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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated The Fragrance of Death in Books

Aug 8, 2022  
The Fragrance of Death
The Fragrance of Death
Leslie Karst | 2022 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder is Nothing to Artichoke Over
Thanks to a sinus infection, Sally Solari has lost her sense of smell. While that would be bad enough under normal circumstances since it interferes with cooking at her restaurant, she is really struggling to prepare her dish for the Santa Cruz Artichoke Cook-Off. However, that quickly becomes the least of the issues when the body of a fellow contestant, Neil Lerici, is found near the end of the day. Sally had been friends with Neil’s sister, Grace, in high school. As the two rekindle their friendship, she can’t help but poke around. But is her old friend guilty of murder?

It's been a few years since we last visited Sally, but I am pleased to say she is back in top form. It was great to catch up with her and her family and friends and see the next steps in some of her relationships. The suspects were strong, which lead to a mystery that was hard to figure out. It kept me engaged the entire time, and once Sally reached the solution, everything fell into place. Each book has focused on a different of the five senses, and I thought the sense of smell was done wonderfully here. Naturally, there are some recipes to enjoy after you’ve finished the book. Fans will be pleased to visit Sally again and will join me in waiting for the next in the series.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated All That is Hidden in Books

Mar 16, 2023  
All That is Hidden
All That is Hidden
Rhys Bowen, Clare Broyles | 2023 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Politics Turns Molly’s World Upside Down
Molly is shocked when her husband, Daniel, announces that he has quit his job with the New York City police department to run for New York Sheriff on the Tammany Hall ticket. Knowing how much Daniel hates bribes, she can’t believe it, but he tells her to trust him. Along with this change, they are moving into a house of Fifth Avenue, which also doesn’t make Molly happy. As she tries to adjust to her new life, she finds that something is going on beneath the surface. Then a murder takes place. Can Molly figure out what is going on?

It's always a delight to visit Molly in 1900’s New York City. The time and place come expertly to life as we watch her try to figure out exactly what is happening. As is often the case in this series, it takes a little while for the story to truly begin, but once it does, we are treated to an interesting mystery. One part of the ending was a little abrupt, but that’s a minor complaint. I’m happy to say I liked Daniel here overall, which isn’t always the case, and the rest of the regulars were their charming selves. I also liked most of the suspects, which made solving the murder that much more interesting. Fans old and new will lose themselves in Molly’s latest case.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Hot Pot Murder in Books

Jun 14, 2023  
Hot Pot Murder
Hot Pot Murder
Jennifer J. Chow | 2023 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Shocking Ending to a Festive Meal
Yale Yee and her cousin Celine are celebrating Thanksgiving with a local association of Asian restaurant owners. Since Yale’s father has been a member for years, she knows most of the members, but she’s still surprised at the tensions bubbling beneath the surface at the hot pot celebration. Then the group’s president dies when he goes to plug in an extension cord. The police start looking at it as murder, and Yale can’t help but get involved in trying to figure out what really happened. If it was murder, can she prove it?

I enjoyed meeting Yale and Celine in the first book in this series, and I’m happy to say they were fantastic once again. Not only does their relationship with each other grow, but they also grow individually, which I enjoyed watching. While the suspects could be a tad stronger, it’s a minor point, and I enjoyed spending time with the rest of the returning characters. The mystery is strong with several great twists, and I loved the way the climax played out. While the majority of the action takes place in a fictional neighborhood in L.A., I enjoyed it when we visited some real parts of the city. There are also two recipes at the end of the book. If you are looking for a cozy with a bit of a different setting and strong leads, you need to check out this series.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated A Merry Little Murder Plot in Books

Oct 9, 2024  
A Merry Little Murder Plot
A Merry Little Murder Plot
Jenn McKinlay | 2024 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Shocking Christmas Murder
This winter, the Briar Creek Library is hosting a writer in residence, and they are honored to have thriller writer Helen Monroe as she works on something new. But Lindsey Norris’s radar goes off when she meets an obsessive fan of Helen’s. Sure enough, the sparks fly when the two meet at a public event. And then Lindsey finds a dead body in the city’s park – electrocuted by the town’s Christmas lights. Can she figure out what is going on?

I always enjoy visiting these characters, and that was no exception. Having said that, I didn’t appreciate the subplot about book banning, mainly because it was just knee jerk storytelling and didn’t have any of the nuance that should be involved in the topic. Still, that was a minor part of a book I enjoyed overall. The plot was great and kept me guessing even about who the victim would be (I went in without reading anything about the plot). The twists kept coming after the murder, but everything made sense at the end. The characters, both old and new, were fun. I laughed quite a few times as I went along. And the festive setting added a nice touch to the book. There are some Christmassy extras at the end. Fans will love this book. Anyone looking for a fun Christmas mystery will be glad they picked this book up.