Murder for Reel (An Usherette Mystery) by Matt Ferraz

In the late 1950s, the Palladium Movie Theater was the most popular place in Emberview, Colorado. In her first night working as an usherette at the Palladium, young Katrina Stevens is excited to be starting her dream job. During the screening of a science-fiction film, her boss and owner of the theater, Don Keller, is found murdered in the projection booth. Don’s murder causes an uproar and soon the Palladium is facing closure. To support the theater, Katrina organizes a film festival to show old movies from reels that Don kept in storage. However, Don’s murderer has other plans, and unless Katrina can find out who the killer is, the Palladium––and Katrina herself––are in great danger.  (Summary via Amazon)

Murder for Reel centers around a movie theatre,in a small town Emberview, Colorado, a young girls first job as an usherette and her love for the cinema.  All innocent things.....one would think.

In Murder for Reel Katrina Stevens is starting her first day as usherette for her town's movie theatre, the Palladium.  It is 1957 and during those days, cinemas had a young person dressed in a uniform and flashlight making sure movie goers were being quiet and respectful of others while the movies played.  Katrina had longed for this job for years and couldn't believe that she was finally wearing the uniform and getting a pep talk from her boss, Don Keller.  Little did either one of them know that that was going to be the last time Don spoke to anyone.

Don was the owner of the Palladium for over 30 years and he sat in the projector booth working the movie reels.  Back in those days, the movies came in multiple reels and it was crucial for the projector operator to pay attention and change the reel at the exact moment so that the movie didn't have a gap. 

During the first movie of Katrina's first day on the job, something goes wrong when the final reel of the movie doesn't start and the audience is left looking at a blank screen.  Before Katrina can calm the audience down, another co-worker, Cindy, runs into the theatre with blood on her hands saying that Don is dead !!

Katrina fell in love with the Palladium at an early age and now that she was a part of it, she didn't want to lose it.  So she decides to find out who killed Don and why.  Unfortunately Don had a dark past that started years ago when he was in Hollywood and a long time secret he takes to the grave.......or maybe not......

Murder for Reel will capture the reader's attention immediately and you will be hooked until you read the last word.  Katrina is a very likable character and you will be rooting for her throughout the story. 
This book takes a lot of twists and turns that the reader cannot even imagine. Ferraz knows how to write the story with all the twists and turns but keep the reader focused and not lost.

I am a huge fan of Ferraz and was very honored when I got to page 12 and read "police inspector Stockwell" and when asked Ferraz said it was a tribute to me.  Thank you Matt and as I have said before....anything you write, I will read.  And I will continue to encourage others to read your work !!!


Grab your copy at :   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LYP9XRW?fbclid=IwAR0zLLopCYSrnan0iYeu6YzPLyAqMBg83ueXoVSnDWFbgIQSkBx5Pzt4W7A

Review by Missi M.

Murder on the Precipice by Penny Goetjen

 

Set in an old family-run inn on the rocky, tumultuous coast of Maine, Murder on the Precipice engages readers in a captivating escapade. Elizabeth Pennington, a successful Manhattan interior designer, grew up in the inn and is thrilled to leave behind her tyrannical boss and the big city for a few days, accepting her grandmother's invitation to return to her childhood home. Upon her arrival, Elizabeth learns a young female guest is missing in a case eerily similar to an unsolved disappearance on the property years earlier. She makes it her mission to find the girl and save the inn. But in her search for answers, Elizabeth uncovers shocking details that challenge everything she thought she knew about herself, her family, and her past.  (Summary via Goodreads)

HOLY COW !!!  OMG !!!! OH MY GOD !!

I don't even know how to start this review......  I am completely at a loss of words.  I don't know how to fully wrap my head around what I read in Murder on the Precipice by Penny Goetjen.....and I mean this in the best way possible.  Goetjen not only captures your attention, she holds it hostage !!

When readers begin reading Murder on the Precipice everything is normal....we are hanging with Elizabeth, Lizzi, Pennington, who is an interior designer with an overbearing boss, is a work-a-holic and is getting ready to go home to Maine for the Labor Day weekend.  She is returning to her family home which is the Pennington Point Inn which her grandmother Amelia owns and runs.  Her grandmother had called her asking for help thinking one of the handymen has gone missing.  Elizabeth's college friend, Rashelle, works at the Inn so Lizzi is excited to spend time with her as well as her grandmother.

When Lizzi arrives not only does she hear about the handyman missing but it also appears that a 14 year old girl that is staying at the Inn with her parents is missing as well.  Before Lizzi can settle in and unpack, she is introduced to the new tennis pro teacher and learns that an attorney is harrassing Amelia to sell the Inn and all the property that goes with it.  Lizzi also cannot get away from her overworking boss who constantly calls her looking for designs for one of their biggest clients.

While you are reading Murder on the Precipice you will be totally engrossed in the story and Goetjen takes the reader down quite a few different avenues but they will all bring you back to the Inn.  Lizzi definitely has her hands full trying to navigate everything and when the police put her at the top of the suspect list in the missing girl case, you will be shocked at what she does !!!

An old missing girl case....a current missing girl case......old tunnels underground......the lighthouse .....family.....friends old and new.....secrets old and new.....commitment.......mystery .....hurricane.......and so much more when you open this book  !!!

There is so much more that I would love to tell you about regarding Murder on the Precipice but I don't want to give any more away and I really think you should read it for yourself.  I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this book and escaping to your favorite quiet place....you are not going to want to be disturbed !!!

Review by Missi M.

Whiskers, Wreaths & Murder (A Dickens & Christie Mystery Book 3) by Kathy Manos Penn

 

Christmas in the Cotswolds. Three wise women. Two furry friends. One dead body. Will they unwrap the killer?  Or become the latest victims?

Leta and her friends are busy preparing for the Tree Lighting on the Village Green. The children hang ornaments, the choir sings, and the Earl of Stow flips the switch to set the tree ablaze with lights.

What could go wrong?

Plenty when there’s a new Earl in town. The beloved elderly Earl passed away months ago, and his American grandson has arrived to claim his title and inheritance. And he has plans—big plans.

The village is rife with rumors about the goings-on at Astonbury Manor.

Add a tragic accident and a grieving family—and the season is off to a rocky start. Can the village pull together to chase away the dark mood? Only if the mystery surrounding the accident can be solved.

Leave it to the Little Old Ladies’ Detective Agency and their four-legged sidekicks Dickens & Christie. Fresh off investigating a murder at the Fall Fête, they’re once again on the case.  (Summary via Amazon)

A cat and a dog that can communicate with their owner.....what animal lover doesn't want that ?  And if you're a pet owner, you totally want that !!  Well Leta Petkas Parker has that !  Leta's dog Dickens and her cat Christie talk to her and she completely understands them and talks back.  Leta also has the ability to talk to other dogs and cats as well.

Leta, Dickens and Christie live in the Cotswolds in England having moved there recently after Leta lost her husband Henry and she retired in the US.  Even though they have only lived there for a short time they have made quite a few friends and are adapting well.

In Whiskers, Wreaths & Murder Leta is getting ready to enjoy her first Christmas in her new home with her new friends.  There is a lot going on and everyone is in the Christmas spirit.....and they are going to a big party at the Astonbury Manor to celebrate the birthday of the Dowager Countess.  Leta knows the Dowager Countess, Ellie, from book club and she is excited to meet the rest of the royal family.  Unfortunately there is a lot of bad talk around the family. The newly appointed Earl, Nicholas, is talking about turning the Manor and grounds into a resort which will affect the family in a lot of ways.  Nicholas and his wife, Julia, are from the states and only come to Cotswold a few times a year whereas Ellie, her son and daughter-in-law, and nephews live at the Manor and use the grounds for business. 

The morning after the birthday party Leta and her friend Peter are on a bicycle ride and come across a car that went off the road.  When they get to the car they see that it is Nicholas and he is still alive.  Unfortunately he dies a short time later and it appears that it was no accident that his car went off the road.

Leta has butted heads with Gemma, the Detective Sergeant in the past when she and her friend Wendy and Wendy's mother, Belle, have investigated a few murders in the past but when Gemma outrights asks them to help everything changes.  Gemma has to go out of town for a week right after the murder happpens and she asks the "Little Old Ladies Detective Agency" to be her eyes and ears while she is out of town.  Of course we know these ladies and know that they will jump right in and uncover the truth.  

Whiskers, Wreaths & Murder is the third book in the Dickens & Christie Mystery series by Kathy Manos Penn and I hope that you are a fan as well.  If you aren't a fan, maybe you will be after this.  There is so much to enjoy while reading this series.  Penn makes it as easy and enjoyable as she can.....she starts off by providing readers with a list of characters at the beginning of each book so that you won't get confused or lost.  And Dickens and Christie are always keeping Leta on her toes and they will do the same for the readers.  And again....who doesn't wish they could talk to animals ??  And the fun that Leta has keeping it from her friends will have readers laughing out loud !!

Review by Missi M.

Roses, Wine & Murder: In the City of Steeples by Rose Young

Vineyards, gardens, fine wine and food pairings delight… 
yet, in this case, death disturbs all tranquility! 
Roxanne Samson, a sweet and sensible gardening expert is being targeted after a wealthy wine connoisseur is found dead in her city garden. Soon her friend, Georgi Algarve, a flamboyant wine aficionado and manager of the Vinho Verde wine bar, realizes both their lives are in serious danger. While trying to discover the murderer in their own haphazard way, the endearing duo, weave their way deeper into trouble when a deadly game of blackmail is played. 
New London’s prominent detective, Dan Morrison, juggles multiple suspects and a Long Island widow, as a maniac’s malevolence snakes through the City of Steeples. While Fire Chief Samson does his best to manage his concern for his wife Roxanne, his crew is called to attend to another unresponsive victim. 
Struggling to manage the escalating situation, Detective Morrison’s pressure is compounded when the President decides to give a speech at the Coast Guard Academy. Needing to solve the case quickly, Morrison presses for more evidence and finds a new perspective from the enigmatic medical examiner, Dr. Angela Storm. 
When suspicions arise, about an incognito killer traveling across Long Island Sound, Ferry Captain Matthew Griswold, assists with the twisting, turning investigation by putting his crew on high alert. 
In between all the mayhem, wine dinners are hosted by Georgi at the Vinho Verde wine bar and we all learn a little more about him than we anticipated. Roxanne tries to relieve her stress, by whipping her garden into shape, and researching poisonous plants which she finds out, are the killer’s forte. 
Roses, Wine & Murder is a thrilling madcap adventure laced with New England history, scenic vineyards, and some Coast Guard action. This is a modern-day murder mystery that will entertain with plenty of flair and foul play. 

Received 5 STARS by Readers' Favorites Reviewers! 
“The story combines aspects from different genres — thriller, historical, mystery, and crime fiction — and pulls the reader into an intriguing world. Roses, Wine & Murder has a beautiful setting, a gripping plot, and readers can’t resist the wonderful pacing. It’s one of the most entertaining books I have read in this genre this year.” Arya Fomonyuy - Reviewer for Readers’ Favorite - 5 STARS 

“The picturesque setting, coupled with the gripping plot, with wine dinners, poisonous plants, and a gritty investigation make this story a memorable one. …an exciting read, intelligently plotted and accomplished to a masterly finish. A must-read from one of today’s best storytellers.” Divine Zape - Reviewer for Readers’ Favorite - 5 STARS 

“Georgi and Roxanne, are a dazzling pair, playing well off each other with complementing personalities. There's a sharp wit, humor, and intelligence in Young's writing that will easily charm you. …a fun ride, funny and compelling, with a complex mystery of threads that slowly come together in a satisfying conclusion.” Liz Konkel - Reviewer for Readers’ Favorite - 5 STARS 

“Roses, Wine & Murder - In the City of Steeples has a little of everything for readers; New England vineyards, gardening, mystery, intrigue, friendship, crazy escapades, and is truly a book worth reading.” Trudi LoPreto - Reviewer for Readers’ Favorite - 5 STARS   (Summary via Goodreads)

Before you start reading Roses, Wine, & Murder by Rose Young, you are going to want to have a snack handy and a glass of wine closer....maybe the whole bottle.

Roses, Wine & Murder teams up two unlikely people, a gardener and a wine aficionado, to work together to solve a murder.  Roxanne Samson is married to the Fire Chief and she is on the New London Beautification Committee where she tends to gardens and flowerbeds around New London making the area even prettier.  It is while tending to one of the gardens that she comes across the body of a wealthy wine connoisseur.  Georgi Algarve manages the Vinho Verde Wine Bar and is a part owner.  The deceased man Roxanne found in the garden is Mitch Stockman, the owner of the wine bar and he and Georgi were quite close.  Roxanne and Georgi know each other because Roxanne tends to the flower boxes at Vinho Verde.

When Roxanne is mugged and Georgi is attacked they decide to work together to find out who killed Mitch and why.  The attacker seems to think that Roxanne has something that was left at the crime scene and this person will do whatever it takes to retrieve it.  Unfortunately the two have no idea what that is.

Roses, Wine & Murder takes the reader down the back road into wine country and the dark paths that a killer has traveled.  Little do the two know the danger that they are heading into and the craziness behind the killer.  This person will do whatever it takes to retrieve the item that was misplaced....but again Roxanne and Georgi do not know what they are looking for.  They do, however, uncover information that proves that they are in way over their heads and that there is a lot more to this case than they realize.......

Young has written a very captivating and descriptive story....so descriptive that readers will feel like they can smell the flowers, taste the wine and feel the sea breeze.  Luckily we don't have to feel Georgi's anxiety as well....

Even though they are an unlikely pairing, they work well together and help solve the case and all is well....until readers get to the page after the story ends and we see that Georgi is going to get right in the middle of things again in Young's next book in this series.  Hopefully he leans on Roxanne again ......

Review by Missi M. 

 

On Borrowed Crime (Jane Doe Book Club Mystery #1) by Kate Young

 

A shoe-in read for fans of Ellery Adams and Kate Carlisle, On Borrowed Crime is the first in Kate Young's new Georgia-set, sweet tea filled, Jane Doe Book Club mysteries.

The Jane Doe book club enjoys guessing whodunit, but when murder happens in their midst, they discover solving crimes isn't fun and games...

Lyla Moody loves her sleepy little town of Sweet Mountain, Georgia. She likes her job as receptionist for her uncle's private investigative firm, her fellow true crime obsessed Jane Doe members are the friends she's always wanted, and her parents just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. But recently, with her best friend Melanie on vacation, and her ex-boyfriend and horrible cousin becoming an item and moving in next door to her, her idyllic life is on the fritz. The cherry on top of it all is finding Carol, a member of the club, dead and shoved into a suitcase, left at Lyla's front door.

Unusual circumstances notwithstanding, with Carol's heart condition, the coroner rules Carol's death undetermined. But when they discover the suitcase belongs to Melanie, who had returned from her vacation the following morning, Sweet Mountain police begin to suspect Lyla's best friend. Determined that police are following the wrong trail, to clear her friend's name, and to not allow Carol to become one of the club's studied cold cases, Lyla begins to seek out the real killer. That is, until she becomes the one sought after. Now, finding the truth could turn her into the killer's next plot twist, unless she wins the game of cat and mouse.   (Summary via Goodreads)

The first book in the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series, On Borrowed Crime, by Kate Young is EXPLOSIVE !!  Young sets the stage beautifully for this series and she leaves the reader wanting more !!

Lyla Moody seems to have her life in order.  She lives in a townhouse right next door to her best friend Melanie.  She is working towards her dream job....currently working as a receptionist for her uncle Calvin who owns Cousins Investigative Services.....but really wants to be a partner and help solve crimes.  She belongs to a book club, The Jane Doe Book Club and obviously they read murder mysteries and talk about them in length.  She has loving if not overprotective parents and her Gran and her have a solid relationship.

Lyla's life is heading in the direction that she wants until she returns home and finds a suitcase at her front door and her ex-boyfriend and her not so nice cousin moving in practically next door.  Lyla thinks that the suitcase belongs to Melanie because Melanie is on her way home from vacation and her luggage went missing.  Unfortunately when they open the suitcase the next morning, they find the body of one of the Jane Doe Book Club ladies, Carol Timms.  Carol was a huge fan of Jane Doe cases and had recently forwarded some cases and a map of a stretch of road not far from where they live that was the dumping grounds for some bodies.  Carol's husband, Judge David Timms, hires Lyla's uncle to find out who killed Carol and with him out of town in Atlanta working a case, Calvin allows Lyla to do some work on the case as long as she's careful.

As Lyla looks into Carol's recent behavior, she finds out that Carol was a patient of her father's (he is a psychologist) and was dealing with a lot of paranoia.  Lyla tries to keep a level head while working the case however when Melanie is questioned and then Kevin (her ex-boyfriend living next door) gets arrested, she begins to wonder if the police are doing their job or just looking for the first person they can blame the murder on.  Lyla, unfortunately also dated the Chief of Police before and they never resolved their issues so Lyla can't help but wonder about him.....and the is Judge pushing to solve his wife's murder which adds to her concern.

I would love to keep writing about On Borrowed Crime and tell you every juicy detail but that wouldn't be any fun for you.  I highly recommend getting a copy of this book and going to a quiet corner and settling in.  I will tell you this......you will get to a point in the story that you will be powerless to stop reading.  You will have to keep reading to see how things end or get resolved.  I was thoroughly engrossed in this book and cannot wait until the second book comes out so I can see what trouble Lyla has to face.

Review by Missi M.

Peachy Scream (Georgia B&B #2) by Anna Gerard

To die or not to die? Georgia B&B proprietor Nina Fleet struts and frets to bring the curtain down on a Shakespearean actor's killer.

It's nothing short of inevitable that Cymbeline, GA, hosts an annual Shakespeare festival. But stage-struck Nina Fleet is about to learn that putting on an amateur theatrical production can be murder. Nina's anticipating showbiz glamour and glitz when a community Shakespearean troupe arrives for a two-week stay at her B&B. But the lights dim when she learns the company's director is her nemesis, struggling actor Harry Westcott--who still claims to be the rightful heir to Nina's elegant Queen Anne home.

Meanwhile, the troupe members are not content to leave the drama upon the stage. Accusations of infidelity and financial malfeasance make a shambles of rehearsals. And then, two days into the troupe's stay, the lead actor is found dead in Nina's formal Shakespeare garden. Murder most foul!

Worse, it seems every member of the amateur troupe has a motive--including wealthy construction company owner Marvin Jeffers, who seems to have a personal interest in Nina. But when the sheriff arrests the supposed boyfriend of the slain actor's widow, Nina suspects that the wrong troupe member is in jail. She and her trusty Australian Shepherd, Matilda, join forces (none too happily) with Harry to sleuth out the murder plot.

Will they find the real killer before someone else shuffles off this mortal coil? Find out in Anna Gerard's delightful second Georgia B&B mystery.   (Summary via Goodreads)


Where to start ?  Peachy Scream is the second book in the Georgia B&B Mystery series by Anna Gerard and it is as explosive with excitement as the first book, Peach Clobbered.  Readers will be unable to put Peachy Scream down.

Main character Nina Fleet is the owner of The Fleet House Bed and Breakfast and she is getting ready for her next guests to arrive......a community Shakespearean troupe that will be staying at the B & B for two weeks as they prepare for the annual Shakespeare festival.  The group will be performing the play Hamlet during the festival.  If that isn't enough for Nina to deal with the director of the group is Harry Westcott.  Harry's great-aunt was the previous owner of the Fleet House and Harry thinks that it should have been given to him even though there was no legal mention of that.   Nina and Harry decide to call a truse regarding that so that they can focus on the members of the troupe and the play.  

Before the group can begin their first practice their lead actor is found dead in the bushes in the garden.  At first glance it looks like he may have died of natural causes until Nina finds the champagne flute he was drinking out of with some residue in it that shouldn't be there.  

Nina and Harry decide to work together to try to solve his murder but the B & B is full of suspicious characters and its seems like most of them had a history with the deceased and it wasn't all good.

Gerard easily drags the reader into this story and one cannot help but get lost in it.  Readers will feel like they are an additional guest at the Fleet House and even though they are sitting in their comfy spot in their home, they will be so engrossed in the tale they will feel like they are in Cymbeline, GA.

The Georgia B&B Mystery series is a great series to escape into.  Readers do not have to pack or sleep in unknown surroundings but they will feel like they are and may even wish they were......



Review by Missi M.

Fatal Break (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries #15) by Beth Prentice

Samantha Reynolds' life in Aloha Lagoon feels like it's finally smooth sailing. She’s settled into her job as the resorts' surf instructor for children, things are looking good with her boyfriend Casey, and she has an amazing BFF in the local surf shop owner, Alani.

But when a storm hits Aloha Lagoon, Alani’s past comes back to haunt her, and Sam finds her bestie standing over the dead body of her wayward ex-boyfriend. While Sam knows Alani is innocent, the local
police aren't so easily convinced, and Sam realizes it's up to her to clear Alani's name and find the real killer before her friend ends up behind bars. Why was Alani's ex back in town? What was he doing in Alani’s shop after hours? And who is the mysterious raven-haired woman in his life and what does she have to do with it all? Sam is determined to find out...only can she do it before the real killer catches her? Or will Sam’s time in Aloha Lagoon come to a sticky end?   (Summary via Goodreads)

The Aloha Lagoon Mysteries:
Ukulele Murder (book #1)
Murder on the Aloha Express (book #2)
Deadly Wipeout (book #3)
Deadly Bubbles in the Wine (book #4)
Mele Kalikimaka Murder (book #5)
Death of the Big Kahuna (book #6)
Ukulele Deadly (book #7)
Bikinis Bloodshed (book #8)
Death of the Kona Man (book #9)
Lethal Tide (book #10)
Beachboy Murder (book #11)
Handbags & Homicide (book #12)
Tiaras & Terror (book #13)
Photo Finished(book #14)
Fatal Break (book #15)

About Aloha Lagoon:

There's trouble in paradise...
Welcome to Aloha Lagoon, one of Hawaii's hidden treasures. A little bit of tropical paradise nestled along the coast of Kauai, this resort town boasts luxurious accommodation, friendly island atmosphere...and only a slightly higher than normal murder rate. While mysterious circumstances may be the norm on our corner of the island, we're certain that our staff and Lagoon natives will make your stay in Aloha Lagoon one you will never forget!

I LOVE any time I can escape into the Aloha Lagoon Mystery series published by Gemma Halliday Publishing.  This series is unique in that the books are written by several different authors but they all focus on the Aloha Lagoon Resort which is located on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.  The books center around the resort but focus on different employees or friends and always have a murder that needs to be solved....sooner than later !!!

Fatal Break by Beth Prentice is the fifteenth book in this series and this is the third book that Prentice has written for the series so hopefully you are already familiar with Sam, her twin brother Luke and their friends.  If not, that's okay because once you start reading Fatal Break, you will become a fan instantly.

Sam lives with her twin brother, Luke, and their mother on the island.  Sam has her dream job at the resort teaching surfing lessons to children.  Luke works at The Lava Pot where he is the head cook and Sam's boyfriend, Casey, is the sexiest bartender around !!  Sam's best friend Alani whose family owns a surf shop is also Luke's girlfriend.

One night while hanging out at The Lava Pot Alani gets a shock...someone is there looking for her ex-boyfriend.  Her ex-boyfriend, Nathan, had conned her and her family out of a lot of money saying that he planned to take Alani on a dream vacation.  Unfortunately he took the money and left the island.  When Alani found out he might be back, all she can think about is the money he stole from her family and wanting to get it back.  But when Sam finds Alani standing over his body holding a paddle in her surf shop, it is clear that her family will not be getting any money from him.  And when Alani is arrested for his murder, everyone has bigger worries to take care of.

Sam will do anything for her family and friends and tracking down a murderer is top of the list in Fatal Break.  Finding out why Nathan returned to the island may be difficult to uncover with him dead but when they find out that Alani wasn't the only woman on the island that he conned out of money, the list of suspects grows.  Also Alani's old best friend, Abigail, also shows back up on the island at the same time as Nathan and Sam cannot help but wonder if there is more to the story.

Sam knows that Detective Ray Kahoalani is always on "island time" and she wishes that she could be on it also but with Alani arrested for a murder that she knows she didn't commit, she needs to step it up and solve the case......sadly the suspect list gets longer and longer as she looks into Nathan's past.....

Readers will fall in love with this series instantly and no matter what book you pick up and start, you will be adding the rest on your to be read list.  Any time that you can escape to the Aloha Lagoon Resort and the island, you will do it....and the best part is that you don't have to pack a suitcase.  You can stay in your pj's if you wish....so grab a snack and a drink and sit back and get on island time.....

Review by Missi M.