Whiskers and Ciphers

A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery Book 6

Author:    Deanna Drake

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781967678901

Tule Publishing

260 Pages

$11.99; $4.99 Amazon

September 10, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A corpse in the town's fountain spells trouble for Rebecca Cuthbert, who, along with her talking cat, Aneksi, must uncover the killer and dangerous truths behind the cursed artifacts plaguing Citrus Grove.

The normally quiet community is buzzing with excitement as the local university prepares to host an academic conference on Egyptian antiquities that's attracting scholars, collectors -- and a few hidden agendas.  Did a newcomer carry out this crime, or is the culprit closer to home? 

With Detective Nick Devon at her side and her knack for connecting the dots, Rebecca finds herself once again in the thick of the investigation.  With help from her resourceful grandfather and her clever feline friend, she is determined to unlock the secrets of a mysterious antique journal.  But each new clue reveals a longer list of suspects, deeper suspicions, old enemies, and more threats.

Solving this puzzle may come at a deadly cost.  Can she crack the case before the murderer strikes again?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Rebecca Cuthbert lives in a small California town with her grandfather, Stirling, whom she never knew she had until the death of her parents.  Together, they own and run Cuthbert Antiques, which specializes in Egyptian artifacts, both real and manufactured.

Recently, Stirling's cousin Phineas has come to visit, and he states that he wants part of the antiques, as they should have come to him originally.  (Read the book to find out why!).  But now there's a woman in the store, and she's been spending her time looking around at the antiques, eventually making it known that she's waiting for Phineas.  But when he arrives, he's not alone -- he has with him an esteemed scholar, which causes a pang of jealousy.

The next morning, the woman in the store is found in the town's fountain, dead.  It's eventually discovered that she was murdered, and naturally Rebecca wants to know if it's one of the cursed artifacts they are looking for that may have caused it.  But her kitten Aneksi, who was originally a pet of Queen Cleopatra, cannot smell a 'hex' as she calls them.

Rebecca believes Phineas is involved in the murder, and now he's nowhere to be found.  But while searching for clues, she's finding out that it's more than just a hex that's concerning, but that the murder has taken herself and Stirling to a whole new level.  And this time, if they can't stay ahead of a killer, they may be the next victims...

This is the sixth book in the series and I have read them all.  I am also absolutely obsessed with the story line and the characters.  I find it absolutely enchanting.  This book does take us to a new level of mystery.  There is a lot going on here, and Rebecca is in the thick of it all.

Is Phineas really the killer, or is he just being framed as one?  Could the ancient artifacts have anything to do with it?  What is going on with Detective Nick Devon, Rebecca's boyfriend?  Not to mention Rebecca's best friend Luna is having problems, and she's trying to help her as well.

I don't really want to give anything else away here, but I can say that this book was probably the best in the series in my humble opinion.  I enjoy each of these on their own, but this one left me with more mystery to solve, as did the last in the series (which answered some questions in this one).  I cannot wait to visit with the Cuthberts and Aneksi once again.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Whiskers-Ciphers-Purr-fect-Relic-Mystery/dp/1967678901/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8263603593

More on Deanna Drake's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/deanna-drake/

Blackmail and Kitty Tails

A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery Book 5

Author:    Deanna Drake

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781966593812

Tule Publishing

262 Pages

$11.99; $4.99 Amazon

May 21, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A glamorous gala, a cursed dagger, and a killer on the loose -- Rebecca Cuthbert and her talking cat, Aneksi, face their most dangerous mystery yet.

When Rebecca Cuthbert volunteered to help with the Citrus Grove Women's Club gala, she envisioned a night filled with elegant silk drapes, Egyptian-themed decorations, and tasty hors d'oeuvres -- certainly not murder.  But then the lights flicker out during the party setup, and club president Deborah Ralston is found dead, stabbed with an ancient dagger.

With Aneksi purring by her side and a murder weapon steeped in legend, Rebecca must unravel a twisted web of secrets, blackmail, and bitter rivalries behind this sinister murder.  Everyone from suspicious club members to scorned lovers is a suspect, and time is running out as Rebecca's own antique shop becomes linked to the deadly artifact.

Can Rebecca and her cat corner the killer before tragedy slashes her world again?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Rebecca Cuthbert lives in a small town with her grandfather Stirling, who owns an antiquities shop that specializes in Egyptian artifacts.  She grew up in Montana with her parents, who passed in a car accident, which led her to the grandfather she never knew she had.

Nor did she know that she now had a kitten named Aneksi, who is immortal and has powers of her own.  She also discovered that in the basement of their shop lies a vault full of cursed artifacts that Stirling's grandfather brought home from Egypt.  Some of the artifacts were stolen, and they have been searching for them whenever they can.  I give you this backstory for the following...

When Rebecca accepts an invitation to join the Citrus Grove Women's Club, she didn't think it would be so stressful or take so much of her time.  But here she is, anyway.  While working with the other ladies on the annual club gala, there is a sudden blackout, and when the lights go on, president Deborah Ralston is lying with a knife in her back.  A very distinctive knife, and Rebecca believes that it may be one of the items in the collection that was stolen.  But during the chaos, the knife disappears, and now everyone who was attending is a suspect.

There is also the issue of the man who was trying to break into Deborah's apartment, which is near Rebecca's.  Accidentally (of course) Rebecca confronts him and discovers he is a private investigator who has been hired by Deborah's soon-to-be ex-husband, in order to find if she has hidden assets.  But Rebecca herself finds evidence that Deborah was blackmailing people in town, and this may have led to her death.

Trying to keep her detective boyfriend Nick Devon in the dark may not be an option this time.  But will telling him the truth only cause more problems?  And is one of her friends a murderer?  With Stirling and Aneksi by her side, Rebecca knows she needs to find out more about the dagger.  But will it lead to danger for her?

This is the fifth book in the series and I am absolutely addicted to it.  I love the characters, who are quite believable, and I love little Aneksi as well.  The tale is written beautifully, and it draws you in from the very beginning.  Learning more about the artifacts, and encountering them in each story, is a tale all its own.  The author is quite talented, and she draws situations well.

Each story brings us closer to Rebecca's new life and that which she left behind, with questions that are sometimes answered.  (I don't mind waiting for more answers in later books).  Although Stirling's cousin from England, Phineas, seems a bit of a slime, I believe he is meant to be so.  We will see in the next book what awaits him.

The mystery is worth waiting for, the ending giving us satisfaction.  The murderer was a bit of a surprise; but not too much for me, although it doesn't matter because I enjoyed the book so much.  This was a new author for me, and I am glad that I took a chance and read all the previous books.  

The ending comes together nicely, giving us a hint of what is to come; and the murder conclusion is all that it should be.  I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series.  Highly recommended. 

https://www.amazon.com/Blackmail-Kitty-Tails-Purr-fect-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DW7X65W1/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8280334687

More on Deanna Drake's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/deanna-drake/

Buttercream and Bullets

Frosted Misfortune Mysteries Book 7

Author:    Lisa Siefert

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0G33DSPZF

Tule Publishing

236 Pages

$4.99 Amazon

February 9, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

She just wants to sell cupcakes and avoid drama.  When a killer strikes close to home, will she whisk up the perfect trap or get burned trying?

Ava Decker is starved for commitment.  Unsure what to do about the three men tearing her in different directions, the sarcastic baker is kicking off January with a massive hangover and the urge to eat her feelings.  But when she drags herself to the museum to clean up after the town/s New Year's Eve bash, she discovers not only state treats but also the editor of the local newspaper...shot to death.

Leaning on forensic skills she's earned by being an unfortunate corpse magnet, the big-hearted shop owner resumes her role as neighborhood amateur sleuth and starts exploring clues.  Yet as she digs up info on feuding co-workers, missing money, and crooked politicians, she realizes the sharp-toothed wordsmith had a whole pantry's worth of enemies.

Can she celebrate the sweet reward of catching a murderer before this becomes a recipe for disaster?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Ava Decker lives in a small town in Michigan and owns a bakery and a chocolate factory.  She has parents who love her, a best friend who always has her back, and a cute cat named Lucky.  Life should be great...but it's not.  Her boyfriend, Jean-Carlo, is MIA and she's longing for some kind of commitment.  The kind where he's in town and talks to her every day.  Not the kind where he's on some secret mission and is incommunicado for weeks.  

But to keep herself occupied, she agrees to help clean up after the New Year's celebration.  Which doesn't include finding another dead body.  Again.  This time it's the nasty editor of the local newspaper.  And she's not happy about it, since she hopes this time she won't be a suspect.  But she still feels the need to find the killer.  Especially when the next days' newspaper has a story about her being a body magnet.  Not happy indeed.

When she meets the author of that piece, she's surprised to find out that the woman has been stalking her -- of all things!  She actually thought Ava might be a serial killer...at least until she proves her whereabouts when this body was found.  But can the writer help her?  Or cause more problems?

Since she's still sticking to Ava's side, they decide to work together to find a killer -- who might actually be stalking them...

This is the seventh book in the series, and I found it as delightful as any of the others I have read.  It was a little crazy, as I think it was supposed to be; and Ava was a bit too clingy, but then again, the poor woman never knows where she stands around men, so she can be forgiven for that.  But it was certainly fun watching how she went around asking questions and hoping the killer didn't target her as the next victim, and her newspaper friend was pushing her to find the truth.

The only thing I didn't care for was clingy Ava.  Crazy Ava I can do.  Loony Ava is delightful.  But clingy Ava brings her to a whole new level of crazy, although I will say that I am with her that boyfriends shouldn't disappear for weeks at a time without communicating.  It would make most women rethink their decisions.

But I did like how the mystery was handled, and most of the characters were fun to spend time with, especially Magnus and Mr. Hardison, even though they didn't have major roles.  When the killer was discovered, it's rather sad, but who knows what goes on in the mind of a murderer?  I've come to love this series, and hope it continues.  Recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Buttercream-Bullets-Frosted-Misfortunes-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0G33DSPZF/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8262269579

More on Lisa Siefert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/s/lisa-siefert/

Whose Body In The Library

A Lighthouse Library Mystery Book 13

Author:    Eva Gates

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:   9798892424370

Crooked :Lane Books

304 Pages

$29.99; $14.99 Amazon

June 26, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

While Lucy McNeil is enjoying her new job as the mother of twin boys and library director, new librarian Nichelle Gilchrest has just arrived at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, reporting for duty.  But life throws a wrench on Nichelle's first day when she finds a body on the steps -- a body that bears a startling resemblance to her father, who disappeared on a fishing trip to the Outer Banks thirty-eight years ago.

Fingerprints confirm the dead body is indeed Nichelle's father, now living in Nags Head under the name Brian Saunders.  Brian had been befriending older lonely women in exchange for money, but was he working alone?

Detective Rhonda Thomas is on the case, and the suspect list is only getting longer.  Sorting through the wronged women and their relatives, Detective Thomas discovers Nichelle's own brother Brad had been in Nags Head a few days before the murder happened and has been lying about his whereabouts.

Hoping to clear her brother's name. Nichelle decides to investigate what happened.  With seasoned sleuth Lucy's gentle encouragement for the amateur, Nichelle is in for an exciting and dangerous first week at the library.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽ 

Once again we venture back to Nags Head, North Carolina and the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library.  This time out, Lucy McNeil has a new job as director of the library, and there is a new librarian, Nichelle Gilchrest.

Nichelle is in her 50's and starting over with  a degree in her pocket and her nerves on edge as to whether she'll fit in or not.  That feeling doesn't change when she opens the library doors the next morning and finds a body on the doorstep.  Moreover, that body could be her long-long father, who deserted the family thirty-eight years ago and presumed drowned at sea during a fishing trip.

Now the new detective, Rhonda Thomas, is warning Nichelle to stay out of it, and Lucy is trying not to get involved, with her new job and new twins taking over her life.  But when Nichelle's brother becomes a sudden suspect, she's determined to find the truth, but doesn't know how to go about it.

With the help of Louise Jane, whose never-ending 'knowledge' of people and things in the Outer Banks, Nichelle is learning who might be responsible.  But can she keep herself safe or will she walk into the arms of a killer?...

This is the latest book in the series, and I have enjoyed them.  I love every time I get to visit the Outer Banks, and with Lucy and her friends.  But this time out is different.  Lucy is a side character, and the mystery seems to focus on Nichelle (as it should, since she is the new character) and Louise Jane (whom I have never been fond of).  But I have to say that I cannot warm up to Detective Thomas.  She's not likable, and doesn't seem to want to make friends of the residents, which I think she should do since it's a small community.  You can be professional and still have friends that you deal with.  Sam Watson proved that.

There is very little of the other characters that we've grown to love as well, so we're in new territory all around here.  The way we keep Lucy in the story is the difference in which it is written.  First person for Nichelle, third person for Lucy.

The mystery is written well, as always; and I enjoy Ms. Gates so much that I read her books straight through.  This one is no different.  The plot keeps you guessing, although I did figure out the murderer before Nichelle; but when she figures it out herself, there's more work to be done before the murderer can be apprehended.

There are clues throughout, and descriptions of the area aplenty which always add to the story.  When the ending comes it is put together well, and I will read the next in the series.  Recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Whose-Body-Library-Lighthouse-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FQHC3T7T/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8227469880

More on Eva Gates's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/eva-gates/

The Diva Hosts A Murderer

A Domestic Diva Mystery Book 19

Author:    Krista Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Copy (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781496743480

Kensington Cozies

320 Pages

$27.00; $12.99 Amazon

Mat 26, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With a big crowd descending on her Northern Virginia home, it's a good thing event planner Sophie Winston is an expert at entertaining.  Whipping up patriotic pastries is as easy as pie for her, though meeting the man her widowed Aunt Melly just impulsively married in Las Vegas is a little more awkward.  Especially when Melly's longtime, now heartbroken secret admirer is there too, which could lead to some fireworks.

But the house party really gets  explosive when Sophie's favorite tour guide falls victim to a killer -- and evidence points to Sophie's own father.  Will DNA really incriminate her dad?  And what's the real story with her new uncle by marriage and the mysterious pal he's brought along with him?  Some of the secrets Sophie's discovering are raising flags -- and while the police department casts suspicion on her father, she has to declare her independence as a detective to find the real culprit, and serve justice along with red, white, and blue cupcakes...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie Winston lives in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and has made a career for herself by event planning.  She's expecting a big houseful this weekend.  Her parents, sister Hannah, friend Roscoe, Aunt Melly, and Melly's new husband, along with an old family friend are planning to stay at her home through Independence Day.

But all is not well when Sophie's elderly neighbor Dollie seeks out Sophie in a panic, telling her there's a dead man in her home.  When Sophie investigates, there's no one there.  The police refuse to take it seriously, stating the Dollie calls them all the time with false reports.  But not too long after, the tour guide that Sophie hired is discovered dead behind Dollie's home, and the woman states she's never seen the man before.

Now Sophie is intrigued and wonders if the two are related.  But intrigue is topped by anger when the police find her father's DNA on the dead man and her dad Paul becomes the chief suspect.  While he refuses to take it seriously, Sophie knows better.  Especially when a new homicide detective is assigned to the case, and he seems determined to pin the murder on Paul.

But there's more to the story:  Melly's husband is acting suspiciously; Melly is being left gifts by a secret admirer; Dollie is hearing strange noises in her home; a man Sophie just met is also acting strangely; and there's another body...

With all this going on, will Sophie be able to find the truth or will her dad be prosecuted for s crime he didn't commit?...

This is the 19th book in the series, and I have grown to love the characters.  Sophie has changed throughout the series, which I have enjoyed reading; and I've watched her become stronger and more independent.  Her friends are always there to support her, especially her friend Bernie, and her ex-husband Mars is present as well.

The story line is written very well, and I loved the plot.  There is a lot going on, and you have to read between the lines to figure out the clues.  But they are there.  You just have to look for them.  I will say that the murderer was hidden nicely, but the more I read the closer I came to the truth.  And the heart of the story is discovered very nearly toward the end, and something that I absolutely loved.

Yes, once again Sophie finds herself in danger, but of course she is also able to use her quick wits to free herself, and this time was no different.  There are no threads left hanging and no cliffhangers.  A delightful ending with bit of a hint of what will come next time in the series.  Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Diva-Hosts-Murderer-Domestic-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FP7LXJ8C/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8200195530

More on Krista Davis's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/krista-davis/

A Christmas Candy Killing

Killer Chocolate Mysteries Book 1

Author:    Christina Romeril

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781639101665; 9781639104765

Crooked Lane Books

320 Pages

$15.17; $19.00; $14.99 Amazon

October 11, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alex and Hanna's chocolates are to die for -- but things aren't so sweet when a killer comes to their Montana town, in this Christmas cozy mystery set at a murder mystery bookshop!

Identical twin sisters Alex and Hanna are the owners of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop that sells their famous poison-themed Killer Chocolates.  But now, there's a real killer in their midst.  Shortly before Christmas, their septuagenarian neighbor, Jane, confides to Alex that a murderer from a true-crime show has taken up residence in the village.  Unfortunately, she's also shared her suspicions with the town gossip, Netta.  The next morning, Alex shows up at Jane's house to watch the show, but instead discovers Jane's body, with a box of Killer Chocolates nearby.

The sheriff quickly zeroes in on two suspects: Alex, a beneficiary in Jane's will, and Zack, a handyman who was seen leaving the crime scene.  But Alex maintains her innocence and sets out to draft a list of other potential suspects -- townsfolk who'd recently been seen arguing with Jane

When Alex gets hold of Jane's journal, she begins to understand the truth.  But a bearer of ill tidings is arriving early this year -- and Alex just might not make it to Christmas.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Alex and her identical twin sister Hanna moved from Michigan to a small town in Montana, opening their chocolate shop/bookstore, Murder and Mayhem.  People love their chocolates, especially the names they've given them -- all named after poisons which have been used in mystery books.  They also host a book club once a week which Alex enjoys.

After the latest meeting, a member in her 70's, Jane, tells Alex that she thinks there's a murderer living among them.  Alex doesn't make much of this, since Jane has a history of thinking people in town are the killers that have been depicted on her true crime shows.  But Jane is adamant that this time she's sure, and wants Alex to come over the next day for tea and they can watch the show together.

When Alex arrives the next day, Jane's door is unlocked, and she enters, calling for Jane.  But she sees someone out in the back, although she can't tell who.  Still calling for Jane, she finds her beside her bed, dead.  After calling the police, she sees that it is a box of her Killer Chocolates next to the body.

When it's learned that Jane was poisoned, the sheriff leans toward Alex as the main suspect.  Especially when it becomes known that Alex is one of the beneficiaries of Jane's will.  Now Alex has a reason to find out who killed the woman -- and will do whatever it takes to do so, even if it puts her in danger.

This is the first book in the series, and I will admit that I am remiss in reading it.  I purchased it earlier, but with a TBR pile to read -- well, true readers will know what I mean.  Still, I am glad that I read this book.

Which isn't to say that there is not problems -- I did not like the fact that the author thinks if a woman has a few extra pounds she should be fat shamed.  Women's bodies come in all sizes and shapes, and if she's happy and healthy, that's all that matters.  I also didn't get the idea that Alex and Hanna are very close; sure, they have different interests, but they didn't spend much time together and that seemed by design.  I would have liked to have known more about what they looked like, how tall they were, etc.  All I learned was that their mother was a bit of a nag and harsh.  (My own opinion).

I also wondered if everyone in this town had a secret that they harbored.  It seems like an interesting town to me.  But I don't know if I'd enjoy the fact of wondering if everyone I encountered was who they said they were.  Just sayin'/

Back to the story: I found the plot line to be very good, and there were plenty of red herrings along the way (refer back to previous paragraph).  It's up to the reader to draw their own conclusions (if they can) and try and figure out which herrings are worth fishing for.  I will say that I knew the murderer long before Alex figured it out; but I've said many times over that I read a lot of mysteries so I start looking immediately.  What I didn't know was the reason why, and when that came about, it brought the entire story together.

The climax was written very well, and I liked the way the story ended, the killer having been wrapped up in a Christmas bow, as it were.  The reasons for the murder were insane to say the least, but then again, there's no reason for it at all.  I did enjoy this story and I will definitely read the next in the series.  Recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.  

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Killing-Killer-Chocolate-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09Q8JS9HV/ref=sr

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8134016588

More on Christina Romeril's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/r/christina-romeril/

Truffle Trouble

 An Amish Candy Shop Mystery Book 10

Author:    Amanda Flower

Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    978

Kensington Cozies

336 Pages

$8.99; $7.99 Amazon

March 31, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Summer is finally upon the village of Harvest, Ohio, nestled in picturesque Amish country, and folks are abuzz over their very own Bailey King's upcoming June wedding.  The Amish Candy shop owner and star of TV's Bailey's Amish Sweets is marrying Holmes County Sheriff Aiden Brody.  To sweeten the occasion will be a scrumptious giant chocolate truffle wedding cake, made especially for the happy couple by Bailey's New York City mentor, Jean Pierre.  Other than the risk of the ring bearer, Jethro the pig, taking a bite out of the confection, what could go wrong?

As it turns out, a food-related disaster does befall the day.  But with Bailey in the mix, it's nothing so pedestrian as a peckish pig.  At the reception, a wedding guest dies after sampling the hors d'oeuvres.  Cafe owner and new caterer Darcy Woodin, who made all the food except the desserts, is pegged by police as the number one suspect.  Even more incriminating, the victim is one of Darcy's ex-boyfriends.

Still, Bailey is friends with Darcy, and she's certain the young woman is innocent.  Even before the first dance with her new husband, Bailey's on the case.  Can she help solve it in time for her honeymoon -- or will a killer try to end her happily ever after before it's even begun...?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Bailey King moved to Harvest, Ohio to help her grandmother in her Amish sweets shop following her grandfather's death.  Having been a chocolatier in New York City, she's since then built the shop up, managed to gain a television show, and opened a factory to product more hand-made candies to sell around the world.  

She's also fallen in love with Aiden Brody, the new sheriff of Holmes County.  They've finally come to their wedding day, and she's been convinced (once again) by Margo that adding a wine tasting would be good for the town.  As long as it's separate from the celebration, due to her respect for the Amish, Bailey is fine with it

Unfortunately, there's some drama when Bailey discovers that one of the vineyard owners is an ex-boyfriend of the Darcy Woodin, who is catering the big event.  Things go from bad to worse when he is found dead in Bailey's kitchen, apparently poisoned by a tart Darcy made.  Now the woman is about to be arrested for murder.

Newly married and wanting to start her life with Aiden, Bailey knows that she needs to do a little sleuthing if she is ever going to get a honeymoon and some peace and quiet.  But when she starts digging, there are secrets from the past that come to the surface, and she's not going anywhere until she sorts them out...

This is the tenth book in the series and I have read them all.  The characters seem to come to life for me every time I visit Harvest.  I've grown fond of Bailey, her grandmother, and many of the others.  This book is no different.  While pulled into the story, you want to see Bailey finally hitched and happy.  She gets hitched, but the happy part will have to come later.

Bailey wants to know who wanted the young man dead.  Did Darcy really have reason to kill him?  Bailey doesn't think so, even if the evidence is pointing in that direction.  When things start heating up, Bailey begins to see through the lies.  However, her grandmother has a health issue that Bailey can't and won't ignore.  Watching her put the pieces together while taking care of her ailing grandmother as best she can -- the reasons will become clear in the book -- Bailey is at her wits' end and hoping to figure it all out sooner rather than later.  Even Jethro's antics can't distract her this time, and that's saying something.

When the ending comes, it's all rather sad, but there is no excuse for murder no matter the reason.  I loved the book, the descriptions of everything around, and the heartfelt warmness of Bailey and her family.  I can't wait to visit them again.  Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NettGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Truffle-Trouble-Amish-Candy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FGRZ3H9K/ref=

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8185411498

More on Amanda Flower's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/f/amanda-flower/