Murder at the Priory Hotel (Flora Steele Mystery #4), by Merryn Allingham

Book Blog Tour. How cool is that? And for a great book, with interesting characters, lots of history, and an intriguing murder to solve. Enjoy!

How far would you go to help a friend? Would you risk your own life? How much are you willing to give of yourself?

That's the situation facing Flora Steele. She's even invited Jack to help. That alone is enough to make her wary. She's been dancing around her relationship with Jack for awhile. As the book opens, however, their focus is on helping their friend Sally prepare for the grand re-opening of the Priory Hotel in Abbeymead. Everything seems to be going well until, well, it isn't. The singer of the band hired to entertain drops dead on stage in front of an audience. She's been electrocuted. The main police inspector is away and Sally, who has everything she owns tied to the success or failure of the hotel, turns to Flora and Jack for help. 

As intriguing as it is to watch them set out to find the murderer, it's even more fascinating to contrast the tools available to them in 1957 to now. They are forced to rely on good ol' fashioned sleuthing, talking to people and gathering evidence that isn't always as helpful as it might be in this day and age. I mean, Jack doesn't even have a telephone in his residence yet, let alone the instant communication and reference ability a cell phone offers us today. Flora rides a bicycle she calls Betty which, a bit of research tells me wasn't that unusual in the area during the time period depicted. In fact, Abbeymead was largely green fields until nearly the 1970s and was still recovering from the damage of World War II in 1957. I also noted, excuse me detour into research, that many of the real streets had bird names, too, just as in the book. In other words, the author knows her stuff. I'll spare you my other detour into knot gardens, which are mentioned, but that mention added another element of historical reality to the setting.

As for the mystery, it seems slow going at first. Flora is reluctant not because she doesn't want to help Sally but, well, because she fears losing more of her heart to Jack if they come together to investigate. Despite this, a sense of responsibility to her friends wins out and they begin. It's slow going at first, with few clues. Jack even ventures to another town to talk to a suspect's mother, something difficult given the then fuel shortages, while Flora remains at home, asking questions and listening. She's even willing to consider Sally a suspect, however unlikely. That's what "real" detectives do, consider everyone until they can be eliminated. It takes a frustratingly long time, however. Then a second murder occurs. Eliminate one suspect.

I like Flora and Jack both apart and together. It's pretty obvious I find the setting in the Gloucestershire area, researching it a bit more each book. I find it fascinating to figuratively watch the wheels in Flora's brain spin, spinning at an almost dangerous pace as she zeroes in on the culprit. She's impulsive, yes, but Jack is right there with her. 

I'm looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes from here. I'm also looking forward to not just more history of the area in future books but to seeing where the events in this book take Jake and Flora. 

Thanks again, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for inviting me back into Flora's world. I think it's my ancestors from the Gloucestershire area would applaud my taste in books.

_______________

Book Description: Join Flora Steele – bookshop owner, bicycle-rider, and amateur detective – as she faces her most puzzling case yet!

Sussex, 1957: When Flora Steele andhandsome crime writer Jack Carrington attend the grand re-opening of the Priory Hotel in the beautiful little village of Abbeymead, their day out is cut short when the flame-haired female singer in the band suddenly drops dead before their eyes.

Flora is stunned by the unexpected turn of events and immediately deduces foul play. Beverly Russo was a spirited young woman with a big voice and Flora is determined to get to the bottom of her untimely demise – especially as the detective sergeant leading the investigation is so hopeless. The first clue in the extraordinary case is Beverly’s missing ruby ring…

As Flora makes her enquiries, she discovers that Beverly wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea and there’s more than one person in Abbeymead who had reason to dislike her. But who had the biggest motive: Beverly’s former beau Tommy May, jealous love rival Sally Jenner, or the local doctor who seems to be up to no good…

Then one of the suspects is found dead in the woods near the Priory Hotel. The murder weapon – a musical instrument. As the investigation reaches a high note, Flora knows she must find the culprit and make them face the music before anyone else is hurt. But will Flora’s tenacity put a dangerous spotlight on both her and Jack?

A delightful cozy crime novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis!

Author Bio:  

Merryn taught university literature for many years, and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringing the past to life is a passion and her historical fiction includes Regency romances, wartime sagas and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery at their heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of time before she plunged into crime with a cosy crime series set in rural Sussex against the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

 

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband and one last cat, Bluebell. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.

https://merrynallingham.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MerrynWrites

https://twitter.com/merrynwrites

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Buy Link:

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The Plot Thickets, by Julia Henry

 Publication October 25, 2022

"I'm home." Seriously, that sense of being home was what immediately struck me as I read. I've loved this series from book one and it just seems to get better with each new book. I enjoyed that rather then simply give a recounting of past events in the characters' lives, author Julia Henry ties each in to what is going on in their current lives, whether an ongoing concern or catching us up on the bird sanctuary project or Alden Park development, all vital to past events in their lives. That makes the story come alive and, quite frankly, makes it all seem all the more real. I mean, dang it, why can't I buzz over and ask Lilly for gardening advice. She (and the rest) genuinely seem like people you know or want to know. Thus, the sense of home I get when making a virtual visit to Lilly, her friends, and their lovely home in Goosebush, MA. 

Perhaps it's that feeling of simply visiting ol' friends that kept me from realizing until about chapter 15 that although a great deal was going on, there hadn't been a murder yet. Given that I'm a sucker for character centered books with a dose of history, that's probably not surprising. Visiting the cemetery with Lilly seemed like a natural thing to do and recalling my ol' home town cemetery with it's intriguing histories and grave sites, it seemed natural. A long-time resident like Lilly, whose family was so much a part of the town's history, would notice that something wasn't right. What is going on? 

Lilly's sense that something is askew quickly ties in with some other reports, including when one friend's visiting relative reports an unknown body in what should be an empty family plot. What is going on? Even the seemingly unrelated work on a park designed by Lilly's dear friend Roddy seems to be somehow connected. Is the funeral home involved? The cemetery's recent caretaker was, uh, abruptly retired recently, but rumors of plots suddenly being available where none should be, for a high cost, mind you, and Lilly's discovery inside her family vault are worrisome. Even more so is what is found outside, the body of funeral home owner Whitney Dunne-Bradford sprawled against the lovely carved bench outside the vault, clutching a broken headstone. Heck, in this town, even that bench has an intriguing history but I'll leave that for readers to discover on their own. 

I honestly don't want to give away too much of the plot aside from the fact that there are multiple suspects who'd wish Whitney dead but there is so much more.  Like, hey, did you know they use salt urns for sea burial? Or, yikes, that many tombs don't have inside door-handles to detour grave robbery? Wouldn't you hate to not know that and close that door securely behind you? And, what the heck does all this have to do with the sudden death of Stan's father, Buzz? Did Stan decide to rid himself of the burden his money-hungry father had become? Why was Stan angry with Whitney? What happened to the good top soil ordered for Alden Park? Why are they wondering if it went to the cemetery? Will Lilly's house guest ever find the perfect home of his own? How sweet is it that Lilly unthinkingly shares a sandwich with friend and neighbor Roddy? They are both such lovely, caring people that it's a delight to watch their connection as it evolves. 

Bottom line, you don't have to be a gardener to love this series, I've been known far more as a black thumb than a green one, but if you love multi-dimensional and aged characters who work and come together smoothly, you will love this book. If you're seriously into gardening, so much the better. You might even pick up a few tricks from Lilly and the group not to mention the excellent gardening tips included at the end. Cozy mystery fans will also probably applaud that Bash, the young police chief, seems to trust and appreciate Lilly's abilities at figuring things out, too, which I enjoyed..

Thank you, thank you, thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to hang out with Lilly and her friends. Love the community and how they all come together for the common good.

Death on the Pier, by Jamie West

 

Publication October 11, 2011

Deliciously clever. Delicately woven around theatre (British spelling) customs and production elements, it's a bit like stepping onstage and into the middle of a classic Agatha Christie type mystery for which you neither know the lines nor how the play ends. Nothing seems quite wrong....or right. 

That's the situation successful playwright Bertie Carroll finds himself in as he attends a performance of one of his older productions at Brighton's Palace Pier Theatre. It's the 1930s. The theatre was real, btw, and a quick search reveals it must have been rather resplendent at one time. Sadly, it no longer exists. But, I digress. Bertie is in town to meet with an old friend, Chief Detective Inspector Hugh Chapman who has a reputation for solving impossible cases. Bertie is, well, an unassuming writer and feels out of his element as the investigation into the onstage death of fading star Celia Hamilton begins.

It happened in front of an audience who simply thought it was part of the play, as did Bertie initially, to be honest. It quickly becomes evident that it was no well-played death scene, however. It was the real thing. Celia is dead. The actress who pulled the trigger of the prop gun is the obvious suspect but, well, we all know that things aren't always what they seem. I won't detail the plot/investigation but it's fun watching Bertie gain in confidence as he uses his knowledge of day-to-day theatre customs, whether on casting, production, staging, or dressing the stage, to help solve the crime. You'll learn a great deal about the theatre in the process of solving this mystery. 

So, who did it? Did the butler do it? Was it the young, unknown actress, perhaps hoping to replace the difficult star? Perhaps the stage manager had snapped at one too many caustic criticisms? Or maybe the handsome young actor who seems, well, a tad undisciplined onstage? Breaking the fourth wall is a no-no, you know. Why is this show being produced anyway? It isn't even one of Bertie's hits. And, why is Hugh there in the first place? Do you know what a cigarette card is/was in that time period? He gives one to Bertie. There are subtle hints of their connection but, given the era, they remain shadowy. I rather like that as I liked them both and it makes them human but doesn't distract from the story. But, enough teasers. Read the book. You won't be sorry, especially if you're a fan of classic mysteries and/or the theatre.

Thanks to #NetGalley and BrabingerPublishing for the invite to the show. It was a delight to meet Bertie and Hugh and feel engulfed by the mystic of the theatre. Hope to catch another show with them soon!

Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #2), by Raquel V. Reyes

 

Publication October 11, 2022

I like Miriam. I think I'd enjoy having her as a friend. It might even bring back my neglected Spanish. That said, although new to this series, I was pleasantly surprised to find that after being thrown off my reading stride initially by the frequent use of Spanish, much of my Spanish came back to me. I wonder how much that might impact those who know little or no Spanish, however. To the author's credit, she makes no apologies for its use. Miriam notes that she and her non-Hispanic husband have made a real effort to raise a bilingual child, Manny. Having lived in Florida much of my life, I can attest to how valuable such a skill can be. Most was usually either indirectly restated or easily figured out, I'll note. Heck, we even learn a few words in Kreyol, such as "wi" means "yes"and "Mesi" means "thank you". 

Fun with languages aside, however, the book takes an unflenching look at not just the different cultures that exist in South Florida but the pre-conceived notions and expectations of each. Miriam is a positive force, I should note, working to bring the people and communities together. She uses being delegated by her, uh, well, overbearing, superior-aired mother-in-law to organize the Women's Club's annual gathering at the upscale country club to bring in food and music from various cultures, something totally alien to the event until now. Unfortunately, Miriam, alas, seems to be a bit of a dead body magnet. She's there when the country club's head chef takes a header off the balcony at the club and dies. Another later dies. And that is just the beginning. Toss in foreign mafia/scheming, greed, racist snobbery, and more and you've gotten an idea of how complex the situation becomes.

Why was there a body stretched across the fake grave/tombstone in Miriam's yard? That wasn't part of their Halloween decorations. Is the vandalism of her house connected? What role does that cute little kitty, Camo, play? What sort of test does Miriam take? Is the MIL as hateful as she seems? Well, yeah, seems so. How does a costume malfunction cause more serious problems? What exactly does a culinary anthropologist do? Is it just Miriam's imagination that potentially dangerous people from the past keep popping up? Octopus? Would you like to try some octopus for dinner? What....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. Despite the slow-to-me start and my concerns over how the frequent use of Spanish will impact non-bilingual readers, I like Miriam and her crew/posse and am looking forward to her next adventures.  

Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for letting me spend some time in my ol' stomping grounds of Florida. Hope to visit again real soon.

The Paper Caper (Bibliophile Mystery #16) by Kate Carlisle, AUDIOBOOK, narrator Sara Young

 

AUDIOBOOK, 9 h 4 m  Sara Young narrator  

I'm a long time Kate Carlisle fan but this is my first time listening to one of her books on audio. Even better, it's one I hadn't read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Young does an excellent job not only bringing the characters to life but differentiating the voices. Chapter changes are simply announced and Young even handles various accents with aplomb. It was interesting to hear the minor but distinct changes in the Swedish accents utilized, too, both showing character traits in a subtle way. Kudos to both author and narrator.

As for the mystery, it opens with Brooklyn's security team chief husband, Derek, on the job protecting Joseph Cabot, a wealthy San Franciscan. Cabot is a huge supporter of the Covington Library and is sponsoring and hosting a Mark Twain related festival as a fundraiser. One of the big draws is a contest to select someone who looks like Joseph, not Twain. There are also children's activities, a riverboat casino cruise, and even a frog jumping contest. Brooklyn, a book restoration expert, is on site giving presentations on her restoration of a copy of Twain's "Prince and the Pauper", the book that inspired the look-alike contest, as well as mingling with guests and, ultimately, suspects in the murder of Cabot's long-time butler. Derek and his team are top-notch and Brooklyn, well, she's snoopy and has the knack of being in the right place at the right time to see and overhear things. 

They, along with Detective Lee, follow clues and hunches, many courtesy of Brooklyn, to solve the problem. Complications arise, of course, as Brooklyn and the rest deal with crowds, rowdy children, and two "blond bombshells", Joseph's wife and his mother-in-law. Could they be involved? Where did the killer get the idea for the murder weapon? Who had the skill to make it work? Why does Ella tolerate her mother's treatment of her? How does Brooklyn get so lucky at casino night? Should we all remember her numbers? Why were Joseph and his butler arguing? Was the butler even the intended victim? Why is someone afraid of look-alike winner Tom's presence? Would you risk your own life for a friend like Wyatt did for Tom? 

And...oh, so much more. I liked watching the wheels turn in Brooklyn's mind even if, well, they did tend to ping and zing and zip off in different, unexpected ways at times. I mean, I sorta related as my own mind often works that way. Like, her random thought about frog handlers made me wonder what sort of qualifications such a worker must have. That detail seemed irrelevant but others weren't, making it all the more interesting. Throughout it all, of course, we book people were treated to a flood of fascinating information about books, printing, book restoration, and, of course, Mark Twain. Btw, Derek and Brooklyn have only been married for a year, so, yes, lots of sweet lovey-dovey moments but nothing that distracted either them or the reader from the plot. 

Thanks #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMeida for inviting me to the Mark Twain Festival to hang out with Brooklyn, Derek, and friends. I'm thinking the ending perhaps gave us a foreshadowing of big news to come? Can't wait!

Last But Not Leashed, by Eileen Brady

 

Publication Oct. 6, 2022

I'm not a vet but have friends who work in that field and imagine they'd be happy to vouch for the "life of a vet" scenes depicted. I'm sure they'd just as rather have no experience with murder, however. Dr. Kate is dealing with a lot as the book opens. It's almost New Year's Eve and her long distance boyfriend is feeling just as emotionally distant as he is in reality. Than she finds a body in a parking lot after a presentation by a professional home organizer. To add to the dark clouds seemingly surrounding her, a body falls from the rafters at a New Year's Eve bash. Luke, the boyfriend did make it there for that but, as a former cop, his professional mode kicks in and she rides home with a friend. All is not lost, however, as she met a charmingly handsome man at the bash, Colin. Hmm, new romance?

I found myself liking Kate a great deal. Her friends and co-workers at the vet clinic are fun, smart, and seemingly in touch with all the gossip, good and bad, in the community. They even know how to talk humans down when near passing out, such as the sight of blood leaves one client. Handy skill for a cozy mystery, I'd say. Nor does Kate show the usual tendency of other series mysteries to go looking for trouble. Rather nice to see a smart amateur sleuth who doesn't deliberately or stupidly but themselves in harm's way. It just finds her.

Did I mention the dogs? Kate's King Charles spaniel, Buddy, welcomes not just one but two fellow canines in this installment, the badly injured pit they dub Mr. Pitt, dumped at the clinic, and Desi, the attack trained dog she "borrows", not to mention temporary visitor, cranky, usually nasty to deal with  Little Man, a chihuahua described as having the heart of a lion but the body of a mouse. How can you not love them all?

As for the murder, who killed professional organizer Sookie? Her husband sounds like a likely suspect. Seemingly desperate for money, he showed violent tendencies in public. Was unlucky Lucky somehow involved? He did seem to have a way of stumbling into trouble. Or, maybe Posey? Will her book be a best seller? What about Rainbow? She gives airheads a bad name but seems intellectually brilliant, at least? Could the dazzling movie star living on the hillside have played a role? Will Kate's love life improve? Will they find Mr. Pitt's humans?

Why....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. Read the book. If you like dogs and interesting mysteries with a multi-layered plot, you'll enjoy this one.

Thanks #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for introducing me to Dr. Kate, a vet all animal lovers can love.

Holy Chow (Andy Carpenter #25), by David Rosenfelt, Grover Gardner (Narrator) AUDIO BOOK

 

Audio book, Macmillan Audio    6h, 2m, 15s

It's always a delight to spend time with Andy and the gang, especially the dogs. Never mind that people seem to always be trying to kill him. Thankfully Marcus and Laurie have his back because Andy's strength is walking the dogs and legal matters, not self-defense. I read the ebook earlier, that review will follow the audio review, and enjoyed the book, so wasn't surprised to equally enjoy this audio version. As always, Grover Gardner does an excellent job capturing the personality and humor of wannabe-retiree defense lawyer Andy Carpenter. 

 Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series tends to follow the same pattern. You begin the book with a crime, usually murder, being committed. At that point you have no clue how it will connect to the rest of the story but you know it will eventually make sense. You then move to meet Andy, often as he's walking his dogs or chatting with Laurie. In this case, we meet him at a ball game. Son Ricky is playing. Not long after, Andy gets the phone call that sets the plot into motion. A woman who adopted a dog through his Tara Foundation, Lion, the chow of the title, had called to make sure that should something happen to her that Andy will ensure that Lion is cared for properly. She mentions a visiting step-son, one she hopes might take to Lion, but after Andy assures her that Lion will be properly cared for in case she no longer can care for him, the matter is dropped and pretty much forgotten. Then, a few weeks later, another phone call, this one from another lawyer. Rachel Morehouse, Lion's human, has passed away and Andy is invited to the reading of the will. Surprised, since he neither knew of Rachel's death nor that he'd have any connection to her will, Andy agrees. There he meets the step-son prior to the will reading. Just as they begin, the police enter and everyone except the step-son, Tony, is asked to step out. When the attendees return to the room, the only one missing is Tony. Seems the police have arrested him for the murder of his step-mother. It also turns out that Rachel was worth billions, probably the inciting reason for the arrest of a potential heir. And, thus begins the winding trail of how Andy reluctantly becomes involved in the case which, of course, turns out to be far more complicated than a simple murder. Luckily, Marcus has his back.

Narrator Grover Gardner perfectly captures Andy's humor, snark, and complex personality. The pacing is steady, seemingly increasing in pace as Andy finds himself in tense situations. Gardner makes no real effort to impersonate the various characters, ie changing his male voice to a more female sounding one, but it somehow works. There is never any doubt who is speaking. Gardner does this simply through slight changes of tone and speed, for lack of a better description. Chapter changes are not announced. Instead, there is a subtle pause between both chapters and changing scenes. All in all, it works well, from the initial set-up to the usually cliff-hanging conclusion....with Marcus managing to save Andy's life repeatedly at times, not to mention increasingly showing more of his own personality and background. I find myself looking forward to the next revelation about Marcus almost as much as I do seeing how Andy manages to get himself into and out of what appears a legal quagmire. "Holy Chow" is a winner, especially with the assist of narrator Grover Gardner.

Thanks #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the chance to hang out with Andy and the dogs. It's always an adventure, with lots of both laughs and tension. One of my favorite, not-to-miss series.

ORIGINAL REVIEW OF EBOOK VERSION:

As usual, once I started reading, I couldn't stop until I finished. This is the 25th book in the Andy Carpenter series and I'd say that has pretty much held true for all of them. Now, true, I had to delay starting because, well, I needed to take my own dog for a walk. Andy would understand. I was drawn to the series because of the dog connection but have stayed for the self-deprecating humor, witty dialogue, and well-defined characters. Hey, we even learn a bit more about Marcus who, to be honest, I'm about half convinced is Superman in disguise.

As usual, the plot initially sounds simple. Andy's Tara Foundation adopted out Lion, a senior Chow, to Rachel Morehouse. Rachel calls him out of the blue one day to ask him to be sure Lion is cared for if something happens to her and her stepson can't take Lion. Andy thinks nothing more about it until he's notified Rachel has died and he should show up at the reading of her will. He goes, mostly thinking he's there to pick up the dog. He finds out there that Rachel was extremely rich and left $2M to the Tara Foundation. Then, her stepson, Tony, who actually adores the dog, is arrested for her murder just as the reading of the will is about to start.

That's when it gets complicated. Andy has been trying for years to retire, winds up as Tony's lawyer. Who killed Rachel Morehouse? Why? That's the big question Andy must answer to successfully defend his client. Speaking of his client, why was Tony estranged from the family? How is the family business connected? What does Sam discover while hacking his way through records? Do we really need to know exactly how late a plane lands each flight? What could that have to do with Rachel's murder? Dirty money? Drugs? How many times has Marcus saved Andy's life over the lifespan of this series? I don't know. The question just struck me. How do all these things connect? And, oh, there's more but you're going to have to read the book to find the answers to these and other questions.

Thank you #NetGalley and #SMB, #StMartinsBooks, for inviting me to drop in on Andy, Laurie, and the dogs. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment, well, aside from that really scary moment but, well, Marcus was there. He'd have saved me, too.

Mrs. Claus and the Evil Elves (Mrs. Claus #3), by Liz Ireland

 

Publication Sept. 27, 2022

Fun! I loved it! Quirky characters! Santaland! Santa Claus. Sugarplums! Candy canes! Elves! Flying reindeer! And, oh, yeah, murder.

April and Nick have been married a year-and-a-half and she's still not quite adjusted to life in Santaland. Come on. How long would it take you to adjust to being Mrs Claus and living amidst talking snowmen, elves, not just flying but talking reindeer with an attitude, and getting about in a reindeer powered sled? 

Life in Santaland isn't all sugarplums and candy canes, however. Something is afoot. The reindeer are on strike. Then, a kamikazee drone reindeer crashes into a stunning ice sculpture. It's towing a banner saying: "This is just the beginning!!!" The beginning of what? Where did it come from? Is that a threat? Who controlled it? April vows to find out. Then things get worse. Someone is found murdered.

Ironically, I found myself so caught up in the whimsy of the delightful world Liz Ireland has created for us that I almost forgot about the murder at times. I mean, drone reindeer? Clogging elves? A robot elf servant in the Claus castle? Antler toupees? Snowmen on hover-boards? Talking snowmen, at that? How do you put a living snowman back together after they've, well, been powderized by a crash on said hover-board? All this and more, oh, so much more, while April is entertaining Claire, a friend from Oregon who arrives disbelieving. Can you blame her? At least she likes the cold. She also makes a great ice cream.

The mystery starts with a missing man, er, elf, Blinky. He's a bit, well, odd. An eccentric genius, let's say, and has had a habit of going off alone at times. This time, however, he has a girlfriend, Juniper. At least she thinks she's his girlfriend. She hasn't heard from him and is worried. April isn't so sure but wants to support Juniper, even when Juniper is arrested for killing a long time friend with a crush on her. If you're going to be arrested, however, I must admit that Santaland sounds like the best place to be arrested and spend your time in jail. 

I don't want to give away any more of the plot or the delight that is Santaland, so won't detail the plot further. Let's just say, Santaland is both everything we ever imagined the North Pole to be like and nothing like our dreams. The reindeer are competitive, we've all heard of those reindeer games, but resent the gradual intrusion of technology into their world. Heck, so do many of the residents. The reindeer aren't the only ones who might lose their jobs. April's experiences with the robot maid are a perfect illustration of what can go wrong, not to mention that the sedentary snowmen are hardly cut out for nimbly guiding hover-boards. That said, even 12 year-old Christopher Claus, who will take over as Santa when he is 21, wants a robot for Christmas. Nick is sort of a Santa Regent, so to speak.

Is the murder related to the encroachment of technology into Santaland? Are the competitive reindeer causing the problems? What would Christmas be like without reindeer? Will Nick, er, Santa be able to soothe nerves and bring all the factions together in time for Christmas Eve? Even Pamela, the usually serene grand dame elder Mrs. Claus, dumps food over someone's head. Whoa.

They've called in detective Jake Frost to help. Although this is my first read of this series, it's obvious he's known to both Nick and April and, oh, my, visiting Claire is entranced on first sight. Will April be able to solve the murder, attend all the ceremonial festivities, soothe her reindeer friends, keep her red suited husband safe, and referee Claire's attraction to Jake, not to mention the fireworks display that sounds a bit, well, overboard? You're just going to have to read the book. Set aside your rational self, buy into the fantasy, and enjoy a great mystery with some of the quirkiest characters you can imagine. Fun!

Thank you, thank you, #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for taking me away on a fun, imaginary trip to Santaland. Murder aside, I want to go back! Thanks for introducing me to this series.

A Shot in the 80% Dark (Bean to Bar Mysteries, #4), by Amber Royer

 

 

Felicity Koerber doesn't enjoy being thought of as a murder magnet but, dang, she does have a way of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In the process, we're learning quite a bit about the various types of chocolate, its potential uses, and how it can be processed. Who knew chocolate could be an art form, too?

Although I have a low tolerance for love triangles, which plays a role in the book, I liked that Felicity is showing a real growth arc since I first "met" her in the previous book set on a cruise ship. She's making a conscious effort to not just be more aware of what is going on with her friends and be supportive but to try new things, too. That's what puts her in scuba gear and, once again, in the wrong place to discover another body....and that's after being on site when the first death occurs. Contracted to create a large chocolate replica of a ship for the local museum, she was there when a tragic accident occurred.

Or, was it an accident? Could it be a coincidence that Felicity's phone is stolen? What could possibly be on the phone? Further investigation uncovers an elaborate murder weapon and ties to the other artists. She can't help herself. She tells herself initially that she isn't investigating but, well, she's asking lots of questions. She even finds herself bird-sitting the museum's cockatoo, Renoir, who keeps spouting interesting comments. Clues? Why does the museum have a cockatoo in the first place? Murder aside, it was interesting to see the various forms of art showcased, not to mention the importance of a cat to one of the artists as a support animal. Don't worry. Felicity's bunny makes an appearance, too.

Besides Felicity's growth, I liked that she's opening up and even making peace with some she's been at odds with in the past. The background on ship wrecks and who has jurisdiction/claims to anything found in them was interesting, too. So, all-in-all, and interesting mystery with art, history, and chocolate involved.

Thanks #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for taking me not just to a museum and diving but for all that tasty chocolate.

Christmas Scarf Murder, by collective authors Carlene O'Connor, Maddie Day, and Peggy Ehrhart

Publication Sept. 27, 2022

This felt as comfortable as, well, a soft, fuzzy Christmas scarf. The three novellas were by not just three authors I am familiar with but with characters that, as I read, were remembered and came back to life in my mind. This is a perfect read for lovers of cozy mysteries who might be short on time but want to partake of some virtual sleuthing as the holiday season arrives. 

True, as novellas are wont to do, they seemed to be short and a bit contrived at the end but, well, but the endings were satisfactory and all made sense. I liked that Maddie Day, in particular, made a point to support other authors by mentioning Becky Clark's book featuring a crossword puzzle designer solving crimes. As it turned out, I am also familiar with that series, giving it more of the feeling of having come home. 

But, never fear. Even if you've never read or heard of any of these authors, you'll enjoy the stories and characters. I won't detail them all except to note that in the blurb the Day story is called "The Unfinished Scarf" whereas in the actual digital version I received it was titled ""Scarfed Down". You'll love the down home country sayings in it, no matter what the title. Then there's the tractor parade in "Christmas Scarf" and heroic cats in "Death By Christmas Scarf", so lots to take in. So, grab this one when it's available, sit down in your favorite, comfy chair, and enjoy some virtual sleuthing with twinkling Christmas lights and carols playing. And, oh, if you knit, be sure to check out the instructions for what sounds like an adorable teddy bear at the end of "Death By Christmas Scarf" in addition to the recipes included with all. Enjoy!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for helping get me in the Christmas mood. Now, if I just knew how to knit.....