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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated The Gift of the Magpie in Books
Dec 13, 2020
I always enjoy visiting Meg, and this book was no exception. The sub-plots involving her large family slow down the main mystery early on, but as a fan of the series and the characters, that’s a minor complaint. Once the mystery gets going, it is strong with several good suspects and twists before we reach the great climax. The sub-plots still weave in and out of the main mystery, and I really enjoyed them and the Christmas spirit they give us. I didn’t find this book quite as funny as some of the others, maybe because it left me contemplating which side of the hoarder or collector line I’m on. If you are looking for an entertaining mystery set at Christmas, there’s still time this year to cozy up to the fire and enjoy this mystery.
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Al Dente’s Inferno
Book
An American chef will have to serve up more than good eats if she wants to establish a successful...
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The Rocky Road to Ruin
Book
Justice will be swirled by amateur sleuth Riley Rhodes in the first in Meri Allen's brand-new...
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Past Due for Murder
Book
Has a curse fallen on the small town of Taylorsford, Virginia? After a young woman goes missing...
Fiction Mystery Cozy
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Blizzard
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Imagine loving someone with your whole heart, only to find out after they’re gone that you never...
Lesbian Romance Crime Suspense
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Death Comes to Call (A Tara Thorpe Mystery Book 3)
Book
Tara Thorpe may be Cambridge Police’s youngest detective, but that doesn’t stop her from...
Fiction Mystery Thriller Police Procedural Series
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Essentials of Murder in Books
Sep 11, 2021
I always love it when a debut cozy has characters who already feel like old friends, and that’s the case here. As we slowly meet Carissa’s family and friends, they form a great group I can’t wait to hang out with again. The suspects? They are great at keeping us confused. The mystery is good. I had some guesses on part of it, but I wasn’t sure until the end. The climax could have been stronger, but it did answer all our questions. As a Southern California resident, I loved recognizing some of the locations mentioned even if Oak Creek Valley is fictional. This is a fun debut you won’t want to miss.
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Mrs. Claus and the Halloween Homicide in Books
Sep 29, 2021 (Updated Sep 29, 2021)
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was anxious to return to the world that author Liz Ireland is creating. This book was fabulous as well. The murder takes place a little later in the story, but there is plenty going on to keep us entertained, and it only gets stronger as it goes along. The climax is wonderful. I did think there was a timeline issue at one point, but I think the fault is just a scene that is written unclearly. The little details of the world are guaranteed to make you smile; I just love them! While not all the characters are human, they are all completely real and we come to care for them quickly, which is key to getting us to believe in this world. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with a dash of fantasy, you’ll love this book.
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Wreathing Havoc in Books
Sep 29, 2021 (Updated Sep 29, 2021)
Thanksgiving isn’t usually a setting for fall themed cozy mysteries, but I enjoyed seeing this book starting with November’s holiday, although we do get a few early Christmas activities as the book goes along. The mystery takes a little while to set down roots before it starts to fully grow, but once it does, we wind up with a wonderful mystery. I love how everything came together. Lilly and the rest of her friends in the Garden Squad are as delightful as always, and the new characters are equally likeable, making it hard for me to pick out the killer. Late autumn isn’t the best time for gardening, but we still get a bit of that and a few gardening tips over the course of the book. This is an entry that fans of the series will be thankful for.
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Sticky-Fingered Books
Book
It isn’t every day that you find a body at your kids’ school. Unless you’re Jolie Gentil. Then...
mystery cozy mystery bookbuzz