Blueberry Blunder (An Amish Candy Shop Mystery Book 8)

Author:    Amanda Flower

Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781496734631

Kensington Cozies

336 Pages

$8.99; $6.99 Amazon

May 23, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bailey King, star of TV's Bailey's Amish Sweets, is building her dream candy factory in Harvest, Ohio.  But no sooner is the frame of the new building up than she finds the dead body of a surly contractor who has a long list of enemies -- including people in the Amish community.  To add to the drama, Bailey is being filmed by a crew for her upcoming show.

When Bailey's TV producer pitched a reality show about building the factory, Bailey was shocked the network picked it up.  She's not shocked that many of the Amish working on the jobsite refuse to be on camera.  However, local community organizer Margot Rawlings is ecstatic -- because the filming coincides with Harvest's First Annual Blueberry Bash.  Margot believes the media attention will make Harvest the most popular destination in Holmes County.  But now, the county may become known for all the wrong reasons...

Bailey will have to sift through a crowd of angry villagers and thousands of blueberries to solve the murder, save her new venture, and protect her Amish friends.  At the same time, she and her longtime boyfriend, Aiden Brody, are making big decisions about their future together -- a future that may be in jeopardy if Bailey is the next pick on a killer's list...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Bailey King moved to Harvest, Ohio, to help her grandmother run her candy store after her grandfather died.  So far, things have been going well, and Bailey even has her own television show.  Everything is going so well, in fact, that Bailey is now building a candy factory not too far away.  The framing is up, and it's on to the next stage -- or it would be if her contractor wasn't trying to get more money out of her.  When she refuses, he also refuses to work, leading to an altercation between the two.  When he's found dead up on the scaffolding, Sheriff Marshall is looking at her as a suspect.  She's not having any of it, and is determined to find the killer so she can get on with her life.  Unfortunately, her life is already turned upside down: she's got a film crew following her who seem more interested in the murder than the factory, the Blueberry Bash that's in full swing, and her cousin Charlotte, who is preparing for her own wedding to Deputy Luke Little and meeting his parents for the first time.  Who said life was boring?  And let's not forget Jethro the pig, who gets into his own situations...

I have always loved this series.  It's one of the most delightful ones out there, and the plots are interesting enough to keep you reading straight through.  Of course, we have a murder early on, and of course, Bailey is once again trying to solve it.  With her cousin Charlotte helping her along the way (to the natural displeasure of Charlotte's fiancé), they try and avoid the film crew while looking for clues -- and sometimes meeting with unpleasant people.

This time it goes into the heart of the Amish people, and there are those who would rather not talk to the duo, including Charlotte's parents (read the book to find out why).  Bailey's boyfriend Aiden is back in town as a newly-minted PI and he's got a case of his own to figure out -- will it connect back to Bailey's, or not matter at all?

When the ending comes it leaves us with a warm feeling inside; the killer is caught (of course), and everything goes back to normal (as much as it can) with quite a surprise to give us.  Again, I love this series and eagerly await 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/Blueberry-Blunder-Amish-Candy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BFC5DZQ1/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5767749754

More on Amanda Flower's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/f/amanda-flower/

No Strangers Here (A County Kerry Novel Book 1)

Author:    Carlene O'Connor

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496737526; 9781496737533

Kensington Books

336 Pages

$18.47; $16.95; $13.49 Amazon

October 25, 2022

⭐⭐⭐

On a rocky beach in the southwest of Ireland, the body of a wealthy racehorse owner Johnny O'Reilly has been discovered.  In a town like Dingle, everyone knows a little something about everyone else.  But dig a bit deeper, and there's always much more to find.  And when Detective Inspector Cormac O'Brien is dispatched out of Killarney to lead the murder inquiry, he's determined to unearth every last buried secret.

Dimpna Wilde hasn't been home in years.  But faced with a triple bombshell -- her mother is rumored to have been in a relationship with Johnny, her father's dementia is escalating, and her brother is avoiding her calls -- Dimpna moves back to Dingle to clear her family of suspicion.  And as she takes over the family practice, she finds herself in a race with the detective inspector to uncover the dark, twisting truth behind the murder, no matter how close to home it strikes...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Dr. Dimpna Wilde is a veterinarian just like her father.  She's had tragedy in her life, including the fact that her husband killed himself after a public scandal.  But when she learns that in her hometown of Dingle, where she hasn't been for decades, there's been a murder of a man she knows well and that one of her parents is suspected of the killing, she packs up her menagerie of pets and goes home.

What she finds distresses her -- her father is in the stages of dementia and his practice is falling apart, and her mother now reads the Tarot to locals.  Her brother won't return her calls, and her son Ben is telling her he's in Spain with a new girlfriend.  But the worst thing is she's come fact-to-face with the son of the dead man -- she's hated him forever and now his mother is throwing the accusations on her family.  Dimpna decides to do the only thing she can:  find the murderer before the new inspector in town makes a terrible mistake.  But what will the cost be to her and her loved ones?...

This is the first book in a new series by Ms. O'Connor.  As I love her other series, I wanted to read this, even though it was listed as a "dark cozy."  It is not.  Although foul language doesn't offend me, there is quite a bit of it in this book which exempts it from being a true cozy.  Just throwing that out there, folks.

The plot is rather convoluted, and every character (save the inspector and the other garda) has a connection, tenuous or not, to each other.  Each little thread pulls them closer together, and it gives out terrible secrets, lies, and betrayals.  Dimpna's latest tragedy connects to one that occurred twenty-seven years ago, and it becomes the focus of the book.  It is rather sad, terribly horrid, and there are more secrets to come.

I had a difficult time reading this book.  Mainly because it was rather boring and halfway through, I nearly didn't finish it.  But I wanted to find the outcome, so I plodded forward.  Unfortunately, this book didn't enchant nor enthrall me whatsoever.  Everything seemed to come down to one thing, and the terrible part is that I couldn't connect with any of the characters.  Dimpna has practically no personality, and we aren't given much to go on regarding the others.    While I will give Ms. O'Connor the benefit of the doubt as to creating new characters, I hope that everything goes better in the next book.

I won a copy of this book but it in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Here-County-Kerry-Novel-ebook/dp/B09RGG842R/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4994538719

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

Death at a Scottish Wedding (A Scottish Isle Mystery Book 2)

Author:    Lucy Connelly

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781639105410

Crooked Lane Books

272 Pages

$29.99; $17.99 Amazon

January 9, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Finally feeling like Sea Isle , Scotland is becoming her new home, American doctor Emilia McRoy is delighted when she is invited to a wedding at Morrigan's Castle.  Her friends have warned her that it's a three-day party and it's bound to get wild, not to mention the impending snowstorm.  Constable Ewan Campbell, owner of the castle, ensures their safety with the blizzard.  What he doesn't ensure, is that all of his guests would survive the night alive.  When Emilia explores the impressive castle, she finds a dead man in one of the turrets.

The snowstorm hits and the local police can't reach the castle until it lets up.  With no one able to leave, the family insists they carry on with the wedding, which makes Emilia's job as the coroner a bit easier -- the suspects are in one place -- and complicated because the killer has Emilia in his sights.  The fact no one claims to know the victim isn't helping.  Why would someone no one knows be murdered at a castle in the middle of nowhere?

It's up to Emilia to uncover the mystery who the victim is, so the killer doesn't get away Scot free.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Dr. Emilia McRoy is an American transplant to Scotland.  She's accepted the position of Sea Isle's doctor and coroner.  However, when she's invited to a wedding at an historical castle, she doesn't expect to have to do either job.  It's a good thing her assistant Abigail keeps her traveling medical kit ready, because Dr. McRoy was wrong on both counts.

When she sees what she suspects is a murder, no one believes her.  At least until she finds a dead body in one of the turrets.  Now Constable Ewan Campbell knows there's a killer in their midst.  When a major snowstorm hits, everyone is trapped -- with the killer, no less.

After finally identifying the body, no one can figure why the dead man was there.  He wasn't an invited guest, but he did know several of those in attendance.  When the bride begins having "accidents" Emilia vows to keep an eye on her to find out who is trying to kill her.  But how can she do that without telling the guests someone was murdered?

Then the attacks escalate, and Emilia is now in the crosshairs.  She'll need to move fast if she wants to save the wedding, and more so, if she wants to save her own life...

This is the second book in the series and I am sad to say that I have not read the first.  But I plan to remedy that soon.  Ms. Connelly is a talented storyteller, and she writes with aplomb, bringing you into the Gothic atmosphere of an historical castle.  It makes one feel as if they are in Scotland, enjoying the festivities with the guests, although I'm not too sure about having to avoid a killer!

Once you begin reading, it is difficult to put this book down.  The tale weaves through the castle like a tapestry on the wall, bringing the threads together one by one and twisting them into a convoluted story of greed and revenge.  Of course, since those are two of the most ancient reasons for murder, they blend together well.

When we come to discovering the murderer and the reason why, it is almost too late for Emilia, but I loved how she managed to free herself (as we know she must since she is our protagonist) and give us a satisfactory ending to the murder.

In the epilogue, we have all that it should be and gives us a reason to read the next book, which I look forward to.  Highly recommended.

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

ttps://www.amazon.com/Death-Scottish-Wedding-Isle-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0C1YC143B/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5750751121

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

Charlie Chaplin vs. America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided

Author:    Scott Eyman

Genre:     Biography/Entertainers

Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:`9781982176358

Simon & Schuster

432 Pages

$29.99; $14.99 ($49.99) Amazon

October 31, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The remarkable, must-read story of Charlie Chaplin's years of exile from the United States during the postwar Red Scare, and how it ruined his film career, from bestselling biographer Scott Eyman.

Bestselling Hollywood biographer and film historian Scott Eyman tells the story of Charlie Chaplin's fall from grace.  In the aftermath of World War Two, Chaplin was criticized for being politically liberal and international in outlook.  He had never become a US citizen, something that would be held against him as xenophobia set in when the postwar Red Scare took hold.

Politics aside, Chaplin had another problem: his sexual interest in young women.  He had been married three times and had had numerous affairs.  In the 1940s, he was the subject of a paternity suit, which he lost, despite blood tests that proved he was not the father.  His sexuality became a convenient way for those who opposed his politics to condemn him.  Refused permission to return to the US from a trip abroad, he settled in Switzerland, and made his last two films in London.

In Charlie Chaplin vs. America, bestselling author Scott Eyman explores the life and times of the movie genius who brought us such masterpieces as City Lights and Modern Times.  This is a perceptive, insightful portrait of Chaplin and of an America consumed by political turmoil.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

I will tell you first that I am consumed by anything Hollywood in the Golden Age.  I don't watch today's films, and probably never will.  The true actors - Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Barbara Stanwyck, etc. and, of course, Chaplin -- have all left us; but their legacies are left behind, in hundreds, if not thousands, of films from the silent era to the 1960's (or such).

I have seen all of these films and own most of them; I am not shy about purchasing a classic film or making a new discovery; this is part of the charm of them.  I can travel back in time whenever I want.  Luckily, or perhaps a fortunate accident, Turner Classic Movies has recently shown two of Chaplin's classics: The Great Dictator and City Lights.  Another channel, FMC, has also runs several of his silents, so I was able to watch the films (again) while reading this book.  Lengthy, but definitely worth the read.

While I have read about Chaplin's troubles, never before have they been laid out in such a way as to make one not only admire him, but feel sorrow for him as well, because of the way our beloved (at least to me) United States treated him -- all because he was not a US citizen, and therefore, he must be a Communist (he was not).  It was sad to read, because by all accounts, even though he was stingy in monetary matters (due to his upbringing), he was extremely generous to friends and coworkers.  

Charlie Chaplin was an enigma unto himself.  Born into poverty, he and his older brother Sydney developed a lifelong bond with each other, and while Syd had done fairly well, Charlie, due to the fact of his visions regarding film, had done much better.  But it didn't come without a price:  His first three marriages failed, and his work was all-consuming.  He would do a hundred takes if it meant a better film.

What others may or may not know is that it was Chaplin, director D.W, Griffith, actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. who created Universal Studios.  They developed and made their own films and those of others, becoming extremely wealthy in the process.  This, of course, afforded Charlie the means to make those films he wished; and what films they were.  While some may not be interested in silent films, none can dispute his "Little Tramp" was brilliant.  It was this introduction into his early films that made me watch the others.

Charlie was married unhappily three times, and it was not until he met the 17-year-old Oona O'Neill (daughter of playwright Eugene O'Neill) that he finally found love.  He married her when she turned eighteen, and the marriage lasted until his death.  But even then he found problems as there were those in Hollywood and even Washington, D.C. who found him 'unacceptable' when it came to his private life.  I will not go into the story of Joan Berry here, but you can read the entire tale in the book.  I will say, however, that while Charlie may have had strong sexual proclivities, he never once took a minor where they shouldn't be.. He was not a predator.  In all, he adored Oona and could not have survived without her.

Charlie was given a bum rap. if you will, by this country, all because they were unhappy with the fact that he wouldn't become a citizen (he considered himself a 'citizen of the world'), and didn't have the same sensibilities of others during the Red Scare -- which I will say, ruined the careers of many actors and others).  When he retired to Switzerland, he was happy with his life, but longed to make more films, and did succeed in making two more, although they were not well-received by the critics nor the public.  However, Charlie's brilliance could not stay buried forever, and years later he was received with open arms on all fronts.

Whatever you think about the puckish Mr. Chaplin, love or hate him, this biography will open your eyes to the type of person he was.  It is not fawning over him, but tells the true tale of Charlie's life from birth to death, and everything that occurred in between, giving us a definitive tale of both the man and the genius.  It has given me a renewed admiration.  Highly recommended.

I thank Simon & Schuster for the advance copy of this book.  However, it did not influence this review in any way.

https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Chaplin-vs-America-Politics-ebook/dp/B0BV157PXK/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5736274891

More on Scott Eyman's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/s?k=scott+eyman&i=digital-text&crid=6IHP5VHHYF2I&sprefix=scott+eyman%2Cdigital-text%2C173&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Books and a Body (The Accidental Ghost Detective Book 5)

Author:    Emmie Lyn

Genre:     Mystery/Paranormal

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0C92BS71D

Whiskered Mysteries

184 Pages

$4.99 Amazon

June 21, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just when I'm prepared for a dull discussion at book club, a collection of old journals written by the town's illustrious historian and author disappear from the Frog Hollow Library.  Everything points to the journals containing secrets that one of the townspeople are willing to kill to keep hidden.

When Dash and I begin our search for the journals we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a murder scene.

Now, with time in short supply, a clue appears from an unlikely source and points to suspects that place me and the members of the Accidental Ghost Detective Agency in the killer's crosshairs.

Can Dash and I uncover all the clues before we end up as the latest victims in an unsolved murder mystery?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Nikki Knight inherited her late aunt's B&B when she died -- but her aunt didn't leave.  After getting used to the ghost, she also has a Dachshund that she can communicate with, and he turned out to be quite adept at not only judging people, but helping her solve murders.

She's hoping for a quiet, if dull, night at book club at the library, but it isn't to be.  The donor of some journals written by his father might be in hot water himself, since someone doesn't want the journals read.  When they're stolen before anyone has a chance to think about it, Nikki, Dash, and the rest of the Accidental Ghost Detective Agency is on the case.  

Then a murder occurs, and Nikki is sure it's connected to the journals.  What is in them?  And why wouldn't the man's son read them first to know for sure?  But when the journals are recovered, it's the police who get to read them first.  Could an old boating accident hold the key?  Or was it really an accident at all?...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have read them all.  Even if you don't care for paranormal mysteries this one is pretty darn cute.  I love Nikki, as she's not stupid and doesn't rush headlong into bad situations.  She actually thinks about what she's going to do first.  And her 'support group' of detectives is always available when she needs help.  

When the ending comes and we discover the truth of what is in the journals, and why it was kept hidden for so long, it all comes together nicely, giving us a satisfaction in it all.  Highly recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from Whiskered Mysteries but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Body-Accidental-Ghost-Detective-ebook/dp/B0C92BS71D/ref

Goodreads:       https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5733564884  

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

Dog Groomer Mysteries: All Ten Books

Author:    Chelsea Thomas

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0C8CR6WSC

Independently Published

2256 Pages

$9.99 Amazon

June 16, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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

Within a couple days of opening her new pet salon, Amy is accused of murder and told not to leave town.  Luckily, her grumpy Granny is there to help Amy through this.  When Granny recruits her wacky BFF, Betsy, the trio begin their hunt for the killer...stopping to pet all the cute dogs in their path, of course.

But when Amy receives a threat on her life, the team realizes it's more than mere justice at stake.

They'd better solve this fast or all three of them might be next.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

First off, this set contains all ten of the Dog Groomer Mysteries:

A New Leash on Life

Ruff and Tumble

To Fetch a Killer

Tail of Two Killers

Howl to Catch a Killer

Murder Fur Hire

Petter Off Dead

Shot in the Bark

Paws of Death; and 

Groomed to Kill

I have read every book in this series and enjoyed them all.  Strangely enough, I hadn't read the first or last, so that is what I read, and then skimmed the others again so I could give a thorough review.  The first book shows us how Amy came to be back in California after living in New York and being dumped by her boyfriend (although we won't mention that to her).  She's moved in with her irascible granny, and recently opened a pet salon.  She wants to find a place where she can live, as Granny lives in a retirement community.  

We also find out how she gained her two pets -- Fluffy the cat and Lucky the dog (although he's only named Puppy in this book).  There's also the way Fluffy met his friend Mouse, and unlikely combination.  Of course, Amy reconnects with an old friend from school, police officer Mike Fine.  If you've read any of the other books, you know the story there.  If not, this is where it starts.

Each book can be read as a standalone, but reading the series altogether is both humorous and delightful, watching how Amy's new life develops, becomes chaotic, then calm, and somewhere in-between.  It's a joyful ride with Amy and her friends and family, and, of course, the last book ties everything together as to where we are right now.  I love reading this series and I hope that you will, too.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Groomer-Cozy-Mysteries-Pet-themed-ebook/dp/B0C8CR6WSC/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5677619041

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

Irish Milkshake Murder (Anthology)

Authors:    Carlene O'Connor; Peggy Ehrhart; Liz Ireland

Genre:       Mystery/Fantasy

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496745033

Kensington Cozies

352 Pages

$27.00; $22.95

December 26, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An Irish anthology of cozy mysteries featuring a trio of today's top cozy mystery authors that will make other cozy anthologies green with envy.

IRISH MILKSHAKE MURDER by CARLENE O'CONNOR

In advance of their St. Patrick's Day wedding, Tara Meehan and Danny O'Donnel are off to the Aran Islands with their bridesmaids and groomsmen for a joint hen and stag party.  The weekend kicks off with the ferry trip to Inishmore, as the passengers enjoy boozy milkshakes on booard and entertainment from a pair of famous Irish-dancing twin brothers.  But faster than Tara can say, "Oh, Danny Boy," a murder shamrocks the boat as someone's spied shake turns out to be their final round.  Stuck in a rural island cottage, while a storm rages outside, Tara must find the Celtic killer before her luck runs out...

MURDER MOST IRISH by PEGGY EHRHART

St. Patrick's Day is drawing near in Arborville, New Jersey and the folks at Hyler's Luncheonette are getting into the holiday spirit with a new, limited-time Irish-themed menu item -- a festive green milkshake appropriately named, "The Leprechaun."  It's a hit, until a patron is felled by one of the frothy concoctions during a sheep parade through the town.  Now, it's up to Pamela Paterson and her Knit & Nibble knitting club pal, Bettina Fraser, to catch a murderer and put a stop to the shear madness...

MRS. CLAUS AND THE LUCKLESS LEPRECHAUN by LIZ IRELAND

Spring in Santaland means two things: the elves have more leisure time and iceball season is in full swing!  To celebrate, April Claus's friend, Claire, whips up some minty milkshakes for her bustling ice cream shop, Santaland Scoop.  But when the St. Paddy's promotion makes one elf the target of a decidedly unlucky strike, Mrs. Claus and her friends must figure out if the attack was a failed hit job, a crime of passion, or an extremely unfortunate accident...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

This is an anthology of short stories by three well-known cozy mystery writers.  They all take place around St. Patrick's Day, and have that particular theme; although they are very different in content.  For the most part, I enjoyed each of them.

In the first by Carlene O'Connor, Tara Meehan is looking forward to her St. Patrick's Day wedding to Danny O'Donnell, an Irish charmer.  But she's not thrilled that her best friend Breanna has planned a 'hen party' for her, as she's not much for that kind of festivities.  But she goes along with it, even when she discovers that Breanna has invited one of her "frenemies" from the states, Rachel, to join in.  When they are boarding the boat to take them to Inishmore, one of the three Aran Islands, a pair of twin Irish dancers beg to be let aboard since they missed their own boat.

What follows is nearly chaos.  Breanna is serving up 'boozy milkshakes to everyone (doesn't sound appetizing to me, but then again, I don't drink), and during the ride it begins to rain and the boat sways, and...someone is killed.  Murdered, in fact.  When they arrive on the island, now closed up because of the storm, Tara vows to solve the murder.  The police don't seem to believe them at first, but then things get really strange.  Tara and the remaining members of her group must stick together to solve the crime.  The ending was indeed surprising, and Ms. O'Coonor brings us another tasty mystery.  Five Stars.

Peggy Ehrhart's mystery is different in that it begins at a well-loved local diner, and of course, someone dies.  But why?  Pamela Paterson and her partner-in-crime, Bettina Fraser work together to come up with a plausible reason for the murder, and, of course, a suitable suspect.  But no one that they speak to seems to have a motive to have wanted the person dead.  The more they look, the less likely their main suspects seem to be.  In this one, I figured out the person and the reason before Pamela and Bettina, but it didn't stop my enjoyment of the mystery.  It was well written and worth the read.

My only complaints are that the author spends too much time telling us that Pamela uses her wedding China (we know) and Bettina uses her sage green pottery (we know).  Unfortunately for me, Pamela seems like a dull character with little personality and 'oomph' in her life.  I do wish she'd change, but we can't have everything, can we?  However, Wilfred's (Bettina's husband) makes some delicious meals and I'd love to eat there!  Four Stars.

The last story is by Liz Ireland, who writes about life in Santaland.  Her protagonist is April Claus, Santa Claus's wife, who is a young bride who's made friends with many of the elves.  She and her friend Juniper attend a local iceball game, a noted elf event.  But after the game, there is an elf found unconscious on the ice, and April doesn't think it was an accident.  She and her friends need to find out who attacked the famous iceball player and why, and they need to do so before St. Patrick's Day hits and the elf's fair is fully in swing.

I have to confess that I am not a fan of fantasy, so this one didn't really draw me in as much as the other two.  I also would have liked to have seen more interaction between April and Nick.  Ah, well.  The mystery is very good, though, and there's enough action to keep you interested.  When the ending comes, I was a tad disappointed, but that's just me.  Others will probably like this story as well.  Four Stars.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Irish-Milkshake-Murder-Carlene-OConnor-ebook/dp/B0C15WZR8D/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5659610695

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

More on Peggy Ehrhart's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/peggy-ehrhart/

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