Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing these ARCs in exchange for honest reviews.
By: Sarah Graves
Published by: Kensington
Release date: February 23, 2021
Jake and Ellie should really consider getting proper PI licenses with all of the work they do, plus they could consult with Sheriff Bob, that is if he doesn't finally lock them up to keep them safe. This is one action packed sleuthing adventure and the story will have you constantly guessing as to who did in Alvin because we all know it wasn't Billy. A crazy amount of red herrings and partial solutions. As always, Jake and Ellie manage to pull each other into one situation after another. I think that this was the most action packed installment yet and it gave some excellent backstory regarding Jake's past employment with a certain unethical group of people. My only complaint is that while I really like the chocolate sauce recipe, I was hoping for the chocolate snickerdoodle recipe.
Furbidden Fatality (A Catskills Pet Rescue)
By Deborah Blake
Published by: Berkley
Release date: February 23, 2021
What would you do if you won the lottery, I'm not sure that I would purchase a pet rescue at the insistence of a forceful feline that needs rescuing but it sure makes for an interesting cozy setting! Kari Stuart was living day to day, without a purpose but it seems that fortune has favored her and life is giving her a direction. A direction and a challenge as the animal shelter needs a savior, a handyman, and a sleuth when the antagonistic animal control guy ends up dead on the property while seeming to have been caught causing trouble. We know that Kari didn't do the deed and obviously this killer has hands instead of paws so her wards are off the hook, but both Kari and the former owner are high on the suspect list. The cops don't seem to want to help, or at least the lead investigator and his sidekick, the Chief is completely by the book which can be good and bad as vandals endanger the animals and set the restoration attempts back further. Fortunately for Kari, her furry companion won't let her quit and there just might be some help from the new vet as well. Highly entertaining, great red herrings, and a very nice way to remind people that there are fur babies that need help too. This story reminded me of my desire to volunteer at a local shelter, now to finish the proper paperwork.
By: J.M. Griffin
Published by: Kensington
Release date: February 23, 2021
Juliette and Bun are back and this time they are hiding eggs and finding bodies. Jules and Bun make a dynamic and psychically linked duo, which is decidedly different and unique. This time Jules is actually invited to use her people skills by Sheriff Carver. There is also a hint of romantic interest, perhaps to be expounded on in later stories, because Jules reassures Bun that he is the only guy for her. She is entirely too busy between the rabbit sanctuary and the wool shop she is up to her ears in work and has no time for a romantic involvement even if it does seem that she is turning a few heads. Of course this does seem to happen in conjunction with finding dead bodies or finding herself injured. Truly entertaining, and who couldn't love a Bunny with "super powers" as a side-kick!
By: Maria DiRico
Published by: Kensington Books
Release date: February 23, 2021
Mia Carina is a feisty one, and who wouldn't be if they had family with a little "f" that had to deal with the Family with a big "F". Doing her best to get the new Belle View Banquet Manor Event/Catering venue up and running while keeping her Dad, former Family lieutenant, on the straight and narrow. The plot is excellent and the story/character development keeps you anchored to your seat as if you wearing a pair of concrete galoshes. No one really misses Tina, and the best that can be said about her is that she was a looker. Otherwise she was something else that we cannot repeat, at least not in English. I will forever think of New York Iced Tina when I hear the words pasta puttanesca and I will most likely snicker. I am looking forward to the further driving adventures of Mia and how things work out with her new marketing manager, wink wink!
By Darci Hannah
Published by
Release date: February 23, 2021
Eating a donut may be bad for your health but it most certainly should not be deadly! Lindsey Bakewell (and yes she can), former financial wonder woman and recovering baker (recovering from a jerk fiancé) has decided to leave New York for a quite lake town in Michigan, after all, she made it there, so she and her pup Wellington, can make it anywhere. Buying a dilapidated landmark lighthouse, thereby saving it from developers, and renovating it into a bake shop and home, she has her work cut out for her. You would think that the preservation society would be happy, you would think. You can tell right away that this is one determined character. She has a lot riding on opening day and doesn't help that her ex-fiancé shows up with his girlfriend and her followers/friends to cause a mess of trouble and a mess. While Lindsey might have wished that Mia would just choke on her words she did not mean for her to choke to death! Teaming up with her sexy and secretive book writing, former military, neighbor is going to get to the bottom of this mystery because there is more than just dough riding on the outcome. Your typical cozy town with some extremely awesome characters, especially her pup who Perfect series starter and the recipes, OMG, I think I gained 10 pounds just reading through them!
By: Carlene O'Connor
Published by: Kensington
Release date: February 23, 2021
Siobhan is so lucky! A new bookshop and just in time for her birthday, if only she had some free time or a really good reason to go into the store and look around. Oh wait, there is a murder in the store and apparently it was the same time as her surprise birthday party. Well if that isn't a good reason to be a little bookish I am not sure what is! In addition to the new bookshop owners are a few authors who are in town for a potential book deal with a well to do agent. Authors can oh so dramatic, but then again so is half of the couple that owns the bookshop, requiring people to quote James Joyce or other notable Irish writers to be granted entry to the store, and not allowing the usual fiction. Tsk Tsk, that sounds awfully fishy to me. Plenty of red herrings for Siobhan, Macdara, and the new recruit to chase down, and some of them are quite obvious to Siobhan. I won't giveaway any of the plot but I will tell you that this one is a great follow up to the Christmas episode as it seems that we are getting closer to a wedding date! Oh and the Irish Beef Stew is amazing, especially when served with Siobhan's brown bread.
By Barbara Ross
Published by:
Release date: February 23, 2021
Without giving too much away I would suggest starting at the beginning of the series because if you start with this one and you are a classic cozy reader you are going to feel a little sad at the end. This story, this sleuth. Andie Snowden, really came to life for me and even without all of the back story I had just enough to be able to navigate the river of clues. And what a variety of clues there were and no one was above suspicion, except for Andie, who has enough experience flushing out the truth that even the state police Major Crimes unit. This quickly goes from a high priced robbery to a homicide. There are several red herring and some tasty looking recipes at the end of the story. I do hope that the story goes on. I am always amazed at how much I learn in cozies, like this one and the way oysters are grown and harvested, the different stages of development and how brackish vs fresh water influences the flavor.
By Amy Pershing
Published by: Kensington Books
Release date: February 23, 2021
I love series starters, you get to be there from the beginning and you also get a little of the history for context. In addition to history, Sam has some notoriety in case you aren't up on your YouTube chef knife fights. Going back home to have a fresh start and an old house is just what this chef needed, some good friends old and new and a slobbery ginormous puppy too! You instantly take a liking to even if she was too tall for a girl. Personally, I wouldn't mind some more height myself. This story had quite the plot patterns, definitely resembled a nest of sweet Vidalia onion rings, interlocking but still separate. Oh and the things you learn about Sam's friends, organic veggies, secret trysts, a "quiet" librarian, and the Harbor Master (swoon)! This mystery kept me guessing, except for the romance, I knew that was going just the way it needed to. I do like a happy ending and cannot wait to read the next one!
By Joann Fluke
Published by: Kensington Books
Release date: February 23, 2021
Hannah is still getting over the death of her marriage/ex-husband/thoughts of romance. Moishe her beloved kitty refuses to set a paw back in the condo so Hannah and Moishe are staying with Norman. What Hannah needs is a distraction and Andrea's fiercely protective attitude gives Mayor Bascomb a proper slap-down for shouting disparaging things about both Andrea and her husband, police Chief Bill. Unfortunately, Andrea also to discovers his dead body after when she returns to City Hall to apologize. This time Bill cannot investigate and Mike actually asks Hannah and Norman to help. It seems that the Mayor has made a few more enemies than friends including but not limited to his own wife. So many suspects and so many recipes, where does one start? My rational mind says to start with the chocolate because we like chocolate but my suspicious mind says that a triple chocolate cheesecake could be too decadent and I should start with the Stroganoff Light. One thing that they both can agree on is that Hannah needs to let go of her fears and look at what/who is right in front of her. Team Norman all the way!
A Brush With Death (A Nosey Parker Cozy Mystery #2)
By Fiona Leitch
Published by: One More Chapter
Release date: February 12, 2021
There is a certain art to cooking, especially cake decorating and there is a certain art to actual art. Jodie (Nosey) Parker, former Met beat cop now a sleuthing caterer with a wicked wit, who also has excellent recipes at the end of her stories, is doing what she does best, using her nosy/investigative skills. This time though there is a little bit more involved as she feels inexplicably drawn to guest artist, Duncan Stovall. His marriage is a joke but his art is amazing and Jodie figures that he might just be her cabbage picker, if he isn't a murderer that is. An author who said he had a hot lead dies, the book writing wife who seems like an ice princess, and a financial wizard turned art seller who is obviously the guy who defrosts the princess. DI Withers is becoming accustomed to Jodie's help but he is sending some mixed signals on a personal level and then there's her best mate, Tony, who says he will be there to help pick up the pieces and promises not to judge when her fling is flung. So why does Jodie feel twinges of guilt? In addition to the men in her life, Jodie has her Mom, daughter Daisy, and to keep her grounded. Excellent story and ended just the way I was hoping and somewhat expecting, I was surprised by who did the deed and why.
By T.C. Lotempio
Published by: Beyond the Page Books
Release date: February 9, 2021
I liked this one very much and the not so subtle nod to the iconic mystery solving married couple, Nick and Nora Chase. Furry Nick is quite the charmer and a very talented feline but his penchant for Scrabble tiles and ability to get his point across to Nora. Nora is a feisty former investigative reporter who is as smart as she is stubborn. I had no problem keeping up with the plot or the characters. I will point out that I am not a fan of the more than one romantic possibility but if Special Agent Daniel doesn't make it exclusive why shouldn't Nora go down the "what if" path with Samms. I'll tell you why, it never works out well, that is why, pick a guy and move on. Rant over. Great story with some colorful characters and excellent sandwich recipes that I will be needing to try ASAP. I was derailed by one red herring thinking much like the Feds, that a mob boss is going to claim to be innocent, but how innocent could he really be? Highly entertaining and even made me want to see about getting or streaming a copy of The Thin Man while enjoying one of those tasty sounding sandwiches. Gotta love the classic PI movie mojo! Oh and who is Nick Atkins anyway??
By Diane Kelly
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Release date: February 9, 2021
Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck weren't expecting murder when they started the Music City Motor Court makeover. This was my first House-Flipper Mystery and it was extremely easy to get into the story and keep up with the various characters. Just enough backstory was incorporated when needed without disrupting the flow of the plot/scene. While I know nothing about remodeling a home, much less a hotel, I was able to visualize exactly what Whitney and Buck were doing as they demolished and renovated. Jimmy, the vet turned vagabond was an interesting character and a nice nod of respect to those who are or have served. Plenty of suspects from a dissed diva, some star struck groupies, the boys in the band and a mysterious JC. Just like any good cozy, this one comes with great friends, a playful per named Sawmill (too cute and all too appropriate) a little bit of romance, and a cooperative cop, who is also part of the romance portion. Great story that kept me glued to the book like shingles on a roof!
By: Kelle Z Riley
Release date: February 2, 2021
Bree is back and younger than ever, or at least her latest undercover assignment has her looking like a kid. An amazing chemist, an amazing spy, an amazing baker, an amazing girlfriend. Plenty of red herrings and some great suggestions on what to do if you get stuck in a trunk. There were quite a few bits of mystery to this one and the murder is really going to shock you. I really liked the progression of both the story and the relationships. A little bittersweet but since I am a huge fan of exclusivity I think that Bree has made the right choice, She may be a lady who can blend into any crowd and go unnoticed but that doesn't mean she isn't doesn't turning heads. The blending of science, sleuthing, and of course, baking is an amazing combination and I cannot wait to try both the cookies and the rat-loaf.
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