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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Murder of a Mail-Order Bride in Books

Aug 8, 2022  
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride
Mimi Granger | 2022 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
After Marriage Comes Murder
Long time bachelor Al Little has found a bride thanks to the internet, and he is thrilled that Svetlana is coming to town. Lizzie Hale, owner of the romance bookstore in Tinker’s Cover, Ohio, gets roped into helping make sure their first meeting and their wedding is perfectly romantic. But when Svetlana turns up dead in the middle of the reception, the question becomes, who would want to kill a new comer to town?

This is a strong second book. The plot kept me engaged the entire time. I did guess a couple of plot points early, but there were so many more I didn’t see coming, including the ending. The book is focused on the new characters central to this mystery, and they are all strong. We do have a small core cast of characters who are back, and they are fun. I also enjoy watching Lizzie’s romantic life, which is a great romantic comedy sub-plot. If you are looking for a slight twist on a cozy mystery set up, this is a series you will love.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Running on Empty in Books

Mar 7, 2025 (Updated Mar 7, 2025)  
Running on Empty
Running on Empty
Karin Fitz Sanford | 2024 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder Among the Rich
When Lino Pardini dies, Anne McCormack finds herself drawn into the resulting family drama. Meanwhile, her uncle Jack is hoping for a fresh clue or two about what happened to Lino’s previous wife. Then there are the questions around Lino’s death itself. Can Anne help untangle it?

If you pick this book up expecting a typical mystery, you’ll be disappointed. The family drama takes up much of the pages. But that’s not a bad thing. Thanks to the well-developed characters, the story is very compelling. The multiple viewpoints are also used perfectly. Still, the mysteries were wrapped up to my satisfaction. There were a few details that were wrong and bugged me, but they are minor. On the other hand, I am very familiar with the setting, and I loved seeing real places and roads I know popping up in the middle of the fictional locations. Think of this more as a crime drama rather than a mystery and you’ll be pulled in, watching the pages fly by all too quickly.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated #TagMe for Murder in Books

May 6, 2023  
#TagMe for Murder
#TagMe for Murder
Sarah E. Burr | 2023 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Who Tagged Coco’s Neighbor for Murder?
Coco Cline has a new neighbor, unfortunately. Larry Dunmer is in town to conduct an audit, and he has his wife has proved to be horrible neighbors, complaining about anything and everything. Still, Coco knows he will only be in town a few months. So she is surprised when he is killed on the beach one morning. Worse yet, her friend is accused of the crime. Can Coco wade through the suspects to figure out what is really going on?

This book does include some minor spoilers for the first book (nothing like who the killer is), so keep that in mind. However, I love how part of the character development in this book is watching Coco deal with the aftermath of that first case. The set up for this mystery was familiar, but the book didn’t spend a lot of time dwelling on that, instead moving into a strong mystery that kept me guessing until the end. This was helped by strong suspects. I also love how Coco uses in person interactions and the internet to solve the case. A sub-plot with Coco’s boyfriend also kept me turning pages. If you are looking for a great mystery, you’ll want this book to trend to the top of your to be read pile.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated A Book Club to Die For in Books

Nov 3, 2022  
A Book Club to Die For
A Book Club to Die For
Dorothy St. James | 2022
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Exclusive Book Clubs Lead to Murder
Tru Becket has been invited to speak at the exclusive Arete Society, a book club that has waiting lists to join. In fact, her friend Flossie is one of those waiting to get in, and she has come with Tru in order to plead her case. The meeting winds up being canceled, however, when Tru finds the group’s president dead in the kitchen. The police think that Hazel, this month’s hostess, snapped and killed the victim, but Tru doesn’t think so. Can she come up with an alternative suspect?

This book is a variation on the locked room mystery, and I have come to realize how much I enjoyed those added twists to the story. A couple of things were obvious early on, but overall, this was still a compelling mystery with suspects strong enough to keep you engaged. The series regulars are all here and are fantastic as well. There are some regulars who can get annoying, but they were kept in the background and added to the fun. And this book is fun. I laughed more than I had at the first two. One sub-plot in particular made me laugh every time it popped up. If you are looking for a light mystery, this is one you’ll enjoy.