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

Author:    Lily Rose Lane

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0CGB52943

Whiskered Mysteries

155 Pages

$4.99 Amazon

August 21, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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

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

And guess who the number one suspect is?

Me!  Aubrey Rose.

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

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author:    Traci Hall

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496744371

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$16.95; $9.99 Amazon

January 23, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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

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

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author:    Reagan Davis

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover: Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781990228414; 9781990228421

Carpe Filum Press

280 Pages

$19.99; $12.99; $3.99 Amazon

April 25, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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

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

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Murder on Mistletoe Lane (A Stella and Lyndy Mystery Book 5)

Author:    Clara McKenna

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback (LP); Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496738202; 9788885794589

Kensington Publishing

304 Pages

$27.00, $27.99; $12.99 Amazon

October 24, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Taking on the responsibilities that come with being Lady Lyndhurst, Stella is eager to embrace yuletide traditions in the Edwardian English countryside and use her strong social influence for good.  Her world becomes so consumed with starting a horse farm charity for the holidays that she barely notices the usual oddities attached to her upper-crust lifestyle.  At least, not until items vanish from her bedroom and maligned housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson becomes seriously ill -- only to be found dead in the cold on Mistletoe Lane...

Cheery spirits are dashed following the sudden death, especially once Stella questions whether her own staff knows what -- or who -- killed the woman.  Her suspicions mount when another person dies under strange circumstances during New Forest's annual Point-to-Point Boxing Day race.  Then there's the case of Morrington Hall becoming plagued by false identities, secret affairs, and disgruntled employees...               

Now, with two murders unfolding before their eyes in Late December, Stella and Lyndy realize they can't fully trust anyone except for themselves while investigating.  Because as disturbing answers come into focus, identifying the criminal responsible and surviving into the new year would be the greatest gift of the season...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Stella, Lady Lyndhurst, is celebrating her first British Christmas as a married woman, she came to England from her home of Kentucky in America, and fortunately fell in love with the man she was slated to marry by her father.  She's still finding her way around new customs, and her new mother-in-law is decidedly frosty in her presence, and it's not because of the weather.

It doesn't help that there are visitors arriving -- Sir Edwin, his wife Lady Isabella, and their son Frederick -- and Lyndy is curious because they've not been there in many years, at least since before he was born.

One night she is awakened by a maid because the housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson has taken ill and she doesn't know what to do.  Stella has her call the doctor, and once he informs her it's a case of food poisoning, Stella leaves her in the maid's care.  But the next day Mrs. Nelson is nowhere to be found.  Both Lyndy and Stella are stunned when they discover that she's been killed on Mistletoe Lane, and Stella wonders why she was out in the night at all, being so ill.

Now Stella has a murder to solve, and she wants it done before Christmas, so as not to spoil the holiday.  But there are other things afoot as well -- personal items from her room have been stolen, strange notes appear, Sir Edwin seems to be flirting with her (making her uncomfortable) and of all things, Lyndy's mother comes to her with a strange confession and asking for her help!  Will wonders never cease?

When there's another 'accident' which is deemed to be a murder occurs, it only strengthens Stella's intent to solve both.  Is she putting herself in danger?  Or will there be Christmas miracles after all?

I have to admit first that I rarely read historical novels.  Upon occasion, I will read something along the lines of Rebecca and other classics, but this is the one of the first historical cozies that I've ventured into.  And what a surprise I received.  The writing is excellent as well as the plot, and the characters are compelling (even those I didn't care for).  Everything is written with precision and in such a way to draw you into the story nearly from the beginning.

It was a delight to read, and now I find that I must go back and begin with the first one (this being the fifth story!) and introduce myself to all the characters from their onset.  I am actually looking forward to doing so.  

Stella is an intriguing character; she's from America and grew up as an only child on a large horse farm, she's developed her strong social and moral tendencies, with her kindness and forgiveness part of her being.  She's not a pushover, and is quite intelligent.  Her husband Lyndy is a perfect fit, allowing Stella her way while still taking on the role of protector, as was the wont then (and should still be).  

Throughout the story we are given many suspects and questionable behavior, all leading us to wonder who the murderer is.  When Stella has her 'aha' moment, we are not privy to the answer immediately.  We must watch as she confronts the killer along with her husband -- but she is not out of danger yet.

In the end, will Stella have her perfect English Christmas?  One must wait and see, but I can tell you that I highly recommend this book.

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-Mistletoe-Stella-Lyndy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BT8N13P1/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5810043782

More on Clare McKenna's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/clara-mckenna/

Murder Checks Out (A Blue Ridge Library Mystery Book 8)

Author:    Victoria Gilbert

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781639105205

Crooked Lane Books

272 Pages

$30.99; $18.99 Amazon

November 14, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Returning to her role as an amateur detective is the last thing library director Amy Muir wants.  She's already buried under an avalanche of responsibilities, including sharing the directorship of the local public library, parenting her holiday-obsessed five-year-old twins, and helping her choreographer husband, Richard, present The Nutcracker as part of the town's festivities.  With her frosty mother-in-law, Fiona, visiting for the holidays, Amy definitely has enough on her Christmas cookie plate.

But when the chair of the festival committee is found as dead as Dickens's proverbial doornail at the town's ice rink, Amy is determined to uncover the real perpetrator to protect her brother-in-law, Ethan Payne, who was placed at the scene.  The clock is ticking down as Sheriff Brad Tucker is equally sure that Ethan is guilty.

It's beginning to look a lot like the murderer hasn't wrapped up his killing spree, and now, it might just be "lights out" on the holiday festivities -- and on Amy's life.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Amy Muir is enjoying her life as a wife and mother, aside from the fact that it's keeping her so busy she's exhausted -- it's not easy being the mother of five-year-old twins, especially at Christmas, and double especially when they find out their grandmother Fiona, Amy's husband Richard's mother, is coming to spend the holiday with them.

When Amy visits her Aunt Lydia at Winterfest, she notices a steep snow-covered slope near where her aunt has her craft booth set up.  It's not until later when the sponsor, Wendy Blackstone, is found murdered that Amy really has her hands full.  She thought she was done with murder, but it seems that the spotlight is on her brother-in-law, Ethan Payne, for the deed.  Now, she'll have to sift through suspects and clues to find the real killer -- and hope that she can do it before Christmas...

This is the eighth book in the series and I have read them all.  I thought because of the time progression (stay with me) that I had missed one, but nope.  This one takes place five years after the last book, and now Amy's given birth and her twins are ruling her life.  There are several changes also, one in which how Amy treats Kurt (my favorite character) and I approve of that.  They've not only come to an understanding, they've become friends.  He's also the twins' godfather, and that shows how far Amy's come.  Good move.

When Ethan is accused of murder, Amy isn't happy.  People know he doesn't have the temperament to commit murder, but there's a problem that no one in the town can get past (and I won't reveal it here since this book is not yet published).  This only adds confusion to the investigation and makes Amy's personal investigation harder.  Not to mention her brother Scott hasn't yet arrived, so Amy is on her own.

Then Fiona arrives, and while Amy is apprehensive at first, things begin to change between them, and Amy comes to a greater understanding of Fiona as well.  I like how this has progressed, and how Amy has become softer since motherhood; she's no longer so judgmental of people, and it works so well in this book.

When the murderer is discovered, it was hidden well until nearly the last, and I found the reasons behind the murder believable and sad, and while murder is wrong, one can sympathize (to a point) but derangement is what it is.

All in all, I found this one of my most favorite books of the series, and I hope that they keep coming for a long time yet.  I read all of Ms. Gilbert's books and have yet to be disappointed.  She is a talented writer with an ability to create interesting storylines.  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-Checks-Ridge-Library-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BVTPMT8S/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5805139460

More on Victoria Gilbert's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/victoria-gilbert/

Dead Man Cakewalking (Apple Orchard Cozy Mysteries Book 20)

Author:    Chelsea Thomas

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798854609173

Independently Published

228 Pages

$12.99; $5.99 Amazon

August 18, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There's one week until Chelsea's wedding...

...and she's got a killer to catch.

When Chelsea arrived in Pine Grove, she was fresh off a massive heartbreak, and she struggled to get back on her feet.  Solving mysteries gave Chelsea the confidence she needed to finally move on, and now she's ready to give her heart to a new man.

But murder gets in the way, just like it always does.

And this time Chelsea's a suspect.

Chelsea sets out to solve the most scandalous murder yet...seven days before "I do."

With the help of her elderly besties, Teeny and Miss May, Chelsea uncovers more secrets than a wedding planner.  And as she gets closer to the truth, she realizes she'll have to put herself in harm's way -- and risk missing her wedding -- to catch the killer.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

It's finally happening.  Chelsea is at last marrying her love, Wayne, and nothing is going to spoil the wedding for her.  That is, until her ex-fiancé Mike shows up at her Christmas tree farm with his new fiancée Priscilla, and they start arguing.  Trying her best to ignore the situation, she comes across them once again at Teeny's diner and they've appeared to make up.  But unfortunately, Mike leaves his wallet behind at the diner and Chelsea and Miss May go to his house to return it.  Big mistake.  When they arrive, Mike is dead, and there is a letter incriminating Chelsa.

Now she's a suspect in his murder.  Mike, the man who left her at the altar in New York.  But for some reason, police chief Sunshine Flanagan doesn't seem to be interested in her all that much, which is weird; or anything else, for that matter.  Chelsea knows that if she's going to marry Wayne, she needs closure to her past.  That means finding Mike's killer.  But it isn't going to be easy, since she discovers that he made enemies everywhere he went, and people don't want to talk to her.  How can she solve a murder in less than a week, finish planning her wedding, and get ready for Christmas?

This is the 20th book in the series, and I have read them all.  This one brings Chelsea full circle from her disastrous relationship with Mile to her perfect one with Wayne (Wayne is the better deal).  When she tries to question Mike's family members, they're haughty and cold (pretty pretentious for people named after pickles -- Gherkin -- just my observation, ha!).  But she does get some information from Priscilla, and even Mike's cousin, which is surprising.

She also gets a chance to come to grips with all her old feelings about Mike, and that gives her something, at least.  But finding a killer in the allotted time isn't a sure thing.  It takes everything Chelsea has inside of her to figure it out, and when she does, it puts her in danger.  Interestingly, help comes from an unexpected corner.

When everything is said and done, the murderer is found (as we know they will be) and Chelsea can once again look forward to peace and quiet in her life.  I have loved this series for a long time, and I want it to continue.  I've come to love the characters and Pine Grove, and I will miss them until the next book.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Man-Cakewalking-Humorous-Page-turner-ebook/dp/B0C4411GKT/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5790356246

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

A Case of Deadly Dating (Willow Cove Mysteries Book 4)

Author:    Lily Rose Lane

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0C8J8W1J8

Whiskered Mysteries

158 Pages

$4.99 Amazon

June 18, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Aubrey Rose -- Willow Cove's top private investigator, and possible suspect in another murder case...

The new nurse in town met her demise -- at the bottom of a staircase -- but she isn't the only skeleton in Willow cove.

Apparently, she's also Gavin, my boyfriend's, ex.

And now he's acting even weirder, secretive.

That doesn't make either of us a suspect, right?

It's up to us to help solve the case and not let our own bout of deadly dating get in the way.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Aubrey Rose moved back to Willow Cove after her disastrous marriage fell apart.  Now she's running the family B&B along with her mother.  Their handyman, Gavin, is also Aubrey's new boyfriend, and partner in their new private investigating firm.  All is well, or so Aubrey thinks.

One morning Gavin cuts himself with a chainsaw, and Aubrey takes him to the clinic in town.  There's a new nurse who stitches him up, and Gavin is unusually grim.  When Aubrey asks him about it, she discovers that the nurse is his ex-wife, and he's not happy to see her.  Later, when she's murdered, both Gavin and Aubrey become suspects.  The only way out, of course, is to find the killer themselves...

This is the fourth book in the series and I have read them all.  I find them delightful to read, as the characters are engaging and believable.  In this book, we have Aubrey facing her own relationship demons as she wonders why Gavin is spending so much time in the work shed, and won't allow her to see what he's doing.  She wonders if he's thinking about Catrina, his ex.  When she decides to question him, he wonders if she trusts him at all.  Such is the world of new relationships and old ghosts, at least in this book.

But back to the mystery: Aubrey begins to question suspects (as it appears that Gavin is too busy to help) and she's not getting the answers she wants.  Of personal interest is Dr. Carl and his wife, but neither have anything to say to her, even though they both knew the dead woman.  Even though the sheriff insists she stay out of the case, Aubrey won't, as she's investigating also.  Will she get the answers she wants, or will Gavin remain suspect #1?

When the ending comes and everything is revealed, it's rather sad but still, a murder has been committed.  We get to see a new insight into the two main characters, who take center place in this book with very little interaction with other secondary characters, but that is how it is supposed to be.  It leaves us with a warm fuzzy, wanting to read the next in the series.  Recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Whiskered Mysteries but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Deadly-Dating-Willow-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0C8J8W1J8/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5782567451

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