Sugar and Spite: A Witch City Mystery by Carol J. Perry

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.

Sugar and Spite
A Witch City Mystery
Carol J. Perry
Kensington Cozies

It is Halloween time in the city of Salem, Massachusetts. To many that might sound common place but for Lee Barrett Mondello, program director for WCH TV, it is an opportunity to get out from behind her desk and visit the local sweet shops. These days Lee is watching her weight because she has been putting on a few pounds over the last 8 almost 9 months. That's right, Lee and her husband, police detective Pete are expecting their first baby. If this is your first Witch City Mystery, no worries, this is a stand-alone cozy. 

Lee is feeling pretty ready for this new adventure. She is a strong character and has led a life full of change starting with losing her parents to a plane crash and being raised by her feisty librarian Aunt Ibby, she was widowed at a young age when her race car driving husband died in a car accident and then she found herself investigating one mystery after another as a reporter for WCH TV which led her to meet TV personality and tarot card reading wiccan River North who one of the few people who know something special about Lee. Lee is a "scryer" or if you prefer, a "gazer" which means she can see visions in reflective surfaces. These visions are not always straightforward, but they have all been helpful in past adventures. Unlike other paranormal cozy sleuths, Lee is not a fan of this ability or the flashing lights and unexpected visions. This time when she nearly stumbles over a dead body in the Casa de Chocolate sweets shop, she doesn't see a thing. Lee might not be getting visions, but she is getting weird vibes from the son of the victim.  Salem might be a cozy sized town but that is no reason to run into the same person constantly when there is no logical reason for paths to cross. Lee says that she is looking forward to setting down the mic and picking up the stroller as she transitions to a stay-at-home mom. Stay-at-home moms don't chase down clues or put themselves into possible danger. In fact, Lee is doing her best to steer clear of this mystery, sample candies, and report on the plight of homeless fur babies.

This is a very enjoyable cozy that keeps you guessing as to how Lee's tarot card reading is going to unfold. The usual characters, Aunt Ibby is a wealth of knowledge, not to mention an excellent cook. In addition to having a slight paranormal twist, this series is also culinary. Each mystery comes complete with several recipes so you too can enjoy Aunt Ibby's cooking. For example, I made Aunt Ibby's Slow-Cooker Beef Burgundy, for Halloween dinner. It was easy to make and enjoyable to eat. This mystery was enjoyable to read and a little easy to solve once the pieces started to fall into place. There was a pretty good misdirection that had me going. This was a great Halloween season cozy, and I hope that Ms. Perry continues the series, even though Lee has settled down into the next chapter of her life. 

   

 

Thanks for Muffin: A Merry Muffin Mystery by Victoria Hamilton

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairings found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.

Thanks for Muffin
A Merry Muffin Mystery
Victoria Hamilton
Beyond the Page

Merry Wynter and Percival “Pish” Lincoln are hosting an amazing and elegant inaugural gala to introduce the Wynter Woods Center for the Performing Arts while also serving as a charity fundraising event. People will travel via luxury party buses from Manhattan to Western New York for the opportunity to dress to the nines and have a holiday experience. Among the guests is a variety of talent, from a world-renowned soprano soloist and her equally talented offspring, an actor, a 90s popstar, and a producer/director. Several guests will be staying through the holiday for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner to be enjoyed the next day. The last thing needed for the grand opening weekend, was a disagreeable, philandering, muckraker reporter who ends up dead after streaming an unflattering video and nasty bit of commentary about the gala and the attendees.

This is book 8 of the Merry Muffin Mystery series and I must confess that I think there would be much to gain by reading the preceding episodes. That is not to say that this is not a stand-alone cozy, I was not lost or confused while enjoying the story but having a pre-existing knowledge of characters and relationships would have enhanced my reading experience. Ms. Hamilton does include a “Cast of Characters” at the beginning of the book which helped immensely. She also includes a few recipes at the conclusion of the story which are quite tasty and simple enough for any level of cook to complete. I enjoyed making and eating the savory Cheddar and Buckwheat Scones with a nice bowl of stew. I have plans to also try the Blueberry-Sour Cream Coffee Cake Muffins.  

Merry, our sleuth, is a smart cookie, or baker, I should say. She is easy to relate to and has a real big heart of gold regardless of what some people might think. She isn’t an heiress or an entitled well-to-do, but she is a hard worker with an amazing baking ability that has led to a successful business. The castle she inherited was a bit of a shambles and it did not come with a fix-it fund, so of course she is going to do anything she can to help solve the murder before the news hits the net and threatens all that she and her best buddy Pish have accomplished. Being the smart lady, she is also means that she surrounds herself with smart people. Her smart and hunky husband Virgil, a former cop turned private investigator, is pulled in on the case by local law enforcement. It is always helpful to have an inside man. Merry’s other friends pitch in and help out in a variety of ways. Which is extremely helpful because it seems like suspects are popping up left and right as Merry learns more and more about her guests and their personal histories. Who would have guessed that the gala was going to be seven degrees of Dan Sooner. 

There are plenty of clues and plenty of red herrings to keep you in that armchair sluething your way through the book. I might not have guessed who did the deed, but I really enjoyed reading this culinary cozy and will be going back to the start of the series to not only catch up but to also get all those muffin recipes.   

Tattered Cover: The Secret, Scone, and Book Society by Ellery Adams

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairings found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.

The Tattered Cover
The Secret, Book, and Scone Society
Ellery Adams
Kensington Cozies

If you enjoy slightly edgy cozies with lots of emotion the this is not only a great Halloween read for you but also an awesome series. The Tattered Cover can be read as a stand-alone, but you might enjoy it more if you started at least two books before with Papercuts, just to get the complete book buildup and character arc.

This series is all about second chances, starting with our main character, Nora Pennington. Nora has quite a back story and it is completely fleshed out in Papercuts, but you don't need to know her whole story up front because Ms. Adams does a great job of sharing just enough backstory to keep the reader from being lost but to also make you want to have read the story from the start. But that is not this story, this story starts with a book signing in Nora's bookshop, Miracle Books, located in Miracle Springs, North Carolina. Like any good Halloween themed story, there is also a mystical aspect and a dark and stormy night. There is also a witch, not the usual kind, no, this one comes with a dog since she is a K9 handler for the Sheriff's department. I am not the only one who isn't a fan of Deputy Paula Hollowell, she elicits some serious emotions. Actually, this series is very good at making you feel all the feelings from happy to indignant and everything in-between. Nora's friends Hester, June, and Estella make up the Secret, Book, and Scone Society with her coworker Sheldon, rounding out the merry band of sleuthers.

It is spooky season, Halloween, and this time around there is a murder in the bookstore under unusual circumstances with an interesting group of suspects to keep Nora and her friends busy. In addition to trying to solve the mystery, the group is also planning for Magnolia Salon and Spa owner Estella and Pink Lady Grill owner Jack's new bundle of joy due to arrive any time.  Estella and Jack aren't the only ones with changes on the horizon. Nora is looking at making changes regarding the bookstore, and maybe even her living arrangements since her little home is in the process of being rebuilt. Nora is staying with her guy, Sheriff Grant McCabe. McCabe (as Nora often calls him) is a fine man who tries to see the best in people, sometimes he and Nora don't see eye to eye which causes contention and a little bit of reader anxiety.    

The story is well laid out, but that is to be expected because Ms. Adams is a master of storytelling with an amazing ability to lay a firm foundation within in story/book that highlights different characters and their stories. Nora's amazing friends, the members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, each have a story to tell within the pages of the different books. You will not be able to put a single book down and this latest story is no different. This is a great book for armchair sleuthing because the clues are freely given as are suggestions for other great books. Not to worry when it comes to keeping track of Nora's suggestions because you can find them all at the conclusion of the novel. The only thing missing is a few of Hester's recipes from the Gingerbread House Bakery.

 

For Duck's Sake: A Meg Langslow Mystery by Donna Andrews

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairings found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.

 

 

For Duck’s Sake
A Meg Langslow Mystery #37
Donna Andrews
Minotaur Books 

What started out as a future duck pond has become ground zero for a cold case that the police didn’t even know they had. As if that wasn’t quackers enough, Meg and CJCJ’s home has gone to the dogs, literally. What started out as a good deed has become a great endeavor, the Mutt March. I cannot even begin to comprehend what this would look like in the real, nonfictional world. The manpower alone is staggering. This event takes a village or rather the cozy town of Caerphilly, Virginia. No fear, the Hollingsworth family, namely Meg’s mom, is here, to organize and keep the plates spinning so that Meg can search for clues.

 

As always, Meg relies on her impressive logic, her wit, and her notebook that “tells her when to breathe”, to keep track of clues and suspects. Her network of family and friends coupled with her impressive research skills prove to be as helpful as always to Police Chief Burke, who seems to be more accepting of the help with each new mystery.

 

This is a standalone mystery, so you won’t feel lost when you read. Meg has some great and even humorous methods for helping the reader to identify strangers. Her nicknaming method is used in multiple books, and it makes me laugh out loud every time. The skeleton identification procedures are very interesting as is the history about fallout shelters. With all that is going on, you can’t help but to be engrossed in the story, turning page after page until the big reveal. There was one big whale-of-a-red herring and also some smaller ones. The combination of the dead body, the bomb shelter, possible dog nappers, and a missing octogenarian made this a true test for Meg’s skills. I would give this a five out of five ducks, but they would need to be Cayugas.

 

Death at an Irish Village: An Irish Castle Mystery by Ellie Brannigan

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and/or NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any recipe review and food pairings found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing. 

Death at an Irish Village
An Irish Castle Mystery
Ellie Brannigan
Crooked Lane Books

This is the third book in the Irish Castle Mystery series, and it does a great job of furthering the overall story arc as Irish revolutionary history overlaps with Rayne and Ciara’s family history at a forgotten grave site in the overgrown cemetery. Perfect place for a body drop, right? 

As a reader you don’t have to know the history of the series because there is plenty of backstory. Rayne McGrath, couture wedding dress maker to the likes of the rich and Rodeo Drive famous, and her salt of the earth Irish cousin Ciara Smith have one year to bring the finances of McGrath Castle and the surrounding lands into the black or sell. Wills can be tricky things, it seems as though Nevin McGrath’s written will was to unite his illegitimate daughter Ciara and her brash American cousin Rayne, into a partnership to save them all following his demise (see the series starter, Murder at an Irish Castle).  A pink Hermes bag, one of Rayne’s treasured items, may need to be sacrificed for the sake of the estate if the wedding venue venture does not get off the ground in conjunction with an increase in next year’s lambing.  

There are so many struggles between renovating the village to bring it into this century while not losing the cozy historic village look. I was intrigued by the way Rayne and Ciara were brainstorming to come up with a list of potential jobs to be filled by a slightly younger group of people. You can’t help but to feel empathy for the cousins as they seem to take two steps forward and one and a half steps back, but at least they are in lockstep. Well except for when it comes to romance. The cousin’s romantic lives are see-sawing. While one cousin seems to be going up with butterflies in her stomach, the other cousin is going down with a feeling of dread. Oh and then there is Landon, the crazy ex business partner/boyfriend. The last thing needed is a dead body in the newly cleared cemetery, that wasn’t there before the clearing. With a wedding scheduled, Rayne knows that she needs to do what she can to help Garda Williams get to the bottom of this unfortunate and reputation-ruining mystery. 

The plot of this story has sprinkles of Irish history, cozy town characters (many of which are over 60 and fit as proverbial fiddles), a loyal castle staff that is more like family than anything else, a handsome Viking, and more than enough suspects. With all these suspects, it is easy to be taken in by the red herrings. I knew who the killer wasn’t, but I did not figure out who was responsible. I cannot wait to see what will happen next in this highly entertaining cozy series.

Scone Cold Dead: A Country Store Mystery by Maddie Day

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and/or NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairings found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.

Scone Cold Dead
A Country Store Mystery
Maddie Day

Book 13 of the Country Store Mysteries comes with many changes looming on the horizon for more than one of the residents of South Lick, Indiana. If this is your first time picking up a Maddie Day cozy mystery you are in for a treat with both the mystery and the sweet and savory recipes found at the conclusion of the story.  Don't worry if you "met" Robbie Jordan before now, she is easy to like and makes some great meals in her Pans and Pancakes, breakfast and lunch country store. Each book can be read as a stand-alone mystery with plenty of descriptions and back story to keep the reader from getting lost amidst the characters or clues. 

Robbie is usually elbow deep in pancake prep or up to her neck in a murder mystery, but things have changed in the last eight or so months. In the previous book, Deep Friend Death, Robbie learned that she and her husband, Abe were going to be parents, and it changed Robbie's perspective on sleuthing. She became much more careful, thinking of her welfare or rather her baby's welfare, not that she has ever been one of those folks who are "too dumb to live." This time around we continue to see this same cautious attitude. Robbie steers away from the dark alleys but not from asking the hard and sometimes intrusive questions or brainstorming scenarios with local law enforcement. 

Speaking of local law enforcement, Chief Buck Bird, has quite a way with words. This time around, I think that my favorite Buck saying was "you musta been scareder than a sinner in a cyclone." It is the characters who really add the flavor to this series. There is a unique blend of people of different ages such as Robbie's aunt Adele, who finds a dead body of a man she once knew, in the goat pasture. There are young people too, like Robbie's coworkers, Danna Beedle and Turner Rao. Danna, Mayor Corrine's daughter, has red dreadlocks and a flair for colorful clothes. Turner literally adds Southeast Asian flavor to the dishes he cooks. Even the "guest stars" bring interesting aspects to the stories. This time around, a man comes to town, a man who, to Buck, looks like he has been in the criminal justice system. And not on the side of the law."  A man who is asking for Adele, who seems to be known by several of the regulars, someone who incites strong emotions. Obviously, this man is going to be the victim and there are plenty of good suspects and some not so good. Adele is not a good suspect but because she has history with Ivan, and he was found in her pasture, Robbie will need to start asking questions. 

Robbie asks great questions, the kind of questions that kept me turning pages to find out what the answers were going to be. The clues are so well placed and the herrings so red that I was completely caught off guard by the solution. I was coming up with scenarios like Robbie that sometimes seemed a little more over the top than the one before it. My attention was held all the way to the end and then I got to enjoy some delicious Pecan Scones which I have pictured below. I also made the fajitas, because who doesn't like fajitas. I am looking forward to trying the Apple Cider Muffins, and just maybe, all of these great recipes will help to hold me over until the next Country Store Mystery.

A Murder Most Fowl : A Food Truck Mystery by Carmela Dutra

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and/or NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairings found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing. 

A Murder Most Fowl
A Food Truck Mystery Series Starter
Carmela Dutra
Crooked Lane

What a great start to a new cozy series.  Carmela Dutra should be strutting like rooster after writing such a clever cozy mystery based on a family food truck business. I was instantly hooked because I love a good culinary cozy with a slightly snarky, slightly silly sleuth. Beth (Bethany) Lloyd starts out this adventure by getting arrested, in a chicken costume, for assaulting another food truck owner's truck. I know that I am going to like her right away because she introduces herself to the reader and states that nothing she does is subtle. The snark shows up right away as illustrated by her nickname for the arresting officer, Officer Pretty Boy. Yep, that comes back to peck her in the face when it turns out that he is really Detective "Pretty Boy" Kane. 

Beth isn't alone in this adventure though, she has her BFF (best female friend) Rylie Cortes, and her womb-mate/twin brother and lawyer-to-be, Seth. And what an adventure it is going to be since their food truck, Kluckin' Good, has been selected for the reality food show/contest The Food Truck Showdown and a chance to win $50,000 not to mention the fantastic publicity just from being a part of the show. Unfortunately, a local rival and nemesis, Benji Mayhews, owner of The Dog House food truck is a contestant as well. So, of course, Benji is a victim, and Beth is a suspect who is questioned not once but twice by Detective Pretty Boy. Their playful banter is highly entertaining, and almost as good as the twins back and forth about who is older. 

The easygoing light-heartedness is perfect to counterbalance the over-the-top reality TV drama and keeps the reader entertained and interested. The contestants, all unique, and all offering some great food, are all suspects, even though they have received threatening serial killer like magazine cutout messages.  What cozy sleuth can ignore a food related threatening message created out of magazine bits? Beth and Rylie are true crime fans, so of course Beth intends to use all her knowledge to get to the bottom of the strange goings on.  There are plenty of clues to be followed and scenarios to be sorted out. Interestingly enough, Detective Kane is happy to listen to Beth’s theories and does his best to warn her to stay out of his investigation. I am looking forward to seeing how that relationship progresses as the series continues.

I found this story to be as appetizing and as original as the menu items and daily specials that are described in great detail. Speaking of food, there are two recipes, The Kluckin' Greek wings and Mac and Cheese Poppers included at the conclusion of the story that I cannot wait to make and enjoy.  

Deception's Edge : A Blade Broussard Thriller by Nannette Potter

Thank you to the author, Nannette Potter, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairings found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.  

Deception’s Edge
A Blade Broussard Thriller
Nannette Potter

WOW, this thriller grabs your attention and doesn’t let it go even at the end. This is book two of the Blade Broussard series and while I have not read the series starter (yet) I was not confused or lost in the least. Ms. Potter does an excellent job of building the plot, the characters, and the tension while incorporating bits of faith. I really appreciated that while it was definitely a gun shooting, knife throwing, bomb blasting thriller it is pretty much clean in fact if it was a mystery it would be an edgy cozy. 

The story is made up of three points of view that converge near the end. Blade is looking for the man she considers responsible for the death of her birth mother. Chase, the American Soldati di Cristo, is being held and tortured in a North Korean labor camp when a rescue mission goes very wrong. Lastly, there is Alec, an enigmatic man, who is the very man whom Blade is on the hunt to find. All three characters are diverse and strong-willed, with differing backgrounds, but their fates seem to be tied together as if by an unseen crimson silk rope.

Our protagonist, Genevieve, who goes by the stage name Blade, is a strong woman, who must have been a strong girl growing up. How often do we read about a professional impalement artist? Kudos to Ms. Potter for such an original day job. Blade does not suffer fools nor does she fool herself into believing that she is invincible. She is hard like the metal she wields but she is also warm, fiercely loyal to those she considers family, and she refuses to give up or give in no matter what the personal cost. 

The additional players, Chase, Alec, Finn, Father McCann, Joe, Thomas, Luc, and Xiu all have such different and well developed personalities that you are drawn even further into the plot line. I am not going to lie when I say that I did not put this book down and in fact, I read it in a single day. 

This book builds upon what was started with the first novel without giving too much away. I can only guess as to how much of a cliffhanger Pierce the Darkness must have been because I am currently holding on to a virtual cliff after finishing Deception’s Edge. I found this to be a highly enjoyable read and am on the hunt for the series starter to hopefully hold me over until book three makes its appearance.

Picking Up The Pieces : A Jigsaw Puzzle Mystery by J.B. Abbott

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and/or NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairings found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.

Picking Up the Pieces
A Jigsaw Puzzle Mystery
J.B. Abbott

This appropriately titled series starter had me hooked after the first chapter. Katie Chambers, our easy to like amateur sleuth, is working with literal and figurative puzzle pieces and not all of them have to do with the mystery. Fortunately, she has a great group of friends who are willing and ready to help her. I am a fan of this kind of cozy which incorporates a cast of variously aged characters who are the support system to assist the sleuth. Katie returns home after six years from Denver, Colorado to cozy Cedar Bay, Washington where not only does everyone know your name, but they also know your business too. I instantly took a liking to Katie, after all, she left a career to move back home after her mom died, so she can be close to her dad. This backstory instantly humanizes her, plus I would do the same thing in a heartbeat for my Dad. Speaking of dads, I found it refreshing that Katie’s dad is the head librarian, that is a new one for me as most librarians in books are women. As with most cozies, the librarians are fonts of knowledge. Katie’s dad could be quite helpful in the future stories. In this first story though, Jim is not helpful…at…all. With the police thinking they got their guy and Jim’s refusal to tell Katie anything helpful, it is up to Katie and the puzzle crew to solve their toughest puzzle yet.

A puzzle critiquing group originally started by Katie’s mom, the South Island Jigsaw Crew is back in business thanks to Katie. Not only are they passionate about puzzles but they are also extremely helpful when it comes to evaluating the next potential puzzle for the Cedar Bay Puzzle Company, where Katie works as the VP of product design and development. Actually, it was the same company and position that her mom worked for prior to her health problems and death. The ages of the members are from “almost 80” to 17, and each personality is just as different as the ages. A great group of people to help Katie solve the crime that claimed one of their own and to get her dad out of the hoosegow. Hannah, Todd, Kevin, and Mildred are such good friends to Katie that I didn’t even realize that she doesn’t have a bff like most cozy protagonists.

The plot is well planned with a variety of motives and misdirects. The story does a great job of eliciting emotional responses and I actually felt insulted on Katie’s behalf from the treatment she and her dad received from Lieutenant Crozier. Then there is the frustration when Katie’s dad refused to cooperate or share anything with Katie, or the bomb he dropped about her ex-boyfriend Connor. Lastly, I am hopeful for the continuation of this series and the development of the overall story arc as Katie continues to fill in the puzzle pieces of her life.

Shot Through the Tart - The Laughing Loaf Bakery Mysteries by Victoria Kazarian

Thank you to the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.

Shot Through the Tart
A Laughing Loaf Mysteries
Victoria Kazarian

Having read the series starter prior to reading book number 7 I am familiar with Gracie’s unique situation. Not to worry, this is a stand-alone cozy with a sprinkling of thriller so you will not feel lost. The Laughing Loaf bakery owner, Gracie Markley and her dad are in the WITSEC program and have only been in River Grove for about two years. The bakery has done so well that it is getting a little overhaul. To keep the patrons happy and the bills paid, Gracie has set up a “pop up” on the green until the final touches are complete. Since the Laughing Loaf will be a bigger place with more tasty offerings, that means more employees. This leads Gracie to once again become embroiled in a mystery. Well, that and her lousy ex-husband and his business partner telling certain foreign dissidents that she has the system codes they paid a whole lot of money to acquire.     

Opening day is crazy and it only gets crazier when the new employee who was fired for snooping in Gracie’s office is found dead. Topping the crazy is threats from members of SABRE who want what they paid ex-husband Ben for, and they are under the impression that Gracie has it. Is it a coincidence or was someone out to get Barb? I am not sure how Gracie keeps it together regardless of the number of agents who are watching her every move, the local operative who keeps an eye on her, or Chief Westerman who is working out of his car while parked outside of the bakery. This story draws you in like the scent of the fresh baked cinnamon rolls that Gracie makes every morning. With the new enhancements, the bakery is doing gangbusters, but Gracie is still able to make time to sneak out and search for clues. Actually, Gracie has an amazing staff to cover for her while she tries to keep away from the Satrovanians who are threatening her life.    

This cozy checks all the boxes. The story was entertaining, there is an adorable little pooch named Biga, there is an attentive boyfriend, and a supportive group of friends and family. For a little added flavor there is also the federal agent involvement and thriller undertones. Not only do you get an enjoyable mystery with amazing bakery items descriptions but also a great recipe for Beck’s Strawberry Shortbread Tarts made with créme anglaise. The directions were easy, and the cream and crust came out perfect. I will be going back to see what I missed in the previous books plus there will be more recipes to enjoy.

 

Drop Dead Bread: A Laughing Loaf Bakery Mystery (series starter) By Victoria Kazarian

Thank you to the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.

Drop Dead Bread
A Laughing Loaf Bakery Mystery
Victoria Kazarian

This series starter gets right to business as a cozy mystery with a touch of thriller due to Gracie Markley and her dad being participants in the WITSEC program, as in witness protection. The small and cozy town of River Grove seemed like the perfect place to relocate and start a new and different business. It was looking like a place where Gracie and her dad could reestablish roots. After a year they can breathe a little easier. During that one year, Gracie has been able to successfully launch a bakery business called the Laughing Loaf which is quite different from the tech job she left when she turned her tech secret selling husband in to the Feds.   

All is quiet in the cozy town and Gracie has settled into the life of a baker and according to Beck, her young and aspiring baker, Gracie is no longer the newest resident. Unfortunately, one of those new neighbors is the victim and the other one, is a not so neighborly. Former male model Nico Behrens is found dead on the bakery’s back doorstep with one hand reaching into the doorway. If Gracie wasn’t traumatized enough, she also gets to contend with nature photographer, Nate, the victim’s brother who in his grief decides to file a suit against Gracie claiming that it is her worn steps that led to a fall that caused the death. As members of the WITSEC program, the last thing that Gracie and her dad need is any sort of press coverage local or national due to the homicide. So of course, she is going to need to figure out who did the deadly deed. 

Gracie has a great friend and co-worker support system even though it is small (it will get bigger) and while the Sheriff doesn't want her involving herself in his investigation, he still shows her respect for the clues she finds. I for one respect her taste in music since she often turns up the 80s/90s tunes while mixing, kneading, prepping the dough for those incredible baked goods. The playlist can be found at the back of the book. Gracie is a sweetheart of a character, very relatable and she doesn't seem to make those rash mistakes like asking too many pointed questions. I can see why this series has so many books. It could also be because of the great recipes included at the back of the books. The series starter provides you with Gracie's Basic Scone recipe and it is always good to have a basic scone recipe that can be served with homemade preserves. This recipe was easy to follow, turned out so good that you don't even need preserves or lemon curd to enjoy.

This story was every bit as enjoyable as the scones. I did not guess the villain until the reveal and it held my attention the entire time. I look forward to reading the additional stories and seeing how the characters develop throughout the series.

That Missing Piece is Killing Me : Alice Pepper's Lonely Hearts and Puzzle Club by Roz Noonan

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing. 

That Missing Piece is Killing Me
Alice Pepper's Lonely Hearts and Puzzle Club
Roz Noonan

Book two of the Alice Peppers series starts out with a missing person who may not want to be found, which brings back painful memories for Alice from her past. This story grabbed my attention right away as Alice and her friends follow what few clues, they can find to hopefully lead them to the missing Michelle. Michelle, the very responsible woman who teaches dance and martial arts, is missing in action during the annual children’s book festival, and no one, not even her husband, knows where she has gone. Speaking of Michelle’s husband, Lars makes for a very good suspect for the missing Michelle. He is an arrogant egomaniac artist, at least he is until he turns up dead, stabbed. Since Michelle found his body upon her return home, she is at the top of the suspect list. Now, how is that for a hook! 

This is a stand-alone cozy mystery with a “mature” main character. Librarian Alice Pepper and her lonely hearts and puzzle solving friends are 60-ish but that doesn’t stop them from getting involved, in spite of Alice’s granddaughter Madison’s request to “leave it to the police.” In Madison’s defense, she is the police. 

Alice refers to her group of friends as the Lonely Hearts and Puzzle Club not because it is a real club or because they are lonely but rather, all of the ladies are single. At least the book starts out that way. The little ribbon of romance that is woven into this story gives it a nice subplot when two of Alice’s friends find themselves with admirers. The only possible problem with this is that both men are possible suspects, but they aren’t the only suspects. Lars had a way of making enemies with his caustic attitude that was reserved for no one and utilized with everyone, even his 17-year-old intern. The more you learn about Lars the less it makes sense that Michelle is even on the suspect list. The motive could be money, love, or revenge.

I thought that it was interesting that there is a missing piece to one of the puzzles that Alice’s sets up to work on. I can relate to working on a puzzle and not being able to find the last piece. Thankfully, they turn up on the floor under the table. Alice felt like she was missing a piece to the murder mystery. Alice was also missing a piece of her family which was touched on in the series starter and is completely explained in this book giving the story a nice plot arc. The cozy and real-world elements are blended together to give added depth as well as enjoyment. I look forward to seeing what puzzle Alice puts together in the next book.   

Home Sweet Homicide: A Hometown Mystery #5 by Rosalie Speilman

Thank you to the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.

Home Sweet Homicide

Hometown Mysteries #5

Rosalie Speilman

Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tessa Treslow reporting for maid of honor duty and murder solving, sir. This is the fifth Hometown Mystery book and my first time reading from this series. The story is a stand-alone cozy that takes place in the town of New Oslo, Idaho. Tessa, moved back home after a successful service career to take her place working with her Aunt Edna, restoring vintage vehicles, (and solving mysteries). This latest book does not involve vintage vehicles, but it does involve something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, plus a dead body or two. 

Tessa hasn’t always gotten along with Jezebel aka Jessie who is engaged to Tessa’s high school boyfriend so why on earth is she agreeing to be her maid of honor? It certainly makes for an entertaining plot as do several of the characters. Jessie, the bride, for one has an unfortunate name, a bit of a reputation that she is trying to put way behind her, four ex-husbands, and a beautiful set of twin girls who can seem a little odd at times. 

Shelby, Jessie’s high school BFF frenemy, is a professional wedding planner, so why wasn’t she asked to help. Most likely because she is a frenemy who irritates everyone every time she opens her mouth. Tessa and the other ladies have everything well in hand, but Shelby tries to steamroll Jessie, the gang and their hard work. Needless to say, I half expected Shelby to be the victim because she is only slightly less repugnant than Jessie's first husband, Zane, the actual victim. Much of my enjoyment while reading this book involves the back and forth between Tessa and Aunt Edna. Everyone needs an Aunt Edna to help keep you straight and to listen when needed or to give advice when you might not want it. Something that Tessa seems to need from time to time to keep her cool when dealing with Shelby, who really should not have been invited in the first place. Tessa didn’t return from duty with PTSD; she came back with a bit of anger and Shelby does a great job of triggering. I appreciate the realness that Ms. Spellman incorporates into the story, from Tessa’s need to contact her therapist to Nick’s loss of limb from his time in the service. There is some light-heartedness to balance out the real-life seriousness.  

In addition, there are some really good red herrings to go along with the shifty suspects to keep you entertained and turning pages. Who is that guy that says he is a PI and who really hired him? Both the bride and the groom are on the suspect list, but we know that they couldn’t have done it, right? One more cozy aspect to this story is that there is also a fur baby, Vince the boxer, who is a butt wiggling ball of fun.  All in all, this is a good read that has me wanting to check out the rest of the series to see how it all started.

 

A Plattering of Murder: A Charcuterie Shop Mystery #4 by J.C. Eaton

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.  

A Plattering of Murder
A Charcuterie Shop Mystery #4
J.C. Eaton

Spirited and savory Katie Aubrey, owner of The Char-Board is back and serving up amazing charcuterie boards at a mystery author event. This is the fourth book in the Charcuterie Shop Mystery series by the husband and wife writing team known as J.C. Eaton. While this is the 4th book, it is a stand-alone and can be enjoyed without reading the preceding books. In addition to a fun story there is a recipe included at the conclusion. Thanks to this series I have learned that charcuterie is for more than just pairing with wine and am going to try my hand at making a dessert board in the near future. 

A Plattering of Murder is like a wild ride on a runaway horse. A horse that Katie had no intention of riding until…her Aunt Regina is questioned as a person of interest and later as a suspect. Alas, many people including Katie can see how this is possible, but Katie knows that Regina isn’t a killer. She can drive a person a bit nuts with her aggressively helpful ways, but she isn’t a killer. She was Richard’s editor; it makes no sense for her to “rub him out.” As with the other books, Katie and friends get involved to help solve this caper, much to the chagrin of local law enforcement. One important thing to know is that Edith, a former food critic, is a ghost and only Katie can see or hear her, which makes for some great scenes. I am surprised that Katie’s friends and coworkers haven’t staged an intervention based on the number of times Katie has to cover up for speaking out loud to Edith with other people around. Not even Ian, Katie’s boyfriend, knows about Edith or Katie’s ability to talk to ghosts.  In addition to the Char-Board crew and Ian pitching in to help with sleuthing, as do Edith and Rosalind, another ghost. That is, Edith and Rosalind are possibly available when they aren’t busy looking over couture from those who have passed on to the great beyond.  Apparently, Grace Kelley’s wardrobe is released at one point and while Edith may be dead, she still wants to look smashing.

One would think that it would be easy to solve this mystery. Katie has access to not one, but two ghosts so why can’t Edith and Rosalind just go ask Richard who did him in? One would be wrong. Edith and Rosalind both report that the other realm is a labyrinth that even the Minotaur killer Theseus would have a tough time navigating. As an armchair sleuth, I found myself writing down clues and suspects and then erasing as the red herrings were added. The side plot with the potentially “haunted” house that Katie’s friend and realtor Maddie, is trying to sell adds a little something as well. I must admit that my main reason for turning page after page was for the comedy aspect that intertwines nicely with the cozy mystery. Katie’s snark just keeps me in stitches, and I cannot wait to see how she becomes embroiled in the next mystery.

Christmas Cozies in July 2025

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.  

Murder at a Scottish Christmas
The Scottish Shire Mystery Series
Traci Hall

Murder at a Scottish Christmas is the 6th book in the Scottish Shire Mystery series. This is a heartwarming cozy series that features Paislee Shaw, a hard-working single mom who owns her own specialty sweater and yarn boutique. Paislee even offers a "knit n sip" for the locals who like to work on a project while being social. This group of ladies are a great sounding board when it comes to reluctant sleuthing or life in general. The characters exude the same warmth and care that Paislee shows to everyone, even people who can be rather annoying, like the victim of this story. It really shouldn't be so hard to find a "first footer" to cross your threshold. This is a lovely tradition involving a dark-haired person walking through your front door after the stroke of midnight, making them the first person to step foot inside your house for the new year. It turns out that this was a tradition that my husband's paternal grandparents celebrated every year. His paternal grandfather was a first-generation citizen with a Scottish heritage. After reading this cozy, I decided that we needed to bring the tradition back. Thankfully we were not waiting on home renovations or running around looking for clues regarding a murder or a puppy smuggling ring. Paislee is an excellent friend, helping Amelia to find her puppy and get justice for her less than savory brother who had finally gotten himself is into more trouble than he could handle. There are plenty of suspects and clue chasing to keep you turning the pages. There is also the banter between DI Zeffer and Paislee. Hamish, the school master might seem like a smart match for Paislee, she is in no hurry to join the ranks of those in a relationship. I for one am #teamZeffer all the way. Looking forward to the next Scottish Shire Mystery.  

A Wonderful Christmas Crime
A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery
Jacqueline Frost

Holly Grey nee White is back for another cozy Christmas murder in the town of Mistletoe. The Gumdrop Gumshoe is making money on her notoriety which is a blessing and a curse.  Holly has a history of being curious, an almost insatiable curiosity that often puts her in the path of a murder. Speaking of history, what a neat aspect to incorporate a She just can't seem to help herself but not this time around. There are more people to think about this time, one very small, teenie tiny person to be. Holly and Ethan are expecting which means that family and friends are on "Holly watch" because the annual Christmas murder has taken place and Holly has promised to leave it be, but can she? It was entertaining to see how many people had been enlisted to keep Holly safe and sound. There are plenty of other things for Holly to keep herself busy with. There is the annual toy drive wrapping, the numerous Christmas cards that need to be addressed and sent out, the activities at The Hearth, and there are plenty of orders for jewelry to be crafted, packaged and mailed. She can also work on crossword puzzles with hidden meanings. She can get the remainder of her holiday shopping completed at one of the numerous vendor booths. Including the Antique Roadshow in the story was a very unique aspect that added some nice holiday history involving a yule goat and interestingly named foods. In addition to these great holiday touches are the usual and sometimes unusual but always entertaining bits. The mystery is well plotted with just enough clues and red herrings to figure it out without being obvious.  

Epilogue for a Christmas Murder

A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery

Lauren Elliott

It is with a heavy heart that I review this final book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore series. I will miss reading the wonderful cozies by recently departed author Lauren Elliot. This was a wonderful end to Addie’s story, although I am sure that if she could have, she would have continued this series. The character arc for Addie has been amazing as we the readers were able to feel a full array of emotions right along with her as she figured out who she was and what she was capable of doing and feeling. 

As for the story itself, it was entertaining as its predecessors with plenty of suspects, clues, and misdirection. There is a bit of romance that is carried over from the previous book. Normally I would say that the books from this series are stand-alone, but to truly understand all that Addie has experienced and how important this last book is, one should start at the beginning or at least read book number A Limited Edition Murder. 

This Christmas themed cozy is not the first holiday book in the series but it is definitely the best with a little Christmas magic, a little Christmas elf mischief, and a little Christmas love plus there is talk of a proper English hand pie that sounds just perfect for pairing with this cozy mystery that would be perfect to read by the fireplace.