Tag: Cozy Mystery

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Engaging Fall Cozy Mystery-A Perfect Bind by Dorothy St. James-Review

About The Book

Librarian Tru Beckett, ardent defender of the printed word, is about to find out that keeping murder checked out of her beloved library is much harder than she thought…

Tru Beckett succeeded in building a secret book room in her now bookless library, where book lovers from lovely Cypress, South Carolina, can rejoice in the printed word. Now she’s working hard to maintain the little library downstairs while keeping her “real job” upstairs in the bookless technology center. The last thing she needs is a mysterious vandal who seems intent on breaking into her secret book-filled sanctuary and creating chaos. The nasty interloper doesn’t steal anything, but brutalizes the books, damaging them and knocking them off shelves.

A patron of the secret book room tells Tru that there have been creepy goings-on at the library for years, especially in the basement where the secret book room is located. He’s heard rumors of a poltergeist that haunts the library, determined to scare off readers. Tru is certain it’s hogwash, but she’s at a loss to think of who might be vandalizing the beautiful books she fought so hard to protect. And when a dead body shows up right behind the library, Tru is certain that it’s not a ghost but a cold-blooded killer that she and her trusty tabby Dewey Decimal will need to uncover.

My Review

A Perfect Bind is the second book in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series and my first read in this series. This author’s books are fabulous, once you start you just can’t stop. You have to keep reading til the end to see how it’s all going to play out.
Southern librarian Tru Beckett though young, is the old fashioned type and is appalled at the library she works at in Cypress, South Carolina going bookless. (Say what?) To attract more technological businesses to the town the library goes bookless using digital books and technological resources which ultimately annoys many of it’s patrons especially the older folks.
Librarian Tru “rescues” some of the books destined for the dump and sets up a secret basement book area where patrons can still check out physical books.
The main librarian is strict and by the book but she “doesn’t” know about this secret book area.
Tru’s library cat Dewey is such a big help in her library area but of course she has to sneak him in. Though she works upstairs in the technological area Tru prefers her time with the “real” books, now just not to get caught.
When her special book room is vandalized more than once with her books being tossed about and destroyed it’s more than this poor librarian’s heart can understand.
Add to that when a body is discovered outside the library the creepy going-on’s in the library start piling up. Could it possibly be that poltergeist some of the old timers are talking about.
Sleuthing librarian Tru and her smart tabby Dewey are on the case of uncovering who could have caused the trouble and why. Very engaging book. Fast paced cozy, I really enjoyed it.

Pub Date 28 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Old books among the autumn leaves under soft sunlight.

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About The Author

Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. For the past 20+ years, she made her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.

Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn’t as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.

* Dorothy St. James is the alter-ego of award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy McFalls. She enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including: Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader’s Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: “amazing”, “perfect”, “filled with emotion”, and “lined with danger.”

Books in this series

Do you have a favorite cozy mystery author? Will you be reading this book?

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A Good Dog’s Guide to Murder by Krista Davis-Review

About The Book

The great Gingerbread Dog & Cat House competition has come to Wagtail, along with another murder to solve for Holly and her supersmart Jack Russell terrier Trixie in the New York Times bestselling Paws & Claws series by Krista Davis!

Visitors are arriving in droves to spend Thanksgiving in the mountains of pet-friendly Wagtail, Virginia. Many of them are bringing dog and cat gingerbread houses to enter in the contest that will be held in the new convention center. Wagtail resident Orly Biffle bequeathed the land to the town in his will, provided that they not cut down the grand old oak tree on the property. Orly’s children are mighty miffed that they didn’t inherit the prime piece of property overlooking the lake.
 
Holly notices that Trixie and Twinkletoes, her calico kitty, are fixated on the big oak tree. Trixie barks at it as though she thinks it’s a corpse! Just as contestants are spicing up their sweet gingerbread creations, the majestic tree drops an enormous limb. The mayor declares that the tree is dangerous and must come down. When a bulldozer churns up some roots, the tree falls over on its own accord revealing a body inside the trunk! Initially, everyone suspects this unsavory trick was Orly’s doing. But it soon becomes clear that someone is trying to keep the truth under wraps. Trixie and Twinkletoes now have to help Holly sniff out some suspects and leash a conniving killer.

My Review

This is the eighth book in the Paws and Claws mystery series.
The resident’s of Wagtail,Virginia love pets and many of the visitors to this mountainous town are bringing dog and cat gingerbread houses to be judged in the contest at the new convention center.
Cookies,cookies,cookies. Want a cookie? There are cookies galore being baked in Wagtail this Thanksgiving holiday for the great Gingerbread Dog & Cat House competition but you better make sure your cookie doesn’t have poison in it.
There is another mystery for Holly and her supersmart Jack Russell terrier Trixie to solve. We also get an insight into Trixie’s almost human way of thinking and what she wishes us humans knew. Now that is one smart dog. I’ll have to say my favorite characters are Holly’s, dog Trixie and cat Twinkletoes.
When a dying tree just has to come down a body is found inside encased in concrete.
Holly and Officer Dave do some sleuthing, going through the list of town’s folk who have disappeared and were not heard from again. The accusations begin and the suspect list continues to grow as the story goes on. Surprising ending. This series is great and I look forward to the next in the series.

Pub Date: 06 Sep 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Krista Davis grew up devouring Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Agatha Christie and still loves a good mystery. Krista writes three mystery series.

The Domestic Diva Mysteries are set in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. Sophie Winston loves to entertain her friends but she keeps things simple. When it comes to murder, though, this domestic diva knows how to dig up dirt. Recipes and entertaining tips included!

The Paws & Claws Mysteries take place on Wagtail Mountain, Virginia, the premier vacation destination for people who want to travel with their pets. Holly Miller and her German Oma run the family inn in Wagtail, which caters to dogs and cats. Holly’s Jack Russell Terrier, Trixie, and her long-haired calico kitty, Twinkletoes, use their superior noses to sniff out trouble.

In the Pen & Ink series, protagonist Florrie Fox runs a bookstore in Georgetown, Washington, DC by day and is an adult coloring book artist by night. The front and back covers of the Pen & Ink books can be colored!

Like her domestic diva, Sophie Winston, Krista enjoys cooking (okay, eating!) and entertaining, but she’d just as soon leave the cleaning to someone else. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with an assortment of cats and dogs.

What makes you want to read A Good Dog’s Guide to Murder? Have you read any books by this author? Let me know in the comments.

Have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

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Release Day Review-The Ghost and the Stolen Tears By Cleo Coyle

About The Book

With the help of her gumshoe ghost, bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure sets out to clear an innocent woman of a shocking crime in this all-new entry in the “utterly charming” (Mystery Scene) Haunted Bookshop Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

Norma is a modern-day nomad. Living out of her van and teardrop trailer, she revels in self-reliance, solitude, and reading in the glorious peace of nature. Jovial, wise, and scrupulously honest, she’s become an uplifting presence in the little town of Quindicott, Rhode Island, where bookseller Pen is thankful to have her part-time help. But it’s Norma’s other job, working as a housekeeper at the Finch Inn, that gets her into terrible trouble. Norma is accused of stealing jewels from a guest’s room: the legendary Valentino Teardrops, an antique necklace and earring set, inherited by a young socialite. Pen doesn’t believe Norma is guilty of the crime—though the evidence is distressingly strong. And when the spirited Norma vanishes before her arrest, Pen turns to another spirit…

Jack Shepard, PI, may have been gunned down decades ago, but his memory hasn’t been ghosted. Back in the 1940s, those same Valentino Teardrops starred in a bizarre case of betrayal and murder. From the look of things, history is about to repeat. Now Jack is back on the job, and Pen is eternally grateful.

Publisher Berkley Publish Date October 04,2022 File size 2446 KB

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My Review

The Ghost and the Stolen Tears is the eighth book in the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series.
Quindicott, Rhode Island is home to a bookshop owned by Penelope Thornton-McClure. In this case she is once again working with her gumshoe ghost, Jack Shepard who was a PI in the 1940’s but is still “around” helping to solve the case by putting thoughts and ideas in her head.
Her part-time helper is Norma who is a nomadic van lifer,nature enjoying kind of person.
Norma has been accused of stealing the legendary Valentino Teardrops, an antique necklace and earring set. Pen is convinced Norma is innocent despite her nomadic ways.
The mystery has a few red herrings thrown in to get you off track. I love this series with it’s bookshop owner and the ghostly Jack. You just never know where their investigations will take them and what kind of situations they’ll be getting into to almost not escape from. There are some pretty close calls here. The pacing was great and it kept my attention. I recommend this book and series and look forward to more adventures with this pair in upcoming books.

Pub Date 04 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own

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About The Author

CLEO COYLE is the New York Times bestselling pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, collaborating with her husband, Marc Cerasini. With more than 1 million copies of their books sold, Alice and Marc have written 19 entries in their long-running, critically acclaimed Coffeehouse Mystery series with their newest, HONEY ROASTED, just released from their longtime publisher, Penguin Random House. They also write the national bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries with THE GHOST AND THE HAUNTED PORTRAIT (7th in the series) recently released by Berkley Books and selected as one of Aunt Agatha’s top ten cozy mysteries of the year. Cleo’s books have earned starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus, “Best of Year” selection honors from many reviewers, and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections.

Visit Cleo’s online coffeehouse at CoffeehouseMystery.com and her haunted bookshop at HauntedBookshopMystery.com ~ Keep in touch with Cleo (and receive her latest books news and bonus recipes) by signing up for her newsletter. Simply send a “sign me up” email to coffeehousemystery@gmail.com

“Cleo” (aka) Alice Alfonsi grew up in a small town near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After earning scholarships to study creative and professional writing at Carnegie Mellon and American Universities, she began her career as a cub reporter for The New York Times. Now an author of popular fiction and bestselling media tie-in writer (who even served as ghostwriter for an Entertainment Weekly media tie-in Best Book of the Year), Alice lives and works in New York City, where she first met her husband and collaborator, Marc Cerasini. Marc was also born and raised in the Pittsburgh area and is a graduate of Ohio University. He is a New York Times bestselling author of adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction.

Working independently and together, Alice and Marc have created bestselling tie-in properties for NBC, Lucasfilm, Disney, Fox, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or rescuing stray cats, they cook like crazy and drink a lot of java. You can learn more about Alice, her husband, and the books they write by visiting http://www.CoffeehouseMystery.com. Scroll down the left column of the site’s Home Page and you will see links to a number of online interviews that Alice and Marc have given.

Don’t miss Cleo Coyle’s 18th Coffeehouse Mystery, BREWED AWAKENING, which was honored on 5 Best of Year lists by reviewers. Their 17th, SHOT IN THE DARK, was a Best of Year Fresh Fiction Finalist, awarded a starred review by Library Journal and chosen as its MYSTERY PICK OF THE MONTH. This critically acclaimed series of light, amateur sleuth mysteries has now earned three starred reviews, including a Kirkus Star, with multiple entries named Best Mystery Books for Book Clubs.

Many of Alice and Marc’s fans know that their HAUNTED BOOKSHOP MYSTERIES were first released under their other pen name, Alice Kimberly. After publishing five titles in this series, Alice and Marc took a decade-long hiatus, but recently resumed writing it for their longtime publisher, this time under their CLEO COYLE name. Their 6th entry, THE GHOST AND THE BOGUS BESTSELLER, became a national bestseller and a “Best Book of 2018” selection by Suspense Magazine. Their latest release, THE GHOST AND THE HAUNTED PORTRAIT, an Aunt Agatha’s and Kings River Life magazine best of year pick, marks the seventh entry in this popular series. And, yes, Alice and Marc have more Haunted Bookshop Mysteries in the works. Their upcoming entry in the series, THE GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS, is now available for order.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a terrific day.

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Strangers On A Skein by Anne Canadeo-Review

About the Book

The Black Sheep Knitters are on the case when a club member’s ex-boyfriend is accused of murder at the Plum Harbor Farmers and Crafts Market in the fourth installment of New York Times bestselling author Anne Canadeo’s knitting-themed Black Sheep & Co. Mystery series.

Romantic entanglements and handcrafted murder tie the Black Sheep knitters in knots when the local farmers’ market becomes a haven for a killer . . .

Phoebe Myers, Black Sheep Knitting Shop’s assistant manager, finally comes out from behind the counter to sell her own creations—Socks by Phoebe—at the Plum Harbor Farmers’ and Crafts Market, a lively, colorful venue that draws shoppers from miles around. But her excitement cools when she learns the previous tenant of her booth, farmer Jimmy Hooper, committed suicide. She’s barely raised her Grand Opening banner when Hooper’s death is upgraded to murder.

Phoebe worries that her stall is jinxed when things go from bad to worse. The last person she wants to see, her ex-boyfriend Harry “The Potter” McSweeney, appears in the stall across the aisle to sell his wares. The Black Sheep advise Phoebe to be strong and resist the handsome artist’s spell. But romantic sparks and tempers explode in a very public scene—and a pile of broken pottery. Before Phoebe can get back to business, her stall is trashed, her Facebook page hacked, and another vendor is found dead.  

The Black Sheep worry for Phoebe’s safety, especially when Harry becomes the prime suspect in both crimes. Phoebe refuses to believe he’s a killer and is determined to prove him innocent.  Her friends are not convinced, but for Phoebe’s sake—and her safety—the Black Sheep puts their wits together to catch the crafty marketplace killer who’s hiding in plain sight . . .

My Review

Strangers on A Skein is the twelfth book in the Black Sheep and Company mystery series.
The Black Sheep Knitting Shop is run by Maggie and her assistant is Phoebe. The clientele love her work and cheerful ways. She is ecstatic to have a chance to get a booth at the Farmer’s and Crafts Market and what a boost it will be, just in time for the holidays. Phoebe knits socks and is looking to bring in even more clients with her hard work and meticulous marketing skills.
It turns out her prime spot at the market was only available because the former stall holder passed away but things go from bad to worse when we find out he was really murdered.
Her bad luck continues when he ex-boyfriend get a stall very close to hers and troublesome mischief starts happening with her stall being trashed and other negative things.
Could her ex possibly be the one responsible for the murder?
Phoebe’s friends, though she is the youngest they take her under their wings with great conversation, delicious meals and back her up with solid friendship.
The plot kept me guessing who the murderer was, I thought one way then when that fizzled out I followed another way of thinking. The plot kept me guessing and I enjoyed Phoebe’s character. This book will appeal to people who enjoy yarn and knitting. There is a pattern link for over 22 vintage two-needle socks in the back of the book and also a recipe for zucchini and carrot patties with yogurt dill sauce. I will look for more books in this series in the future.

Pub Date 26 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

276 pages Kensington Cozies  (October 26, 2021)

Grab A Copy Here

The Author

Her website

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First Line Friday

Happy Friday & welcome to First Line Friday. It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today, I’m featuring the first line of In Farm’s Way by Amanda Flower it’s a Farm to Table cozy mystery. Her books are such fun reads.

And The First Line is……………

A Michigander knows snow–or at least she should.

About The Book

Even the best-laid plants can go awry…

After solving a murder and getting her organic farm ready to overwinter, Shiloh Bellamy still expects the next few months to be busy with repairs, spring planning, and networking with local businesses. She might even be able to broker a new partnership with Fields Brewery and its organic brewer’s association. Well, she could if the owner wasn’t found murdered at the county Ice Fishing Derby.

Once again, Shiloh gets tangled up in the investigation when the police ignore an entire crop of suspects to blame one of her friends. She’ll have to dig deep to find the truth, reel in a killer, and convince her city-slicker pug to wear his winter boots. But with Bellamy Farm still struggling, can Shiloh spare the time to look into the town’s fishy characters? Or will her dream farm be the next thing floating belly up?

USA Today bestselling Amanda Flower returns to the Farm to Table cozy mystery series with another exciting sleuthing adventure!

Mass Market Paperback

Expected publication February 24, 2023

Series Farm to Table Mysteries #3

Have you read or plant to read any of the books in this series? In the comments let me know the first line of the book closest to you.

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend.

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First Line Friday-A Good Dog’s Guide To Murder

Happy Friday & welcome to First Line Friday hosted by Reading Is My SuperPower It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today, I’m featuring the first line of A Good Dog’s Guide to Murder (A Paws & Claws Mystery Book 8)

And The First Line is………….

“Mom?” I was busy helping our desk clerk Zelda York handle a steady stream of arrivals at the Sugar Maple Inn when I looked up and saw my mother, Nell.

About the Book

The great Gingerbread Dog & Cat House competition has come to Wagtail, along with another murder to solve for Holly and her supersmart Jack Russell terrier Trixie in the New York Times bestselling Paws & Claws series by Krista Davis!

Visitors are arriving in droves to spend Thanksgiving in the mountains of pet-friendly Wagtail, Virginia. Many of them are bringing dog and cat gingerbread houses to enter in the contest that will be held in the new convention center. Wagtail resident Orly Biffle bequeathed the land to the town in his will, provided that they not cut down the grand old oak tree on the property. Orly’s children are mighty miffed that they didn’t inherit the prime piece of property overlooking the lake.
 
Holly notices that Trixie and Twinkletoes, her calico kitty, are fixated on the big oak tree. Trixie barks at it as though she thinks it’s a corpse! Just as contestants are spicing up their sweet gingerbread creations, the majestic tree drops an enormous limb. The mayor declares that the tree is dangerous and must come down. When a bulldozer churns up some roots, the tree falls over on its own accord revealing a body inside the trunk! Initially, everyone suspects this unsavory trick was Orly’s doing. But it soon becomes clear that someone is trying to keep the truth under wraps. Trixie and Twinkletoes now have to help Holly sniff out some suspects and leash a conniving killer.

Grab A Copy Here

Releasing Sep 6,22 Berkley Publishers 284 pages

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A Perilous Pal (Friend for Hire #2)

About the Book

Entrepreneur Emma Westlake has found that starting a business can be murder in this new Friend for Hire Mystery by USA Today bestselling author Laura Bradford.

Emma Westlake, proprietor of A Friend for Hire, finds a heart-wrenching email from a prospective client in her inbox. The email is from Kim Felder, a woman struggling with empty-nest syndrome and an out of left field divorce. Emma is determined to help get this woman in a better headspace. She suggests that Kim draft a bucket list of things she has always wanted to do in life but has not because of the time she has devoted to being the best mom and wife she could be.

Together, they fill that list (baking classes, traveling, dancing in the middle of the street for no reason) with Kim adding in some hilarious items about getting even with her ex. All laughter ends though, when Kim’s ex winds up dead via one of the “funny” ideas Kim proposed. Now, Kim is the lone suspect in the murder with Emma the only person who can prove otherwise.

Grab A Copy Here

My Review

This is the second book in the, A Friend for Hire series by Laura Bradford.
I’ve read and enjoyed the first book in this series and now this one just as much.
In this series we see a woman, Emma Westlake, at the suggestion of her elderly friend Dottie starting a friend for hire service. The service is just like what it sounds like, a woman who you can hire to be your friend to go places with you, such as the gym,doctor’s appointments, to have coffee with you or just talk if needed. Now we do see some characters from the first book in this one as well which is always neat when we see characters crossing over to another book in the series.
In this book Emma is hired by a lonely woman, an empty nester who feels like her children don’t need her any more and whose husband has flown the coop for a younger woman.
She jokes around to Emma she is so mad that she wants to kill her husband. When said husband turns up dead she is the automatic suspect. Emma has gotten to know her and doesn’t believe the woman has committed the crime.
Help Emma solve the case to try to get her new friend off the main suspect list.
I am really enjoying this series and look forward to more by this author.

Pub Date 05 Jul 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Friends enjoying coffee together

About The Author

While spending a rainy afternoon at a friend’s house more than forty years ago, Laura Bradford (a.k.a. Elizabeth Lynn Casey) fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number two pencil. From that moment forward, she never wanted to do anything else.

Today, Laura is the USA Today Bestselling Author of more than 35 books and stories. Her latest work includes A Plus One for Murder, the debut book in her new A Friend for Hire Mysteries, and the women’s fiction novel, Her New Story.

Laura also pens several other mystery series including; An Amish Mystery series, the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries, the Tobi Tobias Mysteries, and the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries (written as Elizabeth Lynn Casey). She is a former Agatha Award nominee, and the recipient of an RT Reviewer’s Choice Award in romance. Laura enjoys baking, spending time with her family, and being an advocate for those living with multiple sclerosis. Learn more at: https://www.laurabradford.com

Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend!

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A Dark and Stormy Tea (A Teashop Mystery #24) by Laura Childs-Review

About The Book

A possible serial killer on the loose sends tea maven Theodosia Browning into a whirlwind of investigation in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.

It was a dark and stormy night, but that was the least of Theodosia Browning’s troubles. As she approaches St. Philips Graveyard, Theodosia sees two figures locked in a strange embrace. Wiping rain from her eyes, Theodosia realizes she has just witnessed a brutal murder and sees a dark-hooded figure slip away into the fog.

In the throes of alerting police, Theodosia recognizes the victim–it is the daughter of her friend, Lois, who owns the Antiquarian Bookshop next door to her own Indigo Tea Shop.

Even though this appears to be the work of a serial killer who is stalking the back alleys of Charleston, Lois begs Theodosia for help. Against the advice of her boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, and the sage words of Drayton, her tea sommelier, amateur-sleuth Theodosia launches her own shadow investigation. And quickly discovers that suspects abound with the dead girl’s boyfriend, nefarious real estate developer, private-security man, bumbling reporter, and her own neighbor who is writing a true-crime book and searching for a big ending.

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS! 

Grab A Copy Here

My Review

I would say A Dark and Stormy Tea is my favorite of the books I’ve read in A Teashop Mystery series.
Once again we have tea maven Theodosia Browning butting her nose in, err helping to investigate a murder committed by a possible serial killer.
On a dark and stormy night on her way home from working at her delightful teashop ,Theodosia Browning cuts through a cemetery and witnesses a brutal murder. Because of the cloaked figure she can not identify who it was but the victim is her friend’s daughter who owns a bookshop next to her teashop, the Indigo Teashop.
Her boyfriend is a police detective so we get an inside scoop on how the investigation is going which makes it interesting,
I enjoyed the descriptions of the the types of tea in the shop,the china and the fancy parties taking place there.
Earl Grey is a great name for her dog.
There are other similar types of murders taking place at different places and times so this just may be the work of a serial killer.
Theodosia Browning’s gotten herself into a bit of hot water with her investigating, see how a teakettle and a bit of tea helps her out.
Recommended to fans of foodie cozy mysteries also teashops.
Absolutely delightful food and drink recipes included in the book.

Pub Date 09 Aug 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Gerry Schmitt, who writes under the pen name Laura Childs is now adding two more series that are harder-edged Wednesday February 26, 2014 in Plymouth. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:

The Tea Shop Mysteries – set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She’s also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn’t rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.

The Scrapbooking Mysteries – a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans’ spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries – set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe’s undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.

Thank you for visiting today. Have a wonderful day.

Do you have a favorite tea you enjoy? Let me know in the comments. I enjoy Orange teas,also lemon,peppermint,pumpkin spice,salted caramel and Constant Comment tea, plus more but I’m not going to bore you and list even more 🙂

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Death by Bubble Tea (L.A. Night Market #1) by Jennifer J. Chow-Review

About The Book

Two cousins who start a food stall at their local night market get a serving of murder in this first novel of a delicious new cozy mystery series by Jennifer J. Chow, author of Mimi Lee Gets a Clue.

When Yale Yee discovers her cousin Celine is visiting from Hong Kong, she is obliged to play tour guide to a relative she hasn’t seen in twenty years. Not only that, but her father thinks it’s a wonderful idea for them to bond by running a food stall together at the Eastwood Village Night Market. Yale hasn’t cooked in years, and she hardly considers Celine’s career as a social media influencer as adequate experience, but because she’s just lost her job at her local bookstore, she feels she has no choice.

Yale and Celine serve small dishes and refreshing drinks, and while business is slow, it eventually picks up thanks to Celine’s surprisingly useful marketing ideas. They’re quite shocked that their bubble tea, in particular, is a hit–literally–when one of their customers turns up dead. Yale and Celine are prime suspects due to the gold flakes that Celine added to the sweet drink as a garnish. Though the two cousins are polar opposites in every way, they must work together to find out what really happened to the victim or the only thing they’ll be serving is time. 

My Review


Death by Bubble Tea is written by a new to me author, Jennifer J. Chow. It is the first book in the L.A. Night Market cozy mystery series.
I enjoy reading cozies with animals and food in them. Now while this one doesn’t have animals in it it has plenty of authentic and delicious sounding Asian foods and drinks that we are introduced to including Bubble Tea. Bubble tea most commonly is a tea accompanied with chewy tapioca balls. It has many flavors and varieties but the two most popular varieties are black pearl milk tea and green pearl milk tea, fruity flavors are very popular as well.
Yale Yee and her cousin Celine, visiting from Hong Kong at the suggestion of Yale’s father run a food stand at the Eastwood Night Market. Now these cousins haven’t seen each other in over twenty years and have very different personalities
Celine has the brilliant idea to add a gold garnish to the bubble tea to make it more photogenic because she is a food influencer. It works and brings in lots of customers after this. But then one of their customers turns up dead after hours at the Night Market.
While every chapter is not nonstop action we are introduced to many characters. Are the cousins the guilty party or is it one of the many characters we meet who seem to have a motive for the killing? This kept me reading and guessing right to the end.
I will be looking for more in this series as they release.

Pub Date 05 Jul 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Two-time finalist for the Lefty Award. Jennifer J. Chow writes cozy mysteries with heart, humor, and heritage. Current Vice President of Sisters in Crime. She lives in Los Angeles, where she hunts for all things matcha.

Her most recent series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries (Berkley/Penguin Random House). Learn more about her other books at http://www.jenniferjchow.com.

Connect on Instagram and Twitter: @jenjchow

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First Line Friday-To The Tome Of Murder

I’ve really been enjoying reading cozy mysteries lately.

Join in the First Line Friday fun and leave the first line of your current read then head over to Reading Is My SuperPower and find more fun first lines. My first line today is from the cozy mystery To The Tome of Murder.

And the first line is:

Addie Greyborne swiped at the condensation on the window and pressed her nose against the cold glass.

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About The Book

Three weeks before Thanksgiving, bookshop owner Addie Greyborne already has a full plate—and a killer on her case . . .
 
Addie’s determined to turn a seemingly ordinary November in coastal Greyborne Harbor into one for the books. The windows of her shop display carefully curated works by American writers, including a rare selection of traditional holiday recipes from the influential 19th-century publication Godey’s Ladies Magazine. And then there’s the town’s Civil War-era themed cooking and baking competition, with a hefty cash prize and free publicity going to the winning dish . . .
 
But when she finds her cousin’s boyfriend murdered, a stunned Addie reluctantly realizes she may be the only person who can blow the cover off a grisly crime. With so many unanswered questions surrounding the victim’s death, Addie must figure out the strange connection between a mysterious vintage briefcase, the disappearance of a first edition copy of Sarah Josepha Hale’s famous nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and a dangerously well-read culprit . . . 


Will you be reading this book? Let me know in the comments the first line from your current book.

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