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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Killed on Blueberry Hill in Books
Nov 6, 2018
Death Leaves Marlee Blue
Summer may be winding down, but Oriole Point, Michigan, is getting in one more berry inspired festival to bring in the tourists. The Blueberry Blow Out Festival includes carnival games, booths, and friendly competition between the various berry growers in the area. At least it is supposed to be friendly. Marlee Jacobs is shocked when she witnesses a fight between her fiance, Ryan Zeller, and Porter Gale, the owner of one of the biggest blueberry farms in the country. Yes, there is bad blood between the two families, but this went much further than a rivalry normally would. When Porter dies a few hours later, people think it is complications from his diabetes. However, the police believe it is something more, and they are looking at Ryan as a suspect. Can Marlee clear him?
I love this series, and this book is another example of why. The characters are strong. The series regulars are fun, and a couple even made me laugh, but we spend more time with the suspects, and they actually felt better developed to me than the regulars. Not that I'm complaining. The strong suspects helped drive a complex plot where the red herrings provided their own complications, not just as a distraction from figuring out who the killer is. I enjoyed the book the entire way through, but the final third got so compelling I really didn't want to put the book down. Throw in a few blueberry infused recipes, and you've got a fantastic book.
I love this series, and this book is another example of why. The characters are strong. The series regulars are fun, and a couple even made me laugh, but we spend more time with the suspects, and they actually felt better developed to me than the regulars. Not that I'm complaining. The strong suspects helped drive a complex plot where the red herrings provided their own complications, not just as a distraction from figuring out who the killer is. I enjoyed the book the entire way through, but the final third got so compelling I really didn't want to put the book down. Throw in a few blueberry infused recipes, and you've got a fantastic book.
Hidden Kitchens of Sri Lanka
Book
Take an evocative journey into the heart of the real Sri Lanka and discover the central role food...
Africa39: New Writing from Africa South of the Sahara
Wole Soyinda and Ellah Wakatama Allfrey
Book
Africa has produced some of the best writing of the twentieth century from Chinua Achebe, Ayi Kwei...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Final Fondue in Books
Nov 15, 2020
Fatal Festival
The town of Bayport, Maryland is holding a festival to celebrate their tri-centennial. Val Deniston is participating with a booth featuring food from her café, while her grandfather is hoping to win one of the contests with his chocolate fondue. And Val has talked Grandfather into renting out some rooms in the house they share to visitors in town for the weekend. These particular guests are there to start work on planning a wedding to take place in the area the next spring. When one of them turns up dead in the backyard, Val begins to question if the killer got their intended victim, or if someone else was the target. Can she figure out what happened?
This book has a solid mystery with great clues sprinkled throughout. Even so, I only began to piece it together about the time that Val started figuring it out. Val’s former life in New York City pops up in a big way in this book, and, while I enjoyed the way this cozy trope played out in this book, I did feel it slowed things down a little. The more I read this series, the more I’ve come to love the characters, especially Val’s grandfather, who is a lot of fun. The suspects are distinct and kept me guessing. At the back of the book are six recipes, including a couple of chocolate fondue recipes, all of which have five or fewer ingredients. This is another fun entry in a tasty series.
This book has a solid mystery with great clues sprinkled throughout. Even so, I only began to piece it together about the time that Val started figuring it out. Val’s former life in New York City pops up in a big way in this book, and, while I enjoyed the way this cozy trope played out in this book, I did feel it slowed things down a little. The more I read this series, the more I’ve come to love the characters, especially Val’s grandfather, who is a lot of fun. The suspects are distinct and kept me guessing. At the back of the book are six recipes, including a couple of chocolate fondue recipes, all of which have five or fewer ingredients. This is another fun entry in a tasty series.
Freddi Fish 3: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell
Games and Education
App
Freddi Fish 3: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell Freddi and Luther have arrived at the Founder’s...
Kingdom: New Lands
Games
App
"The fact that it's far deeper than I could have imagined has easily pushed this into my Best of...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Kill or Bee Killed in Books
Jun 5, 2024
Bailey Must Bee Careful
It’s time for the annual Bee Festival in Humble Hills, Colorado. Since Bailey’s Granny Bee is in charge, that means that Bailey will be busy with the week-long festival helping make sure that it runs smoothly. One of the events is a local-restaurant cooking contest, and morning show host Rex Rafferty is coming to town, with a film crew, to host the event. However, Rex is a horrible man, and it isn’t long before Bailey and her best friend, Evie, who is a contestant, are doing all they can to avoid him. Before the contest is over, he’s been murdered. The crew he brought with him seem like obvious suspects, but the evidence seems to point to the event’s contestants. Can Bailey free her friend?
The book starts out a bit slowly, but with a very funny scene. It isn’t long before the plot kicks in and we are meeting the victim and prime suspects. I enjoyed following Bailey as she looked for the killer. The ending was a bit abrupt, but it did answer all of my questions and kept me turning pages. Over the course of the book, we get laughs from characters and other slapstick situations. A few of the characters still don’t get enough page time to develop, but I enjoyed seeing the series regulars again and watching their relationships grow. The suspects are good, but a couple could have used a little more page time. Overall, this is a fun second entry in what is quickly becoming a sweet series.
The book starts out a bit slowly, but with a very funny scene. It isn’t long before the plot kicks in and we are meeting the victim and prime suspects. I enjoyed following Bailey as she looked for the killer. The ending was a bit abrupt, but it did answer all of my questions and kept me turning pages. Over the course of the book, we get laughs from characters and other slapstick situations. A few of the characters still don’t get enough page time to develop, but I enjoyed seeing the series regulars again and watching their relationships grow. The suspects are good, but a couple could have used a little more page time. Overall, this is a fun second entry in what is quickly becoming a sweet series.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Foul Play at the Fair (Celebration Bay, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Liz Montgomery has moved to the town of Celebration Bay to help run the many events and festivals that are a key to the local economy. However, when a juggler is murdered at the harvest festival, her first event, might her career stop before it truly gets going?
The characters were so well developed I was pulled into this book, feeling the weight of each new revelation that Liz uncovered. The result was a rich mystery that I savored while still being pulled to discover who the ultimate villain was. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-foul-play-at-fair-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The characters were so well developed I was pulled into this book, feeling the weight of each new revelation that Liz uncovered. The result was a rich mystery that I savored while still being pulled to discover who the ultimate villain was. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-foul-play-at-fair-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Book
'Happy 17th Birthday Crookshank, how 'bout a cup of SUCK IT THE F**K UP?!'With over 4 million views...
Killing Me Souffle: 90 Rocking Recipes: The Tastiest Acts in Rock'n'roll, Pop and Hip Hop
Book
Like your dinner with a side of Madonna? Your cuisine with a pinch of Queen? Killing Me Souffle is...