The Bush Tea Murder (A Caribbean Island Mystery Book # 1) by Ashley-Ruth Bernier

Culinary journalist Naomi Sinclair is cooking up a maelstrom of trouble upon her return to the blue waters of her native Saint Thomas.

A new cozy mystery set in the US Virgin Islands, this charming amateur sleuth will enrapture readers of Joanne Fluke and Carrie Doyle.

Food journalist Naomi Sinclair doesn’t expect a side of murder with her passion fruit juice. But when her return to Saint Thomas heralds a series of troubling cases, ranging from petty theft to cold-blooded murder, that threaten her tight-knit community, that is exactly the kind of unsavory treat she must sink her teeth into.

Luckily for her neighbors, Naomi is as adept at solving puzzles as rolling johnnycake dough—a good thing, since her island community, though small, keeps serving up plenty of trouble. With the help of her friends and her crush, Mateo, Naomi must navigate the tumultuous turquoise waters of life in the Caribbean, all as her beloved father battles an illness that keeps tugging her back to her island amid her rising career stateside.

Rich with mouthwatering recipes, lush landscapes, and a hefty dose of fun under the sun, The Bush Tea Murder has all the ingredients to make up the perfect beach read.  (Summary via Goodreads)

I'm always excited when I have the chance to read a book by a new author or a book in a new series and I had both with The Bush Tea Murder, the first book in the Caribbean Island Mystery series by Ashley-Run Bernier.  I was very excited to be spending time on an island with Naomi, her friends and lots of mouthwatering dishes and drinks.  But sadly, I was disappointed and had a difficult time finishing the book.

When I read and review a book, whether I liked it or not, I always let readers know what I did like within the story.  I want to be honest and truthful and just because the book wasn't for me, doesn't mean it won't be for others.

In The Bush Tea Murder main character Naomi, who has a television show centered around food, is approached to host a different show.  She along with another co-worker, is given a year to provide a first episode for a television show regarding a cold case murder that has food involved.  She instantly knows the case she wants to showcase so she sets her sites on that and returns to St. Thomas to begin her research, interviews and investigation.

The story goes in a lot of different directions.  Sometimes readers are back at the television station offices where she is presenting her story, then it jumps to back to a certain time in the past year.  During that time, she finds herself instrumental in solving some smaller present cases as well as the case she is working on.  

Naomi also learns that her father has been ill and she tries to be there for that and then there is Mateo, I think he is what got me through the book.  Their relationship is awesome !!

Okay..... The Bush Tea Murder is categorized as a cozy mystery and although there is no strict definition of it, the main rule of thumb seems to be that the story contains no graphic violence and generally no swearing or sex.  In The Bush Tea Murder there was quite a bit of cursing throughout.  The only reason I kept reading is that the worst swear word was NOT used.  I have been reviewing cozy mysteries for over 10 years and have had this problem less than 10 times, so I think I am doing pretty good.  However, I do know that cursing can be a turn off for some readers.

Even though I was not a fan of this book, I don't want you to take just my word for it.  Please read other reviews and maybe begin reading it yourself if it sounds like something you will enjoy.  I never listen to others' opinions when it comes to a movie I want to see and I refuse to read reviews on them so take that into consideration.

A Change in Plans (The Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series Book 17) by Mike Martin

A quiet afternoon. A deadly hit-and-run. And a case that reaches far beyond Newfoundland’s shores.

RCMP officer Winston Windflower is looking forward to a rare afternoon off in Grand Bank. But when a routine hit-and-run quickly turns into a murder investigation, Windflower finds himself pulled into something far more dangerous than anyone expected.

What begins as a local tragedy soon reveals a trail of fentanyl, money, and bodies stretching across provincial lines. Windflower assembles a team of Mounties from Newfoundland and Labrador and joins forces with police in southern Ontario to dismantle an international drug-smuggling ring operating in the shadows.

But the case turns deeply personal when fellow Mountie Fil Romano is kidnapped. As negotiations unfold and higher-ups at HQ consider granting safe passage to powerful drug lords in exchange for Romano’s life, Windflower faces one of the most difficult moments of his career. Trust the system or trust his instincts. With time running out and lives on the line, Windflower must lean on his team, his training, and the steadfast support of his family and community. Because in Grand Bank, loyalty runs deep and no one gets left behind.

In Book 17 of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, bestselling author Mike Martin delivers another compelling read with small-town warmth and high-stakes investigation, where food is shared, friendships are tested, and courage is measured not just in action but in heart.

Sgt. Windflower Mysteries
Bestselling and Award-Winning Light Mysteries

#1 Best-selling Cozy Mystery on Amazon
Winner of the Bony Blithe Award for Best Light Mystery
Silver Medallist at the Reader’s Choice Awards
Shortlisted for LOLA 2024 Must-Read Book of the Year

★★★★★ Praise for the Best-Selling and Award-Winning Sgt. Windflower Mysteries ★★★★★

“Both longtime fans of Sgt. Windflower and new readers alike will find themselves captivated by this compelling blend of small-town life and crime-solving adventure.”
~ The Reading Room

“I enjoy visiting with Windflower and his lovely family, the beautiful and peaceful area they live in and the closeness of the people there with each other. It feels like going home again each time I visit with these characters.”
~ Jem’s Books

“Martin’s detailed origin stories help readers understand the unique relationships without referencing previous novels and the dialogue feels original as he expertly captures the essence of an investigation within a close-knit community. The detective sequences will attract crime genre enthusiasts due to their meticulous attention to detail.”
~ Readers’ Favorite  (Summary via Goodreads)

A Change in Plans is the seventeenth book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series by Mike Martin and even though this series is set in Grand Bank, a small town in Canada and I live in New York in the United States, I always feel like I'm home when reading these books.  The town and the people are so familiar to me that I thoroughly enjoy my time while the book is open ... and if I'm being honest, I'm always a little sad when I finish the book.

In A Change in Plans main character Sgt. Windflower is, as always, busy with his job and his home life but you won't hear him complaining too much about either.  While he is enjoying a little alone time picking berries so his wife, Sheila can bake something yummy, he gets interrupted with a call from an employee to report a hit and run at a local Walmart.  This hit and run will eventually take him and his team into something much bigger.

After the victim of the hit and run dies, she is linked to someone in town that gets himself into some hot water that ends up boiling over when drugs and a significant amount of money is found in his house.  Windflower's team is very good at their jobs and before long they have uncovered a lot more than they expected but they will handle it like the champs that Windflower knows them to be.

Even when Windflower is under pressure, he seems so cool and collected, and residents of Grand Bank and the surrounding areas will be safer because of that.  He always makes sure of that.

Readers cannot help but enjoy this series.  Even though there are some nail biting, adrenaline pumping things going on, it is balanced out by the personal parts of the story.  Yes, Windflower could be chasing down a killer or a drug dealer, but he is always grounded with his wife and two daughters, his friends and his community.  I personally enjoy when he does his smudging and reconnects with his deceased Auntie and Uncle and gives back to the earth.

One piece of advice that I will give readers, which I probably have in the past, is make sure you have a snack handy when reading this series.  Martin loves his food and sharing it with readers.  I, for one, am planning on having fish for dinner tonight because of that.

The Long Shadow of Murder (A Will Rees/Shaker Mystery Book # 12) by Eleanor Kuhns

When the body of a visitor is found in the woods by the local Shaker community, suspicion immediately falls on them. Rees is reluctant to believe anyone in this peaceful community committed murder. And Hans Bergin arrived with his wife, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law. They had their own reasons to want Bergin dead.

But as Rees investigates, he discovers everyone, including a recent Shaker convert, have secrets of their own, some stretching all the way back to the Revolutionary War.

Who, among the many suspects, decided to take matters in their own hands? Bergin's wife and other family? The new Shaker? Or someone else entirely?  (Summary via Goodreads)

The Long Shadow of Murder by Eleanor Kuhns is the twelfth book in her Will Rees/Shaker Mystery series and regardless of if this is your first time opening one of the books in this series, it won't be your last.

Yes, all of the books in this series revolve around a murder but in The Long Shadow of Murder readers will have to help Rees, his wife Lydia and Constable Rouge solve more than one this time.

In The Long Shadow of Murder Rees and Constable Rouge are called to look into the disappearance of a man visiting and staying at a local boardinghouse with his wife, sister-in-law and brother-in-law.  They are told the gentleman went out to the Shaker community to attend their Sunday service to see the "naked women dance".

But when he did not return, they were called in to find him ... and they did murdered and hidden under brush and leaves.  

Usually, the Constable and Rees do not work well together but in this one, they will have to seeing as the murdered victim is not from the area and it seems no one living there would have any reason to want him dead.  But when another person is found murdered in the same way, Rees will look to his very pregnant wife, Lydia, to help out.  She seems to always see things the men overlook.

The Will Rees/Shaker Mystery series is so captivating.  Seeing as this series takes place way before electricity, cell phones and computers, it is interesting to see how the cases are solved as well as how the characters lived.  You will definitely finish these books having learned something and that is just an added bonus.

Muskets, Mutts, And Murder (A Samantha Davies Mystery Book # 8) by S.A. Kazlo

Spring has finally sprung in Wings Fall, New York and Samantha Davies-Johnson along with her fellow rug hookers, the Loopy  Ladies, are participating in an annual reenactment at a local pre- Revolutionary War fort, Fort Henry, as camp followers. The Loopy Ladies instead of rug hooking are doing their patriot duty and are knitting hats for veterans. A number of their significant others are among the reenactors and will be recreating the battle between the French and the British. Sam's newish husband, Hank, who is the lead detective on the Wings Falls Police and her Southern Belle cousin, Candie Parker-Hogan's husband, Mark, the Mayor of Wings Falls, are newly minted reenactor soldiers participating in the event. 

All seems to be going well until Orville Garber and Wesley Munro get into a heated argument as to who should fill the recently vacated commander of their unit, a prized position. Wesley feels it should go to him since he is descended from the original commander of the fort. Sam has her hopes on Orville getting the honor as he was her much-loved high school math teacher. 

As the day progresses, a mock battle is held. After all the musket smoke clears, a French reenactor is found dead on the battlefield. Only gunpowder charges were to be used at these events. Who used a real musket ball and why? Unfortunately for Orville, the musket ball is traced back to him by the three slashes he etches into his musket balls identify it as his. Samantha can't believe the kind and patient man who helped her all those years ago to pass math would do such a thing.

To add to Samantha's stress, her beloved dachshund, Porkchop, is behaving in a very unwelcoming manner towards his girlfriend, Nina, Hank's miniature bulldog. Can Sam figure out what has caused Porkchop's change of affection towards his BFF before any fur flies and at the same time prove Orville innocent before the real murderer targets her?  (Summary via Goodreads)

I could live in Wings Falls, I would totally fit in immediately.  If only it were a real place and not the setting of the Samantha Davies Mystery series written by S.A. Kazlo.  And with Muskets, Mutts, and Murder being the eighth book, I'm pretty sure I would know my way around this delightful town .... and I would try to stay clear of the murders and the investigations but with Sam and her cousin Candie being my best friends, I can't promise that.

In Muskets, Mutts, and Murder Sam and Candie are hanging around with their Loopy Ladies group knitting hats to go to local veterans while their husbands, lead detective of Wings Falls Police Department, Hank and the town Mayor, Mark, participate in an re-enactment at the local British fort.  They think the re-enactment of the French and British battle goes well until one of the participant's is laying on the ground when the smoke clears.

Even though the talk around the incident is that the gentlemen suffered an ankle injury, Sam knows that to be incorrect when the coroner arrives.

Sam also knows that even though she is married to the lead detective, there will be no secrets spilled during pillow talk so when her old math teacher is arrested for the murder, her and Candie will do what they can to fill in the blanks.

I cannot stress it enough how awesome this series is.  Not only will readers fall in love with Wings Falls and the businesses, but the people are a huge part of it as well.  Just hanging out with Sam and Candie at their favorite table at Sweetie Pie's or all of them at The Smiling Pig would be a treat.  And even though I am more of a cat person, I would love cuddles with Sam's dog,Porkchop, Hank's dog, Nina and Candie's dog, Annie. And who couldn't listen to Candie's southern talk all day ?

Truffle Trouble (An Amish Candy Shop Mystery # 10) by Amanda Flower

Combining the sugar rush of candy making with a fascinating look at Amish life, a quirky whodunit, and a sweet romance between chocolatier Bailey King and Sheriff Aiden Brody, Amanda Flower’s USA Today bestselling Amish Candy Shop Mysteries continue, as summer wedding season comes to the village of Harvest, Ohio…

Horror d'oeuvres

Summer is finally upon the village of Harvest, Ohio, nestled in picturesque Amish Country, and folks are abuzz over their very own Bailey King’s upcoming June wedding. The Amish Candy shop owner and star of TV’s Bailey’s Amish Sweets is marrying Holmes County Sheriff Aiden Brody. To sweeten the occasion will be a scrumptious giant chocolate truffle wedding cake, made especially for the happy couple by Bailey’s New York City mentor, Jean Pierre. Other than the risk of the ring bearer, Jethro the pig, taking a bite out of the confection, what could go wrong?

As it turns out, a food-related disaster does befall the day. But with Bailey in the mix, it’s nothing so pedestrian as a peckish pig. At the reception, a wedding guest dies after sampling the hors d'oeuvres. Café owner and new caterer Darcy Woodin, who made all the food except the desserts, is pegged by police as the number one suspect. Even more incriminating, the victim is one of Darcy's ex-boyfriends . . .

Still, Bailey is friends with Darcy, and she’s certain the young woman is innocent. Even before the first dance with her new husband, Bailey’s on the case. Can she help solve it in time for her honeymoon—or will a killer try to end her happily ever after before it’s even begun . . .?

Recipe included!   (Summary via Goodreads)

The Amish Candy Shop Mystery series by Amanda Flower is a great series to get lost in, there is so much to love, and with Truffle Trouble being the tenth book in the series, I think you are guaranteed a good read !!

In Truffle Trouble Bailey and Aiden are finally getting married and everyone is invited !!  Harvest Square is going to be the place to be, for all of Harvest, Ohio.  Not only are friends and family invited but the English and Amish communities are invited as well.  And with Bailey as popular as she is and Aiden being the County Sheriff, it is going to be the event of the year.

Unfortunately, that is not true when Bailey goes into the kitchen and finds the caterer, and her friend, Darcy, standing over a dead body ..... on Bailey's wedding day !!

Obviously, the newlyweds postpone their honeymoon so that Aiden can work the case.  Luckily, they didn't go on their trip because Bailey finds her grandmother collapsed on the floor of the candy shop the next day.  

There is so much going on that I cannot imagine Bailey being able to think straighten, especially when she is roped into helping with the Summer Soiree which is scheduled for later in the week when she should be on her honeymoon.  She does it only because it gives her a chance to talk to the people involved seeing as the murdered victim was one of winery owners as well as a participant on the event.

Every time Bailey thinks that she has narrowed the suspect list down she finds out something else about someone and that adds to the list.  However, she is determined to find out who killed Jason and clear her friend's name.

Readers cannot help but love this series. With the characters, the town, the Amish and English communities working together and the animals, Jetro especially, will pull you in !!  Once you start reading, you will not want to stop ... my advice to you is make sure you have chocolate on hand.

Death On Location (Sam Lawson Mystery series Book # 5) by David K. Wilson

Entertaining, funny and suspenseful, Death on Location is the fifth installment in the popular Sam Lawson Mystery series by David K. Wilson.

When the alligator-eaten remains of an 80s TV star are discovered while filming a movie in the East Texas swamps, local detective Sam Lawson is hired to find out if the actor was just an unfortunate midnight snack or the victim of murder.

However, the producer who hired Sam has a plot twist of his own. He insists that one of the movie’s actors shadow Sam to see how a real detective works. Josh Cole, known for his straight-to-cable romantic comedies and aww-shucks personality, is eager to learn and Sam soon finds he can use his celebrity status to his advantage. The two soon form an unlikely partnership that has them investigating beautiful actresses, a giant Bigfoot and a local drug kingpin. From alligator-infested swamps to a Dallas strip club, Sam and Josh retrace the victim’s final days in hopes of shining a spotlight on the murderer.

But while Sam is busy solving this murder, a serial killer from his past is lurking in the shadows… with his eye on Sam’s fiancé.  (Summary via Goodreads)

Death on Location by David K. Wilson is the fifth book in the Sam Lawson Mystery series and you cannot help but love the main character and with him switching from being a police officer to a private investigator will have you loving him more ... if that is possible.

In Death on Location Sam is hired by the producer of a movie that is filming in the area when one of the actors is found dead.  The body, or parts of the body after what looks like an alligator attack, is found on site where the movie is being filmed and the producer wants it solved immediately.  So, even though Sam's old co-workers are on the case, he is hired.  Unfortunately, Sam is provided a "partner", Josh Cole another actor from the movie.  Josh has always done romance movies, and this is his first as a detective.

Even though they are an unlikely pair, they work together well and play off each other's weaknesses.  And when the police make an arrest on the case, Sam can't help but feel that they are wrong, so he and Josh still investigate.  Luckily, they do or the real killer would have gotten away .....

There is more going on in Sam's life also that keeps interfering, but he is able to stay on course and work everything out even when the other case he is working on takes a turn .....

The Sam Lawson Mystery series is a captivating series to get hooked on, there is so much to love.  Even though Sam can be rough at times, you know he is focused and determined and cares which makes you love him more.  I highly recommend grabbing your copy and digging in.

A Scoop of Deceit (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mystery series Book 7) by Lena Gregory

 From author Lena Gregory comes another decadently delightful cozy mystery ...

Spring has finally sprung on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York, and Danika Delaney is ready to take a break from running her old-fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, to help her mom start planting for the season. With visions of colorful tulips and delicate daffodils in mind, Danika and her mother browse through the local garden center, where they can’t help but notice a confrontation between out-of-towner Sebastian Krane and the local cashier. Unfortunately, as Krane storms off, aggravated and not paying attention, he hops into his BMW, and crashes right into Mrs. Delaney as she’s backing up in her borrowed pickup truck. As if that weren't enough to put a damper on her sunny mood, Krane then has the nerve to file a lawsuit against her. But when Dani shows up at his mansion to try to straighten things out, she finds him dead, with a knife in his back. Apparently, someone had it out for Sebastian. Someone other than her mother. A fact Dani she sets out to prove with the help of her sidekicks, Gwen and Eli, wading through a slew of shady suspects from the victim's stormy past. Can Dani clear her mother's name and find the truth behind Krane's murder? Or will Dani be in danger of pushing up daisies herself this spring?

What critics are saying about Lena

"Readers are going to fall in LOVE. I can tell you right now that this series is going to be a huge success!!!"
~Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

"I didn’t want it to end!"
~Kings River Life Magazine

"Author Lena Gregory sure didn’t disappoint. She cooked up a tale so tasty I devoured it!"
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews   (Summary via Goodreads)

A Scoop of Deceit is the seventh book in the Coffee & Cream Cafe Mystery series by Lena Gregory and seeing as this is a cozy mystery series, I would like to talk about some other things within this book and series.

In this series you have main character Danika, Dani, her enormous family, her tight circle of friends, the business her uncle gave to her to run, the adorable town they all live in and a dreamy detective.

Dani has taken over her uncle Jimmie's ice cream shop and turned it into Coffee & Cream Cafe serving ice cream and tasty coffee drinks.  Even though Uncle Jimmie "retired", he still spends a lot of time there allowing Dani to hang out with her best friends, Eli and Gwen.  And with Eli dating Dani's sister Meghan, they are getting closer.  Plus, it helps when the friends have sleepovers, Meghan usually makes a killer dinner .... because, yeah, they are most likely discussing the latest murder in their little town.  Another thing that is great with this series is that no matter what is going on on Sunday, the entire family, and it is big, along with some friends, all gather at Dani's mom's house for Sunday dinner.

Now in A Scoop of Deceit Dani goes with her mom and aunt to the local garden center to pick up plants for Dani's mom to plant. Unfortunately, as they leave, they are involved in a car accident with a gentleman who isn't very nice.  Even though they know it was his fault, he threatens to sue.  Luckily no one was hurt but the next day when Dani goes to Mr. Krane's house to try to talk him out of suing her mom, they find him dead, with a knife in his back.

And once Dani, Eli and Gwen start looking into Mr. Krane and his life, they realize the suspect list is longer than you could imagine and they find it hard to feel sorry for him. And even though dreamy detective Jake keeps telling Dani to leave the investigating to him, she still gets in hot water .... but for a good reason.

I would read this series without the murders and Dani working the cases, but there would have to be a reason for the detective's presence, he has to be there.  This series could easily be a romance series .... I would be all for that !!  But I'll stick with it as a cozy mystery series as it is intended.