Murder at the Scottish Games by Traci Hall

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Murder at the Scottish Games” the 7th instalment in the Scottish Shire Mystery series by Traci Hall.  This has become one of my favourite Scottish cozy mysteries!  I absolutely loved this instalment and can’t wait for book 8.

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The Highland Games have taken over the quaint seaside village of Nairn, Scotland—and the life of sweater shop owner, knitting enthusiast, and busy single mom Paislee Shaw…especially when a killer enters the competition!

Paislee Shaw is no stranger to managing tricky tangles, but mid-August spins her world into more chaos than she ever could have imagined. Between her teenage son’s moody antics, friends making life-changing decisions, and the looming Nairn Highland Games, evenings with fellow crafters of the Knit and Sip crew are her one escape. But when she joins the games’ organizing committee, Paislee is instantly plunged into a whirlwind of clashing personalities and scandalous mishaps . . . 

The festivities unravel faster than a dropped stitch when heavy throwing competitor Artie Whittle is accused of cheating—and his ill-tempered father is found murdered the next day. With Artie unconscious and pegged as the prime suspect, Paislee and DI Zeffer team up to untangle the truth. Navigating a cast of unusual suspects—from jealous judges to grudge-holding locals—Paislee must weave together clues hidden amidst caber tosses, kilts, and a killer who only plays to win . . .

As always I loved this latest instalment in Traci Hall’s Scottish Shire Mysteries which is a pleasant blend of cozy mystery and everyday life, and I loved how the protagonist juggles her sleuthing with a jam-packed schedule! From school runs to the Highland Games committee, her life is as hectic as it is charming. The way she navigates staffing issues at her shop, social obligations, and caring for her grandad (health) and teenage son (puberty) feels so authentic – I was rooting for her the whole way.

The murder investigation is gripping, and what makes it even more interesting is how the protagonist's personal connections get tangled up in it. With a junior employee's boyfriend as a prime suspect and the Highland Games committee quick to judge, the stakes are high. The author masterfully keeps the tension going, sprinkling in plenty of suspects with motives, so even with a few hunches, I didn't guess the killer until Paisley did!

The simmering attraction with the local detective?  Absolutely swoon-worthy. It adds a lovely layer of warmth to the story without overshadowing the mystery.  ( I have been wanting this to happen for a few books now ) 

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. 

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Please join the conversation and comment below.  Have you read… If so what did you think/like

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Murder Bears Fruit by Rosie Sandler

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Murder Bears Fruit” the 4th instalment in The Gardener Mystery series by Rosie Sandler set across England.  This time we are in the Yorkshire Moors.

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Steph Williams and her trusty sidekick, Mouse, are back in the fourth instalment in this much-loved cosy crime gardening series.

Able to cherry pick her gardening projects after all her recent success, Steph Williams arrives at a luxury hotel in the Yorkshire moors with her beloved dog Mouse. She has been tasked with bringing the outdated gardens into line with the hotel's sleek and glassy new guise, and can't wait to dig in.

But, before Steph can enjoy the fruits of her labour, she makes a shocking discovery in the hotel's pool: a body, fanned by a beautiful evening dress, floating beneath the stars.

As she rushes into the scene, Steph realises this is no common-or-garden accident. When a surprising arrest is made, she will have to dig deep to ensure the police have the real killer. But Steph's missing ex husband proves a thorn in her side, as ever: turning up very much alive, and urgently needing her help.

Will Steph be able to find the murderer, and the missing rubies, and come up smelling of roses?

I enjoyed this story. As I have stated previously, I really like the bond between Steph and Mouse it just felt real, we all want to think our four legged friends understand us and would protect us from harm.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end.  I kept guessing and second-guessing myself but I was right on who the killer was.     

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for book 5!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

All My Bones by P. J. Nelson

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing All My Bones by P. J. Nelson the 2nd instalment in An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery series.  What a great follow up to book one. 

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Madeline Brimley, new owner of a bookstore in a small Georgia town, finds herself playing sleuth when a friend is charged with the murder of a much-disliked woman.

Madeline Brimley recently inherited a bookstore in Enigma, Georgia, is embarking on her second career, after her first one (acting) founders upon the metaphorical rocks. Settling in, Madeline recruits her friend Gloria Coleman, the local Episcopal priest, to help her plant azaleas in the front yard of the old Victorian that houses the bookstore. Turning the soil, however, uncovers the body of one Beatrice Glassie, a troublesome woman who has been missing for the past six months. 

When her friend Gloria is arrested for the murder, Madeline is determined to prove her innocence and, as she quickly finds out, there aren't many people in town who hadn't wanted to kill Bea Glassie at one point or another. And the very expensive and rare first edition of a particular volume of Grimm's Fairy Tales—ordered by the victim and her sister is somehow tied to the grim death. With the help of her not-quite-boyfriend, a local lawman, and her deceased aunt's best friend, Madeline plans to set a trap to catch the real murderer—before she becomes the next victim.

I really enjoyed this latest instalment, much more than book one and I have added to my ever growing must read series.  The characters are quirky, but wonderful including her honorary aunt Philomena, her clerk Jennifer and her love interest, David, a landscaper and poet who she refuses to call her boyfriend because this is not high school (had to laugh at that) The interaction between the characters  is what makes these books so interesting and special. 

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.  

I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Please join the conversation and comment below.  Have you read… If so what did you think/like

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

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