#BookReview ~ The Body in the Bookstore (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #1) by Ellie Alexander #CozyMystery

 

The Body in the Bookstore (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #1) by Ellie Alexander 

ASIN:‎ B0D4RV4P8V

Publisher: ‎Storm Publishing
Publication date: ‎June 19, 2024

Print length: ‎274 pages

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About the Book:

An addictively cozy and gripping murder mystery introducing a brand-new amateur sleuth and lovable heroine to the crime scene…

Welcome to The Secret Bookcase, a quirky bookstore in a grand, converted manor house, where the selection of crime fiction is dangerously good. The store has been bookseller and events manager Annie Murray’s sanctuary ever since her dreams of starting a detective agency with her best friend died, literally, when Scarlet was murdered.

Annie has never stopped trying to solve the mystery of her friend’s death, but her quiet life in leafy Redwood Grove, with its warm community of likeminded local business-owners and book-lovers, has provided the solace she needed. Until now.

When a body is discovered in the bookstore during the town’s inaugural Mystery Fest, Anne finds herself catapulted to the centre of a real-life whodunit. Dusting off her criminology degree, Annie is determined to put her sleuthing skills to good use and catch the killer – before it’s too late.

My Review:

The Body in the Bookstore is the first book in the brand new series, The Secret Bookcase Mysteries, by Ellie Alexander. Annie Murray has set up what she hopes is the perfect event to bring life back to The Secret Bookcase and to the town on Redwood Grove. People are coming from far and wide to the very first Mystery Fest. The mood shifts, however, when a dead body is discovered during the festivities. Annie is thrust into the middle of real-life murder case, using her degree in criminology and unofficially partnering with someone from her past.

I really enjoyed this first book in the brand new Secret Bookcase Mystery. There are several threads woven into this story. It's not just a current murder mystery. Annie lost a friend years ago to murder and she's still trying to figure that one out. Now there's a body in one of the clue locations created for the festival. When a bunch of old college friends/acquaintances come to town, their reasons, actions, and revealed secrets add them Annie's list of suspects.

The characters are interesting, likeable, and 3-dimensional. The author wrote them realistically with personality (or lack thereof, as it were for some of them), dimension, and emotion. I enjoyed the small town feel created and developed, and I felt like I was there assisting Annie figure out who had the means, motive, and opportunity. The story and mystery really pulled me in and kept me engaged. The death/murder mystery kept me guessing. I found the entire book to be well thought out with wonderful pacing.

I was provided a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

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#BookReview ~ Steamed Secrets (Killer Coffee Cozy Mystery, Book 16) by Tonya Kappes #NewRelease #TonyaKappesBooks #CozyMystery

 

Steamed Secrets (Killer Coffee Cozy Mystery, Book 16) by Tonya Kappes

ASIN: ‎ B0D5BHQP3Y
Publisher: ‎ Tonya Kappes Books
Publication Date: ‎ January 26, 2025
Print Length: ‎ 209 pages

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About the Book:

Welcome to Honey Springs, where the gossip flows as smoothly as the coffee—and murder is the latest buzz.

When Roxy Bloom traded in her high-powered lawyer heels for cozy barista sneakers and a fresh start in her charming hometown, she never expected murder to darken her doorstep. But when Vanessa Hartman—a model with secrets to spare—turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, the Bean Hive Coffee Shop becomes the center of small-town whispers, and Roxy can’t resist stirring the pot.

With her trusty rescue pup Pepper at her side, Roxy dives headfirst into a swirling mystery of tangled relationships, jealous rivals, and one too many secrets steeping in the background. And just when the case gets hot enough to scald, Patrick Cane, the swoon-worthy man who stole her heart, is there with kisses and steadfast support to keep her grounded—if only Roxy could keep herself out of trouble.

As the Honey Springs Spring Festival lights up the town with laughter and charm, Roxy faces a parade of quirky suspects, a squawking parrot who just might hold the key, and a killer determined to keep their secrets buried. Can Roxy solve the mystery before the culprit skips town, or will her snooping put her back in a life she swore she left behind?

Perfect for fans of small-town cozies, sweet romance, and a dash of southern sass, Steamed Secrets will keep you turning pages faster than Roxy can serve up her famous lattes

My Review:

Steamed Secrets is the 16th book in the Killer Coffee Mystery Series. The book takes place during the Honey Springs Spring Festival. The Bean Hive and the rest of town are gearing up for the festivities when a blast from Roxie's past blows into town. Vanessa Hartman, Roxie's former college roommate turned model, suggested Honey Springs for a perfume campaign photoshoot, and here she is...Surprise!

When a murder taints the reunion and the festival, Roxie dons her lawyer's hat, her sleuthing cap, and her superhero cape. Her tasks are daunting but if anyone can unravel secrets, jealousy among suspects, and dissect a messy relationship or two, it's Roxie. I found this book to be exceptionally emotional as I followed Roxie on her latest investigation.

Steamed Secrets pulls you in and keeps you engaged. The mystery was well-written and kept me on my toes. I found myself continually guessing who the murderer could be throughout the story. Every time I thought I knew who the suspect was, something would happen or new evidence would appear, and I’d have to try and figure it out again. I love that in a mystery - fill the book full of twists and turns, red herrings, and deliberate misdirects so I have a tough time figuring everything out.

I enjoyed all the characters. The world building had me feeling like I was right in the middle of Honey Springs. I was able to visualize the town, the activities, and the people.

I was provided a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

My Rating:

#NewRelease #BookReview ~ Snowcaps, Skiing, & Sabotage by #TonyaKappes

Welcome to Normal, where nothing is normal.

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0D6744TWG
Publisher: ‎ Tonya Kappes Books (December 29, 2024)
Publication date: ‎ December 29, 2024
Print length: ‎ 231 pages
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About the Book:

The small town is buzzing as Normal, Kentucky, hosts the Southeast Olympic ski trials for the first time, drawing elite athletes and sponsors to the usually peaceful Happy Trails Campground. But whispers of sabotage and broken equipment soon cast a dark shadow over the competition—and all clues seem to lead back to Mae’s campground, where one of the competitive skiers is found dead.

With ruthless sponsors, jealous rivals, and old grudges coming to light, Mae finds herself on a slippery slope of secrets and lies. Alongside her trusty friends, the Laundry Club Ladies, Mae digs into the lives of the skiing elite, uncovering motives as sharp as the winter chill.

As Mae races to uncover the truth, she’ll have to tread carefully through snowy trails and hidden dangers. Because in Normal, where everyone knows everyone, the killer might be closer than she thinks.

Perfect for fans of small-town charm, sassy amateur sleuths, and mysteries that keep you guessing, Snowcaps, Skiing, & Sabotage will have cozy readers flipping pages well into the night. Grab a mug of hot cocoa and settle in for a thrilling ride through the heart of winter in Normal, Kentucky—where the temperature’s low, but the stakes have never been higher.

My Review:

Snowcaps, Skiing, and Sabotage is the 39th book in the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series, but it’s as fresh and exciting as all the previous books. Reading Snowcaps, Skiing, and Sabotage is like coming back home to Normal, Kentucky and hanging out with all my friends. I love the familiarity of the characters, the hominess of the various locations throughout the book, and the comfort of knowing Mae, Hank, and the Laundry Club Ladies are keeping everyone safe.

The town of Normal is buzzing with winter activity. The snow is falling and the Olympic Trials are being held locally. The old distillery has been transformed into ski slopes, a lodge, and other buildings. Well-known skiers have infiltrated town, filling up the lodging including some bungalows in Happy Trails Campground. When one the stars is found frozen to death, Mae and the the rest of the Laundry Club Ladies find themselves in the middle of another murder investigation.

The book was full of twists, turns, red herrings, and shifts in direction. The mystery would start out going one direction, then completely shift a new way. There are several viable suspects since it appears the victim wasn't very well liked. I was kept guessing until the very end. I loved how the loose threads quickly and methodically tied right up at the end.

As with the rest of the books in the series, the mystery isn't the only thing going on in the book. Tonya Kappes did a terrific job weaving the main storyline and several smaller ones together. The characters are wonderfully crafted, realistically written, and I feel like I'm coming home to Normal with every book in the series.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:

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#CozyMystery #Review ~ Fireworks, Freedom, & Felonies (A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series, Book 37) by Tonya Kappes

 

ASIN: ‎ B0CQ371JBL
Publisher: ‎ Tonya Kappes Books
Publication date: ‎ June 23, 2024
Print length: ‎ 211 pages

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About the Book:

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE

USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes brings you southern and quirky characters in her mystery series. Her stories are charged with humor, friendship, family and life in small southern towns.

Mae West, owner of Happy Trails Campground located in the Daniel Boone National Forest, is no stranger to the twists and turns of life in Normal, but she never expected her community's knitting circle to unravel into chaos. When local knitting enthusiast is found murdered with her own knitting needles during the town's lively Fourth of July celebration, the community is spun into a whirlwind of suspicion and secrets.

Amidst the burst of Fourth of July festivities and the echoes of fireworks long past, Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies unravels a tangled web of secrets. With tales of a cursed heirloom and hidden treasures rumored to be concealed within the walls of the Stitchin’ Post, they find themselves piecing together clues from both past and present.

As tensions mount against the backdrop of booming Fourth of July fireworks, Mae learns that in Normal, Kentucky, some secrets are explosive enough to kill for. Can she unravel the killer’s identity before the fabric of her community is torn apart forever? Join Mae as she chases down clues and crooks amidst the sparks and echoes of Independence Day celebrations!

My Review:

Fireworks, Freedom, & Felonies is the 37th book in the Camper & Criminals series, but it’s as fresh and exciting as all the previous books. Reading Fireworks, Freedom, & Felonies is like coming back home to Normal, Kentucky and hanging out with all my friends. I love the familiarity of the characters, the hominess of the various locations throughout the book, and the comfort of knowing Mae, Hank, and the Laundry Club Ladies are keeping everyone safe.

The Fourth of July celebrations have commenced and it's almost time for the fireworks. On a dark street, lit up intermittently with the brightness of freedom, a confrontation takes place, and just like that, there's another homicide in Normal, Kentucky. Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies are on the case!

The book was full of twists, turns, red herrings, and shifts in direction. The mystery would start out going one direction, then completely shift a new way. The suspense build-up was written well and intensified until the very end. I was kept guessing until the very end. I loved how the loose threads quickly and methodically tied right up.

As with the rest of the books in the series, the mystery isn't the only thing going on in the book. Tonya Kappes did a terrific job weaving the main storyline and several smaller ones together. The characters are wonderfully crafted, realistically written, and I feel like I'm coming home to Normal with every book in the series. I was provided a copy of this book.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:

#Review ~ Crochet and Cauldrons (Vampire Knitting Club, #3) by Nancy Warren ~ #ParanormalCozyMystery #CozyMystery #Paranormal @NancyWarren1

Every family has annoying relatives; mine just happen to be undead.

 

Book Details:

ASIN: B07HHDPQBT

Publisher: ‎Ambleside Publishing

Publication date: October 25, 2018

Print length:‎ 238 pages

Page numbers source ISBN: 1928145515

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About the Book:

My Grandmother, Agnes Bartlett, used to own Cardinal Woolsey’s knitting shop in Oxford then died and left her shop to me, without informing me that she wasn’t actually dead. She’s a vampire and part of the world’s strangest craft circle – the Vampire Knitting Club.

As you might imagine, this means she’s free to interfere in how I run the business that used to be hers. She’s trying to teach me to knit and it’s not going well. She’s also trying to teach me how to be a witch, since it turns out I’m from a long line of witches. Another tiny detail about my family that no one ever told me, along with the long-lost witch cousins I recently discovered.

But I’m learning. I’ve got my family spell book, my black cat familiar, some powers that sometimes scare me, and an interesting new group of friends.

My archaeologist parents are coming to visit and bringing me a gift I could do without.

So, to recap, I run a knitting shop and I can’t knit. I’m a beginning witch who can’t always control her cat, never mind her magic, and my love life is as tangled as the last sock I tried to knit. Oh, and for some reason, I keep getting involved in murder investigations. Good thing I have my vampire knitters to help sniff out clues.

At least I’ve finally hired the perfect assistant, a real demon with the crochet hook. Or is she too perfect?

My Review:

Crochet and Cauldrons is the third book in the Vampire Knitting Club Series. This book features less knitting and more Egyptian mythology. 

Lucy Swift's parents have surprised her by coming to England for a visit. The gift her mother brings from an archeological dig site doesn't excite Lucy. In fact, the artifact is a gift that kept right on giving, putting Lucy's life in jeopardy. At least while she's trying to solve the mystery of the ancient artifact, Lucy's new assistant is holding down the fort. Lucy has never been so comfortable with an assistant as she is with Eileen, who is great with customers, sales, and minding of the shop.

The Vampire Knitting Club series is an unusual vampire series. The premise is certainly unique and the plot is different. The characters are quirky and easy to like. The story is told solely from Lucy’s point of view but contains many secondary characters. I really enjoyed Lucy’s lowkey attitude and ability to be flexible in her life choices.

The only thing that really bothered me in this book was the big bad. The villain wasn't hidden very well in this installment. Lucy should have caught on earlier in the book than she did. Yes, she was distracted by her parents. Yes, she was distracted by the ancient artifact. Yes, she was distracted by a certain vampire. The signs were all there though, and very hard to miss.

Despite the obvious, I enjoyed the book. While Crochet and Cauldrons is the third book in the Vampire Knitting Club series, there wasn't as much vampiring or knitting in this book, and that's okay. Lucy has other facets of her life that are equally as important. She's still trying to pull her witchy side out and get it trained. She's running a knitting shop, and trying to find a competent assistant that will share the day-to-day responsibilities. I enjoyed Crochet and Cauldrons and can't wait to get my hands on book four.

My review copy came from my local library. I also bought the box set from Amazon.

My Rating:

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A Twinkle of Trouble (A Fairy Garden Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber ~ #cozymystery #Review ~ ThereIsAGive@way

 

A Twinkle of Trouble (A Fairy Garden Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber

About A Twinkle of Trouble:

 

A Twinkle of Trouble (A Fairy Garden Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

5th in Series

Setting - California

Publisher: ‎ Kensington Cozies (April 23, 2024)

Paperback: ‎ 304 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1496744934

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1496744937

Kindle ASIN: ‎ B0CFGF36NM

Carmel-by-the-Sea garden shop owner Courtney Kelly sees things others can’t—like fairies, and hidden motives for murder . . .

Courtney is delighted when her tiny friend Fiona returns from the fairy realm, appearing at the base of a Cypress tree. When her Ragdoll cat, Pixie, emerges from her own portal—aka the cat door—the three set off for a busy day. Busier than usual, since Courtney has rented a small plot of land at the Flower Farm, where she hopes to grow her own supplies for her fairy-garden business. Plus, the annual Summer Blooms Festival is coming up, and Courtney has booked a booth . . .

But the murder of Courtney’s friend, Genevieve, casts a pall over the festival. Ever since Genevieve sold her floral business, she’d been building a career as an influencer. She was perennially opinionated—but in her new role she’d become surprisingly vicious, dissing local entrepreneurs with nasty posts and unwarranted bad reviews. That’s landed a couple of Courtney’s other friends on the suspect list—including Flower Farm owner Daphne Flores. And when a second victim is discovered, seeds of doubt about Daphne’s innocence sprout in Courtney’s mind. With only a germ of a clue, Courtney will have to overturn every rock to get the dirt on the real killer . . .

My Review:

A Twinkle of Trouble is the fifth book in the Fairy Garden Mystery series. Featuring fairies, cats, and a wonderful cast of characters, A Twinkle of Trouble is another slam dunk cozy mystery.

Courtney Kelly's fairy garden shop is booming. Between walk-in private lessons, group lessons, and individual sales, Open Your Imagination has become a popular destination for both believers and non-believers. Courtney even hosts fairy garden parties.

Courtney's fairy friend has returned from the fairy realm. Fiona had been gone a month, much to Courtney and her feline companion Pixie's dismay. Life can now get back to normal, and Courtney can focus on the Summer Blooms Festival and her quarter-acre of land at the Flower Farm. Except, the death of Courtney's friend Genevieve dims the happiness and excitement of the festival and farm.

This is a very unique story with unique elements. I enjoyed the fairy garden shop setting, complete with a live fairy. The characters are fun and exciting. I enjoyed Courtney's character. Her business is successful and thriving. She cares about her friends and citizens in Carmel-by-the-Sea and makes it her mission to help solve the crime, even when a couple of her friends appear as suspects. The author delivers several suspects with means and motive, and figuring out who committed the crime was difficult. There are twists and turns and red herrings, and while I may have suspected who committed the crime, I never was really sure until the end.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

About Daryl Wood Gerber:

 

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling mysteries, including the Fairy Garden Mysteries and Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense including the well received The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams series. Recently Daryl, who loves a challenge, published a Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: https://darylwoodgerber.com

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#Review ~ Stitches and Witches (Vampire Knitting Club, #2) by Nancy Warren ~ #ParanormalCozyMystery #CozyMystery #Paranormal @NancyWarren1

Dropping stitches and catching killers

Book Details:

ASIN: B07HHHBVZF

Publisher: Ambleside Publishing

Publication date:‎ October 11, 2018

Print length:‎ 252 pages

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About the Book:

When an older gentleman keels over in his scones and tea at the Elderflower Tea Shop in Oxford—a victim of poison—Lucy Swift and her band of undead amateur detectives are on the case.

Elderflower Tea Shop is next door to Cardinal Woolsey’s, the yarn shop Lucy runs and home to the late-night Vampire Knitting Club. The tea shop owners are a pair of octogenarian spinsters and old family friends, so Lucy wants to help clear up the mystery that’s keeping their shop closed. But murder isn’t the only issue troubling the Miss Watts. A man has come between them. Miss Florence Watt is being romanced by an old flame, one Mary Watt distrusts.

In between figuring out who, among his many enemies, might have poisoned the unpleasant Colonel Montague, Lucy’s trying to brush up on her magic spells before the Wiccan potluck dinner her witchy cousin insists she attend.

However, she’s still settling into being a witch and since she botched a spell and blew up her kitchen, she’s taking the magic slowly.

Her knitting endeavors aren’t much better. Between purling when she should knit and dropping so many stitches her hand-knit scarf looks like it was attacked by giant moths, there are days Lucy thinks she’ll pack it all in and move back to Boston. She might, except she’d miss her beloved undead grandmother, her new friends, one very sexy vampire and a local detective who is very much alive.

My Review:

Stitches and Witches is the second book in the Vampire Knitting Club Series. 

Next to Cardinal Woolsey's is the Elder Flower Tea Shop, owned by two sisters. A blast from the past comes calling on Florence, much to her sister Mary's dismay. While the wedge grows between Florence and Mary, a patron dies in the tea shop, increasing the tension. Lucy and her undead friends are on the case of the death of Colonel Montague, and trying to figure out who Florence's old flame is and why Mary doesn't like him.

The Vampire Knitting Club series is an unusual vampire series. The premise is certainly unique and the plot is different. The characters are quirky and easy to like. The story is told solely from Lucy’s point of view but contains many secondary characters. I really enjoyed Lucy’s lowkey attitude and ability to be flexible in her life choices.

I enjoyed this book very much. Lucy is a wonderful character and tries hard to run Cardinal Woolsey's, despite the inability to knit.  I enjoyed Stitches and Witches, and can't wait to continue to the series.

My review copy came from my local library. I also bought the box set from Amazon.

My Rating:

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