Wedding Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #19)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Everyone in Lake Eden, Minnesota, may have had their doubts, but at long last, Hannah Swensen is...
Cozy mystery
Running in Circles
8.0
Rate It
Book
An international thriller with a shocking conclusion! Perfect for fans of Patricia Gibney, L J Ross,...
Pickled Pink in Paris (Julia Fairchild #3)
Book
A major business deal is disrupted by murder. But a young physician has the key to the case... A...
Cozy Mystery
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Murder of a Mail-Order Bride in Books
Aug 8, 2022
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.
Some Kind of Truth
8.0
Rate It
Book
Pittsburgh crime reporter, Steve James, returns home to find a mysterious package waiting outside...
Mystery Dark Thriller
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated The Case of the Carnaby Castle Curse in Books
Oct 29, 2025
This book doesn’t play too much into spooky, but it does have some elements that made it fun to read during October. The mystery is strong with several elements that kept me guessing until the end. As always, I appreciated how the mystery was laid out. The suspects could have been a little stronger, but I did still care about the outcome. The writing took me a chapter to get used to, but once I did, I was easily caught up in the story and laughing at the very dry British humor. No matter what time of the year you read this book, you’ll be glad you picked it up.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Running on Empty in Books
Mar 7, 2025 (Updated Mar 7, 2025)
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.
Killer Tracks (Misty Pines Mystery #3)
Book
A peaceful retreat. A maze of smoke and murder. Is their remote getaway about to become a death...
Crime Mystery Police Procedural Suspense
Black Water Lilies: A Novel
Shaun Whiteside and Michel Bussi
Book
'Ends with one of the most reverberating shocks in modern crime fiction' Sunday Times This is the...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated #TagMe for Murder in Books
May 6, 2023
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.