Pie Hard

 The Soap Maker's Mysteries Book 2

Author:    Liz Clay

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0FQSHGYJB

Independently Published

94 Pages

$0.00 Amazon

September 11, 2025

⭐⭐

The deadliest recipes are family secrets.  

Kate Hartwell just wanted to make candles and maybe not find any more dead bodies.  Apparently, that was too much to ask.

When the Pumpkin Pie Festival turns into a poisoning party, Kate's nose for trouble leads her straight into another murder mystery.  Because nothing says "small-town charm" like botanical assassins and fifty-year-old grudges served with a side of revenge.

Armed with her grandmother's herbal recipes and a growing suspicion that everyone in Moonrise Key has secrets worth killing for, Kate must catch a killer before they catch her.  Again.

Some pies are to die for.  Others are just plain deadly.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Kate Hartwell is watching the pumpkin pie contest when she smells something off in the first pie.  But it's too late to stop Ellie, a retired schoolteacher, from tasting the first pie...and being poisoned.  At least Ellie isn't dead, but Kate knows that this echoes a previous murder, and now she wonders if there's another killer on the island.

When Ellie calls her to her hospital bedside, she discovers that it may tie in to a fifty-year-old suspected murder of a young woman who was visiting her relatives for the summer.  Someone is seeking revenge, and Kate is determined to find out who...

I love reading, and I love reading mysteries most of all.  I won't state my background, but I'm a big believer in details.  I look for them everywhere, and I'll never get away from it.  Oh, well.  At any rate, I was charmed in the first part of the book, as I found it a decent cozy to pass the time.  Then I kept reading.  And the inconsistencies and details got me, unfortunately.

I won't list them openly, but put them in a spoiler below:

Victoria was Mr. Pemberton's niece, not Ruth's; and once Ruth divorced her first husband (which was before Michael was conceived since he was Mr. Walsh's son) she nor her children would have any relation to Mr. Pemberton's family. I found it odd that Michael would be upset over a woman he wasn't even related to; there would be no reason for revenge of any sort. I certainly wouldn't be upset if I had heard this story; sad, yes, but not willing to avenge my non-aunt. I didn't like the idea that he was willing to sacrifice his own flesh and blood for someone he wasn't related to. His mother! He chose a non-aunt over his own mother! What does that tell you? There is also a conversation that he has with the protagonist where she calls her grandmother his grandmother. Not once, but twice. That confused me as to who was talking at the time, and I had to read this passage twice. Also, I spend a lot of time baking (I have over 500 cookbooks and use them) and I've never gotten flour (or any ingredients) in my hair or on my body. On my hands, yes, but I've never made a mess in the kitchen like she describes. Why was the sheriff calling on a fire inspector to help with a murder investigation? As far as I've ever known, they aren't involved unless fire is, too. Plus, why should I go back and read the first in this series if you've already told me who the murderer was in that one. Authors should never divulge that information from previous books. It's the Spoiler of All Spoilers. I have the book, but now it's a non-read for me since I know who the murderer was.

 

The things that I've listed in the spoiler are the reasons why I've only given this book two stars.  I really wish I could rate it higher, but I have to go with what I feel is honest.  Sorry.

https://www.amazon.com/Pie-Hard-Halloween-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0FQSHGYJB/ref

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8025932686 

An Ill-Fated Halloween

 A Haunted Bishop Library Mystery Book 2

Author:    Amanda Hijaz

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Digital Book

ASIN #:     B0CLJM4825

Independently Published

87 Pages

$2.99 Amazon

October 21, 2023

⭐⭐

Marcus has Halloween events to attend...and a murder to solve.

Marcus never expected his best friend Kinsley to be blamed for a shocking crime.  Kinsley's ex is no longer among the living--and she's being accused of his murder.

Marcus is determined to clear Kinsley's name, even if it means putting himself in harm's way.

The detective thinks the case is open-and-shut, but Marcus knows nothing is as it seems.  So, he investigates the murder with the ghostly Amelia, but the truth behind the murder might be spookier than anyone anticipated.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

It's Halloween week, and the businesses in town are giving out candy to children; along with this, the library is offering pumpkin painting for the young ones.  Marcus, a librarian, is working the table outside when he is met by fellow employee Kinsley, who, in turn, is met by her ex-boyfriend, who immediately starts a fight with her.  When Kinsley and her ex leave, Marcus worries about her, but it's not until he finds her hiding in a closet that he tells her that her ex is in the back parking lot, dead.

Now the police detective in charge is sure she's guilty, all because she slapped her ex's face.  Marcus and his other friends --- including library ghost Amelia -- are sure Kinsley is innocent, and determined to find the killer.  Hopefully, they'll be able to solve the case before Kinsley is convicted...

I like to "read the season" as it were, and this was a short Halloween mystery that I chose.  Unfortunately, I can't say I enjoyed it.  There were no memorable characters, and they had no depth whatsoever.

I had no idea what anyone looked like; and I will say that if I were in a dire situation, I wouldn't want Marcus there with me.  He's a wimp.  He can't even get up enough courage to ask a woman out on a date.  Really?  He's not what I'd call a protector, and when it comes right down to it, women want someone they can trust and count on in these situations, but he can't even call 911.  He lets others do it.  I will say that in the end he tried, but he still comes off as a wimp.  Maybe it's his background, but I wouldn't know, since none of that is given.

I was going to go back and read the first in this series, and hope it was better; but there's no need to since the author even tells you who the person was who killed Amelia.  Since I already know, I've saved money on that purchase.

Unfortunately, this was a disappointing read, and the climax wasn't even that great.  I would have liked to have read descriptions of the town as well.  Maybe in the next book these will be there.  As for me, I don't know.

https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Fated-Halloween-Haunted-Library-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CLJM4825/ref

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8023340215

More on Amanda Hijaz's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/h/amanda-hijaz/

The Witch Wears Prada

 Frosted Misfortunes Mysteries Book 5

Author:    Lisa Siefert

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0F77B8NB5

Tule Publishing

78 Pages

$.99 Amazon

September 22, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Welcome to a SPOOKtacular Halloween in Clover Creek!

Ava's long-lost missing cousin, Sakara Decker, is finally back -- but is she?

After a post-breakup love potion goes completely wrong, Sakara wakes up with total and complete amnesia.  Not only has she forgotten that she's a witch, she also forgot that she has a talking cat.  And the super ability to read minds of anyone she touches, including a would-be assassin.

Stopping a murder before it happens should be easy with the help of her cousin Ava and the local police, but it's Halloween, and no one and nothing is as it seems...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sakara Decker wakes up in a garish red bedroom, and wonders where she is.  She doesn't know, because she has amnesia.  Her talking cat tells her it's her own fault.  Freaked out by the fact she has an imaginary cat, she thinks she has something wrong with her...but he's not imaginary, as she finds out when she goes to an emergency room and the nurse tells her to get it out of there. Passing it off to a security guard, she tells him it's not her cat and she leaves.

After feeling a flash of lightning when talking to the doctor, she sees a vision...and her mind is reeling.  She also discovers the cat is truly hers, and the security guard gave it away.  But when she goes to retrieve the kitty, she touches someone else, and brushes off what she's just seen.

Still disturbed, Sakara searches out someone with her own last name in her phone -- Ava Decker -- and calls her, finding out they live close.  Several episodes later, she's sure the man she met is going to be murdered, and needs all the help she can to save his life.  But will Ava, Sakara, and one ornery cat be able to figure it out?  Or will help be needed at all?...

This is a short story in the Frosted Misfortunes series with a Halloween theme.  It's the first time I've read of Sakara, and I don't usually read books about witches, but she's an interesting one, even with her self-induced amnesia.  (Hopefully, she gets her memory back!)  It's a quick read with an intriguing story line, and I really did like the way the book ended.  While it's a quick read, it's full of action, and worth the time.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Wears-Prada-Halloween-Misfortunes-ebook/dp/B0F77B8NB5/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8020653926

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

Farm-Fresh and Fatal

 Cook-Off Mysteries Book 10

Author:    Devon Delaney

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781966322337

Beyond The Page Publishing

213 Pages

$14.99; $5.99 Amazon

October 8, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When a festival honoring local farmers is marred by murder, cook-off contestant Sherry Oliveri will have to harvest the clues to catch a killer...

The tight-knit community of Augustin has always valued its local farmers, and this year's fair to honr them feathers a cook-off with Sherry Oliveri in the running.  The sponsor of the event is an heirloom potato farm run by a man and his two sons, but tensions rise when one of the sons begins pulling away from the family business.  With the young man's father dead-set on preserving his traditional way of life, the festive celebration takes a dark turn when the rebellious son is found murdered.

Unwilling to believe that the man could have killed his own son, Sherry turns a suspicious eye on a local real estate developer, who might literally have killed to get his hands on the property.  But Sherry knows the most likely suspect isn't always the culprit, and soon she turns to others in the community to unearth any evidence they can find.  Because Sherry will need all the help she can get to catch the killer and save the farm -- and her own life...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sherry Oliveri works part-time at her father's artisan store, The Ruggery; writes a column for the local newspaper; volunteers at the local garden, and most of all, spends her time entering cooking contests -- of which she's won quite a few.  The one she's entering today is local; it's featuring heirloom potatoes grown by a local farm, the only one in the area.

Her brother and sister-in-law Charlotte live in a cottage on the farm along with their young daughter.  Sherry is giving Charlotte a cooking lesson when she notices the people outside, whom Charlotte waves to.  Charlotte tells her that they are the farm owner Perry and his two sons, Wellington and Jarrod.

Sherry's friend Patti has asked Sherry to come with her to visit the farm, and she personally meets the family, along with Jarrod's wife Liz.  She gives no more thought about it until Perry's younger son is found dead on the farm, and it's discovered that he was murdered.

There are suspects, of course, but Sherry not only has her cooking contest to worry about, Patti has told her about an opportunity to join a cooking show that airs on television -- which might mean that she'll need to give up all her extra activities.  With this on her mind, she's still accidentally thrown into the investigation, and what she discovers she doesn't like.  It could change the lives of several people, including her own family...

This is the tenth in the series and I have read (and loved) them all.  I love to cook and bake myself (so much so that I own over 500 cookbooks) so this series is right up my alley.  I tend to think about recipes and cooking much the same way as out protagonist does -- all the time.  But Sherry has a lot more energy than I do, with everything else that occupies her time.

Still, she manages to find time to solve a murder or two somewhere...and that's part of what makes this series so delightful.  She's close with her family, her fiancé Don, and her little dog, Chutney, as well.  She's loyal, friendly, and intelligent.  The local police detective values her input; and he's no bumbler, either.  He has his finger on the pulse, but listens to her, which I find endearing of him.  I like that he doesn't brush off her ideas, and they work together well.  There's a little surprise coming from him in this book as well, and I am happy to see that.

When Sherry finally puts it all together, it's interesting to watch how she does it, and. of course, the killer manages to incriminate themself as they always do.  I will not say much more except to say that this is indeed a wonderful entry to the series, giving us a taste of what is to come.  There are also some great recipes included, for those who want to try them.  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/Farm-Fresh-Fatal-Devon-Delaney-ebook/dp/B0FT6PK3RY/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8020020939

More on Devon Delaney's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/devon-delaney/

Murder At An Irish Session

 An Irish Village Mystery Book 12

Author:    Carlene O'Connor

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496744463

Kensington Cozies

288 Pages

$27.00; $12.99 Amazon

February 24, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As pregnant Siobhan O'Sullivan awaits bringing her new life into the world, she's bringing new life to her village of Kilbane in County Cork, Ireland, with a music and matchmaking festival.  But one matchmaker is about to find out that Cupid's arrow can be fatal...

Siobhan loves to see the joy playing trad music brings to her brother Ciaran, but his concern that he'll never find a mate pulls at her heartstrings.  So she proposes that Kilbane host a music and matchmaking festival to draw single trad musicians.  While renowned matchmaker Liam Noone plays Cupid with his Lucky Book, music -- and hopefully love -- will fill the pubs and the autumn air.

Turning over his precious Lucky Book to Siobhan for safekeeping, Liam takes the stage to introduce matched musician couples who will kick off the festival in the town square.  Suddenly all goes black.  When the lights come back on, the matchmaker has met his maker, impaled through the heart with an arrow made from the sharpened bow of a bass.

Was it the fiddle player, the flute player, the drummer, the piper, the squeeze box player, or the bass player who struck a sour note?  Garda Siobhan and her husband Macdara must pick up the tempo to make whoever committed this crime of passion face the music...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Detective Sergeant Siobhan O'Sullivan lives in the small village of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland, with her husband and several of her siblings.  She has raised them since their parents' untimely death years ago.  But when her youngest brother Ciaran tells her that he is thinking of moving to Australia to find a mate, she's upset.  

Since Ciaran is a fiddle player, she contacts a matchmaker that specializes in connecting musicians with one another, and he arrives soon for a weekend of events and trad sessions of music.  Siobhan takes an instant dislike to Liam Noone, but decides to keep a far berth, knowing this is for Ciaran.  It doesn't last long when on the first night Liam is found dead, shot through the heart with a makeshift arrow -- the bow from a double bass.

All the attendees are now suspects, including Liam's two assistants who traveled with him.  When Siobhan and her husband, Detective Sergeant Macdara, start investigating, the find that Liam had made many enemies along the way, and there is more to the matches he made than meets the eye.  In fact, it seems that all of them are arguing among themselves, and she discovers that secrets run deep, and lies abound.

It doesn't help that Siobhan is pregnant with twins, and feeling queasy at the most inopportune times with morning sickness.  But she's determined to do her job, and get to the truth, no matter what it takes.  Unfortunately, it may take more than she's at first aware of, and all she knows is that there is still a killer out there who might not be done with the game...

This is the 12th book in the series, and I have grown to love these characters.  The books have evolved, and the characters are growing right along with the books.  We have watched them as children now grown, with all the problems that comes with it.  There is no doubt that Siobhan loves her family and would do anything for them; and loves her husband so much that she is willing to put up with his overbearing mother, who is trying to make sure that Siobhan's job doesn't harm "her grandchildren."  All I can say about that is that I am glad I have  the mother-in-law that I do.  I am more grateful for her each day. (ha).

The mystery itself is done well and it's not easy to decipher the murderer, which is how a mystery should be.  There are plenty of red herrings, and suspects are everywhere.  You must sift through the issues and the lies to get to the truth; and not everyone is forthcoming about their privacy.  It makes it tough going for the garda, and a most intriguing mystery.  

In the end, it all comes together nicely, as the murderer is indeed a surprise.  The reasons for the killing are as old as time, but we can never see into the mind of a killer, nor, I think, would many of us want to do so.  It would make for a rough life.  But as with the other books in this series, this one is a delight to read, 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/Murder-Irish-Session-Village-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FBHK4TVH/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7995083597

More on Carlene O'Connor's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/o/carlene-oconnor/

Planted 4 Murder

A Sophie Kimball Mystery Book 15

Author:    J.C. Eaton

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781966322306

Beyond The Page Publishing

220 Pages

$14.99; $5.99 Amazon

October 28, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When the seniors of Sun City West take over a garden plot, they have no idea they'll unearth a plot for murder...

At the urging of the guys in the pinochle club, the members of the Sun City West book club decide it's time to grow their own vegetables and join the local agriculture club.  But when tending to their plants turns up a skeletal hand, the gang begin to feel like they're working in a graveyard instead of a garden.  It's clear that whoever the bones belong to was the victim of foul play, and soon the seniors are pleading with Sophie "Phee" Kimball to step in and help them weed out the killer.

As rumors and speculation flourish, Phee begins to grow suspicious of the other members of the community garden.  Certain that one of them chopped up a body and scattered the parts, she has to deal with invasive insects, sabotaged crops and her mother's hairbrained schemes as she digs for evidence.  Her efforts are finally rewarded when a ring found on the skeletal hand yields a clue that will lead her straight to the culprit.  The only problem is that the killer is one step ahead of her, and Phee discovers too late that she's in for a hoe lot of trouble...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sophie "Phee" Kimball-Gregory lives in Arizona and works for a private investigator, along with her PI husband, Marshall.  Life for Phee is never normal, mainly because her mother Harriet and Harriet's book club ladies seem to find trouble no matter what they're doing.

Today Harriet and her friends are convinced by the men's pinochle group to plant their own vegetables in a community garden.  But it's more than dirt they're turning up.  Since Harriet brings her chiweenie Streetman with her everywhere, he's of course running wild -- until he pulls up a skeletal hand, and Harriet needs Phee to get it away from him.  The only identifying item is a ring on the hand, and it's marked with strange letters that mean nothing to the officers, nor to anyone else.

But the ladies seem to think there's more body parts, even when Phee tries to tell them no.  When they're convinced that one of the gardeners (not their book group, of course!) is guilty of murder, it's all Phee can do to keep them out of trouble...temporarily.

But does anyone listen?  Nope.  Is Phee involved again?  Yep.  And this time, she sees more of local fisherman Paul Schmidt than she'd like to (who wants fish smell in their office?).  But does Paul have information?  Is her Aunt Ina going off the deep end while reading Edgar Allan Poe?  Are the seniors forming their own investigation?  Is Phee at her wits' end?

With Marshall and their boss Nate out of town on a cat kidnapping caper along with her uncle Louis (who does not want to be around Ina during her week of Poe), they may need him for information for themselves.  Which leads Phee to be on her own... and trying to stay alive.  Because when a killer discovers that Phee just might know who they are -- they aren't going to want to let her breathe...

I have read all of this author(s) Sophie Kimball mysteries, and I have been entranced by all of them.  Phee somehow manages to keep sane during her mother's imaginative scenarios, which usually turn out to be true (to an extent).  She's trying to do her job and still keep the women in line, which isn't easy.  And her mother manages to foist Streetman the Maniac Dog on her if she can.  

This book is no different than the others.  It is funny, witty, delightful, full of mystery (what cozy wouldn't be?), and hilarious characters that make you glad you don't live anywhere near them.  Harriet is a hoot, along with Herb; and Ina is a throwback hippie who thinks she has it all together (she doesn't).  I don't want to say anything else about this book that will spoil it for anyone else, but trust me, it's worth the trip to Sun City to see how it all turns out.  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/Planted-Murder-J-C-Eaton-ebook/dp/B0FS7XGCLQ/ref=

Goodreasds:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7990182449

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

Ronald Colman

Hollywood's Gentleman Hero

Author:    Carl Rollyson

Genre:    Biography/Hollywood

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798887714387; 9798887714370

Bear Manor Media

568 Pages

$46.00; $36.00; $9.95 Amazon

March 27, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ronald Colman, the silent film star who showed a generation of actors how to perform for the talkies, remained Hollywood's gentleman hero for more than two decades.  He appeared with many of the screen's leading ladies, including Lillian Gish, Joan Bennett, Kay Francis, Loretta Young, Ida Lupino, Greer Garson, Jean Arthur, and Ginger Rogers.  As the epitome of the Hollywood gentleman, he immortalized the self-sacrificing hero in his signature role of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities.  Not as well known are Colman's major contributions to radio comedy and drama with appearances on Jack Benny's show in company with his wife, actress Benita Hume, who co-starred with him in The Halls of Ivy, the Peabody award winning radio series about a college president and his enchanting wife.  An Academy Award winner for A Double Life, the story of an actor playing Othello, who confuses his life with his role.  Colman achieved a sublime performance.  Then in the early days of television Colman created several characters who express an eloquent testament of a man and actor whose legacy is finally and fully recognized in this biography.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

First off, I will tell you (as I've said many times before) that I absolutely love anything to do with the Golden Age of Hollywood, including actors/directors/studios, etc.  I've been watching these films with my parents since I was a small girl, and developed a healthy admiration of the actors and the films themselves.  I have seen more of them than I can count, and own thousands, including most of Mr. Colman's pictures.

Saying that, of course I was interested in reading this biography, and I will tell you that it is very well researched, and quite a tome as well, topping over 500 pages.  But -- and that is a big but -- the first section of the book lists synopses of his films with almost everything to do with the plot (they aren't really synopses, but lack of a better word--), giving the plot, the characters, the actors, etc.; so you know everything about every single film, even if you've never seen it.  Now you don't have to.  I'm not saying that this is wrong, but here comes the but-- in the second section of the book the author downright repeats everything in the first.

The difference is that in the second section we learn about Ronald Colman himself, from his upbringing (which is rather sparse, unfortunately), to his life in Hollywood, his friends (which I knew from reading Warner Baxter's bio, but that is neither here nor there), and how he met and married his first wife, Thelma Raye, an unhappy marriage, to his very happy one with his second, Betina Hume.

The third section focuses on his legacy year by year.  There are events, anecdotes, and references; some of it is quite worthy to read.  The fourth section lists the 'supporting players', those actors who were in his films and bits of information regarding them.

There are around a dozen or so photographs in one section of this book, and many of them are worth viewing if you have not seen them before.

All in all, I did enjoy this book and learning more about Mr. Colman.  I have always found him to be attractive, suave, disciplined, and oh, so expressive in his face.  You can see the emotions play across his face in every role, and, it has been said and I will reiterate, he had one of the most beautiful voices in Hollywood.  Not deep like Gregory Peck, but lyrical and feeling.  You could learn a lot just listening to him talk.  

This is a wonderful book on Ronald Colman, and I enjoyed reading it and will definitely add it to my collection.  There will never be another actor like him.  Read the book, watch his films, and enjoy every moment.  You will not regret it.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Ronald-Colman-Hollywoods-Gentleman-Hero-ebook/dp/B0D31TJSCL/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7939223116

More on Carl Rollyson's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Carl-Rollyson/author/B001IZTA16?ref=