The Twelve Jays of Christmas: A Meg Langslow Mystery (Meg Langslow #30), by Donna Andrews

Listened to the audio version and loved it. Publisher #StMartinsPress. I didn't get on #NetGalley soon enough to request this one so was delighted to find it available via my library, albeit I had to wait awhile for my turn. I considered it a belated Christmas gift that my turn coincided with New Year's Eve and listened to the bulk of it that evening while cuddling with the dog and briefly watching the local fireworks from my deck. Life is good. In any case, on with a review.....

Donna Andrews' #MegLangslow series has never disappointed. Good mood, bad mood, so-so mood, bored or whatever, I always find myself rapidly losing myself in the story. Meg is amazing and despite the often bizarre things going on about her, like wombats in the basement, never seems to be flustered or overwhelmed. BTW, did you know wombats glow? Sort of like my old black light posters, I guess. In any case, that's just the beginning of the adventure. There's a cranky, demanding artist in residence in the Langslow's library, too, doing some art work for the wildlife expert grandfather's next book. In the process, someone has set free the twelve jays of the title in the house. Blue Jays are obviously not an easy catch, either.

Then the artist's ex-wives show up, angry and in at least one case, fighting mad. The long suffering assistant isn't having an easy time of it, either, facing constant ridicule and belittlement from said artist and having to run back and forth between grandfather's zoo facility for items left there when the cranky artist refused to work in the small space set up for him. You see, cranky artist couldn't simply go back to his apartment because he'd been locked out for non-payment of rent. And, oh, yeah, he smokes in the library, too, which finally forces Meg to put her foot down and threaten he'll be tossed out of there, too. And, oh, it's almost Christmas.

I doubt it comes as any surprise to you when cranky artist winds up dead. Dead with a knife in his throat. The irate ex-wives are the logical immediate suspects but, hmm, could this be far more complicated than that? How about the landlord who was cheated out of payment for use of his facility? Other artists, perhaps jealous? What happened to Delaney's mother? Is that related? Why was a PI trying to serve cranky artist? How many red heads actually live in town? Will the 9-1-1 operator ever tire of Meg's calls at all hours? What are the mothers up to? Will or won't Spike bite Meg before all is said and done? Just how cranky are wombats anyway, even young ones? When will Michael and the boys get home with Grandma? Will the community come together to find a way that allows its main homeless resident to accept their help? Will..... Oh, surely you get my drift by now. There's a great deal going on, including a desperate visit to the zoo. And that's all before Rob's big announcement at the Christmas gathering.

Bottom line, I loved every second of this audio book. Narrator Bernadette Dunne is excellent, her voice seeming changing pitch and tone effortlessly as she narrates the story. Kudos to her for capturing the various characters so well. I'm already looking forward to Meg's next adventure.

Show Me the Bunny, by Laurien Berenson

 

As a sucker for anything dog, I'm pretty sure I've been reading this series from the beginning. True, I've maybe missed a book here and there but I remember Mel back in her pre-dog days, which were also pre-Sam and the kids. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is Aunt Peg. She is a force. It's because she's never quite mastered the art of saying no to Aunt Peg that Melanie finds herself in charge of putting together an Easter celebration for the children at a new woman's shelter, Gallagher House under the equally watchful eye of her Aunt Rose. The Aunts are not fond of each other but Melanie discovers that, in actuality, they are very much alike, not to mention hard to say no to. Aunt Rose is a former nun, btw,who also isn't fond of dogs. Then, just to complicate things, we discover Rose's husband is ill and, oh, yes, there's a murder. The victim is the main financial supporter of the shelter.

That's the basic plot. It's interspersed with cute kids and dogs as well as Melania dealing with the fact her youngest is probably going to be celebrating his last Easter where he believes in the Easter Bunny. Mel loves her kids and is a wonderful mother but at times feels quite inadequate that questions from her youngest about the reality of the Easter Bunny seem to leave her flailing. Fortunately, not only is husband Sam around but her  oldest son provides some adorable answers to his younger brother, ensuring Melanie one last Easter with a child who still believes in the Easter Bunny. Something tells me most mothers will relate well to this feeling. They are surrounded by dogs during all this, of course, the pedigreed poodles so beloved by her Aunt Peg and now Mel's family. The adopted stray of unknown pedigree, Bud, also provides some humorous moments as he darts about and indulges in his not quite "civilized" self with glee. 

As for the murder, although it wasn't too hard to figure out, there was always doubt as the red herrings pop up. Was it the family? Could a family member actually kill their own mother? How about the jilted boyfriend? Why is the son so adamant about selling the woman's shelter house and forcing everyone out? Could it be the daughter's former "love of her life"? And, why is he hanging out with her brother? Will the dogs play a role in this investigation? After all, they have protected Mel in the past. Also, while I'm talking about dogs, will puppy Plum ever learn to quit gawking around and pay attention to the training sessions? I mean, one has to admit that rowdy Bud is a bit of a distraction. Will Aunt Rose and Peg ever slow down their walking pace to match Mel's shorter legged one? So many questions, some vital, some not. Which is which? Not telling. You're going to have to read this fun, relatively quick read to find out. If you like dogs, interesting, true-to-life characters that could be neighbors or family, and watching Melanie navigate it all on what she thought was going to be a relaxing holiday break, this is the book for you. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for giving me the opportunity to enjoy the company of Mel and her family.... and the dogs .... again. I love this series.

Death of a Knit Wit (A Knit & Nibble Mystery Book 8), by Peggy Ehrhart

 

We are largely in the mind of main character Pamela Paterson when the story opens, seeing things as they happen through her eyes. Pamela is an editor of a fiber crafts magazine and has helped organize a knitting bee as a part of a conference on fiber crafts and arts at the local college. When an invited but not particularly well-liked speaker attends the bee and after drinking the same coffee everyone else was drinking suddenly takes ill and dies, Pamela finds herself feeling it is somehow her fault. She is fearful of losing her job. It turns out her concerns are baseless but her initial sense of being overwhelmed slowly evaporate. She slowly returns to normal and helped along by her best friend and neighbor, who just happens to be a reporter, begins to investigate and gather clues. Unlike most cozy mysteries where there is a constant law enforcement presence, the detective in charge is largely kept to the shadows in this episode, I might note. 

There are a number of suspects as the victim was not only not particularly well liked but a womanizer. Toss in more than a few red herrings and twists in relationships between possible suspects. Pamela is likeable and given her shock at the death, a very sympathetic amateur sleuth. I honestly believe I've read some early books in this series but simply didn't pursue it further given that I have so little interest in knitting. Knitting is definitely a part of this plot but mostly in the sense that it brings together both the victims and Pamela's circle of friends. I did get a chuckle out of the curiosity of the Knit and Nibble group as they tried to decide what one member was knitting during their gatherings. He wasn't telling and it was a cute reveal near the end. Cats and dogs are also very much a part of this story and, in fact, oh...... never mind. I'm not telling. You're just going to have to read the book to find out what role some beloved furry friends play in the story.

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for the ARC. Love the cover!

Murder, It Seams, by Reagan Davis

 I've followed this series from day one and just like the previous books, I loved this one. I found it not just an intriguing mystery, well thought out and with lots of twists and turns, but one that showcased the characters well. Ironically, given that main character Megan has never much liked Karla, it's Karla who adds an interesting summation of Megan at one point, saying "you've taken a community of small-town busybodies and whipped up a network of supportive family and friends who take care of each other." Given that network's diligence when it came time to keep Megan safe from the killer, that was telling.

I also wound up liking Karla. She's smart and had an edge that makes her come off to many as snarky and even mean. Megan has always resented her ability to lob compliments that aren't compliments, for instance, and do it with apparent glee. Yet, when forced to work with Karla to solve a murder, one where Karla is a suspect, Megan discovers another side to Karla. She learns how caring about others Karla is and is quick to follow her instincts that Karla could not be a killer. Oh, the snark is still there but they come to respect and, yes, maybe even like each other by the time all is said and done. Karla even finds a major clue that points the finger at the guilty party at the end. Nope, not telling. Getting to that point was half the fun as Megan and Karla traded zingers and heart-felt feelings with the other characters blending in and out of the action. All while solving a crime with a little help from those "busybodies" Karla referenced.

I was kept guessing and switched main suspects several times but, as luck would have it, was interrupted and had to put aside the book for a couple days. Upon my return to it I was right at the point the clues began to make me suspect the eventual culprit but that was sheer luck and an "It's too easy" gut instinct at my then main suspect. Kudos to Reagan Davis for weaving together such an intriguing, timely case while letting us get to know the characters better as real people. They are people I wish I knew and I'm looking forward to Megan's next adventure.

Dogs Puppies: Learn to draw using basic shapes--step by step!, by Emily Fellah

Shh, don't tell anyone but I spent a good chunk of my day trying out the directions and had a blast. I even ventured into creating my own dog, whose breed wasn't illustrated. I was able to pull various characteristics from the dogs pictured, however, to make a very representative drawing of my own Daisy dog. So, whether you're a kid or grown-up-kid, I think you'll enjoy this book.

The directions are simple and easy to follow and the use of different colors for different steps makes them that much easier to follow. All you really need to draw is paper and pencil, though an eraser and colors add to the fun. In the process, if your child is unfamiliar with the names of figures like triangles, this can aid in their learning of those basic terms. Bottom line, this book should be a fun diversion for any child who loves to draw and/or dogs. I know it was a blast for this grown-up-kid.

Thank  you #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #WalterFoster and author/artist #EmilyFellah for allowing me to enjoy being a kid again!

Caramel Pecan Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen, #29), by Joanne Fluke

Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen series was one of those that helped me fall in love with the cozy mystery genre. It was like old home week as I dived into this one, which, oddly enough, was both good and bad. I have little tolerance for extended love triangles and this one with Hannah, Norman, and Mike had long since run through my patience. Even now, with Mike perhaps coming across to any new readers as simply a good friend rather than a former love interest, the relationship still continues on an uneasy ground. Hannah seems to be staying with Norman, who deserves an award for devotion in the face of indecision and continued disappointment. He has moved out of his master suite into a guest room to give Hannah space after the violent death of her husband at their condo. Hannah seems unable to move on and it has left them all in a bit of a limbo. That was the downside of the book for me. Everyone was comfortable and familiar with each others likes and foibles, however, which made it like slipping back into comfy slippers and a robe.

On the plus side, too, and why this book got a four rating from me, is not just the eventual mystery solving but the family interrelationships. It's fun to see how wonderfully well the sisters have each other's backs and work together. Norman and the other slot of friends fit comfortably into this niche, too, and it's obvious that people both like and to an extent depend on Hannah. Having missed several of the latest in the series, it was neat to see how well the sisters just naturally eased into helping with the investigation, too, not to mention the baking. If you enjoy recipes with your mysteries, you'll love this book as there are many, all sounding particularly yummy.

The mystery itself seems to be the typical Hanna Swensen mystery, albeit in a new location. If I knew Hannah knew how to drive a boat, for instance, I'd forgotten, so that activity and its role in the mystery was fun to see. I have to admit, I had no clue who the guilty party was until they revealed themself and I'm not so sure Hannah hadn't been on the wrong track, too. As is typical of cozy mystery heroines, they do seem to stumble into danger alone frequently but, hey, never fear, her sisters and detective Mike, who may or may not be still of romantic interest to Hannah, had her back. Mike also had some unexpected news as the book drew to a close. What was it? Not telling. Heck, I'm not sure what it means. Like me, you'll have to read the next in the series to find out.  

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to revisit Hannah's world and catch up with her friends and family.

Beatle Wives: The Women the Men We Loved Fell in Love With, by Marc Shapiro

Color me impressed. Having just come off watching "Get Back", I jumped on the chance to read this. Quite frankly, although never an avid enough fan to know all the trivia and details of Beatles lives and happenings, I was a fan and figured it would be a light, fun, largely repeat of info I already knew.

I was wrong. I came away from "Beatle Wives" knowing not just more about the women in the Beatles' lives but the Beatles themselves. If you've ever envied these women, think again. Being the spouse of a Beatle seems to be anything but easy. If it wasn't just having to largely live in the shadow of someone everyone thinks they knew and wanted a piece of or fans breaking and entering, you were dealing with complicated, often drug addled men. The book doesn't delve into it but one has to imagine that after Lennon's murder there was a sense of paranoia, too, the sense that outsiders couldn't just not be trusted but might be people to fear. Life in the seemingly ideal bubble was anything but ideal. These were real people, with real backgrounds, which Shapiro details, aspirations, and experiences. I came away from "Beatle Wives" with not just a new understanding of their lives but a fierce respect for it, too. Hugs to those often overlooked, derided, or simply ignored spouses.

All Beatle fans should read this book. You'll see your idols with new eyes and understanding. It's a must read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RiverdaleAvenueBooks for allowing me this glimpse into their lives. I've been a Beatles fan for ages but learned a great deal.

A Fatal Family Feast (Farm-to-Fork Mystery, #6), by Lynn Cahoon

There's a great deal going on in "The Fatal Family Feast". Main character Angie's business partner Felicity is getting married. Angie is Maid-of-Honor. Head chef Estebe is the groom-to-be. That means shuffling work schedules and bringing in temporary help which upsets the dynamics of the workplace. In the meantime, there has been a murder and Estebe is the main suspect. The murder victim? Felicity's former boyfriend, Jason, a man her father had pegged to take over the family business. All this before the restaurant is even vandalized. What next? Who killed Jason and why? Why is Felicity's father refusing to walk her down the aisle?

I won't say any more about the plot as it'll be detailed elsewhere but I particularly enjoyed the side stories about the characters' past and inter-connections, particularly the one involving a foster child. These little revelations helped make them more real to the reader and made you care that much more about their lives and futures.

Bottom line, this is really a story that is as much about family as it is a murder investigation. Watching Angie pull in clues and information from various sources is only half the fun, of course, as there is also that wedding and boyfriend Ian is thinking that he'd like her to meet his family in England. What does this all mean for Angie? I'm not telling. You'll need to read the book to find out. 

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for letting me reenter Angie's world once again with the ARC. 

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, by Elle Cosimano

Buckle up tight. You're about to go on a wild ride with Finlay Donovan. Christopher "was dead to begin with. There was no doubt about that." And, Finlay killed him. You'll have to read the book to find out who Christopher was.

That is basically how the story opens although I've borrowed Charles Dicken's words. From there on out, it only gets crazier. It's a fun, entertaining ride. Don't bother trying to make sense of it all. Just enjoy the ride. Author Elle Cosimano draws us in from the first paragraph and the plot, which is rather a roller coaster ride, moves along at a rapid, head-spinning race pace from beginning to end. Oddly enough, it all makes a sort of sense in the end, even with loose ends remaining. There's always the next book, right?

I'm not sure I'd enjoy having Finlay as a friend, she seems to live in a whirlwind, but I liked her, nevertheless. Her friendship with friend and nanny Vero is solid and we learn more about each as the story progresses. Her family reminds me a bit of Stephanie Plum's in that Janet Evanovich series, not to mention the two competing love interests in Finlay's life, one a cop. The feel of the entire series is very Plum-ish, for lack of a real word. Given how much I enjoyed this book, that is high praise for both writers. True, the story line doesn't remotely seem realistic at times but, hey, just enjoy the ride. I do think that had I read the first book in the series it all might make more sense to me but, well, maybe not. It's all about the characters and antics, after all, with some solid friendships as an added bonus. Bottom line, a fun, entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC and introduction to Finlay. I'm looking forward to more of her adventures.

 

A Matter of Hive and Death (An Oregon Honeycomb Mystery, #2,) by Nancy CoCo

The dynamics of this multi-level story blew me away as it kept me guessing until the very end. The main characters are likeable, quirky, and smart. They are not perfect, however, and that is what makes it half the fun. I mean, we meet Wren as her aunt is sharing her cat's alien costume. Nor are all those about them what they seem.  The basic plot seems simple enough, who killed Elias and tore up his bee hives? Is this event related to similar vandalism that has been going on elsewhere? Elias is found dead, surrounded by hoards of angry, confused  bees. Bee "wranglers", as I discovered they're called, have to be called in to help recover the body. Wren, who trained under Elias, then helps soothe the bees, getting most back into hives. We quickly learn not only how much Wren cares for the bees but how valuable they are to us all as the book progresses. Given how endangered bee survival is in this day and age, kudos to author Nancy Coco for helping spread the world in such a unique, intriguing way.

That chaotic, unusual murder scene is only the beginning. This is a brown multi-layer story involving not just bees and murder but Havana Brown cats, which I'm embarrassed to say I knew little of aside from their unusual name. I learned a great deal about them in the reading of this book and that, combined with the multiple layers of info shared about bees and beekeeping, was fascinating. Wren even has a large glass bee hive inside her shop, which would be a fascinating sight in real life. Wren also has the Havana brown cat loving Aunt Eloise in her life and I found myself loving Eloise--and I'm a dog person. What a feisty lady. Do not, I repeat, do not mess with her cats.

True, I'd have been happier if Wren and Eloise arranged for true backup after coming up with their "sting" operation but it was worth it just to see it unfold. Fortunately, police officer Jim has their backs whether they want him to or not. Hmm, is there a romance brewing there for Wren? I guess I'm going to have to read the next book in the series to find out. In the meantime, if you love interesting, quirky characters in picturesque settings and intriguing, multi-layer mysteries, give this one a read. You won't "bee" disappointed.

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for introducing me to Wren and her circle of friends, not to mention her cats and bees. I'll be on the lookout for the next adventure!