Death at a Scottish Halloween

The Scottish Isle Mysteries Book 5

Author:    Lucy Connelly

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798892426459

Crooked Lane Books

272 Pages

$27.90; $14.99 Amazon

August 11. 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Dr. Emilia McRoy stumbles upon a dead body in a haunted house, she resolves to find the killer before another body can fall.

It's the week of Halloween -- or as they say in Scotland, All Hallows' Eve -- and the town of Sea Isle is full of spooky celebrations.  Dr. Emilia McRoy loves being part of her new community and is eager to help out in any way she can.  But the festivities are interrupted when she and her assistant, Abigail, find a dead body in a haunted house.  A real one.  They're too late to save the victim, but they'll do whatever it takes to find the killer.

There's just one problem: There are too many suspects.

Constable Ewan would prefer the good doctor and her friends stay out of the investigations, but that isn't how Dr. Em rolls.  As she and her gang investigate, they realize the killer is searching for something -- and has no problem murdering anyone who gets in the way of finding it.

Dr. Em must stay one step ahead if she's to survive this Halloween season alive -- either that or she might just end up the next victim.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Dr. Emilia McRoy moved to the small Scottish town of Sea Isle for a change from her life in a large American hospital, where she was head of ER.  But things weren't as she expected.  Not only is she the only doctor around, she's also become the coroner, which means her work is more involved than she expected.  She's also become involved in the local traditions, and has made some close friends in the process.

While working in a room in the "haunted house" along with her assistant Abigail, the last thing she expects is to go to the next room and find a dead body.  And the very last thing she expects is that her own knife is plunged into the victim's chest.  Now she's involved in another murder, and this one is a puzzle.

Which becomes a greater puzzle when the man's wife shows up -- a woman whom the victim's sister exclaims isn't -- and the wife, seeing the body, declares that she thought it was her husband, who has the same name and has been missing.  Then things take a turn for the worse, and Dr. Em realizes that there are just too many suspects -- who could be wearing costumes and masks, considering it's near All Hallows' Eve and the town is celebrating with different events.

After a series of incidents, Constable Ewan wants to give Em round the clock security, but she refuses.  Which might be a big mistake.  Then other incidents occur, and Em wonders who was the real victim: the first man murdered or someone else?  And are these cases connected?  More importantly, could this get her killed?

This is the fifth book in the series and I love it as much as the others.  Ms. Connelly is a talented writer, and she brings you to Sea Isle, Scotland with a touch of her pen.  The descriptions of the area around it makes me see it in my mind, and that's the important thing.  Because once you have the setting, it's easy to imagine the people.  The characters are in turn charming and secretive, open and closed.  It's anyone's guess who the killer might be, although Em's friends have their own opinions on who that person is.  The question is, are they correct?

While Em uses her skills as a doctor, she also uses her mental skills to figure out the truth.  But not without help from her friends, which frustrates Ewan, even though he knows he can't stop her.  He just hopes she also uses her common sense enough to stay away from a killer.

While we also have our characters living their own lives -- Tommy and his gardens, Abigail learning her relationship status with Henry, and even Em herself figuring out what she really wants.

When the end comes and everything is finally revealed, it's not what anyone expected to know.  (While I knew the murderer long before Em, but only because I read a lot of these) I still thoroughly enjoyed the ending, the catching of the murderer, and everything that we are looking forward to in the next book.  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/Death-Scottish-Halloween-Isle-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0G1X9KS32/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8930014584

More on Lucy Connelly's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/lucy-connelly/

Killer Donuts

 A Deputy Donut Mystery Book 11

Author:    Ginger Bolton

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496758255

Kensington Cozies

256 Pages

$17.97; $9.99 Amazon

August 25, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's fall in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and Emily Fyne, owner of the popular local Deputy Donut cafe is on a trail -- a Donut Trail, that is -- to tour pre-Halloween treats and activities, not to mention check out the competition.  It's all fun and games, until a murder that's no trick...

Emily and her friends Izzy and Monique are traveling the Donut Trail in style in Deputy Donut's vintage, donut-topped car.  With them are Emily's cat, Dep, and Monique's tiny dog, Gigi.  Amid the spectacular foliage they stop at an orchard that includes a bistro and a vast corn maze,  But while sampling some apple cider, they find that not everyone shares their friendly, festive mood...

A cranky tourist not only scolds them for bringing their pets, but she also says she hates dogs -- with cats a close second.  No matter.  Emily and company, their pets leashed, go off to enter the maze,  But soon, boisterous teens barge in, wreaking havoc, tossing pumpkins, uprooting cornstalks -- and attempting a dog-snatching...

As everyone scrambles to regroup, it turns out the dog-hating woman is missing.  And when her dead body is finally discovered -- with Gigi's hair ribbon in her pocket -- Emily and her friends are the top suspects.  To clear their names, they'll have to throw a killer off their trail while diving even deeper into a dangerous labyrinth of clues...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

It's nearing Halloween in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and donut shop owner Emily Fyne and her friends Izzy and Monique are taking a tour of the Donut Trail, which stops at various shops in Wisconsin that sell donuts.  Everything is going fine until they reach a certain point and an unfriendly woman starts remarking about people who bring their pets along.  Monique, with her tiny dog, Gigi, and Emily, with her cat Dep, are trying the donuts and cider and since they are out side, no one else is complaining.  But the woman mentions how she hates dogs (and cats) and won't let up.

Still, the three women aren't about to let her spoil their mood, and so they decide to go into the corn maze which is also on the property.  But while they are trying to find their way out, a hand shoots through the corn and grabs Gigi.  Suddenly, things go sideways as the women attempt to find the tiny creature and everyone is shouting her name -- even disruptive teenagers who think this is all a game.

Eventually, Gigi is found, and all is calm.  For a while, at least.  Until it's discovered that the woman is missing from her tour.  And when her body is found in the maze the next day, with Gigi's hair ribbon in her pocket, they become suspects in the murder.  Now Emily and her friends are trying to clear their names and find a killer.  Because if they don't, one of them may be the next victim...

This is the eleventh book in the series, and I have enjoyed most of them.  I will admit, in the beginning their was an 'evil nemesis' which I hate above all things, but since that problem has been removed, all the remaining books have been more than delightful.

I love Emily and her family and friends, each with their own backstory to tell, and new friends that they meet along the way.  Her life with her detective husband Brent is good, Dep is spoiled (even more than my cats), but I enjoy reading about her as well.  She owns Deputy Donuts along with her late husband's father Tom, and the business is thriving.

In this book, Emily once again is drawn into a murder as she tries to prove herself innocent.  Although she's not really a serious suspect, one of her friends is, and she knows that she needs to help clear her name.  To that end, the three women start listing their own suspects, and it builds quite a list.  When they start to question people, they get the natural resistance, but someone is watching their every move and is planning their own.

When we get closer to the end of the book, everything becomes tense as Emily starts to figure out who the real killer is.  So do her friends, and they try to capture that person without them knowing.  But it's more dangerous than they think, and if help doesn't arrive soon, they may not escape...

I will not say any more as to not ruin the book for others, but this is one of the best in the series, and it was a delight to read.  Ms. Bolton has a turn with words, and she does it well.  Very well written and highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Donuts-Deputy-Donut-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0GC9JN6XT/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8467289290

More on Ginger Bolton's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ginger-bolton/

Murder at a Scottish Halloween

A Scottish Shire Mystery Book 8

Author:    Traci Hall

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496757821

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$18.95; $9.99 Amazon

June 30, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As Halloween descends upon the Scottish seaside town of Nairn, reluctant sleuth and knitting enthusiast Paislee Shaw finds herself investigating how an ancient ghost inspired a modern murder...

While Paislee will be celebrating All Hallow's Eve by handing out candy to the trick or treaters at her Cashmere Crush sweater shop, her teenage son Brody seems to have given up the ghost.  Uninterested in donning a superhero or monster costume, he's just going to attend a party with his friends at the ice rink.

But Brody got swept up in the spirit of the season after all.  Dared by the older kids, he went to the supposedly haunted Rait Ruins to capture video of a vengeful ghost.  The local legend of the Rait Wraith has been passed down for generations -- and still gives Paislee the creeps.  While no specter actually roams the grounds, the lifeless body of university student Ailis Barclay is discovered there.

Ailis was at the ruins dressed as the ghost to prank Brody, only something went wrong.  With her son traumatized and deemed a suspect, it's up to Paislee to string together whether Ailis was a victim of the real Wraith of Rait Ruins -- or of someone dangerous among the living...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Paislee Shaw lives in the small Scottish town of Nairn along with her thirteen-year-old son Brody and her grandfather Angus.  They've built a good life, and are happy.  She's also navigating her first time in love with DI Mack Zeffer, which only somewhat confuses things.

Halloween is approaching, and while Paislee and Angus would rather stay home and hand out candy, Brody wants to join his friends at the ice rink for the evening.  But when Paislee arrives to pick him up, he's obviously traumatized, and she has a hard time getting him to talk.

When he tells her that the Wraith of Rait Ruins came for him -- calling him by name -- she thinks it was a prank.  But when they return to the ruins to find Brody's dropped phone, Paislee finds the body of a young university student, Ailis Barclay.  Paislee knows things aren't going to be the same, and with Brody as a possible suspect, she knows she's going to investigate, even though Mack tells her not to.

With Guy Fawkes Day fast approaching, there is another problem.  The Ladies of Nairn are asking for Paislee's help in finding out who is menacing them -- and one of them wants her to provide bespoke knitted items for her son's upcoming wedding.

With so much to attend to, and her best friend Lydia returning from Germany to be with her on Paislee's birthday, she wonders if she'll have enough time in the day to do what is tasked.

But when things begin to heat up, and the fireworks start, there's more than meets the eye, and Paislee may have just put a target on her own head...

This is the eighth book in the series, and I have read them all.  Ms. Hall is an extremely talented writer, and each book, as it progresses, brings us right to the village of Nairn and its people.  I love 'emotional traveling' (when you can't physically travel, and author takes you there mentally and emotionally), and Ms, Hall is excellent at this.

There is a lot going on here, from the night of Halloween, right up until Paislee's birthday.  And so much in between, with the problems in town and hidden secrets; lies and half-truths/  Fortunately, Paislee has learned enough to see through it all; and with the help of Angus she's able to help Mack.  Yes, DI Zeffer actually asks for her help, which is a twist that no one saw coming.

But when the ending finally comes, and we discover the identity of the killer, no one will feel sorry, and neither should they.  Evil exists, even if you don't always see it.  I am loath to add anything else because I do not want to ruin the story for anyone, but I urge you to read this one.  But there is a lovely silver lining that makes me want to read the next in the series right now.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Scottish-Halloween-Shire-Mystery-ebook/dp/

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8395997134

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

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/

Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead

A Salem B&B Mystery Book 10

Author:    Traci Wilton

Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496748829

Kensington Cozies

368 Pages

$8.99; $7.99 Amazon

August 26, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Charlene and her spectral companion, Dr. Jack Strathmore, are moved by crystal healer Isabella Perez's story about her missing sister, Marisol, a talented psychic of uncommon natural gifts.  The spooky season is the ideal time to contact the departed for some answers, could someone from the other side reveal the truth about her disappearance... and the location of the priceless bejeweled statue she took with her?

Jack mistrusts Marisol's fiancé, Rico Flores, but any number of suspects had reason to wish Marisol ill, including an embittered stalker obsessed with the talented bruja, a jealous rival witch, and a shady businessman more given to more dirty tricks than treats.  Charlene's beau, Detective Sam Holden, is on the case, but unmasking the culprit may require an assist from beyond the grave.  Thank goodness it's Halloween, when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

After the death of her husband, Charlene Morris moved to Salem, Massachusetts and opened a B&B.  What she didn't know, however, was that the Victorian house she purchased came with its own permanent guest -- the ghost of the previous owner, Dr. Jack Strathmore.  Now Jack and Charlene have a close relationship with each other; after all, he gave up heaven to stay with her.  But in the ens,uing years, Charlene has fallen in love with an all-too-human man, Detective Sam Holden, who doesn't believe in ghosts.  Charlene has tried to tell him several times, but he refuses to believe.  Now Charlene's "adoptive" daughter Avery can see Jack, thanks to a recent bump on the head, but it's only the two of them and their cat, Silva.  

It's close to Halloween, and Charlene has a houseful of guests occupying every room.  Most of them are there to enjoy what Salem has to offer on this particular holiday (after all, where is a better place to be than Salem?); except two of them - Isabella Perez and her boyfriend, Rico Flores, are there to find out the truth about her elder sister Marisol's disappearance two years ago.  Isabella hopes that with the veil between the living and the dead being thinnest around Halloween, that she can contact Marisol for her own personal reasons.

It's not until a young woman is murdered during the graveyard tour, right in front of Charlene's guests, that Charlene thinks something very real and very sinister, is going on.  Now she knows that even though she has a lot to keep her occupied, she must try and tell Sam one more time about Jack, and hope that she can keep Jack from accidentally slipping away somewhere he isn't meant to be...

I have to say that I had a difficult time reading this because I knew it was the last in the series.  That and the fact that I was always team Jack.  Sam seemed hart to me, and Jack was much more easygoing.  I was always hoping that a second chance meant a second chance at life, but ah, well.  Needless to say, I was torn by the ending.  Don't get me wrong; it ended nicely.  I don't think I am giving anything away here since I have skimmed other reviews who have already stated it.

But the story was handled well, and it was as interesting as all the others.  There is plenty of action, and the characters are believable.  Some are likeable; some not so much.  But even the subplots concerning the guests are worth reading about.  

The mystery isn't easily solved.  There is a lot going on here, both with Charlene, her household, and people she knows.  You want the best for Isabella while hoping it all will work out for everyone else.  And the climax is all that we could wish for (well, some of us, anyway).  The ending is bittersweet, but the author does a remarkable job of bringing it all together for one final book.  Kudos to Ms. Wilton.  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/Mrs-Morris-Dead-Salem- Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DRB1VNMJ/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7897104148

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

The Tattered Cover

A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel Book 8

Author:    Ellery Adams

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook & Audio CD Available)

ISBN #:    9781496743824

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$27.00; $13.77 Amazon

October 28, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It was a dark, rainy night at Nora Pennington's Miracle Books when a mysterious death brings the Secret, Book, and Scone Society into the Halloween season on the trail of a murderer...

As the residents of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, select their costumes, plan parties, and get excited for a night of tricks or treats, Nora joins in the festivities by hosting medium memoirist Lara Luz at the bookstore.  Charismatic and compelling, Lara mesmerizes the audience with her life story.  Struck by a bolt of lightning as a child, she was pronounced dead only to be resurrected with the ability to connect with those on the other side.

Lara performs a reading for a select group of bookstore patrons when the encroaching storm knocks out the power.  In the sudden darkness, howling cold winds intensify, and Lara clutches her heart, collapsing dead without warning.  But Nora doesn't believe she died of natural causes.  Not one member of the psychic's reading group -- which includes the town's widower pharmacist, an urgent care nurse, a mystery author, and even truculent Deputy Hollowell -- were admirers of Lara.

Nora confirms this when she stumbles upon Lara's journal in the aftermath of her death .  For within its leathery bound pages are the medium and her clients' deepest and darkest secrets, written in code,  Now, Nora and the Secret, Book, and Scone Society must sift through the suspects and their motives to uncover which one of them is a killer before he or she is tempted to strike again...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is surprised when an author wants to do a reading and signing at her small bookstore.  But urged by her employee and friend Sheldon, she agrees.  When that turns out to be successful, she organizes a mixed signing by several authors just before Halloween.  Among them is Lara Luz, a psychic who wants to read from her memoir and then has agreed to do special readings for a small number of attendees.  Among them are a widower, a nurse, and surprisingly, Deputy Hollowell, a K9 officer who's clashed with Nora from the day she came into town.  But, if this is a success as well, Nora will be able to hold more.

Unfortunately, it isn't.  The lights go out due to a storm, and Lara is struck down, supposedly from a bad heart.  When Nora tries to help, Lara's partner pushes her, and Nora strikes her head and passes out.  When she awakens, she discovers that Lara is dead, and she eventually learns that it was murder.  Her own partner, Sheriff Grant McCabe, wants her to stay out of it because she received a concussion, but Nora and her friends are curious enough to want to know who murdered her -- Nora is concerned that her reputation will be tarnished by the murder in her store -- so they still do their own investigation.  When Nora accidentally finds Lara's personal journal, she sees that the woman kept track of her clients.

But it's more than that.  When she starts to decipher Lara's code, something sinister pops up...and it might just be the key to why Lara was killed...

This is the eighth book in the series, and I have loved them all.  I have grown fond of the people in Miracle Springs, and have even felt for them and their own secrets and pain.  Once you journey to a town in books, if the writer is good enough (and Ms. Adams certain is), you want to return again and again.

This book does not disappoint.  I do not want to say too much about it, because I want the reader to enjoy their own travels to Miracle Springs.  I will say that finding the murderer isn't easy, and the answers aren't always the ones that come with the clues.  The conclusion was definitely surprising; the story was intriguing and even dark at times.  But all this added to the suspense and the enjoyment of the tale.  

Nora has her own decisions to face; Estella is looking at a new life to come forth; and even Hester may find some changes coming to her.  But even the subplots are part of the main plot, and it's pulling you into the story almost from the start.  I read this one through in one sitting, which I rarely do.  All I can say now is that when you get the chance to read this, do so.  You will not be disappointed.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Tattered-Cover-Secret-Scone-Society-ebook/dp/B0DX4X1HMT/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7804101139

More on Ellery Adams's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/ellery-adams/

Sugar and Spite

A Witch City Mystery Book 15

Author:    Carol J. Perry

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book

(Audio CD and Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:     9781496743688

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$8.99; $7.99 Amazon

October 28, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There's no place like Salem, Massachusetts -- aka "the witch city" -- for Halloween.  As residents embrace their historic heritage to celebrate the season, WICH-TV program director Lee Barrett is assigned the decadent task of highlighting the village's delectable sweet shops -- only to learn that some revelers prefer deadly tricks over delicious treats...

Casa del Chocolate is one of Salem's most charming boutique candy shops, making it a perfect profile story.  Although preoccupied with her own personal sweet news -- Lee and her detective husband Pete Mondello are expecting a bundle of joy -- she cheerfully agrees to interview the chocolatier.  Since becoming pregnant, the radiant and exhilarated mother-to-be has discovered that she is finally free of the unwanted haunting "visions" she has endured since childhood.

Shirley Parker inherited Casa de Chocolate, housed in her beautiful ancestral home on the waterfront, continuing her family's sweet tradition of conjuring magical treats for the folks of Salem.  Mesmerized by the delightful chocolate scented aromas filling the air while touring the kitchen, Lee is shocked when she stumbles upon the murdered body of Barney Bingham, Shirley's estranged husband.

As the police focus their suspicions on Shirley, Lee learns that many people had reasons for wanting Barney dead.  Now, with help from Pete, tarot reader River North, and clairvoyant gentleman cat O'Ryan, as well as some new feline friends, Lee must unmask the true killer -- and cope with the sudden return of her troubling "visions"...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lee Barrett Mondello is the program director for WICH-TV in Salem, Massachusetts.  Although she's had to cut back on her time and duties due to the fact that she and her husband are expecting their first child.  When she's given an assignment to cover the candy shops in Salem, it's one she can sink her teeth into -- literally.  So when she sees that a shop named Casa de Chocolate has opened up, she naturally wants to interview them.

Casa de Chocolate is housed in an historic mansion owned by Shirley Parker, who greets Lee, ready for the interview.  When Lee is given an opportunity to see the shop's inner workings in the basement, she's more than ready.  But what she's not ready for is the dead body she comes across.  The dead body that happens to be the ex-husband of Shirley.  

When Lee's husband Pete starts investigating, he discovers that Bingham had more than his share of enemies..but which one was willing to kill him?  With no clues and a missing murder weapon, it may take longer to solve this case than it will for Lee to have her baby.  

Pete wants Lee to stay out of this case, and she has every intention to do so, since she has a couple of baby showers to look forward to; and of course, all those sweet shops to visit and sample.  But when it seems someone is stalking Lee, she begins to worry.  So does Pete.  Will she be able to stay of this case and stay safe?  Or is someone going to make sure she's never involved in any murder mystery again...

This is the fifteenth book in the series, and I must say that I enjoyed it very much.  I love the characters in this series, and the fact that Lee has a "partner in crime" in her husband, who understands about her visions and accepts them because he loves her.

There is a lot going on here, and the two plots are intertwined nicely.  While Lee is mainly sidelined from investigating, she does her own, but makes sure she's not on her own entirely.  With a little one on the way, she needs to be careful.

The descriptions of autumn in Salem are also nice, although a bit sparse, as the action is centered on the dead man, which is how it should be.  I loved the fact that this book made me actually look for the killer along with Lee, and didn't make it too easy to do so.

When the ending comes, we figure it out almost at the same time as our protagonist, and that's the best way to do it.  It's an intriguing climax, and I enjoyed it immensely.  I love Ms. Perry's books and this one fits right in, being written well with a terrific plot.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Spite-Witch-City-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DX4Z7C7G/ref=

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7659417502

More on Carol J. Perry's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/p/carol-j-perry/

A Tint of Murder

A Paint By Murder Mystery Book 4

Author:    Bailee Abbott

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781685129471

Level Best Books

254 Pages

$16.95; $5.99 Amazon

April 29, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trouble is stirring when murder comes wrapped in the guise of a seascape painting.  The gift from a close friend who deals in art becomes a mystery to solve after Izzie and Chloe Abbington accidentally discover that hidden behind the seascape is a priceless Vermeer which many would kill to possess.  When the seascape with its hidden masterpiece is stolen, and a murder hits too close to home, their friend is accused of the crime.

Determined to help clear his name, Chloe and Izzie follow the clues, which take them beyond the comforts of their small town community and into the art world's unsavory side.  However, the more they learn, the more guilty their friend looks.  They question many involved, both dealers and collectors, as well as the patrons of the arts group their parents belong to, but everyone has their secrets.  Even the seascape has a story to tell, if only the sister duo can decipher the details.  Troubles and frightened of what they'll uncover, Chloe and Izzie won't stop searching for answers, even if the killer turns out to be someone they know.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Sisters Chloe and Izzie Abbington own a paint party shop, and they're finally (slightly) in the black.  They live at home with their parents, and are fairly happy with their lives.  But one day a crate arrives for Izzie, and it contains a painting of a seascape, which is nice, but not wonderful.  They don't know why Izzie's friend Martin has asked them to take it to storage, but they are willing to do so.  At least, until they accidentally discover another painting underneath -- and this one is a Vermeer, and rare.  At first they think it is a fake, but later on discover the painting is real...especially when Martin disappears and it appears someone is after the painting.

They take it to storage, but it doesn't end there.  A murder occurs, and the police think Martin is guilty.  Determined to prove her friend innocent, Izzie asks Chloe's help.  It doesn't hurt that Chloe's boyfriend Hunter is a police detective, who just might have information of his own.  But with the police chief determined to convict Martin in order to appease the powerful father of the dead person, the women have to work fast...and hope they can avoid a killer in the process...

This is the fourth book in the series, and I have read them all.  I have also enjoyed them all, but I do think that this one is my favorite so far.  It had plenty going on throughout the book, with a few red herrings thrown in, and several clues that lead to the true murderer.  But they are not as easy to find as one might think, which is a good thing.  There is nothing so boring as knowing the killer almost immediately and then having to slog through a book to find the why.

The why is given nearly immediately -- the painting -- but the who and the reasons for it are not.  This makes it a fun cozy, and along the way we get glimpses of Izzie and Chloe's personal lives and that of their parents; and even those of their friends.

In the end, when it all comes together, it is almost an accident how they discover the truth, and the epilogue to the story is comforting, to say the least.  You cannot know the mind of a killer, and nor would I want to, but this cozy is definitely that, and I would recommend it to others.

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

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F56T46FM?tag=speculativefic05&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7641286951

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

Halloween Night Murder

Author:    Leslie Meier/Lee Hollis/Liz Ireland

Genre:    Mystery/Holidays

Hardcover; Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781496749420 (TBA)

Kensington Cozies

320 Pages

$27.00 Amazon (Others TBA)

August 26, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There's usually a chill in the air when Halloween arrives -- but in these three novellas by beloved cozy mystery authors Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Liz Ireland, the crimes are even colder than the haunted climate...

HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER by LESLIE MEIER

After a tiring but satisfying day of organizing Halloween festivities, Lucy Stone is surprised by a lone late-night trick or treater at her home in Tinker's Cove, Main.  The next morning, she's heartbroken to learn that the teenager died in a hit-and-run just minutes after she gave him the last of her candy supply.  Haunted, she starts digging into his story -- and discovers some dark secrets...

DEATH OF A HALLOWEEN NIGHT STALKER by LEE HOLLIS

Bad weather has stranded restaurateur Hayley Powell and her friends in rural Maine -- and the only shelter available is a spooky spot where they're welcomes warmly by the lady of the house -- but coldly by her suspicious, gun-toting son.  They're even more nervous after he scares them with his Halloween zombie costume -- but the real fright is yet to come...

MRS. CLAUS AND THE WILY WITCH by LIZ IRELAND

Disgraced elf Flake has returned from exile just in time for Halloween, but not everyone in Christmastown thinks he's truly reformed.  When Pumblechook the snowman suffers a mysterious fate, and a fellow elf is felled by Flake's caramels, Mrs. Claus must determine whether the sticky-fingered Flake has become a hardened criminal -- or if sorcery has invaded Santaland...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

⭐⭐⭐⭐ In our first tale, Halloween Night Murder by Leslie Meier, Lucy Stone feels sorry for a young teenager who comes to her door.  Thinking she'll probably not have any other trick-or-treaters, and noting how thin the boy is, she gives him the remainder of her candy.  But the next morning she's told that the boy has died in a hit-and-run accident.  Finding out he has siblings, she's more than happy to open her home for the night to the young trio, since their mother has been arrested.

The next day she discovers something odd at the old home where they've been staying, and reports it; all the while not wanting the children to go with the social worker.  When she attends the boy's funeral, she finds out other things as well.  This is all it takes for Lucy to go on a hunt to discover the truth.

But the truth isn't nice, nor will it be easy to prove.  With the help of her editor Ted, she's determined to help the children and anyone connected with them.  But will she be able to without proof?  Or will she have to find help from a very unlikely source...

A very good novella from Ms. Meier.  I really enjoyed this one, and it was centered on the mystery itself, which I always enjoy.  The writing was very good, the story line interesting, and the finale worth reading it for. Recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ In the second tale, Death of a Halloween Night Stalker by Lee Hollis, Hayley Powell and her friends Liddy and Mona are returning from a concert by their favorite country-western singer when they hit a snag.  Not only is it raining, but there's been an accident on the freeway, so they take another exit to get home, which will take longer, but it's better than sitting in traffic.  Or so they think.  When a deer is in the middle of the road, Liddy swerves to avoid it and ends up running into a tree.  With Mona injured, they need to find somewhere to get help.  Unfortunately, the only place is a spooky home, but Hayley insists they go.

The elderly woman who answers the door is more than willing to help, but her hulking son only speaks in grunts and looks at them suspiciously.  Convinced to stay the night, Hayley soon becomes suspicious herself of what is going on downstairs and wants to investigate.

But is this the right thing to do?  Fearing they may be in danger, she feels she has no choice.  It's more than a Halloween night Hayley gets, it's a journey into Halloween horror -- and will she be able to save herself and her friends, or will this be the end of them?  With nowhere to go, no internet, no one to help them, Hayley may just have signed all their death warrants...

This novella, in my humble opinion, is the best of the three.  Ms. Hollis is a wonderful storyteller, and this one is perfect for reading on Halloween.  It might just put you off driving in the country by yourself at night, too.  The story is suspenseful, intriguing, and a bit of a nail-biter, if I'm telling the truth.  The ending is is done well, as is the rest of the tale.  Highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ In our third tale, Mrs. Claus and the Wily Witch by Liz Ireland, Christmastown is having their annual reindeer festival, but it's upended when one of the snowmen, Pumblechook, is suddenly paralyzed.  Unable to move at all, it's believed he's been hexed by Flake, an elf who recently returned from being exiled for something, and it doesn't help when someone dies and Flake is suspected of murdering them.  April Claus (Santa's wife) must do what she can to help the poor elf -- even if it means bringing witch Imelda to Santatown.

Following is what you'd expect: a flurry of activities, a herd of reindeer bouncing around, and a plethora of elves trying to get into the Halloween spirit while trying to figure out who is also a killer.  This book is centered more around April and the witch instead of the crazy elves, but is a lot of fun to read anyway.  Recommended.

All in all, this was an enjoyable conglomeration of stories that I would re-read again without hesitation, and would definitely recommend to others.

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/Halloween-Night-Murder-Leslie-Meier-ebook/dp/B0DR9SRYSQ/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7476183414

More on Leslie Meier's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/leslie-meier/

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

More on Liz Ireland's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/i/liz-ireland/

Death on All Hallowe'en

A Carolus Deene Mystery Book 19

Author:    Leo Bruce

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book (Hardcover Available)

ISBN #:    9780897332927

Academy Chicago Publishers

203 Pages

$10.99 5; $17.99 Amazon

Original Print 1970

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Carolus Deene is summoned to a small Kentish village where the presence of a possible coven of witches lends an eerie aura to the presumed "accidental" death of a young local boy a year ago on Hallowe'en.  Before his work is completed, Carolus Deene has the answers to this and two other deaths.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Carolus Deene is a college professor who does a little sleuthing on the side.  His friend, Father John Stainer, tells him he thinks something nasty is going on in his little village of Clibburn near Kent.  A year ago, a small boy died from pneumonia, but John thinks there's more too it.  Now, coming again on  All Hallowe'en, he's afraid more will happen and wants Carolus to look into it.

Of course he agrees, and heads to Clibburn to stay with John.  When he meets a man named Connor, he seems shaken because he thinks someone has taken a shot at him.  Carolus presses him (gently) for more information, but Connor refuses.  It is then that he has a true mystery on his hands.  He's determined to figure out what it is that Connor is hiding, and if it is connected in any way to the death of young Cyril a year ago.

What Carolus finds is that someone wants him out of the village, and soon.  He's not easily intimidated, and he knows he may very well put himself in danger; but he proceeds with his investigation, sharing what he finds with the local police.  It's interesting what you can discover when you ask people the right questions, isn't it?...

This is the first book that I have read by Leo Bruce, but it is certainly not going to be the last.  I found this mystery so well done, in fact, that I did not know the murderer until nearly the very end, later than Mr. Deene did, himself.  It was a delight to read, especially since it coincided with the Halloween time as well.  (I do love to 'read the season', as it were).

Watching Carolus look for answers among the village people was definitely worth it alone.  Some of them were first and foremost nasty humans that one would not want to spend time with; but there were others that were just those who wanted to live their lives.  Yet all of them were connected in some way or another, even if it were only vicariously. 

When the truth comes out, it is definitely a terrible sight.  Even Carolus was disgusted by what he found.  But human nature is uncontrollable, and things will occur even if we don't like them.  Evil exists.  Murder does happen, and it is never pleasant.  

The book was a very good read, and the clues not so easy to find.  But all in all, it made me respect Mr. Bruce and want to look for others he has written.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P5OZOV6?tag=speculativefic05&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6966805500

More on Leo Bruce's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/rupert-croft-cooke/

A Spirited Blend

A Crystals & CuriosiTEAS Mystery Book 3

Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    1496735226

Kensington Cozies

288 Pages

(Price TBA) $12.99 Amazon

March 25, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With Halloween around the corner, Shay Myers is brewing witchy seasonal sips at Crystals & CuriosiTEAS -- while simultaneously steaming over pub owner Liam Madigan's decision to take anybody but her to the town/s Monster Mash dance.  Her romantic premonitions have missed the mark since she settled into coastal Bray Harbor, opening the door to questions about whether she's really the gifted seer her late mother imagined.  It's why she second guesses the dark vision in her tea leaves about a local citizen and their obsession with genealogy, Irish folklore, and magic.

But when bad omens come true, Shay doesn't have time for self-doubt.  A woman's body has been discovered, frozen in a strange pose with an eerie black butterfly on her forehead, leading to suspicions that the victim took a conjuring ritual too far due to limited experience -- or was murdered by someone with too much.  As an investigation stirs up a sinister connection to a boardwalk mystic shop, Shay, guided by her knowing dog, Spirit, finds herself tracking down a shady figure from her past, navigating the sudden reappearance of her ex-husband, and chasing down a wickedly perceptive criminal who might finally be her match!

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

When Shay Myers began her day, she didn't expect pub owner (and secret crush) Liam Madigan to come running to her for advice on his love life (again).  In fact, she's so tired of it she sends him away, but he thinks she's just having a bad day and will get over it.  But it's not the day that has her bothered.  It's the visions she's been having.  And when a local citizen steps in for a tea reading, Shay can't believe what she sees -- or hears.  The woman thinks they might be related, even though Shay tells her it's not really possible.  But the woman persists, and shows Shay an object she found among her mother's possessions.  Not able to completely convince her, Shay sends her off, and then worries about what she's seen in the tea leaves. Asking the help of Liam's wise Irish Gram, she fears the worst.  

But then her ex-husband and his new wife appear in town, telling her they've bought a local winery that was for sale.  As if things couldn't get worse, she finds they do.  A friend-turned-enemy has opened a rival shop, and someone else shows up, who's willing to do her harm.  Now, with visions that only spell possible doom, how can she find the truth?  Then someone is murdered nearby, and she's not sure if even Gram can help her with this one...

This is the third entry in this series, and I do believe it is the best one yet.  While I have loved this author's other series as well, I am tending to love this one even more.  I am so over tales of witches, vampires, and werewolves; but a series about a seer is indeed unique, and the story line behind all this makes it believable as well.

Shay didn't always know she was one; she discovered it after her return to Bray Harbor when her marriage and life fell apart.  In this book she is beginning to understand more, not only about herself, but also having ideas, with the help of Liam, of what happened to her before (I cannot say more as it will give away too much of the book).  Suffice it to say, it gives an opening for future books, and also gives us a glimpse of Shay's past, not counting her Irish heritage.

Finding a killer isn't going to be easy, especially once she learns her nemesis has arrived in town, and the fact that her now-enemy might be involved.  It's good she has Spirit to protect her, she needs him more than ever.  There is plenty going on here, not only with Halloween, but with Shay trying to keep her business open, trying to figure out what is going on with her ex, and, of course, trying to find a killer. 

The ending is surprising, which is how it should be; the climax is stirring, but nevertheless a tad sad.  Yet there is more to come, and I eagerly await 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/gp/product/B0DB3N3CLQ?ref_=dbs

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6931622610

More on Lauren Elliott's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/lauren-elliott/

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/