Mrs. Jeffries and the Midwinter Murders (Mrs. Jeffries #40), by Emily Brightwell

First, how the heck did I miss the first 39 books in this series? Wow. Impressive. 

Second, coming off reading several fast paced, intense murder mysteries in a row, the slower pace of this one was actually quite nice. It had, well, Victorian sensibilities and a slower, more measured pace than more modern mysteries tend to do. I liked that although I'm honest enough to say I probably wouldn't like that full time, especially given the repetition involved as the helpful crew report back to each other daily. No razzle dazzle, just good ol' fashioned sleuthing and working as a team here as Mrs. Jeffries and the other characters, all of whom we got to meet briefly but sufficiently for the plot, secretly assist "their" Inspector Witherspoon to solve the locked room Christmas murder mystery. The suspects are intriguing themselves, most seemingly having a reason to kill, and I loved the teamwork and organization displayed by Witherspoon's unknown to him assistant sleuths. All and all, a delightful, intriguing read with lots of teamwork and obvious love and caring amongst the crew around Mrs. Jeffries and Inspector Witherspoon. I think I'm going to have to go do some serious catching up with this new to me series. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BerkleyPublishingGroup for the ARC and for introducing me to a delightful series I've somehow missed.
 

Murder at the Bake Sale, by Lee Hollis

Lipstick taser?

Now that I have your attention I'll note that though it took me longer to get into this book than expected, once I got into it I was thoroughly into it. I had the advantage of having read the first in the series and found the budding partnership between Maya and Sandra intriguing, so it was doubly interesting to see how it had progressed. They are definitely an odd couple, with layers of illusion they've garbed themselves with the protect their inner core, layers that are slowly being peeled away in "A Murder at the Bake Sale". I honestly had no clue who the murderer was until the very end. With several parallel stories drawn from both the political and real world, There are many, many things going on within the larger whole. The relationships Maya and Sandra have with their husbands is given a bit more emphasis here, with decisions being made that will impact more than just Maya and Sandra.  One of my main takeaways from the book is how the smallest action or lack of action can impact so many, ranging from high school students and school staff to political movers and shakers, not to mention ones own children. Thus, as the book wound up some loose ends, I couldn't help feeling both satisfied and sad. Real life has a way of doing that and author Lee Hollis pulls us into not just Maya and Sandra's worlds but the world and people about them. 

Despite it taking me awhile to get into the book, which may be as much my fault as the plot, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and ultimately went with the five star rating. I came away thinking of, well, so many things and looking forward to the next visit to Maya and Sandra. One of the things I'm thinking of, of course, is that darn lipstick taser. While I'm checking on where to buy one, make sure you add this one to your "To Be Read" list. 

Thank you #NetGalley and #Kensington Books for the ARC

The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder, by Marla A. White

This was a fun, quick read. Although I'm still fuzzy on why Mel doesn't admit upfront to Marks that she's an ex-cop, I found that I liked and even sympathized with her, both past and present. While she comes across on the surface as cool and efficient, there are layers beneath that calm exterior that reveal the real Mel O'Rourke Due to the shortness of the story, think novella, the plot moves along quickly as the starring characters make their appearances and establish a connection to Mel. The setting sounds delightful, a bit of a winter wonderland, although I'm with Mel. No way I'd be crossing the rope bridge unless I absolutely needed to do so. What makes Mel, whose vertigo is established fairly early on, cross that bridge? Who isn't what they appear to be? Will Mel ever master her grandmother's seemingly famous cookie recipe? Will she save the family business? I hope there is a sequel because I for one don't have answers to all those questions. In the meantime, as I ponder them, give this book a read. It's short, fun, and full of action, not to mention there are a couple men that could be vying for Mel's affections.

Thank you #NetGalley, #BacklitPR and #TheWildRosePressInc for the ARC and a fun read. 

Lethal Lace (Cozy Corgi Mysteries #23), by Mildred Abbott

I've loved this series from day one and that love affair continues. Abbott has done a wonderful job of character development, making me feel like I know Fred and Watson and their many friends and family members. This book in the series struck me as both poignant and hopeful, with an eye to the future while treasuring the past. Just as grumpy corgi Watson remains, well, grumpy, Fred remains true to her fashion sense, even when it comes to weddings. For those who've followed the series, never fear. Help is at hand.... if she'll accept it. The murder may dominate Fred's thoughts leading up to the Christmas holiday but there is some family "stuff" to deal with, too, as well as the mystery of who did it. I have to admit, I didn't warm up to Leo initially but over time as the series has progressed have come to really respect and appreciate him for the man that has emerged from his past. Hey, Watson loves him. That's good enough for me.

Bottom line, if you like mysteries with well-rounded characters, even some who wear on you at times, people who care about others, even those who've done wrong, an incredibly beautiful setting, food, oh, my, the food, and corgis, grumpy or not, Lethal Lace should be a must read for you. In fact, you'll probably enjoy the entire series. My corgi mix, who isn't quite a grumpy as Watson, thank goodness, gives this one four paws and a tail wag. 

Life Crafter Death, A Knitorous Murder Mystery, Book 9, by Reagan Davis

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The humor in it, mostly the result of busy body neighbors, was cute and connected, too. Poor, Eric. In any case, as with the rest of the series, this addition is complex and full of twists and turns, not to mention multiple suspects. Main character Megan is quite likeable and I admire the friendly relationship she and her former husband, Adam, have forged for the benefit of their daughter Hannah. Adam's a lawyer, too, which comes in handy in this story.

I won't detail the plot aside from that one comment as I'm sure others will do a better summation than I could. Instead, I'll simply say that the story, while perhaps confusing to first time readers given the comings and going of characters and their back stories, moves right along. Megan has come to respect boyfriend Eric's need for evidence, not hunches, frustrating as it might be, not to mention the conflict he's facing being pulled in two different direction as he investigates a case that is essentially connected to a family member. Okay, almost family member.

So, mystery that keeps you guessing, abundant characters that we do learn quite a bit about, even the seemingly peripheral ones, some humor, and family ties. Give it a read. You won't regret it.

Case of the Missing Marine (Corgi Case Files Book 14), byJeffrey Poole

This series is just plain fun. The corgis are adorable and, as always, way ahead of the humans. They could charm, well, the Queen. I won't detail the plot other than to say it moves along at a rapid pace with few down moments. The corgi duo of Sherlock and Watson had it under control, even if it did take the humans awhile to figure out what the clues the dogs kept dropping in their laps meant. The quick tour of Jolly Ol' England was nice, too, as I've never been. A fun, quick read that will make you smile and wish you had a corgi. Four paws and a tail way from my corgi mix.

Put Out to Pasture (Farm to Table Mysteries #2), by Amanda Flower

I was much too young to have real memories of life on our family's farm but it did bring back some memories of old photos of me in a diaper feeding a bottle to a lamb and looking terrified while surrounded by chickens in another. Even with those vague memories, I felt a tug of recognition in Shiloh Bellamy's dedication to her family's farm. While I can't imagine doing the work she is required to do with minimal help, I could respect her efforts and courage, not to mention her energy. Faced with a mystery, the murder of a woman with an unlawful past, and that initial evidence seems to point to her best friend as the murderer, Shiloh adds saving her friend from arrest to her to-do list.

The plot moves along nicely, albeit interrupted by episodes of farm life and chores that give you a feel for the setting. In addition, the characters are colorful and could be our own neighbors, even the cranky ones. I even felt a pang of sadness for the seemingly unlikable victim near the end. Good writers have a way of doing that. Amanda Flower has a real feel for small town and farm life, making these characters and the setting come alive for us. The addition of a new neighbor adds promise, too, and not just because he is male model gorgeous and seems too good to be true. He shares Shiloh's dream of turning his newly purchased farm into an organic one, too. Hmm, dang, can't wait to see how this plays out in future books. Of course, there is steady, handsome Quinn, too, although Shiloh seems almost too busy to think of romance for more than a few fleeting seconds here and there.

Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, What's extra nice is that I can revisit the dream farm of my toddler days without having to ponder doing any of the work. An intriguing mystery that kept me guessing until the very end, characters I'd like to call friends, and no farm chores. Yep, that's a win for us as readers.

Thank you #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for the ARC.

Murder in the Christmas Tree Lot (Tory Benning Mystery #2), by Judith Gonda

I saw a bit of myself in main character Tory Benning. She's smart and sees things that others might miss but, like me, she also tends to overthink things, usually in the most frightening way. This made her all the more human. As a result, she spends much of the book tightly wound, seeing murderers in even the most innocent around her. Despite this she keeps going, fulfilling a multitude of responsibilities that would make a less distracted person exhausted. I admire her ability to talk herself off the edge, however, and not just protect and show loyalty to friends as she tries to solve the horrible murder, but keep pushing forward, even when terrified.

Tory's background trauma involving murder is horrific but even though I haven't yet read the prior book of this series (a fact I will be remedying soon) the book worked nicely as a stand-alone. The pace of the  story moves forward quickly and the relationships between the characters are smoothly established for those like me who are just discovering this series. The parallel stories are intriguing in themselves and author Judith Gonda shows mad writing skills in pulling most of them all together at the end, something I hadn't necessarily expected. Toss in that despite the horrific death of her husband that Tory seems to be moving forward, not living inside her protective shell, and her budding relationship with Jake the PI shows promise. And, oh, saved the best for last. There's a dog, an adorable, feisty Pomeranian that, despite its size, is one of Tory's fiercest protectors.

I don't think I'll ever quite look at a Christmas tree lot quite the same after this. Talk about a Christmas buzz kill, pun intended. Excellent book that I couldn't put down. 

Thank you #NetGalley and #BeyondthePage for the ARC.

Peril at Pennington Manor, by Tracy Gardner

It's probably rather telling about the excitement level near the end of the book as just as the culprit was nearly in hand, oh, so close, I uttered a long drawn out "Daisy, noooo!" when my dog decided she absolutely, positively had to go outside right that second. No negotiating. Just as main character Avery's Halston demands his ear scratches and chance to fetch something, a dog's demands are not to be denied. It was then I realized I was loving this book, one I'd once thought was sorta slow in the beginning.

I won't detail the plot as others will do a far better job at that than I can but will say that the twists and turns and large cast of suspects, everything ultimately made sense. Toss in a gorgeous setting, intriguing family dynamics, including on Avery's part, hidden passageways, secrets, disappearing priceless art pieces, and even training for a marathon and you have a winner. Even Avery's romantic prospects are looking up as she has two fine contestants for her heart as the story opens. Which will she choose and why? What upset her sister Tilly enough to cause her to spend a considerable sum to fly home across and ocean earlier than expected? What is Art's story? And....cats? Has the new mama cat found a forever home and safety for her babes? Finally, who did it?

This book stands alone nicely with intriguing regular characters and places. I'm not familiar with antiques nor do I have much interest in them, to be honest, but found the history of the pieces in question fascinating. Even better, the author shows how much certain pieces mean to their owner, no matter how valuable they may be. Heck, I even learned a bit about how one can often tell an authentic piece from a replica, not that it's always easy or quick. Hmm, I think I'll go check my jewelry box. While I'm busy dreaming, enjoy this book. It's a winner.  

Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the ARC. Loved it!

Death By Beach Read (Lighthouse Library Mystery #9), by Eva Gates

Although I found myself frequently wanting to grab Lucy, shake her, and yell "What did you think you were doing?" in her face after some of her decisions, I found this book a fun, interesting read. The plot is simple, Lucy and soon-to-be husband Conner move into a new/old "unpainted aristocracy" house that they are fixing up. They find a dead body in the kitchen one evening after returning from an outing.

It's what goes on in-between that makes the story both interesting and, yes, a trifle sad. The almost tragic aftermath of one youthful misadventure changed one life forever. Could that have lead to murder? Is the house haunted? What does "The House of Seven Gables" have to do with anything? Charles the library cat may have the answers but he's not telling. Will Lucy's wedding ever get past the "we need to plan" stage? Will Lucy even live that long?

All these questions, well, most, are answered in "Death By Beach read", the ninth in the series by Eva Gates. Although part of a series it stands alone nicely. Yes, there are loose ends at the end but the mystery is solved, even though I had no clue who the killer was until Lucy did. I still cringe at her tendency to not share information with those who might be able to more safely act upon it but, hey, it wouldn't be a true cozy mystery unless the main character manages to place themself in peril at some point, right. Lucy is lucky to be surrounded by good friends and family, not to mention neighbors willing to step up and do the right thing. Even Charles the library cat gets in on the action. My hero.

Bottom line, even as I move into the beginnings of another Alaskan winter here at my home, it was fun to spend some time at the beach with Lucy and those about here. Give this one a read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the ARC.