Death by Spiced Chai (Bookstore Cafe Mystery #10), by Alex Erickson

Publication October 25, 2022

If you've ever been prank called and hung up on or simply had the feeling someone was following you, you know how unsettling that can be. In Krissy Hancock's case, however, she's enduring not just these things but being framed for murder.  This can certainly be read as a stand-alone, I was new to the series, but I wished I knew more about the past cases that are brought up as the book continues. Although it's eventually explained where the town residents are getting their gossip about Krissy, I never quite understood why they were so willing to believe what was being shared, for instance. I guess I'm just too accustomed to the typical amateur sleuth being an admired and well liked character in most cozy mysteries but it did leave me in the dark, perhaps intentionally, just as Krissy was initially.

That said, I found the mystery intriguing. The preparation for terrorizing Krissy was extensive. The culprit obviously knew a great deal about her. That allowed them to push emotional buttons, such as the blurry photo suggesting her boyfriend was cheating on her. What's the connection to her father's books? But, yuck, cockroaches? Writing nasty reviews in Krissy's name? Vandalism? Why was the lead investigator so willing to believe she was the guilty party? Who had she wronged so horribly in the past that they'd set such an elaborate plan in action? What is the connection to the victim who'd simply visited her stop? Who is behind all the rumors and gossip flowing through the town? How did the master mind behind the murder and stalking of Krissy know so much? Why did her neighbor lie? Why... oh, enough teasers. Read the book. It's a relatively quick read and you'll find yourself feeling the suspense and same unsettled nerves that Krissy feels as it progresses. 

Thanks #NetGalley and KensingtonBooks for inviting me to visit Krissy's bookshop cafe. I'm going to catch up with this series asap so I'll be ready next visit.

Death in the Margins (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #7), by Victoria Gilbert

 

Publication Dec. 6, 2022

I adore this series. While I somehow seem to have missed the book covering the wedding between Amy and Richard, this one would work nicely as a stand-alone. The characters are introduced in an efficient manner and brought to life, including the resident cats Loie and Fosse. Richard and Amy are a great pairing. As Fosse's name might hint to you, Richard is a dancer and dance coach/trainer/mentor, and it's his dance production that serves as the center of "Death in the Margins". Librarian Amy doesn't exactly discover the body of Richard's former girlfriend Meredith but she arrives on the scene just in time to see Conner, one of the young dancers in the show, holding a bloody knife beside the body. Conner is arrested on the scene but Amy, Richard, and several others question the teenager's ability to have done it. Although friend and sheriff Brad isn't the lead investigator this go round, Amy quickly becomes invested in "researching" the case, putting herself in danger. Oh, and horses are involved. No, they don't dance. Laugh.

Who killed the arrogant, not-very-nice Meredith. Besides Conner, several other suspects emerge. Was it her ex-husband? He was spied in the parking lot. How about the mother of the autistic and easily overwhelmed child that Meredith degraded in public? Or any of the other dance parents? Meredith wasn't a nice person, to be honest, although nice-guy Richard was trying to help her out by giving her the dance job in "The Folklore Suite" production. Even his partner, Karla, is harshly belittled by Meredith? Heck, she isn't even very nice to Amy. And, what's the pianist's connection to her? And, back to the horses, what was Meredith's connection to an odd illness that took the lives of some valuable show horses some four years ago? Or, was there even one? Could Amy be chasing red herrings with that bit of information? Who is keeping secrets? Or, oh, never mind. Enough teasers. I loved this book/series and am betting cozy mystery lovers who like their mysteries with a bit of romance will too.

Thanks #NetGalley and #CrppledLaneBooks for inviting me to witness the birth of Richard's "Folklore Suite". Kudoes to Karla (and obviously author #VictoriaGilbert ) for emphasizing Richard and Karla's efforts to be inclusive and work with children.

Blue Skies and Golden Fields, ( Kindle Edition) by Oksana Lushchevska

 Publication Sept. 1, 2022 

I was a sunflower fan long before it became an international symbol of not just peace but hope and resistance against foreign invasion. As such, the cover grabbed my attention immediately. As a retired teacher, I wondered how it could be used for learning, particularly as I imagine many children, the target audience, had never heard of the country before recent (2022) events. While it certainly isn't a comprehensive tome on the country's culture and place in history, it does provide a solid starting point as well as some hands-on projects.

My first reaction, probably naturally, was to delight in the colorful photos spaced throughout the book. For instance, rather than simple drawings of, say, a nightingale, the national bird of Ukraine, photos were used. No surprise, the sunflower got its own section, one that included instructions on planting them. They share a bit of culture here and there and one of them was a Ukrainian poem to be recited as you water your flowers. 

History-wise, they provide a very basic overview and timeline. I should note  that the book seems more directed at adults, adults who can read and discuss the information within with children. It provides a taking off place, in other words. Known as "the breadbasket of the world", Ukraine certainly is worthy of discussion. A handy timeline is provided, by the way. Given recent events, it provides a handy reminder that Ukraine's geographical location has made it something of a volatile barrier between the west and east at times. Again, not presented politically but in a conversational tone as a starting place for discussion. As such, this book would be an excellent starting point for adults wanting to know more about Ukraine. 

Thanks #NetGalley and #Capstone - #CapstoneEditions for providing this quick, easy-to-read overview of Ukraine, it's culture, history, and importance to the world. Now I'm going to go practice those Ukrainian phrases.  

Murder in the Library (Julia Bird Mysteries #2), by Katie Gayle

 

Publication September 7, 2022

Retirement isn't proving at all dull for former social worker Julia Bird. She's just discovered another body. Who killed well=known author Vincent Andrews in the library? Having been the one to discover Andrews' body, Julia's intrigue with the case is probably inevitable although she does try, well, sorta try, to stay out of it. 

So, who did it? Was it the wife, who he'd praised aloud during his presentation at the library to a crowd? Let's face it, the spouse is almost always a suspect. But, why would she have killed him? Or, hmm, maybe one of those unhappy locals who felt they'd been wrongly used as characters in the new book? Why did one man walk out on the presentation? Or maybe it was the attractive young publisher's assistant, Phoebe. Maybe an old flame? He did noticeably overlook one woman's attempts to ask a question during the Q/A session. Where's the murder weapon anyway? But, wait. There's a second murder? Why? Is there some unknown connection? 

Why...oh, never mind, Enough teasers. Although I couldn't quite get as invested in the mystery as I'd have liked, that is probably on me, not the book. The plot moved along smoothly and it appealed to me that she's an older sleuth and has a much loved dog, Jake. So, I liked Julia, even if she did some rather impulsive things in her curiosity to solve the crime. That's rather typical of most cozy mysteries, of course, and despite not quite connecting with Julia, the mystery was an interesting one and the ending did take me by surprise. Julia's relationship with sorta-almost-boyfriend Sean was adorable, too. It'll be interesting to see it grow. 

Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for letting me spend a bit of time in Cotswolds with Julia and Sean, not to mention Jake. Give that dog a virtual treat!

Round Up the Usual Peacocks (Meg Langslow, #31), by Donna Andrews AUDIOBOOK REVIEW (plus original ebook review)

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW with original ebook review after

Duration 10h 33m

As I said in my ebook review, the Meg Langslow series never disappoints. This is also true of the audio version courtesy of #MacmilanAudio and #StMartinsPress - #MinotaurBooks.

Narrator Bernadette Dunn does an excellent job capturing Meg's often zen-like ability to stay cool, calm, and collected, even when faced with difficult, even wild situations. Since there is frequently a large cast in the series, I was particularly interested in seeing how Dunne differentiated voices. I was particularly fond of the voice she used for Meg's mother. She captured "mother" nicely, using that slightly exasperated, slightly uppity tone that conveys she can't imagine how anyone could argue, so why have you disappointed me, but I still love you voice well. The different voices add to the experience, I must admit. The audio version of the, well, let's call it "the llamas and guests meet the visiting peacocks" scene, definitely made it come alive for me, cheering the arrival of Border Collie Lad to save the day. Grandfather's voice is slightly impatient, while Michael remains the ever calm voice of sanity. Kudos to Dunn for her interpretation of characters.

To be honest, I'm amazed at how much a talented voice actor's change of pace, tone, or touch of "oh, wow" can add to the story. I will definitely continue to read and enjoy the print versions of this series but take every chance I get to listen to the audio, too. The plot moved along steadily, chapter breaks defined by a slight pause then simply announcing "Chapter (whatever)". Bottom line, a fun experience and nice diversion from reality.

EBOOK/Original review follows:

This series never disappoints.

Despite the chaos about her, Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow always seems to maintain her almost zen-like calm while dealing with the bad guys. In this, the 31st book of the series, she actually solves three cold cases. Her nephew Kevin and Casey, a friend, were doing a true crime podcast, a very modern touch to the plot, and had managed to rile up someone enough to make them attempt to run down Casey. Spooked and more at home in front of a computer than dealing with people, Kevin asks Meg to help investigate. Since helping Kevin sounds like a great excuse to avoid some of the wedding planning chaos going on, Meg readily agrees.

I won't detail the plot, it's readily available elsewhere, but will say that the wedding hoopla takes a backseat to the investigation although, quite frankly, is the source of some absolutely hilarious scenes involving Meg. Who knew herding dogs could herd peacocks? Or that peacocks make great watchdogs, er, watch...birds? Well, when they're not attacking you. Have you ever heard a peacock shriek? It isn't a pleasant sound, so just the image conjured up of their possible participation in the wedding program is amusing. Beautifully feathered, yes. Peaceful and serene, no.

So, first, what is the Clay County involvement in the cases? Why the heck are they stalking Meg's movements? Second, in this day and age, why would any college department resist converting its records to digital files? Could the answer to the death of a professor be hidden there? Third, what happened to the talented singer/college girl who simply seems to have disappeared? Did her stalker kill her? If not, could she still be around to be found? And, will Meg really wind up creating a gargoyle collection, so to speak, for Ragnor? Sounds like they're fit right in.

These questions are only the tip of the iceberg as Meg organizes and does errands for the upcoming wedding, listens to the previous podcasts, talks to Chief Burke, keeps her guests safe, wrangles peacocks, avoids Spike's bad tempered bites, and dodges bad guys. This is a can't-put-it-down read, full of both tense and hilarious moments with lots of critters. My friends who have herding dogs will love it, I'm sure. Lad, you're my furry hero in this one.

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for my "wedding invite". It was fun to see Meg come full circle from the beginning as she dealt with a wedding, quirky relatives one can't help but love, and helps put the bad guys away.

Six Feet Deep Dish, by Mindy Quigley

 

Publication August 25, 2022

What a delight! I not only found a new-to-me author to follow but the joy of reading this fast-paced, fun cozy mystery. Delilah O'Leary is focused so much on opening her new gourmet pizzeria that the worst of her control freak side has ruined a relationship, then she discovers a dead body outside at the pizzeria's soft opening. It's her elderly Aunt Biz's caretaker, Jeremy. The murder weapon is found in her aunt's possession. Enter Geneva Bay's police detective Capone, great grandson of the legendary Al Capone. Fur is going to fly and it isn't all going to come from Butterball, Deliliah's plus-sized cat.

I found myself immediately sucked into the story. Not only is Delilah's personality one you can't ignore but her pizzeria staff is made up of equally unique characters. All have back stories and needs and depend on Delilah to one extent or the other. Oh, the pressure of being the boss. They have her back, fortunately, and the dialogue, quips, and zingers seem to flow naturally, making them someone we'd like to know. Despite having just seen Sam, her boyfriend exit, she finds herself drawn to Capone. His backstory trickles out as the book continues and you will find yourself liking him, too, I'm sure. Delilah sure did but, well, will that be enough? Maybe. Life is never perfect, alas. 

Who killed Jeremy? As it turns out, there are many legitimate suspects. Since Delilah was storming out of the pizzeria determined to fire Carson when she found the body and he was nowhere to be found, he's an obvious suspect. Biz? After all, the gun was hers. Who steals Aunt Biz's medications? Why does she wind up in the hospital? Did Sam's jaunt cleanse his heart chakra and help him reconnect with himself? Why does Veronica call Jeremy a viper? What surprise is found in Biz's shed? And, oh, so much more. The twist at the end was a stunner. Put this one on your "TBR" list and enjoy the recipes at the end, too. They were made extra special by being given in the "voices" of various characters, adding to the fun. Let's just say, I rarely do more than scan recipes. These I read with a grin.

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for inviting me to Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, for Delilah's grand opening. It was fun and I will definitely be back.

The Murder Question (A Beth Haldane Mystery Book 3), Alice Castle

 

Originally published as "Calamity in Camberwell"

It's so easy to let yourself be drawn into Beth Haldane's world. Alice Castle's writing engages you quickly and you find yourself rooting for Beth. Given that this installment in the series focuses almost as much on her private, home world as the mystery itself. Beth is a romantic. We get the "meet cute" moment when Beth and her late husband James met, for instance, and her trepidation as she's urged to enter the dating world again. For reasons she is yet to admit, she can't quite stop thinking of Detective Inspector Harry York every time that topic comes up. He both fascinates and frustrates her. Interestingly enough, since this series takes us into the minds of different characters, he's growing tired of being alone, too. His purchase of Beth's favorite tea is a sweet, telling gesture.

As for the mystery, we do get a glimpse into the mind of the missing Jen. Her new husband, after initially seeming perfect, is abusive, seemingly both physically as well as mentally. Dulwich is proof positive that we never know what secrets hide behind firmly closed doors. Then, Jen goes missing. Beth. always drawn to a mystery, can't help snooping. This time it lands her in the hospital. Harry is there when she wakes up. 

Where is Jen? Who put Beth in the hospital? Who is that mystery doctor she vaguely recalls seeing one night? Will all her dates be as, uh, odd as the first? Was sending son Jake for extra tutoring a good idea? Who ransacks Beth's office? Is online dating dangerous? Does the pressure to bow to the opinions of the "yummy mummies" of Dulwich play a role in keeping spousal abuse hidden? What other secrets are hidden behind firmly closed doors? Will Harry be around to save her the next time she gets in trouble?

There's so much more. Life is never simple, even in upper crust areas. One of the things I applaud Alice Castle for is stepping forward and tackling difficult topics.Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for inviting me back to Dulwich. I hope to return soon as I look forward to following Beth and her ability to find trouble without trying as this series continues. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what is next for Beth and Harry. I've spent reading time in their heads and like them both immensely, so I'm rooting for them.

 

Dashing Through the Snowbirds (Meg Langslow #32), by Donna Andrews

 

Publication October 11, 2022

As a fan of this series from the beginning, it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed joining Meg's family for the Christmas run-up. I often wonder if I keep coming back as much for their antics and the animals as I do the mystery. In this case, the mystery is who killed the obnoxious, mean-spirited Scrooge, er, Ian The antics, oh, too many to mention although can't ignore that surprise ice rink in the back pasture. Humor, always. Meg has a zen like ability to face danger and remain calm or find the perfectly snarky comeback to someone's comments. Fortunately, we only "hear" most of them in her head though I did like the snarky, surely intentional misinterpretation of someone's comment about wanting to remain silent and a lawyer. Nope, not telling. See if you guessed right and read the book. Enjoy those accidentily gold sprayed Pomeranians, too, although they are now naked Poms dressed in an abundance of outfits supplied by friends and family. 

As for the crime, it kept me guessing. Just when you think Meg has rounded up the last of the suspects, another appears. Heck, they even toss in a cyber stalker for good measure who has decided Casey, half of the crime podcast team with Kevin, is her soul mate. Never mind she thinks he's a tall redhead, mostly likely Irish, and Casey is, well, not. The crime centers about a quite current topic, however, DNA testing and it's legit uses.

So, who whacked Ian with the hockey stick in the pasture at the ice rink? There are multiple suspects who'd wish him dead, that's for sure. Was the person in the silver car cruising past Meg and Michael's home involved? How many uses can you think of for a dumbwaiter? What happened to the soon-to-be mama cat in the manger at the church nativity? Can Juncos really predict the weather? Is it suspicious that Maeve planned to basically quit on Friday anyway? How much would it cost to outfit your town's police force with electric cars? Do you know what "curds and whey" is the ol' fashioned term for? Who is that supposed lawyer that is looking for Ian?  In fact, who are all those strangers that keep turning up? What mischief is Meg's grandfather into now that is annoying Caroline? And, oh, there is always more in a Meg Langslow story? Trust me, you won't be bored. Even now, on book 32, this series hasn't gone stale. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress - #MinotaurBooks for letting me spend some time hanging out with Meg's family and friends, not to mention the dogs, llamas, peacocks, oh, never mind. I'd be here all day listing all the much loved critters in their lives.

The Murder Museum (A Beth Haldane Mystery Book 2), by Alice Castle

 

Previously published as The Girl in the Gallery.  

Beth Haldane is someone you can root for. She isn't perfect, which she acknowledges to herself rather frequently, but she cares about people and wants justice done where there is injustice. This brings her into contact and frequent conflict with Harry, the Detective Inspector. What I particularly liked about this story is that we get to spend time in not just Beth's head, but Harry's, giving us insight into who he is as a human being, too. Heck, we get to visit quite a few different minds in this installment of the series, including that of pouty, self-centered, and, oh, so spoiled and neglected schoolgirl Sophia. Even her drug wasted "boyfriend" gets a turn and, quite frankly, I hope he doesn't pop up again. Let's just say, bad news.

 The mystery begins benignly enough. Beth, playing a childhood game in her head of "Which work of art would you save in a fire?" is making a quick visit to the upscale school museum where she works. Instead of a fun, relaxing visit, however, she finds a body. Well, not quite a body. The mystery girl is still alive but in what appears to be a coma. She's wearing a flowing white dress and has her hands folded against her chest, recalling several works of art that Beth is familiar with. It's the folded hands that won't allow Beth to let the image go and next thing we know, she's off on her own investigation. Her budding friendship with Harry is already shaky but this time it takes off on a roller coaster of a ride as he alternately shoves her away and allows her into his world as the investigation goes along. 

The case is baffling. How did the comatose girl get into the mausoleum? Who arranged her so picturesquely? More importantly, who is she? Why haven't her parents reported her as missing? Why is she comatose? Drugs? Why is the upper crust school so shaken? How does a parent make the horrendous decision of life or death for the child they carried within them? What does the Blue Whales challenge have to do with anything? Is social media to blame? How powerful does being a known influencer make a teenage girl feel? Do we blame society? Busy, distracted parents? Seriously, what sort of nasty secrets are lurking under the veneer of upper crust Dulwich? I know I didn't see the ending coming, that's for sure. It was at once satisfying and saddening. Author Alice Castle made me care about her characters, even the ones we only meet in passing, and I was fully, intently invested until the end. And, hey, what about that ending?

If you like multi-layer mysteries with well-defined characters and suspects, you will surely love this one. Go into it with an open mind and be prepared to think, "Whoa!", sit back and think periodically. There's a great deal to this book and this is just an overview of all that is tackled. The world we live in is a complicated one and one never really knows what is going on behind closed doors, be they at home, school, or elsewhere. This one made me think, reflect, and as a former teacher, feel the pangs of knowing I can't gather all my students under my wings and protect them from real life. Kudos to Alice Castle. This series has me hooked.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for inviting me back to Dulwich. It was an uneasy trip occasionally but I adored the moments when the prose flowed and we saw the world through Beth's whimsical, romantic eyes. I'll be diving into book three asap.

The Murder Mystery (A Beth Haldane Mystery Book 1), by Alice Castle

 

Previously published as Death in Dulwich.

Beth Haldane seems like a nice woman, realistic, likable and somehow both confident and unsure of herself. She compares herself to that adorable little pony while wishing for longer legs herself and a more tameable mane. I immediately liked her attitude, which is good as we spend a great deal of time in her head. Determined to give her 9 year-old son the best life possible, she's accepted a job at a posh, rather snooty school. Yet, she can't figure out why they hired her. She knows her own resume was sketchy in the area of historical archivist and that there were surely other applicants far more experienced. She's grateful, however, as she presents herself at the school the next morning. 

That gratefulness turns to uneasiness. To be polite, let's just say her boss leers. She's actually glad when he heads out to meet someone and leaves her alone in the shed, er, office for hours. He never returns. Finally steeling herself to find lunch and a restroom, Beth heads out, only to get turned around on the school's paths. Then, she finds her boss. He's dead. That is where the story truly begins. Detective Inspector Harry York soon arrives to begin the investigation. 

Who killed Dr. Alan Jenkins, her boss? She slowly comes to grips with the thought that the person who finds the body is often a suspect. Determined to prove her innocence, albeit without a clue how to do so, Beth begins her own investigation. Will this get her in trouble? Oh, come on. You know the answer to that. This is a cozy mystery after all. This brings her into frequent contact and conflict with Det. York. Will he tell her not to get involved? Of course. Will she listen? Of course not. They gradually come to respect and even, hmm, like each other, however, as the book continues. 

What I liked most about this book, aside from the likable main character, is that the murder plot involved more depth than who killed Jenkins. Sadly, many readers, especially women, will relate. Like Beth, Jenkins has a backstory and it isn't an admirable one. Maybe this explains the reactions of so many to his death? Will Beth get herself fired asking nosy questions at the school? It's an upscale facility, think parents with money and prestige, and the school is anxious to move past this and regain its usual hallowed status. Is the fact Beth spied the headmaster near where the body was found meaningful? Who was that flash of pink she saw? Is the receptionist friend or foe? Why are so many relieved to know Jenkins is dead? Why was there a handkerchief over his face? What secrets are hidden in the archive office? Oh, my, so much to think about but, enough teasers. Read the book. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for introducing me to Beth and her posh new job setting. I wasn't sure what to expect but am glad I accepted and am looking forward to the next in the series. I wonder if she'll listen more to her cat's not so subtle hints that a bad day may be at hand.