Tag: cozy mystery

REVIEW: Falling into Magic by Elizabeth Pantley

REVIEW: Falling into Magic by Elizabeth Pantley

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Hayden was a child she got “weird” when it came to mirrors. She once saw a strange boy through a mirror and felt like she almost got sucked into one. When her cat went missing, her family told her it must have gotten out and wandered off. But Hayden was sure it was the mirror.

Ever since, Hayden has stayed away from mirrors. But after an accident, Hayden finds herself in that mirror world – Destiny Falls. She finds long lost family, a magical mansion, a mystery, and a dead body.

Review

I know that’s a super short summary, but I don’t want to ruin any of the delightful world-building in this book.

What a treat! I wasn’t sure what to expect with this story, but I found great characters and a fascinating setting with a twisty and engaging mystery. It was a start to finish read. I have so many questions! The biggest is when I can get my hands on book 2. (The answer is March 15 – The Disappearance of Emily.)

There are so many pieces of this that were perfect for me as a reader:

  • Hayden is a great protagonist – she’s bright and curious. I loved watching her sleuthing on the murder as well as her investigation of her new surroundings and situation.
  • She’s pulled into a magical world that is great. A lot of the magic has a fun “Room of Requirement” feel to it that I thoroughly enjoyed.
  • Hayden’s long lost family – and the history of that family – is fascinating. And there are still questions there to explore.
  • The mystery is much larger than the murder. I loved how it developed across the whole book, bit by bit. One of the fast few clues pulled it all together for me. I loved watching it all work out.
  • If I had to pick a genre for this I would say it is more fantasy than mystery because the larger story is about Hayden, about this family and mirror world, about the magic there and her adjustment to it, and about the mysterious characters causing trouble there. But the fantasy and mystery pieces are so well woven together, it’s hard to separate them from each other. And both genres are a big appeal for me.

If you are looking for a magical cozy with a great protagonist and a strong family legacy angle, don’t hesitate to pick this one up. I loved it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

BONUS REVIEW: The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

When Duggar Hargrove, town manager, decided that bringing Cypress, South Carolina “into the future” meant turning the library into a book-free zone, the decision was hardly popular with library patrons, much less the staff. The books were headed to a landfill, and whenever Tru raised her concerns, Duggar patted her on the head dismissively.

So Tru and her friends snuck into the library late at night, rescued some of the most popular titles in the library’s print collection, and stashed them in the library’s old bomb shelter.

And while they were setting up their secret book room, Duggar Hargrove was killed.

Now a hot shot new detective trying to prove himself likes Tru for the murder. How can she prove her innocence when her alibi is creating a secret room with essentially stolen books?

Review

This was fun! I enjoyed the cast as well as the premise. I felt for Tru, watching outsiders dismantle her sanctuary, dismissively destroying a place that was so much a part of her life. The final explanation of the crime was interesting and satisfying.

It felt odd to me that there were many moments in the book where Tru is supposed to be this drab, disinteresting, forgettable character. People outside her closest circle are pretty dismissive about her in her day to day life. At the same time, though, she is supposed to have made such a spectacle of herself with her anger over the changes at the library that most of the town believes she is a murderer. Those pieces felt at odds with each other. I didn’t see a lot of evidence of a murderous level of anger in the book. It’s just something we are told.

The cast here felt just right. There are enough people to have several suspects as well as Tru’s closest friends. The townspeople were plentiful enough to feel real but not so many to feel overwhelming. The cat was a fun part of the story, too.

Considering how popular the secret book room is, I’m kind of surprised there wasn’t a stronger rebellion in town over the changes to the library. I’ll be interested in seeing how long Tru and her friends can – or need to – keep their bookroom a secret. Book 2 is currently scheduled to release this fall. Mystery fans, bibliophiles, and library advocates should definitely give this new series a try.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Hope, Faith, and a Corpse by Laura Jensen Walker

REVIEW: Hope, Faith, and a Corpse by Laura Jensen Walker

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Pastor Hope Taylor is new in Apple Springs, and about to be the first female priest in Faith Chapel’s history. That was truly enough excitement for her life. She really didn’t need to find a dead body and be accused of murder on her first day as well.

Pastor Hope is the new Associate Pastor for the Episcopalian church, brought in to help Father Christopher with his work load. Finding the body, and absentmindedly picking up the likely murder weapon before she knew the man was dead was not the introduction to the community she wanted. Especially considering the body was of one of the more vocal church members opposed to bringing in a woman priest.

Stanley King was an odious man with no shortage of enemies. If Hope can just figure out which one of them killed Stanley, maybe her new parishioners will stop avoiding her and thinking she might be a murderer. With the murder cleared up, all she’d have left to wrestle with is the usual sexist kerfuffle that most women clergy get to endure. Well, that and a second dead body.

Review

This is the second mystery series launch by Laura Jensen Walker I have read in 5 months. And I have LOVED them both! I re-discovered this author I read years ago when she launched her Bookish Baker Mystery series last fall with Murder Most Sweet. This new series launch, while not taking place in my old Wisconsin stomping grounds like the other one, is equally fantastic.

Hope is so cool – empathetic, smart, with pop culture references I understand. Her pastoral role is beautifully described, and the faith pieces of the book feel genuine and natural for the characters and the story. At the same time, there isn’t anything religious in the book that I think would alienate readers who don’t consider themselves to be “church people.”

The setting is excellent, and I got a kick out of the folks Hope meets in Apple Springs. I fell in love with the community of people in this book. I can’t wait to spend more time with them.

The mystery here is terrific. In fact, there are two mysterious deaths that Hope deals with in the book. I enjoyed all of Hope’s Trixie Belden references and the way that both mysteries are resolved.

I can’t think of anything that would have made this any more perfect. There’s an excellent mystery in an engaging setting with a delightful cast. Cozy mystery fans should not miss this one! I can’t wait to read another Faith Chapel Mystery! (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BONUS REVIEW: To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins

BONUS REVIEW: To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Emma Reed is starting over in Tervena, a village she remembers fondly from vacations in her childhood. She’s left the hustle and bustle of the London financial scene to follow her dream of opening a village tea shop.

Emma isn’t alone in this launch of her new life. She has Oliver, her corgi, with her. Her talking corgi. That’s right, Emma can understand Oliver. And Oliver has a lot to say – commentary on the smells of their new home, on the fish and chips counter in town, and on the fox he can smell at the house of the lady who yelled at Emma.

Emma’s first encounter with Victoria Roberts doesn’t go well. It’s even worse when she realizes Victoria owns the building Emma wants to use for her tea shop.

To make amends, Emma bakes the disagreeable woman some scones. But when Emma and Oliver try to deliver them, they find Victoria dead. And Oliver is certain something smells very wrong.

Review

This was the second of two books in a row that I read where a dog is a point of view character. It’s a fun plot device, and it’s especially well executed here. Oliver is a treat! The author does a great job of writing Oliver and figuring out the “rules” for this world she creates including how a dog could be a factor in a mystery. Oliver tells part of the story in his own words, which is also a lot of fun. Oliver’s “voice” is fantastic and helps make a great story even better.

The mystery here is excellent. It’s twisty and Emma’s sleuthing – along with Oliver’s – is perfect. I loved the ways Oliver is able to help. But the author establishes some nice limitations to keep him from being too good at solving things. I was impressed with the whole construction of the story.

To Fetch a Felon is the first book in the new Chatty Corgi Mystery series. And it’s the perfect cozy launch – I loved Emma and the other characters in Trevena. The setting is lovely, and Oliver is a delight. Book 2, Murder Always Barks Twice, will release this summer and it’s already on my wishlist. This is a not-to-be-missed book for those who love cozy mysteries as well as for dog lovers. I can’t wait to read more of Emma and Oliver’s adventures.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders

REVIEW: Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Josie Way is on the run. She had a job at the Library of Congress in Washington DC. But something happened there, and now she’s in Wilfred, Oregon, determined to lay low. She’s been hired as the town librarian. But when she gets to Wilfred, she finds out that the library may get torn down to make way for a retreat center.

After only a few days at the library and in Oregon, Josie feels like she is finally where she belongs. The air is fresher, and colors even seem more vibrant. She has an almost magical connection to the library and its collection of books, not to mention the library cat. Josie doesn’t want to walk away from this special place.

But she can’t forget she’s in hiding. And the dead body she finds near the library is unsettling to say the least. Does it have anything to do with the trouble Josie is fleeing? Or does Josie’s new home have sinister troubles of its own?

Review

This is the first book in the new Witch Way Librarian Mystery series, and it is outstanding! The author does a breathtaking job teasing out the story in the early chapters – Josie on the run, the experience on the plane, the change in her perception. Talk about “show, don’t tell.” I was hooked right from the beginning, marveling out loud to my husband about how well crafted the beginning of this book is.

That early high quality carried throughout the whole book – the library, the town, the story of Josie’s life back in DC, her family, the library situation. It was all so well woven together. I loved every bit of it! The mystery is well-constructed, with nice wrinkles and twists along the way.

For me, this was a perfect blend of mystery and fantasy. I love both genres and enjoyed how the author weaves both together. I can’t wait to see what will happen with Josie’s magic in book 2. Seven-Year Witch is scheduled to release in late summer 2021. And I can’t wait to get my hands on it! Paranormal mystery fans should not miss this one! (Magic elements: spells, powers, transfer of consciousness to the cat, tarot cards used as prop by nonmagical character)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

BONUS REVIEW: A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert

BONUS REVIEW: A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Their friend, Kurt Kendrick, hosted a party for Amy and Richard to celebrate their upcoming wedding. It was a lovely event with good food and fine champagne. Both sets of parents were there as well as Amy’s mysterious brother, and many of their friends. There was also an art dealer there by the name of Oscar Selvaggio. He and Kurt were bidding against one another on a rare book, and he happened to show up on the day of the party to try to negotiate with Kurt over the book.

That was unfortunate for the happy couple because before the party was over, Oscar was dead.

Thanks to Kurt’s shady history, he is a prime suspect. But Amy feels if Kurt had really wanted to kill someone, he’d be too smart to have the person die on his own property. But there are other suspects and plenty of researching and sleuthing Amy can do. Kurt is her friend. And the best way to protect her friends and family is to help the police find the real murderer.

Review

This is book 5 in the great Blue Ridge Library Mystery series that definitely should be read in order. I enjoy the characters in this series so much. While book 3 felt uneven to me, and I somehow missed book 4, this felt like the great series I loved from the first two books. The mystery here is layered and twisty. It adds to the history of Kurt’s mysterious past. It also ties back to some of the other events from earlier in the series, which is why I wouldn’t recommend newcomers start with this book.

I enjoyed the inclusion of Amy’s brother, Scott, here. He’s a bit of a plot tease because we never get a full reveal on what his job truly is. But I liked the addition of him to the core group. His love interest gives me hope that he’s going to make an appearance in future books.

Fans of this series should not miss this volume. The wedding-related pieces are lovely and satisfying for series fans. The author does a great job balancing the wedding threads with the mystery ones and keeping everything moving forward. Cozy fans should give this series a try! (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥=Great! Might re-read.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

April Claus is newly married to the big man himself. Nick inherited the job when his older brother died. Some day, Christopher, Chris’ son, will take over the job, but for now, Nick is holding down the holiday fort.

Less than 10 days before Christmas, Nick and the elves have plenty to do. But when an angry elf is found dead, everything is in an uproar.

Giblet had been angry about his second place finish in the ice sculpture contest. As he stormed off, he accused Nick of being a murderer. Now that Giblet is dead, his family thinks Santa killed him. Rumors are swirling around the North Pole.

As things start to look worse and worse for Nick, April feels like she has to look into things for herself. She has to find the evidence to clear her new husband’s name before Christmas is ruined for everyone.

Review

This was a delight from the very first page! The world-building for this North Pole mystery was excellent. The author had her work cut out for her. She had to craft and convey the Christmas setting while also building a mystery. And she does an fantastic job with both! (This reminds me of the Wishcraft Mysteries with the cozy mystery and the fantasy setting.)

I loved April. The whole Claus family is fascinating, really. I wanted more from April and Nick. For newlyweds, there was no chemistry between them. To be honest, though, they hardly had any scenes together thanks to the mystery and the Christmas rush. It works out well to make April wrestle with the rumors and her questions about Nick on her own, amping up the tension of the book.

The mystery was terrific. The culprit was on my radar, but not my only suspect. I needed April to put all the pieces together to be certain. I loved watching the whole thing come together.

The author has set this series up to be able to set stories both at the North Pole and in Oregon at April’s home. I can’t wait to see how the stories develop in these two distinct places, and where the overlaps come into play.

Cozy lovers and Christmas book fans should not miss this one. It was fantastic! A keeper for sure.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½=Loved it! Would read again.

REVIEW: Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker

REVIEW: Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Teddie St. John is an author living in Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin with tons of friends and her family nearby. A cancer survivor, Teddie took early retirement from her government job and toured Europe before settling down at home to become an author of cozy mysteries. Life is too short to not do what you love.

Tavish Bentley is an author, too, visiting Lake Potawatomi for a book signing. Teddie ends up missing it due to a hot flash issue (early menopause thanks to her cancer). But she’s first on the scene to find Bentley’s ex-fiancée dead. And to discover the woman was strangled with a scarf someone stole from Teddie earlier in the day.

As a mystery writer, Teddie can’t ignore a murder mystery right in her home town. And as a suspect, she needs to clear her name before her publisher drops her for violating the morality clause in her contract. So she’ll be pressuring her friend the sheriff for details and keeping her ears open for clues. And maybe even going under cover! Whatever it takes to find a killer before they strike again.

Review

This was fabulous!! From the very first page, the writing and the voice grabbed me. In fact, in those early pages it felt like nothing I had read before. The voice is fresh and fun. I would love to be part of Teddie’s circle. (I am a Wisconsin girl, too, and from the area around where Lake Potawatomi is supposed to be.) Every reference to kringle (the Wisconsin stuff, not that stuff in the one Hallmark Christmas movie) made me crave it.

As if all of the Wisconsin pieces weren’t enough to endear this to me, Teddie is fabulous. She’s a writer, and a mystery writer at that. And her whole vibe over being a cancer survivor is brilliant. She discusses her mastectomy in a matter-of-fact way, sometimes with humor, which made her stand out for me compared to other mystery protagonists.

So, by all means pick this up for the perfect setting and awesome protagonist. But stick around for the great mystery. I had two favorite theories going into the home stretch, but I had to wait for the big reveal to find out which would be correct. Also, I don’t usually like mysteries where the protagonist is the main suspect. I find them extra stressful. But the balance here of suspects was terrific. The author paces the whole novel in such a way that Teddie can really dig into investigating a suspect. I loved it! She also does a great job of giving Teddie a reason for sleuthing that felt plausible.

I was thrilled to discover the second book in the Bookish Baker Mystery series – Deadly Delights – is already scheduled for summer 2021. And I also realized I have a review copy of the launch of the author’s second cozy series – the Faith Chapel Mystery series – waiting to be read. I’ll be reviewing Hope, Faith, and a Corpse in January 2021. In fact, as I looked into the author’s backlist I discovered that I have read her work before. She published at least two books with Thomas Nelson (Christian) publishing that I enjoyed years ago – Reconstructing Natalie (2006) and Miss Invisible (2007). I can recommend those books, too.

I am so pleased to support this fellow Wisconsinite and a great writer. Cozy fans should NOT miss Murder Most Sweet!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥= Outstanding, Excellent, Amazing

REVIEW: Behind the Frame by Tracy Gardner

REVIEW: Behind the Frame by Tracy Gardner

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Hallmark Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Carson has won the privilege of hosting the area Art in the Park Festival for this year. As an artist and art teacher, it makes sense for Savanna to be on the planning committee.

The first sign of trouble is the damage to a statue at the community park. It’s tagged with “Never Carson,” and the head of town founder, Jessamina Carson, has been severed from the body of the statue.

Then one of the other committee members, local councilman John Bellamy, is killed. When a family friend is arrested, Savanna and her sisters are certain the man could not have committed this heinous crime.

The question is, who did? And why? Is it tied to the art event? Folks from the town that hosted the last three years seem testy about the change of venue. And John did disqualify an entry for the $50,000 scholarship and other prizes. Or maybe it has something to do with Bellamy’s run for mayor. Or could it have been Bellamy’s son, back in town after a falling out with his father years ago?

Savanna and her sisters are fully invested in finding the killer, clearing their friend, and ensuring the festival goes off without a hitch.

Review

This was fun! I love Savanna and her sisters. It’s not often that I read a cozy that uses a team of sleuths, and I really enjoy the change up. Savanna is primary, but she and her sisters work together to bring different skills to the case. Also, the local LEO walks the fine line between cautioning the sisters and embracing their input and insights. I love it. And I thoroughly enjoyed the developments in Savanna and Aidan’s relationship. There are several fun developments on the personal side for all three sisters.

The mystery was great and had me guessing all the way to the end. The escalation was nicely paced. I could absolutely see this story play out on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries on TV.

Book one in the series is Out of the Picture (♥♥♥♥½). I really enjoyed both books. And I hope there are going to be more. This is the style of cozy I love – great characters and community balanced with a well-plotted and engaging mystery. Do not miss this series. Other mysteries from Hallmark Publishing so far are Dead-End Detective and The Game Changer.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥= Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James

BONUS REVIEW: Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Charlie and his finacée, Helen Louise, along with Charlie’s Maine Coon, Diesel, travel to Asheville, North Carolina for a mystery retreat for the members of the Athena Public Library’s mystery group. The Ducote sisters secured a lovely boutique hotel for everyone to stay in that will also hold their group events.

The group includes the Ducote’s ward, Benjy, as well as an art history professor, a loan officer, a plumber, and a retired couple. All together, there are 12 group members there as well as a few significant others. Charlie is looking forward to getting to know the other folks in the newly formed group.

But their mystery-focused fun is disrupted when the loan officer’s “boyfriend”/stalker disrupts their first meeting. The next day, he is found dead. Before long, the whole group is pulled into a real-life mystery.

Review

Another great mystery starring Charlie and Diesel, book 13 in the Cat in the Stacks mystery series. It was nice to have a change of setting for this book. I wanted more of their mystery retreat sessions. I loved the bits on Golden Age writers that are part of the set up of the story. In fact, I even started a list of authors to check out. I was sad that the murder investigation ended up edging out the rest of their retreat meetings.

The mystery here was excellent. It was twisty in all the best ways. I didn’t see the solution until it was revealed on the page.

There’s lots here for series fans to enjoy. There are plenty of scenes with Diesel as well as some of Charlie’s usual friend group, including the ladies from Miranda James‘ Southern Ladies Mysteries series. There’s also a fresh setting and a mystery to keep you guessing until the end. Fans of these characters should not miss this installment. Book 14, What the Cat Dragged In, will release in the spring of 2021. (Alludes to off-page sex, LGBTQ+, TW: Suicide)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥=Great, might re-read