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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Halloween Party Murder in Books

Sep 1, 2021 (Updated Sep 1, 2021)  
Halloween Party Murder
Halloween Party Murder
Barbara Ross, Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis | 2021 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Partying with a Corpse or Three
This Halloween, we are being treated to another novella collection with these three cozy mystery authors as they feature their series sleuths. First up, Lucy Stone finds a dead body after a haunted house fund raiser. Then, Hayley Powell’s Halloween party in her new restaurant ends with the discovery of a corpse in the freezer. Finally, when Julia Snowden’s niece finds herself at a high school party, Julia goes to bring her home, only for the police to discover a dead body in the shed out back.

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.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Death at Holly Lodge in Books

Sep 30, 2021 (Updated Sep 30, 2021)  
Death at Holly Lodge
Death at Holly Lodge
Louise R. Innes | 2021 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Who Stashed Santa in the Chimney?
Mimi Levante has recently purchased Holly Lodge, planning to turn it into her home in the UK, and since Mimi’s half-sister, Floria, is Daisy Thorne’s best friend, Daisy is meeting the two women there to check out the property. While they are there, the men working on restoring it make a horrific discovery – someone stuffed a dead man in a Santa suit in the chimney. Who was the victim? And how did he come to be hidden in the chimney?

This is such a great premise for a Christmas set mystery, and it delivered. We get the answer to the questions I posed and so many more by the time the book is over, and the pace is great, delivering clues and red herrings at a steady pace. Daisy and all the regulars are back, and I enjoyed getting to see them again. I especially enjoyed seeing the growth in her relationship with DCI Paul McGuinness. I did find some timeline issues, including a day we got twice in a row, but they were minor. The further I got into the book, the more I caught the Christmas spirit. If you are looking for a fun mystery to get you in the mood for Christmas, this is the book for you.
  
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Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Scarlet at Crystal River (Haunted Shores Mysteries #3) in Books

Nov 6, 2021  
Scarlet at Crystal River (Haunted Shores Mysteries #3)
Scarlet at Crystal River (Haunted Shores Mysteries #3)
Randy Overbeck | 2021 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A honeymoon in the sun at Christmas, surely there's nothing better than that to raise the spirits, quite literally!


Darrell and Erin Henshaw have gone to Crystal River on the gulf coast of Florida. They are enjoying their honeymoon as well as Christmas somewhere exotic being used to cold and snowy Christmases its fantastic exploring and getting a tan. If only Darrell wasn't being followed by the spirits of two lost Latino children needing him to discover what really happened to them. now With the help of his new wife and some new friends his discovery could just be the death of him or somebody he loves. can they do this before its too late?


At the start of the book you think its going to be all lovey dovey and nauseating there a newly married couple there bound to be. some of the descriptions of the scenery i am quite jealous it sounds absolutely gorgeous definitely a dream destination. Darrell then starts having his bad feelings and it puts you slightly on edge definitely keeps you gripped and wanting to find out what's happened to the children its a thriller for sure.

I haven't read the other 2 book in this series but from how well this one is written i will certainly indulging in them. I highly recommend this book for reading 4/5 stars
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Digging Up Daisy in Books

Apr 5, 2023  
Digging Up Daisy
Digging Up Daisy
Sherry Lynn | 2023 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Intriguing Premise, but Execution Suffers
Kinsley Clark is hard at work with her landscaping company, SeaScapes, trying to get ready for the upcoming Walk Inns event at several bed and breakfasts in the area, including the one her aunt owns. As she’s digging in the dirt outside her aunt’s inn, she discovers a shoe buried in the dirt. She immediately recognizes the shoe as the one on the local news connected to the murder that took place the day before. How did it come to be in her aunt’s garden?

I really did like the premise of this mystery, so I went in hoping to enjoy the book. I did struggle through the first chapter, which gave us lots of backstory for Kinsley. Fortunately, it ended with the discovery of the shoe, and things picked up with several interesting suspects, clues, and red herrings. Unfortunately, when we reached the ending, not all the clues were accounted for. I think I can make some of them make sense, but I’m not sure they do. It’s a shame the plot turned out to be weak since I did like the characters and the setting. In the way of extras, we get some gardening tips and a couple of recipes. The characters and the setting are definitely a draw. If only the plot were better.