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The following books are reviewed
Me 2 by M. Christian What would you do if you believed there was someone out there who looked like you, talked like you, acted just like you? Day by day this person, doppelganger, clone, possibly even an alien life form, was slowly taking over every aspect of your life. They lived in your apartment, drove your car, and socialized with your friends and lovers. Soon there was going to be no room left in your life for you. That's the subject of Me 2, by M. Christian. It tells the story of a young man, unnamed, who lives in an unnamed but cosmopolitan city. He works at Starbucks, wears the latest styles, reads the latest rags, and is an all-around hip kind of guy.
Wash and Die by Barbara Colley Charlotte LaRue runs a cleaning service in New Orleans . She works, comes home to her parakeet, Sweety Boy, spends time with family and friends, and likes a nice, quiet life. All that changes when Joyce Thibodeaux shows up on her porch. Joyce is the alcoholic, lying ex of her boarder, Louis. She is supposed to be in rehab but explains they released her because they needed the beds. She needs a place to stay and with Louis out of town, she was hoping to bunk with Charlotte until she found an apartment. Against her better judgment, Charlotte agrees. She does not trust or like Joyce but she can't leave a woman out in the street. No good deed goes unpunished. Joyce steals from her, continues to drink, and seems to be hiding a very dark secret. Detectives are casing Charlotte 's house and one has too many questions about her much-unwanted houseguest. When she confronts Joyce about what she has been up to, including a precious family heirloom gone missing, the women argue. Charlotte kicks Joyce out and thinks it's over. Until she returns home the next night to find her home ransacked and Joyce shot to death in the living room. In Wash or Die , Barbara Colley's latest novel featuring the domestic turned amateur sleuth, Charlotte goes on the hunt for Joyce's murderer. She herself is a suspect in the beginning, along with Louis, and she has to clear her name. As she weaves in and out of pawnshops, mental facilities, and the French Quarter of New Orleans, Charlotte gets closer to the truth but also finds her life in very serious danger. The novel is simple and clean, but not very suspenseful. While liking the likable characters, and disliking the villains, none have that sparkle to make it a page-turner. You find you don't really care who killed Joyce, you are just glad she is gone. The ending is quite predictable and not very anti-climactic but it's not a bad read. Though you suspect pretty quickly who might be the killer, you still want to find out what happened to Charlotte 's parakeet who escaped and if maybe, her crush on Louis might turn into something. At 233 pages, you will get something pleasant if not exactly adventurous.
The following books are reviewed
Mama Does Time- A Mace Bauer Mystery If you think of Florida as a vacation paradise with tanned and glowing tourists lolling the days away, or as a restful haven for throngs of retired seniors playing shuffleboard, you've never been to Himmarshee. It's the kind of place where you'll find the women gossiping under the hairdryer at Hair Today-Dyed Tomorrow, and they have pot-luck breakfasts at the Abundant Hope Church. Deborah Sharp's Mama Does Time takes you inland, away from sun-kissed beaches to the sun-baked small town where Mace Bauer's Mama gets herself arrested before you turn the first page. Reading this book is a little like strapping yourself on an amusement park ride and it's not the Tunnel of Love, despite Mace's attraction for an ex-beau and a new cop. You'll certainly laugh at the family exchanges between tiny, feisty Mama Rosalee and daughters Mace, Maddie and Marty and the rest of the zany characters in the little Florida town. When the owner of the Booze ‘n' Breeze, a drive-up beverage store, is found dead, the ride takes off on a bumpy track that twists and turns unexpectedly. With Mama's good name at stake, Mace has to get involved in tracking down the real killer, even if only to spite the new, handsome officer in charge. You'll have to hold onto your hat, beat off the mosquitoes and enjoy the ride! Mama Does Time is an easy-breezy mystery with lots of chuckles and clues to ponder. It slides easily into the modern cozy genre with its lack of gratuitous blood and psychological clap-trap. The strength of Sharp's story is in the likeable characters and believable story lines. The residents could be your neighbors, with the possible exception of Ollie, the one eyed, three-footed alligator who eats whole chickens for show-and-tell. You'll feel right at home at the local diner with the spinning pie shelves and find yourself wanting to come back to eavesdrop on Mace and the gang. The fun of cozies is acquiring a whole new set of friends who come back in sequels to entertain. Although Sharp's first effort is billed as “A Mace Bauer Mystery” it's almost impossible to separate her from Mama and the sisters, which will suit readers just fine. The quartet is good for laughs and down-home comfort. Good plot, fair clues and enough wacky characters to keep you chuckling your way through- what more could you ask?
CHRISTMAS IS MURDER Cozy fans will want to find “Christmas is Murder” tucked into their stockings for a cold, winter's night read. This is one to help you while away the hours without scaring you out of your slippers; a delectable tidbit of a puzzle that will leave you hungry for the next Rex Graves Mystery. The classic elements are all here. There is the odd cast of characters at a hotel over the holiday, each with a reason for being away from traditional family gatherings. There is the snowstorm that forces them to stay at the hotel, and communication is cut off, of course. Challinor takes timeless elements like the English countryside, a Scottish Barrister and poisoned tarts (or were they?) and shakes them all up with a dash of wit and a bushel of clues. The result is captivating, rather than cliché, and it swirls methodically like a fine snow in a cherished snow globe. You won't want the swirling flakes to settle. Challinor, a longtime fan of Agatha Christie, knows that a good plot is essential to a story, and that characters give it a life of its own. “Christmas is Murder” has an element of romance but is not a love story. There is something, or someone, in the storyline to appeal to readers across the genre. Born in Indiana , Challinor was educated in Scotland and England and now resides in Florida , and the English setting in her story is spot on. The dozen characters in this tale have distinctly different personalities, a baker's dozen if you include the four-legged interloper. Keeping company for the holiday are the Barrister, a wealthy, disabled WWII veteran, a New York literary agent, a snoopy divorcee and her friend, a gay antiques dealer and his partner and a newlywed couple. Their needs are seen to (and seen by) the matron hotel proprietor, the cook, an ambitious waitress and an odd-job man. The cast is full-bodied and as enjoyable as a glass of brandy on a cold night, meant to be sipped slowly and savored. Although cozy and comfortable, Challinor's story unfolds in a modern, if timeless, setting. Humor, both dry and bold, makes it all the more enjoyable. Barrister Rex Graves is a character you'll embrace and look forward to. I've got the feeling we've only seen a few of the many facets of his personality. The book offers a peek at the next in the series, “Murder in the Raw,” set in St. Martin, French West Indies . It sounds like another fun adventure for Rex, and for Challinor's new fans. Cozy up, grab a cuppa, and visit Swanmere Manor for a Christmas to remember! Another reason to put “Christmas is Murder” on your gift list is that the author is setting aside 15 percent of her royalties for the “Soldiers'Angels,” founded by the great niece of WWII General George S. Patton. The charity's volunteers help rehabilitate the war wounded from Afghanistan and Iraq (more information elsewhere in this issue). Visit C.S. Challinor at www.soldiersangels.org or www.midnightinkbooks.com Help U.S. soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan ; Put “Christmas is Murder” on your gift list! Soldier's Angels is a volunteer, military assistance organization which reaches out to help rehabilitate US soldiers wounded in action. Author C.S. Challinor has elected to donate 15 percent of her royalties for the newly-released “Christmas is Murder' to the organization. “Whatever the rights or wrongs of the war in Iraq , young men and women in the military are risking life and limb for their country and for their brothers and sisters-in-arm,” Challinor said. “Thousands are returning home with horrific, debilitating injuries. The average age of wounded veterans is 23 years old. That's only a few years older than my own son.” “Christmas is Murder,” from Midnight Ink Books, retails for $13.95 and is available through Barnes and Noble, Borders, Amazon.com and most bookstores. You can find more information about the organization at www.soldiersangels.org.
The following books are reviewed
Less Dead by Laura Elvebak Goth teens. Gotta love ‘em. The goth teen in this book is somehow involved in the murder of a city councilman and former police officer Niki Alexander must to find out how and why. The homeless teen wakes up in Houston 's Tranquility Park next to a murdered city councilman. But she then disappears. Homicide Investigator Luis Perez turns to his ex-partner Niki Alexander, now a counselor with a teen shelter. She is doing good work but also doing penance for her involvement in the fatal shooting of a teenage boy. She suspects the missing teen is a street girl she knows as Jade . Fearing there is a larger connection between Jade and murdered man she gets involved. Niki's search finds her among homeless teens and in predominantly male gay bars, where dangerous secrets are harbored. Niki realizes she's not the only one trying to find the girl. As she closes in on the truth, her life is endangered. As for the teen, Jessica Keeling, has had a difficult time since her father vanished. But, waking up next to a dead man is worse than all her troubles. She even suspects he's a man that she might have killed. Having been drugged the night before, she has no memory of what happened. Known as Jade, Jessica can only count on street tough Rube and Niki Alexander. But before she can get to either of them, she disappears. The novel can be graphic but the writing is lively and the plot has lots of twists and vividly tells the story of teens left to fend for themselves on the streets.
Mercy Street by Mariah Stewart This is a promising start to a new romantic suspense series from Stewart ( Last Breath ). She introduces two sleuths, PI Mallory Russo, a former cop, and Charlie Wanamaker, a former Philadelphia detective. Wanamaker has returned to help his alcoholic mother and his disabled sister in Russo's stomping grounds of Conroy, Pennsylvania . While there, Mallory is hired by billionaire Robert Magellan, who is distraught at the disappearance of his wife and young son. Mallory is also hired to find two missing teens who vanished after a playground shooting that left two of their friends dead. Though the police suspect the pair were involved their relatives are sure of their innocence. She is set to find the truth of the matter. Readers have enjoyed Stewarts other books and will probably be taken by the developing romance between Mallory and Charlie. Stewart creates a good story – with plenty of plot, lots of villains, and a great dollop of romance. Her main characters have depth and will satisfy readers. As the first of a series, readers can anticipate a developing storyline on a number of fronts.
Skin Deep by Jamie Cortland Cortland 's novel is a tale of suspense and a very dark one at that. On the rebound from her former husband, Evelyn meets what she thinks is the man of her dreams. But he turns out to be a nightmare from which she has difficulty escaping. She rushes headlong into this new relationship against her better judgment. She has others in her life who care about her including her ex –husband who still loves her. But once in the clutches of this new man, she has a hard time finding her way out. The tale is taut and filled with suspense.
Memory of a Murder by Earl Staggs Staggs's book has been given new life by a new publisher and his fans are happy this is the case. Memory has left them wanting more and the reissue of this book is a hopeful sign that they will get their wish. A thoroughly enjoyable read, Memory has enough twists and turns to delight even the most jaded reader. Staggs knows how to tell a tale and does it well in this book. In Ocean City , former FBI Agent Adam Kingston has powers and a reputation. Thanks to an accident, he has the ability to touch objects connected to individuals and see in his mind what has happened to them. This ability comes in handy, especially when the mother of his godson asks Adam to check on him. Even though he “sees” a strange unkempt bearded man, Adam Kingston knows that everything is fine with Junior. He's had these random images before and doesn't feel concerned about the strange man. Until the strange man appears on his doorstep seeking Adam's help. Suffering from amnesia, the man, calling himself, Chip Weathers, believes he may have committed a murder. Having seen news reports of a recently discovered body buried in a basement in Baltimore , he feels he is connected to the crime. The woman died approximately sixteen years ago, at about the same time as his amnesia began. Chip believes he killed the woman and wants Adam to find out who she was and why he killed her. Meanwhile, in Baltimore , Detective Brenda McCort has her hands full. She's working the body in the basement case, she has another body to deal with. Following this second murder takes her to Ocean City and Adam's case. Now they have to solve the sixteen-year-old murder and stop a new wake of killings. Staggs shifts points of view between Adam and Brenda and does it well. He's a wordsmith and knows what he's doing. Readers are taken into the case and the world Staggs has created and they find themselves surrounded by some very real people and situations. It's quality work in which Staggs keeps the plot twisting and the reader guessing.
The Vision Quest by Deborah Pratt The author posits a future defined by a series of giant quakes which bring new lands to life from the bottom of the sea, and humans have the full powers of both mind and spirit. Androids, the Black Guard, created to protect humans from danger, develop independence and not surprisingly a hatred of humans. In the midst of the sharpening human-android conflict, Cole Lazerman may hold the key to resolving the approaching war, provided he can achieve his destiny. The co-creator of the Quantum Leap TV show has launched this visionary SF series featuring a hero with a tragic past and a complex future. Combining high-tech SF with New Age philosophy, this series opener will appeal to a variety of readers. Highly imaginative and captivating, Pratt is an experienced hand at creating a series with appeal.
Medium of Murder ed by Susan Budavari and Suzanne Flaig This book grabs readers with eighteen mystery/suspense stories involving unusual means of murder all revolving around the varying concepts of the word “medium.” Most are set in the present and set all across America , some stories take place in past eras and exotic locations. Contributors include: Kris Neri, Gay Toltl Kinman, Gary Earl Ross, Frank Zafiro (whose work has appeared frequently in the pages of Mysterical-E) and 14 other writers. Each tale is well written and entertaining and none disappoint. It's a fun read precisely because readers never know which definition of “medium” a writer will approach.
Angels Fall by Baron R. Birtcher If you like your reading hard-boiled, this is a book for you. Ex-cop, Mike Travis, likeable though flawed is one readers will want to follow through whatever adventure he finds himself in. The disappearance of a teenage girl draws Travis away from his scuba charter business into an underground culture driven by designer narcotics and violent sex. He uncovers a world constructed of secrets and lies. Getting tangled in this deceitful mess, Travis is confronted with the cruelty of his own past. This well-written work is certainly as noir as you can hope for and as thrilling a read as you'll want. Travis must battle the power that vast wealth can bring while facing the darker side of his inner self. Corruption, greed, the absence of morals, and sheer brutality make this a memorable read.
Big Money by Jack Getze The reader is once again left to the tender mercies of Austin Carr. In charge of a one-office Jersey Shore investment firm, Carr, a suspended stockbroker, becomes the prize in a war between crime crews and a state investigator. Carr needs to find a way to keep his head while being chased by mobsters, cops, and a hit-man. In doing so, Carr stumbles into the secret lives of three women. One becomes a victim and one finds herself to be a murderer. Carr discovers he's her next victim. Getze's latest novel has so many twists, readers will find themselves wondering how to untie the knots they've read themselves into. The wise-cracking protagonist isn't for everyone, but if you like that kind of guy, ths is the book for you. Getze's style and technique have improved since his first outing, "Big Numbers." He shows more of New Jersey , characters which are more rounded and who have more depth. It's worth the read and the ride.
Hidden Whisper by JJ Lumsden Jack and Chloe Monroe have an unwanted guest in their home in an Arizona retirement community. Not only unwanted but sinister, this force is threatening not only their peace but their lives and is becoming terrifying. Enter paranormal researcher, Dr Luke Jackson, who reluctantly investigates and finds himself drawn into a series of unexplained events at the house. But Jackson has just one week to unravel the mystery before he must return home. Hidden Whisper offers an interesting opportunity to enter the world of the paranormal. This book is supported by a set of endnotes compiled by the author, parapsychologist JJ Lumsden, which offer expanded explanations into many of the topic areas raised throughout the story, including Extra Sensory Perception, Psychokinesis, Ghosts, Poltergeists and Out-of-Body Experiences. What makes Hidden Whisper different from most mystery novels, is that it is also educational, taking a closer look at parapsychology. The author manages to fill the narrative with information in a way that is easy to follow. It's an enjoyable, suspenseful, and satisfying read even if you aren't convinced that paranormal activity is real.
The following books are reviewed
His Name is John by Dorien Grey That nagging feeling that there's someone watching you becomes even more nagging and hauntingly real for Elliot Smith when he realizes that there is indeed another presence occupying his space. After a serious accident and a stay in the hospital, Elliott Smith returns home to the realization that he is either insane and hearing a non-existent voice or there really is someone haunting his life. What's more, this presence doesn't know who he is, except his knows his name is John. At first, more to convince himself that the voice is real or a condition that can be cured, Smith humors the voice's requests for help and agrees to help identify this John. While going about his work as a rescuer of old Chicago architecture that will quickly disappear if not for men like Smith, he encounters situations and experiences which lead him to believe that John is indeed more than just a voice and certainly not a mental condition. He is also helped by his brother-in-law who is on the police force and in the know. This well-written tale is a very sweet natured story of a man's journey into his own past and beyond his own self. He reaches out to help someone he isn't even sure really exists and learns much about himself with the effort. He is a dogged pursuer of justice for John who cannot do anything for himeelf save act through Elliott. Fortunately for John and Elliott, Smith is wealthy and can afford the time and effort it takes to uncover the truth. In the course of events, Elliott must deal with Alphonso Collina, a bully from his past, as well as his own fears and uncertainties. There is a budding romance which readers will want to follow as this series progresses. Family also plays a big role here and Elliot handles most of it with patience and equanimity. In the hands of Dorien Grey, the master story-teller of the Dick Hardesty tales, this story sails smoothly along from beginning to end. He adds in more than enough mystery, suspense, and even romance to satisfy any reader. At times, it is a little frightening; who hasn't wondered about such things? It is also captivating and romantic without being maudlin.
Heroes Often Fail by Frank Zafiro Six-year-old Amy Dugger is snatched in broad daylight and River City 's finest begin the desperate search for her kidnapper. The pieces of the puzzle which must be solved to help Amy are held by John Tower, Ray Browning, Stefan Kopriva, and Katie MacLeod all on the force. They need to piece things together before it's too late. It is March 1995, Kendra and Amy, both six, walk to school as they always have. Until the van slides to a stop next to them. A man leaps out and grabs Amy. Kendra runs knowing the man might get her next, but she saves herself and is later filled with guilt. Stefan Kopriva of the River City Police is filled with pain having barely survived a shootout at the Circle K six months before. Powerful pain medications and a growing romance keep him going but he wants his old life back. As news of the kidnapping spreads, every officer is needed and Kopriva is called back to service. All the other men and women of the River City police force desperately try to find Amy knowing that timing is crucial. For Amy, things do not go well and the kidnapping is just the beginning of a child molestation nightmare. What happens to her is dealt with by Zafiro in such a way as to leave everything to your imagination which makes his work all that more powerful. Like his earlier work, Zafiro proves himself adept at painting a detailed and very real picture of life in the ranks. He knows his material well and his readers benefit. He gets better with each novel he publishes and readers know they have a treat in store whenever they see his name. Police procedurals are his strong suit but he also know the minds of the victims he writes about. His characters are real and well rounded and the setting in which they live and work is equally well drawn. Heroes is suspenseful and tense. The plot is sure to keep readers on the edge waiting to read the next development in the case. Readers will delight in this new addition to Zafiro's growing list of works.
A Death in Pilsen by Robert Goldsborough This is a book to read and Goldsborough is a writer to watch. In this book he gives readers both entertainment and history, style and good writing. A quick read, Pilsen is highly enjoyable and intriguing. Tribune police reporter Snap Malek is in the midst of a murder case in 1946. Someone killed his cousin's British war bride in their Bohemian neighborhood home in Pilsen. The prime suspect is jailed but Malek is convinced of his innocence and begins his own search for the murderer. Snap's investigation takes him into the shadowy world of Pilsen saloons, where unique characters and situations lie hiudden waiting only for someone to fall under their spell. Malek incurrs the anger of all sorts of folks and finds himself fighting for his life to continue his search. Malek hires the city's best defense attorney to help him. He gets distracted by other events which, as a reporter, he must cover, but when he gets back to his case, finds an unexpected resolution. Goldsborough does a credible job of recreating the post-war era and will delight readers with history they may not be familiar with.
Crazy Fool Kills Five by Gwen Freeman We're back on the doorstep of that free-spirited independent insurance adjuster Fifi Cutter. After very entertaining adventures in Murder... Suicide... Whatever, readers will happily sign on for another wild and funny ride. This time, a private charter jet carrying two Singaporean businessmen crashes after taking off when Jim Farnswell, a mentally unstable ex-airline employee, shoots the pilot. Parts of the fuselage land on a Winnebago, killing its occupant, Earl Dean Rayburn. In the subsequent lawsuit against the airline, Fifi's friend VJ Smith represents Rayburn's wife, and Chinatown lawyer Reg Wong represents the families of the businessmen. Reg hires Fifi as a document clerk to help with trial preparation. However a missing tape and Farnswell's past let Fifi find herself on another fun, if tense, mysterious jaunt. Kidnapping, murder, and various other felonious pursuits keep her busy. But, in this installment, Fifi falls for Daniel Boatwright, a cute single lawyer on the wrong side of the case. There is plenty of plot, lots of humor Fifi-style, tense courtroom detail, suspense, tight spots and overall a great read. Add a big helping of family drama and you have Fifi Cutter spending lots of time with you as you devour this newest book.
L.A. Heat by P.A. Brown LAPD detective David Laine encounters hot and handsome party boy Chris Bellamere, while conducting interrogations about the murder of one of Chris's legion of sexual conquests. Chris endeavors to prove his own innocence and thereby reveals himself as another victim. David steps in to save Chris, and falls in love with this man who just might be a brutal murderer despite appearances to the contrary. This debut novel is filled with twists, turns, and suspense. It's gritty and lethal and set in LA's edgy East Side , where gangs and gays exist side by side, where people hear gunshots in the night, and where many a seeker of anonymity can live undetected. A gay cop like David Laine is one of those who craves the nameless, faceless quality of life in East LA. But that all changes when Chris enters his life. A stalker victimizing LA's gay community draws Laine from his anonymous, closeted lair and forces him to take stock of his life. The pace is fast, even dizzying, the setting is exotic, and the characters are believable. There's plenty of violence, sex, and mystery here. And a lot of good writing. With a new installment just out, readers won't have to wait long to see what happens to David and Chris after this adventure ends.
Beach Reading by Mark Abramson FREE BOOKS: a copy of Beach Reading to the first two people to send an email request to us.
The following reviews are by Dawn Dowdle mysterybks@yahoo.com Visit her site at: www.mysteryloverscorner.com
A Murderous Glaze By Melissa Glazer Pottery shop owner Carolyn Emerson finds Betty Wickline murdered inside Carolyn's shop, Fire At Will, one night when she returns to check on some pottery. Maple Ridge , Vermont , is a small town. Once Sheriff John Hodges makes it known that Carolyn is his prime suspect, business falls off at her shop. With the help of the members of her pottery group called the Firing Squad, including a reformed crook and a retired judge, as well as her assistant David, she begins gathering information into who had a motive to kill Betty. Carolyn soon finds out that she wasn't the only one who didn't like Betty, including the sheriff. But who disliked her enough to kill her? Carolyn, her husband Bill, her assistant David, and his mother Hannah were all great characters, and I look forward to reading more books in this series to see what happens with each of them. . I liked the Vermont setting, and the pottery shop location really lent itself to this story and the cozy genre.
A Vintage Murder By Michele Scott Nikki Sands and her boss, and now boyfriend, Derek are off to Australia to try to get the licensing rights to distribute a wine in the states from an Aussie winemaker. When they arrive at the winery, they find a Hollywood film crew is taping a movie. Lucy Swanson, an up and coming starlet, is the leading lady. She appears to be making everyone's life miserable except her own. Also in the film are snakes, dingoes, and boxing kangaroos. When Lucy is found dead of a venomous bite from a brown snake, the police and everyone on the set say it was an accident. Nikki doesn't believe that and sets out to prove it wrong. She is offered Lucy's part in the movie and takes it to make her investigation that much easier. Simon, Derek's gay brother, is star struck with the leading man in the film and becomes Nikki's body guard and manager to stay close to the filming. Marne, a gossip columnist from Nikki's Hollywood past, stirs up the pot. Soon Nikki finds herself at odds with Derek. Can she find the killer without putting herself in harm's way and straighten things out with Derek? Having this book set in Australia was a nice change of pace and a great location. Nikki is a wonderful character, and I'm thrilled to see her with Derek. The sexual tension in the book added to things quite nicely. Having Simon show up also threw a wrench into Nikki's and Derek's plans. The plot has many twists and turns and kept me guessing right up to the end. I hope there will be more in this series, although I'm not sure that's true. I love Nikki, Derek, and Simon. I highly recommend this book.
Death Of A Lovable Geek By: Maria Hudgins Virginia history professor Dotsy Lamb and her best friend Lettie Osgood are in the Scottish Highlands for this installment in this great series. Dotsy is working on an archaeological dig run by Dr. John Sinclair. It is on the grounds of Dunlaggen Castle owned and run by John's brother William. Dotsy uncovers a gold coin thought to be from the eleventh century or earlier. Mushroom expert Dylan "Froggy" Quale is murdered by the castle. Chief Inspector Duncan Coats suspects Froggy's roommate American media expert Van Nguyen. Dottie doesn't believe it and sets out to find the real murderer. Throw in another death by possible mushroom poisoning, plenty of spooky castle sounds, and unexplained happenings, and you have yourself a fabulous mystery. I really enjoy this series. Dotsy and Lettie are fabulous characters, and the mystery is very well written with a plot with enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The Scottish setting really added to the story. I did have a little trouble understanding the Scottish characters now and then, but I know I would have the same problem if I visited there, so it made it very believable. I liked the archaeological dig setting as well. Brought enough players into the story to provide the tension and mystery needed.
Justice Denied By: J. A. Jance J. P. Beaumont has been given a top-secret special assignment by his boss to look into the murder of an ex-con released when DNA evidence proved him innocent. Mel, J.P.'s live-in girlfriend and partner, has been given an assignment to investigate released sex offenders who have died under suspicious circumstances. Life at home gets very tense when J. P. has to keep his investigation from Mel. Soon their cases collide and there are lots of strains put on their relationship as well. Can they untangle the web of these deaths and put things right at home as well? There was a point I didn't like this series as much as I used to. That has long since passed. This series just keeps getting better and better. I can't wait for the next book. Unfortunately since she writes three series, it'll be a bit of a wait. Luckily I like the other two series as well. J. P. Beaumont has really grown over the years. I'm glad. I didn't like it when he was an alcoholic. He has gotten his life together and his family as well. I really like Mel and hope that she will be around for quite a while. I can't wait to see where this series goes next!
Killing Bridezilla By: Laura Levine Patti Marshall made Jaine's life hell in high school. Now she's hired Jaine to rewrite Shakespeare for her upcoming wedding. The only reason Jaine agreed was the high salary. Patti stole Dickie from his wife at a high school reunion. She soon sees that Patti much since high school. She's still a cruel selfish individual, and Jaine can't figure out what Dickie sees in her. The caterer is another high school classmate who loathes Patti but also only took the job due to the salary. The former bridesmaid, one of Patti's inner circle friends from high school, detests Patti. Dickie's ex-wife, Normalynne, shows up at the wedding and threatens to kill Patti. So when Patti plunges off the balcony to her death, Normalynne is the prime suspect. Jaine doesn't believe she did it, so she begins to investigate all the other people who hated Patti. But did they hate her enough to killer and have the opportunity and motive? I really like this series. Jaine is such a likeable character who is very down to earth. In this book her interactions with her former classmates is so real. I think most people can relate to it. I especially found the scenes with Walter realistic. There always seems to be one geek in the class pining after a girl that keeps turning him down.This series is so much fun I find myself laughing out loud while reading it. Try it. I think you'll like it.
Murder's Madness By: Alex Matthews Cassidy McCabe is a therapist working in her home in Oak Park , Chicago . Her husband Zach Moran is a reporter. Lately he's been depressed as he isn't enjoying his job due to a new editor that is giving him terrible assignments and making his life difficult. Plus their cat Sunshine has taken to being away all night. Cassidy is sure she's found another family. Dalia Schiff is on medicine for schizophrenia. When she takes her meds, she can function normally. She recently rented Zach's condo in Marina City . Cass has befriended Dalia who is lonely. Then one day Dalia calls Cass hysterical, talking about Dark Angels and a corpse in a closet. Cass is afraid Dalia has gone off her meds and goes to try to help her. She goes with Dalia to the top of the building to show her there aren't any Dark Angels or corpses. While they don't find a corpse, they do see blood, and Cass calls the police. Dalia vanishes. Cassidy decides to investigate to try to help get Dalia to return and get help. Can she figure out if there's been a murder and who was murdered and why? Will Dalia return? I really enjoy this series. Cassidy is a great character. I like her relationship with Zach. In this book that relationship is very strained. I think the author did a great job of conveying while still keeping the story moving with solving the murder. I also like that while Cassidy is a therapist, I feel the author gives us just enough of a glimpse into her professional life to help us get to know her. Yet we don't have to get into each session with her. Even as she strives to help Dalia, we get real insight into the life of someone with schizophrenia without it stopping the momentum of the mystery.
Photo Finished By: Laura Childs Carmela Bertrand owns Memory Mine, a scarpbooking store in the French Quarter of New Orleans. During an all-night scrapbooking session, Gabby, her assistant, discovers Bartholomew "Bart," owner of the neighboring Menagerie Antiques, dead in the ally with a pair of scissors in his chest. Carmela believes Bart was a shady businessman and is appalled when Billy Cobb, his young assistant, becomes the police's prime suspect. She decides to do some investigating of her own to find the real killer. Can she do that without putting herself in harm's way? This is the first in this series that I've read. It definitely won't be the last. I like Carmela and her scrapbooking buddies. I especially like the New Orleans setting! I am not a scrapbooker, but I have an interest in the craft, so that really appealed to me.
Sleight Of Hand By: Robin Hathaway Dr. Jo Banks is a local motel doctor in NJ. She often rides her motorcycle on her rounds or to Bridgeton Hospital . One day she comes upon the site of an execution style killing. Everyone believes the victim was affiliated with the Philadelphia mob. Then on her way home, she hears what she believes to be a printing press in a barn. She stops to investigate. The man working the printing press inside the barn is startled by her presence and his hand becomes stuck in the roller mechanism. He pulls a gun on Jo with his free hand, requiring she free him. When Lolly, his daughter with Down syndrome, comes into the barn, he turns the gun on her. He tells Jo he will kill Lolly if she doesn't return quickly with supplies to operate on his mangled hand. He rejects any hospitalization or other doctors. Jo hurries off for supplies wondering why he won't seek medical help and whether she can perform the needed surgery in his house. In tending to him daily after the surgery, Jo begins to get a sense of why he won't leave his house. She also begins to wonder if he was associated with the murdered man. Can she make sense of everything? I absolutely love this series. Jo is such a fun character. I wish I had a doctor like her! With every book she gets even better. The author is so great at crafting a mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the page. I know that when I start a book in this series, I'd better clear my schedule to get it finished.
A Glitter Of Diamonds By: N. J. Lindquist You don't have to like baseball to like this book! The Toronto Matrix have a new pitcher. Ricardo (Rico) Valasquez is from Cuba and has let fame and fortune go to his head. He isn't getting along with his teammates. Matter of fact, he taunts the relief pitcher he took the job away from. And though he has a wife in Cuba , he has a girlfriend, Eva, in Toronto . Since Rico doesn't speak much English, he pairs up with teammate Ferdinand Ortes who speaks Spanish. The Toronto Matrix has a family friendly image. Rico's carrying on and throwing baseballs and yelling when he doesn't get his way, doesn't fit that image. So unbeknownst to him, they bring his wife Alita up from Cuba to surprise him. It surprises him and stymies his action. Stasey Simon is a local sports radio talk show host. One day she recommends on air that someone bash Rico's head in. When Rico is found murdered in that way, she becomes a suspect. But considering he didn't get along with his teammates, there are quite a few suspects. That list also includes other sportscasters: especially Ginny Lovejoy and Kyle Schmidt. Paul Maziuk and Jackie Ryan are the detectives on the case. Maziuk is a baseball fan. Ryan is not. They've recently been paired up since Maziuk's partner is in the hospital. Can they work together and find the identity of the killer? I am not a baseball enthusiast, and it took me a while to fully get into the book. Even while reading the first few chapters, I found I couldn't just set it aside. I had to know what was going on. There are so many different undercurrents and tangled story lines. I found myself picking it back up to unravel the mystery. It is a very well written book. It shows the lives of the players as well as the sportscasters. Plus I liked that it even gave us a real insight into the lives of the detectives. And it showed how those lives can be intertwined. The author has done a great job of creating a large cast of characters. Yet I never felt confused as to who people were, and I really liked most of the characters. The baseball setting is also very well done.
A River To Die For By: Radine Trees Nehring Carrie and Henry are newlyweds. Rob, Carrie's son who is a college professor with an interest in American Indians, calls and invites them on a camping/fishing trip with Catherine. She is Henry's long-lost half sister that Rob is now dating. Henry is thrilled about the trip. Carrie is not. So she decides to stay home. There are many caves with artifacts where they're camping by the Buffalo National River . Rob and Catherine set off to explore. They get separated and Catherine is kidnapped by thieving locals. Rob scales a cliff to a cave and blacks out. Henry gets very concerned when they don't return. Carrie does too when she finds out. So she and her friend set out to join in the search. Can they be found safe and sound? Will Carrie or Henry be in danger, too? I love this series. Carrie and Henry are such likeable characters. I love the various settings of these books as well. The peripheral characters really add to the mix. There are always plenty of twists and turns before getting to the conclusion to keep me turning the pages!
A Rose From The Dead By: Kate Collins Abby Knight, owner of Bloomers flower shop, has agreed to attend the Midwestern Funeral Directors Convention to try to drum up more business. She shares a booth with her friends Delilah and Max Dove. Considering there is a casket race and a coffin decoration contest, Abby soon finds out it isn't as dull as she expected. Delilah becomes the prime suspect in Sybil Blount's murder because Delilah had arrived to the banquet late because she was repairing their decorated coffin for the contest and Sybil was found murdered in a decorated coffin. Plus earlier Delilah had had a run-in with Sybil over the size of their booth. Sybil was the organizer of the convention. Abby believes the urbane twins Ross & Jess may be responsible for Sybil's death due to some of the pranks they'd pulled on Abby. Could Sybil have been blackmailing someone? How did she get Chet Sunday, the handsome cable TV star, to appear at the convention? Abby and her boyfriend Marco, an ex-cop and owner of Down the Hatch Bar and Grill, set out to clear Delilah and find the real killer. What a great setting for a mystery! I enjoyed the various suspects, of which there were many. Abby and Marco are fabulous together. I like it when they work together, as much as Abby will work with anyone.
Acts Of Violets By: Kate Collins Snuggles the Clown is murdered. Marco, the hunky ex-cop and owner of Down the Hatch Bar and Grill, is their chief suspect because he was the last one seen leaving Snuggles' house. Marco asks Abby Knight, owner of Bloomers flower shop and his girlfriend, to help find the killer. She's solved some murders in the past, but she's nervous about this one. If she fails, Marco could go to jail. As a cop, Marco had a run-in with Snuggles (Dennis Ryson) and then Marco left the force soon after. Plus Marco fought with Snuggles shortly before the murder. Abby finds that Marco seems to have secrets. Who is Trina to Marco? She'd been threatened by Ryson and asked Marco to help her. Can Abby find the murderer so Marco won't go to jail? And why won't Marco let Abby meet his mother? Abby and Marco are great together. I liked that he asked Abby to do the investigating in this book. There were plenty of suspects and twists to keep me guessing and turning the pages.
Antiques To Die For By: Jane K. Cleland Josie Prescott is an antiques appraiser. Her friend Rosalie Chaffee is found drowned. Josie had just spent time with her. When Rosalie's twelve-year-old sister Paige contacts her about a treasure Rosalie had alluded to that would set them up for life, Josie sets out to help discover it through doing an appraisal. She soon finds out that Rosalie had many secrets: a secret lover, a secret admirer, and secret treasure. Rosalie's secret admirer seems to have fixated on Josie now. Josie's boyfriend, Police Chief Ty Alvarez, works to keep Josie safe, even though he's off to explore a new job. Can Josie make sense of everything and follow the clues to find the treasure? Is there really a treasure? The New Hampshire setting is so wonderful. Even though I'm not an antiques enthusiast, I enjoy all the descriptions of the antiques and the antiques world. It's fascinating. The author gives enough information but doesn't hit the reader over the head with it. I like that. We really get some insight into Josie through her relationship with Paige and their similar pasts. I love all the people who work for Josie as well. Sounds like a fun place to work. The author does a great job of intertwining the antiques information and the mystery plot. There are plenty of twists and suspects to keep the reader guessing.
Damage Control By: J. A. Jance Joanna Brady is the Cochise County Sheriff. She's also a wife and mother of a teenager and a young baby. Her husband is a writer and usually takes care of the kids and home when Joanna is working. He's under a deadline, so things are a bit strained. Things become even more difficult due to a busy weekend. Alfred and Martha Beasley plunge through a retaining wall off the mountainside in their car after a picnic lunch. Was it a suicide pact? After a storm garbage bags are found with the remains of Wanda Mappin who had disappeared some months ago from a Flannigan Foundation group home. She had complained to her mother not long before disappearing that Wayne was missing. The home listed her missing immediately but waiting two months to report the disappearance. What do they have to hide? When the Beasley daughters arrive in town, things heat up. They haven't spoken for decades. Soon they're in jail after a drunk and disorderly altercation. Later one has a psychotic breakdown and holds her sister hostage. What is happening to everyone? To top it all off, Joanna's mother is acting more strange than normal. Can Joanna assist with the investigations and keep things going at home? This is one of my absolute favorite series. I often site down and read them in one day. Joanna is such a fabulous character, and her family is so believable. I like where the author is taking the series. I can't wait for the next one. Unfortunately the author writes three series, so it will be a while 'til there will be another in this series. Luckily, I like all three series! Joanna is a great sheriff. She's demanding yet fair and understanding. I like seeing the human side of her show up in her official duties. I also like seeing how she has to juggle family and work. That's how it is for most people. The author does a fabulous job of intertwining the various stories without jerking you from one to the other. It's very seamless.
Dearly Depotted By: Kate Collins Abby Knight is a bridesmaid in her cousin Jillian's wedding. Will Jillian really marry Claymore Osborne? She's been engaged many times but hasn't made it to the altar yet. When the groomsman Abby is to walk down the aisle with ends up injured and can't make the wedding, she gets Marco Salvare, her hunky boyfriend and owner of Down The Hatch Bar & Grill. Plus Abby is put on grandma duty to watch Claymore's 90-year-old grandma. When Abby loses the grandma at the wedding, she sets out frantically to find her. Unfortunately when she finds her, she's standing outside the gazebo where the dead body of Jack Snyder lays. He recently got out of jail. There are many suspects. Jack had gotten Jillian's cousin Melanie pregnant and dumped her. He and Melanie's dad Josiah went at it right before the wedding, too. But the police seem to put their sights on Richard Davis for the murder. Grace, an employee of Abby's, is dating Richard and asks for Abby's help. Can she find the real killer? This is one of my favorite series. The sexual tension between Abby and Marco is fabulous. Just enough information without going overboard to know it's there. Abby is such a wonderful sleuth, too. She can get herself into some terrible situations, but I don't find myself yelling at her or throwing the book like in some series.
Death By Pantyhose By: Laura Levine Dorcas hires copywriter Jaine Austen to write stand-up comedy jokes for her act. Jaine soon finds that her feminist act isn't good and she throws pantyhose at the audience. But Jaine is desperate for work, so she sticks it out. She'd gone for an interview with a large ad agency. She ended up missing the interview because of mistaken identity and gets her Corolla stolen to boot. Vic, another comedian, is funny but very arrogant. Jaine dislikes how he humiliates Dorcas. Everyone is stunned when he introduces his new beautiful blonde agent and announces they're engaged, especially his current agent Manny and his girlfriend Allison. When Vic is found dead with pantyhose around his neck, Dorcas is the prime suspect. Since Jaine has done some investigating in the past, she sets out to find the killer. There seem to be quite a few people who wanted him dead, providing for plenty of twists and turns. Add in Andrew, Jaine's love, is in town for a short while, but Samantha, his ex-girlfriend at the bank is determined to keep them apart. Then there's always something going on with her parents. This series is so much fun. I really like Jaine. Her parents are a hoot. The author did a great job of creating Vic to be someone just about everyone would want dead. Made it difficult to figure out the identity of the killer before it was revealed. Great job!
Double Dog Dare By: Linda O. Johnston Jeff Hubbard, Kendra Ballantine's boyfriend, is missing. Jeff had gone out of town like normal related to his work with his security and private investigation business. But when he ends up incommunicado and his Escalade is found in the aqueduct, there is concern he isn't coming back. Kendra is a lawyer and pet sitter. She's also done some investigating in the past and helped solve some murders. Lois Terrone, a surrogate mother to Jeff Kendra had never heard of, enlists her aid. She had gone to The Clone Arranger to try to have her dog cloned. She feels they did something that caused her dog to die. Kendra visits The Clone Arranger to see what she can find out under the guise of wanting to have a dog cloned. Lois also tells Kendra that Jeff had come back to town to look into The Clone Arranger for her before his Escalade was found. Could he have found something that caused him harm? Is he alive? Plus Kendra has her law practice and pet sitting to keep up with. These keep her plenty busy. She ends up working with a couple that run a business that trains animals for the movies. Some of their unhappy customers are suing them because their pets never got any parts. They never promised results. Can Kendra come up with an agreeable outcome to everyone? This was a great installment in this series. I devoured it in two days. I thought the author did a great job of presenting the cloning aspect without too much controversy. I like how she intertwined the stories so seamlessly. She also did a great job of having Kendra having to go on with her life and yet showing her devastation at not knowing Jeff's fate. I really like Kendra, Jeff, their two dogs, and the other regulars in this series. Having Kendra working as a lawyer and a pet sitter gives so many great storylines in this series.
Murder In Miniature By: Margaret Grace Geraldine (Gerry) Porter is a retired school teacher who now loves to create miniatures. She sees miniature furniture in many small discarded items. Unfortunately Maddie, her visiting granddaughter, doesn't share her love. She prefers sports. Linda Reed's teenage son Jason is thought to be involved in the robbery of Crane's Jewelry store. He's been rebellious and in trouble. That night Gerry gets a late night plea from Linda to pick her up from a deserted area. Gerry bundles Maddie in the car and picks up Linda. Linda refuses to tell Gerry anything. Then a dead stranger is found near where Gerry picked Linda up and on the same night. Who killed the stranger, and what connection does she have to the area? Is Jason really involved in the robbery? How and why? This is the first in this great new cozy series. I can't wait to read the next book! I've always been fascinated with all the small furniture and details in dollhouses, so I really enjoyed the descriptions of creating the various furniture and scenes.The author has provided plenty of twists in the plot to keep the reader guessing to the end.
Murder Is Binding By: Lorna Barrett Tricia Miles runs the bookstore Haven't Got A Clue in Stonham , NH , with her cat Miss Marple. Life is going along great until her sister Angelica unexpectedly arrives in town. While she makes appetizing dishes, the relationship between them is strained, and Tricia wonders when Angelica will leave so life can go back to normal. Doris Gleason, the owner of Cookery, a neighboring cookbook store, is found dead in her store, and an antique cookbook Doris had recently acquired is missing. The local political race is about to divide the town in two, and Sheriff Adams seems bent on pinning the murder on Tricia. With the help of her employee Ginny and Mr. Everett, a store regular, Tricia sets out to find the real killer and get her life back. Can she do it without putting herself or others close to her in danger? I enjoyed the small-town setting of this book and that it was set around a bookstore.
The PMS Murder By: Laura Levine Jaine Austen, copywriter and part-time investigator, is out shopping. She meets Pam who invites her to join the PMS Club, a women's support group. They get together once a month and drink margaritas, eat guacamole and complain about life. Jaine goes and has a great time. Marybeth who is annoying and overly perky drops dead at the meeting from a guacamole laced with peanut oil—she was allergic to peanuts. Since most of the members are reach, they were in the headlines. Jaine isn't too happy being a public murder suspect. It isn't helping her land a good paying job. So she begins investigating and finds that everyone in the club had a reason to kill Marybeth. Jaine's put her cat on a diet, but he seems to be getting fatter. She teaches a memoir writing class at a local retirement home. A very sexy female senior citizen has joined the class and caught the attention of a lonely man in the group. Jaine's kind of happy as he's leaving her alone. But the rest of the women in the group are not happy. And Jaine's dad is convinced his new neighbor is a wanted professional assassin. Can Jaine find the killer? Will the rest of her life calm down any time soon? Can she find a job? This series is such a fun series to read. The e-mails from Jaine's parents are always very entertaining. The PMS Club is a great group of women and yet do they have secrets? There are so many suspects that it kept me guessing right up to the end who the killer was.
Real Murders By: Charlaine Harris Aurora "Roe" Teagarden is a librarian. She doesn't have much of a social life. Once a month on Friday she meets her fellow murder mystery enthusiasts, and they discuss a real murder. This Friday it's Roe's turn to present the case of Wallace. She spent hours preparing and arrives early to the community center to make sure everything is ready. She can't find the woman who unlocked the building and set up. When she does find her, she wishes she hadn't. She'd been murdered in a similar way to Wallace's case. Soon it is apparent that someone is taking things too far. Others begin dying in ways similar to murders of past. Who is doing it and why? Can Roe help ferret out the killer without becoming the next victim? I have never read anything by this author. I loved Roe. I can't wait to read more! I thought the plot was well written and the characters were interesting. I had trouble putting down the book between readings.
Shoes To Die For By: Laura Levine Jaine Austen is a copywriter and part-time investigator. Lance, her neighbor, decides Jaine's elastic waist pants must go and gives her a makeover. He takes her to Passions, a hip boutique, where nothing fits. But she gets an interview to be the new magazine ad writer for Passions. When Jaine arrives for her interview, she finds out that Grace no longer owns Passions. Giselle, aka Frenchie, now does, and she isn't someone Jaine wants to interact with. But she needs a job. So she arrives early one morning to pitch her ideas to Frenchie, but she finds Frenchie dead with a Jimmy Cho stiletto in her neck. There are plenty of suspects, and Jaine sets out to wade through them to find the killer. This is one of my all-time favorite series. Jaine is such a fun character. I love the L.A. setting. The author puts plenty of humor into each book that I just devour them. Her neighbor Lance and the various other characters in this book really add to the story. The plethora of suspects provides enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing right up until the end.
Snipped In The Bud By: Kate Collins Abby Knight, owner of Bloomers flower shop, receives an order for one perfect black funeral rose to be delivered to her most hated professor from her law school years, "Snapdragon" Puffer. She decides to face her fears and deliver the flower herself. After she almost runs him over with her car, she tries to sneak in to deliver the flower and is caught riffling his desk. Puffer is known for breaking pencils and throwing them at students. She was imitating him when he catches her. She flees. Then she runs into Professor Carson Reed. She had been arrested for protesting in front of Dermacol Labs that performs test on animals. He's involved with the lab. He taunts her, and she yells harsh words back before leaving. She decided to return to Puffer's office to retrieve the flower he threw in the trash. What she finds is Professor Reed dead in Puffer's chair, killed with a pencil wound. Her fingerprints were all over the murder weapon. The town decides she's guilty and begins boycotting her shop, and the press is after her. She tries to sneak around unseen to figure out who killed the professor. In the meantime, there is a pet stealing ring operating in town, and she gets involved in that investigation as well. Abby Knight is awesome. I really like reading these books. I just hate that I like them so much I read them too fast and have to wait a whole year for another one to publish! I love the flower shop setting. Plus the sexual tension between Abby and Marco keeps things hot!
Something Old Something Dead By: Misty Simon Ivy Morris, owner of The Masked Shoppe with an interesting backroom, is in her dad and Martha's wedding. Martha's relative Horace is the leader of the band. He's terrible, especially when he sings the words he came up with for the Chicken Dance. During the reception he almost chokes to death on a glass of water. Soon after a man is found dead in the parking lot in a car. Ivy has her hands full when all the young women in Martha's Point, VA, can't seem to keep their hands off her boyfriend Ben Fallon. Is there something in the water? Apparently Ben was a player before she met him. Has he gone back to his wicked ways? Who was the murdered man? Who tried to kill Horace and why is he causing so much trouble to Martha? I can't seem to read the books in this series fast enough. They are so much fun! Ivy keeps me laughing. Some of the antics of the women in town had me laughing out loud! The author has done a great job of intertwining a few mysteries and putting plenty of twists and turns into the plot.
The Sour Cherry Surprise By: David Handle Things aren't peaceful like usual on Sour Cherry Lane . A well-behaved high school student throws a wild sex party, a distinguished history professor goes missing, and his estranged wife is strung out on crystal meth. Desiree Mitry, the resident trooper of Dorset , Connecticut , doesn't what to think of all these occurrences at first. Then she finds out that the new boyfriend of the wife on meth is under surveillance by a joint federal and state drug task force. Plus Des has been fainting and under a lot of stress at work. Plus she recently broke up with New York film critic Mitch Berger and got back with her former husband. With the discovery that a major drug cartel has been operating under her nose, Des sets out to protect and serve the citizens who she knows and cares about. But can she do that without destroying the work of the task force or putting herself or others in further danger? This is the first book in this series that I've read. I really liked Des and other residents in town. The small town set in Connecticut was a great setting as well. I liked getting to know Mitch as well. It has piqued my interest to want to read others in this series. The author did a great job of creating many interlocking stories and unraveling the pieces one by one.
Stranded By: Lorena McCourtney Ivy Malone and Abilene find themselves stranded in Hello, CO, when their RV breaks down on a mountain road. While waiting on costly repairs, Kelli Keifer offers them to stay in her Uncle Hiram's old house. He was murdered there two months before. The townspeople believe Kelli is responsible, but Ivy doesn't. So they move in. They're a little nervous about not being on the road. Always worried the Braxtons or Boone will catch up to them again. Abilene gets a job helping out the town vet. She really enjoys it! So much so that Ivy can tell Abilene may not want to return to the road. Ivy gets a job sorting Hiram's personal library that has been donated. Plus she ends up assisting with props for the yearly review. Being that she's so curious, she does some snooping and investigating into the murder. What she finds are lots of suspects she doesn't want to suspect. Who could have killed him and why? This is a fabulous cozy mystery series. I hope there will be more in the future! I love Ivy and her LOL (little old lady) status. She is such a hoot! Her curiosity puts her into many hilarious adventures. Abilene is a great character as well. I've really enjoyed her addition into the series. The people of Hello, CO, are great, too. The author has done such a great job of creating many different personalities. The plot has plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing and wanting to read more.
Tacked To Death By: Michele Scott Michaela "Mick" Bancroft will be glad when the charity event is over. Between playing polo, helping her partner set up the fashion show, and opening their new shop, Mick hasn't had much time to give riding lessons to autistic and special needs kids she so enjoys. She is called on to help diffuse the situation when the caterers complain and threaten not to follow the prescribed menu for the event. Then Mick finds Sterling Taber, an irritating playboy dubbed as the most eligible bachelor in the fashion show, murdered with Mick's polo mallet. Unfortunately Jude Davis, Mick's boyfriend and police detective, is away on a cruise with his daughter. So Michaela sets out to find the killer to clear her name. But can she do that without putting herself in danger? This is one of my all-time favorite cozy series. Michaela is such a wonderful character. I am not a horse lover, but this series makes me want to hop on a horse and ride off in the sunset! The author does a great job of creating red herrings and hiding the true identity of the killer. The only bad thing is that the books in this series are so enjoyable and such quick reads that soon I've finished and have to wait another year for the next one! Write faster!
Tutu Deadly By: Natalie M. Roberts Jenny Partridge is having enough trouble keeping her dance studio afloat between the bills and the psycho dance moms. When the mother of Taylee, the most talented dancer Jenny has, is poisoned by the cookie dough Jenny sold as a fundraiser, this heat up even more. Jenny finds herself attracted to the hunky police detective Tate Wilson who considers her a suspect. Then she is shot at. Her studio is bombed. Plus Taylee is missing. Can Jenny help find Taylee and still pull off her Nutcracker performance? Can she help solve the murder to take some of the pressure off? I loved this cozy mystery. I can't wait to read more in this series. Jenny is so much fun. And the psycho dance moms definitely keep things interesting! And that makes for plenty of suspects as well. Having danced as a youngster, I could easily see the studio and activities. The author does a great job of bringing that world to life.
A Bone To Pick By: Charlaine Harris Aurora "Roe" Teagarden has to go to two weddings and a funeral in the span of a few months. One wedding is of a former lover's, and the other is her mother's. The funeral is for Jane Engle, a member of the disbanded crime discussion group. Roe is surprised to learn that Jane has left her money, jewelry, and her house. It's a substantial estate. When Roe uncovers a skull hidden in a window seat, she knows Jane purposely left her everything so she would solve the murder. As she gets to know her new neighbors, she discovers there are a few people who went missing and wonders if one of them belongs to the skull. Along with that, she begins to wonder who murdered the victim. Add to that a new boyfriend and getting used to the wealth, a house, and pets, Roe is kept quite busy while trying to discover the identity of the victim and killer. Can she do so without putting herself in any danger? I love this series. Roe is such a fun character. I found myself not wanting to put the book down 'til it was done. I like the small-town setting and the various neighbors in this book.
Spying In High Heels By: Gemma Halliday Maddie Springer is a children's shoe designer in L. A. Her boyfriend, Richard Howe, an attorney, has gone missing, along with $20 million in embezzled funds. Maddie can't believe he is involved, but the longer he's missing, the more she wonders. When Maddie stumbles upon a murder, Jack Ramirez, a sexy cop, works with Maddie to help uncover the embezzlement. She's also aided by her best friend Dana who is a bit sex-crazed. They end up in various hilarious adventures. Can Maddie catch the killer before the killer sets his/her sights on her? I loved this hilarious romantic chick lit mystery. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Maddie is such a fun-loving protagonist. I found it hard to put down. I was also laughing out loud many times. My husband kept asking me what was so funny! I thought the author did a great job of creating characters, setting, and plot. I kept wondering who the killer/embezzler was. |
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