HAPPY BIRTHDAY Edgar Allan Poe from The Wicked Cozy Authors

As a tribute to EDGAR ALLAN POE members of the Wicked Cozy Authors put together a short story anthology !!!!

When cozy mystery writers meet Edgar Allan Poe, the result is Edgar Allan Cozy. Each story in this suspenseful new anthology is inspired by the work of Poe. "The Raven," "The Lighthouse," "MS. Found in a Bottle," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "Annabel Lee" have been updated and set in the fictional town of Raven Harbor, Maine. Edited by Sadie Hartwell.

Just $2.99 for Kindle OR  FREE for Kindle Unlimited subscribers  !!  Either way it's a MUST READ if you are a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, any of the Wicked Cozy Authors or like me a fan of ALL of them !!!

Get your copy today .......  Edgar Allan Cozy. 


Three Wickeds and two accomplices update Poe stories, all set in fictional Raven Harbor, Maine. Head on over to their webpage and read about how it happened!

http://wickedcozyauthors.com/

A Mother's Day Murder by Dee Ernst

Mt. Abrams was the kind of small, quiet town where, as any of its residents would tell you, nothing ever happened. That was why Ellie Rocca loved living there, even if her ex-husband did not.

But even small towns had secrets, as Ellie discovered when Lacey Mitchell suddenly disappeared. Ellie caught Lacey’s husband in a lie, and one small discovery led to another until it became apparent that nothing about the Mitchell’s was quite what it seemed. 

Mother’s Day was just around the corner. With a sexy detective on the case, and Ellie and her friends getting closer to the truth, can Lacey Mitchell be found in time to enjoy the day with her sons? Or was something more deadly going on?  (summary via Goodreads)


I LOVED this novella, the first book in the new series by Dee Ernst.  You cannot help but get lost in the story, so much that you might be done with it before you know it.

 You will fall right into step with Ellie and her friends as they walk around the lake in the quaint little town of Mt. Abrams.  You will get so caught up in the story and the people that you will feel like you are right there with them as they try to find out where their neighbor Lacey went, why she would leave her two sons behind and why her husband is acting stranger than usual.

Even though this is a novella, it has a lot going on !!  It is a GREAT start to a new series you will want to follow.  Dee Ernst has a way of grabbing your interest right away and has a knack for opening the readers imagination.  I did not want to leave Mt. Abrams but I know that before long I will be back there walking with Ellie and the rest of them !!!

Review by Missi S.

Karma's a Killer (A Downward Dog Mystery #3) by Tracy Weber

When Seattle yoga teacher Kate Davidson agrees to teach doga (yoga for dogs) at a fundraiser for a local animal rescue, she believes the only damage will be to her reputation. But a few downward-facing dogs are the least of Kate’s problems when an animal rights protest at the event leads to a suspicious fire and a drowning.

The police arrest a woman claiming to be Kate’s estranged mother and charge her with murder. To prove her innocence, Kate, boyfriend Michael, and German shepherd sidekick Bella dive deeply into the worlds of animal activism, organizational politics, and the dangerous obsessions that drive them. All while discovering that when it comes to murder, there’s no place like hOMe.  (summary via Goodreads)

Tracy Weber's Downward Dog Mystery series gets better with every new book and Karma's A Killer definitely keeps you going !!  

Everyone talks about the murder and the mystery, I want to mention the ending. Tracy has a unique way of ending the book and leaving the reader with such hope and longing with a touch of confidence.  Yes the murder is solved and the mystery is over and the way Kate gets there is amazing.  You again see the developing relationship between Kate and Michael, you witness the strong friendship bond between Kate and Rene and, of course, the love everyone showers Bella with.    

But in Karma's A Killer you meet Kate's mother, Dharma, or as she called her the egg donor.  She hasn't seen or heard from her mother in 30 years but during a fund raiser for a local animal shelter, her mother is with the animal rights protest group who storms the scene.  If that isn't bad enough someone is found drowned in the lake and Dharma is the prime suspect.  Does Kate walk away like her mother did decades ago or does she do what her father taught her and help her mother ?

As always the story is captivating from the beginning and as the story progresses you get swept away.  But its the ending that will keep you a fan of Tracy Weber and her Downward Dog Mystery series.  There is no way you can just set the book down after reading the last page and be done.  If you find that you can do that, and not care if you read the next book, you are truly an amazing person and I bet you can eat only one Lay's potato chip. 

Crime and Poetry (Magical Bookshop, #1) by Amanda Flower

Rushing home to sit by her ailing grandmother’s bedside, Violet Waverly is shocked to find Grandma Daisy the picture of perfect health. Violet doesn’t need to read between the lines: her grandma wants Violet back home and working in her magical store, Charming Books. It’s where the perfect book tends to fly off the shelf and pick you...

Violet has every intention to hightail it back to Chicago, but then a dead man is discovered clutching a volume of Emily Dickinson’s poems from Grandma Daisy’s shop. The victim is Benedict Raisin, who recently put Grandma Daisy in his will, making her a prime suspect. Now, with the help of a tuxedo cat named Emerson, Violet will have to find a killer to keep Grandma from getting booked for good. (Summary via Goodreads)

I am in love with this new series! Amanda Flower has outdone herself with this amazing, magical town of Cascade Springs. I couldn't put it down. You will love each and every character in this book, they are quirky and fun.
In this first book Violet receives a scary call from her grandma Daisy that she is dying. Of course Violet drops everything in Chicago to rush to her grandma's side. She has been away from Cascade Springs for 12 years and had no intention of ever coming back. When Violet arrives she is shocked but happy to see that her grandma is in perfect health. She only said that she was dying to get Violet to come back home to take her place as caretaker to Charming Books. Not only is she told this she is told that the books will talk to her and guide her with everything she will need. Vi doesn't know what to think at this point! She's not sure if she should call a Dr and have her grandma committed or what??? Vi is just not buying the whole talking book thing.
But when one of Daisy's friends ends up murdered in front of the bookstore she becomes the prime suspect. Vi vows to stay and clear her grandma.
Will Vi be able to clear Daisy of murder and believe in magic at the same time? Or will her past come back to haunt her and block everything?
There are tons of twists and turns in this new series as well as some great animals. I love Faulkner the crow and of course Emerson the adorable tuxedo cat. I believe that every magical bookstore should have a cat.
If it's murder, mystery, suspense, and magic you are looking for you don't want to miss this new series. I can't wait for it to continue.

Review by Penny M.

Last Dance (Sharyn Howard Mystery #1) by Joyce & Jim Lavene

When the prom queen is found brutally murdered, Sheriff Sharyn Howard recalls that a similar murder occured on the night of her prom ten years ago. her father was the sheriff of Diamond Springs and the man he sent to prison for the murder now sits on death row awaiting his execution. But, Sharyn's convinced there are too many similarities between the two murders and that the true killer is still at large.  (summary via Goodreads)


Sharon Howard takes over being Sheriff of Diamond Springs, a position held by her father and grandfather.  When a student is found dead in the school parking lot the morning after the prom, the Sheriff cannot help but notice similarities to a case from 10 years ago when her father was Sheriff.

Throughout the investigation Sharon cannot shake the feeling that they are missing things and things just don't add up.  Against everybody's advice, she reopens the 10 year old case of  Leila Bentley's death even though a man is on death row charged with her murder.  With the help of the coroner, Nick, they convince the others that it is worth looking into.  Even when they pick up an employee from the school for the murder of Carrie Sommers, the Sheriff is still not convinced.

You will LOVE this book,  The story is well written and captivates you as soon as you begin reading it.  You will keep like you are a resident of Diamond Springs who wants justice for the 2 murders.

Review by Missi S.

Book Review: To Helvectica and Back (A Dangerous Type Mystery #1) by Paige Shelton

Star City is known for its slopes and its powder. But nestled in the valley of this ski resort town is a side street full of shops that specialize in the simple charms of earlier eras. One of those shops is the Rescued Word, where Chester Henry and his adult granddaughter Clare lovingly repair old typewriters and restore old books. Who ever thought their quaint store would hold the key to some modern-day trouble? 

When a stranger to town demands they turn over an antique Underwood typewriter they’re repairing for a customer, Clare fears she may need to be rescued. A call to the police scares the man off, but later Clare finds his dead body in the back alley. What about a dusty old typewriter could possibly be worth killing for? [summary via Amazon]

In Paige Shelton's new series she introduces her readers to a new cozy today, with its own eclectic residents and a mystery that will confound even the most seasoned mystery reader!

In Star City, Clare works side-by-side with her grandfather, Chester Henry, helping repair typewriters in his store, The Rescued Word. It's a interesting job, especially as Chester has built up the business to include book repair, printing presses and selling beautiful stationery. Clare enjoys her job, but when a mysterious, difficult stranger appears in the store and demands he sell her the Underwood typewriter she is repairing for a long-time customer, things start get interesting. They take a turn for the worse when the strange man ends up dead - in the alley behind her grandfather's shop!! Like any good amateur sleuth, it's time to solve a mystery!!

I was captivated with this story from the first page to the last. I've enjoyed every mystery I've read by Paige Shelton. She has the ability to write a fantastic story, that draws readers in, ensuring they abandon housework (who wants a perfect house anyway?) just so that you can find out who the murderer is. She definitely did just that with To Helvectica and Back. 

The mystery was interesting, and I enjoyed trying to solve it alongside Clare. However, I found The Rescued Word as equally fascinating, adding to my overall enjoyment of the book. Beyond the typewriters, they also repair books.Clare is asked to repair a page in a early edition of  a Tom Sawyer book and I found the process she undergoes really fascinating. This one book leads her to meet geologist named Sean, who Clare ends up going on a date with!

Paige Shelton has hit it out of the park with her first book in the Dangerous Type Mysteries. A cute, cozy town, a tantalizing mystery and a little romance thrown in, makes me eager to return to Star City again for another mystery.

Purchase at Amazon.

Baked to Death (Cookies & Chance Mystery #2) by Catherine Bruns

Baker turned reluctant amateur sleuth, Sally Muccio’s, finally found the happiness that’s eluded her for years. She’s in love with a great guy, her bakery is thriving, and now she and her best friend Josie Sullivan are gearing up to appear on the popular reality baking show, Cookie Crusades. But a visit from Sal’s greedy ex-husband Colin, who's looking to cash in on the bakery’s dough, changes everything. Within a few hours Sal’s world—like the shop’s original fortune cookies—is broken apart when Colin turns up dead, and her boyfriend’s arrested for the crime. Now Sal’s mixing it up with vengeful ex-inlaws, a suspicious new employee, slippery baking competitors, and a greasy mobster who’ll stop at nothing to collect on Colin’s unpaid debt. Can Sal prove her man is innocent in time? Or is she about to get baked herself?  (Summary via Goodreads)

I cannot say enough good things about Catherine Bruns and her Cookies & Chance Mystery series.  Baked to Death is the 2nd book in this series and its even better  than the first book, Tastes Like Murder.  
Things are going pretty good in Sally's life. Her bakery is doing well, the bakery is in a baking competition in Florida, she is finally divorced from her lowlife husband, Colin and she is with the man she is suppose to be with, her high school sweetheart.  Everything is going smoothly until Colin shows up in town demanding money, gets in a bar fight and is found dead the next morning.  After the police arrest Sally's boyfriend, she will do anything to clear his name.  She even does some snooping around when her and Josie are in Florida competiting in the bakery contest.  The only thing Sally walks away with is that Colin had a lot of enemies and cheated on everyone, not just her.  
To really appreciate the story you really need to sit down in a comfy chair and get lost in the book.  Catherine will have you reading faster than you ever thought you could read, you will be sitting up straighter as you get towards the end as things unfold, and you won't be paying attention to anything around you as the killer gets closer......
And if you're not sure about this series yet, the LAST line of the book will make your decision for you ! ! 

Review by Missi



 I couldn't put Baked To Death down. I love how this series is progressing. This book moves at the perfect pace to get to know all of the characters and each of the lives they lead.
This book starts out with Sal in a great place in her life. Her bakery is becoming the place to go for the best cookies. She is finally getting her love life in order, maybe she has to decide between two great guys and maybe a third??? And she and Josie have been selected to be contestants on "Cookie Crusades" that is filmed in Florida with a grand prize of $20,000. This would be awesome for business and possibly help expand. 
This is where the clock strikes midnight on the Cinderella story for Sal! Her ex husband Colin shows up drunk demanding half of her bakery, they get bambozuled by a new hire that turns out to be a spy! Then Sal takes out Josie and her hubby to celebrate Josie's birthday and Colin shows up. He ends up trying to hurt Sal! If all this isn't enough to make your head spin Colin ends up murdered. Yikes!!! What is Sal going to do? She has to find a way to clean up Colin's mess with the mob before she becomes the next victim.
The more I read this series the more I fall in love with the characters. They are so down to earth and believable. We all have a Josie in our lives and hopefully a Handsome man. All this being said I have to admit my favorite character is Grandma Rosa. She totally rocks! She is not only wise but she is hilarious. I almost think she has a gift for fortune telling that the family doesn't know about. She gives the perfect advice at the perfect time. Just like the Fortune Cookies??? I am eager to watch if and when Sal let's go of the past and starts to live again.

Review by Penny M.