Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing these ARCs in exchange for honest reviews.
Lemon Drop Dead (An Amish Candy Shop Mystery)
By Amanda Flowers
Published by Kensington
Release date: April 27, 2021
This story is very appropriately titled, Lemon Drop because the story is definitely bitter sweet but not just because of the death, no there are several different reason and several different stories going on, as usual, in this cozy. The multiple story lines woven throughout the story and the series draws you in and keeps you coming back for more. You are invested in not one character but in many and while the story would be entertaining even without the character development of Charlotte or Emily, it adds just the right flavor, like with the chocolate that Bailey works with. Although our story refers back to the series starter, you do not need to have read it to understand that Emily had a secret from her past that resurfaces in her present and will quite possibly lead to a happier future. Cousin Charlotte has a secret of her own that comes out, although I think we all had a pretty good idea. Lastly is Baily, who is the best pig sitter ever with a heart of gold, a heart that was hurt and then mended and just maybe is ready for more. A very good storyline, great plot development, and I had no idea that the killer was the killer or why they did it until the very end. If you're wondering about the lemon drop candies, they are as easy as the sounds but you do need some patience waiting for the sugar to reach the hard ball stage and then don't wait too long when they cool before finishing them up.
By Kate Young
Published by Kensington
Release date: April 27, 2021
Every cozy protagonist needs a BFF like Betsy. She strikes me as the type who would bail you out if she wasn't already helping you hide the body, of course in this Southern Sass cozy, she is actually trying to help Marygene to find the body and trying not to strangle her cousin Alex, Marygene's former on again off again first love. There is a great depth of character in this story from the pain and anguish that Marygene feels, the lost and hopeless Alex, to the fierce loyalty of Bets and Aunt Vi. There is definitely something strange going on from the missing body to the bomb and back to the reappearing sweat suit clad bride. This one definitely twists and turns as clues surface and red herrings distract, they distract almost as well as as the suave Officer Javier, who shows Marygene something she needed to see, and her Mama told her something she needed to hear. Great story and equally great recipes, as usual!
From Port to Rigor Morte (A Wine Trail Mystery)
By J.C. Eaton
Published by Kensington
Release Date: April 20, 2021
Apparently when you stumble upon enough dead bodies, you become a bit of an expert at cadaver identification, at least in the eyes of an 11 year old. Instead of a trip to the cost Norrie is drawn into another murder mystery, this time it is to stop the impending arrival of Catherine's son Steven. It seems like a lot of work, maybe it would be easier to have Bradley spend the weekend or to just point blank tell Catherine that she is not available. It would be much much easier than dealing with Eli the kid who keeps finding dead bodies and getting into mischief. Not that Norrie needs any help or incentive to go sleuthing or in getting her friends like Theo and Don or her special friend Bradley to join in. Another wild adventure for Norrie that had me guessing about the way the pieces fit together. I like how she has tried multiple ways to keep her clues straight. Because there are way too many red herrings to not write that stuff down. How do these bodies/deaths link together and is it really about the Port or something else. It will keep you guessing so I suggest you grab something yummy from Wegmans and a glass of port or any other grape related libation and settle in for another Wine Trail Mystery. Of course the biggest mystery of all is when Norrie's sister and brother in law will be back from hunting rare bugs. I hope they stay away for at least 3 more books!
Mint Condition
By
Published by
Release date: April 20, 2021
You have just got to love it when a plan comes together, and Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs have crafted a story work of art. Molly Appleby is back and she has not one but three mysteries to solve if you include the meeting with her absent father. By absent I mean like a missing relic, the man was never a part of her life, at least she didn't think so. Even crazier than meeting the father you never knew is finding out that his Stepson is a possible suspect in the death of an antiques dealer whom Molly was supposed to interview for her job as a writer/reporter. Thought it couldn't get any odder? Well there is a desk with a hidden drawer containing Civil War coins and a modern gun. If I don't have your attention or interest yet, I'm not sure what else I could say. Molly is an easy to relate to character who shares bits of her history with you while researching the history of items which keeps you from being lost between the suspects and the storyline. This story is accented in just the right amount of red herrings and misdirection to keep guessing until the end where you find yourself saying "wait, what did they just say?" Where you will then find yourself rereading a few pages. Great story that was born of a real life home renovation treasure find.
Deadly Editions (Scottish Bookstore Mystery)
By Paige Shelton
Published by Kensington
Release date: April 6, 2021
A treasure hunt for a priceless first edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde has Delaney on a pub crawl of sorts that is being hosted by a most unusual benefactor. has a very unique history and it seems to be clouding the present mystery. Delaney's bookish voices seemed unusually quiet this time around, but maybe it was because she had a partner in crime solving. Birk and Delaney team up to not only solve the strange case of the treasure hunt but to also work their way through the clues and red herrings surrounding the hunt's missing benefactress, Ms. Shelagh O'Conner. The usual and unusual characters of this series help to further the mystery along, Brigid and Delaney and manage to have a bit of compatible sleuthing when hunting down the history behind Mr. Hyde and the death of Shelagh's secret beau from long ago. I am not sure which part was more interesting, the treasure hunt/pub tours or the Jekyll & Hyde history that surrounded those pubs. It all worked together so well that a reader is drawn in regardless of this being their first Scottish Bookstore Mystery or their most recent.
