Marsupials Are Murder (Merry Wrath Mysteries Book # 34) by Leslie Langtry

From USA Today bestselling author Leslie Langtry comes a murder mystery as wild as the Outback...

Merry Wrath's troop is going Down Under! When young Mayor Ava of Who’s There, Iowa gets a call for help from Mayor Sheila of their sister city in Doover, Australia, the girls in the troop waste no time in packing their bags for a trip halfway around the world—of course, with their fearless ex-CIA agent turned Girl Scout leader, Merry Wrath, in tow. Merry thinks this is a great opportunity to see another part of the world with the girls and her more-than-slightly-koala-obsessed co-leader, Kelly.

Met by Sheila, her Girl Guide troop, and a few kangaroo bodyguards, Ava and the girls get to work to help the mayor fight her obnoxious City Council. While the girls assist Sheila, Merry and Kelly plan to spend the time looking for koalas and taking in the sites of the Blue Mountain town in New South Wales. Being in another hemisphere, what could possibly go wrong?

Unfortunately, even halfway around the world, Murder Magnet Merry lives up to her reputation, when one of the council members' bodies is found in the bush. To make things worse, the police think Mayor Sheila is the murderer! Merry and the gang race to find a dangerous killer before they have to go home and Sheila goes to jail!

What critics are saying about Leslie Langtry's

"I laughed so hard I cried on multiple occasions! Girl Scouts, the CIA, and the Yakuza... what could possibly go wrong?"
~ Fresh Fiction

"Darkly funny and wildly over the top, this mystery answers the burning question, 'Do assassin skills and Girl Scout merit badges mix…?'"
~ RT BOOKreviews

"Mixing a deadly sense of humor and plenty of sexy sizzle, Leslie Langtry creates a brilliantly original, laughter-rich mix of contemporary romance and suspense."
~ Chicago Tribune

"Langtry gets the fun started from page one."
~ Publisher's Weekly    (Summary via Goodreads)

I don't know how Leslie Langtry does it but with Marsupials Are Murder being the thirty-fourth book in her Merry Wrath Mystery series, she does it !!  She definitely brings it every time !!!  And fans are going to love this one .... Merry, her best friend Kelly, and their girl scout troop and mayor are heading down under !!!

Thirteen year old Ava is the mayor of Who's There, Iowa, and her friends consist of her girl scout troop as well as her council and they have unbelievable skills that will amaze you.  Ava has been in contact with Mayor Sheila from their sister city in Doover, Austrailia and they have organized a trip to go and help Sheila and her council.

Unfortunately even though they are far away from home and their track record of solving murders in their home state, they will find themselves in the middle of another murder case.  When they are on a bush walk, Merry and Sheila find the body of Seb Butcher, a member of the city council.  Even though it looks like it might just be an innocent death, Merry and Kelly know better and begin to organize things. Then when Sheila is brought in and arrested for the murder, they all pitch in to prove her innocence.

With having thirty-four books published in one series, you know that this is something worth looking into.  I, to be honest, came into the series not that long ago but if I could I would definitely go back and read all of the previous books because you know they would be a hoot !!!

Books & Bribes (A Book Store Cozy Mystery Book # 1) by Lucinda Race

Enjoy this clean, paranormal cozy mystery by award winning and bestselling author, Lucinda Race.

In a small town like Pembroke, Maine, everyone has something to hide. But when bookstore owner Lily Michaels takes a tumble and hits her head, and her cat Milo starts talking to her, she discovers she has something to hide, too. She’s a witch, and Milo is her familiar. And she’s not the only one in town. Lily has been hiding something else, too. Even though she’s always kept Gage Erikson in the friend zone, her feelings for the man Milo calls Detective Cutie go a lot deeper than she’s willing to admit.

Gage has a secret too. He’s always had a crush on Lily. But if he gives into his feelings, it might mess up the wonderful friendship they have. With his cowboy boots and cherry red pickup truck and knack for just letting folks talk, people might underestimate just how good a detective Gage actually is. But is he good enough to discover all of Lily’s secrets?

Somebody in Pembroke knows a lot about the secrets people are keeping, and isn’t above a little blackmail. While Lily struggles with learning how to be a witch, she works with Gage to uncover the truth, and a new kind of magic develops between them. Will they continue to be just friends, or will they finally admit to the secret love they’ve been hiding?

Books and Bribes is the first novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as standalone. A sweet and clean cozy mystery with a guaranteed the culprit is caught. Happy reading!  (Summary via Goodreads)

Books & Bribes is the first book in the Book Store Cozy Mystery series by Lucinda Race and from the moment you start reading this book, you will be hooked !!  Race knows how to get you invested immediately !!!

In Books & Bribes readers are introduced to main character Lily right after a dusty book falls off a shelf in her bookshop.  It knocks her out briefly and  when she comes to she finds out that she can understand her cat Milo.  And then he informs her that she is a witch !!  

Now if that doesn't keep you turning the pages, hold on......

Before Lily can thoroughly grasp all that, she has to get to the library for movie night.  Unfortunately before movie night gets underway, she and those that are gathered for the movie, hear a scream and Lily recognizes it as her Aunt Mimi.  When they get to where Aunt Mimi is, they find her standing over the body of the mean librarian Flora .... holding the murder weapon !!!

Still need more convincing .....

The detective on the case is Gage who Lily has secretly loved forever and Gage feels the same way but neither is willing to chance their friendship by admitting their true feelings.  Oh and Gage has Aunt Mimi on the top of the suspect list so Lily decides she will investigate the murder herself ..... lots of tension there but fun for the reader !!!!

And the last thing I will share with you because I am pretty confident that you don't need more convincing but will give you like a bonus tidbit ..... Race provides most chapters in Lily's "voice" but every so often she gives you a glimpse of what in going through Gage's mind also.

Books & Bribes is a fun read with a captivating tale that is paving the way for the future books in the series.  I am totally a fan and cannot wait to see where the next book takes me ......