Talk is cheap . . . until the detectives begin questioning Alyce’s husband, Jake, about the crime. So Josie decides to do a little sleuthing of her own, going undercover to unravel the secrets of the cliquey Wood Winds wives. Hopefully she can clear Jake’s name and uncover the truth before the killer snags another victim. (Summary via Goodreads)
Tuesday 27 July 2021
Accessory to Murder (Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper #3) by Elaine Viets
Talk is cheap . . . until the detectives begin questioning Alyce’s husband, Jake, about the crime. So Josie decides to do a little sleuthing of her own, going undercover to unravel the secrets of the cliquey Wood Winds wives. Hopefully she can clear Jake’s name and uncover the truth before the killer snags another victim. (Summary via Goodreads)
Friday 23 July 2021
Draw and Order (Paint & Shine Mystery #2) by Cheryl Hollon
Appalachian artist and local guide Miranda Trent opens a new murder investigation after her Paint & Shine tour group discovers the remains of a missing hiker along an ancient trail... For her latest excursion, Miranda is thrilled to take a close-knit group of rock climbers, the Risky Business Adventurers, up the challenging Battleship Rock Trail to paint and sample moonshine. But the outing is cut short when they discover a skeleton near the trailhead. Even more startling, the bones belong to Howard Cable, Miranda's cousin...and a former classmate of the Risky Business group.
The sheriff chalks it up to a hiking accident, but Miranda isn't convinced that Howard, an experienced woodsman, died within sight of a well-marked trail. So, with the help of Ranger Austin Morgan, Miranda sets out on her own investigation and discovers that the Risky Business Group is keeping plenty of secrets. But is one of them hiding the truth about Howard's death? (Summary via Goodreads)
Monday 19 July 2021
DOORWAY TO MURDER (Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries Book 1) by Carol Pouliot
The past collides with the present in DOORWAY TO MURDER, an exciting new mystery by debut author Carol Pouliot.
With its fresh premise covering two eras that crackle off the page, Carol Pouliot introduces compelling characters to lead her series forward. Add a sharply written mystery with clever plot twists, and you have all the elements that make DOORWAY TO MURDER an accomplished debut.
Marni Graff, award-winning mystery author of Death Unscripted
Mystery. Romance. Time-travel adventure. DOORWAY TO MURDER is the total package. Carol Pouliot interweaves the past and present as easily as I turned the pages. I highly recommend this fun read.
Betsy Bitner, award-winning humor columnist, Times Union (Albany, NY)
There's nothing I like more than a time-travel tale, but how much better to get a crisp, fair-play police procedural, too. The atmosphere grabbed me. The ending surprised me. I'm already looking forward to Steven and Olivia's next adventure.
Catriona McPherson, multi-award-winning author of the Edgar-shortlisted The Day She Died
Steven and Olivia make a great couple of crime busters in this era-jumping romance and hard-boiled police procedural. Join them. You’ll be glad you did!
Steve Axelrod, author of the Henry Kennis Nantucket mysteries . (Summary via Goodreads)
Tuesday 13 July 2021
Murder at the Lakeside Library (A Lakeside Library Mystery #1) by Holly Danvers
The community of Lofty Pines starts pointing fingers at Willow, since she has been unusually absent from the library this summer. A fishy rumor surfaces when Rain learns that Willow had been spending a lot of time with Thorton. The town even thought they were having an affair.
While theories swirl about the Thorton's death, Rain takes it upon herself to solve the case to exonerate her mother. As more clues surface, Rain will have to piece together the mystery. But if she isn't careful, she may be the next to end up dead in the water in Murder at Lakeside Library the first in Holly Danvers' new Lakeside Library mysteries. (Summary via Goodreads)
Wednesday 7 July 2021
Stilettos Can Be Murder (A Lily List Mystery Exclusive) by C L Bauer
Abby drank the remainder of the liquid in her glass. She crossed her eyes. "Don't you? You can be a bit too much."
Gretchen pursed her lips as though she was ready to unload on her young friend. Instead, she laughed as she looked down at Abby. "Well, what's the point of living if you are just okay? There is never too much...too much excitement, adventure, money, or of me!"
You're never too old to fall in love or to be framed for murder! Gretchen Malloy, the fifty-something (she's not telling) elite Kansas City event planner stumbles over a dead groom on his wedding day. The police suspect the fashionable Ms. Malloy may be a murderer. She suspects the police don't appreciate her flair for the dramatic or her good taste for the better things in life. One detective knows she's not guilty, but desperately wishes he could charge the woman who gives him a headache anytime she's near.
In a race to save her business and her life, Gretchen becomes an investigator determined to discover who is framing her. Surely it isn't her former love who just happens to arrive in town at the same time? Her friend launching a political career wouldn't want her in prison, would he? Would his new wife take some sort of weird revenge on her? And would the detective throw her in the clink just because of her big hair and amazing high heels?
Gretchen Malloy, supreme snoop and who usually knows everything about everyone, is in the search of her life. She's left wondering...she may not be the only one in town with killer heels.
This Exclusive features characters from The Lily List Mysteries. Gretchen Malloy first appeared in The Poppy Drop as the ever-irritating wedding planner. High heels were her signature as she joined forces with Lily Schmidt as amateur sleuths. Cozy mysteries may never be the same with Gretchen around! (Summary via Amazon)
Stilettos Can Be Murder by C.L. Bauer is a Lily List Mystery series Exclusive...it is an extension of the series in that it centered around a character from the Lily List series, Gretchen Malloy. Gretchen is THE event planner for the Kansas City area. She has worked on numerous events with Lily and Lily's assistant Abby. They started off with Lily and Abby not liking Gretchen at all but with time they became to like her and they became close friends. However in Stilettos Can Be Murder Gretchen is on her own......
Right before a very important wedding is about the begin, Gretchen goes in to check on the groom only to find him dead...with puncture marks on his neck from a stiletto.....and when the grooms parents walk in and find Gretchen next to the body, everyone assumes she did it ....even the police !!
To save her reputation and her business Gretchen vows to find the real killer and clear her name. But everytime she gets one step ahead, the police detective sets her back two.
While Gretchen works on proving her innocence she is also helping her dear old friend Marty as he is going to announce that he is running for Senate. Gretchen is working on the announcement party but doesn't realize how close she is to the real killer.....until it is almost too late !!!
If you are a fan of the Lily List Mystery series, you will love this exclusive story as well. Readers will love getting to know Gretchen better and even though she is larger than life, you will fall in love with her. You will love how Bauer brings Gretchen's past into her present life and the explosive relationships will have readers breathless. I look forward to more stories involving Gretchen.....you know she will get into more trouble down the road but this time she will have one, or two, men on her side !!
Review by Missi M.
Monday 5 July 2021
The Hibiscus Heist: A Lily List Mystery (Lily List Mysteries Book 2) by C L Bauer
The Hibiscus Heist is the second adventure in The Lily List Mystery Series. It's not easy for Lily and Devlin to ever get together, but this time, one wrong step could separate them forever.
Will Lily's world ever be normal again? She will soon discover that normal is highly overrated. (Summary via Goodreads)
The Lily List Mystery series by C.L. Bauer is a unique cozy mystery series. If you read the first book, The Poppy Drop, you know what I am talking about. However if you haven't that is okay, if you read The Hibiscus Heist you will not be lost at all.
Review by Missi M.
Friday 2 July 2021
It Takes Two to Mango (Trouble in Paradise! #1) by Carrie Doyle
However, paradise isn't as perfect as it seems: the slow pace of island life, the language barrier, and a cutthroat office rival make Plum question leaving her old life behind. But when a client is found dead in the jacuzzi of Casa Mango—a property Plum manages—she knows she's really in a jam. With a killer loose on the island Plum will have to deal with a stonewalling police chief, a string of baffling clues, and a handsome Director of Security to solve this deadly case! (Summary via Goodreads)