Sep 30, 2026

The Poison Pen Murders by Dee MacDonald

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Poison Pen Murders” the 5th instalment in 
An Ally McKinley Mystery series by Dee MacDonald set in the in the quaint village of Loccharran.  

Anonymous letters, a years-old mystery and… a dead body? Ally McKinley is on the case!

Ally McKinley might be the owner of the cosiest little guesthouse in the Scottish Highlands, but she also has a reputation as an amateur detective! So when a threatening note drops through her elderly neighbour Juliet Munro’s door, Ally is called in to investigate. But what first seems like a nasty prank soon proves lethal, when the very next day, Juliet is found murdered…

Her faithful dog Flora by her side, Ally soon learns that more than one woman in Locharran has received a poison pen letter. And though locals’ lips are sealed over coffee and cake, Ally skilfully unlocks the old Locharran mystery that connects the recipients: they were all rumoured to be involved in the death of a young woman called Marie McKay. Is someone trying to stamp out Marie’s killer? And if so, who in Locharran is not who they seem? 

A faded photo of a little blond boy with pale eyes has Ally on the right track, but when a woman’s scream shatters the village’s gentle calm, can Ally sort through the secrets before the post delivers another murder?

Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Clare Chase will love this totally addictive and cozy mystery set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands from bestselling author Dee MacDonald.


In this instalment, when a threatening note drops through her elderly neighbour Juliet Munro’s door, Ally is called in to investigate. But what first seems like a nasty prank soon proves lethal, when the very next day, Juliet is found murdered…

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Annie did..  
Overall, I'm thoroughly invested in this series and excited to see where the author takes these endearing characters.

I'm eagerly anticipating the next instalment to see how the series evolves. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, Scottish settings, or amateur sleuths, this book is a great choice.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Bookouture 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,

Sep 27, 2026

The Liars' Book Club by Ellery Adams

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Liars' Book Club by Ellery Adams” the 9th instalment in the "The Secret, Book & Scone Society" Mystery series by Ellery Adams. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend you read in order to get the full background.
In the latest installment of Ellery Adams’ USA Today bestselling series, as clouds gather over the Great Smoky Mountains, an absent groom, a stolen historical document, and a book club coming apart at the seams stir up a different sort of storm in this engaging mystery. How far will one book lover go to keep a secret?

As the townsfolk of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, know all too well, water can be healing—or devastating. With a big storm coming, residents are stocking up on essentials. Hoping to beat the storm, Nora is sitting in the Unitarian Church with her fellow wedding guests, all of whom belong to Sheldon’s Blind Date Book Club. As rain hammers the stained-glass windows, the bride, Jess, waits in the back of the church—but where is the groom? When a branch crashes through a stained-glass window, Jess finally tells the guests to go home.

With the help of her friend Sheldon, Nora escorts Jess to the Lodge. It’s now become clear that Jess’s fiancĂ© Ravi is missing. But there’s no searching for him now, as the Miracle River has flooded and they’re stuck on this side of town. By morning, they awaken to widespread devastation and a call from Sheriff McCabe. A body has been pulled out of the river, dressed in a tux.

On top of this tragic turn of events, Jess returns home to find her house has been spared from the raging water, but ransacked, with an extremely valuable folio from an illuminated manuscript now missing. As Miracle Books becomes the community hub for information, shelter, and hope, Nora and the Secret, Book, and Scone Society put their heads together to solve the murder and the theft.

But then a second body is pulled from the river . . .

As usual I was utterly drawn in by the story, making it impossible to put down. I devoured it in one day, curled up with a hot cup of tea and snuggling Lindi - completely absorbed! Clouds gather over the Great Smoky Mountains, an absent groom, a stolen historical document, and a book club coming apart at the seams stir up a different sort of storm. How far will one book lover go to keep a secret?

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had just enough twists and turns to keep you engrossed in the story till the end.  This series never fails to evoke strong emotions and leaves me feeling fulfilled. 

I'm eagerly awaiting book 10!  If you're a fellow mystery lover, do yourself a favor and dive into this series - I highly recommend it!"


I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books 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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Joy to the Bones by Carolyn Haines

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing  "Joy to the Bones" by Carolyn Haines the 31st and last instalment in the "A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery" series which releases on October 27th.   I absolutely love this series and am so sad its over!
In this final installment of the series, sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney is up against her biggest—and most personal—mystery yet.

Still reeling from the discovery that her parents’ deaths, decades ago, might not have been an accident, Private Investigator Sarah Booth Delaney doesn’t know who to believe anymore. Her best friend and business partner, Tinkie, purposefully kept her in the dark; her lover, Coleman, intentionally lied to her; and her meddlesome ghost-turned-spiritual-guide, Jitty, kept more secrets than she can count. Now, even the people Sarah Booth once trusted more than anything are suspect.

Armed with new knowledge about her parents’ car crash, Sarah Booth sets out to solve her biggest case yet: her parents’ murder. And she’s prepared to do it alone if she has to.

But the Mississippi Delta doesn’t pause for anyone, not even Sarah Booth. While trying to untangle the truth about her parents’ fate, Sarah Booth gets roped into investigating the DeLonge Mansion, a magnificent old house with seemingly no one left alive to claim it. With the return of her nemesis, Gertrude Stromm, looming over her head—and the pieces of her failed relationships still scattered around her—Sarah Booth has her work cut out for her this holiday season.
I always enjoy visiting with Sarah and Tinkie it’s like coming home to old friends.  I always learn something, this time Sarah Booth and Tinkie are investigating the DeLonge Mansion, a magnificent old house with seemingly no one left alive to claim it.  Along with investigating what happened to her parents and who exactly murdered them. 

There were plenty of twists and turns and lots to keep you intrigued.  I found this book to be a real page-turner, and reading in one day.   Carolyn did an amazing job of wrapping up the series.
 
I highly recommend this book and series to all my cozy mystery friends. 


I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martins 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,




The Poison Pen Murders by Dee MacDonald

Hello my cozy friends, Today I am reviewing "The Poison Pen Murders” the 5th instalment in  An Ally McKinley Mystery  series  by Dee Ma...