Reading Between the Lies by Lynn Cahoon

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “'Reading Between the Lies” by Lynn Cahoon book 4 in the Survivors  Book Club Mystery series. I love this series, it’s entertaining full of loveable characters and a furbaby named Killer. 

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Bookshop owner Rarity Cole is living her best life after surviving cancer—hosting book clubs, classes, and parties at her store, The Next Chapter, and giving back to her community in Sedona, Arizona. But an awkward outing to an art gallery is about to add a dark slant to the picture . . .   

Rarity is grateful for many things and people in her new life, including her friend Shirley, who is helping to provide backpacks and supplies for kids going back to school. But Shirley needs a big favor. With her husband in a memory-care home, she wants to attend an art opening with a male friend but fears local gossip. She asks Rarity, her friend Sam, and their boyfriends to come along as cover. It would be fun if not for the fact that the two couples are barely speaking…

The evening proceeds without any social disasters. But the featured artist—who struck Rarity as more of a spoiled playboy—is later found dead with an arrow in his back. Any lingering tensions must be set aside so the amateur sleuths can find an archer who may have taken the idea of pointed criticism a bit too literally . . .

Once again the story was engaging, well-written, and I love the setting in the desert town of Sedona Arizona. I love hearing about all the spiritual pursuits in the area, I’m on the fence about lots of them much like Rarity but have friends who swear by a lots of them.   This time it centres around energy vortexes or fake ones …

Rarity is someone I would love to be friends with or work at her bookstore, and the friends she made were people I would like to hang out with especially Sam, Shirley, Archer and Drew.  I found myself thoroughly enjoying the story and I found the 3 romance/life situations making me care even more for the characters as these are things that happen to a lot of us.  My mother in law has dementia and I see first hand what it can do to their spouse and the loneliness it can cause. While the ending felt a bit rushed in revealing the killer's identity, I devoured this book and can't wait for the next instalment!

I highly recommend this cozy mystery series to all my friends who love a cozy with a strong support system of friends in it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books 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,

 

A Killer Clue by Victoria Gilbert

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing "A Killer Clue" the 2nd instalment in the "A Hunter and Clewe Mystery" series by Victoria Gilbert. 

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Perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Jenn McKinlay, acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert is back with more devious clues and deadly secrets as Hunter and Clewe take on a new case in the second Hunter and Clewe mystery.

When Eloise Anderson, the owner of an antiquarian bookshop, arrives at the grand Aircroft estate to ask retired librarian Jane Hunter and eccentric collector Cameron Clewe for help, Jane and Cam expect a bookish inquiry. But the bookseller has a different sort of assistance in mind—clearing her mother’s name of a murder Eloise is convinced she didn’t commit.

Eloise’s mother has just died after spending many years in prison for allegedly killing Eloise’s father. Armed with new information found in her mother’s effects, the bookseller is determined to uncover the true killer so her mother can rest in peace, even though the case is now colder than ice. When Jane tracks down the original detective from the investigation and discovers him stabbed to death in Eloise’s bookshop, Jane and Cam are sure this murder is connected to the cold case. They think it’s the same killer, but the police unfortunately have their own prime suspect, and this time around it’s Eloise.

Cam and Jane’s cold-case sleuthing turns urgent—find who committed the murders or watch another innocent woman rot in jail as a cold-blooded killer walks free.

“A Killer Clue” by Victoria Gilbert is the 2nd instalment in the Hunter and Clewe Mystery series. I was hooked from start to finish, devouring the entire book in almost one day! 

This entertaining page-turner is full of twists, turns, and surprises that kept me guessing. While I did figure out the killer's identity before Jane did, I still found this to be a fun, easy read. 

I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book to catch up with Jane, Cam, and their friends. Highly recommended for all fans of cozy mysteries - a must-read!

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,

A Murder at the Movies by Ellie Alexander

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing A Murder at the Movies by Ellie Alexander the 2nd instalment in the "A Secret Bookcase Mystery" series.   I was really happy to dive into book 2 right away and now I’m anxiously awaiting book 3.

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When bookseller and events organizer Annie Murray invites the glamorous world of Hollywood along to her small-town film festival, she finds herself entangled in a sinister plot as twisted as any big-screen thriller…

After the success of her first event, which revived the fortunes of the bookstore she loves so dearly, Annie is excited to launch Redwood Grove’s first film festival. But when an infamous film critic plunges to his death during the premiere of a Hitchcock-inspired thriller, Annie’s instincts tell her that this was no accident. She soon discovers that many of the cast, crew and guests are harboring dark secrets; from the lead actress with a scandalous past, to a film historian obsessed with protecting his vintage reel collection.

Determined to unravel the mystery, Annie must sift through a tangled web of hidden agendas and deception to expose the killer before they strike again. Can she crack the case and save her film festival – or will she find herself in the spotlight?

Packed full of plot twists and a colorful cast of characters, A Murder at the Movies sparkles with charm, heart and humor, and will keep cozy mystery fans guessing until the final pages. Perfect fans for Lauren Elliott, Tonya Kappes and Janet Evanovitch.

4.5 stars

I was delighted to return to the charming town of Redwood Grove and the Secret Bookcase bookstore. In this latest instalment, Annie is busy planning a movie premiere, and I loved seeing the growth of side characters like Pri and Liam. The reveal of the mysterious Double Americano's identity was a great surprise! I'm now rooting for Annie and Liam to take their friendship to the next level and eager to uncover Liam's hidden past. 

Overall, I'm thoroughly invested in this series and excited to see where the author takes these endearing characters next!

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

The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander the 1st instalment in the "A Secret Bookcase Mystery" series.   I really enjoyed this story and found it to be a great start to a new cozy series!  This series will definitely be on my must read list.

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Behind the shelves of The Secret Bookcase, where the sun slants through the windows onto rows of classic crime novels, a body lies...

Bookseller Annie Murray is thrilled when the mystery-themed book festival she sets up to revive the dwindling fortunes of her workplace and sanctuary seems poised for success. But events take a shocking turn when a body is discovered hidden behind the shelves, and it’s revealed that the victim is Annie's old college acquaintance.

Determined to ensure the festival’s success and save the small town of Redwood Grove from a killer, Annie begins piecing together clues with the help of her friends. But as the list of suspects grows longer – a local boutique-owner, an envious old classmate, a bitter ex-boyfriend – Annie is drawn deeper into the case.

With the aid of her old criminology professor-turned-detective, can Annie unmask the murderer before they turn her festival into a real-life whodunit?

Full of lovable, quirky characters and small-town charm, The Body in the Bookstore serves up an irresistible blend of intrigue for fans of cozy crime including Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton.

I’m a huge fan of Ellie Alexander's mysteries, so I was thrilled to dive into her new series. The charming setting of Redwood Grove, complete with a mystery bookstore, immediately captivated me. This cleverly crafted tale masterfully weaves together two intriguing mysteries: the murder of Annie's college classmate and the cold case of her best friend Scarlet's murder, which I suspect will be a recurring thread throughout the series. With the aid of her old criminology professor-turned-detective, can Annie unmask the murderer before they turn her festival into a real-life whodunit?

The plot is engaging, and the characters are well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed this series debut and highly recommend it to all my fellow cozy mystery lovers - I can't wait to see what's in store for Annie and Redwood Grove in book two.

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

The Queen of Poisons A Novel by Robert Thorogood

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today, I am reviewing the third instalment in the 'Marlow Murder Club' series, by Robert Thorogood. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for book four.

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The Marlow Murder Club is on the hunt for a killer...

Geoffrey Lushington, Mayor of Marlow, dies suddenly during a town council meeting. When traces of aconite—also known as the queen of poisons—are found in his coffee cup, the police realize he was murdered. But who did it? And why?

The police bring Judith, Suzie, and Becks in to investigate the murder as civilian advisors right from the start, so they have free rein to interview suspects and follow the evidence to their heart's content… which is perfect because Judith has no time for rules and standard procedure. But this case has the Marlow Murder Club stumped. Who would want to kill the affable mayor of Marlow? How did they even get the poison into his coffee? And is anyone else in danger? The Marlow Murder Club is about to face their most difficult case yet...

I was delighted to return to the charming village of Marlow, England, and reunite with the quirky trio of Judith, Suzie, and Becks. While I found Suzie's impulsive accusations slightly off-putting this time around, the engaging plot and skillful character development kept me invested in their journey. 

The author's masterful pacing and twists and turns had me guessing until the very end. I appreciated the satisfying conclusion and eagerly anticipate the next installment in the series. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries and amateur sleuth stories, I highly recommend 'The Marlow Murder Club'!"

Overall, I am excited to continue following this series and seeing where the author takes these intriguing characters next."

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 Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today, I am reviewing the second instalment in the 'Marlow Murder Club' series, penned by Robert Thorogood, the creative mind behind the BBCOne show 'Death in Paradise'. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for book three.

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BBCOne show creator of Death in Paradise, Robert Thorogood delights in giving the Christie-mystery a busy-body twist. Judith (our favorite skinny-dipping, whiskey-sipping, crossword puzzle author), along with Becks the vicar's wife, and Susie the dogwalker find themselves in a head-scratching, utterly clever country house, locked-room murder mystery. 

Holiday festivities are now January doldrums when Judith gets a call—Sir Peter Bailey, a prominent Marlovian is inviting notable citizens to his house the day before his wedding to celebrate. 

Judith decides to go—after all, it's a few houses up the Thames and free champagne, for sure.?During the party, a loud crash inside stops the festivities. The groom-to-be has been crushed to death in his study. The door was locked from the inside so the police say suicide, obviously. 

Friends. Sir Peter cannot be left for dead like that...Judith and the Marlow Murder Club are on the case.?  

I am pleased to report that this next instalment in the series did not disappoint.

The plot is engaging, with numerous twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. I appreciated the author's skillful pacing and character development, which made it easy to become invested in the lives of the protagonists. The novel's conclusion was satisfying, and I am eager to see how the series evolves in instalment three “Queen of Poisons” released on June 4th.

I highly recommend 'The Marlow Murder Club' to fans of cozy mysteries and amateur sleuth stories. The book has also been adapted into a television movie (season 2) in the UK, written by the author himself.

Overall, I am excited to continue following this series and seeing where the author takes these intriguing characters next."

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