Tag: Cozy Mystery

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

A Halloween to Die For by M.P. Black

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: A Halloween to Die For
  • Author: M.P. Black
  • Series: A Wonderland Book Cozy Mystery #3
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Blithedale
  • Main Character: Alice, Ona, Becca
  • Other Characters: Dr Fantasma, Gretchen, Stewart Conway, Susan, Edie, Fleur, Dylan, Duane Rooker, Holly, Mr & Mrs Oriel
  • Stars: 5

This is the 3rd book in the Wonderland Books Cozy Mystery series and these books never disappoint.

It is Halloween in Blithesdale and the ghosts and goblins are coming out in full force and of course there is is l going to be a haunted house. Alice is not thrilled about the haunted house but she is told that it is an old school haunted house and won’t the slasher theme that most haunted houses have nowadays. Even though Alice will be glad when Halloween is over, she goes along with it. Every thing seems to be going good until someone ends up dead and her best friend is standing over the body with a knife. To top things off, the only witness says she knows Becca didn’t do it because she saw the killer and it was a ghost. The witness said the ghost actually floated and was transparent. Well you can guess how reliable that witness was so Alice’s best friend is arrested. Even the police chief believes she didn’t do it but there is no evidence saying otherwise. So Alice and Ona are determined to prove her innocence. This is going to be hard to do. When Alice starts seeing ghosts at Ona’s Inn where she is staying, she is beginning to wonder about the ghost theory, The plot thickens when one of their main suspects also ends up dead. Now who could the killer be and what is the motive!

This book takes the reader on a bit of a roller coaster ride through the ghosts and goblins. What I am really enjoying about these books is that even when the reader believes they have it all figured out there is always a twist at the end. This author knows how to weave a good mystery that leaves the Reader guessing until the very end.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

A Theater to Die For by M.P. Black

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: A Theater to Die For
  • Author: M.P. Black
  • Series: A Wonderland Books Cozy Mystery #2
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Blithedale
  • Main Character: Alice Hartford
  • Other Characters: Ona, Becca, Mr Gorny, Billie Brine, Loraine, Lenny, Mr & Mrs Oriel, Chief Jimbo,
  • Stars: 5

‘You’re a wicked witch, Dorothy. I hope you melt.’”

This is the second book in the Wonderland books series. I am really enjoying this series.

In this episode, Alice has settled in to her new bookstore, Wonderland books, and it is a success. She is so grateful to her friends who helped her make this happen. Now she is excited about her plans for the struggling theater in town. She is a bit nervous to tell her friends about her plans but as they are discussing it, the owner of the theater is late for their meeting. They head over to the theater and her plans take a back seat when they find a dead body center stage with a Wizard of Oz clue. The suspects are numerous but who could have done the killing!

This a great cozy with a surprise ending. This is a story of friendship, community and friends coming together in a crises with a murder thrown in. I did figure out who did it before the ending but there were still some surprises that I didn’t suspect.

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.”

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

A Bookshop to Die For by M.P. Black

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: A Bookshop to Die For
  • Author: M.P. Black
  • Series: A Wonderland Books Cozy Mystery #1
  • Genre: Cozy Myster
  • Takes Place: Blithedale
  • Main Character: Alice Hartford
  • Other Characters: Ona, Becca, Vince, Bunce, Kristin, Kris, Rich, Mr & Mrs Oriel, Chief Jimbo, Darrell, Mayor MacDonalld
  • Stars: 5

“If you want to know who committed a crime, take a look at who benefits the most.”

This is the first time I have read anything by this author but it won’t be my last. This cozy mystery was a fast and easy read. The reader can’t help but fall in love with Alice.

We first meet Alice as she arrives in town wearing a dirty wedding dress. She is a runaway bride who shows up in her hometown that she hasn’t been back to since she was a child. She first visits the bookstore her mom used to own just to find that it is falling apart and a developer is trying to buy it to destroy it. When the contractor at the bookstore falls to his death, the authorities brush it off as an accident but Alice thinks it is murder and she is deterimined to prove it. Her Sleuthing takes her through several possible suspects and motives until the surprise ending.

This has the small town community feel that I love. Even though Alice hasn’t been to town since she was a child, some members of the community embraced her as one of their own. Then it has the drama of why did Alice show up in town wearing a wedding dress and a murder that she feels compelled to solve so she can save the bookstore from being demolished. I really thought I had this one figured out but i was wrong. There was a twist that I didn’t see coming.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the next one in the series.

“The most important things in life is to stop saying ‘I wish’ and start saying ‘I will’

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Movie Stars & Mayhem by Avery Kent

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Movie Stars & Mayhem
  • Author: Avery Kent
  • Series: Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery #4
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Bishop’s Landing
  • Main Character: Annie, Jake
  • Other Characters: Casey, Maggie, Christopher, Alistair, Bradley, Arthur, Mickala, Jamieson, Mandy, Dexter, Janet, Carl, Allison, Izzy, Clyde, Tanya
  • Pets: A Golden Retriever named Cookie
  • Stars: 4

This is the 4th book in the Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery.

Once again, Annie and Jake are caught up in a vicious crime spree. The residents of Bishop’s Landing are thrilled that a Blockbuster movie is being shot in their quaint little town. Annie is hired as the caterer for the cast & crew. The issue is that there is a lot of tension on the set, especially between the male lead and the female lead. With a Phantom haunting the theater, a robbery, a dead body and an actress who is missing, things really start to spiral out of control. Is it the same person or is there more than one person involved?

This is a one-of-a-kind story that will keep you guessing until the end. It started out slow, but then it really took off and I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

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

Happy Reading,

Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Romance

Starting Over by Kay Bratt

Chapters & lattes
  • Starting Over
  • Author: Kay Bratt
  • Series: Hart’s Ridge #8
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery, Romance
  • Takes Place: Hart’s Ridge GA
  • Main Character: Taylor
  • Other Characters: Sam, Cate, Sutton, Alice, Shane, Caleb, Corbin
  • Pets: Diesel along with several rescue animals
  • Stars: 5

This is another great read by Kay Bratt and the 8th book in her Hart’s Ridge Series.

We return to visit the Gray’s once more in this story about family dynamics, romance, secrets, helping where needed, balancing a busy life with family and of course, Mysteries.

A kidnapping rocks the town of Hart’s Ridge when Lydia, the wife of a local sheriff deputy, goes missing from the local Walmart. Deputy Taylor Gray along with the local Sheriffs Department and the FBI are on the case to find this missing woman. This takes Taylor away from her fiance, Sam, as he is dealing with some family struggles of his own.

Cate is struggling with her romantic life and recovering from a gunshot wound she received at the end of book #7. We meet a new character, Sutton, who has been accused of embezzlement. She moves in with Cate to help with her recovery and has secrets of her own.

Most of the book revolves around the search for Lydia and Sutton’s secret. Two great mysteries that will keep you guessing throughout the book.

I love this series. It pulls the reader in and it is a ‘can’t put down’ read. The characters are all 3-dimensional with distinct personalities. I love their strength and no matter their struggles, they always have each others backs. I recommend reading the books in order so you can get to know the Gray family fall in love with them as I have.

Be sure to read the Author’s note at the end of the book. The kidnapping in the book was based on a real life kidnapping. Parts of it were altered a bit but her inspiration came from an actual event.

Although I enjoyed this book immensely, I did have one issue with the ending. I felt like there was no closure. I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t say more. This was supposed to be the last book in the Hart’s Ridge series but due to popular demand, there will be a 9th book. I am so glad we get to visit with the Gray’s one more time. I am looking forward to book 9.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Christmas in the Candlelight by Kathi Daley

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Christmas in the Candlelight
  • Author: Kathi Daley
  • Series: The Inn at Holiday Bay
  • Genre:Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Holiday Bay, Maine
  • Main Character: Abby, Georgia
  • Other Characters: Jeremy, Mylie, Colt. Reno, Brody
  • Pets: Ramos the cat, Dog named Molly, Dog name Ramos
  • Stars: 5

This is the  twenty-fifth book in The Inn at Holiday Bay series. I really enjoy this series and have enjoyed all of the books by Kathi Daley. Even though there is a murder, this series makes you want to move to Holiday Bay, well apart from the cold and snow, that is. But I love the community, friendship and how everyone is always there for each other. Abby is the owner of the Inn and she treats her employees very well. They are more family and friends than employees

In this installment, Holiday Bay is preparing for the Christmas activities at the in while Georgia’s past is coming back to haunt her. Georgia’s cooking show is filming at the Inn which seems to be bringing on a lot of stress. Georgia’s new producer is bringing in Chef Brody Litman who Georgia has an unpleasant past. Brody is to take the lead while Georgia takes a supporting role which doesn’t make her happy. When Brody’s body is found in a sleazy motel on the outskirts of town and Georgia is seen on camera leaving his room earlier in the evening, she becomes the prime suspect in the case. Because of a conflict of interest for Colt, a detective is brought in to investigate. No one else is seen on camera leaving the victims hotel room so will Georgia be able to prove she didn’t kill him? 

If you haven’t read this series, I recommend it. It is best to start at the beginning and read the books in order so you can get to know the cast of characters. The reader starts to think of all the characters as family and can’t wait to see what they are up to next

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Murder in the 1920s by Penny Brooke

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Murder in the 1920s
  • Author: Penny Brooke
  • Series: Green Oaks Bookbinding Cozy Mystery
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Green Oaks, Massachuttes
  • Main Character: Charlotte
  • Other Characters: Isla, Natalie, Brandonr, Kenan, Annette
  • Pets: Charlotte’s 2 cats Roma & Archimedes
  • Stars: 5

This is the first book in the Green Oaks Bookbinding Cozy Mystery Series. I love a good cold case and this book brought all the mystery that I love.

Charlotte inherits her grandmothers estate in the small town of Green Oaks, Massachusetts, a historic estate built in 1902 and purchased by Charlotte’s grandfather in the 1970s. Charlotte used to visit her grandparents there when she was a child. While exploring her grandmothers overgrown garden, she falls in a well. Imagine her shock when she stumbles upon a human skull. The medical examiner (who happens to be Charlotte’s best friend) determined that the skull belonged to a young woman who went missing in the 1920s. The authorities aren’t particularly interested in a century-old cold case since anyone involved would be dead but Charlotte’s curiosity has piqued so she decides to do her own investigating.

Will Charlotte’s sleuthing put her in danger? How is this mystery connected to the present day? All of this and more will be discovered as you read this cozy mystery that checks all the boxes. It is intriguing with lots of suspects and a surprise ending. It kept me engaged throughout the book and It left me wanting more.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Murder and Matrimony by Avery Kent

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Murder & Matrinoy
  • Author: Avery Kent
  • Series: A Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Bishop’s Landing
  • Main Character: Annie, Jake
  • Other Characters: Amanda, Janet, Devon, Warren, Maggie, Lieutenant Sherman
  • Stars: 5

This is the third book in Bishop’s Landing’s Cozy Mystery series, and I have to say that the books just keep getting better and better as I read them. I’ve fallen in love with the characters throughout this series.

Annie, a baker and the owner of Boardwalk Bakery in Bishop’s Landing, has landed the baking job of a lifetime. She has been commissioned to bake a wedding cake for the daughter of a wealthy resort owner in nearby Grenville. The wedding will take place at her daddy’s resort. This job could really put Boardwalk bakery on the map so Annie is doing her best to make it perfect. She has rented a van to deliver the cake and her assistant Maggie has agreed to drive her. When Maggie has an accident, it leaves no one to help Annie so Sheriff Jake volunteers for the job.

When they get to the resort, there is a sudden snowstorm so Annie, Jake and any guests that have arrived are snowed in. Anyone who hasn’t already arrived, will not be able to get there. Amanda, the bride, decides to go ahead with the wedding so she can marry the love of her life. The ceremony went on without a hitch but the reception is another issue. While eating the wedding cake, the groom drops dead of an apparentnut allergy. So now all eyes are on Annie as she is the primary suspect. Annie didn’t have a motive but could the cake have been cross contaminated with nuts?

Annie and Jake hustle to prove that Annie didn’t accidentally poison the groom. But if not Annie then who. Turns out there are a lot of people who would want the groom dead.

This book takes the reader on a roller coaster ride with a lot of twists and turns to find a killer. It was really good and kept me engaged and guessing until the last word.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Pies, Paws & Peril by Avery Kent

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Pies, Paws & Peril
  • Author: Avery Kent
  • Series: A Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Bishop’s Landing
  • Main Character: Annie, Jake
  • Other Characters: Casey, Maggie, Ursula, Maple, Walter, Carla
  • Pets: Golden Retriever named Cookie
  • Stars: 4

is the second book in the series Bishop’s Landing by Avery Kent. I am glad I gave this series another try because this book was much better than the first. It had better character development and we got to know the Protagonist a little better.

In this episode, Annie is entering the pie contest at the annual Fall festival. When a celebrity chef shows up to judge the contest and ends up dead, the town is in a frenzy until the killer is found. Of course Annie has to be in the middle of it to help solve the case. It seems the celebrity judge, isn’t the nice person she appears to be on TV so the suspects endless since no one really likes her.

This book takes you on a lot of twists and turns to solve this mystery of who killed the celebrity judge. With a lot of possible suspects including her family, staff and even her publisher it takes you on a bit of a roller coaster ride with a suprise ending you won’t see coming.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Cookies & Crime by Avery Kent

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Cookies & Crime
  • Author: Avery Kent
  • Series: Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery book 1
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Biships Landing
  • Main Characters: Annie, Casey, Maggie
  • Other Characters: Mildred, Hank, Martha, Mayor McCray, Catherine
  • Pets: Golden Retriever named Cookie
  • Stars: 3

This is my first book by the author. This book was given to me as a free giveaway at the time of reading. My opinion is my own and is not influenced by the giveaway.

Newly divorced Annie moves back to her home town of Bishop’s Landing to help her Aunt Mildred and take over her aunt’s bakery. The bakery needs extensive renovations before she can open her doors again so the town handyman begins the renovations. Imagine Annie’s shock when she arrives at the bakery to find the mayor dead at the base of the stairs. This is definitely a murder. The mayor wasn’t popular, so no one cares. Even the sheriff isn’t that interested in solving this crime. Annie and her amateur detectives Cassie and Maggie take on the task of figuring out who killed the mayor.

This book is the first in a series called Bishop’s Landing Cozy Mystery. This book was okay and kept me interested for a while, but it lacked depth and character development. The characters are 2 dimensional and not very interesting. Even Annie (the protagonist)) was not someone I could connect with. Most books I read, especially small town books, make me feel like the main characters are best friends and I want to be a part of that small town community. I didn’t feel that way in this book. I don’t really know where the book took place except Bishops Landing, and I never said where, so I’m not sure if it even took place in the United States. I thought it was the UK because the apartment above the bakery was referred to as a flat, but that’s just a guess. The town wasn’t really described and It lacked the sense of community connection I have come to love in the books I read.

This book reads more like a short story than a full-length book. I figured out who the murderer was early on in the book, so there weren’t any twists and turns to solve the mystery. I didn’t find out the motive until the end, but I had a gut feeling that this person did it and I was right.

I am going to give the second book in the series a try because I think this might have been this authors first book. When I look it up on Fantastic Fiction and Goodreads, It is only showing this series with this being the first of a three book series at the time of this review. I will see if my opinion changes after the second book and if I decide to read more. I feel like every author has to start somewhere and deserves a chance.

If you read this book, let me know what you think.

Happy Reading!