Tag: Cozy Mystery

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Murder in the Study by Penny Brooke

CozyRomBooksandCoffee
  • Title: Murder in the Study
  • Author: Penny Brooke
  • Series: A Word Travels Mobile Bookshop Cozy Mystery #2
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Greenwood, Vermont
  • BookMain Character: Claudia, Aunt Daisy Mae
  • Other Characters: Detectiv Sterling, Arthur Hattan, Venus, Arya, Tammy, Rubin
  • Pets: a cat named Jasper
  • Stars: 5

This is the second installment of the A Word Travels Mobile Bookshop series, and it does not disappoint. Claudia, the Protagonist of this series, continues to find herself embroiled in a murder situation through no fault of her own.

Claudia is having financial difficulties in this episode, following the murder of her friend, Layla. Due to the investigation of the murder, she was required to remain in Greenwood for an extended period of time, thus not earning any income from her book mobile. She is in a state of panic until she comes across a first-edition of a classic book with an inscription on the back. Despite the fact that she is unable to afford the purchase, she is confident that she will be able to recoup her investment and more. While researching the book, an ex-colleague provides her with the opportunity to interact with an antique specialist who is knowledgeable about rare books. Claudia, aunt Daisy Mae, and her cat, Jasper, travel to the home of a man named Arthur, located in the suburb of Greenwood, an area she is not particularly fond of due to the fact that her friend was killed there.

The plot thickens when she discovers Arthur murdered in his study and her book is missing, Claudia is compelled to remain in Greenwood until the case is resolved. Even more so, Detective Sterling requests her assistance in the investigation, which she initially declines due to her strained relationship with him. Subsequently, she reluctantly agrees to assist in the investigation. As the investigation progresses, secrets are uncovered and it is revealed that there are multiple suspects who may have had a hand in Arthur’s murder. During Claudia’s investigation She finds secrets concerning Arthur’s past which could get her killed.

If you enjoy a captivating mystery with plot twists and a protagonist you can’t help but fall in love with, you are going to love this series. It’s a really well-written, enjoyable book that’s full of mystery and suspense that’ll keep you guessing until the very end. You can read it as a standalone but I suggest reading it in order so you can familiarize yourself with the characters. I am excited about reading book three in the series.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Murder in the Library by Penny Brooke

CozyRomBooksandCoffee
  • Title: Murder in the Library
  • Author: Penny Brooke
  • Series: A Word Travels Mobile Bookshop Cozy Mystery #1
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Greenwood, Vermont
  • Main Character: Claudia, Aunt Daisy Mae
  • Other Characters: Layla, Melody, Noah, Ellie, Jason, Detective Sterling
  • Pets: a cat named Jasper
  • Stars: 5

This is my first book by this author and it won’t be the last. This one is bit different in that it involves a bookmobile. Claudia has always wanted to own her own bookshop but unfortunately that takes money she doesn’t have so she bought a van and turned it into a mobile bookshop. Now she and her eccentric Aunt Daisy Mae along with Claudia’s perky cat Jasper travel the country selling books from the van turned bookshop.

This is a fun story, well except for the murder part. Claudia has a friend who runs a local library in Greenwood, Vermont. She puts books aside to sell to Claudia at a good price. Claudia is on her way to the library to get these books but it is strange that her friend, Layla, isn’t anwering her texts or calls. Layla always answers her texts, so this gives Claudia a bit of an uneasy feeling. When they arrive at the library, the door is locked and no one is answering the door. When Layla’s assistant shows up and unlocks the door, the enter. When they discover an overturned bookcase with a body underneath it, it is very apparant that Layla is dead. The local police are called in an Claudia and Aunt Daisy Mae become immediate suspects and are told not to leave town. Since Claudia has to stay in town and the police department seems to be inept, she decides to do her own investigation. There are a lot of red herrings as Claudia makes it her mission to find out who killed her friend. Evidently Layla had some secrets she hadn’t shared with Claudia. Could the motive be jealousy, revenge, money or something entirely different. There are several potential suspects along the way. As Claudia closes in could she be putting her own life in danger and become a victim herself.

I recommend this book. I love Claudia and Aunt Daisy Mae. They are 3-dimensional characters with a lot of personality. Aunt Daisy Mae is free spirited and just goes with the flow. Claudia’s cat Jasper has a lot personality and just seems to show up when he is needed the most. I am looking forward to the next book to see where Claudia’s next adventure takes her.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Cider Orange Chaos by Emily Oberton

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  • Title: Cider Orange Chaos
  • Author: Emily Oberton
  • Series: Hadley Home Design Mystery Series #4
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Darlington Hills, VA
  • Main Character: Hadley
  • Other Characters: Erin, Dennis, Michael, Reid, Aunt Deb, Detective Sanders, Akari, Harvey, Leo, Bonnie, Deedee, Jamie, Vincent, Carmella
  • Stars: 5

We’re back with Hadley again in this 4th episode of the Hadley home design mystery series. I loved getting to see her again. She’s such a 3 dimensional character with so much personality and a heart of gold. She genuinely wants to help everyone she can. This time, her help might get a bit tricky when she says yes to be Dennis Appley’s fake girlfriend. He’s actually in love with a fellow cop, but there’s a rule that you can’t date within the police department, so he needs a fake girlfriend. This may or may not go as planned.

Whisks & Whiskers Cat Cafe may have some competition. Tea-Bone Dog Cafe has opened next door. There is a bit of feud between the dog people and the cat people. Erin , owner of Whisk & Whiskers, is beside herself and doing her best to succeed next door to them. Then the plot thickens when , Harvey Rafferty, Tea-bone dog cafe’s owner, drops dead from an apparant poisoning. The cops are on the case to find Harvey’s killer. As with the author’s other books, she takes the reader through some twists and turns with plenty of suspects until the killer is revealed.

I loved this book. I loved catching up with Hadley and her love life and her sense of adventure. There may also be a romance brewing between Aunt Deb and Detective Sanders. Hadley’s cousiin, Michael might also have a romance going on.

This is a book of murder, mystery, competition, revenge, love and romance.

***Disclaimer*** I received this book as part of an ARC. This review was given freely and is my honest opinion.

The book will be released November 17, 2023. I recommend going to your favorite retailer to purchase it.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Clues and Canines by Kathi Daley

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  • Title: Clues and Canines
  • Author: Kathi Daley
  • Series: The Bistro at Holiday Bay #5
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Holiday Bay Maine
  • Main Character: Shelby
  • Other Characters: Carly, Colt, Beck, Dawson, Amy
  • Stars: 3

Bistro at Holiday bay is a spin off of The Inn at Holiday Bay & this book is the 15th in the Bistro series. While I love this series, I think I prefer the inn at holiday bay. I do like Shelby who first arrived in Holiday Bay after her inheritance when she discovered she had two half sisters whom she did not know about. The sisters grew very close and Shelby chose to remain in the house inherited by the sisters and opened a bistro in the town.

It is Halloween and Shelby along with her employees are preparing the Bistro for a big Halloween party. Carly is the local dog walker and she comes in looking for Beck, who is the local private investigator and uses a booth at the Bistro to conduct his business. Carly is all flustered because she is sure she just saw the after math of a murder. Or did she? Even though she is convinced she saw a dead body, there isn’t any evidence to prove it so the local Police chief Colt and his deputy Alex are on the case with the help of Beck & Dawson (bartender/computer genius).

This book was ok. I do like catching up with the characters of Holiday bay but this book wasn’t fantastic and there weren’t a lot of twists to discover if there really was a body. It is Halloween after all. I like a mystery with a ‘wow, I didn’t see that coming’ type ending and this one just didn’t deliver. If you like a good read, you will enjoy it but if you like that ‘wow’ factor, then you might find it a bit boring.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Fatal Blooms by Claire Harlow

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  • Title: Fatal Blooms
  • Author: Claire Harlow
  • Series: A Sparrow Haven Cozy Mystery #2
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Sparrow Haven
  • Main Character: Olivia Harper
  • Other Characters: Millie, Ethan, Detective Fred O’Malley, Isabel, Cassandra Reed, Charles Hatmore, Leonard Riley, Eleanor Montgomery, Isabel, Keith (Cricket)
  • Pets: Olivia’s Golden Retriever Barkley
  • Stars: 5

This is the second book in the Sparrow Haven Cozy Mystery series and I am really enjoying this series. The characters are relatable and 3 dimensional and the plot is interesting.

There is another murder in Sparrow Haven and, once again, Olive finds herself in the middle of it. This time, the victim is a prominent Rose Garden Gala sponsor, who appears to have been in good health before her untimely death. There are numerous suspects in the case, as the protagonist embarks on an emotional rollercoaster ride to discover who is to blame for the murder of this woman.

The protagonist, Olivia, is highly relatable. She is intelligent, a devoted friend, resolute, and owns a Golden Retriever. I have a fondness for canine characters in stories.

This is a series that is sure to appeal to readers who appreciate a good, clean, cozy mystery, with a cast of sympathetic characters, a canine companion, and a plot full of surprises that culminate in a satisfying conclusion. I am hoping there will be third book in the series, as I am eager to learn more about the protagonist, Olivia, and the quaint town of Sparrow Haven. I suggest reading the previous book, Mystery at the Lighthouse, first so you can get to know the characters. I think you will really enjoy this author and her way of telling a story,

***Disclaimer***
I received this book free as part of th ARC team. This review is my honest opinion.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Witness in the Wedding by Kathi Daley

CozyRomBooksandCoffee
  • Title: Witness in the Wedding
  • Author: Kathi Daley
  • Series: The Inn at Holiday Bay #24
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Holiday Bay, Maine
  • Main Character: Abby, Georgia
  • Other Characters: Shelby, Amy, Colt, Alex, Lacy, Calista, Phinneas Potter, Jeremy, Mylie, Annabelle, Jovana, Carlos, Geselle, Stephan, Efren, Aldo, Viveca, Gwenevere, Megan
  • Stars: 4

This latest Inn at Holiday Bay book is the 24th in the series and it doesn’t disappoint! The author has a way of telling an engaging story.

This installment of the series is dedicated to the upcoming wedding of Jeremy and Mylie. To commemorate the event, Jeremy’s mother, Annabelle, and her new husband, Carlos, are arriving from Spain to attend the nuptials. The presence of Jovana, Jeremy’s sister, has caused a stir in the Inn, as well as the presence of a suspicious guest. In the meantime Georgia and Amy participate in a cook-off competition where there is speculation that the food has been tampered with. Following the discovery of a deceased body behind a dumpster, Local Police Chief and Abby’s boyfriend, Colt Wilder, is on the case to find a killer. With Abby wanting to back her friends at their cook off, wedding chaos, an Inn bursting at the seams with guests, a deceased body, and now trying to solve a murder with the help of Colt’s deputy Alex, it’s all been a little bit too much. Just another day in Holiday Bay!!

I really do like this series. The characters are empathetic and relatable. I love the atmosphere of the small town and the relationships formed between the residents. If you enjoy of a good clean cozy mystery that is captivating and full of surprises, then this is the type of story for you.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery

Peril in the Poolhouse by Judy L .Murray

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  • Title: Peril in the Pool house
  • Author: Judy L. Murray
  • Series: A Chesapeake Bay Mystery #3
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Port Anne, Maryland
  • Main Character: Helen Morrisey & her Detection Club
  • Other Characters: Eliot Davies & his wife Allison, Detective Joe McAllister, Liz, Shawn, Tammi, Diane, Ronnie, Maggie, Britany, Craig
  • Pets: A Golden Retriever named Rocky & 2 cats Trixie & Watson
  • Stars: 5

This is the 3rd installment of the Chesapeake Bay Mysteries series and Ms Murray does not disappoint. Helen Morrisey once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and of course she has to try and solve it much to the chagrin of the handsome detective, Joe McAlister.

A haunted Bed & Breakfast, A party given by a State Senator Candidate and a dead body! What could go wrong! Despite the fact that the Victorian Mansion has been rumored to be haunted, Helen ultimately sold the property to Eliot Davies, who is running for the office of state Senator and his wife Allison. They’ve turned it into a Bed & Breakfast, and they’re getting ready to party. The party comes to a screeching halt when a dead body is discovered in the Pool House, with Allison standing over it. Of course, the main suspects are Eliot and Allison, so Helen is intent on proving that her friends could not have committed this murder. Did they do it and If they didn’t, then who did? When someone else dies, the conspiracy deepens to discover what the two victims might have in common. Is the past coming back to haunt them? Is this murder connected to a 50-year-old mystery? Helen and her world-renowned detection team are on a mission to discover the answer. But how will her involvement in yet another murder case affect her blossoming relationship with handsome detective Joe?

This is an amazing book! The Protagonist is genuine, a great friend, She loves her kids and she is funny. I just adore her detection club and the way she interacts with them as if they were real people. The term “detection club” is derived from Helen’s collection of Literary Amateurs Sleuths. Those who have read the preceding two books of the series are aware of her ‘Detection Club’. If you haven’t read them, then what are you waiting for!! I recommend that readers read the books in order to gain an understanding of the characters’ back story. It really helps to develop the relationship with the characters.

The author has a great way of building tension and pulling the reader in. What I like the most is that the book is full of twist & turns to solve the puzzle. Just when you think you have solved the mystery, she adds another twist that makes you rethink it. I must warn you, be prepared to lose some sleep because this book is hard to put down.

Real Estate Rule #3: It’s rare a buyer who wants to buy a haunted house”

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Upstaged by Murder by Grace Topping

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  • Title: Upstaged by Mrder
  • Author: Grace Topping
  • Series: Laura Bishop Mystery #3
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Louiston, Pennsylvania
  • Main Character: Laura Bishop
  • Other Characters: Nita, Tyrone, Detective Spangler, Mrs. Webster, Will Parker , Josh Sheridan, Olivia, Simon, Chris, Beth, Neil
  • Pets: Inky the Cat
  • Stars: 5

The author has done it again with book three of the Laura Bishop Mystery. I can’t even choose which book is my favorite in the series because they are all so good. Ms. Topping has the ability to craft a suspense story in such a way that it leaves readers wanting more.

In this installment of the series, we’re back with Laura after her best friend encourages her to enter a home staging competition. We’ve got some familiar faces and some brand new ones in the mix Just as she gets ready to start staging for the challenge, a dead body is found in an old trunk.

This novel is full of unexpected twists and turns, a murder mystery, a daring attempt to apprehend a burglar, Laura’s emotional reckoning with the past, and the potential emergence of a romantic relationship.

At this time, this is the final installment in the series. However, I am hoping there will be more to come. I would be delighted to learn more about the character of Laura and the other characters who are featured in the series. Each of them has a great deal of depth and is highly interesting. I am a fan of small town tales with unexpected twists, mysteries, romance and humor.

Let me know in the comments if you have read this series.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Staging Wars by Grace Topping

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  • Title: Staging Wars
  • Author: Grace Topping
  • Series: Laura Bishop Mystery #2
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Louiston, Pennsylvania
  • Main Character: Laura Bishop
  • Other Characters: Nita, Tyrone, Monica, Detective Spangler, Mrs. Webster, Will Parker, Damian Reynolds, Josh Sheridan,
  • Pets: Inky the Cat
  • Stars: 5

The second installment of Grace Topping’s Laura Bishop Mysteries series begins with a bang – or rather, a stabbing.

I really love this series.  It is really a page turner. It is a series that I look forward to reading and then I have trouble putting it down. This is a sign of a brilliant book. I loved this one as much as I did the first.   It has it all, A Great protagonist that you will love, 3-dimensional characters with distinct personalities that just seem to all fit together & then of course there is Laura’s Nemesis, Monica, the one that nobody seems to like.  There is always one!

Between someone sabotaging her new staging business, two dead bodies, and her nemeses in jail for one of them, Laura has her hands full.

You will enjoy the ride as Laura once again finds herself in sticky situations to discover the truth. Her investigation to solve a crime takes a lot of twists and turns with an ending you won’t see coming. I love a mystery with a good twist.

I also love that at the beginning of each chapter there are some hints on staging a house to sell.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery

Mystery at the Lighthouse by Claire Harlow

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  • Title: Mystery at the Lighthouse
  • Author: Claire Harlow
  • Series: A Sparrow Haven Cozy Mystery #1
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Sparrow Haven
  • Main Character: Olivia Harper
  • Other Characters: Millie, Ethan, Detective Fred O’Malley
  • Pets: Olivia’s Golden Retriever Barkley
  • Stars: 5

This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be reading more. I really enjoyed this mystery. It’s a little different from what I’m used to reading. I’m used to mystery books, but rarely one that takes place more than a century ago.

Olivia, who lives in the small New England town of Sparrow Haven is the town librarian and an amateur sleuth. Mysteries has always fascinated her and her best friend, Milly. They always seem to be involved in some kind of investigation, much to the dismay of Detective Fred O’Malley. When some local teens find an old painting, it piques Olivia’s curiosity, so of course she has to find the secrets hiding beneath the brush strokes. Olivia, her Faithful companion, a Golden Retriever named Barkley, the hot new veterinarian, Ethan, and her best friend Milly solve a 100-year-old mystery with present implications. During their journey, they uncover family secrets that may be best left alone. Could uncovering the past get Olivia, Ethan and Millie killed!!

If you love a suspenseful mystery that takes you on a journey to past secrets that carry on to the present, then you will love this book. I read it in one sitting, which I rarely do. I just couldn’t seem to put it down. I had to find out how it ends and it definitly did not disappoint. The author just has a way of keeping the reader engaged and wanting more.

***I received this free ARC. This review is my honest opinion***

Happy Reading!