The Antique Store Detective and the Riverside Murders by Clare Chase

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Antique Store Detective and the Riverside Murders” the 4th instalment in The Bella Winter Mystery series by Clare Chase set in Hope Eaton, Shopshire England. 

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A priceless statue, two mysterious deaths and a missing body… it can only be a case for the antique store detective! 

Bella Winter is happily settled in Hope Eaton, with her business flourishing: antiques sold and problems solved. So when Margie Fleming approaches her to sell a family heirloom, a beautiful marble statue of a mother and child, Bella jumps at the chance.

But the day before the sale, Margie is found dead: drowned in the river Kite, a year after her older sister Bethan died the same way. Everyone is convinced it’s a tragic accident, but Bella isn’t so sure. One mysterious death might be a coincidence. Two feels a lot like murder…  

Bella’s spine tingles when she realises Bethan also had plans for the statue. Could someone have killed to make sure it wasn’t moved? It feels far-fetched… but when they shift the statue, there’s a bloodstain beneath it. Someone is trying to conceal a crime. But who was the victim, and where is the body? 

As she investigates the Flemings’ friends and family, Bella becomes convinced the strange graffiti appearing all over Hope Eaton holds answers… Can she paint a clear picture and solve the case, or will she find herself facing a watery end? 

A completely charming cosy murder mystery, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Emylia Hall and Agatha Christie.

I really like how Bella and her circle of friends find out information and gather insights into the crime and the people involved. 

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 can’t wait for book 5!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Bookouture 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,

Definitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah Fox

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “ Definitely Maybe Not a Detective” by Sarah Fox  the 1st instalment in the The Wyatt Investigations Mysteries.  I love Sarah’s writing style and totally love her Magical Menagerie Mysteries, A True Confections Mysteries, Literary Pub Mystery series as well as the Pancake House Mystery series, so knew I wouldn't be disappointed!  Highly recommend you check out all of her series.

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In this delightfully charming rom-com mystery, a woman becomes accidentally entangled in a murder investigation (and with a handsome stranger) when her fake detective agency is enlisted to solve a real homicide.

Emersyn Gray is definitely not a detective.

Really, she’s an unemployed twenty-eight-year-old raising her beloved niece in the only place she can afford after her ex-boyfriend ran off with her life savings: a run-down, seniors-only apartment complex that was desperate for tenants. But never fear—her wild best friend has the perfect plan to get Emersyn back on her feet and stick it to her thieving ex: scare him into returning her money by hiring a private investigator to prove he stole it. Only, there won’t be an actual detective, just a fabricated business card from Wyatt Investigations . . . and a ridiculously hot stranger, who steps in to play the part—a stranger whose name is, coincidentally, Wyatt.

Emersyn can’t help but notice the real-life Wyatt is capital H-O-T hot, even though she’s wary of his intentions. But her ex does seem flustered, and if she can get her money back and regain control of her life, maybe it’ll finally prove to her parents that she can be a responsible caregiver to her niece.

But the day after they set their plan in motion, the superintendent of Emersyn’s apartment building winds up dead, and her neighbors turn to her fake detective agency for help after finding one of the phony business cards. With so many eyes on them—or maybe just their eyes on each other—Emersyn and Wyatt agree to take on the case. Now the question is, Can they solve the murder without getting tangled up in their own fictions—or each other?

“Fast-paced and quippy.”—Catherine Mack, USA Today bestselling author of Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies

What a great start to a new series!  I loved it!  I really enjoyed visiting the Bronx , and getting to know everyone at the Deco Mirage apartment complex.  Sarah is very good at descriptive writing so you feel like you’re right there.

Another thing I enjoyed was the relationship between Emersyn and her niece Livy and her bff Jemma.

I wasn't surprised by what happened to Freddie but having all those suspects drew me in and I had to find out what happened to him! Since Emersyn was technically unemployed, she has free time to slip out and investigate with hottie Wyatt. 

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Emersyn did.  The book perfectly blended my love of rom-con’s and cozy mysteries.

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

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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Deck the Halls With Homicide by Christina Romeril

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “Deck the Halls With Homicide” by Christina Romeril the 3rd instalment in the "A  Killer Chocolate Mystery" series.  I was excited to visit Alex and Hanna, owners of Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop in Montana.  I missed reading book 2 but this can be read as a stand alone. 

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Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Frost and Vicki Delany, when a holiday decorating contest turns deadly, twin sisters Alex and Hanna trade tinsel and twinkle lights for tracking the twists and turns of a cunning killer.

Alex and Hanna, owners of Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop, are hoping for a quiet holiday. That is, after Alex is finished judging the Deck the Halls contest organized by Vanessa, nicknamed “The Dragon.” The whole experience has turned Alex’s usual festive spirit a little grinchy. Instead of inspiring holiday cheer with fun lawn displays, the contest has turned cutthroat and decorations have started disappearing. After Alex’s beau, Tom, is seen in a heated argument with the Dragon about his stolen trimmings, Alex finds him dressed as Santa, kneeling over Vanessa’s dead body…with one of his missing candy cane decorations buried in her chest. It’s no surprise he becomes the sheriff’s top suspect.

Alex and Hanna quickly amass a cast of suspects deeper than Santa’s reindeer roster, including an old family friend tasked by their mother with romantic interference; a nosy reporter eager to reveal Alex’s previous murder-y exploits; and the victim’s psychologist-to-the-stars husband with a spicy secret. But as they try to catch a crafty killer, Alex also grapples with the escalating wrath of Tom’s daughter, and a mysterious psychic dropping cryptic clues, while Hanna deals with her own Christmas crisis.

Murder puts a bitter spin on the twins’ sweet confections and they must find the killer and wrap up the case to keep Santa off the naughty list.

Alex and Hanna are back, and they're bringing the holiday cheer... and a dash of suspense!  This latest mystery is a page-turner, with a contest that's more cutthroat than cozy, and a murder that'll keep you guessing. Vanessa's demise is just the start of a wild ride, with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep you on your toes.

The story's got all the makings of a holiday classic: festive setting, quirky characters, and a dash of psychic mystery. Romeril's done a great job of weaving in character development, and I'm loving where things are headed with Alex and Hanna. The supporting cast is equally engaging, and the plot twists are expertly done.

If you're in the mood for a cozy, Christmas-y read, look no further! This one's got all the ingredients to make your holiday season a little brighter. Can't wait for the next instalment! 

I requested and received an advance readers copy from the author. 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