Murder at the Lemonberry Tea (A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery Book 6)

Author:    Darci Hannah

Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book; (Audiobook Available) 

ISBN #:    9781496747402

Kensington Cozies

306 Pages

$8.99; $7.99 Amazon

November 26, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsey's patrons have a new outdoor patio where they can eat their treats in the glorious summer weather.  But even more exciting is that the Beacon Bakeshop is going to host British celebrity chef Vivi Lemonberry -- and what could be a more appropriate event than a tea party?

What Lindsey didn't realize is that Vivi is here to put some distance between herself and her recent professional and personal scandals.  Despite assurances that Vivi is as sweet as a chocolate-dipped strawberry, Lindsey is cooling rapidly toward the culinary icon...especially after she banishes Lindsey's beloved dog, Wellington, from the bakeshop and then flirts outrageously with Lindsey's boyfriend.

She's not the only one feeling hostile, though.  While Vivi's in the middle of making a tart in front of the cameras, a woman runs up and slaps her.  Soon, Vivi's nowhere to be found, and folks are speculating on whether she's run off with her secret lover or just laying low due to embarrassment.  That is, until Lindsey finds a body bobbing near the surface of Lake Michigan.  It's a our ending for the diva, but Lindsey is determined to squeeze the truth out of every clue until she finds the killer...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lindsey Bakewell owns the Beacon Bakeshop, a bakery inside a delightful lighthouse that sits on the edge of Lake Michigan.  She's excited because a British celebrity baker, Vivi Lemonberry, is coming to her shop to bake Vivi's famous Bakewell Tart as part of a promo for her new cookbook.  She's had her share of scandals, but is now ready to start anew with a new attitude as well...but it doesn't last long.  Lindsey soon finds out that Vivi is a diva of the first water and expects Lindsey to change everything to her own specifications.  This includes banning Welly, Lindsey's beloved Newfoundland, from his home until she leaves. 

On top of this, Rory, Lindsey's love, also moves out because Lindsey's best friend, Kennedy's family, is coming to stay at the lighthouse -- her grandmother, mother, and sister Pippa.  This is almost as complicated as it gets, until while filming, a woman comes up and slaps Vivi, sending her off in hysterics, not to return.

Now everyone wants to know where Vivi is, and when -- or if -- the show will continue.  Unfortunately, while learning to scuba dive with Rory, Lindsey is thrown into a terror by finding a body just below the surface of the water.  Now there's a search for a killer, and even the police are so stumped that Sergeant Murdock has asked for Lindsey's help.  What else could go wrong?...

This is the sixth book in the series and I have read them all.  I have also loved them all.  This one has just as much appeal as all the others.  While the search is on for a killer, it's obvious that the murderer has intended to frame someone else, and that doesn't sit well with Lindsey or her friends.  Unfortunately, Kennedy's sister "wants in on the action", which doesn't sit well with Kennedy, but what can she do?

Once they start investigating, they discover that everyone has secrets.  But which ones led to the murder?  And with so many people with motives, how to sift through the suspects to find out who had the nerve -- and anger -- to kill in such a fashion?

The book is filled with enough intrigue, secrets, and lies to keep anyone interested, but there are not so many people that you can't keep the suspects straight.  I pretty much had most of it figured out before Lindsey did; but in the end even I was surprised by the whole truth.

At the last, we are given a wonderful ending that leaves us wanting to read the next book in the series right now.  I am not-so-patiently waiting for that!  There are also some yummy recipes in the back on the book that I can't wait to try.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Lemonberry-Beacon-Bakeshop-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CWLHGYCZ/

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6796009966

More on Darci Hannah's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/darci-hannah/

This Way to Murder (The Board Game Cafe Mysteries #1)

Author:    Shelley Shearer

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781958321010

Tannhauser Press

211 Pages

$12.99; $4.99 Amazon

February 9, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Remi McKenna is co-hosting a letterboxing event, but her weekend plans are not all fun and games when best friend Trace Cooper is the target of a stalker.  An inheritance of a stone manor house means she hopes this will be the start of her new life in Northern Virginia.  Can Remi juggle the event, start planning her game-themed B&B, and solve the mystery of Trace's strange messages?  Things escalate into a real-life game of Clue when Remi finds a dead body in the garden.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Remi McKenna quit her job and left the state when she inherited a huge old home from her late aunt.  Along with her is her best friend Trace Cooper, and they're off to their new adventure...somewhat.  It seems that Trace's downstairs neighbor has been found murdered, and that's not a good start.  Even though neither of them knew him, they had no idea this was just the beginning to a bigger mystery...

Remi has agreed to cohost a letterbox event with her friends Alice and Jason at their farm, which they are trying to turn into an inn.  Unfortunately, there's also an alien event going on in town, which means the inn is full, and the barn and yard is full of tents with people who are attending one event or the other.  Remi only hopes she can keep up with it all.

But it's soon apparent that Trace has a stalker who knows her every move, even here at their getaway.  Trace acts nonchalant, but Remi is worried, and doesn't want her to go anywhere alone.  Then 'accidents' are occurring to people who are around Trace, and Remi is more than alert, especially when she finds the body of a man who hit on Trace.  Can she find the killer and get through the weekend unscathed, or will this be her first -- and final -- event?

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I have to say that I enjoyed it.  I know nothing about letterboxing, but the best way I can explain it is that it's like Geocaching, but with written clues instead of coordinates, less intricate, and using rubber stamps.

That being said, it was an interesting plot line and I thought that it was written well with enough intrigue to keep one interested throughout.  There are plenty of suspects, and also a lot of red herrings.  After all, there is only one killer, but they are not that easy to figure out, which I appreciated.  I love a good mystery that keeps me on my toes.

When we discovered the murderer, it came as a complete surprise, which it should, and the reason for the killing was insane; but then again, this is a killer and they never make sense anyway!  The only thing I have to wonder is if a gaming B&B could make money; but you see, when I go to one, I do so to relax and just enjoy what is around me, not to do what it is I do all the time anyway.  Those, of course, are just my thoughts and we will have to see what the author does in the next book, right?

In the end, very good mystery, surprise of a killer, and very good writing.  I will read the next in the series.

https://www.amazon.com/This-Way-Murder-Board-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0CVDMS3ZC/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6782919692

More on Shelly Shearer's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/s/shelley-shearer/

Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine (A Salem B&B Mystery #9)

Author:    Traci Wilton

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0CZGPZQMJ

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$8.54 Amazon

December24, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cupid's taking aim at Charlene Morris's historic Salem B&B, which is brimming with models for a contentious photo shoot, but his arrow goes astray when someone is murdered on Valentine's Day...

A full house is nothing new to Charlene and her ghostly friend, Dr. Jack Strathmore, but this Valentine's Day, their Salem, Massachusetts inn isn't filled with romantic couples.  Instead, every room is booked by formerly famous photographer Dane Stallone, for a Cupid-themed calendar he hopes will jumpstart his sagging career.  Though Charlene's hands are full with a dozen gorgeous models, Dane is the only diva -- pitching fits, making unreasonable demands, and generally being a mood killer...until a real killer strikes and puts the whole shoot on ice.

With more suspects than a jumbo box of chocolates, Charlene, Jack, and Detective Sam Holden race to find the one person filled with murderous intent...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Charlene Morris moved from Chicago to Salem after her husband's sudden death, and bought the large mansion that is now her beloved B&B.  It also came with the ghost of the former owner, Dr. Jack Strathmore, whom Charlene has grown very fond of.  Only Charlene and her cat Silva can see and hear Jack, which makes her careful when others are around.

She's currently hosting twelve models from around the world and their photographer, Dane Stallone, for a photo shoot that must be done by March 1st, and it is nearly Valentine's Day.  However, Dane is acting like a real diva, with nearly unreasonable demands of both the models and Charlene and her staff.  While she doesn't like the man, she helps him anyway just to get it over with an him out of her house.

But then a murder occurs, and Charlene is stuck with everyone when the police -- namely newly promoted Detective Jimenez -- tells her no one can leave until she finds the killer.  Suddenly tempers flare and arguments break out, but Charlene is determined to make the best of it and hope the remaining guests will, also.

Then there's the problem of Sam, who can't get involved in the case but still wants to see Charlene, and her "daughter" Avery is due home from school for a few days.  With so much going on, will she be able to find time to gather clues to solve the case, or will this finally put an end to her sleuthing altogether?...

This is the ninth book in the series and I have read and loved them all.  This one was a bit more complicated, as you have a lot more suspects, and they're all gathered in one place.  Keeping the names straight was easy enough, but then you have to keep the countries straight as well.  Not as easy, but doable.

I loved how the mystery was laid out, and even the fact that each of the people at the B&B had secrets of their own that they wanted to keep hidden.  But it's not as simple as it seems when they must involve Brandy Flint, a powerful witch and owner of Flint winery, and Charlene's friend.  It all seems so complicated for Charlene, who asks Jack for help.

Through a twisty tale that interweaves mystery, loss, and intrigue, we are given new insights and danger abounds; and wait to see how it all turns out.  It is indeed a delicious mix of a tale, and while the ending is very good, I have to say that I am Team Jack (yes, I know he's a ghost, but such a delightful one); so Charlene has that to deal with as well (which is no spoiler as it's been in previous books).  

\

Another fine tale from Ms. Wilton, and the ending alone is worth reading the entire book (but don't peek!).  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Morris-Venomous-Valentine-Salem-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CZGPZQMJ/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6782000840

More on Traci Wilton's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/traci-wilton/

Scooping Up Scandal (A Little Dog Diner Mystery #7)

Author:    Emmie Lyn

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781964703220

Tule Publishing

258 Pages

$11.99; $4.99 Amazon

August 5, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Turning thirty can be murder!

When a body is discovered next to the Little Dog Diner on her milestone birthday, Dani Mackenzie finds herself scooping up a scandal instead of cutting cake.

The prime suspect is the new owner of the Blueberry Bay Grapevine, but the victim's stepbrother and ex-girlfriend also have means, motive, and opportunity.

With this trio of suspects, it will take a good nose to uncover whodunnit.  At least Dani has her best friend -- her Jack Russell, Pip -- at her side to help sniff out the killer!  But in the meantime, her kick-off to her thirties is turning into more of an upside-down cake than a celebration as she uncovers money, a business scandal, and thwarted love at the core of this crime.

It will take the victim's black Labrador and finding a winning lottery ticket to solve this mystery, but Dani never throws in the towel!  Will she and Pip once again use their experience at solving mysteries to bring justice to Misty Harbor, Maine, or will they be caught in the crosshairs of the killer?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Dani Mackenzie is awakened early one morning by a call from Cam, who owns the local newspaper, the Grapevine.  Cam tells her that someone is trying to break into Dani's restaurant, The Little Dog Diner.  But when Dani arrives, she gets a different surprise -- it's her thirtieth birthday and her friends and family have planned a celebratory breakfast for her.  But there's another surprise waiting -- the body of Thorne Waite is in Cam's office, and she claims she has no idea how it got there or who killed him.

Now Cam, along with others who knew Thorne, are suspects in the murder, and Dani's right in the middle of it.  Will she be able to find a killer?  Will she survive her birthday?  Not to mention her best friend Maggie has fallen in love with the dead man's dog and refuses to give it back to the breeder, who isn't happy about it.  Dani doesn't know what's going on, but when she receives an unexpected surprise on her birthday -- from an unexpected source -- she begins to figure out that she might be the next target of a killer....

This is the seventh book in the series, and I am sad to say that I have not read them all.  But I found this so delightful that I fully intend to correct that and read the ones I missed.  Poor Dani only wants a quiet birthday, but that's not going to happen; and she's stuck in the middle of another murder investigation, much to the dismay of Detective AJ Crenshaw.

Then there's the victim's lab, whom both Maggie and the breeder want.  Which one will get the dog?  And why does the victim's brother hang around town after the murder, acting suspiciously?  Or the ex-girlfriend annoying everyone she comes across?

Dani has her hands full, not only with her diner, (which she's not able to spend a lot of time in, but that's okay, she has her grandmother Rose saving the day there), so worrying about the diner is at least on the back burner for awhile.

Needless to say, this mystery is full of twists and turns, full of people who aren't the nicest, and questions about why the dead man was in Cam's office.  Dani dives full on into the murder, and we watch as she gathers and deciphers clues along the way.  It's a lot of fun with a lot of intrigue, a few secrets being unveiled, and an ending that was and wasn't unexpected (you'll find out!).  All in all, I really enjoyed this and hope you will, too.  Highly 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/Scooping-Up-Scandal-Mystery-Little-ebook/dp/B0D4MN9RQT/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6762369550

More on Emmie Lyn's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/l/emmie-lyn/

Furballs and Felonies (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery Book 3)

Author:    DeAnna Drake

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781964703336

Tule Publishing

224 Pages

$11.99; $4.99 Amazon

August 12, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What's worse than finding a murder victim on your doorstep?

For Rebecca Cuthbert, it's finding a cursed Egyptian charm tucked into the dead woman's pocket.  The ominous discovery propels the fearless shopkeeper and her immortal, chatty cat on a perilous hunt for the killer and another piece of the missing magical collection.

Unfortunately, Citrus Grove's annual summer festival is tying up police department resources -- including Rebecca's new beau, Detective Nick Devon -- which leaves Rebecca, her grandfather's wisdom, and Aneksi's mystical powers to crack the case.

As her investigation delves into the amulet's eerie peculiarities and the deceased's shocking connections with a menacing foe, as well as an unwelcome old flame from Rebecca's past.  Rebecca doesn't know who to trust.  Can she rely on her newfound friends in her adopted hometown, or will deadly revelations turn her into the killer's next target?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

After the unexpected death of her parents in a car accident, Rebecca Cuthbert learned she had a grandfather she never knew about.  She moved from Montana to Citrus Grove to meet him, and decided to stay and help him with his antiquities shop.  But since then, she's learned why her father left and never contacted him again: in a vault her grandfather, Stirling Cuthbert, has been keeping ancient Egyptian artifacts that his grandfather brought back to the states -- without knowing they were cursed.  Unfortunately, someone stole some of them, and now both of them are trying to retrieve the items, one at a time.

What they did find among the missing items was a burial urn for a cat.  When broken, the urn left them with an immortal kitten named Aneksi -- and they've been fond of her and love her, even knowing she can speak to them and has powers they may not know yet.  Or ever.

But when Rebecca is taking trash to a dumpster one night, she sees someone on the shop's doorstep, and when she approaches finds the woman dead.  Aneksi leads her to an artifact stolen from them -- the dark ankh -- and that will be the cause of all the trouble that lies ahead.

And no one can even decipher what lies ahead, including the appearance of Rebecca's ex-fiancé, Mason Moretti; the last person she ever wants to see again.  He says he's bringing her a message, but she knows there's more.

Still, a murderer is out there, and could be anyone in town.  Will Rebecca find the killer?  Or will someone land in prison for a crime they didn't commit?

This is the third book in the series, and I have to say that I am hooked on this.  This being a big deal because I don't normally read fantasy books.  But I'm a sucker for Egyptian history and cats, so I should have known beforehand, ha!

I loved the storyline, and I am becoming fond of the characters as well.  They are given more depth in each book, and who cannot like Aneksi?  Rebecca is finding her way in her new town, and you can see that she and Stirling are growing closer to each other, which is a wonderful thing.  Neither interferes with the other's life, but they cling to each other as only newfound family can.  

Finding the killer is proving to be a bit more difficult though, as Rebecca thinks everyone could be the murderer.  She uses her friend Luna as a sounding board, but she still has doubts and goes about trying to find the truth.  Will it make her enemies?  That I don't know, but I do know that when she ferrets out the killer, it's an interesting climax to the book.  And speaking of teasers -- there's a whopper that makes me want to read the next in the series right away.  Get cracking, Ms. Drake!  We're waiting!  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Furballs-Felonies-Purr-fect-Relic-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D54RLHZ6/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6759289507

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

Monterey Bay Murder (Amanda Warren Cozy Animal Mystery Book 2)

Author:    Seren Star Goode

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781736538791

Goodestar Publishing

280 Pages

$14.99; $3.99 Amazon

August 2, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the small coastal town of Ocean Wood, where the salty breeze carries butterflies and secrets, Amanda's quest to restart her life takes a wild turn as a diver washes ashore, a speargun bolt piercing his chest.

The once-tranquil marina turns into a hotbed of suspicion, with Amanda's friend Ben as a prime suspect.  Amidst celebrities, betrayals, and shakedowns, Amanda and Grok team up to clear Ben's name.  

Together, they discover that the marina harbors more than just boats.  With a cast of quirky friends and Grok's uncanny investigative skills, Amanda sails into the heart of the mystery determined to expose the true culprit.

Can Amanda and Grok untangle this fishy business before the killer strikes again?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Amanda Warren left her home to find a new one -- hopefully her twin sister Alexandria will forgive her after years of estrangement.  But when she arrives in Ocean Wood, there's no trace of Alexandria, and no one seems to know where she's gone...not even her cat, Grok, whom Amanda discovers she can understand.

She's trying to get her dog washing business off the ground, but she keeps running into trouble.  Like this morning, when her friend Ben called her frantically for help.  She goes to the marina where he's just moved in with his boat, only to find it's taking on water.  She tries to corral his dog Qbert, but it seems the dog has found something more interesting...a body.  Now Ben's a suspect in the murder, and he' wondering if he should just move back to his former home.  Amanda realizes the only thing she (and Grok) can do is find the real killer...if she can make it without getting killed...

I wanted to read this book because I love mysteries and I love cats.  I really didn't know what to expect, especially the fact that Grok can communicate with Amanda, who appears to be a little bit psychic herself in this matter.  Grok can do things humans can't, and his help is invaluable.

When the diver, Tobias, is killed, a clue points to Ben as the killer,  Which he isn't.  But who is?  Amanda thinks anyone who was at the marina during the time of death could be a suspect.  But with the chief of police hating her, and the lead detective telling her to stay out of it, she needs to be stealthy about it or her own goose might be cooked.

So she enlists the help of friends she's made, and in between her grooming jobs she looks for clues pointing to someone else, which means asking questions.  A lot of questions, which could put her in the hot seat (and does).

The one thing I didn't care for in this book is Amanda walks right up to people and asks them about the murder.  She might as well state: "I think you killed Tobias.  Time to 'fess up."  It's a tad uncomfortable to read.  There are ways to surreptitiously ask questions without people actually figuring out what you're doing.  Also, less chance of being discovered doing it.  But she actually has no tact about it, so that was why I deleted one star.

However, in the end we discover the murderer, and Amanda is right in the thick of it, and saved by an unlikely hero, which was surprising and rather fun to read about.  All in all, I enjoyed the story and will continue with the series.

I received a copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Monterey-Murder-Amanda-Warren-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D9S3B82Y/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6748046171

More on Seren Star Goode's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Seren-Star-Goode/author/B0CLQ7FSKL?ref

Booked on Murder (A Haunted Library Mystery Book 8)

Author:    Allison Brook

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781639108459

Crooked Lane Books

304 Pages

$29.20; $17.99 Amazon

August 6, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Carrie Singleton is ready to kiss the single life goodbye.  Her wedding to Dylan Avery is just a few weeks away, and a happy ending is about to be hers.  But when a body is found on the lawn of their wedding venue, happily-ever-after is looking deadlier than ever.

The victim turns out to be Billy Carpenter, a young man recently released from prison after serving time for a bank robbery.  The stolen money he buried is gone and Carrie and the police suspect Billy's two alleged co-conspirators, his friends Luke Rizzo and Tino Valdez.  But then Luke is murdered and Tino is nowhere to be found.

With no leads and only a week to go before her big day, Carrie is on the hunt for clues.  She hopes to wrap up this investigation with a neat bow before she and Dylan tie the knot.  Carrie has something old, something new, and something borrowed ready for her walk down the aisle.  Now she needs to find the killer without becoming the 'something blue'.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Carrie Singleton is finally getting ready to marry her love, Dylan Avery.  Everything seems almost ready, save for the rehearsal and a few errands such as picking up her wedding dress.  But she's still focused on work...

It seems she located an old donated diary from the Seventeenth Century.  It was written by one Verity Babcock, who was later branded a witch and sentenced to death.  But was she really?  Reading the diary, Carrie doesn't think so, and neither does her boss at the library, Sally.  So Sally tells her that the newspaper wants her to write an article about it -- and it does nothing but stir up trouble.  Two people are having a war of 'letters' with one wanting her exonerated and the other branding Verity a murderer.  Who is right?  It doesn't matter, as the diary has now become the focus of people in the town, and especially Winnie Thompson, who claims Verity was her ancestor and she should have it.

Unfortunately, the library disagrees and things get worse from there.  How worse could they get?  When Dylan and Carrie go to check their marriage venue, which is their good friend Victor's home, they find a dead body on the lawn, and now there are more problems than Carrie can deal with.

Missing money from a bank heist.  Another body.  A missing man.  Last minute wedding plans -- and Carrie is caught up in it all.  Just when she thinks it might be sorted out, it gets even worse -- and now Carrie might not be able to get married after all...

I have read every book in the series, and I have grown fond of the characters.  I don't think I will be giving anything away to let people know that this is the last book in the series.  When I finished, it was as if I had lived there and was suddenly moving away.  The loss of friends, of family.  The sadness one feels knowing you can't go back.  I definitely felt a loss at the end, even though the author managed to give us a wonderful ending.

I hate to see series end, but I understand the author wants to move on.  What makes me doubly sad is this is the second series that has ended for me in two months.  (I won't name the other).  I have enjoyed following Carrie as she grows and changes.  Watching her as she moves forward with her life.  It's a series I will remember.

And do remember this: this last book is wonderful.  The writing is crisp and colorful, and allows us to go on 'one last caper' with Carrie before she ties the knot.  It's filled with secrets, lies, and the many machinations of people, and Carrie is in the midst of it all.  But it is, albeit, worth reading, and I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.  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/Booked-Murder-Haunted-Library-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CLKZ83SX/ref 

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6747034506

More on Allison Brook's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/allison-brook/

The Happy Housekeeper's Guide to Theft (A Barbara Hollis Murder Mystery #3)

Author:    Blythe Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9798879148008

Independently Published

169 Pages

$12.99; $4.99 Amazon

February 14, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Barbara Hollis has barely settled into the sleepy little town where her brother is sheriff, when a shocking crime rocks the community.  Thanks to a peculiar new friend she has made an an unexpected prize she has won at a plasticware party, Barbara finds herself dragged into a dangerous mystery,.

Can she uncover the identity of a murderer and track down a jewelry store thief, while navigating a confusing acquaintance with a handsome restaurant owner who just a little too charming for anyone's good?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Barbara Hollis moved from the big city to her hometown of Cobbsville, Georgia, to help her widowed sheriff brother take care of his twin boys.  But that's not the only reason she left, although no one knows there was another.  She's also slowly making friends, and one day a woman approaches her to ask if she'll come to her plasticware party.  Since her friend Vicky will be there, Barbara agrees.  But during the party, everyone notices that the hostess, Delores, seems a bit 'off' although no one wants to say anything.

Barbara wins a prize, and when she returns home, she discovers that one of the containers she's won holds a large amount of cash.  Wondering what to do, she consults Vicky and they formulate a plan.  But Barbara also learns that the local jeweler, Frankie Webber, has been murdered and his store has been robbed.  Barbara now has two dilemmas, and she vows to help her brother solve the crime -- even if he doesn't want her to.  It's nearing Halloween, and her nephews are at an aunt and uncle's, so she has the time on her hands.  What could go wrong?...

This is the third installment in the mystery series, and I enjoyed it very much.  These are fairly short reads, which is fine; although you're not given a lot of character development, you are given a nice mystery to read.  The author does fine in setting the scene and creating a believable scenario; the characters are done well enough that they are likeable (at least the main characters), and this is a plus.  I do, however, wish Barbara would let us know why she left Liberty City; it's a tad annoying to read three of these and still be in the dark.  Was it worth leaving?  I, for one, would like to know.

Aside from that, I enjoyed the storyline as written, and I found that the murderer's reason for the killing was the same as all -- from the beginning of time -- and made sense, at least in their own mind, if not to the rest of us!  All in all, an enjoyable story from an enjoyable author and I plan to read the next.  Recommended.

\https://www.amazon.com/Housekeepers-Barbara-Hollis-Murder-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CS3BNDSN/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6727411625

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

A Slay Ride Together With You (Year-Round Christmas Mystery Book 7)

Author:    Vicki Delany

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781639108793

Crooked Lane Books

288 Pages

$29.99; $17.99 Amazon

September 24, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rudolph, New York shop owner Merry Wilkinson's best friend Vicky Casey is newly engaged to Chef Mark Grosse and is moving into the historic Cole House -- a home surrounded by drama, intrigue, and a possible haunting that is in desperate need of renovation.  The wedding is just three weeks away, but all is not bliss for the newly engaged couple as estranged relatives of the late owner fight over her will.  The, late one night, Vicky and Merry come across a dead body in the garden of Cole House -- and Mark is the one standing over the corpse.

As Detective Diane Simmonds focuses on Mark as the prime suspect, Vicky asks for Merry's help to clear her fiancé's name in time for the wedding.  As they dig deeper into the connection between the house, Cole relatives, and town residents, past and present, it becomes clear that plenty of people wanted the victim dead.

With a bakery to run, the busy Easter weekend fast approaching, a house to renovate, and a fiancé to clear of a murder accusation, Vicky's wedding may end up on the chopping block.  It's up to Merry to put aside the chocolate bunnies and stuffed rabbits and help her best friend save her wedding -- and her life.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Merry Wilkinson lives in Rudolph, New York, deemed "Christmas town" and owns Mrs. Claus's Treasures, a gift shop.  She's also best friends with Vicky Casey, who owns the local bakery.  While talking with Vicky one day she learns that Vicky and her fiancé Mark Grosse, a chef at a local inn, are purchasing a long-vacant Victorian mansion that has been dubbed as haunted.  Not wanting to say anything, she just congratulates her.

But then the troubles begin: a man accosts them in the street, claiming the Vicky stole the mansion out from under him and he is the rightful owner.  Even though neither of them believes it, Vicky is a bit shaken up.  Later Merry learns that Vicky -- and Mark -- have been hearing noises at night, more creaks than an old house should offer up.  There's also knocking at both front and back doors -- but no one is there.  After Mark arrives home from work, the women tell him, and he starts to search outside -- but not for long.  A body is discovered, and Mark has the person's blood on him from trying to turn it over.  Now he's a suspect in the murder, and Vicky asks Merry to help clear his name.  But in doing so, will she once again put herself in harm's way?...

I have to be honest and say that I have not read every book in this series, but I wish I had.  I love Ms. Delany's other series, and this book has the same charm as the others.  It pulls you in at the beginning and makes you want to continue to read it all in one sitting.  The characters are believable, the settings descriptive; so much so that I want to visit Cole House myself.  I love Victorian homes, and I love old mysteries within mysteries, so this book was perfect for me to read.

I love the fact that the author managed to convey both sadness in the previous owners of the home while encouraging the happiness of a new couple who would be beginning their lives together soon.  But will the wedding occur with the death hanging over them?  It becomes apparent that this was a homicide, and Mark may have had a motive -- or did he?  That's the pleasure of reading these stories.  You are given a plethora of suspects, and then you must weed them out to find the true culprit.  And, of course, Merry does -- as we know she will do.

The climax of the story is suspenseful, as it should be.  There is nothing light about it; and it is not until the epilogue (last chapter) that we see the new beginnings come into focus.  When we discover the reason for the killing it seems tragic at the very least; and it lets us see that almost anyone can be deranged in their thoughts.  A definite plus for the ending.  I am glad I read this and now will have to go back to the ones I missed and start all over.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Slay-Together-Year-Round-Christmas-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CQWX976D/

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6729140244

More on Vicki Delany's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/vicki-delany/

Tiger Lillies & Tragedy (A Petal Pushers Flower Shop Cozy Mystery #7)

Author:    L.C. Turner

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book 

ASIN #:    B0CP7FB33M

New Pen Media, LLC

155 Pages

$2.99 Amazon

May 10, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Presley, an avid pet enthusiast, is thrown into a fur-raising mystery that'll have tails wagging in Hope Springs!  When the beloved show dog Lord Bentley disappears without a trace from the prestigious Hope Springs Dog Show, Presley discovers the fiercely competitive world of dog shows, where wining is everything and the stakes are higher than she ever imagined.

But could this fierce competition have driven someone to dognap Lord Bentley in a desperate bid for victory?  With fur flying and suspicions abound Presley digs her paws into the cutthroat world of competitive canine glory, determined to unravel the mystery and bring Lord Bentley home before the final bark is heard!

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Presley Sands lives in Hope Springs and owns a floral shop that once was her mother's.  While she's trying to live a quiet life with her husband Cooper, things don't always go that way.  Especially when she delivers floral arrangements to a dog show and one of the contestants runs to her in a panic and asks for her help in locating her lost dog, Lord Bentley.  Adelaide Finch is convinced someone stole Lord Bentley to keep him from winning, and she has a list of suspects she wants Presley to question.  But while Presley has reservations about the entire thing, she agrees to ask around and see if she can find the dog.

What she does find, however, is that the world of dog competitions is as competitive as any beauty pageant, and most of the the owners would do almost anything to see their dog win.  But kidnapping?  Presley wonders if someone did take the dog, but who?  And can she get Lord Bentley back in time to enter -- and possibly win -- the next competition...

This is the seventh Petal Pushers mystery, and while I have enjoyed them, I do think that this one started off slow.  Yes, we have the reason for it all at the beginning, but then it slowed down considerably, and there didn't seem to be much action except for asking a lot of questions.  I know, I know.  That's part of the book.  But there is so much more to a mystery.  This is my reason for only four stars, although I still give it a fairly high rating.

Unfortunately, I really didn't think this was a real 'cozy,' as there is not murder.  I know; not all cozies have a murder, but I do expect one, and this was about a missing dog.  Although everything was resolved at the end, for me, it fell flat.  Hopefully the next in series will be better.

https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Lilies-Tragedy-Pushers-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CP7FB33M/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6723660720

More on L.C. Turner's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/l-c-turner/

The Accidental Star -- The Life and Films of Warner Baxter

Author:    Dan Van Neste

Genre:     Biography/Actors

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9788887712253; 9798887712246

BearManor Media

498 Pages

$45.00; $35.00; $.9.95 Amazon

August 3, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Best Actor Academy Award on his mantel, a four-decade-long acting career on his resume, 104 feature films in his filmography, enough great reviews to fill a dozen scrapbooks, the highest paid actor in Hollywood in 1938, and the second highest in 1937, a popular star admired and loved by coworkers and fans everywhere, a man beloved by his wife, family, and friends whose philanthropy, community serve, and acts of kindness won him wide approbation.  Those were but a few of the accomplishments of Warner Baxter, the actor and the man.  Yet in spite of all his achievements, the life of Warner Baxter was no bed of roses.  An insecure, troubled man bedeviled by grave self-doubts, negative thoughts and inner demons which he never seemed totally able to control, Baxter often appeared incapable of enjoying his many triumphs.  On a surface level, his unhappiness and inner turmoil appear irrational, but when one learns his history, past experiences, and the astonishing series of accidents, injuries, and catastrophes which befell Baxter and those closest to him throughout his life, his insecurities and instability become considerably more understandable.  Similarly sad is the fact that since his early death in 1951, Warner Baxter's fame and professional legacy have basically faded into oblivion, an unjust victim of fame and neglect. 

Who was Warner Baxter?  Why is he important?  How is it possible such an acclaimed and popular actor, someone so admired by fans and Hollywood elites during his heyday could be disregarded and/or forgotten today?  The Accidental Star chronicles the dramatic life and career of this talented, versatile and vastly underrated film star in an attempt to answer those questions.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Two things I will first say about this biography: It is very well researched, and gives us an excellent insight into both the man and the actor who is Warner Baxter.

To start off, I will tell you that I was born after Mr. Baxter died, so there should be a possibility that I would never have heard of him.  But I am a tremendous lover of classic films.  So much so, I don't even watch the movies made today.  I would rather live in the glory that was once Hollywood than what has unfortunately become.  I also have thousands of classic films, so I never get bored!

Warner Baxter has always struck me as a wonderful actor, most deserving of his Oscar, for the film In Old Arizona.  It began a long career of movies, one in which he excelled in whatever character he chose to play.  He always struck me as not only handsome, but strong and steady, someone you could talk to about anything -- this was his screen persona.  In fact, I recently watched once again The Prisoner of Shark Island, just to bring me back into seeing him once more on screen.  I won't go into the movie, as the author does that quite nicely.  But watching it, you can see the emotions flit over his face as he encounters life -- happiness, despondency, confusion, determination, and eventually, triumph and once again happiness, although this time sadly.  It is a wonderful picture, and you should watch it.

He made many wonderful pictures; unfortunately, also quite a few that are "lost" because of the way films were made long ago, and there are no prints available to watch.  (I long to see them, but alas, it will never be).  There is no doubt that he was spectacular in whatever role he chose; until, at least, he allowed his own health issues to intervene.

Mr. Baxter was also happily married for thirty-three years to his wife until his death in 1951.  Their marriage was more than solid.  The Baxters traveled, and had several homes, including an impressive (even by today's standards) home in California, which, eventually, they sold, along with other 'impulse' purchases by Baxter.  But while they were there, they enjoyed them, and also spending time with friends, which included other great actors such as Ronald Colman and William Powell.

Warner Baxter, unfortunately, had demons he was never able to rid himself of.  His mother was widowed when he was only five months old, and never remarried.  He spent his life devoted to her and taking care of her.  He always knew he wanted to be an actor even when he had other jobs.  It was by sheer luck that someone knew and took notice of this tall, imposing man with the baritone voice and expressive face.

There were several accidents and incidents throughout his acting career -- and we will never know if he blamed himself for any of them -- but he kept this to himself, as well as his other insecurities.  No matter how much money he had -- and the Baxters were, by all accounts, very wealthy -- he believed that tragedy was around the corner.  But Baxter loved to act, and he kept on even late into his career, which spawned a ten-movie series named The Crime Doctor.  Occasionally, you can catch this series on Turner Classic Movies (or better yet, buy it!).  It is one of the last films (but not the last) that Mr. Baxter made.  

I could list all the movies I've watched, and those I love best, but the author does a superb job of doing this for me.  As I stated above, the book is well researched, and there is an extensive bibliography and filmography in the back of the book for you to reference.  Above all, there are many wonderful pictures of this star throughout the book, and tons of those I have never seen before.

While Warner Baxter remains, I imagine, not as well-known as stars such as James Cagney, his roles were nevertheless diverse and worth watching, and I implore you to read this book and then delve into a few.  You will not regret it.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Star-Films-Warner-Baxter-ebook/dp/B0CW1B1JWC/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6665274560  

More on Dan Van Neste's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADan+Van+Neste&s=relevancerank&text=Dan+Van+Neste&ref=