The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives by Jenny Kane

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives” the first instalment in The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives Mystery series by Jenny Kane set in Mousehole is a picturesque fishing village in Cornwall, England.  What a great start to a new series.

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Don't miss this brand-new cozy crime mystery series, perfect for fans of Clare Chase and Peter Boland - available to pre-order now!

There's some fishy business happening in the idyllic Cornish village of Mousehole. As a killer begins to make waves, can these new amateur detectives solve the mystery?

Maggie Tyson loves living in the utterly charming village, Mousehole. She spends her days walking the local coastal paths, solving the latest crossword puzzle, and working in the small town's only fish and chip shop.

Looking for a fresh start, Ryan Stepney is in desperate need of a job, and stumbles across a vacancy at the chip shop.

When a body is found by the harbour, shock ripples through the village. And as Ryan was the last person seen talking to the victim, he becomes the number one suspect in the investigation.

Maggie is certain that her new colleague had nothing to do with the murder, so swaps her apron for a magnifying glass, and starts to investigate herself.

Can Maggie prove Ryan's innocence and reel in the killer, before they strike again? 

The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives
Forty-eight-year-old Maggie is a lover of puzzles. When she's not working at Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop, she can be found on her sofa, nursing a cup of tea and solving the latest mystery thrown at the detectives in Death in Paradise, Midsommer Murders and more. Maggie finds an unlikely friend in Ryan, a recent graduate who has just moved to Mousehole and is trying to figure out what to do with his life. Together, they serve up the best fish and chips Cornwall has to offer, with an occasional helping of mystery solving on the side.

The Setting
Mousehole is a picturesque fishing village in Cornwall, known for its scenic harbour, winding streets, and tiny sandy beach. It's also home to Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop, the only chippy in town. Tourists and locals alike enjoy a battered cod whilst admiring the calm waterfront. Mr Robbins, the owner, is notoriously private - no one knows much about him. Perhaps that's another mystery for our Fish and Chip Shop Detectives to solve...

This is a new to me author and I will definitely be reading more from her.   I love the story and the I enjoyed the bond between Maggie and Ryan, they were witty, and authentic.   

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.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Jenny’s writing is engaging, and her characters are lovable and well-crafted. I highly recommend this charming novel and look forward to the next instalment.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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,

The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “The Barn Identity” the 8th instalment in the House Flipper Mysteries series by Diane Kelly.  

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The eighth in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, where the real estate market is to die for.

In Nashville, carpenter Whitney Whitaker is ecstatic when she discovers an abandoned barn perfect for her next project. However, since the surrounding former farmland has now developed into a shiny new shopping center, it seems the decrepit antebellum barn that once served as a livery stable should be torn down to make way for something more modern. Even so, Whitney can’t help but think the barn should be preserved. While unproven, it’s rumored the building once served as a hiding place for escaped slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. She convinces her cousin to take a chance on the old property. After all, the barn would make a unique retail space or, with its high ceilings and wide walls, could be turned into an arthouse cinema. 

When a local print journalist reporting on the renovation is found dead on the property, investigators suspect he might have been murdered for any one of several exposés he’d published about local politicians, movers, and shakers. Whitney suspects there’s more to the story, and that the journalist’s fate might be tied directly to the stable renovation. Can she solve the murder and bring a killer to justice? Or might this goal be too lofty?

The characters of Whitney, Sawdust (cat), Buck, Collin and Collette are ones I have really come to love. I also enjoy the setting of Nashville, Tennessee. I like how the series continues to alternate chapters narrated by Whitney and her cat Sawdust.

This time around a pregnant Whitney and Buck are remodelling an old livery stable/barn with history that it once served as a hiding place for escaped slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. When a reporter who was doing a story on the renovation and history of the barn is found dead, Whitney decides to investigate.

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing. I did suspect who the killer was just before Whitney did. 

I highly recommend to all my cozy mystery loving friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St.Martin Press and Netgalley. 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, 

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Death at a Firefly Tea by Laura Childs

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Death at a Firefly Tea” the 30th instalment in the A Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs. I absolutely love this series!

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A brazen killer sparks Theodosia Browning’s sense of justice in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.

As fireflies dazzle like tiny glowing lanterns, tea maven Theodosia hosts an elegant evening tea on the patio of the Tangled Rose B and B. But in this gentle darkness an intruder has made their way in and slipped deadly drugs into the baked Alaska of Mrs. Van Courtland, one of Charleston’s local grande dames. Shocked by this brazen act, urged on by Mrs. V’s grieving son, Theodosia begins her own shadow investigation. Soon, she finds herself at odds with a greedy developer, the questionable residents of Honey Badger House, a vengeful ex-daughter-in-law, ne’er do well relatives, and a housekeeper who knows all the secrets. As Theodosia hosts a Moulin Rouge Tea and a Queen Victoria Tea, her tea sommelier Drayton is assaulted by a masked stranger and the fiancé of Mrs. V’s son is kidnapped. It’s only at the Starry Starry Night black tie ball that Theodosia stumbles upon the killer and gets pulled into a dramatic life and death chase.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

The story grabbed me from the beginning as we start off at Theo’s Firefly Tea where things go from good to bad quite quickly. I love protagonist Theo, the Indigo Tea Shop,  Drayton, and Haley and we can’t forget Earl Grey!

As for the mystery itself I found it entertaining and well thought out.  The Starry Starry Night black-tie ball is a thrilling finale that combines glamour and suspense, leading to an exciting car chase that's both surprising and satisfying. This cozy mystery expertly blends warmth, wit, and danger, keeping its charming tone intact – a treat for fans of this genre! 

Make sure you have a hot cup of tea and a snack when reading as I’m always hungry when I hear Haley’s menus! Good thing there are recipes from the tea shop at the end of the book.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Berkeley and NetGalley. 

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,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin