REVIEW: Dead-End Detective by Amanda Flower

[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


Darby Piper and Samantha Porter were detectives in Herrington. Their agency, the Two Girls Detective Agency, had been in business for ten years. But it was all about to end.

Samantha wanted out. As majority owner, with 60% of the business, she got to make the decision. She’d been offered a job as head of security for Lake Waters Retreat. She said she was ready for something more simple and stable.

Then, right before Samantha could sign the paperwork to dissolve the business, she’s killed.

Everyone seems to know the business was closing. Darby would have lost not only her job but also her home in the building where their offices were if that happened. So she is the number one suspect. She was unhappy about Samantha’s plans. She had the most to lose – and the most to gain, at least until Samantha’s nephew, Tate, shows up and learns he has inherited everything, including Samantha’s portion of the business.  Now Darby and Tate are circling each other warily, suspicious of each other’s motives, while also trying to work the case together and determine who killed Samantha.

Review


This was so fun! I loved Darby and Tate together! Tate is a fun character with a fascinating back story. I enjoyed all the things he brought to the book. The author does a great job of teasing out information. There are still some unanswered questions about his background that could be explored in future books. I wasn’t super excited about the hints at a possible love triangle. That’s a matter of personal preference. I don’t care for them. I have my clear favorite for Darby’s love interest, and I have my fingers crossed for that fella.

The mystery in this was front and center. There are a few introductions to the town at large, but most of the action was focused on the case. This made the mystery highly satisfying for me, but I am eager to read more about the town, and the townspeople, in future books.

I was able to figure out the killer about halfway through the book, but I needed Darby’s investigation to understand all the reasons why. This made for a fun reading experience for me. I got to feel triumphant about my armchair sleuthing while enjoying the reveals that the book still held for me.

I could absolutely see this playing out on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. If you are a fan of their cozy shows, you don’t want to miss this one. Amanda Flower fans as well as cozy fans who maybe haven’t tried her work yet should be sure to pick this one up. It’s a fun read with an engaging cast. I am already looking forward to the next Piper and Porter mystery!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great, might re-read

BONUS REVIEW: Little Bookshop of Murder by Maggie Blackburn

[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. This book releases on September 8, 2020.]

Summary


Summer is back in her home community of Brigid’s Island for her mother’s funeral. And nothing is right. First, her mother was too healthy to have a heart attack with no warning. Also, her funeral is in a church. No one who knew Hildy would have planned a funeral for her in a traditional church. And then there are the threatening notes Hildy, and now Summer, receive saying to sell Hildy’s bookstore, Beach Reads, or die. Maybe Summer’s mom didn’t die from natural causes….

When someone sets Summer’s childhood home on fire – with her inside – she feels that clinches things. Someone is after her family. While the police chief is disinterested in Summer’s theories – there’s just too much history and bad blood between them – at least the cute fire chief is willing to consider that Summer might be right. Now, she just has to find proof, and the murderer.

Review


I have mixed feelings about this one. There were parts I liked – Summer’s relationship with her family and her mother’s bird, the book store, and a twist right at the end. But there were numerous other places where I struggled.

Passages felt repetitive – things said by the same person, statements rehashed, and sections that didn’t seem to move anything forward. Some of the spots felt like filler. Also, one of the book club women had an alibi for the time of the murder, but she kept weighing in on the details of the day as if she had been there. I was confused by it several times in the story. Then, the book club meeting, which was going to be a significant moment in the story, was “tomorrow” for almost a week. I started counting how many times it was “tomorrow” and then how many “next mornings” there were before the next time someone said the meeting was “tomorrow.”

I was surprised by these issues. This is a seasoned mystery author. My hope is that the above issues were addressed in the final edits between the production of my review copy of the finalization of the novel. Usually the ARC has been edited more tightly than this.

While those issue may be resolved by the release date, I ran into other issues. Summer was hard to like. As a romance and cozy reader – in the act of reading a cozy mystery – I was put off by Summer’s snootiness about “real literature” vs. genre literature. It didn’t endear her to me. The author worked to soften her over the course of the book – this was intentionally part of her character at the start. But I personally read cozies because I like the protagonists. Summer made that difficult. Also, her phobia was a quirky thread in the story that never clicked for me. It didn’t feel integral. I was disappointed that the potential love interest disappeared in the latter parts of the book. Also, as a matter of personal preference only, the new age/tarot/goddess pieces aren’t a good fit for me as a reader.

Regarding the mystery, I was sadly disappointed here, too. I felt like the killer was obvious from the beginning. I zeroed in on this person and never second guessed my choice, even as other suspects were presented. None of the rest felt like real possibilities. And in the end, I thought the motive could have been stronger, especially for when Summer became the target.

If the edits I mentioned have been addressed before publication, my rating would maybe be a half point higher. Otherwise this just wasn’t the right fit for me. But the series has potential if some of these pieces are developed in the future. (Some language, new age/occult references)

Rating: ♥♥½*

*♥♥½ – Mostly solid to solid, some issues

 

REVIEW: The Falcon Always Wings Twice by Donna Andrews

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

Summary


Meg’s grandmother, Cordelia, has recruited the family into helping with her weekend Renaissance Faire. Meg’s dad is in the first aid tent, her earthy cousin is selling potpourris, and Meg is doing blacksmithing demos and serves as Cordelia’s second-in-command. And Meg’s husband is creating the “story” for the Faire, and wrangling the actors. Michael’s story sets the Faire in a made up kingdom where various factions fight for who will succeed the queen when her reign ends.

Unfortunately, Terence, the actor playing their resident villain/troublemaker is a little too good at being the bad guy. He’s managed to alienate most of the actors and get someone fired from their job in the world outside the Faire. He’s on notice that if he puts one toe out of line, he’ll be fired.

So when Meg finds him dead, no one is really very surprised. The larger issue is weeding through all the people who had a reason to want Terence gone for good in order to find his killer.

Review


Meg Langslow and her family + a Renaissance Faire.

That’s all I had to hear before I decided this was a must read for me. I have loved Meg and her family since I first read Murder with Peacocks. Meg’s life, and the full cast, has changed over the course of 27 books, but these stories never disappoint.  Reading a Meg Langslow book is like coming home. I’d love to go back and re-read some of the early books again some time. This is a terrific series!

The RenFaire setting for this was fantastic. We used to visit one in the summers, and I miss it. I loved the descriptions here and the way Meg’s husband developed the “story” for their Faire. It’s also an excellent setting for bringing in new characters for the mystery.

The mystery here is great. I puzzled out the killer, but for a long time it looked like my guess was going to be wrong. The final confrontation was terrific as was the wrap up of all the story threads in the end.

I don’t think you have to have read the previous 26 books to appreciate this, although it does help readers have context for the major characters. But if you haven’t read a Meg story before, and you love cozy mysteries and Renaissance Faires, you should absolutely check this one out! Of course, Meg’s fans will not want to miss another terrific story. You’ll also want to put the next book, The Gift of the Magpie, on your wish list. It releases in October. (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*I have a new rating system. 4 stars= “Great! Might re-read.”

REVIEW: Paw and Order by V. M. Burns

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

Summary


Lilly Ann had convinced her bosses at the Chattanooga Museum to host the Eastern Tennessee Poodle Rescue Association’s fundraiser when their venue fell through. It would garner funds for the museum as well as goodwill as they helped out the charity.

Having wealthy recluse Archibald Lowry show up was a big surprise. Lilly Ann’s friend, Dixie, had been courting him as a donor for the Rescue, but no one expected him to show up for the fundraiser. It might have been better for him if he had stayed home, though. Before the event was over, Archibald Lowry was dead.

Now Lilly Ann is fostering Archibald’s poodle, and that seems to be bringing trouble to her doorstep. When someone repeatedly tries to steal the dog, and someone else ends up dead, Lilly Ann and her friends decide it’s time to kick off a new investigation.

Review


Other than the fact that this is a book about all manner of poodles, yet the dog on the cover is not a poodle, I have only great things to say about this mystery!

This is book 4 in the Dog Club Mystery series, but it’s the first one I have read. But I have already placed the first 3 books on my To Read list (along with the first book of the author’s other series – The Mystery Bookshop series – The Plot Is Murder!). This was so good, and I liked the characters so much, I don’t want to miss any of their adventures.

I prefer to start a series at the beginning, but I had no issues following the plot of this one. There are a number of core series characters in the Dog Club that I had to track carefully in the beginning since I had no context for them from the earlier books. But by the middle of this, it was no longer an issue. The author does a great job making sure readers can drop in wherever and still follow the story.

The mystery here is fantastic. I loved how Lilly and her friends banded together to investigate. The sleuthing was great, the pacing of the mystery was excellent, and the ending wrapped up most of my questions. This is a series I will definitely be following in the future!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder by Dianne Freeman

[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


Frances, the Countess of Harleigh, is enjoying some quiet days. No murders or investigations. Sure, she’s helping her sister plan her wedding, but otherwise she is just dealing with the day to day things and enjoying her secret engagement to George Hazelton.

Then she finds out her sister needs to move the wedding up. Immediately, if you catch my drift. Thankfully, George is heading to his family’s estate. It would be the perfect place for a small wedding. Lily and Leo could be married within a week and no one would have to know why the date changed. And of course, George is gracious and compassionate and welcomes the wedding party into his plans at the estate.

But from the moment their party gets on the train, there is no shortage of trouble. Leo’s younger sisters are constantly arguing and bickering. His best friend is making eyes at Lily, and she is not doing enough to dissuade him. Leo’s brother-in-law is bitter about feeling left out of the family business, and he isn’t quiet about it. And strange accidents keep happening. When several people are injured and one person ends up dead, Frances starts to think someone might want Leo dead.

Review


I fell in love with this series when I first read A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder. And it has never disappointed me. This is the third book in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series, and it’s as strong as ever.

As much as I say I dislike historical fiction, the characters in this are what bring me back over and over. I have loved watching Frances’ growth over the last three books, finding both her confidence and true love.

The mystery in this particular book was especially twisty. I couldn’t settle on who I thought was the culprit. My choices all made sense. And were completely wrong! It was so fun to sit back and watch it all play out until the end.

Whether you love late 19th century London society stories, mysteries with a side of romance, or mysteries that leave you guessing until the end, be sure to pick up A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder. While you are at it, pick up the first two books in the series as well. I don’t think these have to be read in order, but if you like to see the evolution of the relationships in a series, you should start with book one.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair

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

Summary


Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge run a marriage bureau called The Right Sort in 1946 London. There’s no more London “Season,” and people need help finding a potential match. They’re good at what they do, and their business is growing. But that’s not why they’re approached by the Crown. It’s because they solved a murder.

Gwen’s cousin works at the Palace. The princess, Elizabeth, has fallen in love with Prince Philip. But there’s a blackmailer causing trouble. The Palace wants Iris and Gwen to figure out what’s going on so they can stop the blackmailer and protect the princess if needed. But Iris and Gwen suspect someone is not being straight with them. They’re hitting roadblocks in their investigation. And then someone is killed. Iris and Gwen start to think maybe they should have stuck to matchmaking.

Review


This was great! I haven’t read the first book, The Right Sort of Man, but it’s on my list now. I adored Iris and Gwen. They really made the book for me. There’s tons of sharp, quick banter between them. I kept turning pages – far later than I should have – because I wanted to spend more time with these two women and to see how they were going to sort this thing out.

The mystery here was extra twisty thanks to some of the folks involved in the blackmail scheme. I was guessing all the way up to the big reveal. The final scene of the book was perfection, too.

I am eager to go back and read about Iris and Gwen’s first case. It will have to tide me over while I wait for book 3 to find out how the events of this book will play out for the ladies in the future. Cozy fans and historic mystery fans should not miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid

[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


Quinn Caine is back in Vienna, Virginia after teaching English in villages overseas for a few years after college. She’s living in a house on her aunt and uncle’s property and doing book binding work at her parents shop, Prose and Scones. Even her brother has moved back to Vienna thanks to a new job. It’s good to be back in town with her people.

Part of Quinn’s “welcome back” is a run in with Trica Pemberley, one of her high school’s mean girls. Tricia and her twin sister, Trina, are local real estate stars in town. But Tricia’s boasting wasn’t about the housing market, but rather about the diamond on her ring finger. She seemed to think Quinn would care that she was engaged to Scott Hauser, a guy Quinn dated for a few weeks several years back. As far as Quinn was concerned, Tricia and Scott could have each other!

But when Quinn stumbles onto Tricia’s dead body, at least one local police officer thinks Quinn might have been jealous enough to kill her “rival.” Quinn, her friends, and her family know the idea is ludicrous. But to keep Quinn out of trouble, she and her cousin/best friend, Sister Daria, are going to track down a killer.

Review


Excellent! Everything about this was a delight – the characters, the setting, the potential romance, the mystery, the dogs. All of it.

The writing here is sharp. I loved the humor and the pop culture references. I laughed out loud many times. The romance, which is typical for cozy mysteries, has great chemistry and didn’t feel like the usual cozy relationship. My favorite pair, though is Quinn and Sister Daria. They have such an unusual dynamic. They grew up together, but Daria has changed so much while Quinn has been gone. I loved both the creativity of the relationship and the execution of it in the book. The scene where Quinn has dinner at the abbey is a perfect example of how fascinating this dynamic is.

The mystery here is SO well done! Quinn isn’t tracking suspects as much as she is tracking clues. The suspects come later as she tries to make the clues fit. It was easy to forget there was a second suspicious death, but it helped complicate the sleuthing when it came up. I was guessing all the way to the end, which was so satisfying. The hook – the book shop and Quinn’s book binding work – was a character development piece for Quinn and other characters more so than a major factor to the mystery, although it did play a role. I imagine it will be developed more in future books. And I am here for all of them. Cozy fans should NOT miss this one!

This book is available now as an e-book, but readers will be able to pick up a print copy after July 7th.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

 

REVIEW: A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison

[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


Alex has quit her job and gone to Bellamy Bay, North Carolina for vacation with her mother’s side of the family. The family her father refused to visit after her mother’s death. The people he forbid Alex from seeing. But with her father and her job gone and her future up in the air, family is just what Alex needs.

Alex, and her dog Athena, are staying with her aunt Lidia and cousin Minka. Minka’s sister, Kamila, lives in town as well. Aunt Lidia has an apothecary called Botanika, and Alex pitches in there to spend time with her family while she sorts out the upheaval in her life.

Randy Bennett comes to the store in search of a “good luck potion.” Lidia isn’t there, but Minka waits on him. But when Lidia walks in, she flies into a temper at finding Randy in her shop. She tosses his tea at him and bans him – again – from her store.

It’s weird enough that a customer would ask for a “potion.” Add to it Lidia’s temper; it looked like she lifted Mr. Bennett off the floor in her rage. Then there’s the gossip columnist who says Alex’s family are witches. But those problems are weird, and minor, compared to the death of Randy Bennett. The one Lidia is arrested for.

Review


This is a fantastic paranormal mystery! It’s similar in tone and feel to the Wishcrafters series, but with a paranormal hook that’s all its own. The water witch/mermaid piece is unique, and well designed, tying into actual legends from Poland. I thought the world-building here was great!

Alex and her family are characters I would love to know in real life. In fact, finishing the book was actually disappointing because it will be awhile before there’s a sequel. I can’t wait to spend more time in Bellamy Bay.

There’s the usual cozy mystery romance with a law enforcement officer here, or at least the potential for one. But there are actually hints at a possible romantic triangle. Usually I hate those, but this one was fascinating and well written.

The mystery here was top notch. I was guessing all the way to the end, which was so satisfying. There are some unresolved threads here to carry readers into book two. And I can’t wait to read Alex’s next adventure. Paranormal cozy fans – don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower

[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


Juliet and the Reverend are getting married. Bailey and Aiden – as well as Jethro the pig – are their attendants. The whole community has turned out for the event, both the Amish and the “English.” Bailey’s biggest concern is the wedding cake – a four-tier cake with marshmallow frosting and pink fondant polka-dots. Ohio temperatures in July are not friendly for the decorations.

The real wrinkle in the day, though comes from the woman who stormed in during the middle of the wedding to create a scene for Reverend Brook. But no one could have anticipated that.

It was even less expected when Bailey later found the woman dead.

What was the woman’s connection to Reverend Brook? Why did she crash his wedding and call him a “traitor?” Who was the man Bailey saw her with after the wedding? Could the Reverend have been the one to kill her?

Review


This was great. The mystery was excellent! The pacing was perfect, as was the solution. I was caught completely off guard in the end. I loved that.

The ongoing character development pieces were interesting. I was pretty frustrated with Juliet and Jethro the pig early on. That pig is a menace! And there’s an interesting wrinkle in Aiden and Bailey’s relationship in this book. Bailey shows remarkable restraint in the face of rude condescension and manipulation. There are also developments in Juliet and the Reverend’s relationship in addition to the wedding. On top of all that is the lead up to Bailey’s new TV show (which hasn’t launched yet by the end of the book). The only thing that would have made me happier with this is to get some resolution with the nasty pretzel shop owners. Maybe that is coming in a book soon.

Fans of the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series should not miss this one. The mystery is top notch, and series regulars are in top form. I am also impressed by how well the author incorporated faith pieces into this so naturally. This is not published by a Christian publisher, but the faith pieces in this are supremely well done. I have read Christian novels that haven’t done as nice of a job.

It looks like Amanda Flower has three more books releasing this year – Mums and Mayhem, the next book in her Magic Garden series, releases in August. Its release date was pushed back due to the pandemic. Dead-End Detective, a new mystery from Hallmark Publishing, releases in August as well. Finally, Courting Can Be Killer, the second book in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery series releases in November. The author is even launching another new series in 2021 with the book Farm to Trouble, a Farm to Table Mystery. Flower fans have a lot to look forward to!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: Botched Butterscotch by Amanda Flower

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

Summary


Bailey is looking forward to spending time with her parents, especially considering it’s Mother’s Day weekend. Aiden’s mom has invited Bailey and her parents to a Mother’s Day brunch. And the ladies have tickets for a women’s tea that weekend as well.

The tea is a fundraiser for Abigail’s Farm, a program for women in recovery who have finished rehab. Going into it, Bailey assumes the riskiest thing about the tea is having Aiden’s match-making mother spend time with Bailey’s mom. But that’s before thousands of dollars are stolen in the middle of the fundraiser.

Review


This is the second novella in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower. It’s considered book 4.5 in the full series. Book 5, Marshmallow Malice, will release at the end of May.

This was a fast read. Readers should note this is a novella, not a full length novel. There’s no murder, and the story is pretty straightforward. Series regulars like Juliet, Aiden’s mom; her pig, Jethro; and community leader Margot make appearances. The ladies at Abigail’s Farm and their neighbors are new characters for this story.

As this is a novella, there’s not the same pacing and suspense as you would find in a full book. I missed those elements. I like the twists and turns in a full length cozy. Fans of the series will want to check this out so you have all of the adventures for your favorite characters. There’s a new pig in this story that was a hoot! If you are more interested in  a regular mystery with Bailey and Aiden and the rest of the folks in Harvest, you don’t have to wait long.

Rating: ♥♥♥½