Murder at the Movies, in Alexander’s new series – A Secret Bookcase Mystery series – is just as engaging as the first book Body in the Bookstore. Well, maybe even more so since I have already become invested in the main characters and the town of Redwood Grove!
Life has settled down in Redwood Grove after the very successful town-wide mystery weekend. And now Annie is approached by an independent filmmaker, Heather Hathaway, hoping to hold a movie premiere for her new movie “Midnight Alibi”. This sparks a mystery film weekend! I loved how the bookstore had Hitchcock themed displays at the movie theatre. And if we know anything, a simple fun filled weekend is bound to contain at least one tragedy. And indeed it does. When the film critic attending the premiere ends up dead, it has everyone wondering – did he fall from the balcony during the premiere by accident or as a result of nefarious means? And of course – Annie must dust off her sleuthing skills and get to the truth – no matter what it takes.
I enjoyed the way Annie methodically worked through her list of potential suspects, disproving and proving various aspects of the case. Naturally, I can’t give too much (or virtually nothing) away so as to leave the mystery to each individual reader. Let me say though that the winding route Annie takes is an enjoyable journey which kept this reader entertained.
Getting to know the townsfolk of Redwood Grove was a real treat. However, without giving away too much, I am embarrassed by assumptions made from reading the first book in the series. Assumptions were made about Pri’s crush on one particular customer – “Double Americano with cold foam”. I do say though that as a reader, I am very happy to finally have been properly introduced to “Double Americano” and all is good. And Pri is ecstatic to have finally spoken to her crush as well – though with a wee bit of shy stumbling to begin with ☺. Can’t wait to see where this brewing love story may lead.
What an interesting (and fun) way to introduce a new series – by releasing the first two books at the same time. It gave this reader a chance to really get invested in the regular characters. And I must say, there are some pretty terrific recurring characters in this series. I cannot wait to see if Annie decides to pursue a career using her Criminology degree (way to go Dr. Caldwell by keeping Annie in the loop and using her superior deductive reasoning skills), will Annie keep pursuing the truth to find who murdered her best friend Scarlet and finally, will the sparks between Liam and Annie lead to romance or just a solid and deep friendship? Can’t wait to read book three in the series (and I hear a fourth is on the horizon as well!).
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, I would like to suggest picking up A Murder at the Movies, this second book in the A Secret Bookcase Mystery series, by Ellie Alexander. Settle down for a read which will keep you guessing as to ‘whodunit’ until the end....more
A Suspicious Breed is the sixth book in Jackie Layton’s A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series. Andi Grace (the main protagonist and amateur sleuth) is getting ready for her wedding and honeymoon but trouble is afoot! She has just learned that her vet (Doc Hewitt) may have been roped into a potential fundraising scam … and knowing Doc Hewitt, Andi knows he is innocent. So now, to prove it all the while, she is putting the finishing touches in place for her wedding day (a mere week away). Her wedding photographer and good friend (Zarina Mills) may have some first-hand knowledge of this scam but is found dead before parting with any of that information. So now Andi must find the killer and figure out the details of the scam to help Doc Hewitt! And from the book’s intro – there are also a couple more issues to be solved…a dodgy record producer pressuring a friend’s young daughter and lest we forget – a disorganized dog breeding operation that may be endangering animals.
To begin with, it felt like there was just too many storylines that needed to be addressed. Maybe it is just me, but I think one or two less issues would have helped focus the storylines a bit more. I do contend that some of the confusion is definitely on me as I am entering the series at this newest addition. With more background of the main characters, I might not have felt so overwhelmed and confused.
I did enjoy how loving and attentive Andi was with her four-legged creatures. She definitely is a caring protagonist – both to animals and humans alike. She also had much fortitude to handle all of these days before her wedding. And speaking of wedding – she and her groom were so amenable to whatever would work for the second couple also getting married. Wow – that was so generous. As such, I may well go back and start the series from the beginning so that there is a chance to enjoy this addition to the series.
I must say – I loved the cover art. That in itself is a true winner for drawing in this reader to the story!
If you enjoy cozy mystery stories with lots of dogs and their amenable humans, a bit of intrigue and a murder to solve along with a number of issues to solve, then I suggest picking up a copy of A Suspicious Breed by Jackie Layton....more
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