The Devil in Oxford by Jess Armstrong

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “The Devil in Oxford” by Jess Armstrong the 3rd instalment in A Ruby Vaughn Mystery series.  I love this series.

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Set after the Great War, Jess Armstrong’s USA Today bestselling and award-winning series is historical gothic murder mystery at its best, and Ruby Vaughn returns in The Devil in Oxford.

If someone were to ask American heiress Ruby Vaughn how exactly the occult came to play such a large role in her life, she would immediately point to her octogenarian housemate and employer, Mr. Owen. Together, the pair run a rare book shop in Exeter. Mr. Owen’s penchant for arcane, unusual—and occasionally illegal—books has been known to get Ruby into her fair share of trouble. And after the last year, she is looking forward to spending a quiet holiday in picturesque Oxford while Mr. Owen attends the annual meeting of his antiquarian society. Secretly, Ruby is also looking for a holiday from her confounding feelings for Ruan Kivell, the intriguing folk healer Pellar that she met in Cornwall.

When Mr. Owen secures two tickets to an upcoming exhibition of artifacts amassed by disgraced scholar Julius Harker, Ruby reluctantly agrees to attend. The evening turns out to be more eventful than either of them bargained for. Harker’s dead body is discovered amongst the collection, his business partner is hastily arrested, and Ruan arrives…wanting to speak with Ruby. It seems both the arcane and her Pellar have followed Ruby to Oxford.

The murder case is suspicious at best, but the last thing Ruby wants is another investigation. That is, until an old friend comes begging for Ruby’s help. It soon becomes painfully clear that there is more going on in Oxford than meets the eye. Ruby and Ruan will have to uncover the dark secrets of the competitive world of antiquities while trying to understand the peculiar force that keeps drawing them back together.

I was instantly drawn back into the world of Ruby, Owen, and Ruan the Pellar. In this latest instalment , we are  whisked away to Oxford at Christmas where Ruby and Ruan will have to uncover the dark secrets of the competitive world of antiquities while trying to understand the peculiar force that keeps drawing them back together.

As murders unfold, the author masterfully maintains suspense, which kept me guessing until the very end.

The conclusion hints at a thrilling book four – fingers crossed!

Tess Armstrong has secured her spot as one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend this series to all mystery lovers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance readers copy from St. Martin’s 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

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Crescent City Christmas Chaos” the 4th instalment in A Vintage Cookbook Mystery series by Ellen Byron.  I love this series!

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It's Christmas. It's cozy. It's culinary. It's chaos! It's the fourth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author 

Ellen Byron.

Have yourself a merry little . . . murder?

Ricki James-Diaz gets the best present ever when her parents arrive in New Orleans for the holidays. Not only is it a chance to catch up, it’s also an opportunity to jog her mom Josepha’s memory about Ricki’s adoption. The details have always been shrouded in mystery. And Ricki understands why when she learns her mother was blackmailed for years, simply for not wanting to lose her precious daughter.

But digging into the past soon lands the James-Diaz clan in water hotter than a big pot of gumbo! When the woman who extorted Ricki’s mom is found dead at her home, Josepha becomes the primary suspect. Now Ricki has another murder to solve, and tracking down a killer in Crescent City is going to take a miracle.

Luckily, ‘tis the season! And Ricki has all the staff at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum on hand to help. Can she prove her mother’s innocence and have the case wrapped up in time for Christmas?

I absolutely loved this story, it was about family, friends, murder, Christmas and fluff ball Red is a menace to poor Princess!

I really like Ricki, Zellah, Lyla, Eugenia and Victoria. Once again I enjoyed the interaction between Ricki and Detective Rodriguez. The author is great at building a community you become invested in and you want to be apart of it.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end.The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down. I also liked how the author left the ending making us wait in anticipation for book 5.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for book three!

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,

The Marazion Murders by Sally Rigby

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Marazion Murders” the 6th instalment in A Cornwall Murder Mystery 
series featuring DI Lauren Pengelly and DS Matt Price by Sally Rigby  .  This is the second book I have read in the series, if you love mysteries set in Cornwall, England this is for you!

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Dawn Cross sits motionless in her recliner, her eyes staring sightlessly at the television screen. Death is no stranger to Silver Fern House… but when Detective Lauren Pengelly arrives at the scene, it’s clear she’s got a cold-blooded murder on her hands.

What should have been a routine investigation at a care home for former entertainers quickly becomes Lauren's most complex case yet. When a second resident is found dead and then a third is targeted, Detective Lauren Pengelly knows she's hunting a killer with a twisted agenda. Each death is different, but there's a pattern emerging that chills her to the bone.

As Lauren and DS Matt Price dig deeper into the famous residents' pasts, they uncover secrets that some would kill to keep buried. In a building full of people who've spent their lives playing roles, everyone is a suspect and anyone could be the killer’s next victim…

Get ready to be totally hooked! From the bestselling author of the Cavendish & Walker series, you won't be able to put this murder mystery down. Fans of LJ Ross, Rachel McLean and J M Dalgliesh will love it.

I love visiting Cornwall while not a lot of descriptive scenes as in some books there was just enough to know we were in Cornwall.   I liked the dynamics between the investigative team and how they played off each other.

The mystery was really interesting, well plotted, and had just enough twists to keep you engrossed and wanting to know what happens next. 

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Storm Publishing 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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The Tattered Cover by Ellery Adams

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Tattered Cover by Ellery Adams” the 8th 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.

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It was a dark, rainy night at Nora Pennington’s Miracle Books when a mysterious death brings the Secret, Book, and Scone Society into the Halloween season on the trail of a murderer . . .

As the residents of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, select their costumes, plan parties, and get excited for a night of tricks or treats, Nora joins in on the festivities by hosting medium memoirist Lara Luz at the bookstore. Charismatic and compelling, Lara mesmerizes the audience with her life story. Struck by a bolt of lightning as a child, she was pronounced dead only to be resurrected with the ability to connect with those on the other side.

Lara performs a reading for a select group of bookstore patrons when the encroaching storm knocks out the power. In the sudden darkness, howling cold winds intensify, and Lara clutches her heart, collapsing dead without warning. But Nora doesn’t believe she died of natural causes. Not one member of the psychic’s reading group—which includes the town’s widower pharmacist, an urgent care nurse, a mystery author, and even truculent Deputy Hollowell—were admirers of Lara.

Nora confirms this when she stumbles upon Lara’s journal in the aftermath of her death. For within its leathery bound pages are the medium and her clients’ deepest and darkest secrets, written in code. Now, Nora and the Secret, Book, and Scone Society must sift through the suspects and their motives to uncover which one of them is a killer before he or she is tempted to strike again . . .

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! 

This series never fails to evoke strong emotions and leaves me feeling fulfilled. 

I'm eagerly awaiting book 9!  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,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin