Not really a mystery, as a convicted murderer (who did do it) escapes prison. Our sleuth helps out in the manhunt. They go from place to place and whiNot really a mystery, as a convicted murderer (who did do it) escapes prison. Our sleuth helps out in the manhunt. They go from place to place and whine about all of the pressure they're under to find him.
There's the usual reality show, in this case, a baking competition, and the judge is a mentor for our sleuth. Their chief rival has won the contest foThere's the usual reality show, in this case, a baking competition, and the judge is a mentor for our sleuth. Their chief rival has won the contest for several years in a row, and is outraged at having her reign as champion threatened. Then the chef is found in a freezer trailer, dead from some poison.
Our sleuth has to get to work solving the crime, while trying to win the contest. Incidental characters get surprisingly strong story arcs.
All in all, I would say it's in the upper third of cozies, but by no means a classic. ...more
Our protagonist is helping with an Alice in Wonderland themed charity event, when the usual obnoxious jerk is offed. The ladies are under suspicion, sOur protagonist is helping with an Alice in Wonderland themed charity event, when the usual obnoxious jerk is offed. The ladies are under suspicion, so of course they have to clear their names.
Set in England, this book did not make me want to visit....more
An event wedding planner has her hands full when the bride-to-be's ex crashes in. He creates a ruckus, and sleeps with various members of the wedding An event wedding planner has her hands full when the bride-to-be's ex crashes in. He creates a ruckus, and sleeps with various members of the wedding party, including the mother of the bride.
Soon enough, the wedding crasher is murdered, and a large fork is stuck in his chest. (Boy, that never happened to Owen Wilson or Vince Vaughn)
The bride is a prime suspect, and the planner has to clear her name, and keep her business open.
I guess this is the last book in the series. Too bad, as it's a consistently entertaining one.
Jaine, needing money as usual, takes a job ghost writingI guess this is the last book in the series. Too bad, as it's a consistently entertaining one.
Jaine, needing money as usual, takes a job ghost writing a fitness book for a health guru, despite mainly exercising her fork muscles. The guy is a colossal egotist and jerk. We know the penalty for that in this sort of novel.
Jaine discovered the body and is thus a prime suspect. One would think the police would know better, but they're even more inept than usual here.
Jaine follows the clues, and eventually gets to the bottom of things. Plus her neighbor is desperate to get into a club, and her father is still feuding with the HMO.
One of my favorite cozy series has another entry. Lana Lee is mostly in charge of the big Chinese New Year celebration at the Asian Plaza. There's a lOne of my favorite cozy series has another entry. Lana Lee is mostly in charge of the big Chinese New Year celebration at the Asian Plaza. There's a lion dance combo that is having some problems, but not that big of problems, but someone gets murdered anyway.
There are functionaries and the press at the event, so everybody wants Lana to investigate, and everybody wants to "help."
Lana has to navigate through this new "helpful" environment to find the killer.
Pretty good. The subplot with her sister is moving along a little, too....more
The usual cozy protagonist wants to open a tea room. After saving all her money, she rents a building, or so she thinks. Turns out, she's been conned.The usual cozy protagonist wants to open a tea room. After saving all her money, she rents a building, or so she thinks. Turns out, she's been conned. The realtor is fake, and he rented the same building to a tarot dealer. Then they find him dead at the dumpster out back.
Trying to get her money back, and clear her name, and start her business, she's distracted by the handsome contractor and the handsome cop that always seem to turn up in books like this.
The town busybody is dead! Or is she? She may be alive, but she dies again real soon.
Her deaf son is the main suspect. He had a hard life because theyThe town busybody is dead! Or is she? She may be alive, but she dies again real soon.
Her deaf son is the main suspect. He had a hard life because they didn't learn he was deaf until he was too old to really learn to speak, or even learn ASL.
Connor doubts this thesis and goes on to investigate.
A very strong mystery. Too bad Warner doesn't seem to be writing anymore....more
Our sleuth bought an old rambling house once owned by a hoarder. Hoping to get rid of some of her junk, and maybe make some dough to help in the repaiOur sleuth bought an old rambling house once owned by a hoarder. Hoping to get rid of some of her junk, and maybe make some dough to help in the repairing of the house, she holds a yard sale. Members of her gigantic family, many of which she barely knows, joins in, creating a chaotic sort of commerce.
Meanwhile, her father is nuts about owls, and pesters everyone in the vicinity about them
Then an odious antiques dealer is offed, found in a trunk.
Our sleuth pokes around, and eventually solves the case. Pretty funny sometimes. The TSTL moments occur during non-life threatening times....more
A very entitled woman goes to a spa, and finds a dead body. The sleuth was unpleasant, I almost didn't finish it.A very entitled woman goes to a spa, and finds a dead body. The sleuth was unpleasant, I almost didn't finish it....more
Clare has a complicated life, running a coffee shop in Greenwich Village, for one thing. Being partners with her ex-husband for another.
When her ex's Clare has a complicated life, running a coffee shop in Greenwich Village, for one thing. Being partners with her ex-husband for another.
When her ex's best friend creates a coffee bean that is naturally decaffeinated, but retains the taste of natural coffee. Naturally, there are greedy folks after it, and the friend is acting very mysteriously.
Then, the murder.
I enjoyed it for the most part, but at least half of the characters needed a smack upside the head....more
In small town Connecticut, the library director has a lot on her hands.
Besides running the library, a salvage company is trying to find Captain Kidd'In small town Connecticut, the library director has a lot on her hands.
Besides running the library, a salvage company is trying to find Captain Kidd's treasure, and disrupting the whole town. Plus, the librarian's ex is come to town to try to win her back.
Then the pest of a city official is found in the hole the salvage company dug. Of course, the hapless townie kid is the prime suspect despite not having a sensible motive. So our librarian has to clear the kid's name.
Kept my interest throughout. It's the hapless kid who was too stupid to live, even though he survives the book. A bit of a change for a cozy....more
Someone is having their home redone by a home makeover reality show, despite the best efforts of the local government. Someone has released a bunch ofSomeone is having their home redone by a home makeover reality show, despite the best efforts of the local government. Someone has released a bunch of feral turkeys in the immediate area. Feral turkeys are a real nuisance, but for some reason, we can't use them to feed the homeless. The book even falsely claims that wild turkeys don't taste very good. Balderdash! Obviously, someone has never eaten a feral turkey.
Meg helps organize a turkey roundup, and, of course, finds a dead body. The body was formerly an obnoxious lady, who received the penalty for such behavior in cozies.
She investigates, both the turkey infestation, and the murder, and finds other crimes besides.
Very entertaining, once it really gets started....more
Our sleuth, a former teacher in rural Maine is minding her own business when a former student approachesThe author kindly sent me an ARC of this book.
Our sleuth, a former teacher in rural Maine is minding her own business when a former student approaches her. The student is in deep trouble, being hunted by bad people.
For some reason, they take her out to a deserted cabin, where things get worse, and they keep getting worse until the end.
There's a lot of tension generated, even if some of the twists are a little farfetched....more
A new restaurant/cafe is opening in Jane Jeffry's idyllic suburb. The local busybody lawyer, who badgers everyone for their own good dies, crushed by A new restaurant/cafe is opening in Jane Jeffry's idyllic suburb. The local busybody lawyer, who badgers everyone for their own good dies, crushed by a rack of hams...or does he?
Jane Jeffry's investigates. She doesn't really find out much until the end.
Seems very much like a soccer mom novel from the 1990's....more
I got this book from Net Galley in exchange for a fair review.
Our sleuth is in the doldrums. She saw her paramour in the arms of another woman, but shI got this book from Net Galley in exchange for a fair review.
Our sleuth is in the doldrums. She saw her paramour in the arms of another woman, but she still has to run a yarn retreat. Her friend, a sheltered woman who co-owns the hotel, is hoping to reconnect with her writer sort of boyfriend. There are two other retreats, one for dieting, and one for psychological sessions at the hotel at the same time.
A rain storm hits, the hotel is cut off from civilization, and there is no wi-fi or cell service. The psychologist is offed. This is the first surprise, as I thought he'd be the culprit.
From there, it's a bunch of people dealing with boredom, fear, and an irascible malcontent who just bothers everybody.
Not as chilling as Agatha Christie, but a nice cozy mystery, with some real red herrings....more
I got this book from Net Galley in exchange for a review.
When her best friend buys the local haunted house, Merry is worried that the whole thing is aI got this book from Net Galley in exchange for a review.
When her best friend buys the local haunted house, Merry is worried that the whole thing is a money pit. It's been abandoned for years, and teens used it as a party point.
A cantankerous man threatens to sue to get the house as part of his inheritance, and of course, soon ends up dead. The best friend and her fiancee are the prime suspects, so our sleuth has to go to work, even though the cops order her not to interfere. Well, this is a cozy, so she interferes despite her best intentions.
The solution to the puzzle strikes me as unlikely, but that's why is takes Merry to solve the case, I suppose....more
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