A Cornish Christmas Murder by Fiona Leitch

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "A Cornish Christmas Murder” the 4th instalment in The Nosey Parker Cozy Mystery series by Fiona Leitch.  I love this series!

‘A sparklingly delicious confection to satisfy the mystery reader’s appetite’ Helena Dixon, bestselling author of the Miss Underhay Mysteries

A PINCH OF PARANOIA

It’s three days before Christmas, and detective-turned-chef Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is drafted in to cater a charity event run by a notorious millionaire at a 13th-century abbey on Bodmin Moor.

A DASH OF DECEPTION

Things get more complicated when a snowstorm descends, stranding them all, and the next morning they find one of the guests has been gruesomely murdered in their bed…

A MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Secrets mull in every corner – can Jodie solve the crime before the killer strikes again?

A Cornish Christmas Murder is a must-read mystery full of heart and humour – perfect for fans of Richard Osman and The Appeal.

I love visiting Cornwall and Jodie, Daisy, and her mum but let’s not forget about Germaine the Pomeranian! This time we are at a country house a former 13th-century abbey on Bodmin Moors during a snow storm, with hidden rooms, and a Santa…

The mystery was really interesting, well plotted, and had just enough twists to keep you engrossed and wanting to know what happens next. I really hope there will be a book 5 coming out soon, as I can’t get enough of this series.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Harper Collins UK.  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,

A Murder Like No Author by Amy Lillard

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "A Murder Like No Author” the 3rd instalment in Main Street Book Club Mysteries  by Amy Lillard set in the town of Sugar Springs Mississippi.  I have not read the previous books, and had no trouble following along but I recommend reading in order.

Bookstore owner Arlo and her Friday Night Book Club sleuths are going to have to read between the lines to solve this mystery!

It's movie time in Sugar Springs and the whole town is pitching together to get the historical Coliseum Theater ready for the event of the year—the premiere of Missing Girl, local author Wally Harrison's bestselling novel turned film.

Thrilled to bring tourists to Sugar Springs, the town comes together to host the late author's event. But when a stranger arrives, boasting he has definitive proof that Wally didn't write Missing Girl...well, drama leaps from the page into real life. Mishaps start taking place around the theater—and then the stranger is discovered dead in his hotel room right before his press conference.

Can Arlo and her Friday night book club to sleuth out the killer and solve the mystery before the town's Hollywood dreams go up in smoke?

Bookstore owner Arlo and her Friday Night Book Club sleuths are going to have to read between the lines to solve this mystery!  Can Arlo and her Friday night book club to sleuth out the killer and solve the mystery before the town's Hollywood dreams go up in smoke?

I really enjoyed this story, and it has made me want to read the previous books.  The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters.  I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.   

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy from Poisoned Pen 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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Absence of Mallets by Kate Carlisle

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Absence of Mallets" the 9th instalment in the "Fixer Upper" Mystery series by Kate Carlisle.  I really enjoy both of Kate Carlisle’s mystery series but I think this one is my favourite.

Contractor Shannon Hammer steels her nerve to pin down a killer in the latest Fixer-Upper Mystery from the New York Timesbestselling author of Premeditated Mortar. . . .

Shannon could not be happier that her hunky thriller-writing boyfriend, Mac, has moved in, and it is a good thing they are living together because they are both busier than ever. Mac is hosting writing retreats at his now vacant lighthouse mansion, while Shannon and her crew build Homefront, a quaint Victorian village of tiny homes for veterans in need. Mac’s latest guests are proving to be a handful though, and Shannon has heard some grumbling from the luminaries of Lighthouse Cove about her latest passion project. But nothing can throw a wrench in their plans except a malicious murder.

When one of Shannon’s new friends is found brutally bludgeoned with a mallet near the lighthouse on Mac’s property, the couple hammers out a suspect list and searches for a motive. As they drill deeper for clues, more violence strikes and a new victim winds up in a coma. The pressure is on, and Shannon and Mac will have to move fast to find an unhinged killer dead set on demolishing anyone who gets in their way. . . .

As I have said before the setting of Lighthouse Cove on the northern coast of California is so beautiful and this time we are on a acreage of tiny homes for veterans.  I love this idea and am glad it’s a real thing in some areas.

I love Shannon and Mac together and seeing how their relationship is progressing.  I also really enjoy the interaction with Shannon and Chloe and am happy Chloe is returning to the cove. I love all the side characters with exception of Whitney who we are meant to not like.

There were some really diabolical characters in this book meaning the group of authors at the retreat.  Overall the mystery was interesting and well plotted, and had lots of suspects.

I feel like the characters are taking on some life changing events and I cant wait for the next book to see how things have progressed.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group 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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Santa, Sunrises, & Suspicions by Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Santa, Sunrises, & Suspicions ” the 23rd instalment in the "Camper & Criminals “ Mystery series by Tonya Kappes.  I absolutely love this series, and can’t get enough of the Laundry Club Ladies and Happy Trails Campground.

Around here we say BLESS HER HEART and sometimes it's just not in a good way.

Take Neva Hudson for instance, bless her heart, she's the town gossip, not to mention someone who likes to toot her own horn.

Two toots too many 'cause bless her heart, someone has strangled Neva and left her for dead in of all places...the church's Christmas play.

Trust me when I say there's no shortage of suspects since her tongue lashed a few too many lies about people.

More importantly, my dear friend Dottie Swaggert has been on the tall tale end of Neva's lies and she's got the most motive. Thank goodness me, Mae West, and our group of friends, the Laundry Club Ladies have traded our Christmas play elf hats into sleuthing caps because Santa's bringing Dottie a big ole present of FREEDOM when we find the real killer.

’Tis the season for murder in the small town of Normal, Kentucky. When the town gossip is found strangled to death in a church, there’s no shortage of suspects.

In this instalment we have holiday drama with where to have Christmas dinner to family stuff.  But the best bits are the dottisms lol she cracks me up.  I highlighted quite a few this time, but my favourite was “there ain’t enough makeup to hide crazy”

The  mystery was good, with lots of suspects and a few red herrings.

I’m full of anticipation/excitement for Book 24 as I want to know more about what’s in store for Normal KY! 

I highly recommend you read this series from the beginning and enjoy the escapism as much as I do.

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

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Cozy Mystery New Releases - December

Hello my cozy friends,

Below is a list of the December Cozy Mystery New Releases I was able to find.  I have read several as arcs and you have lots to look forward to.

Dec 1st

· Murder in New Orleans by Denise Jaden (Mallory Beck Cozy Culinary Caper #8)

· Four Cat Night by Gin Jones (Crazy Cat Lady Chronicles #4)

· Murder in the Badlands by Rita Moreau (Ghost & the Camper Kooky #3)

· Dog’s Waiting Room by Neil S. Plakcy (Golden Retriever #13)


Dec. 3rd

· Pastries and Peril by Constance Barker (Mad Egg Diner #2)

· Compote and Murder by R.A. Wallace (Teaberry #2)


Dec. 7th

· City of Shadows (A Counterfeit Lady Novel Book 5) Kindle Edition by Victoria Thompson

· Dark Night: A Mystery (Alaska Wild Book 3) Kindle Edition by Paige Shelton

· Family Business: (A Lydia Chin/Bill Smith Mystery (Lydia Chin/Bill Smith Mysteries) by S. J. Rozan

· Renewed for Murder (A Blue Ridge Library Mystery) by Victoria Gilbert

· Bryant & May: London Bridge Is Falling Down: (A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery) by Christopher Fowler

· Absence of Mallets (A Fixer-Upper Mystery Book 9) by Kate Carlisle

· A Plus One for Murder (A Friend for Hire Mystery Book 1) by Laura Bradford

· Cold Brew Corpse: A Coffee Lover's Mystery by Tara Lush

· Stitched in Crime (A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery Book 2) by Emmie Caldwell

· How to Book a Murder by Cynthia Kuhn

· Pride, Prejudice and Peril (A Jane Austin Tea Society Mystery) by Katie Oliver

· From Ladle to Grave (A Tish Tarragon Mystery) by Amy Patricia Meade

· Murder at St. Anne’s (A Yorkshire Murder Mystery book 7) by J.R. Ellis

· The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths (Brighton #6)

· Deceit in High Heels by Gemma Halliday (High Heels #13)

· A Nose for Mischief by K.T. Lee (Riverbend K-9s)

· Murder at the Castle by M.B. Shaw (Iris Grey #2)

· Prose and Con by Wendy Corsi Staub (Lily Dale #4)

· Death Washes Ashore by Caleb Wygal (Myrtle Beach #2)

· Murder at the Seaview Hotel by Glenda Young (Helen Dexter)


Dec. 8th

· Murder at the Castle (A Belinda Penshurst Mystery book 2) by Lisa Cutts

· Murder at the Clock Tower (Golden Restoration 3) by Diana Orgain

· Playing Possum (Kristy Farrell 3) by Lois Schmitt


Dec. 9th

· A Cornish Christmas Murder by Fiona Leich

· A Mumbai Murder Mystery by Meeti Shroff-shah

· The Case of the Sugar Plum Shenanigans (Cheesehead Lodge) by Pamela Sue DuMond


Dec. 10th

· Death by Flamenco (Travel Can Be Murder #7) by Jennifer S. Alderson

· The Brief Luminous Flight of the Firefly by Ellen Byerrum


Dec. 11th

· Terror In Tuscany (World Traveler 5) by Carolyn L. Dean


Dec. 14th

· Jane Austen's Lost Letters (Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries Book 14) by Jane K. Cleland

· Beauty and the Deceased by Debra Sennefelder


Dec. 15th

· Eyelet Witness (Bonnie & Clyde 4) by Julie Ann Lindsey

· Cereal Killer (Maternal Instincts 11) by Diana Orgain


Dec. 17th

· Patricia Fisher Ship’s Detective (Patricia Fisher) by Steve Higgs

· Pumpkin Spice & Deadly Heist (Nosy Paralegal) by Tanya R. Taylor

Dec. 21st

· Crime Strikes a Chord (The School of Hard Rocks Mysteries Book 2) by Christy Barritt


Dec. 18th

· Body in the Shop (Muddlebay 5) by Wendy Cartmell


Dec. 20th

· Sleigh Bell Tower (Braxton Campus 8) by James J. Cudney

· Tails by the Fireplace (Razzy Cat 7) by Courtney McFarlin


Dec. 21st

· Crime Strikes a Chord (School of Hard Rocks 2) by Christy Barritt

· Hardcover Homicide (St. Marin’s 9) by ACF Boookens


Dec. 23rd

· Spoonful of Murder (Killer Coffee Mystery 10) by Tonya Kappes


Dec. 24th

· Beagles Love Steak Secrets (Beagle Diner 2) by C.A. Phipps


Dec. 25th

· Murder Under A New Moon (A Mona Moon Mystery 8) by Abigail Keam

· Tik Tok Toe (Viral Vlogger 3) by Noah Alexander


Dec. 28th

· Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door (A Jane Darrowfield Mystery Book 2) by Barbara Ross

· Death by the Finish Line (An Abby McCree Mystery Book 5) by Alexis Morgan

· A Deadly Endowment (A Lady and Lady's Maid Mystery Book 7) by Alyssa Maxwell

· Witch Trial (A Full Moon Mystery Book 2) by Cate Conte

· Bake, Borrow, and Steal: A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander

· A Memoir of Mystery by Danielle Collins (Florida Keys Bed & Breakfast 5)

· Murder in the Meditation by Kari Lee Townsend (Sunny Meadows 8)


Dec. 29th

· Baseball and Bad Guys by Bailey Booth (Spy Kitty in the City 4)


Dec. 30th

· The Perils of Paris by Ana T. Drew (Julie Cavallo 5)


Dec. 31st

· Bay Breeze by Anne Avery (Brandy Wyne #4)

· Eat Once, Die Twice by Ruth Baker (Ivy Creek #3)

· Murder at the Opera House by Dawn Brookes (Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe)

· Last Words and Ladybirds by Sherri Bryan (Bliss Bay #5)

· Berried by Clementine Moore (Ginger Burnet #4)

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

Cozy Mystery New Releases - November

Hello my cozy friends,

As part of my admin duties in the Cozy Mystery Lovers Facebook group, I share new releases.  In 2022 I hope to share a monthly post with the releases I’m aware of at time of posting here on the blog. (if you’re an author and want to have your book listed PM me) 

The list was compiled by researching on the internet, via Netgalley, Publishers websites, Author pages and Book Blogger sites,.  One site Dru's Musings I was looking at her weekly new release posts not realizing she also has a monthly new release blog post till few hours later.  Thank you Dru Ann Love for your posts on upcoming releases as well as you're "A Day in the Life" blog posts.

Here are some for rest of November:

Nov. 15th
Beating the Wrap by Julie Anne Lindsey
Flo and Maude Save a Santa by Sarah Osborne

Nov. 16th
Doggone Deadly by Deborah Blake
Mrs. Jeffries and the Midwinter Murders by Emily Brightwell
Styled For Murder by Nancy J. Cohen
Poison in the Pudding by Kathi Daley
But Knot for Me by Betty Hechtman

Mystery Writers’ Cookbook – The Secret Ingredient
The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith

Nov.17th
You Can’t Candle the Truth by Sarah E. Burr

Nov. 18th
Cherry Lime Havoc by Leena Clover
Santa, Sunrises & Suspicions by Tonya Kappes
The Dinner Lady Detectives by Hannah Hendy

Nov. 23rd
Murder in Second Position by Lori Robbins

Nov. 29th
Death Among The Stars by Sharon Linnea

Nov. 30th
Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis
Claret and Present Danger by Sarah Fox

Marriage Can Be Mischief by Amanda Flower
Murder Yule Regret by Winnie Archer
Killer Words by V.M. Burns

Tales of Life and Daph by Phillipa Nefri Clark
Big Trouble in Little Greektown by Kate Collins
Christmas Candy Corpse by Rosemarie Ros
A Murder Like No Author by Amy Lillard
Bear A Wee Grudge by Meg Macy
Murder at the Lobstah Shack by Maddie Day
Petals and Poison by Jess Dylan

Mimi Lee Cracks the Code by Jennifer J. Chow
The Dead Cry Justice by Rosemary Simpson

Isabel Puddles Investigate by M.V. Byrne
A Counterfeit Suitor by Darcie Wilde

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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Murder at the Bake Sale by Lee Hollis

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Murder at the Bake Sale" the 2nd instalment in the "A Maya and Sandra Mystery" by Lee Hollis.

Maya and Sandra are friends, fellow moms, and private-detective partners in the picturesque waterfront city of Portland—where sometimes their cases can get as rocky as the Maine coast...

While private investigator Maya Kendrick is still mentoring her new partner, PTA president Sandra Wallage, in the detective game, the two women don’t need incredible powers of deduction to know their marriages are on the rocks. With Maya’s ex-cop husband in prison and Sandra’s senator spouse separated from her, both find themselves investigating the dating scene. Until Diego Sanchez turns up dead. The flirtatious high school Spanish teacher who had eyes for Maya was poisoned by cookies from a bake sale fundraiser for a Portland High school class trip to Spain.

Hired by the students to find out who killed their popular and beloved teacher—including their own children—Maya and Sandra get a real education in parenting, relationships, and murder as their search for whodunit leads them deep into the unpleasant realities found in the small town politics and gossip of their Maine community...

I really enjoyed book one and wasn’t disappointed with book two. I really liked seeing how Maya and Sandra are adjusting to being partners in Kendrick Investigations and how much they both have grown personally now that they are single parents.  The setting is in Portland, Maine which isn’t really a small town but we get the small town vibes anyway.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.   I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

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,

Southern Magical Bakery by Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Southern Magical Bakery” by Tonya Kappes the first book in her all new series starring Lo Heal-Park and her kitten . Lo is the daughter of June Heal and Oscar Park from Whispering Falls in the Magical Cures Mystery series.  I’m wondering if each book will have a quirky title or if it will just be volume 1,2,3 etc.

Yes. I'm the daughter of the infamous couple, June Heal and Oscar Park.

One teeny weeny problem, I'm a mortal. Yep. I guess I got my granny Darla's DNA.

Good news! I might not have spiritual powers but I have a mean set of baking skills. I'm delighted to be moving out of Whispering Falls, where y'all know I can't live since I'm mortal, and to Celestial Falls, another small southern town where I'm opening Heavenly Desserts. Of course The Marys wouldn't let me leave unless I took my new kitten with me.

I'm beyond excited but fluff left my dough when Orin Reguila showed up. But that's not all that put too much flour in my cookies, there just so happened to be a murder...when someone ate my cookie. 

I've got no one to turn to! It looks like I'm going to have to enlist Orin's help with his wizard skills. 

I just hope I can clear my name and save my business before The Marys make me pack up and go back to Whispering Falls.

Pre-order your copy today 

I absolutely loved this story!  I think it’s my new favorite series of Tonya’s.  Once again Tonya has woven a picture of small town Kentucky with its southern charm, quirky characters and a dash of humour. Welcome to the small town of Celestial Falls, Kentucky where it’s not all as it seems. 

The story moved at a steady pace with a few red herrings and a few twists to keep you guessing. I was completely surprised by the ending, totally not what I expected. I am super excited to read book two.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from 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, 

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Claret and Present Danger by Sarah Fox

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Claret and Present Danger" the 4th instalment in the "A Literary Pub" Mystery series by Sarah Fox.  I love both of Sarah’s Cozy Mystery series but Sadie and Shady Creek hold a special place in my heart as I like the whole concept of a Literary Pub. 

When a Renaissance Faire visits the small town of Shady Creek, Vermont, amateur sleuth and proprietor of bookish theme pub The Inkwell, Sadie Coleman, finds deadly happenings stick around like red wine stains on white tunics in the fourth Literary Pub Mystery by USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox.

The Trueheart Renaissance Faire and Circus has rolled into town, attracting locals who can’t wait to spend a few summer days lost in a whimsical world of all-knowing fortune tellers and daring acrobats. Well-read pub owner Sadie Coleman is swept up in the magic herself when she serves drinks to the faire’s resident wizard, the shamelessly brazen illusionist Ozzie Stone, and scores two tickets to his opening performance.

Sadie has no complaints about indulging in a free show with her new beau, craft brewery owner Grayson Blake. But while Ozzie is an instant crowd pleaser, the real surprise comes when he collapses in the middle of his set. It’s not part of the act—Ozzie is dead, seemingly poisoned by someone who wasn’t clowning around about writing the roguish showman’s final chapter.

The terrifying situation intensifies when the police eye one of Sadie’s employees, last seen caught in a suspicious fist fight at the fairground. With so much at stake, Sadie must strain through a suspect list longer than her cocktail menu to find the real knave of a killer. But when another performer is murdered, it becomes clear that bringing the mixed-up murderer to justice will be about as dangerous as walking the high wire after happy hour…

One thing which I like in the the protagonist Sadie is she doesn’t stop doing her actual job to solve the mystery which some protagonists do in other books.  It’s more realistic in that sense.  I liked that this centered around a renaissance faire, even though it included acrobats and a magician. Some reviewers complained about it including mermaids and fortune teller but I have read about these in other renaissance faires so wasn’t bothered by that.  Rather than focus on the attractions at the faire the author focuses on the main employees, which I liked.

I love the main characters which are well developed.  I also love the whole setting of Shady Creek, with its shops around the green, the local busybody, inclusion of children, Sadies friends and fellow shop owners. It made me want to live there and walk the green just like Sadie.

The romance between Sadie and Grayson might seem forced to some but to me felt normal especially if one person had been seriously emotionally scarred from their last relationship.  I’m glad they are heading in the right direction and I can’t wait to see what happens next with them.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.  I did not figure it out till the reveal and was a bit surprised.   I really look forward to reading more about Sadie and her friends and hopefully her mother.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and the author. 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,