Cozy Mystery Review ~ A Side of Murder (Cape Cod Foodie Mystery #1) by Amy Pershing @BerkleyMystery @BerkleyPub

 

A food writer must investigate the death of an old enemy in this witty and exciting new cozy mystery series set in beautiful Cape Cod, Massachusetts, known for seafood, sand, surf, and, now...murder.

Samantha Barnes was always a foodie. So when the CIA (that’s the Culinary Institute of America) came calling, she happily traded in Cape Cod for the Big Apple. Soon the young chef is a rising star in the city’s food scene—until a feud with another chef (her ex) boils over and goes viral. So when Sam inherits her Great-Aunt Ida’s house on the Cape and lands a job writing restaurant reviews, it seems like the perfect pairing. What could go wrong? Well, as it turns out, a lot.

The dilapidated house comes with an enormous puppy. Her new boss is, well, bossy. And the town’s new harbormaster is none other than her first love. Nonetheless, Sam’s looking forward to testing her inner food critic at the Bayview Grille—and indeed the seafood chowder is divine. But the body floating in the pond outside the eatery was not on the menu. Though the drowning is called an accident, Sam is certain it's murder. And as she begins to stir the pot, it becomes terrifyingly clear that she may be writing the recipe for her own untimely demise.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EFOpxy

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53289229-a-side-of-murder

Visit the Author's Website: https://amypershingauthor.com/

ASIN: ‎ B087PL9HHF
Publisher: ‎ Berkley
Publication Date: ‎ February 23, 2021
Print Length: ‎ 319 pages

My Review and Rating:

A Side of Murder by Amy Pershing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After her time in the Big Apple comes to a crashing and burning end, Samantha Barnes finds her way back to Fair Harbor, Massachusetts. She inherits her great aunt's house on the Cape, and this is her chance to start over. Life on the Cape doesn't begin exactly how she'd imagined it would when she discovers the house is a hot mess, her new job has some quirks, she's apparently also inherited a dog, and the harbormaster is a guy from her past.

The ultimate downer though, is the body she finds floating in the water outside of a restaurant she'd been critiquing. A sleuth Samantha is not but she gives it a go when she's certain the drowning was not accidental. As she searches for clues, Samantha unearths a lot more than she expected. she uncovers secrets, blackmail, and lies running rampant through town.

A Side of Murder is a delightful first book in the Cape Cod Foodie series by Amy Pershing. The author did a wonderful job establishing the setting of this cozy mystery. Her world-building was complex but easily envisioned as the reader goes on this journey with Samantha. The descriptions are captivating, and really wanted to vacation in Cape Cod after finishing the book.

There are sparks between Sam and Jason. I'm going to love watching them dance around each other until the author finds the right time to bring them together. All the characters are enjoyable, and I loved Sam's neighbor, Helene. The name of Sam's inherited puppy is cute, too. Diogi (D O G) is precious, and I love it.

The mystery is solid and mildly complex. The author throws in a few potential suspects, some twists and turns, and red herrings. Sam's amateur sleuthing debut is a hit and I enjoyed her every bit of the way through the mystery. The author did a great job writing a cozy mystery that will pull the reader in and keep them engaged throughout the entire book. I look forward to reading the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.  

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Cozy Mystery Book Review ~ Bear a Wee Grudge (A Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery, Book 5) by Meg Macy @megmims

Bear a Wee Grudge (A Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

5th in Series

Publisher: ‎ Kensington (November 30, 2021)

Paperback: ‎ 304 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 149672917X

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1496729170 Kindle

 ASIN: ‎ B08Y69JKKM

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3HkXXQ5

Teddy bear shop manager Sasha Silverman must step fast to find a murderer before an upcoming Scottish festival . . . 

It’s springtime in Silver Hollow, Michigan, and Sasha is looking forward to the village’s inaugural Highland Fling weekend. Plans are underway for a Kilted 5K, athletic competitions, dancing, live music, and even a Hurl-the-Haggis contest. Meanwhile, Sasha’s staff is busy crafting custom teddy bears in kilts for the Silver Bear Shop’s vendor booth. But trouble’s brewing behind the scenes, as the obnoxious Teddy Hartman, former owner of a rival teddy bear company, sows seeds of discord about town, targeting Sasha’s family and their business. 

Things go from plaid to worse when—just a week before the festival kicks-off—the disgruntled gossip is found murdered with an ax buried in his back. Sasha’s dad is arrested, since he’s a champion ax-thrower. But she doesn’t give a dram what it looks like—Sasha knows that despite the old business rivalry with Hartman, her father is innocent. So with a spot of help from her friends, Sasha must bag the real killer before her first Fling also becomes her last. 

My Review and Rating:

Bear a Wee Grudge by Meg Macy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Trouble has found its way back to Silver Hollow, Michigan in the form of Teddy and Lisa Hartman. Spreading lies, perpetuating distrust between citizens, instigating arguments, and tossing around wild accusations is Teddy's MO. Unfortunately, Sasha and her family are continuously on the receiving end of everything that spews forth from Teddy's mouth. Bear a Wee Grudge is quite intense straight out of the gate and I enjoyed every single bit of the book.

A clever who-done-it, Bear a Wee Grudge kept me entertained and engaged in the story. Meg Macy delivered a well-written story with a unique setting in a fictional small town in southeast Michigan. As a lifelong Michigander I enjoy a good story, in any genre, that is based in my state. I always love it when I recognize locations in a book because I've been there, lived there, or worked in the town/city.

I enjoyed the personalities of each character in the book. The book was descriptive well developed, allowing me to visualize the elements of the story, characters, and locations. The characters and situations were believable and the pacing of the story was steady. I enjoyed Bear a Wee Grudge, found the mystery interesting, the characters likable, and the story's pacing to be on target. I love the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series by Meg Macy and I look forward to the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.  

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Saph's Cozy Corner has been nominated in the Critters Writers Workshop Readers Poll ~ Review Site category

 

Hi Everyone!

Saph's Cozy Corner has been nominated in the Critters Writers Workshop Readers Poll ~ Review Site category. 

Head on over to Critters Writers Workshop Readers Poll ~  Review Site (click this link).

Scroll down and locate Saph's Cozy Corner then click the bottom to the left of the name. You will be required to enter your name and email address to validate the vote. Your information will be kept strictly confidential and Critters indicates you will not be added to any mailing lists.

Thank you, in advance, for considering a vote for Saph's Cozy Corner!

Release Week Review ~ Spoonful of Murder (Killer Coffee, Book #10) by Tonya Kappes #TonyaKappes #CozyMystery

 

Welcome to the Bean Hive Coffeehouse where the coffee and gossip are HOT!

Sure, Honey Springs, Kentucky is a destination for summer time visitors but our annual Christmas Festival, which includes a PAW-rade (mmhmmm for furry friends) is giving the summer tourist season a run for its money quickly becoming a tourist favorite!

Aunt Maxi is hosting a progressive supper for the community to raise funds for Pet Palace, our local SPCA. You'd think it would be GREAT for the tourists and it is but when Aunt Maxi literally has a hissy fit with a tail on it after she finds out Loretta Bebe's involvement...things turn south.

A dead body appears during the appetizers, Aunt Maxi and Loretta are suspects, and it's all she wrote from there.

Lordy bee...let's hope this things wrapped up in a nice little package with a bow on top so Santa doesn't have to make a stop at the local jail!

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09MC8986F

Publisher: ‎ Tonya Kappes Books

Publication Date: ‎ December 23, 2021

Print Length: ‎ 186 pages

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Ep5bAA

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54104971-spoonful-of-murder

My Review:

Spoonful of Murder is a mystery that pulls you in and keeps you engaged. I found myself guessing at who the murderer was all the way until the end. In this book, there aren’t a lot of suspects but enough to keep the reader involved in the attempt to figure it out. The police focus mainly on Aunt Maxi, but we all know she isn’t the one who committed the crime.

I enjoyed all the characters and the amount of humor added to the mix. 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, the people, and feel the emotions.

Spoonful of Murder is a fun book with several storylines, and a pesky ex-husband, to keep the reader engaged and entertained. The inclusion of Roxi’s ex-husband, Kirk, was an added twist that proves to be most useful. The author does a great job adding Kirk into the mix. The only issue for me was the reveal of the murderer and the motive. The scene seemed a bit rushed but, as always, that's just my opinion. The rushed reveal didn't take away from the story though. I enjoyed Spoonful of Murder.

As a reader who hasn’t read books 1-8, I don’t feel like starting the series late has been an issue. The author does a wonderful job with character development, world building, and explaining events and people to the reader. I’m not lost in details I don’t understand. There aren’t unexplained situations that keep me from enjoying this series partway through. I will eventually start the series from the beginning.

I was provided a copy of the book to read.

My Rating:

Book Review ~ Eyelet Witness (Bonnie & Clyde Mysteries #4) by Julie Anne Lindsey @JulieALindsey #CozyMystery

 

Bonnie and Clyde play chicken with a killer in their zaniest adventure yet!

Bonnie Balfour is busy tuning shabby into chic after a local entrepreneur asks for help decorating a soufflé-stand startup on a shoestring budget. The client’s budding egg enterprise and blue-ribbon hen, Thelma, are sure to boost revenue to the new business, especially with Bonnie’s customizing touch on the design.

Unfortunately, feathers begin to fly when the client’s ex-boyfriend launches a dispute over Thelma’s legal custody, only hours before the hen goes missing. And Detective Wright suspects fowl play when the ex’s body turns up in a local lake before sundown.

Now Bonnie and Clyde are pecking on doors and scratching for clues to prove their friend’s innocence, but a series of anonymous attacks threaten to scramble the newly hatched plan. Can Bonnie and Clyde crack the case in time? Or is this sleuthing duo finally out of cluck?

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3e7AMfz
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58944120-eyelet-witness

ASIN: ‎ B09DYW465L
Publisher: ‎ Cozy Queen Publishing LLC
Publication Date: ‎ December 15, 2021
Print Length: ‎ 208 pages

My Review:

Eyelet Witness is the fourth book in Julie Anne Lindsey's Bonnie and Clyde Mysteries series. Bonnie's resales shop, Bless Her Heart is flourishing. She's making new friends, even though they may live in a rival city. When Louisa visits the shop for some dresses, she's served paperwork that indicate she's being sued for custody of her prized hen, Thelma. Apparently Louisa's ex-boyfriend had plans for the chicken that Louisa opted not to pursue. 

Later, Thelma goes missing from Louisa's home. As the entire town of Meadowbrook looks for Thelma, a body is discovered in a local body of water. The body happens to be Louisa's ex and she becomes the prime suspect. What ensues are several twists and turns, surprise revelations, and secrets that are revealed. Bonnie does her best to help her friend, follow clues, and stay out of the crosshairs of a killer.

I loved Eyelet Witness. The characters, setting, and plot are engaging. The murder isn’t the only theme in the book, giving the book a lot of realism. The book is also full of excellent imagery, character development, and a great story. Bonnie, Clyde, Mason, Gigi, Louisa, and Thelma are fun characters. I enjoyed the chicken caper, murder mystery, and learning about the lifestyles in the adjacent town.

The author's writing style is fluid, and the pacing is perfect. The story is so easy to read that when I reached the end, I couldn’t believe I was done already. I found myself engaged and completely captivated in the story from the very beginning. I really enjoyed Eyelet Witness and can't wait for the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Cozy Mystery Review ~ Murder by Page One (Peach Coast Mystery, Book #1) by Olivia Matthews @HallmarkPublish

Marvey’s a librarian from Brooklyn who makes book-themed jewelry as a hobby, looks after her cranky cat, and supports events for readers and authors. She’s still adjusting to quirky small-town life in Georgia - and that’s before she discovers a dead body in a bookstore.

When her new best friend becomes a suspect, Marvey develops a new hobby: solving a murder mystery. With her talents for research, her knowledge gleaned from crime novels, and a whole lot of determination, she pursues the truth. But as she gets closer to it, could she be facing a deadly plot twist?

This first-in-series cozy mystery includes a free Hallmark original recipe.

Amazon https://amzn.to/3gK5f4q
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55104757-murder-by-page-one

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B08KHPBDBS
Publisher: ‎ Hallmark Publishing
Publication Date: ‎ March 23, 2021
Print Length: ‎ 228 pages

My Review:

Marvella Harris, or Marvey, is a southern transplant from New York. She's the new Director of Community Engagement at the library. Her hobbies include book-themed jewelry and bowing to her cat's every whim. She has two good friends, Jolene Gomez and Spencer Holt. Jolene owns To Be Read, the local bookstore. When Marvey finds a body in Jolene's place of business and Jolene is the prime suspect, Marvey adds another hobby to her list.

I really enjoyed this first in a new series cozy mystery. The book had a well-thought out plot, interesting characters, and was engaging. I was pulled in from the first time I read about the book. The book is full of character development and I fell like I knew each person and would be right at home in Peach Coast, Georgia. 

The author really set the stage for a spectacular new cozy mystery series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating: