Death at an Irish Village by Ellie Brannigan

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Death at an Irish Village” the 3rd instalment in An Irish Castle Mystery series by Ellie Brannigan (Traci Hall). 

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Entrepreneur Rayne McGrath’s wedding venue is open for business until a dead and unburied body is found at the cemetery in the third Irish Castle mystery.

With six months left to fulfill the provisions of Uncle Nevin’s will and save the fixer-upper castle she and her cousin inherited, Rayne McGrath and Ciara Smith’s bridal venue venture is finally bringing in money. To unite the reluctant villagers, some who’d vehemently protested their efforts to modernize the village, they agree with Father Patrick’s idea to create a group of volunteers to clean the old cemetery behind the beloved church. When a body is found by one of the historic tombstones, the cousins must work overtime to solve the newest case. 

The plot thickens and an unsolved crime from the past is unearthed when it’s discovered that the body was on top of a fake grave that has connections to Rayne’s ancestors. With two weddings scheduled at the castle and her mother on the way, Rayne fears she won’t be able to balance it all, yet she rolls up her sleeves and dives into old family journals in hopes of puzzling out not one but two mysteries. 

Perfect for fans of Carlene O’Connor and Sheila Connolly, this whimsical cozy will charm mystery readers everywhere.

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  To unite the reluctant villagers, some who’d vehemently protested their efforts to modernize the village, they agree with Father Patrick’s idea to create a group of volunteers to clean the old cemetery behind the beloved church. When a body is found by one of the historic tombstones, the cousins must work overtime to solve the newest case. 

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,

Edam and Weep by Linda Reilly

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Edam and Weep” the 6th instalment in A Grilled Cheese Mystery series by Linda Reilly set in the town of Balsam Dell, Vermont. This is definitely one of my favourite series.

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When a fundraiser turns fatal, Carly Hale is confronted by a trail of clues that all point to her mother as the culprit . . .

When the local high school hosts a fundraiser, restaurant owner Carly Hale is happy to sign on and enlists her mother’s help selling her much-loved grilled cheese sandwiches at the school. But no good deed goes unpunished, and the vendor stationed next to them at the event turns out to be aggressively rude and bullies them both. Never one to be pushed, Carly’s mom gives the man a vicious tongue-lashing and assumes that’s the end of it—until later that day when the man is found dead, strangled with her scarf.

With her mom on the hook for murder, Carly has no choice but to find out who killed the man and why. It turns out the victim had always been bad news and had racked up a long list of enemies. One of those enemies may have been the menacing stranger Carly saw lurking on the edges of the fundraiser, but her intuition tells her the murdered man’s girlfriend may have been mixed up in it too. Certain one of them—or both—did the deadly deed, Carly realizes too late that all her sleuthing has landed her next on the killer’s hit list . . .

Includes melt-in-your-mouth sandwich recipes!

The family and community elements in this story are well-developed and play a significant role in the narrative. I really like the characters in this series and they are what have made me fall in love with it. Especially the Protagonist Carly, her bff Gina, and her co-workers Suzanne, Valerie, Nina and Don.  Plus two new ones, Ari's sister and the little girl Quinne who she is hoping to adopt.  I am personally hoping they become part of the main cast. 

The mystery was interesting and there are plenty of red herrings, and  twists to keep you wanting to find out what will happen next. 

I read the book in one day, but you will crave a grilled cheese while reading the book, I know I did. Luckily there are recipes at the back.

I cant wait for the 7th instalment to see what happens next on the honeymoon.  I highly recommend this to cozy lovers.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Beyond the Page 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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A Very Bookish Murder by Dee MacDonald

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "A Very Bookish Murder” the 3rd instalment in An Ally McKinley Mystery series by Dee MacDonald set in the in the quaint village of Loccharran.  

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Welcome back to the tiny Highland village of Locharran, where Ally McKinley – guesthouse owner and accidental detective – is about to stumble upon another dead body… and her next case.

When Ally McKinley hears that well-known novelist Jodi Jones is going to host a writers’ retreat at the hotel just down the road, she’s delighted to offer rooms at her little guesthouse for some of the attendees. Ally is thrilled to join the group for one of their first sessions – but the retreat has barely begun before she finds the famous writer strangled in the ladies bathroom!

The cake tin and teapot come out as Ally begins to question her bookish guests. Accusations of plagiarism and infidelity start flying and it’s clear that more than one of the retreat attendees had a grudge against Jodi. But could any of them have resorted to murder?

When Ally discovers a diary in Jodi’s bedroom at the guesthouse with several pages ripped out of it, she thinks she’s close to cracking the case. But the plot thickens when another of the aspiring writers is found dead, only hours after she said she knew the identity of Jodi’s killer.

Not only is the murderer still in Locharran, they’re desperate to stop Ally getting to the truth. With her faithful puppy Flora by her side, can Ally unravel the clues and solve the mystery before she’s written out of the story for good?

A completely addictive Scottish cosy mystery from bestselling author Dee MacDonald. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Clare Chase.

In this instalment, Ally welcomes a group of writers to her B&B for a writers retreat, but their literary pursuits are cut short when one of their own becomes a murder victim.  Can Ally unravel the clues and solve the mystery before she’s written out of the story for good?

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 Boldwood 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,

The Widows' Guide to Skullduggery By Amanda Ashby

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Widows' Guide to Skullduggery" is the third instalment in The Widows' Detective Club Mystery series by Amanda Ashby, and it's another entertaining read. Set in the charming village of Little Shaw, England, the story follows the bond between the four widows as they navigate another intriguing mystery.  

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When a human skull gatecrashes her friends’ big day, it officially becomes the worst wedding Ginny Cole has ever been to. 

But as the assembled guests await the police, the two families staring daggers at each other across the aisle, Ginny starts to suspect that these nuptials were deliberately sabotaged. Together with her fellow widows in crime-solving, JM, Tuppence and Hen, she decides to uncover who wanted this marriage dead on arrival.

The police have no interest in a twenty-year-old skull, so Ginny and her friends have free reign to investigate. But untangling a web of family feuds and ancient village rivalries soon escalates into much more when a new body turns up…

The widows have stumbled into a devious plot decades in the making, but can they find their way to the truth before one of them joins the village body count…?

An utterly delightful and gripping cozy mystery full of unconventional characters, fantastic twists and shadowy village secrets. The Widows’ Detective Club is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett and Robert Thorogood.

The characters are well-crafted and lovable, especially Ginny's mischievous cat, who steals the show with his charming personality.  We learn more about Colin’s family as his sister Grace’s wedding is interrupted by the discovery of a human skull! 

The quirky characters and sense of community in Little Shaw add to the novel's charm.

The mystery is well-plotted, with plenty of twists to keep readers engaged until the very end. I enjoyed guessing and second-guessing the outcome, and I managed to piece together the clues before Ginny did.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Amanda Ashby'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 in the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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,

Murder at the High School Reunion by Lee Hollis

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Murder at the High School Reunion" the 5th instalment in the "A Maya and Sandra Mystery" by Lee Hollis.

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At their twenty-fifth high school reunion in Portland, Maine, P.I. partners and moms Maya Kendrick and Sandra Wallage must figure out which of their former classmates should have been voted most likely to kill . . .

After all these years, Maya and Sandra have mixed feelings about seeing their high school classmates, but in one sense the evening promises to be something of a red carpet event. A shy wallflower in school, Alyssa Turner has blossomed into an Oscar-nominated actress—and she’s coming to the reunion.

To their surprise, before the event, Alyssa contacts Maya and Sandra. She’s going to be playing a private eye and would like to hear about their experiences. When they meet, she confides she was bullied in school by cheerleader Tawny Bryce and her mean girls’ clique while also having a huge crush on Tawny’s boyfriend, the star quarterback.

When Tawny’s body is discovered the night of the reunion behind the bleachers, the spotlight is on Alyssa. She turns to Maya and Sandra to find the real killer. But is she as innocent as she seems—or turning in another Oscar-worthy performance?

The mystery is engaging and well-plotted, keeping me guessing and second-guessing until the very end. The high school reunion setting adds a fun twist, and Maya and Sandra's dynamic makes for an entertaining read.

I highly recommend this book to fellow cozy mystery lovers. Lee Hollis weaves a captivating story with plenty of surprises. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series!

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,

A Halloween Murder by Mary Grand

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “A Halloween Murder” by Mary Grand the 4th instalment in the "The Isle of Wight Killings" series.  I enjoyed this book it’s a fun mystery.  I will definitely read this author again.

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A BRAND NEW spooky murder mystery, from Mary Grand, the NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING author of A Christmas Murder 

Susan has always taken comfort in the peaceful rhythm of life on the Isle of Wight. But when her daughter Zoe invites her to a Halloween ghost walk at a remote castle, Susan has a sense of foreboding she can’t quite shake. 

It’s meant to be a bit of fun for the group of old school friends, the thrill of an overnight stay behind the castle’s ancient gates. But when one of them is found dead, the weekend away takes a sinister turn. With the castle locked down and the group trapped inside, it soon becomes clear the killer would have been amongst them. 

As the police begin their investigation, Susan can’t stand by and watch. She knows her daughter, and she knows Zoe’s friends – none of them could be capable of such a terrible act. Could they? 

A gripping cosy mystery from the number one bestselling author of A Christmas Murder, perfect for fans of Frances Evesham, Faith Martin and LJ Ross.

This book is perfect for a Halloween atmospheric mystery. Set in a creepy castle on All Hallows' Eve, the story follows Susan, who's invited on a ghost walk by her daughter Zoe. However, the reunion takes a deadly turn when one of the group is found dead at the bottom of the tower.

The mystery is expertly crafted, with just the right number of suspects to keep you guessing. The twists and turns are plentiful, and I didn't see the culprit coming. The castle setting adds to the spooky atmosphere, making it a great fit for a Halloween story.

Susan is a relatable protagonist who's had to start over after her husband left her. She's built a new life, made friends, and discovered a talent for solving mysteries. Her character growth in this story is compelling, and I appreciate that she's not static – she's complex and multi-dimensional.

 This book is a great choice for fans of cozy mysteries and Halloween-themed stories.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Boldwood 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,

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