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Keepsake Crimes by Laura Childs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



At lunch today I finished reading Keepsake Crimes by Laura Childs. It's the first installment in her "Scrapbooking" mystery series. Narrative is in third person pov of the main character, Carmela Bertrand.

It's Mardi Gras time in New Orleans, and Carmela is busy with her scrapbooking shop, Memory Mine. She's glad for the distraction from her personal life. Six months ago, her husband up and left her, after which his family ousted her from the home she'd shared with Shamus. Now she has her own small home along with her shop and her friends and clients. While attending one of the multiple parades leading up to Mardi Gras, Carmela and her friend Ava witness someone being removed from one of the floats due to a medical emergency. Later they find out he died. Worst of all, he was poisoned. As if that wasn't bad enough, the police question Carmela about Shamus, as he was seen arguing with the victim not long before the incident. Now Carmela is being side-eyed by those in the upper echelons of NOLA society. Determined to clear Shamus' name and salvage her own reputation, she begins doing a little sleuthing of her own. Little does Carmela know the biggest clue may be sitting in her own shop.

I found this story delightful. Carmela is someone you'd like to know in person, and the setting of NOLA during Mardi Gras was colorful, exciting, and delicious-sounding. While it was disappointing to see Carmela being snubbed by some people, it was heartening that her staunchest allies stuck with her and stuck up for her. Plot was fast paced and engaging, making me wish I had more than 15 minutes to read it each day at lunch. There was also an eye-popping plot twist to add some pizazz.

Favorite lines:
♦ In New Orleans, the only thing thicker than blood was gumbo.
♦ "I didn't know I was vying for runner-up in the Miss Slinky Tits contest."
♦ "There are lots of mechanical devices on the market today that can bring pleasure to a woman. But the best by far is a Mercedes-Benz!"

Lots of fun. I have more books in this series, and I look forward to reading them. Four stars.

( Trope Test )

The Eleventh Hour by Anina Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Have just completed The Eleventh Hour by Anina Collins. It's the first in the author's "Poppy McGuire" mystery series. The main character is Poppy McGuire, a small-town reporter who loves to investigate.

Sunset Ridge is a quiet town, or it was until one of its most prominent citizens is murdered. Poppy is naturally curious about who may have killed Geneva Woodward, and when she and her police officer friend, Derek, challenge one another to see who can solve the crime first, Poppy dives right in. In her quest to one-up Derek, Poppy seeks the assistance of Alex Montero, a retired Baltimore detective, but she soon learns he has secrets of his own. As Poppy draws closer to a killer, it's her life that may be in danger.

This was a good story. It was not as cozy as one would expect from a "cozy" mystery. Characterizations were done well, and the plot was engaging. I wish we could have seen more of Poppy doing things other than investigating. The killer was a surprise. What was also surprising is that this is billed as a "first in series", but I felt like I'd been dropped into the middle of something, which was vexing.

Favorite line: "When you stop dreaming you stop living."

I'd like to give this 3.5 stars, but I'll nudge it up to a four.

( Trope Test )

Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I finished my "spare" book this evening. It was Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck, and it's the first in the "Donut Shop" cozy mystery series. The main character is Suzanne Hart.

After her divorce, Suzanne used her settlement to purchase a donut shop in her home town of April Springs. She's moved back home to live with her mother so she can save on expenses until the shop starts turning a profit. Suzanne is alone in the shop very early one morning when someone dumps a dead body on her doorstep. The victim was Patrick Blaine, a regular customer. The police begin investigating, aided by a state officer named Jake Bishop. Feeling a sense of obligation to Patrick, Suzanne starts asking questions on her own. In the meantime, her ex-husband, Max, keeps popping up, indicating he wants to renew their relationship. Since he cheated on her, Suzanne has no intention of reconciling with him. She devotes her time instead to making donuts and doing some investigating on the side. Unfortunately, Suzanne's sleuthing has put her firmly in the killer's sights.

This was your basic cozy that included the tired trope of a romantic interest being someone in law enforcement. I wasn't on board with why Suzanne felt the need to investigate the murder. She was never a suspect, and Patrick was simply a customer. Her method of sleuthing was heavy handed and involved outright lying to several people and misrepresenting herself, which I didn't like. The subplot involving Max was more annoying than anything, and Suzanne's mother (Momma) was an overbearing, interfering busybody. Overall, the characters were portrayed well enough, and the plot made sense as it progressed.

Favorite lines:
♦ Being referred to as an item on a killer's to-do list wasn't something I enjoyed hearing.
♦ I've always been more of a blue-jeans kind of gal than a dressed-to-kill lady.
♦ "We're not trying to solve the case of the strange light in the bell-tower. This is real life."
♦ "You have the subtlety of a wet fish slapping someone in the face."
♦ "I couldn't fit into your clothes with a shoehorn and a bucket of Crisco."
♦ This man was slick enough to sell saltwater to a mermaid.

I'd like to give this 3.5 stars; since I can't, I'm going to round it down to three.

( Trope Test )

A Spot of Earl Slay by Aubrey Elle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I just completed the ebook A Spot of Earl Slay by Aubrey Elle. Mostly because I couldn't stand to watch the Oilers getting slaughtered on home ice. This is the first book in the author's "Tea Time Troubles" series of cozy mysteries, starring newly-divorced Naomi Front.

Now that her divorce has been finalized, Naomi uproots with her teenage daughter, Ella, and moves to the small town of Fayette, where she's inherited a house from an uncle. Naomi is nervous and excited. She's thrilled to be out of the shadow of her disapproving husband and his high-handed family, but she's anxious about settling in with Ella. Naomi didn't expect to arrive at their destination and discover a dead body in the dilapidated shed in the yard. Now her property is a crime scene, and she's at her wit's end until the kindly neighbor women invite her and Ella over for a cup of tea. Meeting Barbara and Ingrid has been a godsend, as Ella takes to them immediately, and they offer Naomi and Ella the use of a guestroom until their own house gets sorted. As Barbara and Ingrid gossip about the victim and who may have wanted to kill her, Naomi gets sucked into the drama of investigating. The four of them put their heads together, sifting through motives in search of a killer.

This was a charming story. I liked Naomi's moxie and grit, and Ella was the perfect combination of vulnerability and teenage snark. Barbara and Ingrid were lovely, mothering figures who were also quite funny. In between bouts of brainstorming, Naomi was busy getting her new home to rights and interviewing for a job. Characterizations were wonderful, and the narrative moved at a good pace.

Favorite lines:
♦ "That's what friends are for--even newfound ones."
♦ "A nice pot of hot tea solves any spell of trouble life can throw at us."

Delightful, four stars.

( Trope Test )

A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I finished my "spare" book this evening. It was A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley, and it's the first in her "Writer's Apprentice" series of cozy mysteries. The main character is aspiring author, Lena London.

Lena can't believe her good fortune when she lands a job as an assistant to her favorite author, Camilla Graham. It was Camilla who inspired Lena to become a writer, and now she's working with her on a new, romantic suspense novel. Lena is living in Camilla's beautiful Victorian home in idyllic Blue Lake, Indiana. Best of all, she's getting paid for this gig. Not everything is perfect, however. Lena soon finds herself the subject of town gossip after she befriends a local recluse, Sam West. Sam is under suspicion for murdering his wife, but no body has ever been found. Instead, it's Lena who finds a body on the lakeshore in front of Camilla's house. Now the two women are drawn into a mystery that seems to center on Camilla's house and a secret it may be harboring.

This was certainly gripping. In fact, there were times I eschewed my regular reading material because I was engrossed in this book. It had an almost Gothic feel to it, aided by the excerpts from Camilla's new book that prefaced each chapter. Lena was convinced that Sam was innocent of any wrongdoing where his wife was concerned, and it was interesting to see her dig into that mystery as well as the current mystery surrounding Camilla's house and the murder. Characters were portrayed wonderfully, from Lena and Camilla to handyman Bob Dawkins and his horrible son. LOL! I was utterly entertained by that: 'Bob Dawkins and his horrible son'. When Lena asked Camilla what was so horrible about him, all Camilla could tell her is that everyone in town referred to them that way: Bob Dawkins and his horrible son. What a hoot! I was not so entertained by the introduction of two potential romantic interests for Lena: both Sam and Detective Doug Heller. I am weary of the 'romantic interest is in law enforcement' trope when it comes to cozy mysteries, but I prefer Doug for Lena over Sam.

Favorite lines:
♦ Something about fall air always speaks to my soul.
♦ Nothing bonds two people so well as loving the same books.
♦ "I refuse to be self-conscious. I'm going to eat this whole giant waffle in front of you."
♦ No cat had ever lain awake worrying over some external drama.

Marvelous book, five stars.

( Trope Test )

Mystic Mayhem by Sally J. Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished reading my latest ebook, Mystic Mayhem, last night. It's the first in the "Mystic Isle" series of cozy, paranormal mysteries by authors Sally J Smith and Jean Steffens. The narrative is in first-person pov of the main character, Melanie "Mel" Hamilton.

Mel is a struggling artist who lives in New Orleans, shares an apartment with her BFF Catalina, and works as a tattoo artist on Mystic Isle. In her spare time, Mel paints and helps out with restoration work that is still underway after Hurricane Katrina. Mel's co-workers at Mystic Isle are like an extended family, which is why she gets involved when one of them is accused of murder. Wealthy socialite Cecile Elway dropped dead in the middle of a seance performed by Mystic Isle's Fabrizio, and the trail of clues seems to indicate he's the one who poisoned her. Mel, however, is convinced Fabrizio is being framed, and she sets out to prove it, much to the chagrin of Catalina's boyfriend, Detective Quincy Boudreaux. At least Jack Stockton, the manager of Mystic Isle's hotel, is willing to help, and the fact that he's easy on the eyes is just a bonus.

Very entertaining. The characterizations were marvelous, and the authors' descriptions of the various settings were vivid. I even enjoyed the dialogue that included lots of Cajun patter.

Favorite lines:
♦ I was sweating like a hooker in a front row church pew.
♦ He was sly and slick as honey on a warm biscuit.
♦ I shouldn't have dropped out of Subtlety 101 midsemester.
♦ It began to rain again, you know, like cats and dogs, except in the bayou it was gators and bullfrogs.

Loved it, four stars!

( Trope Test )

Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished reading Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott last night. This is the first book in her "Crystals and CuriosiTEAS" cozy mystery series. The main character is gemologist Shay Myers, and the story is in third person pov.

Divorced and destitute, Shay is given a new lease on life when she inherits a tea shop in her small hometown from Bridget Early, a woman she only knew in passing. While touring the shop to determine if she wants to sell or keep it, Shay discovers a dead body on the roof of the shop's greenhouse. With the shop now closed as a crime scene, Shay has time to reconnect with her sister and old friends. She also meets new acquaintances, from Bridget's dog, Spirit, to a handsome pub owner. In the meantime, a realtor is pressuring her to sell, Shay uncovers family secrets, and she begins to suspect that Bridget's death was no accident. It seems that Bridget had something worth killing for, and now Shay has inherited that item, along with the danger.

This was an entertaining story. Some things I was able to figure out, while others caught me by surprise. Characters were done well, including the unsavory characters. The plot was interesting. Shay was intimidated by the fact that Bridget used to read tea leaves, but she learns she has an aptitude for it as well.

Favorite lines:
♦ If she had been born a cat, she'd have started purring.
♦ "Family isn't always what ye were born into. Sometimes it's where ye end up."

Enjoyable enough to earn 4 stars.

( Trope Test )

Mixing Up Murder by Emmie Lyn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I finished reading Mixing Up Murder by Emmie Lyn last night. It's the first in the "Little Dog Diner" cozy mystery series. The main character is Danielle "Dani" Mackenzie, who runs the Little Dog Diner in the small town of Misty Harbor.

To support her BFF, Lily, Dani accompanies her to the funeral for her estranged husband, Ray, whom Lily had served with divorce papers. Only, Ray faked his funeral. Now, however, he's really dead, bludgeoned to death in the diner while Dani and Lily were in Dani's apartment next door. Lily dips out, leaving her at the top of the suspect list. Dani knows her friend wouldn't have killed Ray, and she wonders if the diamond earring she found in Ray's (first) casket had anything to do with it. Soon Dani, with the help of her grandmother, Rose, and Pip, Ray's terrier, is asking questions and following leads. At least it gives her something to do while the diner is closed. Dani's investigation uncovers some shady real estate deals that Ray was involved in. Lily claims to know nothing about it, but Dani isn't quite sure she can trust her friend. She's also not sure what to think when Luke, her former crush, returns to town to help his father.

I enjoyed this story. The characterizations were good, and the plot was well-paced. However, it was fraught with too many things that were confusing. ( Spoilers )

Favorite lines:
♦ If this day got any crazier it would qualify for free tickets at the nearest zoo.
♦ One perfectly plucked eyebrow shot up as if I'd just suggested that she eat a bowl of week-old lobster carcasses.

Very good overall. Would have earned a solid four, but I'm knocking a point off for all of the inconsistencies.

( Trope Test )

Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished reading Buried in a Good Book last night. It's the first in author Tamara Berry's "By the Book" mystery series, starring best-selling writer, Tess Harrow.

Recently divorced, Tess is looking for a fresh start and some inspiration when she takes her teenage daughter, Gertrude, to the isolated cabin that Tess inherited from her late grandfather. Tess is charmed by the rustic location, but Gertie is less than pleased at the lack of electricity or WiFi. Not long after they arrive, there are several explosions nearby, followed by a deluge of fish guts...and a human arm. Tess suddenly finds herself involved in a real murder investigation, and the sheriff is disconcertingly similar to her fictional detective. Sheriff Boyd is exasperated with Tess' zealous efforts to dog his investigation, but she won't be dissuaded. Soon Tess is chasing down clues and leads, adding her "expertise", and getting caught up in the local hunt for Bigfoot. If nothing else, she's certainly getting inspiration for her next novel.

This story was wonderful. Quite a bit of it was silly and madcap, but not distractingly so. Tess was a delight and someone you'd like to know in real life. Other characters were well-written, from Gertie's teenage angst and mood swings to Sheriff Boyd's taciturn disapproval. The plot was fast paced and twisty. If I have a complaint, it's that Tess was almost always engaged in sleuthing. Nevertheless, I was engrossed in the story.

Favorite lines:
♦ "I bet it's Bigfoot."
♦ She had a feeling Sheriff Boyd wouldn't appreciate that particular anecdote, even if the detective had uncovered a corrupt maple syrup mafia with the setup.
This is the second cozy mystery I've read that referenced a maple syrup mafia. Does such a thing actually exist?!
♦ "Did you physically see someone take him?" // "No, but that doesn't mean anything. I don't physically see the air around me, but it's there."
♦ "You're using an unstable ladder for the sole purpose of getting a ladder upgrade?"
♦ "If I had to take a guess, I'd say the toucans got him."
♦ People with cats could never get rid of all the hair, no matter how hard they tried.
♦ "They're in cahoots together." // "No one has used the word cahoots since 1888."

An unexpected delight. Four stars.

( Trope Test )

Fatal Fixer-Upper by Jennie Bentley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I nearly finished the book I'd taken to work, so I brought it home with me and finished it this evening. The book was Fatal Fixer-Upper by Jennie Bentley, and it's the first in her "Do It Yourself" cozy mystery series. The main character is Avery Baker, an interior designer.

Avery has the world by the tail. She's an interior designer, living and working in New York. Her boss, Phillippe, is also her boyfriend. When Avery catches Phillippe cheating on her with his receptionist, she quits her job. She's not at loose ends for long. Avery receives a letter from her great-aunt Inga, asking her to come visit. By the time Avery arrives in Maine, Inga has died. However, she left everything, including her dilapidated Victorian home, to Avery. Although her aunt's attorney recommends she leave the sale of the house to him, Avery can't help but be charmed by the home's "good bones". She hires a contractor, Derek, to do the heavy work while she concentrates on the things she's good at. Not everyone in town is happy that Avery is staying put. The local realtor is hounding her to sell as is, while her twin cousins, who tormented her in her youth, make vague threats. On top of that, Avery learns that a local professor, who'd been meeting with her aunt, has disappeared. While researching local history, Avery begins to suspect that some of Inga's belongings may be far more valuable than originally thought. They may even be valuable enough to kill for.

I found the story interesting. Characters were fully realized, even the more odious ones. While Avery did do some investigating, it was mostly in the realm of historical research. I enjoyed reading about her work on the house and her squabbles with Derek, and it was fun to meet new characters right along with her. There were some surprising twists and turns that added to my enjoyment of the book.

Favorite lines:
♦ "There were cats. Lots of cats. Five, at least."
♦ "I brought you a present." // "From the hardware store? How sweet of you!" I wondered what it might be. A pound of nails? A hammer? Some new PVC pipe for the bathroom?
♦ "Can't have people going around pretending to be Frenchmen. Not in my town."

Very good. I have more in this series and am looking forward to reading them. Four stars.

( Trope Test )