Blackberry Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #17)
8.3
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It’s been a sleepy summer for the folks of Lake Eden, Minnesota. In fact, it’s been a whole four...
Cozy mystery
Death al Fresco
7.8
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When her father is fingered for murder, it’s up to Sally Solari to serve up the real killer before...
A Case of Bier
8.0
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In this charming madcap entry in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Bed-and-Breakfast...
Fiction Mystery Cozy Mystery Series
Full Bodied Murder
7.0
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As the newest member of the Rose Avenue Wine Club, Halsey wants to expand her palate—not solve...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2423 KP) rated Halloween Party Murder in Books
Sep 1, 2021 (Updated Sep 1, 2021)
Out of these three authors, I only regularly read Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake mysteries, so that story, featuring Julia Snowden, was my favorite. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy all three of the novellas. All three feature a strong assortment of characters and a solid mystery. Even if I figured out a part of the story early, I didn’t have it all pieced together until the end. My only complaint was the politics brought into the first novella in the collection. Even then, I’m a bit torn since it did play a part in the story while also feeling like I was reading a lecture. Still, if you are in the mood for a murderous Halloween party, you’ll be glad you picked up this novella collection.
Six Sweets Under
5.0
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In a cute new culinary cozy from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox, budding chocolatier Becca...
Digging Up Daisy
5.0
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In a fresh new Maine-set cozy from author Sherry Lynn, Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2423 KP) rated Pearls Gone Wild in Books
Nov 23, 2021
If you are familiar with the series, you’ll know what to expect here. We get another plot with plenty of surprises to keep us engaged the entire time. I did feel the resolution left a few things out, but it was a minor issue overall. The characters, both new and returning, are fantastic. There is some humor in the book, but it mixes well with the more serious elements, and we get some nice growth in Samantha. This book is a little edgy for a cozy, but it’s nothing too bad. Christmas is more in the background than in some cozies set during the season. Both of these are worth nothing only in passing. If you are as behind on this series as I am, you are in for a treat when you pick up this book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2423 KP) rated Stitched in Crime in Books
Dec 10, 2021
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and this was just as much fun. We get a puzzling mystery with several strong suspects. Every time I thought I knew who done it, another suspect would do something to put them at the top of my list. The ending answered all my questions, including one the characters never asked. I do feel like the characters could be a little stronger, but maybe that’s just me, and maybe it’s because of all the background characters. I had no trouble keeping all the characters straight, and a character that rubbed me a bit the wrong way in the first book has definitely softened here. If you are looking for a fun cozy, this is the book you need to pick up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2423 KP) rated Up to No Gouda in Books
Jun 16, 2022 (Updated Jun 16, 2022)
What lover of culinary cozies could resist a book featuring grilled cheese as the hook? Not me! I’m glad I picked it up. The cast is filled with some unique characters for a cozy mystery – or at least a slight twist on the normal characters we’d see, and I really enjoyed that. Carly herself is an entertaining and engaging lead character. The pacing was slow a few times, but overall, this was a solid mystery with plenty of suspects and a couple of nice twists on the way to a surprising conclusion. And yes, you’ll find three grilled cheese sandwich recipes at the end to satisfy your cravings. I will definitely be returning to find out what Carly gets up to next.
