How to Book a Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery Book 1)

Author:    Cynthia Kuhn

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781643858593

Crooked Lane Books

336 Pages

$23.99; $14.99 Amazon

December 7, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

To help save her family's floundering Colorado bookstore, Starlit Bookshop, newly minted Ph.D. Emma Starrs agrees to plan a mystery-themed dinner party for her wealthy, well-connected high school classmate Tabitha Baxter.  It's a delightful evening of cocktails and conjecture until Tabitha's husband, Tip -- hosting the affair in the guise of Edgar Allan Poe's detective C. Auguste Dupin -- winds up murdered.

In a heartbeat, Emma and her aunt Nora, a famous mystery writer, become suspects.  Emma is sure the party's over for Starlit events, until celebrated author Calliope Nightfall, whose gothic sensibilities are intrigued by the circumstances, implores the bookseller to create a Poe-themed launch event for her latest tome.  Throwing a bash to die for while searching for additional clues is already enough to drive Emma stark raven mad, but another shocking crime soon reveals that Silvercrest has not het reached the final chapter of the puzzling case. 

Someone in this charming artistic community has murder on the mind, and if Emma cannot outwit the killer, she and her beloved aunt will land behind bars, to walk free nevermore.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

I have read all of Ms. Kuhn's books, so was excited to see this one and couldn't wait to read it.  I must tell you that I was not disappointed.  

Emma Starrs has returned home to Colorado after her parents died in a tragic accident to help her older sister Lucy run the family's struggling bookstore.  She's also trying to figure out ways to make money to help, when an old school nemesis named Tabitha Baxter enters the store, looking for a book on Edgar Allan Poe for her husband to read, due to an upcoming event they are hosting at their home which will be a murder mystery based on Poe.  When Emma hears her complain that her events planner quit, she offers to step in -- and Tabitha hires her, but has plenty of instructions, which is no surprise to Emma.

When she arrives at the function, she discovers her aunt Nora is attending.  Nora is an English professor at the local college, and on a committee that has been arguing steadily.  All the members are in attendance, along with Tabitha's friends.  But suddenly there is a change in plans -- after cocktails, Tabitha's husband Tip is found murdered, and Tabitha immediately points the finger at Nora.

Knowing that it is done in spite because Tabitha hates her, Emma is determined to find the killer before she or her aunt are jailed for the crime.  But with Tabitha spouting to anyone that they are murderers, it doesn't make it easy.  On top of that, one of Nora's colleagues, Calliope Nightfall, is an author who is charmed by Emma and wants to hold the latest launch of her newest book at the bookstore, but insists that Emma turn it also into a Poe-themed event. 

With two problems on her plate -- neither one easy to handle, is she going to be able to solve the murder?  Will she be able to pull off the book event?  And more importantly, will she be able to figure everything out before the killer puts her next on the list?

Edgar Allan Poe is my favorite author.  So when I found that this book centers around his works and murder, I knew I couldn't resist.  I love Ms. Kuhn's writing; it is eloquent, descriptive, and wonderfully imaginative.  She has a way of easily pulling you into the story and becoming part of it.  I instantly detested Tabitha and her friends; but this, I hope, is the feel that Ms. Kuhn was going for.

The book has many things going on at the same time, and this is not a bad thing, since you are getting to see what Emma's life is like, and it's definitely busy.  More busy than I would like my own life to be, and I don't know that I would be able to remain calm with all the demands upon her time (and I am a  fairly patient person).  Emma has not only stamina, she has the determination of a woman who wants to help her aunt and save the bookstore.  It's a touching combination.  Her ideas are inventive, and I wish I could have been at Calliope's launch.  I also loved Calliope's character.  Full of wit and oddness, she seems like someone I would still like to know.  

As we get closer to figuring out who the murderer might be, there is another occurrence that might change everything altogether.  Emma is trying to connect everything and come up with answers, which are eluding her.  But when the ending comes and Emma starts to put it all together herself, we see the many threads that are woven have finally united into a taut tapestry that shows us everything.  It is a surprise ending, and one that makes it all worthwhile.  

This is a wonderful mystery, and I look forward to the next in the series.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Murder-Starlit-Bookshop-Mystery/dp/1643858599/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4261567997

More on Cynthia Kuhn's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/k/cynthia-kuhn/

Mistletoe Cake Murder (All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery Book 6)

Author:    Lena Gregory

Genre:     Mystery

Trade Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781516110506

Lyrical Press Publishing

202 Pages

$15.99; $5.39 Amazon

October 12, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Tis the season when Gia Morelli's holidays include both a wedding and yuletide festivities.  Until someone naughty delivers a most unwanted Christmas gift -- murder...

For a native New Yorker, palm trees and warm temperatures don't equal winter, much less Christmastime.  Nevertheless, Gia Morelli's friends have decked the halls and trimmed the trees to truly welcome her into their "family" with an old-fashioned Boggy Creek, Florida holiday season.  Even more joyous, Savannah Mills is getting married on Christmas Eve -- the greatest gift Gia could ever wish for her friend.

But when Gia and Savannah stop by the caterer for a final tasting a week before the wedding, they overhear another bride arguing with her son about her husband-to-be.  Moments later, the woman is sampling a piece of wedding cake -- gorgeously decorated with mistletoe frosting -- then suddenly dies.

Now Gia's caterer friends are the prime suspects in what appears to be murder by poisoning.  To clear their names and ensure Savannah has a merry matrimony will require Gia to conjure up a Christmas miracle...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Gia Morelli is almost as excited about the wedding of her best friend Savannah as the bride.  Almost all the preparations have been taken care of, but they need to go to the caterer to finalize Savannah's choices for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.  When they arrive, a mother and her son run out of the caterer's building, arguing with each other.  It seems the son doesn't like the choice of husband, and claims he's only after her money.  They wait for the situation to die down, then they enter.  The caterer is also a friend, and she tells them that these people have been arguing all day.  But barely ten minutes pass when the women hear another woman scream, and they head to the source.  The mother is on the floor motionless, and no one is doing anything to help her.  Gia jumps into action giving the woman CPR, and Savannah calls her fiancé, police detective Leo Dumont. 

When the police arrive the woman is taken by ambulance to the hospital, but Gia learns that she later died.  Now Gia wants to know who killed the woman and why, but it appears that every one of the people in the room had a motive, perhaps even the caterers.  Determined to solve the mystery before Savannah's wedding, Gia sets out to discreetly question the suspects, hoping one of them will drop their guard and say the right thing...which is that they committed the crime.  That is, if the killer doesn't find Gia first...

This is the sixth book in the series and I have read all of them.  Ms. Gregory is a talented writer that brings you into her stories easily, and you wander through the pages along with the characters, trying to figure out who Did The Deed.  It's a pleasant romp through the mystery, and it keeps you interested while you watch Gia do her magic.

This book was especially fun because I love Christmas and everything surrounding it, so reading about all the preparations that took place before the wedding made me long for the holiday to arrive (but not too soon, mind you).  The descriptions were delightful and brought us into the winter wonderland that stood before the two women.

The suspects all had secrets, and it brought to mind a Sir Walter Scott quote: Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.  (Marmion; 1808).  All of the suspects are deceiving in one way or another, but Gia is trying to sift through the lies to discover the truth.  Luckily, she has her friends to help her, and Savannah always has her back.

But it's not as easy said or done.  No one wants to talk, and when they do, they accuse each other.  So Gia and Savannah are on their own (they can't tell Leo or Gia's boyfriend Hunt what they are doing, obviously -- even though Hunt knows anyway); and it's a lot of fun to watch them race the clock to find out the truth.

When they do figure out the killer, it does come as a bit of a surprise, but that is always a good thing; and although it's a motive as old as time, it's still rather sad to watch deluded people who think their reasons are good enough to keep them from the law.  In the end, I loved the entire book, including the final scenes, and I can't wait to read the next in the series.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Murder-All-Day-Breakfast-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08T6JHSZT/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4258025877

More on Lena Gregory's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/lena-gregory/

Tail of Two Killers (Dog Groomer Mysteries Book 4)

Author:    Chelsea Thomas

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B098FG665V

Independently Published

369 Pages (Bonus Book Added)

$5.99 Amazon

October 15, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Everyone adores Amy Stewart...

...except the guilty.

In a small SoCal town, where neighbors know each other, beach chairs stay out all year, and everyone knows your dog by name, there are still skeletons in every closet.

The body was found at a cooking school.

Amy spends most of her time working at her pet salon, keeping her head down, re-building her life after heartbreak.  But when dead bodies turn up, her own life drama seems less important...and she can't help but investigate.

Who would have killed the cooking school instructor?

Amy's granny helps with all the investigations and she thinks the owner of the place has a suspicious vibe.  Muscular and stubbled Detective Mike Fine disagrees.  Amy is caught between them, digging for the truth like a Terrier out in the backyard.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Poor Amy Stewart can't catch a break.  First her boyfriend breaks up with her so she moves home to SoCal to be with her Granny, and opens a pet salon.  Then dead bodies start finding her.  No matter where she is...

When Amy and Granny are gifted a class for creating pet food at a local culinary institute, Amy is happy, Granny not so much.  But the day is ruined when the teacher - Brian Lee - complains throughout the class about having to teach people to cook for dogs, and he has a blowout just outside the door with the owner, Chuck.  Soon after the class, someone notices a fire and the two women gravitate toward it, discovering that it's in Brian's room, and he died from smoke inhalation.  Or did he?  

When a strange woman approaches the two claiming she's his sister and asks for help in reclaiming an heirloom, they agree, thinking it will get them back into the room to look for clues.  But the police think it was accident.  Everyone thinks it was an accident.  Except Amy and Granny... and they're not known for being wrong.

Meanwhile, her cat Fluffy has his own problems with a household pest and is determined to put the intruder out of the house for good, but needs to figure out a way to do it.  Ah, the life of pets can be just as complicated as the lives of humans sometimes...

But Amy has more to worry about than just a murder.  Mike has made a move to progress their relationship, and neighbor Jacob, a doctor, is starting to flirt with her.  Is this going to go anywhere with either of them?  Or is Amy still relationship-shy after her last debacle with love?

This is the fourth book in the series and as such, the characters are well-honed by now.  Amy still has her own insecurities, but she keeps telling herself that's she's strong and capable, which boosts her up.  Betsy, her assistant, is still convinced she's going to get her screenplay picked up by a Hollywood agent, and she's still acting wacky and far-out-there, which only endears her to both Amy and Granny.  And Granny is still trying to mold three local bachelors into some semblance of men who can get themselves dates.  

The mystery itself is well-written, and there are so many angles, twists and turns that the maze just keeps going.  Each time Amy picks out a suspect, another one appears around the corner.  And there are a couple of times Amy and Granny have close calls and have to figure a way out.

But the ending is a complete surprise, and I never really saw it coming at all.  When the murderer is discovered, the tale is strange indeed, and the motive is age-old; but then, most motives are.  It is a story that is fun, action-packed, and at the end, gives us something to look forward to in the next in the series.  Highly recommended.

BONUS:  This story also contains a bonus story written by Chelsea Thomas and author Steve Higgs, which is a crossover containing the characters from the Apple Orchard Mysteries and Steve's characters from the Patricia Fisher Cruise Ship Mysteries.  It's a hoot to read as the four women find themselves in New York City, trying to solve a murder that puts them between rival Chinese gangs.  You will love it. 

https://www.amazon.com/Tail-Killers-Groomer-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B098FG665V/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4254794549

More on Chelsea Thomas's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/chelsea-thomas/

Live Well Bake Cookies (75 Classic Cookie Recipes for Every Occasion)

Author:    Danielle Rye

Genre:     Cooking

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781631067389

Rock Point Publishing

200 Pages

$21.99; $12.99 Amazon

August 3, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Live Well Bake Cookies shares 75 foolproof cookie and bar recipes that come out perfectly portioned and dependably delicious every single time.  These classic favorites and soon-to-be classic favorites are guaranteed to be the best you have ever had, delivering soft and chewy goodness in every bite.

Danielle Rye, the creator of the popular baking website Live Well Bake Often, believes that anyone can become an expert baker, so she is here to help you do just that by gently guiding you in the kitchen.  Complete wiht baking tips and tricks, make-ahead and freezing instructions, small-batch recipes, and a gorgeous photograph accompanying every recipe, this cookbook will soon have you living your best baking life.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

This baking book is not only beautifully presented, it has tons of delicious cookie recipes inside.  There are recipes for those who are just starting out, those who don't like to use a lot of ingredients, and like myself, the baker who just loves to bake.  That is the main reason I wanted this book.

There are classics like Chocolate Chunk and Thumbprints, and others like Butter Pecan Cookies, Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, and the recipe on the front cover, Brookies.  None of these are difficult to really make, and they don't have ingredients that you would find difficult to locate at your local grocery store.  There are holiday cookies also, and small batch cookies if you just want enough for a day or two.

With the many recipes there is something for everyone, and I am glad that I got this book.  I will use it many times over.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Live-Well-Bake-Cookies-Occasion-ebook/dp/B097CJHTLZ/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4253517230

Apple Orchard Cozy Mysteries Books 1-5

Author:    Chelsea Thomas

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B09FKK8KCF

Independently Published

905 Pages

$9.99 Amazon

September 18, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Chelsea Thomas gets left at the altar and takes a job working at her aunt's orchard, she expects to bake apple pies and brew apple cider....

...what she gets is murder, mystery, and a closet full of skeletons.

With everyone in town watching her, this 20 something does her best to recover from heartbreak and rebuild her life, but far from enjoying the gorgeous country life -- driving her pick up truck and hanging out with her animals -- Chelsea pokes her nose where it is most definitely not wanted...

...and inadvertently gets targeted as a suspect in a murder that rocks her quaint upstate town.

Chelsea is in over her head, for sure, but there is one thing the criminals, locals and cops all have in common: none of them think she can solve the crime.

It's going to cost them.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Chelsea Thomas is standing at the altar in her wedding gown, surrounded by family and friends, when her intended groom bolts out of the church.  What's a girl to do when she discovers he's stolen everything from her?  Hide out in a small apartment eating Chinese food.  Or so she thinks...until her aunt Miss May gets hold of her and drags her back to the farm where Chelsea grew up.  Chelsea, an interior decorator by trade, finds new purpose in decorating for her cousin's wedding.  But when her cousin's groom disappears at the rehearsal dinner, Chelsea sets out to find him, and so she does...thus beginning her successful foray into solving crimes in their small town of Pine Grove, much to the consternation of the police, especially a hunky specimen named Wayne Hudson, who also has his eye on Chelsea...

But how can Chelsea, she of the Babbling Brook Mouth, Teeny, she of the Overactive Imagination, and Miss May, she of the Voice of Reason (most of the time) become class A sleuths and murder solvers?  All you need to do is read these books and find out...

This is the first five books in the series, and while they don't need to be read in order to enjoy them, I would recommend it because otherwise you're missing out.  Missing out on humor, murder, mayhem, and Chelsea's rattled thoughts every time she opens her mouth.  I would probably stare at her like I'm looking at a two-headed goat, but not Miss May.  She turns everything Chelsea says into some semblance of reason.  How, I don't know.  I do know that by the fifth book you are absolutely addicted to this series and wanting to read more.

This is a hefty set of pages (905!) and while it took me a few days to read it, I pressed on waiting for the next fiasco to occur.  Chelsea has a habit of finding dead bodies the way some of us find extra pairs of reading glasses around the house.  We know they're around somewhere, we just don't know the exact location.  Neither does Chelsea, until she does (make sense of that statement!).  But by then, it becomes a race for Miss May and Chelsea to find the killer before the police do, just to prove they can.  Amateur sleuths, my eye...

It's all a farcical riot of fun, and watching them all (especially Teeny, who likens everything to a favorite television series) is a hoot.  Except that the police aren't happy with them, everyone in town thinks they're a suspect when the three show up at their door and try to avoid them, and two men are vying for Chelsea's attention (keep reading, you'll get there...).

In the end, the books are fun, full of mystery and dead bodies, and even a few murderers with strange motives.  But it's all worth it in the end, and I think I hear the sixth book calling my name...Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Orchard-Cozy-Mystery-Books-ebook/dp/B09FKK8KCF/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4249888180

More on Chelsea Thomas's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/chelsea-thomas/

Christmas Candy Corpse (A Courtney Archer Mystery Book 3)

Author:    Rosemarie Ross

Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:`9781496722799

Kensington Publishing

304 Pages

$8/99; $6.99 Amazon

November 30, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Christmas has come early to the beautiful Ponocos resort that's the setting for the American Baking Battle's holiday special, where chef Courtney Archer is on hand to sample festive fare -- and lift the lid off a killer...

Six ambitious bakers are competing for glory and a grand prize, showcasing their most delicious candies, cookies, and desserts.  Courtney detects some on-set grinchiness from her coworkers, especially judge Shannon Collins, but she's hoping the sweet treats will restore everyone's festive spirits.  That Christmas wish swiftly fizzles when assistant director Kinzy Hummel is found strangled -- with an apron from Shannon's new product line...

Shannon insists she's innocent.  Meanwhile, Kinzy had been under pressure from a disgruntled attorney to settle her late grandfather's estate.  But could that be a motive for murder?  The show must go on even as Courtney sifts through competitors and crew for likely suspects.  But unless she can quickly get to the truth, there'll be another helping of homicide amid the pinwheel cookies and fruitcakes...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Courtney Archer is a chef who's still trying to get over finding a couple of dead bodies on her recent forays as a host on the show the American Baking Battle.  In between co-hosting their new Christmas show, she's trying to put her own show together, along with her own co-host Shannon Collins.  But with Shannon as one of the judges this season, something is definitely off about her.  She has fits of rage and sadness, and seems to be gaining weight.  When an assistant director all but tells her she's fat, she loses it and has an argument.  Then, when a contestant tells her she's playing favorites, she gets into a fight with him.  Things are definitely not going right on the set.

When assistant director Kinzy Hummel is found strangled -- with one of Shannon's new Christmas aprons around her neck -- all suspicions point to her.  Now some of the staff is overwhelmed, others are reeling, and an unexpected source takes the reins to the show to keep it running smoothly.  On top of that, Courtney is dealing with her new relationship with Eric, which seems to have its own groove to find.  Can Courtney find her way with their new status, and more importantly, can she keep a killer from finding her?...

This is the third book in the series and I have read all of them.  It's just as action-filled as the other two, and just as full of suspects.  Not only do you have part of a cast as suspect, you have contestants, a disgruntled attorney, and maybe someone who isn't even on the radar, but is certainly at the resort.  With Shannon taking long breaks, and not talking to anyone about what is bothering her, could she really have killed Kinzy in a fit of rage?  The sheriff might think so, but he's not telling.  

Courtney isn't taking chances.  If they're focused on Shannon, they aren't looking at anyone else.  But there's a few people on her radar, and she's determined to figure out the truth, even if Eric doesn't want her to.  It makes for a very good mystery, and one that keeps you on your toes trying to ferret out a killer along with Courtney.  But figuring out who hated Kinzy enough to kill her is a different story.  She didn't seem to have a lot of enemies; sure, she could be abrasive, but that's no reason for murder -- or is it?

I do love this series, and while I think Courtney could roll it back a little on confronting people, she does get results, even if those results put her directly in the path of a killer.  But it's watching how she gets out of it that's the best part.  And when all is said and done and the murderer is revealed, things may not be what they seem, and what you think you know you might not.  Food for thought.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Corpse-Courtney-Archer-Mystery/dp/1496722795/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4241531046

More on Rosemarie Ross's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/r/rosemarie-ross/

Mixed Media Color Studio (Explore Modern Color Theory to Create Unique Palettes and Find Your Creative Voice)

Author:    Kellee Wynne Conrad

Genre:     Reference

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781631599965

Quarry Books

123 Pages

$21.49; $11.99 Amazon

August 24, 2021

⭐⭐⭐

Mixed Media Color Studio introduces you to fresh, exciting palettes and fun color mixing techniques.  Artist and instructor Kellee Wynne Conrad reveals her techniques and tips for expertly using colors and mediums to create captivating florals, landscapes, still lifes, and more.

Boost your color confidence by learning how modern color theory can open new doors to creativity.  Learn how to develop a personal color palette and see how a few key color principles can enhance your paintings and mixed-media work.

• Create bold abstract flowers with colors that pop off the page.
• Build dynamic landscapes using a variety of unique hues.
• See neutrals become anything but boring in a dramatic architectural piece.

Grab your supplies -- with Mixed Media Color Studio, colorful creative possibilities are waiting for you!

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

I would say that this book would be excellent for a beginning artist.  I bought this book because I hoped that it would have at least color wheels -- which it does not.  It is perfectly fine to tell us about complementary colors, but without the wheels, for some it might be a tad difficult to discern.

The author is basically telling you things like 'blue is good for seascapes' and a lot of the book is on shadowing and shading.  These are things that any experienced artist already knows, and unfortunately, there wasn't anything in this book that I hadn't already figured out myself.  

There are plenty of colorful pictures on every page, so you will have no problem with that.  The author does give full descriptions of what she's trying to convey, so there is also that.  But I must say that I was disappointed in her artwork.  Yes, it was abstract, but none of it appealed to me; so I would have a difficult time with listening to what she says if I don't appreciate the artwork.  Others might love her style; and this book does give you information on things such as texture, etc.

All in all, this is a very nice book that is put together well, and would be useful to many people.  It is a primer on colors and usage, but personally I found it uninteresting.

https://www.amazon.com/Mixed-Media-Color-Studio-Voice-Play/dp/1631599968/ref

Cruel Candy (Cozy Corgi Mysteries Book 1)

Author:    Mildred Abbott

Genre:     Mystery

Trade Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781973449294

280 Pages

Independently Published

$13.99; $.99 Amazon

December 5, 2017

⭐

Estes Park, Colorado: picturesque mountains, charming shops, delightful bakeries, a cozy bookstore...and murder.

Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson, move to Estes Park to hit the reset button on life.  Fred is about to open her dream bookshop, and the only challenges she anticipates are adjusting to small-town life, tourists, and living close to her loveable mother, Phyllis, and hippie stepfather, Barry.

When Fred steps into her soon-to-be bookshop for the first time, she expects dust bunnies and spiders...not the dead body in the upstairs kitchen.  The local police have an easy suspect -- Barry.

Determined to prove quirky Barry innocent of murder, Fred puts on her detective hat, and with Watson by her side, she explores her new town and gets acquainted with her fellow shopkeepers.  Could one of her frienndly neighbors be the real culprit?  And what would be the motive for killing the owner of the Sinful Bites candy store?  The secrets Fred discover put her at odds with the local police sergeant and threaten her cozy future in Estes.

With snow falling outside, all Fred wants to do is curl up by the fire with a good book and Watson snuggled at her feet.  But before she can begin her new life and put her plans for her bookshop into action, Fred and Watson have a mystery to solve

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

When Winifred 'Fred' Page moves home to Estes Park, Colorado, it's because her business arrangement with her best friend came to a halt.  Now she's decided to open her dream bookstore, the property given to her by her stepfather, Barry.  When she tours the inside, she discovers the body of the baker next door, Opal.  When the police suspect Barry of killing the woman, Fred knows that she - along with her corgi, Watson - need to step in and find a killer before Barry is incarcerated and her mother's heart broken.  But can she do so without the killer finding her first?

Oh, dear.  I had hopes for this series, with the cute corgi on the cover.  However, those hopes were quickly dashed.  Partly because I don't like drug use of any kind.  (Personal and part of my people, so I am not explaining).  There are other things to take to help you sleep.  I use milk every night.  Works like a charm!  But trying to justify it here isn't helping me like this tale at all.

Then there's the fact that a 38-year-old woman, who's an ex-professor and ex-big business owner, would turn to jelly when an attractive man was around.  Are we sure she's 38?  Why is she acting like a teenager who got her first crush?  Twice yet.  Speaking of that, I absolutely ABHOR love triangles, which I've noted in many reviews.  Even if it's eventually resolved, we would have to go through the excruciating term of her deciding who she wanted.  No thank you.

 

Then there's another peeve of mine: the 'evil nemesis' which shows up right away in the female police officer.  Why?  You don't need an evil nemesis to write a good book.  There are many out there that don't have them and are wonderful to read.  So this is strike three for the book.  But there are so many other things - her mother and Barry, whom couldn't find the bathroom if they needed it.  They are both flaky and I would move far, far away to get away from either of them.   Talk about annoying characters.  The author also added things in the book that didn't have anything to do with the story, and it detracted from the mystery.  You'll know what they are when you read it.  

I also knew who the killer was the minute they stepped foot on the page.  Maybe because I read a lot of mysteries, maybe because it was pretty obvious.  This author obviously doesn't like women, since they were all written as strange, but the men were practically perfect.  I really hate dinging authors on first books, and I try to give them a pass, but there is no way I will be reading any more of these in the future.  Just no.

https://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Candy-Cozy-Corgi-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B077XMYWNQ/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4236077457

More on Mildred Abbott's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/mildred-abbott/

Murder at a Scottish Social (A Scottish Shire Mystery Book 3)

Author:    Traci Hall

Genre:     Mystery

Trade Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496726032

Kensington Publishing

304 Pages

$15.95; $9.99 Amazon

January 25, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When a tainted Scottish shortbread cookie kills the Queen Bee of a competitive mom clique, Paislee Shaw, owner of Cashmere Crush sweater shop and knitting sleuth, must unravel the clues in the third installment of Traci Hall's Scottish Shire Mystery Series.

Opening her shop Cashmere Crush and making a home for herself, her son Brody, Gramps, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace in the beautiful Scottish village of Nairn is a dream come true.  So Paislee is happy to give back by donating a luxurious cashmere sweater for an auction to raise money for the Nairn Food Bank.  She's less happy to make the acquaintance of a clique of competitive moms at the charity event, who treat a baking contest like it's life or death.  It turns out to be the latter for Queen Bee Kristin Buchanan when a peanut-laced shortbread cookie triggers her fatal nut allergy.

Who would poison Kristin?  How about half the town?  But when Paislee's pal Blaise is suspected, the sweater-selling sleuth leaps into action to unravel the mystery.  Along with gruff but handsome DI Mack Zeffer, she has to sort through a batch of suspects without becoming this cookie-cutter killer's next target...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Paislee Shaw lives in the small town of Nairn in Scotland, along with her son Brody and grandfather Angus.  She owns Cashmere Crush, a yarn shop that supplies her with enough of a living to take care of the three of them.  When she's asked by her new friend Blaise to help with the Nairn Food Bank, Paislee agrees, happy to help those less fortunate, by donating a rich cashmere sweater for auction, along with selling her own goods, with a portion of the sales going to the food bank.  She's joined by her best friend Lydia, who has convinced her boss to donate a state-of-the-art item.  

Blaise is worried about her entry into the cookie contest, because she's moving her child from Highland Academy, due to the woman who runs the social camp.  When Paislee meets Kristin Buchanan, she feels her pointed barbs acutely, but manages to hold herself in check.  After seeing what Kristin says to her "friends" Christina and Mari, and deliberate barbs to Blaise, she understands why Blaise wants to move her family elsewhere.

Kristin has won the contest ever since it began three years ago and has no doubts she will win again.  But when she notices her cookies are plated differently, she pulls one of them from the wrapping and tastes it, immediately falling to the ground.  When her husband Gerard is in distress, Paislee does what she can -- trying to give the woman CPR while the ambulance is called.  But the police also arrive, and it's soon discovered that Kristin was murdered.

Paislee is determined to find out who killed Kristin, and why.  There's no dearth of suspects, since Kristin's tongued-lashing was felt by everyone around her.  Paislee also discovers that any one of them would have had a motive to do the woman in.  Now she must depend upon her own instincts and the help of Lydia and Blaise to find out who killed Kirsten -- and if that person is going to kill again...

This is the third book in the series and I have read all of them.  I do think that this one is the best, and it is certainly my favorite.  I cannot say any more about the book, because it will give away the plot.  I have said no more than what is in the blurb, but hopefully it will encourage others to read the book.

I do like the fact that Paislee has strong family feeling, and she is willing to work hard for everything she has.  She also is becoming much fonder of Angus than in the previous books, and this is shown by her words and actions both.  There are, of course, things I would like Paislee to change in her life, but I hope that eventually this will come about.

There are a couple of subplots that are also very interesting, and they added to the mystery instead of detracting from it.  As to the mystery itself, it was completely enthralling, and the murderer was a surprise of itself.  I did enjoy that immensely.  Saying all that I have, I hope others will pick up this book.  It is a very good mystery and worth the read.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Scottish-Social-Shire-Mystery/dp/1496726030/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4235706456

More on Traci Hall's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/traci-hall/

Tailing Trouble (A Furry Friends Mystery Book 2)

Author:    Laura Scott

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781643858340

Crooked Lane Books

320 Pages

$12.99; $26.99

January 11, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thirty-something veterinarian Abby Winter has found a new "leash" on life since she moved back to her hometown of Willow Bluff, Wisconsin.  But when she takes Domino, the black standard poodle she's boarding over the weekend, for a sunny September stroll along the shore of Lake Michigan, the diminutive dog dashes off, only to return with a single polka-dotted, high-heeled shoe.  Retracing Domino's paw prints back to a weeping willow tree, they find the other shoe.  It's still on the foot of 21-year-old Pricilla Green -- lying dead beneath the willow, with a silk scarf knotted tightly around her neck.

Willow Bluff's finest -- and handsomest -- detective, Noah Jorgenson, is soon on the tail of the killer.  But he has another worry on his mind when Ally's grandfather, a lifelong true-crime buff, starts to suspect that the recent burglary of a local big-box store may have some connection to Pricilla's murder.  Noah cautions Ally to keep Gramps well away from the homicide investigation, but the old dog is drawn to danger like a puppy is to a squeaky ball.

The fur flies as Ally, Noah, Gramps, and Domino race the clock to fetch the felon.  It will take all of their canine canniness to comb out the twists and curls in this wild and woolly case.  And if they fail, they won't live to go walkies again.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Veterinarian Dr. Abby Winter has moved back to her hometown for two reasons: one, to be with her grandfather, who had a hip replacement, and two, because her no-good cheating ex-fiancé stole their joint savings and ran away with their vet tech, leaving her with all the bills.  Salvaging just enough to purchase a practice from a retiring vet, she's barely managing to keep her head above water, and is doing everything she can to stay in business.

While visiting her grandfather, she hears an argument between one of the widows at his group home and an employee - a girl who was hired to clean once a week.  Abby can't but help notice the girl is wearing polka-dot stilettoes, and finds it odd she would do so.  Later on, while walking Domino -- the standard poodle she's boarding -- he gets loose and runs off.  When he returns, he drops a shoe exactly like Pricilla's at Abby's feet.  Retracing Domino's steps, she finds  the other shoe -- still attached to the body of Pricilla.  Calling the police, Detective Noah Jorgenson isn't surprised to find her there, but somehow Abby becomes one of the suspects in the murder.

When Gramps learns of this, he thinks there's nothing to but solve the murder himself, figuring Noah needs all the help he can get.  Now Abby is stuck between trying to keep Gramps out of it (she can't) trying to keep Noah happy (she can't) and trying to keep Domino and her own Boxer, Roxy, out of destroying her clinic (can she?)  That is, unless the killer discovers what Gramps and Abby are up to, then all bets are off...

This is the second book in the Furry Friends Mysteries, and I found it just as delightful as the first.  Once again we have the irrepressible and true-crime obsessed Gramps deciding he can do just as good a job as the police, and all Abby can do is stay with him to try and keep him from getting in over his head.  But Gramps has no problem walking up to people and asking them about the murder, and Abby is afraid someone is going to take notice -- Noah.  Which he does.  Repeatedly.   Which makes him develop an eye twitch.  So the game is on, and all Abby wants to do is take care of her animals.

Never fear, in between crime solving her Gramps allows her to tend to her place of business, which is struggling but managing to stay in the black.  But when a couple of burglaries occur and things start escalating, Abby turns to Noah for help, and he does his best to do his job...

The mystery was done very well, and even though I knew who the murderer was some time during the middle of the book (but only because I read a lot of mysteries), it was still intriguing to see how the story played out.  There were a couple of subplots that were rather fun, too; and pulled us from one scenario back to the next.

Gramps, of course, was his usual self, thinking he's now better than the police and because he's a vet that he can take care of himself.  He has a good sense of humor, and the man is really a hoot, and I love listening to him especially because he has no filter and says exactly what he thinks.  It's fun and sometimes embarrassing for Abby, but oh, well...

When we come to the end we have a bit of a gripping climax that was worth the wait, and one can never tell what is exactly in the mind of a murderer.  Only that they are unhinged in the first place or they wouldn't be killing people, right?  This book is a fun read, a cozy that can be read in one evening (as I did) and I eagerly await the next in the series.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Tailing-Trouble-Furry-Friends-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09286TBGB/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4230057364

More on Laura Scott's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/Laura-Scott/e/B003DAV6T8/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

Murder Between the Lines (Rooftop Garden Cozy Mysteries Book 1)

Author:   Thea Cambert

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9788666350805

Independently Published

$7.99; $2.99 Amazon

July 15, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blue Valley, Tennessee -- a cozy town nestled snugly into the Great Smoky Mountains -- buzzes with excitement every October with the return of colorful autumn leaves, chilly air, and the wave of tourists who arrive for the annual Fall Festival.

This year, Alice Maguire, owner of The Paper Owl bookshop on Main Street, is planning the festival with a little help from her best friends, Franny and Owen.  All three live in tiny apartments above their shops.

The trio of friends have share a charming rooftop garden, where they meet in the mornings for coffee from Franny's coffee shop, and sweets from Owen's bakery.  When a new yoga studio, Bliss, opens up across the street, Alice reluctantly agrees to take a class to promote relaxation in her life, and it actually works, much to her relief.

A fire breaks out in town, resulting in a tragic death, and Alice's brother, Blue Valley PD Officer Ben Maguire, and newcomer, Detective Luke Evans -- who has an irritating way of making Alice blush -- lead the investigation.  When it is determined that the death was no accident, Alice, Franny, and Owen get pulled smack dab into investigating the case.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Alice Maguire, owner of The Paper Owl bookstore, is chosen to run the local Fall Festival by the town council, courtesy of her friends Franny and Owen.  While she's not completely displeased, she enlists the help of those two, considering they were the ones who nominated her.  But when things get to be a bit stressful for Alice, Franny signs the two of them up for a yoga class at Bliss, a new studio across the street.  Once the class is over, Alice tells the owner, Kira Om, that it did help her, and they leave.  Later on, Alice decides to welcome Kira to town and leave her a gift.  But when she enters the studio, no one is around, and she leaves a note with the chocolates she's given on the desk.  Then, when she leaves the studio, she runs right into the new detective in town, Luke Evans, which embarrasses her.

But that evening there's a fire at the studio, and a body is found.  When it's discovered that the person was murdered, Alice is a main suspect.  Determined to prove her innocence, she tasks her friends to help her, and the three of them together make plans.  But will it end in finding a killer or Alice being the next target?...

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  The characters were given a bit of depth, and even though they didn't seem to spend much time in their respective businesses, it was explained away; yet I do hope to see them do so in the future.  Another thing I really liked is that there is no 'evil nemesis' in the picture.  I absolutely abhor that.  It's not needed to write a good mystery or create tension; the story should stand on its own without that or my other peeve, the eternal Love Triangle.  How trite and overused it is, and again, not needed.

Thankfully, this story had nothing but a good, old-fashioned cozy mystery that allowed you to fall into the season with the characters and get geared up for the upcoming holidays which will be upon us soon.  (Hard to believe, but yes); and descriptions of the gardens were just lovely.  I can almost imagine the three gardens connecting to each other, and being able to see the town from their rooftops, and the beautiful Smoky Mountains beyond.  That alone would destress anyone.

When we get closer to figuring out who the murderer is, it only comes as a bit of a surprise (only because I read a lot of mysteries and knew who it was ahead of time) but we also learn that it is believable, if rather sad all the way around.  I did like the characters quite a bit, and I would like to see more of Poppy (because I love animals), and learning more about Alice and her friends.  Hopefully, they will continue to evolve as the series goes on.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CZHFCY2?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4227028182

More on Thea Cambert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/thea-cambert/

Carnivals and Corpses (A Mira Michaels Mystery Book 5)

Author:    Julia Koty

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B09DW8KC13

Busstop Press

$2.99 Amazon

September 21, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mira wants her life to be a comfortable pattern of cooking at the Soup and Scoop diner and caring for her menagerie of pets.

But what should have been an enjoyable week of summer fun turns to chaos when Mira's overprotective sister Darla shows up unannounced and Mira finds a murder victim at the flea market.

To keep whatever relationship she has with Detective Dan afloat, she shuts down her instincts to investigate while also attempting to manage her sister's unexplained visit.  Both stretch Mira to her breaking point.

Another visitor from her past turns up and Mira realizes karma really does pack a wallop.  Her relationship issues force her to solve the most recent murder, but will it ruin her connection with everyone she loves?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Mira Michaels is settling into small town life in Pennsylvania, after having fled Massachusetts, her sister, and a bad love relationship.  Cooking at the Soup and Scoop diner and caring for her pets is her comfort zone.  But when she and her friend and boss Aerie decide to visit a local flea market and the nearby carnival, she gets more than she bargained for.

More than the desk she just bought...she also gets another dead body.  Which doesn't make homicide detective Dan Lockhart happy.  But what doesn't make Mira happy is finding her sister on her doorstep when she returns home.  Darla insists she's come because her psychic visions are inconsistent right now, but she knows that Mira is going to be in trouble and she wants to help.  Mira rebels against Darla, thinking she's just trying to run her life once more.  But what Mira doesn't know is that she's soon to be running from a killer...

This is the fifth book in the series, and I have loved every one of them.  Mira has her life fairly under control, but when it comes to Darla, all her uncertainties and inferiority feelings come once again to the surface.  Mira thinks she's not as good as her sister, and wants her to leave.  It doesn't help that Mira thinks Dan is in league with Darla, and she starts to push him away, too.  

There's a carnival in town, and someone who worked there has been murdered.  But anyone could be a suspect, including a man Mira likes, or even someone from her past who's shown up unexpectedly.  It will take all her wits to ferret out the truth, and she needs to know if she can trust her own judgment, without the help of Dan or Darla.  It's tangled and twisted, and the ending comes out of nowhere and gives a delightful mystery to turn to, one that can be read in one evening and leaves you feeling both satisfied and relaxed afterward.

Without saying more, because I don't want to spoil it for others, I loved this book and can't wait to dig into the next mystery.  This one comes highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Carnivals-Corpses-Michaels-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09DW8KC13/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4222387457

More on Julia Koty's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/k/julia-koty/

Halloween Hayride Murder (A Small Town Minnesota Cozy Mystery Book 1)

Author:    Linnea West

Genre:     Mystery

Trade Paperback; Digital Book

ISNB#:    9781792828904

Independently Published

282 Pages

$12.99; $3.99 Amazon

October 2, 2018

⭐⭐

Tessa is back in her hometown, picking up the pieces of her life as a young widow.  Besides passing the time working at the B&B that her parents own, Tessa joined the Halloween Hayride Committee to help give back to her small town.  Plans are going great but then Earl whisks into town, threatening to shut down the beloved Hayride and someone takes it upon themselves to run him down with the tractor.

Now Tessa's gotten herself tangled up in the mess, tripping over clues and getting more and more involved.  Someone has to get the Hayride back on track and she has decided that someone has to be her.  It is the only way she can think of to take charge of her life and thank her hometown for welcoming her back when her life fell apart.

The only problem is that while Tessa is trying to solve the case, the murderer is keeping an eye on her.  Can Tessa figure out who ran over Earl before the tractor-riding killer strikes again?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Tessa moved back home to her small Minnesota town when her husband was killed in an accident.  Now she's a young widow who works at her parents' B&B.  She's also joined the Halloween Hayride committee, glad to be part of the community again.  But one morning when the committee is meeting, a strange man enters and makes demands of them or he'll shut it down.  Tessa later learns that Earl inherited everything from his late uncle, and wants to charge them an exorbitant fee to use the land for the hayride, that they've used forever for free.  

When Tessa and her friend Clark go to the shed where the tractor is kept, it's missing.  They soon discover that someone has used it to run over Earl, and now the police are looking for someone with a motive -- like the mayor.  Tessa takes it upon herself to find out who killed Earl, but he wasn't well-liked in the community.  With too many suspects and too many motives, she needs to find a killer who just might be someone she never expected...

I love 'reading the season,' and since Halloween isn't too far away, I thought I would start with this book, since it sounded promising.  Soon enough I discovered that it wasn't.  Tessa, who only lost her husband a little over a year ago, is now making goo-goo eyes at two bachelors in town: Clark, a high school teacher; and her ex-boyfriend Max, who's a police officer.  She's "casually dating" them both, meaning they can see other people and so can she.  As she reminds us often (too often), it's 'just fun and games'.  But they both pretty much make her knees weak, and I find that odd since her husband hasn't been gone that long and she professes her grief for him often, too.  Not that I'm saying people shouldn't move on.  But it's one thing to profess grief and another in the next sentence for two men to make you all giggly like a teenager.  

Unfortunately, I also abhor love triangles.  So much so I avoid them if possible.  Then there's the idea of 'couples costumes' which inhabits her mind, and which I found odd, since it seemed a big decision of which 'boy' to go to the festival with based on a costume.  (Tessa also ate a lot of donuts, stressed or not.  Her body and skin must love her for it.)  

There was a lot of repetition.  So, so much.  Like how much she loved her husband.  How she is only casually dating these two men.  We get it.  You don't want a commitment and neither do they, but we don't need to be told that constantly.  It was taking away from the mystery portion of the book, and it was almost as if Tessa was trying to convince herself that she was still mourning her husband.  Sorry, but that's just how I saw it.

I really do love to try new authors, but this book got on my last nerve, and I just wanted it to end.  When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, I didn't find it too believable at all; and I wish I did.  I hate dinging new authors, and because of that, I will read the next in the series and see if it improves.  Hopefully, the characters will have some depth by then.  Sorry.

https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Hayride-Murder-Minnesota-Mystery/dp/179282890X/ref

Goodreads:      https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4217448536

More on Linnea West's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/linnea-west/

Dogged by Death (A Furry Friends Mystery Book 1)

Author:    Laura Scott

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781643856575

Crooked Lane Books

320 Pages

$20.49; $13.99 Amazon

July 13, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ally Winter is going through a ruff patch.  The thirty-something veterinarian lost her fiancé, her clinic, and her savings in rapid succession.  So when Ally's grandfather undergoes hip replacement surgery, she moves back to Willow Bluff, Wisconsin, to care for him.  She arrives home, tail between her legs, only to find sleazy lawyer Marty Shawlin murdered in his home office.  And the only witness was Marty's faithful boxer, Roxy.

Quick as a greyhound, Noah Jorgensen is on the case.  The good news is, he's the best detective around.  The bad news, at least the way Ally sees it, is that Noah is still just as fetching as he was back in high school.  He also just happens to have witnessed every embarrassing incident that befell accident-prone Ally -- including the fire ant attack that set tongues wagging and won her the unshakable nickname Hot Pants.

Meanwhile, true-crime aficionado Gramps fancies himself a sleuth, and he is doggedly determined to sniff out the culprit himself...with Ally's reluctant help, of course.  Ally has no choice but to team up with Noah -- and the irrepressible Roxy -- to solve the case while keeping Gramps on a short leash.

Ally had better learn some new tricks, lickety-split.  Because if she can't bring the killer to heel, she won't just be playing dead.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Ally Winter is a veterinarian who had her life savings stolen by her fiancé, who ran off with their vet assistant.  In order to keep her head above water, she sold everything she owned and bought out the vet practice in her home town of Willow Bluff, Wisconsin; and also to be nearer to her grandfather, who recently had hip surgery.

When she goes to see her grandfather at his residence, Legacy House, she hears him arguing with a man who dashes past her and out of the house.  She finds out that he's an attorney who wanted the other residents -- all elderly women who have their eye on Gramps -- to set up financial trusts.  Ally is struggling for clients and is happy when someone wants her to walk their dog daily for a week -- but she's surprised when it's the attorney, Marty Shawlin; but he paid in advance so she's not saying a word.

The next day she goes to pick up his boxer, Roxy, and is stunned when she finds him dead.  Calling the police also gives her a surprise when she sees that the detective in charge is none other than Noah Jorgensen, a football player she once had a crush on.  But for now, she vows to keep Roxy with her and safe until Marty's ex-wife can contact her.

Still, when her gramps is questioned, she's not happy.  She's even doubly unhappy when he demands an  a lawyer -- all because he's hooked on true crime books and Dateline on television.  Gramps thinks it makes him a better detective than Noah, and Ally is forced to go along with whatever Gramps is going to do anyway, just to keep him safe.  But when Ally has someone attack her business that puts her in danger, she realizes that if they don't find the killer, the killer is going to find her...

This is the first in a new series and I found it delightful.  It's not high literature, nor is it supposed to be.  It's a fun, bright, cozy mystery that centers around a veterinarian and her grandfather, who is a hoot.  The elderly man thinks he's more like Sam Spade all because he watches real life crime on television and reals true crime books.  He drags Ally into his schemes, which causes tension with the real life detective.  (Got that?)  Anyway, it's a hilarious run around town, with Gramps and Roxy in tow, questioning people and watching him work his magic on the women he meets.  

Which brings us to the widows he lives with who are all trying to get his attention -- and if that means going through Ally, then so be it.  Not that she wants it; but she's got to be in contact with them, so she reluctantly is drawn into their circle, too.

But when the murderer discovers what's going on, they target Ally and she starts to realize she's in real danger.  She notifies Noah of everything -- which I heartily approve of, by the way.  I absolutely hate it when the protagonist learns something and then refuses to contact the police to give them the information (who would do that in real life?)  So Ally has to work with Noah, which she finds a bit humiliating, considering her past, but does anyway.

Ally's life is one stumbling block after another, and she's a bit accident-prone; but she's fun to be around, and I love all the characters in this book.  I would love it more if Ally would also get a cat, but we can't have everything, I guess.  When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed, we know the clues are there, but the climax is different, and worth reading.  A new mystery series that I will continue to read, and I enjoyed it immensely.  Recommended. 

https://www.amazon.com/Dogged-Death-Furry-Friends-Mystery/dp/164385657X/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4216880368

More on Laura Scott's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/Laura-Scott/e/B003DAV6T8/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1