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A Souffle of Suspicion
A Souffle of Suspicion
Daryl Wood Gerber | 2018 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Crush Week, Sweets Fest, and Murder
Things are hopping at Bistro and Maison Rousseau. Tourists have flocked to the Napa Valley for Crush Week and the first Sweet Treat festival is being hosted on the grounds of the hotel. Mimi is thrilled that both hotel and restaurant are booked solid for the week. Things take a deadly turn when Renee, the festival organizer and sister of Mimi’s head chef Camille, is found murdered in Camille’s kitchen. Who had a reason to murder the woman?

It was nice to return to the Napa Valley with Mimi as our host. The book starts out strongly. While I did feel the pace lagged a time or two, these were minor issues. The puzzle was very good with some clues coming into play late in the mystery that I had completely missed, yet they helped make the resolution completely believable. I did have trouble buying Mimi’s relationship with her friend and police chief Tyson, but the rest of the characters were great. The food left me drooling, so the recipes are the back are a welcome addition to this fun mystery.
  
Yule Log Murder
Yule Log Murder
Leslie Meier | 2022 | Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Christmas Murder on a Film Set
News has broken that a major Hollywood movie is going to be filmed just outside of town, and many of the townspeople are going to be used as extras. Lucy manages to snag one of those spots, but her joy turns to sorrow when a young woman dies on the set. The police seem quick to settle on a killer, but Lucy suspects that something else is going on. Can she figure things out?

I must admit that I haven't read many of Lucy's adventures, sticking mainly to the novellas featuring this character and her family. As a result, I don't have the history with Lucy's family that long time series readers do. That may be why I found them annoying. The mystery itself was very strong, however, with a solution I didn't see coming.

NOTE: This story is a novella, roughly 100 pages, and was originally part of the novella collection Yule Log Murder. If you have that book, there is no need to buy this ebook. If you haven’t read the story, now is the time to sit back and enjoy this Christmas mystery.
  
The Ducal Detective
The Ducal Detective
Sarah E. Burr | 2017 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jacqueline Starts Her Reign Solving a Murder
Jacqueline Arienta Xavier has just been crowned Duchess of Saphire after the death of her parents in an accident. Since she is still mourning them, she is struggling to adjust to her new duties. Then she gets word that her parents’ death may have been murder. Not knowing who to trust, can she figure out what happened to them?

This is a fun novella that introduces a mystery series with a light fantasy setting. Considering all that the novella has to do, it’s impressive how it balances it in the short length it has. I was immediately drawn to Jacqueline, and I loved what we saw of her here. I also really liked the rest of the characters. The world was fun, and I hope we get to explore it further as the series goes along. For the length of the story, the mystery was good with enough twists to keep us engaged on the way to a logical climax. I appreciated the balance we got in tone between the sadness Jacqueline is experiencing and the lighter scenes. I can’t wait to make a return visit to this series.
  
In the Event of Murder
In the Event of Murder
Cynthia Kuhn | 2024 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
More Event Than Murder
It’s the final week of the year, which means it is time for the annual fundraiser for the library in Silvercrest, Colorado. Like the rest of the town, Emma Starrs is thrilled that the cast of Chasers, the popular mystery TV show, is coming to town to headline the events. However, when murder threatens the event, Emma is asked to step in and help make sure the gala on New Year’s Eve goes off without a hitch. Can she do that?

It's been a couple of years since the first book in this series came out, so I wasn’t sure how much I’d remember about the characters. Fortunately, I was able to slip back into their world without too much effort. Sadly, the mystery was disappointing. The emphasis was more on the planning for the event, and those scenes grew repetitive. We did reach a solution, but parts of it felt forced to me. On the other hand, the characters were charming. I really did enjoy seeing Emma and her family and friends again. I wanted to like this more than I did, but it was mixed for me.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated Death in St. George’s in Books

Aug 13, 2024 (Updated Aug 13, 2024)  
Death in St. George’s
Death in St. George’s
M. A. Monnin | 2024 | Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Failed Vacation, but Fun Case
Stefanie and Thomas are taking a week’s vacation in Bermuda. At least that was the plan. They’ve hardly arrived when they get pulled into a case. A bracelet that had recently been uncovered in a dig on the island was stolen. Stefanie and Thomas agree to join the dig for a day in hopes they can figure something out. But then a murder happens. Will they figure things out?

The mystery started well, and I was intrigued. Unfortunately, I did find the pacing was uneven as our leads spent quite a bit of time theorizing. Still, there was a strong mystery underpinning the book, and I was impressed when I reached the end. I love Stefanie and Thomas, so I enjoyed spending more time with them even if a sub-plot involving their relationship made me roll my eyes. The suspects became strong characters by the end of the book. I’ve definitely got some sights I want to see if I ever make it to Bermuda in person. Until then, I enjoyed this virtual vacation with murder.