Pineapple Upside Drown Cake (Apple Orchard Cozy Mystery Book 18)

Author:    Chelsea Thomas

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798376182727

Independently Published

220 Pages

$12.99; $5.99 Amazon

March 31, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The smell of a fire burning in the hearth; a red-faced child laughing in line at the coffee shop, two olf friends gabbing as they chop apples for a homemade pie.

Pine Grove, NY is the kind of place city people go on vacation and decide to move to after three perfect days meeting friendly people, eating great food and relaxing in the quiet of nature.

But murder complicates matters.

And when a high-profile county employee turns up dead in the town's pristine little pond, it's up to local sleuths Teeny, Miss May and Chelsea to solve the crime.  Teeny is a chihuahua in the body of a woman.  Miss May is a retired prosecutor with a love for justice.  And Chelsea is doing her best to keep up, get her life back on track, and maintain the happy in America's happiest little town.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Chelsea, Teeny, and Miss May have recently returned from a vacation -- well, really, solving another murder -- in California, and all they do is want to relax.  But Chelsea is blindsided by the fact that Miss May has booked a bachelorette party.  Or maybe Chelsea just ignored her when she told her.  Anyway, the women are there for a few days to enjoy their time, have a real home-cooked meal, and party a little bit.  But even this is marred by murder when a man's body is found in the local pond, and the police chief won't let them even look at the body.  In fact, she wants them as far away as possible.  She's also instructed Chelsea's new fiancé, Detective Wayne, to not share any information -- which he's trying very hard not to do.  

So, the three strike out on their own anyway, and Chelsea figures anything they learn she just won't tell Wayne, either.  Or will one of them break down eventually?  Time will tell.  They're also stunned when a rude man that Chelsea met in town shows up on their doorstep and wants to hire them to solve the murder.  It turns out that he's the dead man's son, and he doesn't think the police are doing enough.  With reservations, the three agree, and now they're drawn into their own investigation -- which means going to the dead man's widow and asking her about it.  Unfortunately, things don't go the way they planned, and they need to question others -- which also don't go the way they planned.

But when there's another murder, Chelsea thinks someone may be targeting these people, but she doesn't know who.  Neither do the police.  Will the three sleuths solve the murder before the police?  Or will this time be their last as amateur P. I.'s?...

This is definitely one of my very favorite series.  I love all the characters (well, almost; Sunny I could do without).  I love watching the sleuths probe into the murders, and even Teeny has her own kind of logic (strange though it may be).   They've had more problems this time out, with very few people wanting to give them any information at all.  They can only hope that the police don't have any more luck than they do.  But how do they solve the man's murder when they don't have any clues?  It's not going to be easy.

They've also got the bridal party to contend with, and Chelsea is noticing one of them isn't a happy camper.  In fact, she seems miserable.  So, what is Chelsea to do to improve her mood?  It's when she hears the backstory that she truly feels sorry for the young woman.  Yet she can't concentrate on this with everything else going on.  Plus, she and Wayne haven't even had time to discuss the marriage plans, much less set the date.

I enjoyed this book as much as the others, and it's always fun to watch how everything plays out.  This one is definitely a winner.  When the killer is revealed, it's as much a surprise to us as it is to Chelsea.  Watching how everything comes down is the best part.  At least until the end...when the author(s) give us a teaser of the next book.  Now I find myself wanting to read it immediately!!  As the saying goes, waiting is the hardest part.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Pineapple-Upside-Drown-Orchard-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BRGHQ17Z/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5446880460

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

Southern Fried and Grief Stricken (An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 11)

Author:    Ruth Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798388064974

Clean Tales Publishing

184 Pages

$14.99; $2.99 Amazon

March 23, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐

When a former classmate, known for their bad manners and outsized ego, walks into Lucy's bakery and asks for a job days before their high school reunion, Lucy is a bit wary.  Against her better judgment, she decides to hire this person.

The good vibes from the reunion spread to the whole town, and all is well until Lucy finds a local business owner, who was heavily involved in the reunion event, stone cold in their pawn shop.

Lucy is terrified and puzzled by this latest murder in her small town.  It seems a dark cloud has settled over her town as rumors abound about why the killer did it and when they did it.

Eventually, the prime suspect is identified as the former classmate Lucy hired at her bakery.  Many people witnessed an altercation this person had with the deceased and they've been judged guilty in the court of public opinion.

But Lucy knows there's more to this murder mystery than meets the eye.

Will she piece together all the clues that seem to lead to the unlikeliest suspect and solve this case?  Or will she allow her heart to overrule her head and become the killer's next victim?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy Hale owns Sweet Delights Bakery ever since her parents passed away in a car accident.  Now she, along with help from her Aunt Tricia and two employees, Hannah and Betsy, have made it the place to go for sweets and bread.  Lucy and Hannah's high school reunion is coming up, and they've been tasked with making desserts for the reunion which will keep them busy.  But with Betsy being on vacation for two weeks, it's going to be nothing but work.

When an old high school acquaintance shows up -- Luann Pell -- she acts as if she and Lucy were best friends, but they didn't even run in the same circles.  After some backhanded compliments, Lucy can't wait to see the end of her.  But when Luann starts crying and tells her a sob story, Lucy's good heart melts and she offers her a temporary two-week job to take over for Betsy, much to the dismay of Tricia and Hannah.  But the deed's been done, and all they can do is make the best of it.

When someone turns up dead, Luann is the main suspect as she was seen yelling at the person shortly before.  She begs Lucy to believe she didn't do it, and Lucy thinks she just might be innocent.  Against the wishes of her Deputy boyfriend, Taylor, she sets about trying to find a killer.  The only problem is that she might not find them or time, or they just might find her first...

I have read all of the books in this series and enjoyed them one after the other.  Lucy is extremely likeable, although I do wish she'd develop a bit more of a backbone.  Saying no doesn't make you mean, any more than saying yes makes you nice.  It's a matter of circumstance.  However, I do enjoy her kindness toward others, and the fact that she wants the best for everyone and always makes time for her family and friends.  Now if Taylor would just get off his duff...(read the book and you'll know what I mean).

There is plenty of action going on, and Lucy has her work cut out for her, as it seems there isn't anyone who really likes Luann.  But does that alone make her guilty?   Lucy isn't sure.  Still, she continues searching for clues.  When she has her 'aha' moment, we are right there with her as she figures everything out.  The climaxes are always the best of these books, as we wonder how Lucy is going to put everything together and get out of trouble.  It makes the book worth reading, and this one is no different.  Recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Fried-Grief-Stricken-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BV5C6PNW/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5444301760

More on Ruth Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ruth-baker/

Death of a Clam Digger (Hayley Powell Mystery Book 16)

Author:    Lee Hollis

Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496736512

Kensington Cozies

320 Pages

$8.99; $6.99 Amazon

July 25, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell usually reserves judgement for local cuisine, not the people who serve it.  But staying neutral isn't so easy when caught between the biggest seafood rivals in town -- her BFF Mona Barnes and the successful Leighton clan.  Adding to a bitter decades-old surf-turf war between family businesses, a modern Romeo and Juliet story unfolds as Mona's son gets engaged to the daughter of her sworn enemy...

Spiteful patriarch Lonnie Leighton is also steamed about the arrangement -- enough to go to dangerous lengths to break it up.  At least, until he's discovered face down and dead in the clam flats.  With unanswered questions swirling, accusations flying in both directions, and a young couple stuck in the middle, Hayley has bigger fish to fry than determining who sources the best shellfish in Bar Harbor.  Because someone wanted to get away with murder...and send whoever else gets in their way to a muddy grave.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Hayley Powell writes a food and cocktails column for the Island Times, the local newspaper where her husband Bruce works as a crime writer.  She also has the pleasure of owning her own restaurant, Hayley's Kitchen, which has become popular with the locals and tourists alike since she opened it several months ago.  It doesn't leave her a lot of free time to spend with her hubby, but they're both so busy, she doesn't think too much about it.

One morning while walking her dog Leroy, she sees two women fighting in the mud flats below, a popular clamming area.  To her horror, one of them is her BFF Mona Barnes, who owns her own successful seafood company.  The other is Vera Leighton, whose father owns the other seafood company in town.  Determined to break it up, she heads to the bottom to find out what started the fight.  When she finally succeeds, there's no comfort in it, since the two women have been rivals their entire lives, and their father hates the Barnes -- and the feeling is mutual.

But things get worse when it's discovered that Mona's son Dougie is in love with Lonnie's daughter Olive, and wants to propose to her.  Worse yet, they're at Hayley's restaurant when Lonnie walks in with his girlfriend and spots them across the room.  Accusations fly, and Lonnie tells Dougie to stay away from his daughter.  When Mona finds out, all heck breaks loose.  Then there's a murder, and now Hayley is in the middle of that, along with trying to keep peace between Mona and her sons.  But it won't be easy, especially since the older two have secrets of their own.  To make matters worse, an old girlfriend of Bruce's shows up and she's rich and successful...which has Hayley worried and jealous.  Will she be able to find a murderer?  Will she be able to keep her marriage?  Will there be any peace in Bar Harbor ever again?

This is the sixteenth book in the series, and I've read them all.  It's nice to see Mona's family as the center of activity, since they've usually been fringe characters up until now.  We get to see that they have lives even their mother doesn't know about.  But it's Dougie who takes center stage as a possible suspect, and Hayley has to find a killer to prove the young man's innocence.  But when a killer thinks that they're smarter than you, and they've covered their tracks well, it might not be easy as she imagines.  

Then there's the ex of Bruce, who keeps 'running into him' and he's flattered by all the attention that she's giving him.  Hayley, who at first decided she liked the woman, is finding that she was wrong in her assessment, and is trying to prove to herself she's not jealous.  But this is a problem she's never had to deal with before, so jealousy is a normal reaction for her.  Watching Hayley, who's always been so confident, deal with a different emotion is interesting, but luckily, it doesn't pervade the story so never gets in the way of the mystery.

And the mystery is prime in this book.  There are clues throughout, and I was down to two suspects (yes, one of them was the guilty party) when Hayley began to put everything together.  How she does it is the best part, and even Sergio is there with his malapropisms.  It's a fun ride in another adventure for Hayley, and for those who love clams (I don't, unfortunately) there are tons of yummy recipes included.  (I wonder if any of them can be adapted for crab???).  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Digger-Hayley-Powell-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BKTYFLXM/ref

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5433346193

More on Lee Hollis's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/lee-hollis/

Paws of Death (Dog Groomer Mysteries Book 9)

Author:    Chelsea Thomas

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798386484408

Independently Published

224 Pages

$12.99; $5.99 Amazon

March 9, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amy Stewart grew up in sunny Toluca Lake, CA.  S0 after she got her heart broken in Pine Grove, NY, she naturally returned home to open up a dog grooming business all her own.  Adorable puppies are always a good thing, right?

But murder is very bad for business.

The local police chief is inept.  So, it's up to Amy and her poker playin' granny, Petunia, to solve this murder.  But if they don't solve it quickly, they could end up in jail...or worse.

Life back in California is a fantasy come true for Amy, in so many ways.  She's dating the hot local cop. Family and friends surround her.  Everywhere she turns she's filled with warm, nostalgic memories.

That's why she works so hard to solve murders.  But will this be the one that ruins her life for good?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Amy Stewart moved back to California from New York after a heartbreak, and opened a dog grooming business with her granny, Petunia. and lone employee, Betsy, who's a bit off-the-wall.  But she's happy, especially since she's taken her relationship with copy Mike Fine to a new level.  At least she thought she was, until a woman named Abigail shows up at her home one night, frantic.

It seems Abigail's boss has been receiving death threats, and has disappeared completely because of them.  Amy's no stranger to Abigail or her boss, Minx, having had to deal with them in a previous murder case.  But she also can't say no when there's a mystery about it, so she and Mike go to Minx's office to see if they can garner any clues to her whereabouts.  They don't have to go far to find a dead body -- and it's not Minx.  It's the man who stole Abigail's job out from under her.  Now Amy, Petunia, and Betsy are on the case, and they intend to find out the truth, even if it kills them...

This is the ninth book in the series and I have read them all.  I would like to say that this is a standalone mystery, but I can't.  In order to understand the dynamics, you need to really read the previous story to get the background on Abigail and Minx.  This one merely touches on it.  Saying that, I will say that the story line is an interesting one, but I don't really see all the issues that some of the characters seem to think are there.  I won't explain, as this is a new book and I don't want to ruin the story for anyone.

What I do love is the fact that poor Fluffy is telling another problem in his newly embraced love life, and as I love cats, I find it rather interesting to read about his interjections in what is otherwise a troubled mystery.  Let us not forget Betsy, who has love troubles of her own, and Petunia, who might just have a double trouble issue going on.  It's all a lot of fun, and the subplots are just as intriguing as the main one.  

When Amy begins to put it all together, she's not sure if she's right or not, but she knows that she needs to follow through, and in doing so, once again she's figured out who the killer is (as we knew that she would).  The ending is satisfactory, and I enjoyed the book as much as the others.  Recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the author and BookSprout but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Paws-Death-Pet-themed-Animals-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0BV883N49/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5424151742

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

Hiss and Tell (A Mrs. Murphy Mystery Book 31)

Author:    Rita Mae Brown

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9780593357545

Bantam Publishing

304 Pages
$28.00; $13.99 Amazon

March 23, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Christmas is coming and Harry's to-do list is a mile long.  The days are filled with delivering holiday baskets to neighbors in need, chopping down the perfect tree with her best friend, Susan Tucker, and hunting for that elusive special gift for her beloved husband, Pharamond "Fair" Harristeen.  Harry also decides to try her hand a dog showing, enrolling her handsome Irish Wolfhound puppy Pirate in classes to prepare for a future exhibition.  Through it all, holiday cheer -- and plenty of treats for Pirate -- keep spirits high.

But the holidays aren't cheerful for everyone.  Harry's friend on the police force, Cynthia Cooper, warns that the season can bring an uptick in crime.  Her words prove tragically prescient whe Harry and Susan discover the body of a man by the side of the road, dead, without any clues to his identity.  One suspicious death is bad enough, but when Cooper reports that two more bodies have been found, also unidentified, Harry knows that trouble is afoot.  The autopsies for all three bodies reveal the presence of a deadly drug.  Could their deaths have been accidental, or is a devious killer on the prowl?

With help from her feline sidekicks, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, as well as Tee Tucker the corgi and Pirate, Harry vows to find the answers and stop the spate of deaths so that all of Crozet can have a very merry Christmas.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

"Harry" Harristeen is a farmer who loves living off the land.  Her husband "Fair" is a veterinarian, and they've managed to make a good life for themselves.  They live in Virginia near Richmond, but far enough away that they have a quiet life.  That is, at least until Harry and her best friend Susan Tucker are out driving one day and come across a dead body.  Harry wonders if it's related to the earlier accident that Fair had seen on the road -- one with a white van and people running away as fast as they could.  But the answers will have to wait; her friend Officer Cynthia Cooper, is working on the other case.  Still, she's willing to listen to Harry's theories and see if they make sense.

When it's discovered that the man died from a deadly drug, Harry is worried.  Especially when there are more deaths.  Could they be connected?  But Harry also has other things on her mind: finding the right gift for her husband, which could be tricky; and training her Irish Wolfhound puppy (all 150 pounds of him) Pirate.  There are other friends who are training theirs as well, but Pirate is holding his own.  

Meanwhile back in the eighteenth century, we revisit the neighboring estates of the Ewings and Holloways, watching as they forge a new country on their own terms.  Catherine Ewing Schuyler has decided to create a steeplechase, open to all who pay the small fee, and to anyone who wishes to watch the spectacle -- for only a penny.  She wants it to be a success, and hopes that it will.  But not all is pleasant: in the town of Richmond there is an infamous place called the Tavern, which houses ladies of the night as well as the best food in town.  We are given another look into the past, and while some are very pleasant, others show us the harshness of the time.

What those must understand is that people are a product of their times; and the past cannot be changed.  Nothing you do can erase it; we must learn not to repeat the sorrows that were.  Ms. Brown shows us the courage of these women, the courage of the ex-soldiers, and the courage of all to survive any way they can.  It is a lesson, and fascinating reading, to boot.  I am always in awe of these books, for I love a story within a story, and this one is especially intriguing.

In the present, Harry has her opinions (as always) on the drugs that are coming into our country and any attempts to stop them.  She worries for people, her kind heart showing through.  She worries for the future, and what drugs are doing to people who don't care.  It's dark reading, but I have never been disappointed in any of her books.  She knows how to weave a story skillfully, bringing the characters together through simple statements, and allowing the reader to try and find a murderer.

And of course, we have Mrs. Murphy and the ever-loveable Pewter offering their own opinions on the goings-on around them, along with the corgi Tucker and Pirate.  Their antics are worth watching, and even more so in this book, as you will learn.

In this one, it was not that easy.  That's a very good thing, as I am usually able to put the murderer in the picture early on.  Not in this tale.  Which isn't to say that there are not clues, because there are, if you look for them.  The ending is surprising, which is how it should be.  The book was finished far too soon as I love these so, and I not only highly recommend this, I eagerly await the next in the series.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Hiss-Tell-Mrs-Murphy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09QQ9HJR4/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5421250448

More on Rita Mae Brown's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/rita-mae-brown/

A Furry Little Christmas (Two Book Anthology)

Author:    Laurien Berenson

Genre:     Mystery/Christmas

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496742070

Kensington Cozies

352 Pages

$12.95; $8.81 Amazon

September 26, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WAGGING THROUGH THE SNOW:

With a demanding teaching job and five poodles scampering around the house, Melanie Travis barely has energy for the upcoming Christmas rush.  When an unexpected business venture leads to a dead body, Melanie must run through a flurry of likely suspects and muzzle a dogged murderer in time -- or she'll be next on someone's deadly list.

HERE COMES SANTA PAWS:

As Melanie attempts to deck the halls in a house overrun by pampered Poodles, her event planner friend, Claire, is busy playing Santa for the wealthiest clientele on Connecticut's Gold Coast.  But when Claire's stylish stint uncovers a dead body, Melanie and her nosy Aunt Peg dash into a dizzying investigation to rein in a sinister Kris Kringle before they're the next ones on someone's deadly wish list...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

This book is a compilation of two earlier Christmas tales by the author, gathered together in this one book for those who haven't read them (as I haven't) or even for those who are fond of the series and want to re-read them (or even give this as a Christmas gift to your favorite book lover).

In the first book, Melanie's brother Frank has realized a new business opportunity, and bought some land that he thinks can make himself and his business partner -- Melanie's ex-husband -- a nice profit.  But it's not very nice when Melanie's son Davey discovers a body.  Melanie, along with her determined Aunt Peg, of course, decide to figure out who the dead man is and how he got into the woods.  When Melanie starts asking questions, she finds out that he had quite a history, and not a good one.  But with all the suspects having motive, how can she figure out which person killed him?...

In the second book, Melanie answered a frantic call from her friend Claire, who is an event planner and personal shopper.  When she arrives at the location Claire directs her to, there's a dead body in the house.  Claire insists she doesn't know the killer, and, as it turns out, doesn't really know the dead woman, either.  An investigation ensues, with the police telling Melanie to butt out, and Melanie paying no attention to them (naturally).  When she discovers more about the dead woman, she's sure there's a mystery there besides murder.  But who wanted her dead, and why?

I have not read either of these books before this, so they were new to me, which is very nice.  I was pleasantly involved in Melanie's trials as both a sleuth and a mother, and the backstory of her home life was woven easily into both stories.  They fall in succession, so there's no having to go back into time; and I must say she's married to the most patient man in the universe.  My husband, wonderful as he is, would be hanging onto my shirt collar and saying 'no'. (Ha).  Her investigation is done well, with asking questions easily, and not pushing people for answers.  She instinctively knows when to pull back.

I love Melanie, being smart and inquisitive, but also the love she has for not only her own small family, but the extended one as well.  We should all be so lucky.  When Melanie finally begins to put everything together (in both books) it brings us to a climax that's definitely worth waiting for.  Finding the murderer isn't as easy as one would think, but it leaves a satisfying ending to two tales, and wanting us to fall into Christmas once more.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Furry-Little-Christmas-Laurien-Berenson-ebook/dp/B0BRF5F68F/ref

Goodreads:    TBA

More on Laurien Berenson's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laurien-berenson/

Strike Out 4 Murder (A Sophie Kimball Mystery #11)

Author:    J.C. Eaton

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:     9781960511058

Beyond The Page Publishing

202 Pages

$14.99; $3.99 Amazon

March 21, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When softball fever overtakes Sun City West, foul balls and foul play add up to murder...When a member of the local pinochle club rallies everyone in the community to come cheer on the softball team he's joined, Sophie "Phee" Kimball can't imagine a worse way to spend a free afternoon.  But before anyone can take them out to the ball game, her mother's friend Shirley spots a dead body, only to have it vanish before anyone else sees it.  Soon Shirley and her friends can't decide whether she's losing her marbles or being stalked by the living dead -- until an attempt is made on her life.

Wondering if the body Shirley saw belongs to a missing ballplayer who may have been murdered, Phee begins to suspect that Shirley's in danger from a menacing killer.  Following the clues at the ball park and eyeing the crowd for a likely perpetrator, she devises a clever scheme to sniff out the culprit, but she'll have to act fast before she strikes out for the last time!

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie Kimball-Gregory is newly married and works for a private investigator in Arizona as a bookkeeper/accountant.  She's happy in her new life.  Well, almost.  There's the fact that her mother Harriet lives in Sun City West, and she and her book club ladies keep Phee busy trying to convince her that there's people after them (really).

But when Harriet's friend Shirley Johnson insists she saw a dead body, Phee and her PI husband Marshall go to investigate -- along with the ladies who insist on coming -- there's no body and no indication there ever was.  While Shirley wonders if she's going crazy, Phee and Marshall aren't so sure.  Especially when Shirley has an attempt on her life and she swears she saw the same body in another location.  Eventually the body of the dead man turns up, and it also is discovered he was a member of the local senior softball team, the one their friend Herb just joined.  

Now the PIs are not only involved in a fraud case, they're looking into the possibility that Shirley did see what she claims -- and that the dead man, Buster, had a lot of enemies who all had motive and opportunity.  Phee is working to find out the truth, under the radar, of course, and what she finds isn't pretty.   Especially when there's a killer on the loose...

This is the eleventh book in the series and I have loved them all.  The author(s) have done another excellent job of bringing the characters to life, and what characters they are.  Phee's mother Harriet is a hoot, as always, and her Chiweenie Streetman is his usual mischievous self, although in this book he has at least managed to put some decorum in his behavior (until he finds a reason not to, and it's funny as can be).  Then there's a scene with Harriet's on-air companion Paul, who thinks of nothing but fishing, that has you laughing aloud (at least it did me, and I had to read it to my husband, who wanted to know what was so funny).  That scene alone is worth reading the entire book, and no, I am not going to give any part of it away.

When Phee gets into her investigating, she's surprised at what she finds out about Buster.  Passing the information along to the PIs, Nate and Marshall, she continues on and decides that she needs to go undercover to get the info she wants.  That also turns out to be chaos, and Paul is right there with her for the ride.

When the ending comes, we have a chaotic scene as well, and Phee doesn't let the opportunity pass.  It's a lot of fun and laughter as well, and I applaud the author(s) for their ability to keep things moving along and keep us interested throughout the book.  The mystery was done very well, and I look forward to the next 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/Strike-Murder-Sophie-Kimball-Mystery/dp/196051105X/ref

Goodreads:    TBA

More on J.C. Eaton's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/j-c-eaton/

A Case of Senior Scandals (Willow Cove Mysteries Book 2)

Author:    Lily Rose Lane

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0bTD8TNYP

Whiskered Mysteries

177 Pages

$3.99 Amazon

February 28, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm Aubrey Rose, and after solving a decades long cold case in Willow Cove, I was ready to hang up my amateur detective hat.

But when Willow Cove's oldest and most revered resident, Edith Thomas, is found dead -- everyone is suddenly looking to me for answers.

I didn't plan on getting involved, but how can I say no when even Edith's son is asking for my help?

Now, I need to discover who would want to kill a sweet little lady whose worst offense was baking deliciously addictive chocolate chip muffins.

With handyman Gavin and his terrier sidekick at my side, we'll need to dig into Edith's past and discover if this lovely senior had any scandals in her past.

Ones that could lead to deadly consequences...

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Aubrey Rose returned home to Willow Cove after her disastrous marriage broke up, only to find herself as part owner of her mother's B&B.  Now she's helping to run the place along with their handyman Gavin, who seems to have a personal interest in Aubrey.  One she's not unhappy about.  After both of them solve a decades-old murder, they're happy just to rest and go about their daily lives.

But when elderly Edith Thomas is found stabbed to death, her friends and relatives want them to help solve the murder.  Even though they are reluctant to do so, Aubrey and Gavin find themselves drawn into the investigation -- and they have to keep it hidden from Police Chief Dobbs, who wants them to stay out of it.  But with people coming to them with their own suspicions, they don't have much choice -- and it also gives them time to figure out where their relationship is going...

This is the second book in the series and I was glad to revisit Aubrey and the others in small town Willow Cove.  This time there's a festival coming up, and Aubrey's momma thinks no one will want to stay at the B&B because of the bones found there recently.  Aubrey and Gavin want to know who killed Edith, and why.  There are rumors around town of Edith's past, and even though they don't seem likely, they discover that there are a lot of things about Edith that they didn't know.  Things that send them to the internet, and talking to people to get answers.  

But when they encounter a shady person in town, they think this might be the murderer.  Or are they?  Watching Aubrey try to decipher clues and also decipher where things are going with Gavin is interesting enough to keep one reading the book in one sitting.  It's a fun and cozy book, and the characters are endearing as well.  

When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, it was a big of a surprise, but put together nicely, and believable as well.  Without saying anything else about the book, I urge you to read it as it was indeed worth the time.  Recommended.

I received an advance copy of the book from the author and BookSprout, but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Senior-Scandals-Willow-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0BTD8TNYP/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5387581937

Lost & Drowned (A Bellbrook Murder Mystery Book 3)

Author:    Reagan Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781990228568. 9781990228551

Carpe Filum Press

202 Pages

$18.99; $12.99; $3.99 Amazon

February 24, 2023

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When a mystery woman turns up dead on Karla's client's yacht, no one knows who she was or how she got there.

When it's discovered that the mystery woman used Karla's name to gain access to the luxury yacht, the mystery deepens and motivates Karla to uncover the truth.

Why doesn't the mystery woman's clothes have any labels?  Who travels with only shirts and shoes?  Where are the rest of her clothes?  Where is her purse?

Who is this woman and what was her top-secret reason for visiting Bellbrook?  Was Karla's politically connected client the intended victim?  Can she sort fact from fiction and figure out whodunit before the killer strikes again?

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Karla Bell owns Just Task Me! a concierge company that deals with wealthy clients.  They hire her to plan events, but more so because of her ability to be discreet.  She also demands that all of her employees have that quality, even her mother Lynn, who works as her personal assistant.

When she's hired by wealthy Damien to plan his daughter Saskia's wedding, she's more than excited by this one: she's hoping that her ancestral estate. Bellflower, will be the destination wedding that Saskia, a powerful social influencer, will choose.  It could mean more business for Karla, and enough money to complete the renovations she's wanting to do.

But then a young steward mentions that Karla's assistant Jennifer has boarded and been put in Karla's cabin, and Karla's confused.  She doesn't even know a Jennifer.  So, when everyone goes to investigate, it turns out that there's been a murder...and it has to be one of the people already onboard the yacht.  But who could it be?  Damien?  Saskia or her beau Ben, an ex-football star?  Damien's assistant Caitlyn?  Or someone else?  What Karla does know is that everyone is lying, because Karla has a unique ability to tell when people are lying.  This, of course, helps her father Dean chief of police, in the investigation.  Her sister Max, another police officer, depends on Karla's ability, too.  

Another big question is where is the rest of the luggage the young woman brought on board?  Where is her purse?  And who is she and why was she there?  Will Karla be able to answer these questions before the wedding?  Or will it just create more problems for her business?...

This is the third book in the series and I absolutely loved it.  I have read the previous one, but am sad to say that I have not read the first (which I am definitely going to remedy).  The author is more than talented, and brings that talent to the written page, which draws us into the story and we actually feel as if we have become part of it.  It comes down to who I'm rooting for to be innocent, and whom I want to be the murderer.  Although I read a lot of mysteries, I found this one delightful.  Yes, I knew who the killer was before Karla was able to figure it out, but the clues were few and far between, to give the reader time to work their 'little grey cells' in the words of that great detective, Hercule Poirot.  It was an intriguing story not only full of lies, but secrets as well, and, of course, all the characters we've come to love.

In the end, when the murderer is revealed, we watch Karla put it all together in her own inimitable way.  It was a pleasure to read this book and I look forward to the next in the series.  Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Drowned-Bellbrook-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09XTT5F2N/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5383162340

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