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/

Whatever Happened To Baby Peggy?

The Autobiography of Hollywood's Pioneer Child Star

Author:    Diana Serra Cary

Genre:     Autobiography/Nonfiction

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9780312147600

First Edition

552 Pages

$29.88; $9.99 Amazon

August 26, 2016

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Long before Shirley Temple's curls bounced their way into America's heart, Baby Peggy lit up marquee from coast to coast.  She was the original child star produced by Hollywood and her amazing journey set the pattern for all those who followed.

Discovered when she was only nineteen months old, Baby Peggy with her angelic face and expert mugging for the camera entertained audiences across the nation and around the world.  She starred in a series of short two-reel comedies, completing 150 of them by the time she turned three.  By her fifth birthday, Baby Peggy's films were earning as much as Charlie Chaplin's, and she herself was a millionaire, having signed a three-film $3.5 million contract.

Establishing a disgraceful tradition for the parents of child performers, Baby Peggy's mother and father, emotional children themselves, squandered her fortune.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Long before there was superstar child actress Shirley Temple, there was one that came before her, almost a hundred years ago.  Her name was Baby Peggy, and she made 150 films for various movie studios.  However, unlike Shirley Temple, who always played her age in films (and what endeared her to millions of viewers), Baby Peggy often played "grownups"; she would act in films that portrayed her as a miniature person, complete with period dress.

Which is not to say millions didn't adore her also; they did.  But I am saying that you cannot compare the two in regard to movies.  They were very different, and many other child actors have come and gone along the way.

I had never heard of Baby Peggy, but I wanted to know more about her.  I love classic films and own thousands of them.  But I own not as many silent films, which is what this little girl made.  Sadly, most of her films have been destroyed, and I have only been able to see Captain January, which is one of her final ones.  She did have acting ability, and it was because, according to her own writing, she could take direction and basically film anything in one take.

Having said that, I will say that this book was rather depressing to me.  Beginning acting at nineteen months, her father became her manager and she wasn't allowed to have a childhood.  Her older sister, Louise, was denied things that Peggy was denied, for that reason alone.  This caused a rift between the sisters that lasted until later adulthood.

Her father was a spendthrift, and the minute he realized Peggy could support them, he quit his own job (such as it was) and refused to allow his wife to have anything to do with Peggy's making movies.  He spent the money quickly, and unfortunately, allowed someone to manage some of it who had no business doing so in the first place.

Without child protection laws in place (which were added because of child actor Jackie Coogan and his actions), they could do what they wanted with her money, which they promptly did.  It appears Peggy did not have a very happy life, and in later years changed her name to Diana.

She did have a happy second marriage, which was a good thing, but reading this I felt that it was more cathartic for this late little actress, and that life could have treated her better.

https://www.amazon.com/What-Ever-Happened-Baby-Peggy/dp/0312147600/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7599851313

More on Diana Serra Cary's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Diana-Serra-Cary/author/B001HN15H6?ref

O Deadly Night

 A Year-Round Christmas Mystery Book 8

Author:    Vicki Delany

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9788892421874

Crooked Lane Books

320 Pages

$29.99; $14.99 Amazon

October 14, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's Christmastime in Rudolph, New York, which means it's time for the December Santa Claus parade.  This year, shop owner Merry Wilkinson has decided to decorate her float as Santa's elves' workshop and invites her landlady, Mabel D'Angelo, to help supervise the excited children playing the elves.  But when Mrs. D'Angelo doesn't show up, Merry begins to worry.

Worry quickly turns unto frustration when Mrs. D'Angelo reveals she was delayed by new neighbors moving in.  As the center for all things gossip, Mrs. D'Angelo is determined to introduce the new arrivals to the neighborhood.  As the days pass, Mrs. D'Angelo notices strange things about the newcomers, but Merry, busier than an elf in Santa's workshop, has little time for matters that don't really concern her.  But things turn from jolly to downright concerning when Mrs. D'Angelo disappears, and Merry is forced to admit that something might be entirely wrong. 

With family and friends counting on her during this stressful holiday season, it is up to Merry to make sure this Christmas doesn't end up wrapped in blood red.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Merry Wilkinson lives in Rudolph, New York and owns a gift store that sells Santa-themed items all year round.  The town is as Christmasy as it gets, especially this time of year.  When Merry is preparing her annual Christmas float, she expects her landlady, Mrs. Mabel D'Angelo, to show up as one of the elves, but she doesn't.  When she learns the reason why -- Mrs. D'Angelo, a gossip center, is trying to introduce herself to the new neighbors, but isn't having any luck.  As the days go on, Mabel sees that there is something going on across the street, but can't put her finger on it.  Merry, used to Mabel and her fancies, blows most of it off.  But when Mabel disappears and no one can find her, Merry begins to worry.

When she does find Mabel, it's across the street -- and Merry also finds a dead body.  It turns out that the dead person had a connection to the town and several of its residents, including Merry's younger sister, Eve.  But does Eve know anything about the murder?  As Merry starts to dig deeper, she finds that the dead woman had more than a connection with the town, and her past wasn't pretty.  In fact, it was ugly enough that someone wanted her dead...

I love this series, and most of the characters in it (yes, there are some that get on my nerves, just as in real life they would do so); and I especially love Merry's father.  He seems unflappable, and remains calm in most, if not all, situations.  Unfortunately, at least in this book, her boyfriend Alan appears just as an afterthought, he's in it so little.  I hope to see more of him in the next book.

But back to Merry's sleuthing: she's right at home doing what she does best, and we get to see her at work while she's searching for clues.  She's even misled at one time, but eventually figures it out, which is important.  This is the busiest time of year, and trying to run her business and find a murderer (not that the police detective isn't capable herself) is a lot to handle.  Yet she does so, and does it well.

I knew the murderer before Merry did, but then again, I read a lot of mysteries, so that's something.  Even so, watching her put the clues together and figure it out herself is worth it, especially watching how her best friend helped her!  All in all, this was a great cozy to read, and I enjoyed it immensely.  I look forward to the next in the series.  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/Deadly-Night-Year-Round-Christmas-Mystery/dp/B0DT3VY4ZD/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7618795116

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

Epilogue To A Christmas Murder

A Beyond The Page Bookstore Mystery Book 11

Author:    Lauren Elliott

Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781496753342

Kensington Cozies

368 Pages

$8.99; $7.99 Amazon

September 30, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As bookstore owner Addie Greyborne shares the loving lesson of The Gift of the Magi, the spirit of the season falls prey to a thief and a killer...

There's no place like the seaside Massachusetts town of Greyborne Harbor for the holidays, and there's no better feeling for Addie than donating to the lighthouse museum's Twelve Days of Christmas charity fundraiser.  Of the dozen books she'll be offering as prizes from her Beyond the Page Books and Curios shop, the most special volume is a first edition of The Gift of the Magi imported from England -- signed by O. Henry!  Addie receives an unexpected Christmas bonus when the book is hand delivered by visiting Detective Inspector Noah Parker, whom she met in England, and has been daydreaming about ever since.

But on the night Addie delivers the book to the museum. someone posing as one of Santa's Little Helpers swipes it -- and the rest of the charity gifts.  As if the theft wasn't bad enough, a body is found on the rocks outside the lighthouse, believed to be murdered.  Now, it's up to Addie to connect the clues, find stolen goods, and catch a killer -- in order to usher in a Happy New Year...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

After being left at the proverbial altar, Addie Greyborne retreated to England for a year to recoup and decide what to do with her life.  She left her bookstore, Beyond the Page Books and Curios, in the capable hands of her manager, Paige.  But the year has ended, and Addie has returned home, eager to welcome the upcoming Christmas holiday and Paige's Christmas Day wedding.

Then she receives an unexpected and surprising visit from Detective Inspector Noah Parker, whom she butted heads with during her time in England.  She's not going to let him know how this has shaken her, since seeing him again has taken her breath away.  But he delivers a special book for her from the owner of the bookshop she worked for there -- a signed edition of The Gift of the Magi -- and she's going to donate it to the local museum for charity.

When she shows up at the museum she meets one of Santa's Elves who seems to be putting the donations into boxes, and tells her to just add her donations to everything else.  Barely questioning it, she does so, then discovers later that everything has been stolen, and the elf is nowhere to be found.

To make matters worse, a dead body is found the next day on the cliff by the lighthouse.  Who is the man?  Is he connected to the burglary?  But when it turns out to be someone who's connected to a friend, and local police chief Marc Chandler is removed from the case, she has no help.  At least until Noah Parker is temporarily assigned to the murder case.  But the DA and the mayor want it solved quickly.  With only one suspect in line for it, Addie has to work fast, and behind the scenes.  Will she be able to find a killer before her friend is jailed?  Or will everything go terribly wrong and she won't be able to help at all...

This is the eleventh book in the series, and I must say that it is my favorite to date.  I am glad that I decided to continue reading this series after one book disappointed me (not going to say any more about that!).  While I am glad to see Addie back home in Grayborne Harbor, I miss her friends she left behind in England.  But she didn't leave all of them -- Detective Inspector Noah Parker is on holiday, and he's helping with the murder case.  Her feelings for Noah are confusing, and she wants to see him and not see him, if that makes any sense.

With Marc off the case, everything needs to be hush-hush or both Noah and Marc will permanently lose their jobs, leaving Addie to do as much as she can by herself.  She's also trying to manage her store and keep Paige from going crazy with a mother who's turned into a Motherzilla.  Paige also needs her help if her wedding is to go off nicely; Addie's in a pickle and knows it.

Looking for clues, she's pretty much on her own and what she can glean from both Marc and Noah, which isn't much.  She's positive the suspect is innocent, and trusts her gut instinct, which is more than not right.  However, knowing it and proving it are two different things.

The book kept me interested throughout, and I loved the fact it takes place during the Christmas season.  (That's just because I love the holiday, myself).  Anyway, watching Addie take what she has and put it all together at the end is the best part of the book.  This woman is intelligent, unflappable, and able to take care of herself in a pinch.  She can also think on her feet. and that's the best kind of amateur sleuth.  It makes Ms. Elliott's books are wonderful; with a taut storyline and a climax that's worth waiting for.

I will not say any more about the book in order not to spoil it for anyone (I don't think I've given any spoilers so far!)  I will say I loved the intrigue, Addie's actions and her thinking, and the way the book ended.  I look forward to the next in the series.  Highly recommended.

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

https://www.amazon.com/Epilogue-Christmas-Murder-Bookstore-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DTJN96KY/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7585247015

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

A Limited Edition Murder

 A Beyond The Page Bookstore Mystery Book 10

Author:    Lauren Elliott

Genre:     Mystery

Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781496735757

Kensington Cozies

320 Pages

$8.36; $6.99 Amazon

May 21, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Although enjoying her extended stay working at Second Chance Books and Bindery in West Yorkshire, Addie still feels adrift -- far from home, her friends, and her own beloved bookstore, Beyond the Page Books and Curios.  The engagement party of her dear friend, Tony, at Milton Manor promises to be a joyful distraction.  But there's an ill wind blowing at the estate.  When Tony presents his fiancee with a special copy of Wuthering Heights as an engagement gift, the lord of the manor insists the book was stolen from his library...

Things go from troubling to tragic when Addie takes her Yorkipoo, Pippi, out for a walk on the moors and stumbles across the body of young woman.  When the police suspect Tony of foul play, Addie vows to get to the bottom of what's going on.  But it's a twisted, treacherous path to the truth and Addie will need to watch her every step...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Addie Greybourne fled her home in Greybourne Harbor, Massachusetts, when she discovered that her life was a lie.  Her great-aunt wasn't who she knew.  Her fiance, Simon, deserted her on their wedding day.  Saddened and hurt, she traveled to England to visit her novelist friend Tony Radcliff, who not only gave her a place to stay, but she secured a job at Second Chance Books and Bindery.  She's loved her quiet life in Yorkshire and made new friends, even though she knows she'll have to return home soon.

Tony is having an engagement party for himself and his fiancee Hailey, and even though Addie isn't looking forward to mingling with people she doesn't know, she's going for Tony's sake.  But things don't run smoothly.  First, the copy of Wuthering Heights that Tony has procured for Hailey as a gift is discovered to be stolen from the lord of the manor's library.  As if that's not bad enough, when Addie returns home and takes her dog Pippi for a walk, she discovers a young woman dead not far from her cottage.

But she notices that the elaborate necklace the woman wore is missing.  While she convinces the police of her own innocence eventually, they turn their attention to Hailey.  Now Addie is once again involved in a murder, and the local DI warns her away, but we know Addie better than him.  She's determined to find the truth, and hopes that she can find the killer before Hailey is sent away and the true fiend gets away with murder...

This is the tenth book in the series, and I will say that it took me a while to read.  The reasons are my own: I have read all the books in the series, but I did not enjoy the ending of the last one, so I needed to gear myself up to see if I was interested in reading another.  I will not list the reasons why I did not enjoy the ending of the last one, but I will say that it didn't make sense to me, as people have dealt with far worse.  End of conversation.

Saying that, I was pleasantly surprised how this one began and carried on.  Addie is learning more about herself, and actually moving on with her life as it is.  She finds a worthy opponent in DI Parker, which had interesting moments.  She has unexpected allies in her quest for the truth in Tony's employees, who have been flown over for the party and need to remain during the investigation, so she's not alone.

The mystery centers on actually two of them: how did the lord's book end up in a London bookshop where Tony bought it, and what happened to the necklace, which also seems like a gift that Tony once gave to Hailey and disappeared suddenly?  Both seem to have once disappeared twenty years ago; recently reappeared, then the necklace disappeared again.

Addie is positive that digging into the previous murder will explain the present one.  But does DI Parker agree?  It seems he's not interested in her theories, even if she knows she needs to trust her gut feelings.  

When the ending comes, it's a tad bittersweet, but everything comes together nicely, and the tale was intriguing and worth reading.  I look forward to the next in the series.  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/Limited-Murder-Beyond-Bookstore-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CHH3WYK8/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7577082775

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

Maid of Dishonor

 The Wedding Bell Mysteries Book 4

Author:    Nancy Robards Thompson

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781694703121

Tule Publishing

290 Pages

$11.99; $4.99 Amazon

July 18, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Maddie Bell's life and career have hit peak stride.  She's sold her cozy mystery series and is contracted for two more books; she's engaged to Hemlock's chief of police; and her mother has purchased and restored the beautiful historic mansion, Gracewood Hall, in their hometown of Hemlock, North Carolina.  Three generations -- Gigi, Maddie, and Jenna -- are now happily engaged in the wedding and special event business.

But their highly scrutinized inaugural event -- the wedding of an A-List social media influencer -- becomes a murder scene before the rehearsal dinner.  Kate Archer, the professional bridesmaid Jenna hired, is found bludgeoned by a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, not only threatening their new business, but also sending Jenna into a tailspin of guilt.  She knew Kate from college and has begged her to fill in as the maid of honor.

Even as the police warn Maddie not to interfere with the investigation, mother and daughter set out to discover who killed Kate and dispel the growing rumors that Gracewood Hall is cursed.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Maddie Bell writes a mystery series and owns a bridal shop.  Her daughter Jenna is an events planner, and works with her.  But now her mother, Gigi, has purchased Gracewood Hall, a resplendent place perfect for weddings and other events.

They've agreed to host the wedding of a social media influencer, London -- who turns out to be a bridezilla -- without cost, in return for the exposure it will give them in the future.  But now they are rethinking that, since the woman has alienated every single bridesmaid and has to hire a professional one, and pretend that Kate Archer is her bestie.

Things seem to be working so far -- that is, until Kate turns up murdered, and London is found standing over her body, with the champagne bottle she was holding shattered next to the woman.  Now the three generations of women must put their heads together and find the true killer before London is convicted of a crime they're certain she didn't commit.  But with a manor full of wedding guests and staff, how do they figure it out?  Especially since Maddie's fiance Jack is telling them to stay out of it, and he's also keeping Maddie at arms' length.  Will they find a killer?  Will Maddie figure out what is going on with Jack?  Or will their livelihoods be ruined forever by a killer who is smarter than any of them...

This is the fourth book in the series, and I will admit that it is also the only one which I have read.  Perhaps I should go back and read the first, since there are references to other books throughout; I will find the time to begin.  That being said, I wish I could give this a higher rating, but I didn't care for the fact that it was shown through different POVs.  I hate having to 'set one person aside' while reading another's thoughts.  That's just my opinion, but it's valid for me.

Other than that, the back-and-forth was a tad confusing; and I don't really care about influencers, so perhaps I am the wrong audience for this book.  However, I read it through, and did think that the murderer was a surprise and liked the climax, so that's a good thing.  All in all, this was a decent book and as I stated above, I will go back and read the first in the series.  Recommended. 

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

https://www.amazon.com/Maid-Dishonor-Mystery-Wedding-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0D2PKHDQW/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7556624367

More on Nancy Robards Thompson's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/nancy-robards-thompson/