Westobou Gold
9.7
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The Indian Queen would risk torture and worse to keep her secrets from these barbarians in suits of...
Mystery Historical Historical Fiction Thriller Mystery Thriller Fiction
Dishonour and Obey
10.0
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Mercurius is back — and this time in England! Perfect for fans of Andrew Taylor, C J Sansom, S J...
Historical Fiction
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2540 KP) rated Candy Canes of Christmas Past in Books
Dec 9, 2023
This story is as much about Lucy's struggles to fit into a new town and live in an old house as it is about the mystery. Lucy and her husband are really struggling, which gives most of this story a darker tone for a cozy. It is also a weak mystery. The solution was very coincidental and almost an after thought compared to the resolution to the other story line. But I liked the characters. They are vivid and seem like people I would love to get to know better. While it didn’t turn out that way, this story lets me see the appeal for those who do like them.
NOTE: This story was originally part of the anthology Candy Cane Murder, so if you’ve read that book, there is no need to pick up this story a second time.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2540 KP) rated Halloween Party Murder in Books
Aug 26, 2023
I don’t normally read this series, so I was thrilled to actually recognize the characters of Ty and Heather since they also featured prominently in the previous Halloween novella collection Leslie headlined. This novella focuses mostly on the mystery at hand, and doesn’t bring in sub-plots involving Lucy’s family. Again, since I don’t read the series, this was a good thing for me since I don’t have the connections to all the supporting characters. The mystery was good, and I enjoyed watching Lucy’s efforts to figure out what was happening. The element I struggled with the most was the politics brought into this story. There is a local election happening, and the campaigning does play into Lucy’s motives to solve the case, but I still felt like we were being lectured during many of those scenes.
NOTE 1: This is a novella, so expect something shorter than a typical novel before you pick it up.
NOTE 2: This novella was originally the headlining story in the Halloween Party Murder anthology. If you’ve already read it there, you don’t need to buy it again here.
A Collection of Lies
7.0
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In USA Today bestselling author Connie Berry’s fifth Kate Hamilton mystery, American antiques...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2540 KP) rated The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper in Books
Jul 12, 2025 (Updated Jul 12, 2025)
This is another fun mystery with Sandy. The mystery could have kicked off sooner, but the setup was still entertaining and did set up some subplots. Once it did get going, we had some nice twists before the logical solution. I did figure part of it out a little early, but not too much before the big reveal. I enjoyed watching Sandy develop more here, especially in his relationship with his sister. And I liked how her blindness came into play in the story. There was one reference to something that happened after the book is set, but it’s a minor issue. I’m glad I finally started this series. If you are looking for a new cozy series, you’ll be glad you picked it up as well.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2540 KP) rated The Gun Also Rises in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Once again, we are treated to a fabulous mystery that is more treasure hunt than strict cozy murder mystery. Not that I'm complaining in the slightest. The pace never slows down as we jump from one thing to another as Sarah tries to figure out what happened before her life spins even further out of control. We don't see as much of some of the series regulars, but we do get to see more of others, and I liked how relationships were growing here. Naturally, the book is filled with well-developed new characters. The mentions of various mystery books made me smile. The sub-plots involving the air force base were really well done and once again spotlighted some of the real issues those who sacrifice so much for this country go through, both those serving and their families. This is a strong entry in a series that keeps getting better.
Haunted House Murder
Barbara Ross, Leslie Meier and Lee Hollis
7.3
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Tricks and treats keep the Halloween spirit alive in coastal Maine. But this year the haunted house...
Take the Honey and Run
7.0
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As a successful mystery author, Bailey Briggs writes about murder, but nothing prepares her for...
Lindsay (1812 KP) rated A Fine Year for Murder in Books
Sep 7, 2017
I loved the story and the way it was laid out. Jessica is dealing with nightmares, and things get more intense when something happens to young girls. What is triggering her nightmares? It a book you can not put down once you start to read it. All of Lauren Carr books are like that. She makes you want more and leaves to read her next book.