The Antique Store Detective by Clare Chase

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Antique Store Detective” the first instalment in The Bella Winter Mystery series by Clare Chase set in Hope Eaton, Shopshire England.  What a great start to a new series.

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Meet Bella Winter. She loves vintage clothes, antiques and… solving crimes? 

Bella Winter moved to charming Hope Eaton for some peace and quiet after quitting her busy city job. She delights in spending time in her little antique store on top of the hill, hunting for bargains at auctions, and getting to know everybody – because if there’s one thing Bella’s good at, it’s solving other people’s problems. But her peaceful life is overturned when she finds eccentric local historian Professor Oliver Barton dead in the ruins of Raven Hall, a trowel lying near his outstretched hand.

At first, Bella is like everyone saddened by a tragic accident. But then her colleague John asks her to dig deeper. Because the dead man gave him an ancient coin he should never have had, and John thinks he was murdered. It turns out the professor was hunting for buried treasure in the middle of the night. But who would have wanted him dead? And who are the four suspicious women he told John about, calling them the queens of hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades…? 

As Bella delves into the case she uncovers a hoard of the lord of the manor, a secretive group of treasure hunters, the dead man’s desperate niece and her no-good son. And when another local historian takes a fatal tumble, she is certain that the answers lie in the antiques the professor stole. But can she solve the crime before someone tries to bury her?

I enjoyed this story, and it has made me want to visit Shopshire on my next trip to England. Starts off slowly as the author is describing the village and feeding us background information but I’m sure book two will be better.

I really like the bond between Bella, and John Jenks it just felt real and the way they talk to each other and not strained in any way.  Makes you wish you were part of their little community or the Jenks family. I learned about nighthawking which was interesting.

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 two!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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 Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “ The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime” the 10th instalment in "A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop" Mystery series by Vicki Delany. It can easily be read as a standalone but I recommend reading in order.  

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Bookshop owner Gemma Doyle heads to London for a wedding, but when a body is found in connection with a rare book, Gemma sets out to sleuth the slaying in bestselling author Vicki Delany's tenth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.

Gemma Doyle and her friends have packed their bags and headed to London for her sister Pippa’s wedding. Waiting for her in the hotel lobby is none other than Gemma’s ex-husband, Paul Erikson. Paul has a rare book he wants her to see—calling it “the real deal”—so Gemma agrees to meet him at their old shop, Trafalgar Fine Books, the following day. But when Gemma arrives, accompanied by Grant, a rare book dealer, they find Paul dead in his office.

Paul had been down on his luck, but Gemma never expected this. Had he borrowed money from people he shouldn’t have? And where is the valuable book he was so anxious for Gemma to see? It’s nowhere to be found in the shop. Because of their previous relationship, Gemma feels she owes something to Paul and vows to find his killer.

As Gemma and her best friend Jayne Wilson follow Paul’s trail of friends, enemies, clients, and ex-lovers through London to Yorkshire, she realizes the puzzle of Paul’s last days is more twisted than she originally thought.

This mystery is anything but elementary, and Gemma and Jayne have to use all their wit to get to the bottom of it before their time in London—or in life—is over.

I enjoyed this mystery, thought it flowed well and kept my attention.  The setting of London England was a fun departure.  Gemma and her friends are there for her sister Pippa’s wedding, what could go wrong …

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, with enough twists to keep you interested.  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 Crooked Lane 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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Schooled in Murder by Victoria Gilbert

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing "Schooled in Murder" the 1st instalment in the "A Campus Sleuth Mystery" series by Victoria Gilbert. I think this is a great start to a new series.

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A mystery writer must solve a real murder case before an innocent girl is condemned in this series debut from acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Lorna Barrett.

Jennifer "Jen" Dalton is an author and educator at Clarion University in Virginia. She loves her job, but some of her petty coworkers look down on her for writing genre fiction. As members of the English department, they wish to encourage students to pursue higher literary aspirations. When a humiliating confrontation between an uppity professor and one of Jen’s students, Mia, escalates, no one thinks much of it. Until his dead body is found along with evidence incriminating Mia. 

Jen knows Mia couldn’t have killed him, but Mia’s suspicious disappearance might as well be a proclamation of guilt. With the sleuthing skills Jen has acquired writing murder mysteries, she’s determined to solve the case and clear Mia’s name. 

Along with the help of her fellow sleuthers—Christine Kubiak, a cafeteria manager; Zachary Flynn, the charming but annoying campus psychologist; and Brianna Rowley, a librarian—Jen must catch the real killer before there’s another murder on the books.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in almost one sitting. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.  I did guess the killer before Jen but I still found this to be a fun easy read.

I can’t wait to read the next book and see how things are going for Jen, Zach and the rest of her new found friends. 

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

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

Death Among the Stitches by Betty Hechtman

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Death Among the Stitches” the 1st instalment in A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery series by Betty Hechtman set in the small Indiana town of Franklin.

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Meet Annie Hart: newly inherited yarn and tea shop owner and reluctant amateur sleuth.

Annie Hart, daughter of Bryan Hart – talent agent to the stars – spends her life getting roped into whatever new task her father needs her to do for his VIP clients. So when she inherits a yarn shop in the small Indiana town of Franklin, she is curious to see what it feels like to have something that is solely hers!

But when her arrival is greeted by the local law enforcement, Annie senses things are not quite as they seem in this idyllic town . . . everyone knows everybody in Franklin yet when it comes to the death of the shop's previous owner, nobody seems sure of anything!

Annie soon discovers that Eleanor Danton was in fact murdered, strangled with her own yarn . . . invigorated by her need to find out the truth, and feeling somehow at home with the friendly bunch of local yarn artists who frequent the shop, she sets out to finding the killer. Much can be achieved over a cuppa and a yarn . . . 

Readers who love super cosy culinary mysteries will eat up this new charming cosy mystery series.

I really enjoyed this story, 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.   

Now I want to pick up crocheting again, I love these kind of cozy mysteries.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Severn House  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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Dead Men Wag No Tails by Sarah Fox

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “ Dead Men Wag No Tails” by Sarah Fox  the 2nd instalment in the "Magical Menagerie Mystery series”.  What a great sequel book one!  Once again Sarah Fox has a winner on her hands and I can’t wait for book 3.   Sarah’s books are an automatic preorder even without reading the blurb on what the book is about, I just writing style.  I’m hoping there will be more of her other series in 2025.  (Sweet Confections series, Literary Pub Mystery series as well as the Pancake House Mystery series)

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Romance, treasure and danger collide in the charming coastal town of Twilight Cove. Don't miss the newest instalment in USA Todaybestselling author Sarah Fox's enchanting Magical Menagerie mystery series!

"For a small seaside town, Twilight Cove sure has plenty of excitement . . ."

Georgie Johansen's return to the coastal haven of Twilight Cove has been a dream come true: she gets to work with Auntie O at the animal sanctuary, has adopted two very adorable dogs who have very special abilities and even has a blossoming romance with the gorgeous farmhand Callum.

It's August and the town is buzzing with anticipation for the annual Dead Eye Days pirate festival. The excitement reaches a fever pitch when long-term resident Jasper, a pirate fanatic, declares he is in possession of a treasure map!

However, the hunt for treasure soon becomes a hunt for a murderer when Jasper is found dead, and Georgie is once again compelled to put on her sleuthing hat. With her extraordinary dogs Flossie and Fancy beside her, and Euclid, the mysterious great-horned owl, keeping a watchful eye on them, can she uncover the killer and protect Twilight Cove? Or will her curiosity put a bounty on her own head?

This delightful cozy mystery series with a magical twist is perfect for fans of Sofie Kelly, Amanda Flowers, Wendy Corsi Staub and Gretchen Rue!

I loved it!  I really enjoyed visiting Twilight Cove, Oregon and the animal sanctuary again especially during the annual Dead Eye Days pirate festival.  Sarah is very good at descriptive writing so you feel like you’re right there walking amongst the woods, on the beach or walking main street and seeing the picturesque stores.  I know I would love to live there and be part of Georgie’s friend group.

Who wouldn’t want to hang out with two magical dogs named  Fancy and Flossie, a great horned owl named Euclid, and now an adorable kitten named Stardust, or all the Sanctuary animals.  Another thing I enjoy is the relationship between Georgie and her aunt Olivia, her bff  Tessa and the budding romance with Callum.

I wasn't surprised by what happened to Jasper once the cat was out of the bag with respect to his treasure map.  Having all those suspects drew me in and I had to find out what happened to him and the treasure map!

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Georgie did. 

I highly 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 advance reader copy of this book from Severn House 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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Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine by Traci Wilton

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine" the 10th instalment in the Salem B&B Mystery series by Traci Wilton.  This is my favourite one so far, I just loved it! lol I think I say this every time. 

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Cupid’s taking aim at Charlene Morris’s historic Salem B&B, which is brimming with models for a contentious photo shoot, but his arrow goes astray when someone is murdered on Valentine’s Day…

A full house is nothing new to Charlene and her ghostly friend, Dr. Jack Strathmore, but this Valentine’s Day, their Salem, Massachusetts inn isn’t filled with romantic couples. Instead, every room is booked by formerly famous photographer, Dane Stallone, for a Cupid-themed calendar he hopes will jumpstart his sagging career. Though Charlene’s hands are full with a dozen gorgeous models, Dane is the only diva—pitching fits, making unreasonable demands, and generally being a mood killer . . . until a real killer strikes and puts the whole shoot on ice.
 
With more suspects than a jumbo box of chocolates, Charlene, Jack, and Detective Sam Holden race to find the one person filled with murderous intent . . .

I love visiting Salem and Charlene’s B&B with its resident ghost Jack and her B&B family.  I love all the characters Charlene, Jack, Minnie, Sam and Avery. This time around it’s Valentines Day and she has a house full of Cupid models.  

The mystery was interesting, well plotted, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing till the very end.  I definitely was surprised by the ending and can’t wait for book 11 to see what happens next with Charlene and Sam!!!

 I highly 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,

Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew the 1st instalment in the "A  California Bookshop Mystery" series.  I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for book 2!

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Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Ellery Adams, Scarlett Gardner’s dream was to open a bookshop in Southern California, but it soon becomes a nightmare when she finds the dead body of a customer—and becomes the prime suspect.

Southern California is where dreams come true—or so Scarlett Gardner thought. When she moved there and opened the Palm Trees and Page Turners bookshop, she thought her boyfriend and business partner would be part of the story. When he leaves her for a better job, Scarlett finds herself struggling to keep her new business afloat. That’s not the only thing she has to worry about—she discovers something underneath the pier by her bookshop that she didn’t outline for her life’s story: the dead body of a book-buying customer.

After Scarlett gives a statement to the police, she thinks her life can go back to business as usual. But when a lawyer, representing someone named Lorelai Knight, tells Scarlett that she now stands to inherit a small fortune, she’s left with more questions than answers. Before she can make sense of any of it, the police bring her in for questioning; the body she found was Lorelai Knight. And the evidence they have against Scarlett doesn’t look good. Business is booming as Scarlett returns to Palm Trees and Page Turners, but for all the wrong reasons – curious tourists don’t want books, they want a glimpse of the Bookshop Killer.

Who could really be behind all of this? And why frame Scarlett? To clear her name, she’s going to have get creative—and hope she can remain one page ahead of the killer.

I found the story to be a promising start to a new series. I liked Scarlett and her friends, and it will be interesting to see how things develop in book 2.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess who the killer was but it didn’t distract from the story. 

I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Crooked Lane 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,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Sleight of Hand: A Maisie Doss Mystery by Tonya Kappes

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing Sleight of Hand by Tonya Kappes  the first instalment in A Maisie Doss Mystery series. What a fantastic start to a new series from one of my favorite authors.  

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Maisie Doss knew the weight of secrets all too well. Once a troublemaker in her small Kentucky town near Cincinnati, she struck a dangerous bargain to become a confidential informant for the police. But when betrayal led her to send a family member behind bars, the lines between right and wrong blurred. Unable to bear the weight of her actions, she fled into the secluded heart of Appalachia, praying her past wouldn't catch up.

For a time, the hills kept her secrets. Determined to atone, she tried to lead a quiet life, but old habits die hard. When Maisie stumbles upon a mystery that begs her attention, she can't resist diving in. Yet, this isn't just any crime; it's tangled with threads from her concealed past. And as fate would have it, a detective from her old life discovers her hidden refuge.

Now, he presents her with a chilling Return to her role as a CI and face the ghosts of her past or find herself behind bars.

In a game of cat and mouse, where trust is a luxury Maisie can't afford, she must use every sleight of hand she knows to outwit the law, uncover the truth, and keep her freedom.

I’m a huge fan of the authors other mystery series set in Kentucky so had to get this one and boy was I not disappointed, it’s a bit edgier than her cozy mysteries but still has her traditional trademarks of southern charm and humor.

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing till the very end. I was very surprised by the ending!  I quickly picked up book 2 to see what happens next for Maisie.

I highly recommend this book to all my Mystery loving friends.

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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Booked for Murder by P. J. Nelson

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing Booked for Murder by P. J. Nelson.  What a great start to a new series, I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 2.

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In this atmospheric southern cozy debut, Madeline Brimley returns to the bookstore she inherited, discovering that small towns hold deadly secrets.

Madeline Brimley left small town Georgia many years ago to go to college and pursue her dreams on the stage. Her dramatic escapades are many but success has eluded her, leaving her at loose ends. But then she gets word that not only has her beloved, eccentric Aunt Rose passed, but she's left Madeline her equally eccentric bookstore housed in an old Victorian mansion in the small college town of Enigma. But when she arrives in her beat-up Fiat to claim The Old Juniper Bookstore, and restart her life, Madeline is faced with unexpected challenges. The gazebo in the back yard is set ablaze and a late night caller threatens to burn the whole store down if she doesn't leave immediately. 

But Madeline Brimley, not one to be intimidated, ignores the threats and soldiers on. Until there's another fire and a murder in the store itself. Now with a cloud of suspicion falling over her, it's up to Madeline to untangle the skein of secrets and find the killer before she herself is the next victim.

I did struggle through the first 25% of the story but I am so glad I persevered as it definitely got better. 

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.  I’m sure in the next book character development and plot will improve and I won’t be able to guess. 

I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 2 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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Death at an Irish Wedding by Ellie Brannigan

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Death at an Irish Wedding” the 2nd instalment in An Irish Castle Mystery series by Ellie Brannigan (Traci Hall). What a great follow up to book one, I absolutely loved it!

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Bridal wear designer-turned-entrepreneur Rayne McGrath remains in the Irish countryside ready for some wedding mayhem in this charming and colorful cozy, perfect for fans of Carlene O’Connor and Sheila Connolly.

Rayne McGrath’s efforts to save the rundown family castle she inherited were an epic failure after she accidentally set fire to the tower and tanked the budget. Is the castle haunted, or is she just unlucky? Meanwhile, her cousin, Ciara Smith, is anxiously booking their joint calendar with special events in the hopes of bringing the property around before they lose everything. 

When a bridalwear client from LA asks Rayne for help as her guest list spirals out of control, Rayne nabs the answer to her prayers. McGrath Castle is the perfect destination for the exclusive and intimate wedding party of heiress Tori Montgomery and her fiancé, heartthrob actor Jake Anderson. But this white veil occasion turns into a nightmare when Tori’s best friend’s assistant, Tiffany Quick, is found dead. 

It’s feared Tiffany jumped from the tower, but that theory is quickly put in doubt as secrets within the wedding party come to light. And as the villagers protest this new wedding venue venture, Rayne begins to wonder if she will succeed in her endeavor or lose it all.

I loved this story right down to the small Irish village, the people (even if they were being rude and protesting the wedding venue), Rayne, her cousin Ciara and her puppy Blarney  I really enjoyed all the family dynamics and not all family is blood. 

Overall I just loved how the story made me feel and by the end I was smiling, cheering on Rayne and wondering what life had in store for her next.

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 highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance readers copy from Crooked Lane 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,

Murder at the Lemonberry Tea by Darci Hannah

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “Murder at the Lemonberry Tea” by Darci Hannah the 6th instalment in the "A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery" series.  I loved visiting Beacon Harbor, Michigan again and still really want to go to Michigan!

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Lindsey Bakewell’s iconic lighthouse bakeshop in beautiful Beacon Harbor, Michigan, is hosting a celebrity cookbook author from the UK—but the notorious diva is now DOA . . .

Lindsey’s patrons have a new outdoor patio where they can eat their treats in the glorious summer weather. But even more exciting is that the Beacon Bakeshop is going to host British celebrity chef Vivi Lemonberry—and what could be a more appropriate event than a tea party?  

What Lindsey didn’t realize is that Vivi is here to put some distance between herself and her recent professional and personal scandals. Despite assurances that Vivi is as sweet as a chocolate-dipped strawberry, Lindsey is cooling rapidly toward the culinary icon . . . especially after she banishes Lindsey’s beloved dog, Wellington, from the bakeshop and then flirts outrageously with Lindsey’s boyfriend. 

She’s not the only one feeling hostile, though. While Vivi’s in the middle of making a tart in front of the cameras, a woman runs up and slaps her. Soon, Vivi’s nowhere to be found, and folks are speculating on whether she’s run off with her secret lover or just laying low due to embarrassment. That is, until Lindsey finds a body bobbing near the surface of Lake Michigan. It’s a sour ending for the diva, but Lindsey is determined to squeeze the truth out of every clue until she finds the killer . . .

I absolutely love this series,  Lindsey, Rory, Kennedy, Tuck, and her co-workers at the Beacon Bakeshop are lots of fun to hang out with and now we get to meet Kennedy’s family.   Sibling rivalry, jealousy and scandals are part and parcel at the Beacon Bakeshop.    I did enjoy seeing how the characters of Lindsey, and Rory have progressed since the last book.

I love Wellington the big Newfie who loves everyone and was mad when he was banished from the bakeshop.  I also love the idea of living along the lakeshore in a haunted lighthouse where the ghost is watching over you and seems to have your back.  

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Lindsey did.  Plus all the descriptions of the baked goods made my mouth water. ( recipes included in back of book)

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 7

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Kensington 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,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin