Scone Cold Dead (Country Store Mystery Book # 13) by Maddie Day

After a body is found in a local farmer’s field, country store and café owner Robbie Jordan suspects that a newcomer in South Lick, Indiana, may not be a stranger to everyone in town . . .

Robbie is just weeks away from giving birth. While her husband Abe scrambles to get the house ready for their baby’s arrival, Robbie makes last minute arrangements to keep her shop and restaurant, Pans ’N Pancakes, up and running when she’s on maternity leave. And it seems Robbie and Abe aren’t the only ones grappling with anxiety—a stranger is causing a stir in town and Robbie’s Aunt Adele appears unusually preoccupied at the baby shower . . .
 
But when someone finds a body in the ram field on Adele’s sheep farm, it’s Robbie’s turn to be worried. Especially after Chief Buck Bird uncovers a troubling link between Adele and the possible murder victim. Robbie has no choice but to knit the clues together and solve this mystery before anything else gets flocked up . . .
 
Includes Recipes for You to Try!  (Summary via Goodreads)

The Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day has so much to love !!  And with Scone Cold Dead being the thirteenth book in the series, there is something for all readers to love.  As with any series that has multiple books, fans become honorary members of the family, the community and the story ... and boy or girl ('cuz main character Robbie Jordan is pregnant) I have moved in to South Lick and will remain until the end.

I could go on and on about the series but let's just concentrate on Scone Cold Dead.  Robbie and her husband are expecting their first child together.  Abe already has a son, Sean, who adores Robbie and vice versa.  But before Robbie can give birth, she has to make sure her business, Pans 'N Pancakes, is ready to run without her.  Robbie has the best employees so she should be okay as long as nothing gets in the way those last few weeks.

Unfortunately, as we all know, that is not gonna happen.  There is a newcomer to town, Ivan, and Robbie meets him at the restaurant and soon learns that he is looking for her aunt Adele.  Then she finds out Adele's boyfriend, Samuel, found Ivan dead in one of the animal enclosures on the property.

Robbie also finds out that there are a number of people who knew Ivan a long time ago and there are secrets every where.  Not only is that troubling for Robbie who cannot help wanting to solve things, especially ones surrounding her loved ones, but her little bundle of joy is letting her know that they want out ... but there are still too many things that need addressing before that can happen.

Oh how I could go on and on about more things but if you are a fan of this series, you don't need me telling you things you already know.  And if you aren't a fan yet, I am holding you up from opening the books up and digging in.  Happy reading !!!

Death Upon a Star (An Evelyn Galloway Mystery Book # 1) by Amy Patricia Meade

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Be careful what you wish for . . . Introducing Hollywood script supervisor Evelyn Galloway, who's drawn into a murder investigation after landing her dream job on the set of Hitchcock's Rebecca.

1939, Los Angeles. Evelyn Galloway can't believe her luck! On her first day in LA, she lands her dream job of script supervisor, and on the hottest film in town - Hitchcock's adaptation of Rebecca. But her good fortune quickly changes when a legendary actor cancels their lunch the following day and is found murdered at home.

Evelyn realizes she could be a witness to the crime, having passed the bungalow's grounds on her way home the night before. Who was the man looking upset in a gazebo? And why was movie starlet Madeleine Nabors running wildly away from the scene?

When the tabloid reports contradict what Evelyn saw with her own eyes, she soon finds herself pitted against powerful studio bosses and unscrupulous journalists as she races to uncover the truth. (Summary via Goodreads)

Amy Patricia Meade has a new series with the first book just released. Death Upon A Star is the first book in the Evelyn Galloway Mystery Series and it is set in 1939.  Evelyn Galloway is fresh off the plane from New York to Los Angeles and lands her dream job of script supervisor on a movie set ... all before she has even had time to grab her luggage and see where she will be living.

Once it is confirmed that she is indeed hired, her boss, Mr. Hitchcock sends her to lunch and while on lunch she recognizing an actor, John Cunningham Margrave, in the canteen and they begin a friendship.  Mr. Margrave misses their next scheduled lunch date and when Evelyn gets off the bus stop near her apartment, she witnesses some weird occurences by the Alvarado Apartments, not knowing that the two things go together.

When Evelyn reads the story in the newspaper about Mr. Margrave's death, she goes to the police station to tell them that they got everything wrong.  When Detective Ziegler hears this, and they have a conversation, he believes that she was there and they share information, of course, he can't tell her everything.

Evelyn and her roommate Mary, who also works in the movie industry, hit it off instantly and Mary does what she can to help Evelyn settle in and discuss Margrave's murder.  Evelyn also meets Antonio, who runs the film value, and he joins the ladies with the investigating.

There is nothing stopping Evelyn from finding out the truth .... not getting knocked outside the crime scene and having to stay in the hospital overnight, or when someone confesses to the murder, or all the lies and stories that she hears.

Meade has the beginnings of a great series with this first book laying things out for readers.  There is something about reading books set back in time when things were simpler, no internet, not everyone had a landline, you read the newspaper and listened to the radio or went to the movies.  I highly recommend grabbing your copy and taking a trip back in time for a while .... and Meade leaves readers wanting more with the way she ends Death Upon a Star.  You will be trying to wait patiently for book two .....

Essence of Foul Play (An Aroma Wellness Mystery Book #1) by Daryl Wood Gerber

Emma Brennan may have her head in a cloud of eucalyptus, but her feet are firmly planted on the ground in breathtaking Carmel, California, as she prepares to open her new spa business, Aroma Wellness. But all the reiki, shiatsu, and massage in the world can’t help her relax when she’s accused of murder . . .

Everything is going smoothly as Emma prepares for the grand opening of the spa. The therapy rooms are painted. The sales shop and café are stocked with meditative and delicious goodies, from essential oils to avocado masks and prickly pear massages. The fountain in the Courtyard of Peace is burbling with good vibrations. In fact, there isn’t a whiff of trouble until that morning when Emma is shocked to learn that a rival spa owner has been bludgeoned . . . with an item from the goodwill basket Emma gave her. Worse, a witness is pointing the finger at Emma . . .
 
With the police treating Emma like she’s the only suspect, and the town’s anti New Age anything posse badmouthing her every step of the way, she’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Incensed by the accusations but empowered by her cousin, her nana, and her trusted Birman cat, Vivi, Emma reviews the potpourri of possible suspects, determined to uncover the essence of foul play—before she’s cold-pressed for murder . . .
 
Praise for Daryl Wood Gerber’s Fairy Garden Mysteries
 
“A charming cozy with gardening tips, recipes, and a raft of suspects for those who don’t believe in fairies.” — Kirkus Reviews
 
“Enchanting series launch from Agatha Award winner Gerber. . . . Cozy fans will wish upon a star for more.” —Publishers Weekly

“A winner . . . Fans of Laura Childs’ work will enjoy.” —Booklist   (Summary via Goodreads)

Essence of Foul Play is the first book in the new Aroma Wellness Mystery series written by Daryl Wood Gerber and she captures your attention immediately.  You will find yourself wanting to be a new resident in Carmel-By-the-Sea and as luck would have it, there may be a place to rent near main character Emma.

In Essence of Foul Play main character Emma is ready to open her spa, Aroma Wellness.  There is so much to do within Aroma Wellness, whether it is to have a massage, facial or mani-pedi, or eat at the cafe run by Emma's cousin, Sierra, or browse the gift shop.  This story could focus on all of this and be a great read but Gerber makes it better with a death ....

Emma's old college friend Willow also has a spa in town, which has been open for a few years already, and is not happy with Emma for opening up one.  Even though Emma insists that Carmel is big enough for both spas, Willow is not satisfied.  Emma decides to get together a gift basket and take it to Willow as a sort of peace offering.

Unfortunately Willow is found murdered in her spa and one of Emma's peace offering gifts is the murder weapon .... and it looks like the detective on the case has her at the top of the suspect list !!

All Emma wants to do is run her spa, make people feel relaxed and pretty, spend time with her famiy and friends, and cuddle with her cat.  But with that dark cloud hanging over her head, she is anything but relaxed.

Readers will love this book amd the story within.  You will love that there is a list of characters in the beginning of the story and it is broken down by human and fairies and animals ..... yes fairies !!  How cool is that ?!?!  You will want to stay inside the story for as long as you can to ensure that everything ends well and Emma can continue with her dream.  I highly encourage you to add this book to you to be read list immediately !!!