Amateur Sleuths

Criminally Cocoa (An Amish Candy Shop Mystery #3.5) by Amanda Flower

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cocoa

Pages: 86

Publisher: Kensington

Published: February 26, 2019

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

NetGalley:
As if being in New York City for Easter isn’t exciting enough, Charlotte Weaver has another reason to be thrilled. She’s helping her cousin, Bailey, on the set of her first cable TV show, Bailey’s Amish Sweets. Bailey will even be re-creating the delectable hand-woven chocolate Easter baskets she once crafted for the city’s world-famous JP Chocolates. But once things start rolling, Charlotte starts to notice odd things happening—things that seem intended to make Bailey look bad . . .

With Bailey feeling extra nervous about being on camera, Charlotte decides to keep her suspicion of sabotage to herself. But she knows that among Bailey’s fans at the Gourmet Television network lurks a dangerously jealous rival. Now Charlotte will have to find out who that person is—before sour grapes turn one of the sweetest times of the year fatally bitter . . .

My Review:
Amanda Flower has a way with words when it comes to cozy mysteries that warm your heart and keep you on the edge of your seat. I have yet to find a series of hers that I do not like. In fact, they keep getting better. If you have never read one of her books and are not sure where to start, Criminally Cocoa would be a great place to start. Yes, it technically comes after the third book in the An Amish Candy Shop series but you can read it out of order and be perfectly fine.

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the story from Charlotte’s side instead of Bailey’s. It gave the series a fresh view. Charlotte is a perfect spunky Amish side kick to Bailey.

A recipe for Bird’s Nest is included at the end of the novella. I find myself being tempted to try and make them this year for Easter.

Books in Series:

  1. Assaulted Caramel
  2. Lethal Licorice
  3. Premeditated Peppermint
  4. Toxic Toffee

I received a copy of this novella from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Charity’s Burden (A Quaker Midwife Mystery #4) by Edith Maxwell

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charitys

Pages: 288

Publisher: Midnight Ink

Published: April 8, 2019

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

NetGalley:
Quaker midwife Rose Carroll seeks the true cause of a young mother’s death
The winter of 1889 is harsh in Amesbury, Massachusetts, but it doesn’t stop Quaker midwife Rose Carroll from making the rounds to her pregnant and postpartum mothers. When Charity Skells dies from an apparent early miscarriage, Rose wonders about the symptoms that don’t match the diagnosis. She learns that Charity’s husband may be up to no good with a young woman whose mother appears to offer illegal abortions. A disgraced physician in town does the same, and Charity’s cousin seems to have a nefarious agenda. With several suspects emerging, each with their own possible motives, Rose and police detective Kevin Donovan race against time to solve the case before another innocent life is taken.

My review:
Charity’s Burden is not your typical cozy mystery or Christian Quaker read. It has a definite bite. Where should I start? I’ll start with this is not be viewed as a Christian fiction or cozy mystery. Yes, it centers around the Quakers in Massachusettes in 1889 but there are no mentions of bible verses or faith-based sermons you usually find in a Christian book. There is one romance scene that while it does not go into detail you understand there are inappropriate relations between two unmarried characters, one of them being the Quaker midwife.

This book discusses in detail the pros and cons of different abortion and safe sex practices in 1889. I found it very educational for the curious researcher in me. If you are fiercely against abortion I would say this is not the book for you. As I was reading I did not feel as if this was a political platform, it just shared how such things were thought of during the time. The Comstock laws were mentioned several times during the book and I would suggest you take a moment to look those up if you are unfamiliar with them.

I am definitely interested in reading the first three books in the series and have in fact already requested the first book from my local library.

Please do not use this review for ANY POLITICAL platform as this is not the place for them!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Midnight Ink through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

PS: Edith Maxwell is also Maddie Day of the Country Store series.

Drawn and Buttered (A Lobster Shack Mystery #3) by Shari Randall

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drawn

Pages: 301

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Published: February 26, 2019

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

NetGalley:
The Lazy Mermaid’s business has slowed to a snail’s pace—until a monster lobster claws his way onto the scene…

With the high season behind them, ballerina on-the-mend Allie Larkin and Aunt Gully are finally lying low. But then an unexpected guest arrives at the lobster shack: a crustacean so huge he’s dubbed Lobzilla around Mystic Bay and on social media. Soon, with everyone showing up for a peek in their tank, Allie and Aunt Gully have more on their plate than they can handle.

Meanwhile, another local establishment finds itself in hot water. In exclusive Rabb’s Point, a strange burglary breaches the elegant home of Royal Parrish. Allie takes it upon herself to help with the investigation but, before she can get to the bottom of the case, another alarm sounds: the Lazy Mermaid’s Lobzilla has gone missing and is on the loose! And bodies are beginning to pile up. . .

My Review:
A delightful read that is full of quirkiness and laughter that you will not want to put down. Aunt Gully is the aunt we all wished we had in our lives. She is supportive, loving and ready to jump into the fray with you.

Drawn and Buttered is the third book in the Lobster Shack Mystery series but you can jump into the series at any time. Beware, once you take the plunge you will never want to leave. The series is your typical cozy mystery series with clean language, no gory detailed violence, and no offense sex scenes.

The vivid descriptions of Aunt Gully’s lobster rolls and chowder will have your mouth watering and your mind convincing you that you need to drive to the Connecticut coast immediately. Pretty soon I think my phone is going to automatically book me a plane ticket.

One of my favorite characters is Bronwyn and I keep hoping she makes more of an appearance that an occasional one. She is a great balance to Allie and Verity.

I hope you take a chance and visit my friends in Mystic Bay, Connecticut. I really think you would enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Previously reviewed on my website:

  1. Curses, Boiled Again (Book 1) January 2018
  2. Against the Claw (Book 2) July 2018

Past Due For Murder (A Blue Ridge Library Mystery #3) by Victoria Gilbert

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past due

Pages: 304

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Published: February 12, 2019

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

NetGalley: Spring has sprung in quaint Taylorsford, Virginia, and the mayor has revived the town’s long-defunct May Day celebration to boost tourism. As part of the festivities, library director Amy Webber is helping to organize a research project and presentation by a local folklore expert. All seems well at first—but spring takes on a sudden chill when a university student inexplicably vanishes during a bonfire.

The local police cast a wide net to find the missing woman, but in a shocking turn of events, Amy’s swoon-worthy neighbor Richard Muir becomes a person of interest in the case. Not only is Richard the woman’s dance instructor, but he also doesn’t have an alibi for the night the student vanished—or at least not one he’ll divulge, even to Amy.

When the missing student is finally discovered lost in the mountains, with no memory of recent events—and a dead body lying nearby—an already disturbing mystery takes on a sinister new hue. Blessed with her innate curiosity and a librarian’s gift for research, Amy may be the only one who can learn the truth in Past Due for Murder, Victoria Gilbert’s third charming Blue Ridge Library mystery.

My Review: I have enjoyed all three visits to Taylorsford and each visit gets better and better. Past Due for Murder is by far my favorite visit. The mystery within the mystery is what elevated this book. It added extra punch to an already meaty story. The ending is a beautiful surprise that will sweep you away. I had tears in my eyes while reading.

Each book can be read as a stand-alone but I suggest you read in order as you will get the needed background. This series has more bite than the traditional cozy series. No sex but it is heavily alluded to throughout the book. I would still give it to my grandmother to read and not worry she would be shocked or offended.

For fans of books with libraries, books, mystery, and love this is the series for you.

I received a copy of this book for review from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

 

Murders and Metaphors (Magical Bookshop #3) by Amanda Flower

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metaphor

Pages: 320

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Published: February 12, 2019

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

January means ice wine season in the Niagara Falls region, but the festivities leave Charming Books owner Violet Waverly cold, still reeling from a past heartbreak. A past heartbreak who will be present at the annual midnight grape-harvest festival, and no magic in the world or incantation powerful enough could get Violet to attend. But Grandma Daisy, an omniscient force all on her own, informs Violet that she’s already arranged for the mystical Charming Books to host celebrity sommelier Belinda Perkins’s book signing at the party. Little do either Waverly women know, the ice wine festival will turn colder still when Violet finds Belinda in the middle of the frozen vineyard—with a grape harvest knife protruding from her chest.

NetGalley: Belinda grew up in Cascade Springs, but she left town years ago after a huge falling-out with her three sisters. One of those sisters, Violet’s high school friend Lacey Dupont, attends the book signing in the hope of making amends with her sister, but Belinda and Lacey end up disrupting the signing with a very public shouting match and Lacey quickly becomes the prime suspect in the sommelier’s murder.

Violet is sure Lacey is innocent, and to keep her friend out of prison, Violet asks for guidance from her magical bookshop. The shop’s ethereal essence points her to Louisa May Alcott’sLittle Women, but what have the four March sisters to do with the four Perkins sisters? If she can’t figure it out, Violet, herself, may turn as cold as ice. Violet, Grandma Daisy, Emerson the tuxedo cat, and resident crow Faulkner are back on the case inMurders and Metaphors, USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower’s enchanting third Magical Bookshop mystery.

Book 3 in the Magical Bookshop series is a smash hit! Full of well developed and diverse characters with plenty of charm and wit. Just enough magic sprinkled throughout to make one believe in magic again. The right amount of romance with no love triangle, YAY!

Little Women is the book chosen to help Violet solve the murder and I am impressed how it was woven into the story. It has fueled my excitement to re-read Little Women. In fact, I have already requested a copy from the library.

Until this book, I have never heard of ice wine or the ice wine festival so my interest is piqued and I am looking forward to researching this interesting festival. Do I see a future vacation?

Fans of books about books and bookshops will love this cozy mystery series.

Books in Order:
1. Crime and Poetry
2. Prose and Cons
3. Murder and Metaphors

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Corned Beef and Casualties (A Tourist Trap Novella) by Lynn Cahoon

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corned

Pages: 67

Publisher: Kensington

Published: February 5, 2019

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

It is St. Patrick’s Day in beautiful South Cove, California and the town is throwing a party with green beer and fireworks.

Jill finds herself in shock when one of her customers she felt a kinship to is found dead on the beach. Will Jill do as her detective boyfriend asks and stay out of the investigation or will she wind up right in the middle? Will the luck of the Irish be on her side?

I am enjoying the novellas in this series as I am trying to catch up from the beginning. You get a quick visit and get to catch up with everyone without the experience of a full-length novel.

If you like St. Patrick’s Day, you will want to read this novella. The ending was very intriguing with a bit of magic that the day likes to offer.

I received a complimentary copy of this novella from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

The Coloring Crook (A Pen and Ink Mystery #2) by Krista Davis

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coloring

Pages: 306

Publisher: Kensington

Published: November 27, 2018

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Florrie is living a life of happiness. She has a job as a manager at the local bookstore, she creates and publishes adult coloring books, has her own apartment and a new romance with a local police sergeant. What more could she ask for? Definitely not the murder of a vibrant member of the weekly coloring club. Is her murder over the recently surfaced oldest known coloring book or did Dolly have a sordid past? Florrie finds herself in the middle of the chaos that ensues from Dolly’s death. Join Florrie and friends as skeletons in and outside the closet are discovered.

This is the second Pen and Ink mystery and each one keeps getting better. I am not an adult coloring book fan but if I keep reading this series I may become one. There is something as you read that makes the back of your mind wiggle with a “maybe you should try it”. If you are an adult coloring fan, you need to buy the print format of the books as the cover is able to be colored by the reader.

The mystery is great in The Coloring Crook as the red herrings kept me guessing until the end. I had no idea who the killer was until revealed.

I am enjoying the budding romance between Florrie and Eric. The hiccup in this book was very entertaining. I cannot wait to see how it progresses in book three.

I am not a huge fan of Florrie’s whiny little sister who seems to not be able to survive without her big sister’s help and direction in her life. I hope Veronica “grows up” in the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Wreath Between the Lines (Cookbook Nook Mystery #7) by Daryl Wood Gerber

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wreath

Pages: 213

Publisher: Beyond the Page

Published: November 8, 2018

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The holidays have arrived and so has Jenna’s older sister and family along with some holiday drama. As Jenna is trying to save her sister’s marriage, her father’s friend Jake experiences a horrific present in the murder of his friend. Jenna takes it upon herself to solve the murder in time for a holly jolly Christmas day.

This is my second book (but the seventh in the series) that I have read and it has whetted my appetite for the series. I am interested to read how it all started. I agree with other readers that each book can be read as a stand alone but you will get more from the series if you read in order. The author does a superb job in giving enough background information for new readers.

I love that the author includes recipes at the end of the book. A huge pet peeve of mine is reading about such delicious dishes and no recipes. It has been known to turn me off on a series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Beyond the Page through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Kappy King and the Pie Kaper (An Amish Mystery #3) by Amy Lillard

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kappy

Pages: 352

Publisher: Kensington

Published: December 18, 2018

Rating: 4 stars

It’s time for the county’s fall festival and annual pie contest. For more years than not Alma, the bishop’s wife has made the award-winning boysenberry pie. Unfortunately, Alma finds herself on the wrong end of a cast iron skillet. Can Kappy and friends find out who would want to keep the bishop’s wife from participating in the pie cook-off this year?

I love this Amish cozy mystery series. The titles make me smile, the cover art is fun and the stories have hilarity to them even if they do involve murder. Kappy is a hoot. She tries so hard to follow the Ordung but her curiosity get her in scrapes every single time.

This is number three in the Amish Mystery series but each can be read as a stand-alone novel. As with any series, if you start with a book other than the first you will know the outcome of previous books. I would feel very comfortable giving this book, the entire series, to a teenager as a gift. There are no steamy romantic scenes, no offensive language and the murders that take place are nowhere near gory.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Nipped in the Bud (An Orchard Mystery # 12) by Sheila Connolly

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nipped

Pages: 212

Publisher: Beyond the Page

Published: October 29, 2018

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Newlyweds Meg and Seth are having trouble staying busy during their slow season. Well, that is until finding a dead body behind their house. When things start getting secretive between the different police departments involved both Meg and Seth can’t stay out of the investigation.

This is the first book in the series that I have read. I have several to read but have not done so. The reviews for this series are exceptional up until this one. The reviews range from “meh” to “love”. I am in the middle. There was a lot of talking and not much action. I am used to more action in my cozy mysteries. I felt like a was reading a book that had to be written.

Based on reviews for earlier books in the series I do plan on reading the series from the beginning. I hope I am not disappointed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Beyond the Page Publishing through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.