Eight Enchanted Elixirs: A Kitchen Witch Mystery by Lynn Cahoon

Result scrutiny, hellhound training under house arrest, Grandma's ex-boyfriend drama, and the demise of an embittered examiner...what else will kitchen witch Mia have to contend with?     

Eight Enchanted Elixirs
A Kitchen Witch Mystery 
Lynn Cahoon
Kensington Cozies

• Lynn Cahoon has once again crafted a paranormal cozy with characters who seem as normal as you or I, which include the all too familiar ups and downs associated with work, family, and the expectations of others. Mia Malone, Magic Springs most magical kitchen witch and creative cook for example, could care less about the score she received for the coven's national council exam although the allowance provided by the National Coven for being a level five witch, could come in handy for repairs and remodeling projects at the Academy. Mia was just happy to have the ordeal behind her. Unfortunately book 8 starts out with Mia being forced to retake the exam, and this time a special examiner with Salem witch family history will put her through the paces in an unrelenting fashion.
• It isn't as if Mia doesn't have enough normal stress from her job at the Lodge which she needs in order to help keep, or her catering business, Mia's Morsels, afloat until it can support itself. Surely the Goddess isn't testing her with some paranormal stress as well. Between the jaw dropping cliffhanger of book seven aka Mary Alice Carpenter's back-from-the-dead ex-boyfriend Dorian Alexander popping back into town and proposing marriage. Then there is the situation with Mia's boyfriend, Trent, being stuck under house arrest for six weeks while Cerby, his little Maltese has in-home hellhound training with another one of Trent’s past admirers. I really appreciate how well developed the relationship is between Mia and Trent, a healthy and trusting relationship but that doesn’t mean that Mia won’t be open to a calming mantra with a chamomile chaser. This series continues to deliver everything that a paranormal cozy fan is looking for: magic on a mission, relatable characters, and a murder that ties all the loose ends together. There are multiple subplots, and several loose ends, but not a lot of suspects. The academy society has some great members who are going to do what it takes to get the answers they need.
• There are clues sprinkled throughout, a few red herrings, and a solution that had me shaking my head. The solution was right there but those red herrings got me off track. This book is cozy and culinary with such a fun story that concludes with a very tasty and easy pumpkin muffin recipe. I whipped up a batch using fresh pumpkin frozen from last year's Jack-o’-lantern pumpkin and the flavor was fresh with just the right amount of sweetness. The same can be said about the book, there is just the right amount of sweetness, the right amount of spice, and all the characters work together to solve the mystery while propelling the overall story arc forward. This story line continues to allude to a magical conflict, so I hope that means more books.
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Thank you to the authors, publishers, and/or 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.

The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg: A Domestic Diva Mystery #18 by Krista Davis

A confusing case of subterfuge and the discovery of a dead body are the last things Sophie was planning on, and then the husband's family asked her to investigate.

The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg

A Domestic Diva Mystery #18

Krista Davis

Kensington

Sophie Winston, event planner, masterful cook, amateur sleuth is asked to investigate a murder. Not by the police, heavens no, Detective Wolf would have none of that. No, it seems that Sophie's reputation for helping the local police to solve crimes has made her a little bit of a celebrity in the town of Alexandria, Virginia. The victim's husband becomes suspect number one, which is where the request to look into things originates. Mike Nofsinger's family adored his wife Denise almost as much as Mike himself, there is no way he could have hurt her. So, if Mike didn't do it who did? 

Sophie is an excellent amateur sleuth because while she makes a point of reminding people that she is not a professional investigator. In addition, she also works to get to the truth, which she shares with Detectives Wolf and Wong. Sophie seldom goes rogue by putting herself into dangerous situations, at least not on purpose.  This mystery is multifaceted with plenty of clues as well as distractions giving the reader an ending that was unexpected and heart-warming. 

There are as many twists and turns to this story as there are bits of helpful advice from both Sophie, as well as Natasha, Sophie's friend who is a borderline frenemy. The advice column inserts make for a humorous distraction as well as some very good bits of advice. Also included in this culinary cozy is a recipe for Eggs Benedict. Don't let the idea of poaching an egg in boiling water intimidate you, author Krista Davis gives excellent directions. There is also a great recipe for pumpkin donut holes that are baked instead of fried. I couldn't decide between the two, so I made both.

               

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 by Meringue: A Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery by Greta Sinclair

A honeymoon interrupted by murder, meringue, and an adorable foodie schnoodle named Mozart. 

Murder by Meringue
A Vivid Sydney Cozy Culinary Murder Mystery
A Darcy and Mozart Culinary Cozy
Greta Sinclair

Book #12 of the Darcy and Mozart Culinary Cozy series takes us on Darcy and Marcus’s much anticipated and needed honeymoon. Which was originally delayed due to Marcus’s Interpol police work, but now the two are off to Australia for a bit of post-matrimonial holiday bliss during Vivid Sydney, a multi-day event of Lights, Music, Minds, and Food. What was sure to be an amazing time for The Wandering Foodie’s golden girl food critic at least until Darcy’s best friend who is supposed to be stateside with Mozart the schnoodle shows up at Pavlova After Dark and photojournalist Lizzie's innocence when judge and former boyfriend, Jules Ransom takes his first and last bite of authentic Australian Pavlova. Did you know that pavlova was originally from Australia, I did not until I read this book.

It took me one day to devour this story because I could not put it down. Even as a first-time reader of the series I was never lost, there were no spoilers for previous books. I also appreciated how well Darcy and Marcus worked together. If you have read a cozy or two then you know the romance part where the sleuth ends up in all kinds of predicaments and the law enforcement character, and often love interest, has learned that the sleuth is going to do what she does especially when a friend who is really family is in the line of fire. The mutual respect that both characters show each other is nice and comforting, everything that a cozy should be. Kudos to Darcy for learning to compromise and for not going rogue, or off on her own. With Lizzie in the nick (Aussie for jail), Darcy is joined by Mozart and Bluey, no not a blue cartoon dog…Bluey is a Crocodile Dundee style food show roadie who was able to see what so many people missed. He becomes the Watson to Darcy’s Sherlock not to mention that he respects Mozart, even refers to him as “the little foreman.” These two have their work cut out for them with a handful of suspects and a vitriol spewing victim who reveled in drama. 

I think that I just might have to put Vivid Sydney on my cozy book location bucket list. It is a real event that looks absolutely AMAZING. Not to mention that I learned all sorts of new vocabulary words thanks to the author’s research, be sure to check out the glossary at the back of the book. It's these details that really enhance a mystery. Do you know what else is at the conclusion of the story? The recipe for pavlova is at the back, and it goes step by step which gives me the perfect recipe pairing for this book as well as the idea to make a Pavlova Bar to take to couples class next week.

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and/or 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.

Death In The Dark: The Novel Detectives Book 2 by Ellie Alexander

It started out like every other day at the Secret Bookcase bookshop, until a man staggered in covered in blood...

Death in the Dark
A Novel Detectives Mystery Book 2
Ellie Alexander
Storm Publishing 

Book two of A Novel Detectives Mystery series is a stand-alone cozy but it starts out like a noire mystery complete with a man who has no memory of the night before or why he would be covered in blood. Josh Bynaum, the local track team head coach and English teacher, comes stumbling into the office. Redwood Grove is a quiet and cozy town. The kind of cozy town with a mystery bookstore called The Secret Staircase that doubles as the office for The Novel Detectives, the professional and dynamic sleuthing duo of Annie Murray and Fletcher Hughes. Annie and Fletcher decide to take the case and in the process of retracing Josh’s footsteps, they discover the body of assistant track coach Rob Meyers. 

Of course, the blood-caked client and the body drop grabbed my attention and teased me into reading more. Josh seems like the obvious choice for a person of interest, maybe even a suspect, but he isn’t the only one. There is plenty of suspicion to go around. Thankfully, the police are wise enough to utilize the talents of the Novel Detectives since there will be quite a bit of footwork to do for this case. There is a rival high school team’s coach, a very vocal and rich booster parent, the school administration and a few teachers. Is this a case of Occom’s Razor or is there a dark and sinister subplot. Okay not so dark or sinister, this is a cozy mystery after all. You can’t help but to keep turning pages as Annie and Fletcher follow the clues and ask the questions.  

All of the characters are well crafted; the descriptions make it incredibly easy to picture all that takes place. I was even craving a spring chicken sandwich after reading about the lunch that Annie’s boyfriend Liam had made for her at the Stag Head pub. Fletcher Hughes is the quintessential (young) Sherlockian and I think it is very unique that he and Annie are such good friends. Dr. Caldwell, the local detective, was Annie’s criminal justice professor and mentor. Annie has an interesting back story so be sure to read the series starter, A Very Novel Murder. Even Professor Plum the furry feline character has quite the bit of character, as do Jekyll and Hyde the shop’s pseudo mascots who take up residence just outside the bookshop.

I look forward to catching up by reading the series starter and then checking out books three, A Murder at the Mansion.

Thank you to the publisher/author/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.

Tides Wait For No Witch: Spelltide Bay Magic Mysteries #1 by Natalie Summers

What would you do if you inherited a house, a business, a family, and the power of a water witch and had no idea as to why?

Tides Wait For No Witch
Spelltide Bay Magic Mysteries #1
Natalie Summers

What a fun series starter that instantly draws the reader in with new twists and turns with almost every chapter! If you are a fan of the cozy character, Mitzy Moon, then you are going to be absolutely charmed by Sara Rivers. This cozy is set on an island off of the Northwest Pacific coast, an island with a town that is occupied by the most interesting and unusual of characters, and apparently everybody knows everybody else's business. Imagine the surprise when Sara, who recently lost her mom and her job, learns that she has inherited a house and so much more. Sara who has had to be strong for the majority of her life, because she and her mom only had each other and they were constantly on the move. Sara will learn the importance of community, of family, of giving back, and helping others. That is not to say that she did not have it in her, but rather she did not have opportunities thrust upon her to stretch those people skills.

The emotional roller coaster of this cozy is tempered with a bit of sass, a family secret, a smoking FBI agent, and a whole support system unlike anything that Sara could have ever imagined. Sara is going to need a whole lot of yarn to crochet herself back to a happy place. The paranormal parts make the story even more colorful than I could have ever imagined. Almost everyone has a special ability, okay, almost everyone is a witch of one sort or another. Sara is half water witch and half undine; I had to look up the definition of undine. Essentially, Sara is one with the water and the water is one with her which also means that the water "speaks" to her as does Ollie, the kleptomaniac otter. He is so much fun and such a cutie! Sara's dad Bennett makes magic in the kitchen, half-sister Frothy has the gift of foresight (sort of), Bennet's mom Warra likes to play with fire, and his dad Torrent has water abilities. Oh, and that smoking hot FBI guy, well he's part dragon on his mother's side. How could you not want to pick this book up and start reading?

Still not sure, then let me tell you about the murder mystery aspect.

There are artifacts, tunnels, and tidewolves, oh my. Not to mention that the mysterious benefactor, great-aunt Katrika left behind a house, a business, and a whole lot of secrets, but no straightforward answers to any of Sara's questions. Like why does no one think it odd that a perfectly healthy woman just falls down dead on the beach in the middle of the night? Sara relies on her wits and some new skills to sus out the clues. For example, she interviews orca whales that transfigure into wolves. The addition of the Innuit mythical Akhlut folklore aka tidewolves is a nice touch. This story has so many layers. It is similar to varying dive depths in the ocean, and the deeper Sara gets, the darker and murkier the mystery becomes. While this mystery is sure to be a stand-alone, not everything is revealed by the end of this tale.

Sara is a character after my own heart, with a touch of sass, a good head on her shoulders, a dash of daring, a whole lot of heart, and a healthy appetite for good food. Reading about all of the tasty baked goods inspired me to bake a batch of Sourdough Chocolate Chip Scones, which might console me while I wait for the next book.

Thank you to the publisher/author/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.

The Handyman's Last Bite: Bay View Harbor Mystery Series #1 by Elaine L. Orr

The one time the handyman pays for an order instead of helping himself to a sample turns out to be the last time...

The Handyman’s Last Bite
Bay View Harbor Mystery Series #1
Elaine L. Orr

Gypsy Lee Miller has left the big city of Washington D.C., to return to the quiet and cozy town of Bay View Harbor located along the Chesapeake. A town where everybody knows your name and your business, just ask Mrs. Carnahan, if you can’t say anything nice, go sit next to her. What can I say, almost every cozy small town mystery has a Mrs. Carnahan. Almost every town also has a bakery, and this is where Gypsy Lee (I really like the unusual name) has joined forces with her cousin Linda, to provide the town with some truly tasty baked goods such as muffins, cookies, scones, and brownies. Recipes for several of the baked goods mentioned can be found at the back of the book. I struggled to make a choice to pair with my review but finally settled on the Oatmeal Apple Cookies since I have never made apple cookies of any type.

Gypsy Lee’s plan was to work hard with her cousin to get the bakery to a profitable point while reintegrating herself into Bay View Harbor. It was a well thought out plan, at least until local handyman Gordy Steele takes a bite of a lemon cupcake and falls down dead. The interesting thing about Gordy is that he reminds you of the character Wimpy from the Popeye cartoons who “would gladly pay you tomorrow, for a hamburger today.” It seems that Gordy owed people money and people may have been paying Gordy to do more than just fix an awning or paint a kitchen. Suspects abound from the town mayor to a couple of poker buddies. The gossip is that a killer cupcake “did in” the handyman, so of course, just as the bakery is getting going, the rumor mill is causing the progress to come to a halt. Not to mention that it is a crime scene that will require a closing, testing of ingredients, and clean up before reopening. Well, this is Gypsy Lee’s life savings on the line, and she can’t possibly stand back and wait for justice or the police to get the crime solved. Even if the detective is an old friend, a handsome and single old friend. A friend who warns her multiple times to stay out of the investigation, but do you think she is going to listen. Honestly, what amateur sleuth in a cozy, ever listens. In her defense, Gypsy Lee is slightly encouraged by her yoga teaching bestie, Tessa, to get involved. Tessa is just one of the interesting and entertaining characters.  

This is a great series starter with a nice lineup of characters. There is even some character growth just in the first book alone from more than one main character. I was not surprised by who the culprit turned out to be, but I did think there were more crimes to be solved. My guess is that this is a subtle cliffhanger hook that will keep me in suspense until the next book comes out. Until then I will console myself with various cookie recipes straight from the Bay View Harbor Bakery. 

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.

Seven Secret Spellcasters: A Kitchen Witch Mystery by Lynn Cahoon

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.

Seven Secret Spellcasters
A Kitchen Witch Mystery 
Lynn Cahoon
Kensington Cozies

All Hallows Eve is quickly approaching as is the conclusion of Mia's training as she prepares to take the coven's national council exam while working full time as an inhouse caterer for the swanky Magic Springs Lodge, in an attempt to keep her personal catering and meal prep business, Mia's Morsels, afloat. 

Welcome to Magic Springs, a beautiful and cozy town located in Idaho that is home to a variety of interestingly magical characters such as Mina Malone, who is a kitchen witch who makes magic in the kitchen, plus her magic is used to create harmony and balance in our world. Not only does the town have magical beings but Mia's home complete with commercial kitchen, a renovated school, is magical and haunted and warded against those who wish her ill. It is as if the school is alive. Reminds me a little of the casita from Encanto, but without the singing. But with regards to her cooking, those recipes that are shared in each Kitchen Witch Book are amazing. Other characters include Mia's boyfriend, Trent Majors, who comes from a magical family as well, but he chose to transfer his abilities over to his younger brother, Levi. and yet, the Goddess gifted him a hellhound protector that resembles a Maltese pup, named Cerby. No one is really supposed to know about Cerby, or Cerby's little friend, an adolescent purple dragon named Buddy. So many secrets can be found in this story, in fact it is like a great big secret society, and I don't mean the local coven either. Mia's Gran is not always forthcoming with details but maybe she is distracted what with an upcoming wedding. One is never too old for romance. But who has time for romance when there is a Lodge job that has a new and slightly demanding boss. At least Blake is a witch, just not a local one and she insists that she needs to stay under the radar and away from coven members. So, what is she hiding??? The newest member of this merry band is Finn, a waif-like girl who can hear Gloria the kitchen witch doll that hangs (literally) in the kitchen, with her melodic giggle. Poor Finn, she knows nothing about the world of witches and yet she comes down with dragon pox, not to mention that the library seems to like her. 

In addition to a bevy of witches, a sketchy boss, a hellhound, a half leprechaun, an incubus, not to mention a dragon, OH MY. Just another day in Magic Springs and poor Mark Baldwin, married to a witch, newish dad to a witch, completely human guy who has been assisted by Mia to solve magical murders with Mia. That almost sounds like a show title with drama. Magic Springs has plenty of drama, from pushy coven members who get even pushier when Mia tests out at a level three (gasp) as that is supposed to be unheard of, especially for a kitchen witch. I actually felt annoyed on Mia's behalf to both the pandering and the skepticism. This series just pulls you in one page at a time until you find yourself at the end of the book, wondering how you didn't catch on the killer sooner, and why do you have to wait until next year to get the next book. The overall story arc has been really good, and the character development of secondary characters is one of the best.

To sum this review up, this is not only a paranormal cozy, but also a culinary cozy, which makes it doubly good.  The romance and friendship aspects are as sweet as the peach cobbler recipe found at the back of the book. I know because how could I not make a recipe that looked so baker friendly and tasty at the same time. I cannot wait for the next installment as things were definitely left with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger...

Vows and Villainy: The Cambridge Bookshop Series by Elizabeth Penney

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. 

Vows and Villainy
The Cambridge Bookshop
Elizabeth Penney

Having read all of the Cambridge Bookshop series, I have to say that this was my favorite one yet and not just because of all the wedding goings on. Both Molly's good friend Daisy and her great-aunt Violet. Let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that Aunt Vi, age 71, is marrying her childhood beau and consider her sage words, that "if you have a chance for happiness...grab it with both hands."  Aunt Vi is a fun character, but she isn't our sleuth, that would be her great-niece, Molly Kimball aka the Vermont Beauty according to the tabloids. You see, Molly is dating Kieran, the younger son of Lord and Lady Scott, no pressure there, thankfully they adore her. Molly has a kind heart and a very inquisitive mind and can't help herself when it comes to puzzles, especially ones that might trouble to those she considers family or friends. 

Such is the case when Molly and a few other ladies are out for a walk around the Hazelhurst House grounds and they come upon actor and instructor Sir Nigel Peck floating in the moat like Ophelia among the water lilies. No, this is not a case of method acting. To make matters worse, Isla St. James accuses Kieran's older brother, Alan, of having done the deed most foul. Molly knows that Alan can't possibly be the murderer, and she feels the need to make sure that his name is at the bottom of the suspect list. Sir Nigel, the victim, might have been an incredible actor, but it seems that he may have been a heartless instructor and was named in a civil suit for the death of a student, Otto Van Wyk.

There are plenty of suspects with motives that could include anger, money, love, revenge, and even jealousy. Molly knows that as the maid of honor that there is no way that she can't do everything she can to make sure that Daisy and Tim have the perfect wedding day or at least as close as she can get it. This does give Molly the opportunity to be extra helpful to the Scott family, not that they don't already adore her just as much as Kieran does. The romance aspects of this cozy series are seriously cozy and just add that little extra something. I am also a fan of the fact that Molly is a smart gal who does not go places without backup and she considers all possible avenues until she can rule it out. 

As with all of the other books in this series, this is a standalone mystery that does a great job of providing a well-crafted mystery with likeable characters, a dash of romance, and just the right amount of humor. This book, this series, has inspired me to look up the recipe for Butterfly Cupcakes, using a Victorian Sponge recipe, you can make a simple yet elegant treat, with your choice of jam fillings. I've read about how great Daisy's Butterfly Cupcakes are that I just had to give it a go for myself. 

Hot Wings and Homicide: Food Truck Mystery #2 by Carmela Dutra

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.

Hot Wings and Homicide
Food Truck Mystery #2
Carmela Dutra

I thought the series starter was good, well this second book is even better and does a great job as a stand-alone plus it doesn’t give any spoilers if you want to go back and read the series starter.  This clever cozy mystery is based on an inherited family food truck business. Twins, Bethany (Beth) and Seth Lloyd are the owners of the Kluckin Good food truck left to them by their Aunt Dolly. This truck comes with a mascot suit that is proudly worn by Beth’s bff Rylie, who as of recently is also Seth’s girlfriend. After the fatal fiasco that was the reality food show/contest The Food Truck Showdown, Kluckin Good has never been busier, what with Beth helping to solve a murder and all while providing great food. So here we are, at the annual Flavors of the Bay Food Festival and Beth finds herself stumbling upon another body. Oh, but not just any body, the body of the weasel who broke her heart while professing his love karaoke style to another woman. Of all the food events in California, why did Brad Dawson, new food critic for The City and Beyond magazine, have to show up strutting like he was all that and a chicken wing too?

Of course, there was a very public confrontation and some shouting, plus maybe a punch was thrown as well as a napkin, so both Beth and Seth are at the top of the detective sheriff’s suspect list. Since this is not the city jurisdiction, Detective “Pretty Boy” Kane is not in charge of the investigation. Grover County Detective Pamela Wilcox is asking the questions and when it comes to being questioned, Beth, with her little bit of sassiness, has an inability to keep completely quiet. Seth, who is a lawyer when he isn’t helping with the food truck, is constantly telling her to invoke her 5th amendment right. 

Great aspects of this book include the back and forth of the siblings, the “might be flirting” with Kane, the Kluckin’ Clues list, plus a magically small, confined space. Don’t let all the funny bits fool you, Beth’s sleuthing skills are quite good and ruffle more than one feather as she manages to add more than one suspect to her list. It turns out that Brad was not well liked by anyone from restaurant owners to former best friends. Plenty of suspects means that there are plenty of opportunities for red herrings and I was led astray a few times.    

Needless to say, this cozy is going to keep you clucking, I mean chuckling. The emotional support chicken is one spoiler that I just have to share because it is BRILLIANT. Not every cozy mystery pet has to be furry, and Teriyaki adds that little extra flavor to another great plot. Speaking of extra flavor, this book comes with two amazing recipes, Golden Gate Heat Wings and Plucked and Truffles Fries.

 

The Body in the Kitchen Garden: A Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery #2 by Paula Sutton

Where village life is quiet and pleasant because the locals are sure to observe that rules are followed. Where everything has its place and everyone must be kept in theirs.

The Body in the Kitchen Garden
A Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery #2
Paula Sutton

Daphne Brewster and family have settled into country life in the quiet town of Pudding Corner near Pepperbridge. Where village life is quiet and pleasant because the locals are sure to observe that rules are followed. Where everything has its place and everyone must be kept in theirs. This is the second book in the Hill House Vintage Murder Mysteries series. Where the majority of the story is from the point of view of our sleuth, Daphne Brewster whole relocated with her family from the urban sprawl of south London and after helping to solve a murder, she has been more or less accepted as one of the villagers.  

Daphne is a strong character, with a kind heart and a desire to defend the excluded, overlooked, and even cranky. Like the concern and care she shows to Patsy Warburton after the unexpected loss of her older sister, Nancy. Patsy swears that Nancy, regardless of her age and saggy stockings, did not fall off of the ladder and die. Patsy believes that it was not an accident that there are foul dealings afoot. Well of course there are, just ask Augusta Papplewick and Marianne Forbes who both want something done about the youths who are congregating on the green, as they must be up to no good, what with the rash of petty thefts and random assaults. Not to mention that there is a disheveled stranger who may or may not be a Fagin-style vagrant and has been seen lurking around town.  Daphne doesn’t necessarily go looking for answers but there are things that happen to cause her to ponder and try to make sense of the big and little picture. Inspector Hargreaves would like it if Daphne would stick to her antique furniture shop business and leave the detecting and career-defining moments of glory to himself. I am not sure how she has time to do all that she does, what with helping Helena Carter, fiancé of Lord Hugh Darlington, the prodigal son who has returned from abroad, by remodeling and repurposing antiques in order to try and save the family estate.  Did I mention that Daphne makes wonderful baked goods such as Bakewell Slices and is also happily married with three children and an adorable miniature dachshund named Byron.

This is a well throughout stand-alone mystery, but readers be warned, there are spoilers in the second book that retell the solution to the mystery of the first book. As with the last book, I thought that I had it figured out, but I was wrong. It is so much more complicated than I realized and there are some sly red herrings that make one go down a rabbit hole.

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.  

Masher of Ceremonies: A Vintage Kitchen Mystery Book #13 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 pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing. 

Masher of Ceremonies
A Vintage Kitchen Mystery Book #13
Victoria Hamilton
Beyond the Page

Have you ever been to an afternoon tea? I mean a proper afternoon tea with all the bells and whistles and overseen by Queen Victoria and her consort. Not a high tea, that is something completely different, as explained in the story. I have not but sure do wish that this wonderful plot point was an actual event that I could add to my cozy mystery location/event bucket list.

Masher of Ceremonies, the 13th book in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series and it starts out with the annual Tea with the Queen event. Every year for decades, Tea with the Queen has taken place in Queensville, Michigan and is a major tourist event. This year, our sleuth, Jaymie Mueller, is in charge of the event and she has been told that the event needs to show a decent profit or else it will cease to continue. Talk about a pressure cooker of a situation. There are so many moving parts to this event and the last thing that Jaymie needs is for it to be spoiled by an extortionist or worse, a murder. Not to mention that Jaymie is trying to balance the volunteer event with the impending opening of her new business venture with tea shop owner and friend Val. It makes me tired just wondering how Jaymie is balancing so many things. 

This was my first time reading a Vintage Kitchen Mystery and Masher of Ceremonies did not disappoint as a good stand-alone with a relatable sleuth. There is also a cast of characters at the beginning of the book to introduce the reader to the characters before the story begins. I also liked that there are unexpected and real-life aspects to the story such as Jaymie’s fur baby, Hoppie, a three-legged Yorkie-Poo, Jaymie’s daughter, Jocie, who considers herself a little, little person, and possible clashes with her mom over certain life choices. 

Suspects include Ryan the belligerent blackmailer, Nigel the temperamental blackmail target, Sterling the stylish yet suspicious spouse, Charlie the snooty sister, and her husband Rudy the frozen food Chef. I honestly thought that Ryan the blackmailer would end up being the victim because he is sneaky, arrogant, and relentless, so I was completely fooled by the who and the why. This story does a great job of laying out the clues but not making them obvious. This was not an easy one to solve as an armchair sleuth, but you are rewarded at the end of the book with a very tasty and savory sounding recipe for Schinkennudeln, which I will be making for dinner this weekend.

Some Like It Fudgy: A Candy-Coated Mystery with Recipes by Nancy Coco

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. 

Some Like It Fudgy
A Candy-Coated Mystery with Recipes
By Nancy Coco
Kensington

Oh, my goodness but this one was a roller coaster ride. Book 14 of the Candy-Coated Mystery series starts off with a dead body and of course, Allie (newlywed) Manning finds it.  But wait, there's more, the victim and Allie had a contentious relationship, the victim was the ex-wife of Allie's husband, police officer Rex Manning. You don't have to be familiar with this series to enjoy the mystery, the characters, or the recipes, but it does make you shake your head at times regarding Rex's less than stellar performance. Speaking of recipes, I had to make the Black Forest Fudge, and it was amazing!

There are the usual characters such as the book club ladies, a mature set of sleuth sidekicks, they remind me a little of the Sherlock Holmes Irregulars and introducing...Rowan and Finn. Rowan is an island native who has been away for about 10 years, so she knows EVERYONE. Is she a suspect or is she a new gal pal. Fin is her adorable and highly trained rescue Dane, so she can't be bad, right? Looks like she has past and current history with Melanie and none of it is good.

Rex having been one of Melanie's ex-husbands is removed from investigating, and his temporary replacement is a joke and a blowhard. Officer Laird, who has held a grudge since police academy days is looking to blame Allie, making this an easy open and shut case.  Allie can't risk being tossed in jail for obstruction so she will need to change her usual routine and do something that no other sleuth has done...be unpredictable. 

There are just a few suspects, since Melanie was not the nicest of people. From a plumber to a mystery man named Oscar who sent poisonous flowers. Nope it wasn't the flowers that did her in, it was the ... nope not going to tell you. The one thing I can tell you is that fur baby Mal is sniffing out clues and dragging Allie with her. This one was a nail biter, ire-inducing, snort producing mystery so be sure to get plenty of snacks before you settle in. There are plenty of snack recipes to choose between the chapters.

Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth: A Bainbridge Island Mystery by Lynn Cahoon

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. 

Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth
A Bainbridge Island Mystery
Lynn Cahoon
Kensington

This is the second book in the Bainbridge Island Mystery series, and it has a very good plot, engaging characters, and words of wisdom. Megan Gates, an islander who has boomeranged following a very, very, very bad, engagement break up. While she is learning to be happy at home she is also learning to be happy with family. She is also learning to try new things, like pickleball. Did you know that pickleball was started on Bainbridge Island in the late 1960s. The things you learn from cozy mysteries are the best, from history, to sleuthing tips, and even recipes are found in the pages of this one.

Most of us both adore and sometimes abhor family, which includes our sleuth, Megan.  I think that Meg's boyfriend was quite insightful when he said, "Family is hard, but I believe each and every member of yours loves you the best way they can. And as adults, it's up to us to acknowledge it and find friends that fill in the gaps." What an absolutely brilliant observation. Dalton is my favorite sort of love interest character, one who will be super supportive and bring out the best in our sleuth. This is definitely a time when Megan is going to need to try her best to be the better person. First, she finds herself having dinner with an overly critical food critic who meets an unfortunate end. The event leaves a bad taste in Meg's mouth, a mysterious note, and a fabulous diamond tennis bracelet. This mystery propels her into sleuth mode with a good dose of research and a commitment to getting down words for her amateur sleuth "how to book" for at least 30 minutes every day. The 30 minutes a day with fingers on the keyboard has reminded me that I need to do the same thing, so thank you Meg! 

The quest to figure out why victim, Lee Anderson, left his gratitude and a pricey bracelet keeps Meg busy and a little distracted. Nonetheless, she is still able to complete the work tasks for her second job, (my dream job), as well as taking up pickleball, and show grace under pressure as a result of family dynamics and her mom's new relationship. Meg has certainly had some personal development and made significant progress on her book. Between the personal interactions and the plot twists it is very easy to become engrossed in the story. Who killed the critic? Was it a chef? Was it a past girlfriend? Maybe someone from his days at the   

As with the series starter, I was entertained and educated, plus there was an opportunity to eat something tasty. The Crime Scene Chicken sandwich recipe found at the conclusion of the story is the perfect way to finish this book. The story and the recipes were both easy to follow, and both brought a smile to my face. For "dessert", there is the tantalizing first chapter of book three, so we forewarned that if you read it you are going to be wanting and waiting.  

Homicide on the Range: Hometown Mysteries #6 by Rosalie Spielman

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.

Homicide on The Range
Hometown Mysteries #6
Rosalie Spielman

Welcome to the Hometown Mysteries Series which pays homage to those who have served as well as giving a shout out to she-canics (female mechanics). This is book six of the series and the author does a great job of giving background information as she introduces each character. Tessa is ready for a little time away from home, so she and her gang have left the quiet town of New Oslo, Idaho and headed east, to spend some time at fellow veteran Jaime Juarez's ranch, the Triple J, located in Montana. The Triple J is part of a veteran’s program called Vets and Cows…Let’s Moooove Out, that provides an adventure vacation alongside workshops and professional counseling sessions which are led by Jaime’s wife, Hannie, to help provide coping skills for vets who have returned to civilian life. The ranch aspect reminded me a little of the old movie City Slickers. There are a few differences, number one, there are soldiers instead of city slickers and the comedy from the 90s did not include finding a dead body in the freezer or the threat of a wildfire.

As with most cozies, the victim is a particularly odious individual. Aimee Orinoco, the very tall and overbearing cook, was no one's cup of tea and seemed to go out of her way to torment the other guests as if she knew their individual triggers. Much of the tension came from the history shared between the guests/suspects and Orinoco. It is very easy to sympathize with the suspects as Tessa juggles crime scene processing, suspect questioning, and wildfire chaos. As Tessa gets closer to the truth, the wildfire gets closer to the ranch and essentially imprisoned the New Oslo crew with a murderer.

It never ceases to amaze me as to the level of research that cozy authors put into researching their stories and the details. I was fascinated by the description of all of the work involved with prepping the ranch and cattle herd for the impending wildfire. As a resident of California, I am well aware of the wildfire season and fortunately I have never been affected by one. The story had definite Agatha Christie aspects with a little added humor thanks to the Prunns, the octogenarian sisters who are quirky and quick witted and wear fascinating fascinators.

If Books Could Kill: A Tomes & Tea Mystery by Karen Rose Smith

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. 

If Books Could Kill
A Tea & Tomes Mystery
Karen Rose Smith

What should have been a fun Winterfest event in the town of Belltower Landing, complete with ice sculptures and a fun “date night” scavenger hunt, turns into a chilling encounter with death. Jazzi Swanson is no stranger to murder mysteries, she watched her mom, Daisy Swanson Groft, a talented albeit reluctant amateur sleuth, solve or help solve more than her share in Pennsylvania (check out Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series). Jazzi never expected to be following in her mom’s footsteps. One of the reasons for going away to college and choosing to live in Belltower Landing was to desire to live somewhere where her mom’s mystery solving reputation didn’t overshadow the person whom Jazzi is trying to become. 

Matilda, the thoroughly organized head librarian, met with Jazzi to get advice about friction with a new employee, Tinsley Riva. Matilda and Tinsley were not meshing well at all, there wasn’t animosity per se, but something seemed tense. Matilda respected how Jazzi’s crew at Tea & Tomes seemed to be a friendly bunch who worked really well together. Matilda also respected Jazzi as a fellow bibliophile. Matilda loves really old, really valuable books as well and even gives Jazzi a peak at some rare first editions. Matilda was also experiencing a problem with a romantically inclined yet pushy library patron who was not taking no for an answer, to the point of needing a restraining order. So of course, Matilda is the victim and Jazzi feels the need to uncover the truth. With the disappearance of the hidden books, one has to ask themselves, was this a robbery gone wrong or a stalker related situation, either way Jazzi cannot help but to be drawn into yet another mystery. 

Jazzi begins with a suspect list and some insight from members of her reading group which meets at Tea & Tomes. Speaking of the reading group, the format is different from most book clubs. Each person brings a book that they are reading and shares some insight rather than the whole group reading the same book. It exposes a reader to multiple books, one of which might turn out to be their next great read. Much to Detective Milford’s dismay, the locals bless Jazzi with helpful and sometimes not so helpful information. I was happy to see Daisy make an appearance in this book. She reminds Jazzi of the benefits of speaking with a therapist or counselor, which is great advice and it applies to more characters than just Jazzi.

This story does a very good job of broaching some tough topics such as therapy, growing up as an adopted child, growing up in an abusive home, and letting a friend know that you value them but are not attracted to them. As with the preceding books, the clues are laid as to not be obvious, the red herrings are not overdone, and the baked goods make my mouth water just reading about them. I have so many questions based on the ending, but I don’t want to leave any spoilers. 

Drafted in Deceit: A Cape Fear Bookshop Mystery by Simone Stier

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and/or 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.

Drafted in Deceit
A Cape Fear Bookshop Mystery #2
Simone Stier

What a thoroughly enjoyable stand-alone cozy mystery! I am not sure which I liked better, the characters or the plot. I was fortunate enough to be provided the series starter as well as book #2 to read for review. While I liked being able to read the series from the beginning, I can tell you that each book can stand its own. There is plenty of background and character development that the reader is never out of step with the overall story arc. This series has the usual murder mystery plus there is also the history of what happened before Libby returned home to the town of Southport, North Carolina to open Page's Bookshop & Cafe. Libby was living in New York, working as a copy editor, married to a police detective who died under unusual circumstances leaving behind Libby with questions. Libby has the case files and for the past three years, she has looked through them searching for answers.

From the Big Apple to Southport, which is a perfectly cozy southern Cape Fear River town, with a variety of locals and locales. And let me just say that there are some interesting characters, starting with Libby's employee, Gracie Jean, who is a lady of leisure and a force of nature with hidden talents. Gracie Jean has a way with words and a mind like a steel trap, in fact, one has to wonder, based on Gracie Jean's unique choice of words, if maybe she isn't really just a retired librarian but maybe she was more of an analyst for one of the government's alphabet agencies (CIA/FBI).  In addition to opening a bookstore, Libby also starts a book club called The Plot Thickens. The book club ladies make for a great discussion group, giving suggestions as Gracie Jean adds index cards to a "Coincidences That Ain't" murder board. The core members are equally different with a gossipy reporter, an author who likes conspiracy theories, and a sophisticated Southern belle, who have known Libby forever and are a super supportive group. The only person who is more supportive of Libby is her bff and favorite baker, Meredith, who supplies fresh baked goods to the bookstore cafe, not to mention the tantalizing lemon tarts that Meredith keeps Libby supplied with on a daily basis. The last core character I want to mention is Detective Carter McCrae, Libby’s high school sweetheart, who is single, handsome, as well as charming, and willing to share some information when possible.

The mystery itself was very good. Libby, the amateur sleuth spies a dead land developer floating in the river. There are plenty of people who did not want the condos eroding the soil or their picture-perfect views disrupted, while others were for progress if it could help them. Both the tide and tempers rise as Libby uses her superpower aka disarming awkwardness to help solve crimes. The plot twists are well done, and I quickly found myself at the end of the story craving the next book and a lemon tart. So, I got myself one of each.  

The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor: A Welsh Village Mystery by Lucy Connelly

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.

The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor
A Welsh Village Mystery
Lucy Connelly

If you are a fan of Lucy Connelly’s character, Doc Emilia, from the Scottish Isle Mystery series then you are sure to enjoy “meeting” Professor Gwen Griffith. This is a great start to a new series that is situated in the small town of Dillynaidd, Wales in the United Kingdom. It is just the sort of cozy town for a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, who has been downsized from a Dallas newspaper, to get a fresh start. Not to mention that it is the very college she attended as an undergrad. Longtime friend and current dean, Carolyn Sharp, hires Gwen to be the chairman of the journalism department. Gwen is in town less than 12 hours, when death shows up on her doorstep, literally. The rather difficult and surly Dr. Rice breathes her last breath and collapses. You can take the investigative journalist out of the field, but you can't get her to quell her curiosity. Honestly, when has a sleuth, amateur or otherwise ever walked away from a victim who died in their arms? The plot thickens as more suspects are revealed and threatening messages turn up. It is quite possible that Gwen is the only one who had no cause to dislike Dr. Rice in spite of the cold and bitter greeting she received upon their introduction. It was easy to get caught up in the story due to the quick pace and ample clues. There were some well-placed red herrings as well that made me question my armchair sleuthing abilities. The cast of support characters is fun and diverse with a 6-foot tall ‘Watson’ named Ellis who is Gwen’s partner in sleuthing as well as being her able-bodied assistant. There are also some gal pals, a mother hen bestie, an attractive and helpful coworker, and even a detective who gives credence to Gwen’s investigative abilities. This crowd looks to be a solid group of friends for Gwen who can assist in future stories. One of the best parts of this foreign based series is the small shire feeling and the fun way the locals interact with each other and Gwen. The fact that everyone knows everyone else and that the Dillynaidd grapevine is faster than the fiber cable is spot on. I was especially happy to see that while there are romantic possibilities, there doesn’t seem to be any geometric hindrances. I am not a fan of romantic triangles because someone always gets hurt and I like my cozies to give happy endings to as many people as possible.

I had a hard time putting this book down with such engaging and fun characters. It was a well thought out mystery with plenty of red herrings and clues. I can't wait for an opportunity to visit Whales and sample some lovely biscuits. In fact, it had me craving Welsh cakes enough to go looking for a recipe. I can't wait to see what happens next.