Apple Orchard Cozy Mysteries: Ten Books Box Set (Books 11-20)

Author:    Chelsea Thomas

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0CFN6MW7K

Independently Published

2,335 Pages

$9.99 Amazon

September 22, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Chelsea Thomas returned to her gorgeous small town after getting dumped, she expected a great many things...

...getting caught up in a dangerous murder mystery wasn't one of them.

Within a couple days of returning to the family orchard, Chelsea is accused of murder and told not to leave town.  Luckily, she's staying with Miss May -- a former big city prosecutor -- which means she's got someone to help her through this.  When Miss May recruits her bottle-blonde best friend, Teeny, the trio begin their hunt for the killer...all the while baking the best apple pies in the state.

But one murder leads to another and another.  The ladies are constantly on the run from bad guys.  They're always doing beattle with the inept police force.  And they're trying, and often failing, to keep their love lives moving forward at the same time.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

First off, let me say that I love Chelsea Thomas (both the writer and the character, not to be confused with each other).  Chelsea the character has adventures that others can only dream about.  That is, if you dream about finding dead bodies and outrunning killers and outwitting the police force.  Something to think about, I guess...

Anyway, I have read all the books in the series and I can truthfully say that I enjoyed them immensely.  We see poor Chelsea as she goes from heartbroken left-at-the-altar bride to strong, willing-to-do-whatever-it-takes Chelsea, and it's a welcome transformation.  She grows with each book, and we watch the changes, however subtle they may be, as she becomes who she finally is in the final book.  I will not give away plots as I expect you will want to read and enjoy them yourself, but they are definitely worth the time.

The author(s) are talented, and allow us to see a little bit of the area where Chelsea grew up, and it's a delightful sight.  We also find that our friends Amy and Petunia (of the Dog Groomer series) make an appearance as well.  

As I have stated before, I love this series and hope that it continues.  Even if the trio of Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny keep finding dead bodies, we, the readers, can enjoy watching them solve the murders.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Orchard-Cozy-Mysteries-Page-turners-ebook/dp/B0CFN6MW7K/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5864387929

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

A Case of Poison Problems (Willow Cove Mysteries Book 5)

Author:    Lily Rose Lane

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0CGB52943

Whiskered Mysteries

155 Pages

$4.99 Amazon

August 21, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A date night is hard when you're starting a new business, even harder when a dead body shows up.

My boyfriend and business partner, Gavin, and I just wanted a night off to go to the movies.

Instead, we find ourselves in the middle of another investigation when the movie theatre owner is found poisoned.

And guess who the number one suspect is?

Me!  Aubrey Rose.

Now it's time to get to the bottom of this murder plot, before Gavin and I end up in a starring role in the Willow Cove jail.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Aubrey Rose moved back home after a disastrous marriage to help her mother run their B&B.  She started off rocky with their handyman, Gavin, but now she can't imagine life without him.  But even the best of partners has a problem or two at times, and she doesn't know if he's holding a grudge from their last case.  When her mother suggests they go to a movie, they both are happy to have the night off.  It all starts off well -- greeting Jasper, the theater owner, and Aubrey notices him sitting a few rows back during the film.

Yet it doesn't end well.  Jasper is discovered dead, and the police think it was a heart attack.  But Jasper's young widow doesn't believe it, and hires the two new PIs to investigate the crime.  While the sheriff warns them off (again), they both think Madison, the widow, might be right, and so they begin their investigation.  But it doesn't make it easier to find any culprits, when there are so many suspects.

This is the fifth book in the series, and I have read them all.  This one is just as delightful as the others.  It's Christmas time, and the duo just want to solve the case before Christmas Day rolls around.  There's a house full of guests, and Aubrey's trying to avoid one who thinks she's a better sleuth.  Then there's the matter of Gavin's mother coming to visit, and he worries that she might not like his life choices.  But all Aubrey wants to do is find the killer so they can relax and enjoy the holiday.

Of course, we have Sheriff Dobbs looking for the easiest suspect to nab (no surprise there!) and it's up to Gavin and Aubrey to show him the error of his ways.  What I do like is the fact that when they find information, they share it with him immediately instead of withholding evidence for their own gain.  It shows integrity on their part.  Good move, Ms. Lane!

The list of suspects grows, and just when they think they have eliminated one another one appears.  But when another suspect asks for their help, they're no closer than they were before.

When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed, it was rather sad; still, a murder was committed and there is a price to pay.  In the end, this was an enjoyable read that I loved, and I can't wait to read the next in the series.

I was given a copy of this book from Whiskered Mysteries and the author, but it in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Poison-Problems-Willow-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0CGB52943/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5839839429

More on Lily Rose Lane's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/l/lily-rose-lane/

Murder At A Scottish Castle (A Scottish Shire Mystery Book 5)

Author:    Traci Hall

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496744371

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$16.95; $9.99 Amazon

January 23, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With the summer days getting shorter in the seaside village of Nairn, the annual bagpiping competition at Ramsey Castle promises to be quite the end-of-season blowout.  Paislee has snagged a special invitation from the dowager countess, who wants to showcase her cashmere goods in the castle gift shop, and she's brought her son Brody, Grandpa, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace.

There's a fierce rivalry between Robert Grant, the Earl of Lyon, and last year's winner Jory Baxter, with Grant loudly vowing to show up the blowhard Baxter and claim clan bragging rights.  But the reigning champion has barely put the reed to his lips when he turns red and collapses, soon to take his dying breath.  DI Zeffer suspects foul play.

With a possible murderer in their midst, the rest of Nairn won't breathe easy until Paislee applies her sleuthing skills to make sure justice is served and the killer pays the piper...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Paislee Shaw owns Cashmere Crush, a yarn shop specializing in high-end products.  She also sells her own designs online and has garnered a following so well that the Dowager Countess of Lyon, Sorcha, has asked her to bring some items to sell in her castle's gift shop.  Paislee is surprised but happy, especially when it coincides with the annual bagpiping completion which is to be held at Ramsey Castle.  Along with her is her son Brody, her grandpa, and their Scottish terrier, Wallace.  All seems to be going well until one of the pipers -- last year's winner -- blows a couple of notes and collapses.  When he dies at the hospital, it's at first deemed an accident, but then DI Zeffer steps in and isn't so sure.

Neither is the Dowager Countess.  She asks for Paislee's help in proving her son Robert's innocence.  While Paislee isn't thrilled, she's rather stuck as she doesn't want to risk not selling her items, nor the displeasure of both the countess and her friend Lady Leery.  So Paislee agrees, but she doesn't expect what happens next...

There's an unavoidable disaster that puts part of her life on hold, and she starts falling into depression; but her best friend Lydia steps in and won't allow it.  Unfortunately, Lydia can temporarily fix one, but not the other, which means there's a killer still out there somewhere...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have read them all.  I also have loved them all.  I'm even reading Scottish idioms without a problem, and just breezing through these books.  The plot is done very well, and Ms. Hall is very good at what she does -- which is to bring the reader into her books and these in particular, almost as if we were visiting Scotland ourselves (not a bad idea!)

I have become quite fond of all of the characters and their quirks, and Paislee has begun to grow a little bit more, which is a good thing.  I hope to see her let go a little and let life happen, but time will tell.  The 'guest' characters -- those of Castle Ramsey -- are written as they should be, although like Paislee, I do believe that the earl is a bit arrogant, but then again, he was probably raised that way.  And I do like Zeffer quite a bit as well.  He's intelligent and knowing, but reserved; just as a DI should be.  

The murderer was unexpected and came out of left field, but that's what a good mystery should do, right?  In the end, the reason for the murder was as twisted as can be in a murderer's mind, but ah, well, it all turned out right after all, and I await the next mystery eagerly.  I cannot wait to see what is next in store for Paislee and her clan.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Scottish-Castle-Mystery-Shire-ebook/dp/B0C3WTZYGT/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5837869486

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

A Well-Constructed Murder (A Bellbrook Murder Mystery Book 1)

Author:    Reagan Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover: Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781990228414; 9781990228421

Carpe Filum Press

280 Pages

$19.99; $12.99; $3.99 Amazon

April 25, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Karla Bell is good at three things: running her successful concierge business, being fiercely independent, and detecting lies.

When her late grandmother is falsely implicated in two mysterious deaths, Karla is determined to uncover the truth and clear her family's name.  Even if she has to use every corporate skill she has, accept help from friends and family, and turn herself into a human lie detector.

Can Karla solve both mysteries and reveal the true culprit(s) before the small-town rumour mill grinds her family's reputation into dust?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Karla Bell left home to make a life for herself, and she has, as the owner of a well-respected concierge company.  But she's returned home for her grandmother's funeral, and discovers that she's now the owner of all the late woman's property.  Also returning is her prodigal mother, who has inherited the money, so Karla needs to make renovations with what she's acquired on her own.  The first thing she plans to do is renovate the two cottages -- Mirabel and Bellflower -- but when she goes to check on the contractor she's hired for the job, she finds him dead.  When there's a second body, no one knows what to make of it.

Now, with the help of her police chief father, her police officer sister, coroner best friend -- and reluctantly, her mother -- Karla must figure out who the murderer is and why these two were murdered...

This is the first book in the Bellbrook series, and the reason I decided to read it is because I have read the others and wanted to go back and see "where it all began."  I can say that I was not disappointed in this book.  It gives the full background of Karla and her family (other books reference it); and her troubled relationship with her estranged mother.  For her part, Karla's mom Lynn is trying to mend things, but Karla is resentful and reluctant -- at least at first.

The mystery itself is written well, with plenty of suspects.  There are a lot of red herrings, and things to throw you in first one direction and then another.  The clues are all there, and as we get closer to the end, we begin to see in which direction they are pointing.  What I love is Karla's ability to tell when people are lying.  An interesting trait indeed.

When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, it's all rather sad in itself, but as I stated above, a very good book indeed.

https://www.amazon.com/Well-Constructed-Murder-Bellbrook-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09T4KCS3C/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5810659639

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