The Dying Light by Ann Cleeves

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “The Dying Light” by Ann Cleeves it's the 4th instalment in the A Detective Matthew Venn Mystery Series, a powerful novel about guilt, betrayal, and the longheld secrets people keep. I love Ann Cleeves books and this instalment did not disappoint.  In fact, I thought that it was one of the best in the series.

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“Everything Ann Cleeves writes is incredible.”—Richard Osman

DI Matthew Venn peels back layer upon layer to discover the dark secrets one family is keeping in this searing new novel, brimming with energy and taut with claustrophobic tension.

A scorching heatwave marks the start of the summer in Devon. Detective Matthew Venn is called in to investigate a puzzling death, when the body of a young woman, Lottie, is found in the swimming pool of a luxurious holiday home. The girl’s best friend, Hannah, whose family owns the house, is missing. The girls had arrived a few days earlier to celebrate the end of their school exams, quickly stirring unrest in the small community with incendiary social media videos mocking the place as parochial.

When further tragedy strikes, Venn and his team begin questioning a community filled with secrets. The fact that Hannah’s father, Paul Armstrong, is a rising political star with powerful enemies draws intense media scrutiny to the case.

With the summer heat come holidaymakers, and it emerges that some of them may have stronger connections with the Armstrong family than first thought. Venn knows all too well that the real answers lie not in what people say, but in the silences that they keep.

Taut, atmospheric, and brimming with suspense, this searing new novel finds DI Matthew Venn caught between a powerful family’s secrets and a powder keg of local tensions.

The Series is character-driven and also very descriptive you feel like you are right there in North Devon, England. In this instalment we get to catch up with Venn and his team, are caught between a powerful family’s secrets and a powder keg of local tensions.

This was a very suspenseful story and I was fully engrossed in it and finding out what would happened to the girls. There were lots of suspects and I was kept guessing till the end.

I highly recommend this book and the Two Rivers/Detective Inspector Mathew Venn Mystery series to all my British Mystery loving friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

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The Pumpkin Vice Cafe by Ellie Alexander

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Pumpkin Vice Cafe" the 23rd instalment in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. 

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Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, OR!

As autumn settles over the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, ushering in cool, crisp breezes and a stunning show of color, everyone at Torte is keeping warm by whipping up a bevy of fall treats and spicy lattes. Jules is nearing her due date, and the whole town is abuzz—placing bets on when the twins will make their grand debut. Helen and the team are working on a secret surprise baby shower, complete with cupcakes, cookies, and a feast fit for royalty, or maybe just a mother-to-be. 

Meanwhile, Lance and Arlo are busy planning their nuptials in what is sure to be as close to a royal wedding as Ashland has ever seen. But when the high-end wedding planner they hired is found dead in the frigid waters of Ashland Creek, what looks like a tragic accident, a slip on an icy bridge, quickly reveals itself as something much more sinister. Jules knows at once—this was no mishap. A killer is loose in Ashland, and they may be ready to strike again.

This time around we are back in Ashland and a very pregnant Jules is looking forward to the birth of her twins.  When Jules finds the body of Lances wedding planner in the frigid creek water, she suspects fowl play and of course she needs to investigate.  With so many suspects to choose from it made the mystery interesting and well plotted, and there were just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Needless to say I cant wait for the next book in the series. 

I really enjoyed this story, seeing how the Torte family is adapting to Jules having twins, how the new staff is fitting I. and how the business is expanding its horizons.  

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

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A Midnight Murder by Kate Wells

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "A Midnight Murder by Kate Wells” the 8th instalment in The Malvern Farm Mystery series. This is the first book I have read in the series and by this author, if you love mysteries set England this is for you! I plan on going back and reading the complete series 

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Discover the BRAND NEW instalment in Kate Wells' addictive cozy mystery series. From the BESTSELLING author of A Very Merry Murder. 

Fireworks, family feuds… and a fatality

Jude Gray is ready to ring in the New Year the proper way – at the local pub, surrounded by friends, neighbours and the usual Malvern mix of good cheer.

But this year, all eyes are on the Merebrooks. Wealthy, enigmatic and woven into the fabric of Malvern for generations, they’ve always been a family people talk about… and not just because of the scandalous murder of years gone by.

When a marriage proposal sends shockwaves through the already fractious clan, the atmosphere turns from celebratory to strained. And then, as the clock strikes twelve and fireworks light up the sky, tragedy strikes. One of the Merebrooks is found dead.

As suspicion falls on the feuding family, Jude finds herself drawn into yet another mystery. Because behind closed doors, this family has been hiding secrets for years. And Jude is willing to bet someone is willing to kill to keep them buried ­– at any cost.

A gripping new instalment in the Malvern Farm Mystery series, perfect for fans of Frances Evesham, Merryn Allingham, and Faith Martin.

I liked the dynamics between the investigative team, Jude and how they played off each other. I loved the farm setting with the sheep and other animals as well as the side characters, it has made me want to read the series from the beginning.

The mystery was really interesting, well plotted, and had just enough twists to keep you engrossed and wanting to know what happens next. I was sad to see this was the last book in the series but at the end of Murder at Midnight is a sample of a new mystery by Kate Wells which I have pre-ordered already.  It sounds intriguing and I can’t wait to read it. 

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

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,

Death of a Grill Master by Lee Hollis

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “ Death of a Grill Master” by Lee Hollis the 19th instalment in the Haley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series.

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After a record-breaking tourist season, Bar Harbor is ready for the less eventful off-season. But the murder of a barbecue baron will keep restaurateur Hayley Powell busy well after Labor Day . . .

Hayley and her husband are snuggled into a secluded spot on Maine’s rocky shoreline to take in the big fireworks display on Frenchman’s Bay. But when they find Hank Desmond’s body floating in the darkness, it looks like summer is ending with a bang—from a gun registered to a rival BBQ chef.

Despite the evidence, Hayley thinks there’s more to the story than a gunshot from a disgruntled pit master. Unfortunately, the new police chief, just arrived from Boston, is more interested in layoffs than in listening to Hayley’s theories. So she starts grilling anyone she can to find out what happened on the party boat that Hank was aboard earlier in the evening—accompanied by his much-younger wife and a sleazy seasonal resident. There are also some competitors who’ve been skewering Hank, owner of the BBQ joint The Smokehouse, for his business practices, including the owners of a diner and a food cart.

Hayley just hopes that when the smoke clears, she’ll be able to serve up the real culprit to the cops—and bring the temperature down in this picturesque town . . .

Includes delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!

I love this series, the stories always catch my attention and pull me in right away.  This instalment was no different. Lots of changes are happening in Hayley’s world this time around.  

I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I am saddened that this is the last book in the series but happy that Haley will star with her daughter in an all new series soon.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends !

 

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

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Murder on the Sacred River by Tasha Alexander

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Murder on the Sacred River” the 20th instalment in the A Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander.   

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In this next enthralling mystery in Tasha Alexander’s bestselling series, Lady Emily chases down a killer in India along the misty banks of the sacred river Narmada.

1908: Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves, along with an eccentric group of English tourists, are vacationing in India at Ahilya Fort, the old home to the Maharaja’s family, when a man is found shot along the Narmada River. Emily and Colin jump into action, but their suspect list is large, including a wonderful spinster and her not-so-wonderful companion; a local doctor; a widow who lives nearby; an English explorer; and an Englishman who now runs a tea plantation near Darjeeling.

1740: Fifteen-year-old Ahilyabai has been married to the son of Malharrao Holkar, the Lord of the Malwa territory, for seven years. Now the time has finally come to produce an heir. But though Ahilya’s in-laws have shown her nothing but kindness, her notoriously-drunken husband remains a mystery to her, having rarely spoken to Ahilya since their wedding as children. Faced with this tortured and distant man, Ahilya’s sense of loyalty is tested as she attempts to balance fulfilling her duty with forging her own destiny. Her decisions will have ripple effects across time—including Lady Emily’s investigation almost two hundred years later.

Lady Emily’s case takes a dramatic turn when a shocking new person arrives at the fort—and when the killer strikes again shortly afterwards, she and Colin must race to uncover the villain’s identity before it’s too late.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which combines historical fiction, mystery, and romance.

The story follows Lady Emily and her husband Colin as they investigate the murder of a man found shot along the Narmada River. The mystery is engaging, with several suspects and plot twists that keep the reader guessing.

The relationship between Lady Emily and Colin is a highlight of the book. Their loving and supportive marriage, complete with occasional flirty banter, adds warmth to the story.

The book features two timelines: one set in 1908 India and the other in 1740 Fifteen-year-old Ahilyabai has been married to the son of Malharrao Holkar, the Lord of the Malwa territory. Her decisions will have ripple effects across time…

Murder on the Sacred River is a worthwhile read for fans of historical mysteries and romance. Tasha Alexander's writing is engaging, and the characters are well-developed. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.  

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Minotaur Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

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The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives and a Mystery at Sea

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives and a Mystery at Sea” the 3rd instalment in The Fish and Chip Shop Detectives Mystery series by Jenny Kane set in Mousehole a picturesque fishing village in Cornwall, England.  

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⛵Don't miss book 3 in the Fish and Chip Shop Detective Agency Series, perfect for fans of Fiona Leitch and Peter Boland - available to pre-order now!⛵

Get ready to join the Fish and Chip Shop Detectives as they set sail on their latest investigation...

In the picturesque Cornish seaside village of Mousehole, Maggie and Ryan are busy running Robbins' Fish and Chip Shop. They love nothing more than a cup of tea, a nice slice of cake... and solving a murder mystery.

But Maggie and Ryan weren't expecting to find a dead body in the castle on St Michael's Mount, a famous island known for its causeway that disappears under water at high tide.

Already searching for a local youth, Mitch, who's been missing for three weeks, Maggie and Ryan fear the worst. Then when a fishing boat is stolen, the detectives begin to suspect that all three mysterious events are somehow connected...

Has Mitch found himself in at the deep end? And can the amateur sleuths solve their latest case before the truth is left out at sea?

Praise for the Fish and Chip Shop Detective Agency series:
'Well this was simply fantastic. It was everything I was looking for in a small town cozy murder mystery' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love the story and the I enjoyed catching up with Maggie and Ryan.  Mr. Robbins is sadly missed by everyone but Maggie and Ryan want to make him proud by keeping the shop going while still having a detective agency.  

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.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Jenny’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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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,

The Victims of St Just by Sally Rigby

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Victims of St Just” the 8th instalment in A Cornwall Murder Mystery series featuring DI Lauren Pengelly and DS Matt Price by Sally Rigby.

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A high-end weekend cookery course at a beautifully restored Cornish manor promises fine dining, an exclusive guest list and the food event of the year. Instead, it ends in murder.

When the body of Russell Keene is discovered locked inside a commercial freezer at Tredown Manor, Detective Lauren Pengelly is called to St Just to investigate. Russell was the boyfriend and business partner of celebrity chef Lydia Yeoman – and it quickly becomes clear his death was no accident. Someone trapped him inside and left him to die.

As Lauren and her partner Detective Matt Price interview the small group of staff and guests present that night, old resentments and buried secrets begin to surface. Cut off in an isolated manor house, everyone had a motive, and everyone is a suspect.

Then a second guest is attacked, and Lauren realises the killer is still among them, ready to strike again. With time running out, can she uncover the truth before anyone else pays the price?

A gripping, twist-filled mystery that will keep you guessing until the final page. Fans of LJ Ross, Ann Cleeves and Joy Ellis will be hooked.

I love visiting Cornwall, and even though there weren’t a ton of long descriptive scenes like in some books, there was just enough to know we were there and I could picture it.

I really liked the dynamics between the investigative team and how they played off each other. The stalking storyline adds so much tension for Lauren, both personally and professionally, and that extra danger made it a true nail-biter for me. 

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

This series is quickly becoming one of my favorite British crime series. I recommend this book to all my mystery 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 Cornish Halloween Murder by Fiona Leitch

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Cornish Halloween Murder ” the 11th instalment in The Nosey Parker Cozy Mystery series by Fiona Leitch.  I cannot get enough of this series, if you love mysteries set in England this is for you!

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A brand new cozy mystery to escape with this Halloween. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Rev Richard Coles.

It’s (almost) Halloween in Penstowan, and strange things are afoot…

When a developer buys the abandoned convent and cottage hospital of St Ann’s on the edge of town, locals are aghast at his plans to turn the site into apartments. And when menacing voodoo-like dolls are found hidden inside the walls, it looks like the building’s past inhabitants are against it, too.

As the town prepares for the annual Bonfire Parade taking place on Halloween night, ex-police officer Jodie Parker finds herself in a world of witches and Wiccans, whispering voices and ghostly babies crying, as she tries to find out who’s behind the campaign to stop the development. Then one of the builders is found dead at the bottom of a staircase. Has a spectre from the convent’s past come back to take revenge on the living, or are Jodie and her husband, DCI Nathan Withers, looking for a killer of flesh and blood?

Praise for the Nosey Parker series

'Murder and mayhem are rarely this enjoyable. Another fantastic entry in this brilliant series that solidifies Leitch as one of the very best and funniest writers around’ Jonathan Whitelaw

I love visiting Cornwall and Jodie, DCI Nathan Withers, Daisy, and her mum but let’s not forget about Germaine the Pomeranian!   The old convent is being renovated but some creepy things start to happen, it’s up to Jodie to find out whose responsible or is the building haunted from the past.  It’s (almost) Halloween in Penstowan, and strange things are afoot…

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 12 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 One More Chapter 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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Casting Call 4 Murder by J. C. Eaton

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “ Casting Call 4 Murder" the 16th  instalment in the Sophie Kimball Mystery series by J.C. Eaton.  I love this series, it always has me laughing at Phee’s mums and Streetman’s antics.

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When a theater group’s murder mystery weekend turns deadly, the seniors of Sun City West take on a starring role in catching the killer . . .

The book club ladies of Sun City West love nothing more than poking their noses into murder investigations, so it’s the treat of a lifetime when they get to attend a murder mystery weekend at a sprawling Victorian mansion. They’ll be matching wits with other mystery aficionados trying to figure out whodunnit, and Sophie “Phee” Kimball is thrilled that for once her mother’s friends won’t be meddling in a real homicide. As the plot unfolds it’s mysterious fun for the actors and audience alike, until the dead body they discover is all too real.

Confident they can solve what’s turned into a real-life murder, the book club ladies hatch a plan and rope Phee into helping them. But as they step into their roles as amateur sleuths, what seems like play-acting is deadly serious to the killer. Soon Phee and the seniors want to rewrite the ending, because the murderer in their midst is dead-set on bringing the curtain down on all of them . . .

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in almost one day. I love the characters which are well developed. There is plenty of humour and we can’t forget Streetman the chiweenie in the B&B with a fish in his mouth causing havoc! I laughed at the chaos he caused.

The mystery is interesting, well plotted as well as full of twists and turns.  Always an entertaining, fun read. This is one of my favourite series and I always buy in Paperback as I know I will read again.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving 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,

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