A Murder at Midnight, by Ellie Alexander

 Publication October 13, 2026

It sounded like a win-win. The chance to host the popular reality show "Sleeping With the Spirits" was an opportunity to not only bring in new customers but immediately add a tidy sum to the Secret Bookcase shops' bank accounts. Although Annie initially hesitated, the enthusiasm of her team for the idea quickly convinced her. After all, Halloween is quickly approaching. The cast and crew of the show would record an episode of the show overnight at the bookshop and provide guests with a special "haunted tour". 

Only one problem. Well, actually there were many problems. The best laid plans go out the window when the show's star, Palmer, has an on-camera seizure and dies. The crew initially thinks it's all part of his act and are quick to announce it's ghostly doings. Even before Palmer is pronounced dead, Annie, who never believed for one moment the bookstore was haunted despite the occasional creaking and bumps in the night from the old building, isn't buying that theory, however. I won't detail the plot further, it's much to much fun to ruin by sharing, but will note that she almost instantly has a list of suspects. After it was determined for sure that the death wasn't accidental, Detective Caldwell asks Annie (and her detective partner Fletcher) to come aboard and assist in the investigation. It's already clear that not only doesn't the cast and crew get along but that there is a shadowy history there. One that perhaps hides a former murder?

Bottom line, a thoroughly enjoyable, fun plot that moves along quickly while still giving us breathing space to catch us up on the current relationship between Annie and boyfriend Liam. Seems they're, whoa, house hunting. What fun although they're discovering homes listed for sale go fast in their area. Will they actually be able to look at homes while Annie's focus is divided? Gotta give Liam credit that he seems to be laid-back enough to just go with the scattered flow. Not giving away any more of the plot other than that it's a mix of reality show non-reality, old grudges and egos, secrets of the past and present, jealousy, and how far someone might be willing to go to pave their way to a big paycheck. All the regulars are there and get some time, not to mention Annie's rather chaotic thoughts concerning Hal's continuing sage focused on his lineage. Thanks #StormPublishing and #NetGalley for the early peek at Annie's sometimes complicated life as well as for introducing her to me in the first place.  Oh, and readers, make sure you read the author's comments. They add to the fun. 

 

A Hearse With No Name, by Nicholas George

 

Publication July 7, 2026

This was one of those books that I neither loved nor hated. It just seemed to have a lot going on and at times seemed to get bogged down. I did like the characters, however, especially former rock stars Adam and his wife Shawna. Heck, most of the suspects were relatively likable as the story went along. The only generally unlikable character seemed to be the victim. Let's just say, I'm glad they aren't part of my world. The small town of Cordoba itself is the sort of town one wouldn't expect murder to happen in but, well, Adam's already found himself helping out the local police, one of whom is related, on two cases. 

As for what's going on, let's see. We have flag pole sitting, family drama, retired rock stars, family issues, art, reunions, explosions, collapsing scaffolds and, well, more. Adam becomes involved when he reports the presence of an unmarked hearse with tinted windows parked near his record store. No one is particularly disturbed by it, so it sits around awhile until the police finally come to remove it. That's when the body of the crusty, okay, downright nasty female victim is discovered inside. In the meantime, a local celebrity is staging a flag pole sitting stunt to....oh, I'll leave that for you to discover. I would have liked to have seen Shawna in that outfit, however. In the meantime, Adam and Shawna are contacted and persuaded to take part in a reunion tour of their old band only to have a "not doing so well" band mate show up at their door. One with sticky fingers, no less. All this mixed in with tales of feuding neighbors, hated artwork, and secrets of the past. And, I'm leaving quite a bit out. As noted, lots going on with made for a, to me, relatively slow pace. I was intrigued enough to keep reading, however, and lost track of the number of times I changed my mind about whodunit. 

Bottom line, a relatively quick, easy read that while it didn't blow me away, hence the 3.5 rounded up to a 4 star, was still a fun read. I like the main characters enough that I will definitely be looking for the next in the series, too, so don't let my review put you off. The author does an excellent job fleshing out most of the characters. Thanks #SevernHouse and #NetGalley for the intro to Adam and Shawna and allowing me an early peek at the doings in supposedly sleepy Cordoba. Small towns definitely have their share of secrets and drama. 

A Midsummer Murder, by by Kate Wells

 

Publication April 18, 2026

Despite what seemed to me a slow start, I ultimately enjoyed this tale of the odd combo of a wellness retreat and murder. To be honest, given the almost cult like wellness retreat vibes, I wasn't expecting to find the story as intriguing. True, it took it a bit to evolve and pull me in but overall the mystery was clever with lots of viable suspects, all with equally viable reasons to want wellness guru Inigo Sage dead. It was also a good reminder that what happens in the past can haunt you for a lifetime. Secrets have a way of finding their way to the surface. 

Main character Jude Gray seems to be an oasis of calm in the midst of chaos for most of this book. I have to admit to initially not particularly liking either friend George or Kerry, the originators of the wellness retreat, as both came across as maybe not helpless but downright needy at times. Or was that Jude's belief? We find out that Jude seems to have a need to try to make everything right for everyone, even when she's being pulled in multiple directions. I was glad to see artist boyfriend Marco there for her, offering a strong shoulder for her to lean on, although I'd have loved to have spent a bit more time with her quirky, personable animals. I have to admit to smiling when Rodney Trotter, the tiny Shetland pony, and Wonky the donkey made an appearance. Yeah, I know. I can be easily amused, especially when I wasn't finding many humans to be sympathetic too much of the time aside from Granny Margot and her newfound internet expertise. 

As it turns out, of course, all of the regulars seem to have a lot going on in their own lives, so I did ultimately see the "why" of their behaviors. Young Sebbie, of course, Jude's nephew, remains a whirl of motion and enthusiasm for, well, almost everything, especially his toy plane and helping Marco. As for the wellness retreat participants, well, the overnight guests weren't very likable, with various degrees of belief in Inigo Sage's teachings. Do I need to tell you where the list of suspects came from? Grin.

Bottom line,I did ultimately realize that I had become invested in finding out whodunit. That's a good sign that I'd finally been pulled into the flow of the plot. 3.5 rounded up. It was actually rather intriguing to see how George and Kerry's concepts differed from the vibe that Inigo brought to the retreat. I liked the concept of not only the, let's call it, written note of regret being written and set free on a body of water in the form of a paper boat right down to both the paper and writing instrument being soluble and quick to dissolve. Both the symbolism and reality of the effort not to defile nature made sense and was touching. I also enjoyed Jude and detective Binnie's relationship and mutual trust. Jude's trips back to the farm where she did typical, to her everyday type farm chores helped set the story in reality. Lucy's story is a fun, one, too. So, slow start or not, I did enjoy the read. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for letting me drop in early on Jude's life to see what she's been up to. Loved the ending, too. Can't wait to see how that works out. 

A Summertime Murder (The Isle of Wight Killings #5), by Mary Grand

Publication March 9, 2026

Susan lives in a lovely setting where everything appears serene and calm on the surface. Only, it isn't. There are lots of twists and turns and I lost track of how many times I changed my mind about who was the most likely culprit. The prologue sets the mood as we're briefly in a killer's mind, leaving us uneasy as we wait to find out the details. As such, the fact life goes on as usual for awhile, dog walks and ocean swims included, prepares us but not for how many seem to have had a reason for wanting the victim dead. It reminds us that a killer can walk amongst us anytime, their life rarely allowing a glimpse into whatever drove them to kill. 

We meet Susan early on (this was my first read of the series) and while tired of the overbearing heat of a seemingly never ending heat wave, she's going about her life. We even get to meet not just her friends but the eventual victim, a local vet whose clinic was just broken into. There are quite a few characters, too, so it took me a bit to sort them all out, occasionally getting confused about who was with who or married to who or whose dog was which. I did quickly suss out that Susan seems involved in a slowly budding romance with Robert, a retired cop, but he was in France with his daughter for much of the book, There always seemed to something hovering just beneath the surface, albeit you're not sure what it is about. Everyone seemed to have secrets. Heck, even Susan seems to have a secret of sorts that involves Steve, her ex-husband who shows up in town expecting to stay at her place briefly....for work, of course. 

Bottom line, lots of secrets on the Isle of Wright. Who'd have wanted to kill the local vet and why? He was a keeper of secrets, too, of course, from the past and present. Let's say his wife didn't seem enthused about his news of a big break. But, more than enough said. Once you sort out the characters, which may be more the fact this was my first read of the series than not, it's an intriguing mystery with a growing sense of unease always just below the surface. Lots of twists and turns and, as noted, misdirection that have you pointing to one suspect after another as whodunit, some more than once. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for introducing me to this intriguing book and author. While it was maybe a bit out of my usual cozy mystery niche, I found it an interesting read and will definitely be back. It was a plus to me that the story was centered around a small town vet practice, too, animal person that I am. Loved the teaser at the end regarding Susan's future. 

Where the Bodies Are Berried, by Peg Cochran

 

Publication November 11, 2025

Love the Christmas-y cover. It's Christmas at Sassamanash Farms and Monica is busy hosting the local animal shelter's fund raiser. Since having one's picture taken with your pet and Santa is a staple around here, I was surprised to discover it apparently isn't that widely used. There are even some live reindeer on hand. Yep, things are beginning to look a lot like Christmas....wait, I've heard that line somewhere. Grin. In any case, all is going well until, in an effort to recapture a piece of money blowing away in the wind, Monica almost stumbles over a dead body in a snow drift. Uh, oh, he's one of the shelter's biggest donors. Is there a connection?

I won't detail the plot, but will say that as mother to a month old, Teddy, Monica already has her hands full. That doesn't stop her from sleuthing, of course.  There were quite a few characters coming and going, some quirky and memorable, others seemingly just passing through. I put it on myself that I had a tough time sorting them out and, as a result, found the plot rather slow. Monica also isn't the best at seeking information via otherwise informal conversations, either, even managing to further distress the victim's wife early on. In front of friends, no less. I liked her relationship with husband and shop owner Greg but found myself not really caring what happened to her despite curiosity over the usual whodunit. The side stories were intriguing and did add to the story, some of those characters showing promise for future installments. 

So, bottom line, while I wasn't loving it, I wasn't pulled into the story, either. As noted, I'll lay some of that blame on myself and feel many will fully enjoy this one. You will learn a bit about cranberry salsa, btw, and farm life on a cranberry farm in general. Toss in little touches like needing to set up the monitor in baby Teddy's room while speaking to visitors and there is a homey feeling to the story. As for whodunit, I didn't really know until the end, so figuring that out was fun, even if the logic behind it was rather saddening. Past events do have a way of haunting our lives today. Thanks #BeyondThePage for the early visit to Cranberry Cove. Despite not quite being lured in fully this go-round, it's a place I'll happily revisit. 

Murder at the Scottish Games (A Scottish Shire Mystery Book 7), by Traci Hall

 

Publication Nov. 2,2025

It wasn't long ago that my little piece of Alaska had its own Scottish Games, so I was rather smug to realize that I not only recognized most of the events mentioned -- caber tossing anyone -- but wasn't phased by the use of Scottish lingo. Now, true, there weren't any ducks being herded (nope, you'll have to read the book for that scene) but sounded like a nice mix. While the book works as a standalone, as a reader you'll appreciate the growth and maturing of the characters far more if you have some familiarity with the series. Seems like the characters, who are generally realistic and easy to relate to and like, are heading into a period of change, so it'll be interesting to see where the book goes from here. Paisley seemed more absorbed in her own concerns this go round than I remember, so her investigating was occasionally more happenstance and luck of being in the right place at the right time than going out and tracking down clues. 

Of course, that didn't stop town gossip from revealing much of the hidden background of the suspects in the killing of Joseph, a stern, bully type, including to his family. He was seen having altercations with more than one person at the games, including belittling his own son. Family secrets go deep, as do town secrets. Paisley, despite distractions, is able to ascertain some info with a few phone calls and, miracle of miracle, isn't one of those amateur sleuths who is TSTL. To Stupid to Live, if you don't know. She shares it asap with the police. She's got a lot to life for and doesn't tend to go rushing into danger without backup. I won't detail the plot further except to say that the past plays a role in more ways than one. Open wounds are prodded and that leads to perhaps more revelations than expected. Past relationships do play a role as does what I'll dub teen angst and the frustrations of growing up. 

Family, as always, is front and center. Long suppressed feelings emerge. Is it a smooth transition? Of course not. Real life isn't like that, either. The fact that this series seems largely "real" is one of its strengths, I think. Great characters who seem real, like folks we know, just with a Scottish accent. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing and #NetGalley for introducing me to Paisley and her circle of friends in Nairn, Scotland, and allowing me this early look at the latest. I am definitely looking forward to the next book. My Scottish ancestors would surely enjoy this series, too, I bet, for the atmosphere and setting alone. 

Murder in Venice (An Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery Book 13), by T.A. Williams

 

Publication Nov. 3, 2025

How have I missed this series until now? I'm delighted to add it to my favorites list. Not only is main character Dan Armstrong quite likable and believable, but his dog Oscar's personality shines through, too. Dan, a retired investigator from Scotland Yard, now lives in Italy but is making his first visit to Venice in this installment and does an excellent job in setting the scene. I've never been there, alas, but found his real world assessments made me feel like I was not only tagging along for the trip to movie legend Alice Graceland's luxury villa but enjoying the waterways that serve as roads in most of the area. I liked that the author took a short moment to explain that boat traffic speeds were strictly enforced and why. The speeds are kept to 5 km, about 3 mph, to control not just the heavy boat traffic but to limit wave wear and tear on the buildings that line the canals. You'll be able to visualize the homes alongside and the many bridges that cross the canals. Just don't follow Dan's example of, uh, taking a shortcut, let's say. Oscar followed right along, I might add. 

The various characters were well-fleshed albeit not all were likable. There are plenty of secrets hidden amongst this odd grouping that Alice has brought together for a murder mystery party. Why a murder mystery party? Oh, she has her reasons but, nope, not telling. Although this was my first dive into this series, it worked well as a standalone. We even got to meet Dan's soon to be bride, Anna, and his visiting parents before he sets out on his trip to Venice. Heck, we even spend a few moments with a former collegue, Virgilio, who asks Dan to retrieve a Murano vase for him while in Venice. That's the easy part as he enters a web of past secrets that have raised the atmosphere there to an uncomfortable level. As Dan notes, the only one that seems to be happy to be there is Oscar and that's probably because people by, uh, accident keep dropping tidbits from the table that he gobbles up. Alice is a particular favorite. Dan's least favorite part is the costumes Alice asks her guests to don for the mystery game. Can't say that I blamed him. 

I won't detail the plot further except to say that the atmosphere is already weird when one of the guests is found dead. Who did it? Why this particular victim? Could it have been an accidental overdose? How did the vibe of the mystery game complicate matters? How is this odd group of characters connected and why did Alice invite them in the first place? Will Oscar get his walks despite the complications? Grin. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for this early peek at a delightful series that I'll not only be looking forward to in the future but playing catch-up reading on asap. Virtual treats, okay, sirloin for Oscar!

The Last Laugh Club, by Kate Galley

 

Publication July 29, 2025

I was immediately hooked and wondering what wedge had driven these friends apart. Each character is distinct with both strengths and flaws, with the vague sense hovering in the air that something was wrong . Even the personalities of the side characters were well-fleshed out and you felt like you got to know and appreciate them, too. Yet, it's the trio of Bridget, Gloria, and Derek that hold center stage although the spirit of Norman, now just ashes, is a character, too, in a sense.. Each thought they had been the only real friend Norman had. They're wrong.

Always a prankster, Norman gets one last laugh at his old work friends. They each receive a seemingly personal notice that, if they're reading this, Norman is dead. He has a request. He requests they wear a colorful, bright item he's made just for them to the funeral. They are singled out at the funeral not only by their non-black garb but his assistant calling them together. Norman asks that his once closest friends scatter his ashes. Why are they so reluctant? Well, I'm not telling but that's one of the things that slowly emerges as the plot and their unexpected adventure progresses. Seems that wasn't the only request.

If you like character driven stories with a touch of family and even romance, you're going to love this one  While not always likable, I'm betting you'll come away liking not just the trio but, as noted, the role of the side characters, too. The trio may not have been glad to be there but I was glad to be a fly on the wall with them, especially as I learned quite a bit about yarn and how it's produced. The intriguing, stormy landscape of the frequently isolated, seemingly almost treeless landscape of the Shetland Islands they travel through in some ways become a character. Heck, you even get to experience a rather nausea awakening ferry ride or two. 

That's all I'm telling. Bottom line, this is a delightfully bumpy road to renewed friendships as they rediscover not only what drove them apart but what brought them together. I ultimately wound up liking them all and rooting for them, even the one I found particularly prickly initially. That's not to say that Norman's last trip was smooth. It had its bumpy, even "Oh, no!" moments, but I'm so glad #BoldwoodBooks allowed me this early peek at a book I wound up truly enjoying. Who know a request to scatter ashes could lead to so many changes and bring people together after years apart. Give it a read!

Murder on the Books, by Toni LoTempio

 

Publication July 1, 2025

An incognito mystery writer moves back to her ol' home town to get away from all things mystery and the pressures of writing. Instead, she lands in the middle of a real-life murder mystery. She discovers her friend Zane's new business is endangered before it even opens. Business partner to-be, Sheila has gone missing, leaving Zane stretched financially. Charley/Charlotte agrees (volunteers, really) to be her new partner. While checking out the basement of the two shared businesses, Charley finds Sheila's body hidden in a chest. She didn't disappear. She was murdered. 

Thus begins a brand new mystery series. I won't detail the plot but it was an interesting one with lots of twists and turns and several suspects. Enter Barbie, er, Detective Barbara Johnson, a former classmate of both Charley and Zane. Let's just say they were not friends. Fortunately, a much more interesting character soon enters, Detective Ian Grant, who seems to be in town temporarily from a neighboring town. Cozy mystery fans will see where this is going, I'm sure. Of course, Charley doesn't make things easy, sticking her nose in the case and, in general, putting herself in danger multiple times. You'd think a mystery writer would know better, huh, but finding a read dead body was new to Charley and she seems compelled to follow leads....no matter where they lead. I have to admit, I found it rather unrealistic that townspeople would open up and be so forthcoming with a virtual stranger, hometown girl or not, but, it did move the plot along quickly. 

Bottom line, while I had a minor quibble, I enjoyed the book and will be looking forward to the next. .Quibble, you say? Yes. For instance, I'm a dog person and make sure my dog is secured in the car when I travel with her. Charley, in contrast, after finding a stray cat she calls Poe, simply put cat into the car free and even leaves Poe alone there for extended times. Despite this, I found myself liking her and the surrounding cast of characters. Heck, I didn't even dislike Barbie, er, Detective Johnson as we don't get much of the backstory yet. For that matter, we don't get to know even Charley well but, hey, this is the first in a hopefully long series, so that's normal. I definitely liked how the author handled the issue of PTSD/mental issues via Nancy and her service dog. I hope we see a lot more of them in future books, especially since it gave insight into Charley. Thanks #SevernHouse for this early look at a promising new series. I wonder how long Charley can keep her author status hidden. Something tells me Ian Grant will figure it out when he sets his mind to it. Charley isn't real good at hiding her unusual knowledge of murder investigations.

 

 

 

Murder at Hideaway House (Eve Marlow Mystery Book 14), by Clare Chase

 Publication May 7, 2025 

How far would you go to achieve a long time desire?

Although I occasionally find myself annoyed with Eve for her obsessive curiosity and use of her job, writing obituaries, to question suspects, I also enjoy this series immensely. What can I say, I'm a sucker for character driven books and this series has a set of well developed regular characters and even the background of suspects seems to be nicely fleshed out. As a result, it's understandable why Eve sometimes finds it hard to approach someone as a suspect when, well, that person is a friend, someone she likes. Everyone has secrets, however, and, oh, my, there are a ton of them in this one. What seems like a normal renovation job leads to murder and explosive secrets unraveling families and associates. Nothing simple about this one. 

Who killed Duncan Blake? I won't detail the plot but it is full of twists and turns involving those secrets, obsessions with the past, affairs of the heart, shady business deals, shattered hopes and dreams, families being ripped apart, adorable, much-loved children, and it seems like everyone is lying. How will Eve sort out who did it when even the innocent may be protecting others? It was nice to not only see that Eve has gotten good about having backup but that Eve and new husband Robin work so well together, even if it did remind me that I seem to have missed a few books in the series. Robin was still sort of keeping a low profile last book I read, now they're married and he's able to be open, even if his gardening know-how doesn't seem to have dimmed. They were invited to Hideaway House so Eve could write a review of the facility, which is what started this whole investigation for Eve. Needless to say, the usual gang of friends is on hand to help sort it all out and you've got to love Moira's sleuthing personality. Oh, and I can't forget Gus, Eve's adorable dachshund, who provides his own kind of assistance.

Bottom line, a top-notch mystery with memorable characters, both good and bad. You won't feel much sympathy for the initial victim, though, that's for sure. That's said, I found myself warming to the various suspects, even the guilty party. Takes a talented author to make readers feel that way, I'd say. Thanks #Bookouture for this early peek back into Eve's life, a reminder to me to do some catch up reading. Library, here I come!

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!

Murder on the Cornish Coast (A Miss Underhay Mystery Book 19), by Helena Dixon

 

Publication Feb. 20, 2025

First, they need to sign Bertie, Kitty's spaniel, up for the police. Kitty and Matt, who operate the Torbay Private Investigative Services, are no slouches but Bertie's super sniffer nose has proven helpful when it comes to sniffing out clues. Kitty and Matt are at Highcliffe Manor at the behest of Lady Cordelia Hedges. Injured during her father's murder, she lost her memory of it but is beginning to have flashback memories. As a result, some incidents have happened that make her believe her life may now be in danger. It's Kitty and Matt's job to sort it all out and keep her safe.

I won't give away much more because I don't want to ruin even one moment of this read for you. Let's just say there are several viable suspects and more twists and turns than I could keep track of. Many are even members of Cordelia's own family. Fortunately for my own frustration level as I couldn't sort it all out before the big reveal, the plot moves along quickly despite Matt being distract4ed by minute clues concerning an older case of personal interest. what happened to Redvers and is he still alive? This seems to be a long standing mystery, however, with tantalizing clues popping up in every book. The fact it is connected to Matt's past experiences, painful ones when he was in a military hospital, makes it all the more personal to both Matt and Kitty as well as readers. So, lots of secrets to ferret out, both new and old. 

Kitty and Matt and a likable couple, Part of the fun is that they always seem to manage to wind up going to amazing places to investigate, usually with Bertie. Hey, as a dog person I like that. Neither is perfect and, in fact, we are reminded of how his war experiences left invisible wounds on Matt. I'm sure his condition would fall under PTSD today. Kitty's calm understanding, love and patience reveal much about her, too, as we learn ways she's come to cope. Neither let it slow down their investigating, of course. While some of the regulars are missing this go-round, the characters we do meet are interesting as we ponder which of them might be guilty of murder and plotting another. So, interesting characters from an array of backgrounds, a fun dog, loving couple with investigative smarts, and ina lovely setting with a puzzling mystery to solve. Fun! Thanks #Bookouture for introducing me to Kitty and Matt and the early virtual invite to catch up on what's going on with them....and Bertie. Give that dog a virtual treat!

Death on the Rhine (Miss Ashford Investigates #5), by Vivian Conroy

 Publication April 4, 2025

Atalanta Ashford is a bundle of contradictions. Named for a Greek goddess, on the one hand, she's a calmly cool and collected investigator, working to prove her grandfather's trust in her was correct. On the other, she's a bundle of emotions, most tied to her relationship, or maybe I should say wannabe relationship with race car driver Raoul.  We get insight into his thoughts this go-round which only makes the situation all the more perplexing. It's clear both have strong feelings for the other but are for various reasons stuck in neutral. Good thing her sleuthing gears are in full working order because this case is a complex one.

It starts innocently enough. On a vacation where she's joined by Raoul, Atalanta encounters an old acquaintance, the brother of a former teacher associate. Quite frankly, unhappy by Raoul's rejection once again, she enjoys the attentions of Otto Rabenhorst, someone she seems to have lots in common with. Otto invites her to a gathering that evening and Raoul tags along, giving lies to his earlier claims of no interest. Is he jealous? Maybe. He bows out quickly enough, however, when she accepts Otto's invitation to join his admittedly odd family on a cruise on the Rhine River. Like Raoul, this family seems to have many, many secrets. Initially mostly agreeing in hopes of brightening up Otto's now motherless daughter's angst over the believed harsh treatment of her grandmother, Frau Rabenhorst, Atalanta quickly finds herself embroiled in not just the workings of a dysfunctional family but a murder. 

But, wait. There's more. A daughter that sees all. Shady dealings. Mysterious deaths in past, not to mention present. Arranged marriage. Blackmail. Paper cuttings? Manipulation. Lies. A missing page of a letter. Pride. Greed. Drugs. Haughtiness of wealth. Riverboat cruise. Secrets. And more secrets. And even more secrets. Who is who? Who to trust? What is Raoul hiding. Heck, what is Atalanta hiding? Death. And, oh, that's more than enough teasers. Seriously, I don't want to give away the twists and turns by being too specific. While I had an inkling of the guilty party....been reading too many cozy mysteries of late.....I definitely didn't see those last couple twists coming. Thanks #HarperCollinsUK - #OneMoreChapter for letting me have this early peek at Atalanta's, oh, so complicated life. That ending has me anxious to see where it leads us next. 

Murder at Merivale Manor: A 1920s Cozy Mystery (Kitty Goring Investigates Book 1), by Ella Strike

 

What happens when you throw a robbery party but it turns into a real life murder investigation? Kitty Goring may have been bored but she wasn't expecting that. Nor was she expecting the infuriating Scotland Yard detective, questionable friends of her brother, spoiled relatives, or a valuable jeweled necklace to really go missing. Even worse, she definitely wasn't expecting murder.

While I spent considerable time rolling my eyes at Kitty's occasionally dangerous impulses, I ultimately warmed up to her a bit more by the end of the book. As the first book of the series, the characters weren't fully fleshed out, but it was easy to see a possible romance ultimately blooming between Kitty, society girl, and Detective Henry Burton. Me thinks she protests too much of how annoying he is. He is patient, however, at least to an extent, even when she seems to come up with a new suspect that she proclaims as the murderer to him multiple times. I actually found myself sympathizing with him more than Kitty although it was clear she felt genuine guilt at how wrong an idea born from her boredom had gone. 

Who killed poor Jane? Why do multiple bodies keep piling up? Are they connected? Kitty seems to suspect almost everyone at one time or the other, even her own mother. Mother, aka Lady Goring, is a piece of work, that's for sure. She is fixated on marrying off her children to well-to-do partners and seems to be more concerned with finding the thief who took her necklace than the killer. Or killers? Kitty's brother Jimmy is a nice enough guy, albeit all we really know of him at this point is he likes to gamble and has questionable friends, but murder? Even his friends seem unlikely murderers but why did they lie to Detective Burton? There are secrets everywhere, it seems, but who would have killed to prevent them being revealed? Kitty is already feeling guilt over things she didn't do. How does it all connect?

But, enough teasers. While I wasn't immediately taken by Kitty, I am considering catching up with this series asap. As it was, other than the basics, we don't know much about the characters, innocent or guilty, at this point, and I'm curious to see what the author has done with them. People are not always who they appear to be, of course, so that's another fun aspect, sorting out who's for real and who is the faker. I actually had a hunch about the guilty party early on but, like Kitty, no real proof, so it was interesting to read the big reveal of whodunit. Thanks to #BookSirens and the author for introducing me to Kitty and company. It's always intriguing to discover what happens when secrets explode in characters' faces, so to speak. And, oh, I can't forget Scottie. He was a great, fearless addition to the mix. More Scottie, I hope.

A Spirited Blend, by Lauren Elliott

 

Publication March 25, 2025

How would you like to discover you had magical powers as a full-grown adult? Let me rephrase that. How would you like to be a witch but with no real knowledge or control over your supposed powers? That's the situation in which Shay Myers finds herself. You have powers that can change lives, yours included, but no idea how to utilize them safely. Although she has had some time over the course of the series to learn certain skills, it certainly hasn't changed her life for the better. So much for all that simple twitch of the nose and all is well stuff with Samantha in "Bewitched".

In fact, her magic has made her life, if anything, more complicated and, yes, dangerous. Like, who are these people who keep showing up claiming a possible relationship to her family? Just as troubling, why is her former husband in town? What is he up to with his new wife? Why is Shay so spooked when a woman shows up claiming kinship? Surely it isn't a good omen for Shay that the woman later turns up dead, her body arranged in a ritualistic way? What's going on with the former supposed friend now in such a nasty competition with Shay's shop? Toss in the erratic relationship Shay has with Liam, who really annoyed me most of this go-round, and Shay has a great deal to deal with. Never mind that Liam's Gran keeps reassuring her things will work out. Shay obviously isn't a super patient person, especially since Liam keeps coming to Shay asking for romantic advice for his interest in other women. Oh, grrr....

On the plus side, Gran and Shay's spirit dog, well, Spirit, have her back as does, when push comes to shove, Liam. Hang on for that cliff-hanger of a life changing event near the end. The characters, even some of those that might annoy you early on, are well-developed and seem to mesh well, making you root for Shay all the more. Despite me frequent annoyance at Liam, just way too much venting over him this go-round, I fully enjoyed the read. Shay's own self-doubts make her all the more human, making it all the easier to root for her. There's even bits of good ol' fashioned Irish folklore/myth for good measure, making for an intriguing read. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for the magical early virtual peek at Shay's world. I'm looking forward to seeing where that ending is going to take us next visit.

The Old Girls' Chateau Escape, by Kate Galley

 

Publication Jan. 29, 2025

Heartfelt, charming and wonderfully character driven, not to mention a tale of secrets kept and even a hint of mystery. Or, is that two mysteries? In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend more time with Gina Knight again, once again as a caretaker, but this time in France. I worried we might not get much Dorothy Reed this go-round, so was quite delighted when she popped up as the book continued. It's Dorothy, after all, who points Gina in the direction of old author friend Meredith to find out what long kept secrets she might be revealing in her upcoming memoir. Gina is naturally friendly, honest, and wants to help, even if she is uncomfortable at the idea of betraying Meredith's trust, too, by sharing what she discovers. That's complicated by Meredith's husband Gerald having dementia and concerns of doing anything to ruin his moments of clarity by disturbing Meredith. Gina has a sensitive way of reading people and it's obvious Meredith is troubled.

It is to Gina's credit that she not only tries to do right by both of them but help harried chateau manager Lucian and another stranger she meets at the chateau villas. Phew, and that's only hitting the highlights. Lots more going on here. For me, however, the important aspect was that this is definitely a character driven story. From side characters like Lucian to Dorothy, Gina, and the rest, each is wonderfully fleshed out and we get to spend some time i many of their heads. I hope we somehow get to see more of Lucian in future books. I really liked him. The descriptions of the setting and the places Gina visits in the area are well-done and give you a taste of France, not to mention its artists. While the main characters are older, they're hardly stereotypes, albeit the author doesn't ignore that they have to make adjustments for activities and outings. I liked that, maybe because I'm slowly but surely coming to grips with that myself? Grin. 

Bottom line, while I don't want to give away any more of the plot, I will say if you enjoy character driven plots, especially with finally aged characters in amazing places, you'll enjoy this book. The plot moves along nicely and you'll feel at home with the characters almost immediately. While a follow-up to the first in the series, this one stands alone nicely with pretty much all the background you need to know being revealed in the first chapter almost without you noticing it. In other words, the author writes well and is quite readable. There's obviously lots of drama but also humor (and a cat), particularly as Gina tries to navigate civilly with an ex-husband who walked out on her but seems to be having second thoughts. I couldn't quite decide if he was a jerk or to feel sorry for him, though did grin when he was played a bit by both Lucian and neighbor and potential real romantic interest Erik, who I'm quite liking. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for allowing me this early peek at Gina's adventures in France. I like how she's handling the changes in her life and the realization that she rather likes not having to answer to someone else. You go, girl!

Bridal Shower Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery Book 31), by Leslie Meier

 

Publication March 25, 2025

Murder aside, the word that comes to mind first for the Lucy Stone series is family. We've watched Lucy grow, as did her family, from the time she was a young mother to now, the upcoming marriage of her youngest, Zoe. Of course, this being Tinker's Cove, you know things won't go smoothly. There's a murderer for Lucy to track down while trying to finalize Zoe and Chad's wedding day. Hetty Furness, head of the Tinker's Cove Historical Society, is missing, then found dead. She's been murdered. 

Why? No one is quite sure initially, but Lucy doesn't let that detour her. Never mind that she's a bit busy dealing with Zoe's sudden announcement, trying to gather the family from across the globe, dealing with Ted, the annoying publisher of the Courier newspaper, formerly Pennysaver, while supporting Chad as he deals with his own family issues. Oh, boy, wait till you meet his mother. He's such a sweet, charming young man, a first-baseman for the minor league team he plays for, but, oh, my, his mother is a piece of work. I won't detail the plot further other than to say it definitely deals heavily with not just family but family secrets, history, and long-standing prejudices. Do we really know who the people about us really are? Through it all, Lucy is quite aware of the clock ticking as the wedding approaches, wondering how to pull everything together. The side-stories, maybe not all side-stories, are intriguing and we learn a bit about history in the process. Lucy even manages to maintain her sense of humor through it all, not easy when husband Bill decides to play the tough father upon Zoe's arrival with Chad in tow. Let's just say, it's fortunate Bill's a baseball fan. 

Bottom line, this was a fun, intriguing read. The themes range not just with family but with young love, siblings being there for each other (you'll learn exactly how far the drive from Alaska to Tinker's Cove is), and how one sibling marvel of organization pulls a lovely setting and reception together practically overnight. Lucy has an amazing family, let's face it. Of course, that one lives in Alaska makes this Alaskan enjoy it all the more. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for answering my plea and sharing an early virtual invite to the wedding. It's going to be interesting seeing how Lucy deals with the newly extended family.

The Jig Is Up (Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery #1), by Lisa Q. Mathews

 

Publication August 20, 2024

Kate packs up her daughters and heads back home after getting a message from her sister Colleen. Home is Shamrock, Massachusetts. Colleen waves away her message, however, refusing to explain why she sent it. Not long after, Kate finds herself immersed in a murder. The main suspect? Colleen, the victim's best friend. Although she's with Kate when they discover the body, there's lots of evidence that points to Colleen, a talented Irish dancer. Heck, given the secretive nature of not just Colleen, who goes out of her way to avoid discussion with Kate, but others who are just as secretive, Kate even wonders if it's possible her sister did kill her friend.

As the first of a new series, there is a lot of background info worked into the plot as well as introductions to the probable recurring characters. To be honest, I never really warmed up to either Kate or Colleen, the latter being downright annoying much of the time. Kate is a chronic over-thinker, her mind seeming to whirl rapidly at almost every moment expecting the worst and she tended to wear me out. To be honest, I'm not sure I felt drawn to any of the characters. Maybe Garrett, former boyfriend, now cop, someone who seems to pop up unexpectedly and frequently. Kate's oldest daughter Maeve shows promise but, typical child, seemed to blow hot and cold. Kate's parents aren't well fleshed out and I was left wondering what the logic was behind her father being the former chief of police who was shot on the job and now in a wheelchair. Perhaps that will be made clearer as the series progresses. Oh, an Kate freezing up at playing the piano again sort of made sense but that's probably another thread for future books.

As for the murder, Kate arrived home just in time to go to the dance rehearsal with Colleen where they stumble across the dead body of Deirdre. Young Maeve and flighty Colleen handle it better than Kate, go figure. Could Colleen have murdered Deirdre? Why is there a trail of blood? Is it sheer coincidence that Moira McShane almost immediately tries to take advantage of Deirdre's death by advertising her soon-to-be-open new dance school? Where's the no-show pianist? Could the long-winded mayor somehow be involved? How about Conor, who works scooping ice cream, or maybe ambitious, organized Zoe? What secrets are being kept? Even Kate has secrets, of course. Bottom line, while I wasn't quite taken with this book (3.5 rounded to 4) and I'm also not quite sure how she figured out whodunit at the end, that may just be me. I am interested enough to say I'll definitely check out the next book in the series, however. There's promise here and still much, much more to be discovered about the characters and relationships/connections between them. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for introducing me to Kate's grand debut as an amateur sleuth. The twist/reveal at the end definitely makes me curious.

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.

A Limited Edition Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, #10), by Lauren Elliott

 

Publication May 21, 2024

Addie's temporary move to England has been restorative but hardly uneventful. She's enjoying her time working for Reginald Pressman, of course, at the Second Chance Books and Bindery shop in West Yorkshire. She's made friends and is feeling comfortable there. Yet, she's also fretting about her decision to return home and her own bookshop, Beyond the Page Books. That hasn't been an easy decision for her. She's a bit of a mother hen type and can't help worrying about Jasper's hopeless crush on Hillary, who is set to marry Addie's successful author friend Tony soon. Then there's a growing worry about Reginald's health and finances. Are his rare book buying sprees putting him in financial trouble? There's also the worry hanging over her that while she thinks she's recovered from the shock of discovering only moments before she said "I do" to Simon that he had a child and then felt responsible for trying to help the mother and maybe make a life with her for the child. Addie flew off to England to mend her broken heart and sort out where she was going from there. 

But, sometimes you can't shake ol' habits. Like stumbling over dead bodies. That's when her planned return to the States takes a backseat to her best laid plans. Toss in the little matter of the valuable necklace that has gone missing and a stolen book and, well, it gets complicated. And, that's just the modern day mystery. She's also caught up in trying to help Reginald Pressman find out what happened to his much loved daughter Molly so many years ago. And, whoa, there's a missing necklace involved there, too? And, double whoa, more missing books, lives upended, and family secrets buried deep. Lauren Elliott is a master at creating characters who we will like and find realistic and empathize with. Hearts broken and maybe mended, emotional moments, and friendships, new and old. It's all there, plus, hmm, a very intriguing potential romance....but, Addie's plan is to return home. Isn't it? Maybe....

Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've enjoyed Addie from the beginning and while I thought I'd have trouble embracing her life in England, I felt just as at home with her new surroundings and friends as back home. Now, true, the brief visit by Serena and Paige helped but, hey, Noah Parker was far more interesting. Grin. That's all the hints I'm giving. You won't regret reading this book, not to mention the entire series. I'm psyched to find out where Addie goes, both physically and emotionally, from here. She's had a rough road in the past but, hmm, her like-a-brother love for Marc may have met its romantic British match, so to speak. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing - -#KensingtonCozies for giving me an early peek at Addie's current world and letting me meet all her new friends. What can I say? I'm a sucker for cozies set in England, especially when books and more books are involved.