September 2021 New Cozy Reviews

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing these ARCs in exchange for honest reviews.

Chapter and Curse (Cambridge Bookshop Series #1)

Elizabeth Penny

Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks

Series starter that starts off as a bibliophiles dream!  Molly Kimball and her Mom need a new start, not unlike many cozy characters, so when an opportunity to travel to Cambridge, England to help save the family bookstore arrives in the form of a letter, they hop across the pond and into a mystery. Molly's mum has been very "mum" when it comes to her side of the family, in fact Molly was unaware that she had family in England. Speaking of Molly, who loves both coffee and a proper blueberry cream cheese scone, is a very relatable character who is going to make an excellent sleuth, when she isn't going through Uncle Tom's book inventory or uploading social media pics on behalf of the family book store. There was a nice group of suspects, a little danger, and a dashing bike shop owner. This is sure to be a great series and I look forward to reading the next one and finding a recipe for blueberry cream cheese scones!

 

Corpse in the Gazebo

Debra Sennefelder

Published by Kensington Books

Release date: September 28, 2021

This brings the phrase nosey neighbor to a whole new level. Our victim, Birdie Donovan, manages to irritate almost everyone in town, so when she ends up dead, not many people are surprised or disappointed. This character’s annoying ways make you think “oh no she did not” while at the same time wondering how Hope can be so nice and feel so bad about their confrontation. No good deed goes unpunished so Hope must work fast to make sure she is the one asking the questions and not down at the police station explaining why her muffins were found at the scene of the crime. Since we know that Hope didn’t do the deed, after all, she would never use her baking powers for evil, which leaves multiple suspects with multiple reasons. Plenty of plot and back story to keep you in the know PLUS my favorite part of any culinary cozy, RECIPES! I for one enjoyed the mac n cheese and chocolate chip scones. I was even inspired to find an apple streusel muffin.  

Here Comes the Fudge

Nancy Coco

Published by

Release date: September 28, 2021

A fast paced novella with quick and easy fudge recipes mixed in to sweeten the story. A groom who isn't talking, a cop who has poor timing, a fellow B&B owner with sparkling eyes, and a fudge-maker/B&B owner who will not let her best friend (aka the bride) down. As if not sharing intel on a murder is going to stop Allie McMurphy from getting involved. Undaunted and undeterred she sets out to make sure the bride and groom get there happy ever after. The story takes place over a week and a half and I was tired for her just after the second day. Up before the gulls caw making fudge for the store and online sales then changing gears to run the family hotel and then there are the maid of honor duties. How did she have the energy to be a sleuth? Oh, and a little romance was thrown in as well. The story kept pace and had plenty of mystery all the way up to the end. Now to make some fudge and brownies from the yummy recipes found between the chapters. 

Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide
Liz Ireland
Published by Kensington Books
Release date: September 28, 2021

April Claus is not your run of the mill Mrs. Claus, nope, she is anything but the typical storybook rendition. Imagine if Nancy Drew had a aunt who was a whole lot of open minded (she married Nick Claus after all) and a bit sleuthy (because the local constables need all the help they can get). All she wanted was to bring a little Halloween holiday to Christmastown and what she gets is a pumpkin massacre. Just as entertaining as the Santaland Slayings and can be read as a stand alone, but what would the fun in that be? April is a highly entertaining character, who is doing her best to navigate the social dictums of being a MRS. Clause, not to be confused with the Dowager Mrs. Claus or her sister in law who is also the widowed Mrs. Clause. In a land of elfish delights, such as fudge, peppermint sticks, and stylish footwear, April is ready to eat all the treats (I'm thinking either peppermint or pumpkin spice scones) while she does her best to avoid the tricks. 

Reading Between the Crimes (A Jane Doe Book Club Mystery)
Kate Young
Published by Crooked Lane Books
September 7, 2021

Riveted is the only way to describe my last two days of reading. I could not put this down, even while I brushed my teeth, I needed to know what was going to happen next. Lyla Moody is no stranger to mystery, she works for her private detective Uncle, is part of murder mystery book group called The Jane Does, and solved  a case or two. This time instead of the murder winding up on her doorstep, it takes place in her parents’ library. If you aren’t hooked yet, add a dash of Southern hospitality, some steel magnolia qualities, and the unquenchable urge to right the wrong.  Emotions run high and family history will be dug up no matter how improper Lyla’s Mother considers it or how much Uncle Calvin tries to avoid it.  Suspects seemed obvious but that was only part of the story, and what a convoluted and wild story it turned out to be. Find a comfortable place to read and hold on because this is going to be a wild read/ride!