At First Glance by Paul Gitsham

Hello my friends, 

Today I am reviewing “At First Glance” by Paul Gitsham the 7th instalment in the DCI Warren series. I really enjoyed this novella, and will probably go back and read book one in the series.

When a small-time drug dealer is found with his throat cut, a trail of blood leading to the weapon and killer, DCI Warren Jones looks forward to a fast resolution. But what seemed like an open-and-shut case quickly becomes a twisted trap: an innocent man set up to take the fall.

Everybody knew the victim, but witnesses are sparse – no one wants to get involved in a turf war. The one detail Warren has to go on is a mystery accomplice seen with the victim before his death: a man called Madman. A man who doesn’t seem to exist…

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I would probably read another.  I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.  I never did guess who it was and it was quite a surprise who the killer was.

I recommend this series to all my british crime mystery loving friends.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from HQ Digital 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 mystery lovers.

Hugs,

Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Killer Chardonnay" by Kate Lansing the first in her new “Colorado Wine Mystery” series. What a great start to a new series!

A young winery owner won't let one sour grape ruin the bunch in the first installment of this exciting cozy mystery series.

Parker Valentine has always dreamed of opening her own winery in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado. But she gets more than she bargained for when a food and wine critic unexpectedly shows up at Vino Valentine on opening day. A negative review could be fatal for her business, and not only does he seem to hate her chardonnay, he also collapses and dies shortly after drinking it.

Although Parker hoped that the attendees would put a cork in it, soon her winery is at the center of a social media firestorm. With #killerchardonnay trending online, Parker's business is in danger of closing, and she has no choice but to investigate the murder herself.

To restore her reputation, catch a killer, and keep her struggling business open, Parker needs only one thing: some good proof.

I’m not a wine drinker but I enjoyed learning about wine, and things to pair with them.  Luckily there are some great recipes at the back of the book.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in two sittings. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.

I loved the characters which are well developed, especially Parker she made a good protagonist.  The secondary characters were likeable as well. It ended with two men vying for Parker’s attention...  I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group 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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Death in Chelsea by Lynn Brittney

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing ”Death in Chelsea” by Lynn Brittney the 2nd instalment in the "Mayfair 100 Mystery" series. I had not read the first book ”Murder in Belgravia” but I was able to read as a stand alone, I do recommend reading in order though.

The intrepid women of Mayfair 100 are up against a deadly and elusive enemy--and the darkest secrets of Britain's upper crust--in the second nail-biting installment of Lynn Brittney's Mayfair 100 mysteries.

In the dark days of World War I, an aristocrat's suspicious suicide propels a one-of-a-kind crime-fighting team into a sordid world of blackmail, betrayal, and tragic secrets.

When the phone rings at the Mayfair 100 exchange, the news is rarely good, and this time is no exception. The Duchess of Penhere's daughter, notorious society gossip queen Lady Adeline Treborne, has been found dead in her room in what appears to be a suicide--but her family suspects foul play.

The secret Mayfair team of amateur female detectives has been restlessly awaiting their next case, and this will prove one of their thorniest. When Dr. Caroline Allardyce performs an autopsy, she is able to conclusively prove that the woman was murdered. Lady Treborne had made many enemies through her vicious gossip column, so there's no shortage of suspects.

Supported by a cadre of professional police officers, the Mayfair women launch their investigation, but there's much more to this case than meets the eye. As they venture into a world that lays bare London high life at its lowest, the team soon begins to comprehend the danger at hand--and how this tangled web of treachery could ensnare anyone who gets too close.

I found myself enjoying the story and reading over several days. 

As a few others stated I liked the idea of a female crime solving unit, especially in this period of history where women were taking on more men’s roles.  I did find some things might of been to modern but it did not take away from the story.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which there are a lot of them.  It was sometimes hard to keep track of them. Most of the characters are well developed and a likeable bunch. 

I recommend this series to all my historical mystery loving friends.

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,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin