Bodies and Battlements (The Ravensea Castle Series, #1), by Elizabeth Penney

 

Publication May 27, 2025

Having thoroughly enjoyed the author's previous books, I was primed to enjoy this one from page one. For the most part, despite an unexpected slow start, my anticipation was justified. The only real issue I had was that I wasn't at all fond of main character Nora Asquith initially. Probably understandable as she is just about to open the doors to Ravensea Castle's first paying guests. Yes, in reality, romantic as a castle might appear to live in, they are expensive to keep up. As a result, Nora decided to transform a portion of the historic, supposedly haunted castle to paying guests. It's been a long, tedious process to not just ready the castle but jump through all the bureaucratic hoops placed in front of her, not to mention that her own sister, actress Tamsyn Asquith wasn't really in favor of the move. So, why is Tamsyn there? And, who is this couple showing up and expecting to stay that didn't reserve a room?  Then Hilda Dibble, a local who not only opposed the conversion of the castle but tossed repeated roadblocks in front of Nora shows up. What is she doing there and why was she in such a hurry to suddenly leave? That's just the beginning. Things begin to happen, not to mention Sir Percival, one of the resident ghosts, makes his presence known and then, yikes, the next morning Nora finds Hilda's dead body near the fountain in the garden. I'd say her endeavor to save the family home isn't off to a good start although, hmm, the dog-owning guest Nora found attractive, Finley Cole, turns out to be a detective. Well, at least he on the spot of the crime immediately.

Things get complicated fast. I won't detail the plot any further other than to say it's an intriguing mix of old world charm with the castle setting, cute pets, ghostly interventions, an endangered family legacy, shady deals, secrets and more secrets, twists and turns, and, ahh, budding romances. I ultimately liked the characters once we got into the book, even ghostly Sir Percival, who you'll warm to as you learn his backstory. They all have secrets. I'm hoping to learn more about Nora's plan to create and sale items like soaps and herbs made at the castle, too. Nora's family seems solid, albeit her father seems to fall into the stereotypical scholar/researcher/professor role while being able to spin a great story of the castle's past. Will Nora be able to sort out whodunit? Will she drive Finley nuts in the process? 

Bottom line, although it took me longer to fall into the story than expected, I found it an intriguing read and am looking forward to seeing where Nora's adventures take us next. I mean, we get to hang around in a genuine castle, with lovely gardens and a view, so not exactly a hardship. Also have to admit, I'm going to be curious where the romances lead. My thanks to #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for this early introduction to Ravensea Castle and all its inhabitants. Something tells me this series may quickly become a "must read" for me. Great characters, intriguing mysteries, fun pets, and a few ghosts drifting about. Give it a read!

Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine (A Salem B&B Mystery), by Traci Wilton

 

Publication Dec. 24, 2024

One of the most unique love triangles around. Charlene Morris has two beaus. One is Sam, detective with the Salem Police. The other is Jack, a doctor. I like them both. Only one problem. Jack is dead. Jack is a ghost. He's charming, thoughtful, and cares for Charlene, however, even foregoing the chance to "go to the light" in a past book in order to stay with her in his former home. Charlene cares for him and goes out of her way not to hurt him as her feeling for the very alive, handsome Sam grow stronger. Well, when she isn't busy solving murders.

This time, it's a demanding guest at her B&B who is killed. Dane Stallone is a photographer trying to make a come-back. He's arranged a stay at the B&B for himself and his twelve models. Twelve. Get it? A calendar but a wildly creative, artistic one. Quite frankly, the models chatter, part idle chit chat but mostly them carping or complaining about something, usually Dane, would have given me a headache in real life. Amazingly, they don't hold throttle down their feelings even afterward when the police are present. Unfortunately for Charlene, Sam isn't on this case and the investigating detective is not at all fond of her. Nevertheless, she keeps asking probing questions while trying to help the models with their problem. I won't detail that huge fear and problem but will remind you that this is set in Salem, Witch City, which was Dane's hometown. What was in those contracts? Would one of them have killed him to get out of them? Or would that have even helped? 

Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoy my visits with Charlene, even when the guests are less than ideal. At least they were nice to look at, I guess, and as their back stories emerge, I came to like most of them. Adam was my favorite. It was nice to have Avery pop in, even if she did wind up in the hospital for her efforts. Sam wasn't as involved, not being his case, but was definitely there as support and, oh, boy, that final chapter. I can't wait to see where that goes and how it'll all work out between Charlene and the "I don't believe in ghosts" Sam. And, let's not forget Silva, the cat. and housekeeper/cook Minnie Johnson who seems to be a marvel at improvising, especially for a large group that shuns calories. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for allowing me to drop into Charlene's B&B without a reservation. We do get to see how difficult, not to mention, expensive, juggling reservations can be, too.

Trouble Is Brewing (Tea by the Sea Mysteries #5), by Vicki Delany

Publication July 23, 2024

This one had everything from upscale British afternoon teas and a growing romance to dysfunctional families, lying and cheating, and scorned lovers. And, oh, lots of food talk and some delicious sounding recipes at the end, all with a bit of the Tea by the Sea touch. I've grown to really like Lily, marveling at how well she keeps herself on an even keel when it surely must feel like the world is whirling around her at times. Her sleuthing buddy Bernie (Bernadette) is a hoot, albeit a bit of a a scattered one. Actually, I think Bernie is more the enthusiastic sleuth of the series than Lily although it's frequently Lily who finds herself in danger at some point. I wonder if Bernie will ever finish writing that book, even with best selling Matt trying to help. As noted, she is scattered. She's also brilliant with finances and computer searches, both of which come in handy in this installment. And, did I mention there's romance? Lily isn't quite ready to admit it but, hmm, jealous much Lily, at McKenzie's flirtation with Simon? Sounds like we'd all be lucky to have him as our gardener.

So, on to the mystery. The first chapter sets up the tension perfectly. I won't detail the plot, the blurb does an excellent job, but it centers around the murder of Ralph Reynolds, father of the groom-to-be whose family has hired Lily and her shop to host a pre-wedding party for Greg and Hannah. You'll love Hannah and Greg. Ralph? Not so much. Actually, Ralph's whole family seems to be....well.... dysfunctional, for lack of a better word, though it's simply difficult to like any of them aside from Greg, who seems to be a gem. They appear to look down on Hannah's family, for reasons you'll discover as you read. As the book notes, definite vibes of the Montague and Capulet families. So, why are they arresting Hannah's mother, well, taking her in for questioning? If nothing else, why all the police activity about grandmother's B & B, where the Reynolds' party is staying? It's definitely keeping the other guests entertained, I'll admit. Why is Simon suddenly locking the garden shed? More amazingly, why is detective Amy so willing to work with Lily, not against? That's a definitely plus in my book as there is usually more of an adversarial quality to most police/amateur sleuth relationships. Why are people so willing to trust and talk to Rose? Who... oh, enough teasers. Read the book.

Seriously, if you enjoy cozy mysteries with strong, distinct characters, a bit of romance, lovely settings (you can almost head the lovely tinkling of the tea cup chimes hanging in the trees), a fun dog, named Eclaire, and a bit of an arc of redemption at the end, this one is for you. The tea room adds a touch of Britian to the setting, too, as does Simon's accent. Ah, how many of us ladies are suckers for a British accent? Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me over for tea. I'm psyched to imagine where my next virtual invite seems to hint it'll taking us. Now I think I'll go brew up a cup of Earl Grey.

Murder on Devil's Pond (Hummingbird Hollow B&B Mystery #1), by Ayla Rose

 

Publication July 9, 2024

How well do we ever know other people?

This is a promising start to a brand new series. I'm not quite sure it'd be accurate to say I immediately liked Hannah Solace, the main character, she's pretty intense, but I definitely found her intriguing. She's smart and does think things through....most of the time. What makes her tick? Why, aside from her sister, is she closed off from family? Her B&B seems to be struggling, so how is she able to just leave so often to pursue leads to the murder of 80-year old Ezra, who she considered a friend, even if he was always cranky and lived in an old house that seemed ready to crumple on his head just any time. What secrets was he hiding? This is the focus of the plot but, oh, my, so much more.

The mystery was complex, involving lots of possible culprits with motive. Ayla Rose did an excellent job introducing us to them, but also in weaving a bit of a mystery around who Hannah and sister Reggie were and where they came from. Each has had a rough time of it and are very different while still bonded together. We even learn that Ezra, the victim, had a far more complex, interesting life than "victim", too.  I'm not going to detail the plot, see the blurb for that, but family dramas, intrigue, divisions, greed, secrets....oh, you get my drift. Danger? Of course, this is a cozy mystery. Grin. Lots going on, both related to murder and Hannah's Solace family and past. And, hey, you know I love books with dogs and this one has a sweet older dog, Moose, who belonged to the victim and is taken in by Hannah. You'll even learn a bit about plants and flowers as well as sustainable landscaping, so to speak, so have a note pad handy if you're looking for hints. 

It was perhaps just me but I will note that I stopped reading at one point fairly early on to double check if I wasn't mistaken about the book being the first of the series. There were so many questions early on, mostly relating to Hannah and her return and relationship to others. That was both good and bad. It made me curious but, as noted, it also slowed me down as I couldn't quite figure out who was who and how they were all connected. I'm sure that will be less of an issue as the series goes along, of course, as first books in any series tend to be either info heavy or leave you scratching your head at times as the characters' actions and words don't quite make sense to you. By the end of the book I felt like I had a good handle on connections but, well, it did take awhile, which kept me at a four star rating rather than the five, which was actually rather tempting given the complex, well-fleshed out characters we got to know, albeit slowly. Also, a caution for cozy fans. This is what I'd dub a rather dark cozy with some rather grisly murder descriptions. 

Bottom line, however, an excellent start that I'm looking forward to revisiting when the next book comes out. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for introducing me to Hannah and her life in Vermont. I'm looking forward to delving into the complex lives and backgrounds of these characters, especially her old crush Noah and the still mysterious to me Ash. And, for the record, I didn't quite figure it out until the end even if all the clues were there. Let's just say, I got lost in the red herrings.

Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid (Salem B&B Mystery #8), by Traci Wilton

Publication Feb. 20, 2024

Such a fun series. I came to it rather belatedly but it works well as a stand alone. True, there remain some unanswered questions in my mind that may or may not have been answered in previous books, like why is the ghostly Dr. Jack Strathmore stuck not only on earth but cannot leave that particular property. But, in the grand scheme of things, you just accept and move along because, well, you'll quickly be intrigued. Besides Charlene, the Mrs. Morris of the title, only Silva, her cat, seems able to see him. It's rather obvious that were he still among the living, Charlene and he would make a great pair. As it is, though, his mere existence creates complications for Charlene's budding relationship with Detective Sam Holden who doesn't believe in such nonsense as ghosts and such. Uh, oh....

This book focuses on the murder of Trinity Powers, a former movie legend known for her role as the mermaid Sirena. She's been living a reclusive life for decades for reasons unknown but returns to her home town of Salem to participate in the town's new, hoped-to-be annual mermaid parade and festival. Unfortunately, she never makes the parade. Alannah, her younger rival for "most popular" mermaid does, however. Could she be the killer? She does seem self-absorbed and wasn't even invited to the festival but invited herself. Pushy much? How about her father? Their relationship is odd, definitely strained. He also seems to have turned to drink. Then there are the obsessed, over-the-top fan club presidents, so to speak. Or maybe the artist filled with angst after Trinity derided his design for the festival's collectible tee-shirt? He did take off and go into hiding almost immediately at the approach of a police officer after the murder, after all. 

Heck, even some of the fans gathered for the festival, several staying at Charlene's B & B, seem obsessed with the mermaid lifestyle. They travel from show to show, in costume, and spend big bucks for anything mermaid. Could one of them have decided to remove Trinity, the older, more classical mermaid actress as a means to curry favor with the ambitious Alannah? In other words, lots of suspects and twists and turns, not to mention side-stories.

Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and am already looking forward to the next. I felt very comfortable dropping into Charlene's world, ghosts, witches, and all. I not only liked Charlene but the rest of the characters, even her spectral friend Jack. Both make giant steps forward in their lives (can I call Jack's ghostly existence a life?), and, oh, my, so glad to see Charlene's relationship with Sam make some huge strides. I guess I can say that I came for the mystery but it's the characters that keep me coming back. Between them and the lure of Salem's history, this series is a winner in my book. Now, if I could just find time to go back and see which of my lingering questions have been long answered in past books. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for letting me catch up to their present, however.

Mischief Nights are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery #8), by Libby Klein

 

Publication July 25,2023

Welcome to the frequently chaotic world of Poppy McAllister and the wacky guests at her B&B. It's always a fun ride when you're with Poppy, full of laugh-out-loud scenes and characters who are, well, characters. Even boyfriend Gia, full name Giampaola, comes with a family that largely dislikes Poppy, especially his hot-headed mother. Even her own head cook/chef calls her names. And we haven't even gotten to this episode's guest who wears a metal colander on his head or the ghost hunters who seem to be everywhere, including outside Poppy's door when she's trying to sleep.

This is such a fun series. Libby Klein is a master at creating laugh-out-loud scenes and nutsy characters you'll like, even while rolling your eyes at their antics. Toss Halloween into the mix and you've got the scene for some wild antics and adventures. And, oh, a murder. Who killed one of Poppy's B&B guests? Quite frankly, I was half beginning to think we had a Christie Orient Express situation going because all the suspects seemed to have jolly good reason to have offed the philandering victim. Figaro the cat seemed to know more than Poppy, to be honest, when it came to solving that crime. BTW, Figaro is the name of  the author's own cat. 

As for the paranormal crew, which somehow seems an awkward adjective to describe them, will they discover Poppy's B&B isn't just a murder magnet ... or is that Poppy ... and discover a real ghost. Er, right. Another weird adjective choice. Is there such a thing as real and unreal ghosts? What secrets does the B&B hide? Will Figaro ever stop secreting objects he's "found"? And, who is vandalizing Poppy's Halloween decorations, most of which just seem to appear magically. Ghosts at work? And, whoa, what's behind the absolutely hilarious tale of Kenny's youthful misadventures? 

What...oh, never mind. There is so much going on in this book, much of it humorous but with more than a touch of romance, that teasers just don't do it credit. If you want to read a fun mystery with just the right mix of mystery, romance, wacky characters, and humor, this one's for you. Thank you #NetGalley and KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for giving me just the right dose of humor and mystery to make my day. Speaking of teasers, oh, that ending....

Death and Croissants, by Ian Moore

 Available March 14, 2023

I don't know quite what to think of this book. On the one hand, I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. I was mostly just confused. I felt a bit like main character Richard, going along without really quite ever knowing what was going on or why. It was only when my mind finally settled on an image of John Cleese's Basil Fawltry that I felt like I'd at least helped. Richard doesn't have Basil's pompous arrogance, but that sense of never quite having a handle on events seemed to work for me. Try that angle if you're not lucky enough to be immediately pulled in.

Richard is dull and boring and seems to like it like that. Despite running a B&B, he goes out of his way to avoid even eye contact with guests. He loves old movies and his chickens, dubbing his hens Lana Turner, Joan Crawford, and Ava Gardner. Then he's somehow pulled into helping the lovely but mysterious guest Valerie look for missing guest Grandchaps. What happened to the elderly gentleman? Who is Valerie? Why does she want his help? I mean, it isn't like he's much help, not to mention she seems quite competent of doing, well, whatever she wants.

I won't even attempt to explain the plot. Somewhere along the line Richard's beloved Ava Gardner is killed. In fact, unless I missed it during one of the sections that I zoned out in, I don't think we ever find out what happened to Ava Gardner. Let's just say, somehow it veers from a bloody hand print, his chats with his wife, dressing in a chicken suit, discovering neighbors who have a dungeon (and more), the mafia, a chihuahua with attitude, and, oh, so much more. I couldn't connect to any of the characters, but somehow found myself continuing to read. I think perhaps I'd segued into imagining it all as a Monty Python skit in my mind. There was humor, yes, which is probably what really kept me there, even as confused as I was about what was going on, not to mention why. 

Thanks #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for letting me take a look into Richard's world, confused as it left me. Somehow, I was not surprised to discover the author's connection to Basil at the end.

Antique Auctions Are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery #7), by Libby Klein

"Why am I always surrounded by chaos?"

Given the characters, and I do mean characters, who surround her, it's no wonder main character Poppy McAllister wonders this to herself at one point. Between her family, friends, and the eccentric bunch of guests that seem to show up at her B & B, she seems caught in the middle of chaos and confusion. Something is always going on, whether work related, like the mysterious middle of the night fire alarm or disappearing goodies for the guests, or with her employee looking like something of an Egyptian mummy due to a bad sunburn, or her boyfriend's mother's mysterious quest to keep them apart. Given the author's ability to make the chaos about Poppy come to life in our minds, I gave up trying to make sense of it all initially and just enjoyed the plot's ride.

The plot is relatively simple. Who killed Auggie and crammed his body into the armoire that Poppy had put a bid in on at the auction? The fact he's stabbed with a supposed vampire hunter's wooden stake somehow isn't the half of it. Poppy does have a way of being around when murders occur. What is surprising is that amidst all the confusion, twists and turns, and red herrings, not to mention the seance at the B & B, the reappearing troll doll, and the stuffed body left in the yard, is that Poppy manages to not just keep the B & B functioning but find time for both her boyfriend and investigation as well as her snark and sanity.

If you like your mysteries fast paced, quirky, and full of humor, this one is for you. One plot thread even adds a wisp of serious sadness to the book as we learn more about Poppy's own past. And, oh, yes. The cats. There's a feline love triangle of sorts that will have you chuckling. Give it a read.  

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to catch up on Poppy's adventures.

Deadly Thanksgiving, by Maureen Fisher

 I loved this book. Set in Canada, Maureen Fisher's "Deadly Thanksgiving" offers up both some serious moments and fast-paced action and humor. I mean, an attack cat named Snuggles? A rogue goat during a goat yoga class, goats that throw up, a guard llama, a drunken wannabe beau who shows up in only a robe one night, power outages, raucous guests, murderous guests, and, oh, yeah, one particularly hunky retired Mountie are just part of the fun. 

We learn more about Carla and her sisters, however, that isn't so much fun, including Carla's abusive father and physically abusive former husband. Kudos to Fisher for tackling such events in an otherwise relatively humorous book. Sisterly relationships and expectations are also tackled. As a result, we get to see Carla's growth and slow acceptance of ex-Mountie Hawk's efforts to break down the barriers she's erected for self-protection. He has his own ghosts, of course, that color his behavior.

Yet, it's the humor and fast paced action that dominate "Deadly Thanksgiving". Guest Roland's wannabe Lothario is an early example and things only pick up from there. Bottom line, if you love humor with a touch of seriousness, seriousness that doesn't disrupt the good feeling, give "Deadly Thanksgiving" a read. It put a smile on my face.