November 2021 New Cozy Reviews

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing these ARCs in exchange for honest reviews. The food pairings are of my own volition.

NOVEMBER 30th RELEASES

A Corpse for Christmas (A Cass Peake Cozy)

Lena Reith

Published by Wild Rose Press

A fun and ghostly cozy taking place in the SoCal region where the last thing you would ask for is a corpse, maybe a little snow, definitely not a corpse. Highly entertaining and not just because Doris the ghost if full of moxie and sass. This was my first time reading a Cass Peake Cozy, but it will not be my last. I am intrigued by the fact that people can see Doris, that she can inhabit small animals (namely Cass's cat), and by Cass' unusual and modern business. The story jumps right into the deep end with holiday havoc and the on campus reunion for the ultra-secretive group of thirteen. Plenty of suspects, at least 10 of them to begin with including campus security, my how we start looking at people differently when there is a murder to solve. I did feel that one little detail was not addressed with relation to two of the corpses but otherwise the story developed nicely and now I have a new recipe to try to make, if I can find myself a duck.

A Murder Like No Author
Amy Lillard
Poisoned Pen Press

I want to start by saying that bookstore owner Arlo, should in no way be held accountable for what Hattie, her former guardian, and the Book Club gals get up to when murder is afoot.  Everyone in the town of Sugarloaf is excited, what with the book that has become a movie premiere complete with Hollywood hoopla. A foreign visitor, possible scandal, ghostly goings-on, a mysterious lady in red, and celebrity look-alikes all converge on the cozy town. I’m not sure how involved Arlo would become in this particular instance if it wasn’t for Hattie’s involvement in the renovations of the theater where the murder takes place. I do know that the Book Club gals keep Arlo hopping and a little stressed. Or maybe it is Mads who keeps Arlo stressed because he seems to think that in addition to running a bookstore and a book club, Arlo can run interference with the Book Club gals who look for adventure at every turn. After all they often ask where her sense of adventure is, such as when trying cauliflower crust quiche. I agree with Arlo that cake would be better, but sometimes you just need to throw caution to the wind and try a cauliflower crust quiche with ham and cheese. 

Killer Words (A Mystery Bookshop Mystery)
V.M. Burns

Published by Kensington

Say what you will about Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt but don’t call him a murderer, at least not in front of Nana Jo. Detective Pitt may have no respect for the abilities of Samantha (Sam) Washington and the Shady Acres sleuths. Should we be worried that Nana Jo thinks that to relieve Sam’s boredom we “just need another murder…” Such a feisty and funny grandma. Nany Jo is but one in a great cast of characters, the type you would want to hang out with in addition to level-headed Sam. Another enjoyable aspect to Ms. Burns’ books is that there is a historical mystery inside the Cozy mystery, making it a two-fer! I found this to be an enjoyable read with a casino, canoodling, possible cop-related corruption, and maybe some commitments. There were several red herrings as every good cozy needs, as well as mention  of apple pie tartlets. 

Murder at the Bake Sale

Lee Hollis

Kensington

After reading this one I was craving chocolate chip cookies and feeling better about my abilities to make a decent batch. This is one of the few cozies where you have a partnership that would seem to make no sense but for the wonderful coziness of the characters. Maya and Sandra were friends once upon a time and now they are private investigative partners, well ex-cop Maya is the PI and senator’s wife Sandra is in training. Their lives seem to mirror each other at times while also appearing to be completely opposite and you just aren’t sure which way they are going to go, but you get the feeling that these are a couple of decisive ladies. More than one mystery, but are the intertwined? Hard to tell because of the red herrings and excellent twists and turns in the plot. A great read and I look forward to the next one!

Murder at the Lobstah Shack

Maddie Day

Published by Kensington

A culinary cozy with an excellent storyline that captures your imagination and recipes that tempt your taste buds. Just imagine the nerve of someone to dump a body in the Lobstah Shack and cause all of that great seafood to have to be tossed, such a travesty! Any easy plot to get caught up in with some backstory to give character depth and new plot twists to keep the story moving forward. I also enjoyed not only the mystery and sleuthing skills of Mac, bike shop owner extraordinaire, but also the way the story takes notice of homelessness and possible ways that people can help with both time and/or money. There are also some very tasty recipes to try out such as the cranberry scones and the soba seafood salad, which are both on my to-do list for this weekend.  

Murder Like No Author (Main Street Book Club Mystery)

Amy Lilliard

Posi0n Pen Press

A Murder Yule Regret (A  Bread Shop Mystery)

Winnie Archer

Kensington 

Ivy is going to have a Dickens of a time solving this mystery. Starlets, a sleazy reporter, ghosts of secrets past, and some incredible sounding baked goods. Like all cozy sleuths, Ivy is in the wrong place at the right time or the right place at the wrong time, either way she has an eye for detail as well as for photography. Did she see something through the lens of her camera or did someone see her snapping pictures. Is this a case of Hollywood hoopla turned homicide or an attempt to hide the ugly truths from a paparazzi past.? I particularly like how good Mrs. Branford is at reading Ivy's mind, not to mention the way the Blackbird Ladies use their book club skills to help Ivy , who in turn helps her bff/sister in law Emmaline. The story was a page turner, and not just because I wanted to get to the end and see what recipes Winnie Archer had decided to share. Yule truly enjoy not only the well crafted mystery but also the Buche de Noel and the Star Bread!  

NOVEMBER 29th RELEASES

Death Among the Stars

Sharon Linnea

Arundel Publishing

Not your fluffy cozy, much like the cocktails that Avalon serves, this series has a bit of  an adult taste but not too much to be out of the genre.  Even the cocktail recipes found at the end of each chapter vary between the hard stuff and the nonalcoholic variety. Great story, a little bit more of Avalon’s Hollywood past converges with her present giving us a behind the scenes look at her mysterious background. There is a nice amount of suspense, suspects, stalkers and screen time, plus the usual Avalon insight from being, the bartender extraordinaire/collector of stories. I had just as hard a time figuring out the who-done- it as I did with my drink selection.

NOVEMBER 9th RELEASES

An Eggnog  to Die For (A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery)

Amy Pershing

Published by Berkley

I wuv this series! You will too and not just because of the engaging story or enticing recipes. It is the way you become caught up in the story because it reads like Sam is speaking to you in such an amazing and relatable way. Plenty of backstory is shared so no need to go looking on YouTube for Sam’s most notable moments. An odious victim and a variety of unsuspecting suspects kept me guessing. When I wasn’t drooling over the food, I was laughing out loud more times than I can count! After reading this one, I may just have to break down and make myself some eggnog to go with the amazing recipes and help tide me over until the next installment.

Death on the Shelf (A Haunted Library Mystery)

Allison Brook

Published by Crooked Lane Books

Family, they can bring joy or stress, or possibly murder. Carrie is busy being the Maid of Honor who is organized and ready and constantly reassuring her BFF Angela, that everything will be okay. Keeping Angela calm becomes increasingly difficult with a murder at the wedding reception and a selection of suspects, many of which are relatives. This is such a busy and intriguing storyline that you can’t put the book down. Not nearly are busy as Carrie, who in addition to helping Miss Evelyn’s latest quest, considering being a part of the city council, and learning to be comfortable with the fact that her Dad works with her boyfriend.  In addition to the excellent plot, there are some nice meals mentioned such as eggplant rollatini and double chocolate brownies.