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Murder on Cape Cod
Book
A Cape Cod shop owner and her book club must find a crafty killer in this charming new series from...

Playing Possum (A Kristy Farrell Mystery #3)
Book
Murder, mayhem, and crawling with animals… When animals start mysteriously disappearing from...
Cozy Mystery

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Murder in the Piazza in Books
Sep 10, 2022 (Updated Sep 10, 2022)
Murder in Rome
Maggie White’s husband has been sent to Rome for two years for his job, and she’s gone along with him. After a few months of living the life of leisure, she has found a job working for Masterpiece Tours, a specialty tour company that offers painting lessons and tours of some of the museums and famous locations in the city. She’s barely started and she’s already fantasizing about ways to kill her boss, Lord Phillip, an English expat. However, she is shocked to find him shot in his office one evening. The police don’t seem that interested in figuring out what happened, so Maggie starts investigating. Can she figure out what is going on?
This was a good travel themed mystery. It brought Rome to life in such a way that I felt I was there with Maggie. Unfortunately, the pacing of the mystery was off early on, but I did appreciate how everything came together at the end. We met many of the characters in a group setting, but they became distinct people as the story progressed, so it wasn’t really an issue. If you are looking for a virtual visit to Rome with a side of murder, this is the book for you.
This was a good travel themed mystery. It brought Rome to life in such a way that I felt I was there with Maggie. Unfortunately, the pacing of the mystery was off early on, but I did appreciate how everything came together at the end. We met many of the characters in a group setting, but they became distinct people as the story progressed, so it wasn’t really an issue. If you are looking for a virtual visit to Rome with a side of murder, this is the book for you.

To Kingdom Come (Art History Mystery #4) by Claudia Riess
Book
Amateur sleuths, Erika Shawn-Wheatley, art magazine editor, and Harrison Wheatley, art history...
Mystery

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Death by Yule Log in Books
Dec 1, 2022
New Boyfriend and a Christmas Murder
This Christmas, Hayley Powell's daughter is coming up to Maine for Christmas and she's bringing her new boyfriend. Hayley does her best to greet Connor with an open mind, but something about him just rubs Hayley the wrong way. However, when a young man is found murdered after getting into a fight with Connor, it begins to look like Connor is the prime suspect. Hayley may not like him, but she doesn't want to see Connor accused of a crime he didn't commit. Can she figure out what is going on?
This story made me want to pick up the full length novels, not that I have yet. While I obviously didn't understand all the character history, I certainly got enough to fully enjoy what was happening here. The mystery was strong and kept me engaged until the end. As a bonus, there are recipes throughout, including one for a Yule Log cake.
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.
This story made me want to pick up the full length novels, not that I have yet. While I obviously didn't understand all the character history, I certainly got enough to fully enjoy what was happening here. The mystery was strong and kept me engaged until the end. As a bonus, there are recipes throughout, including one for a Yule Log cake.
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.

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated April Fool Dead in Books
Feb 13, 2025
This Killer Isn’t Fooling Around
Annie Darling is looking forward to hosting a book signing for the island’s resident mystery writer, Emma Clyde, on April first. She’s even come up with the perfect promotion for it, leaving fliers all over the island with the clues to identify famous mystery books for a prize at the signing. However, someone has mimicked her fliers, but instead of talking about fictional murder these new fliers are accusing residents of the island of real crimes. Just as Annie thinks her job restoring her name is over, someone dies. Is this murder connected to the fliers?
I love it when authors get creative with their plots, and we’ve got a winner here. I especially appreciated how everything came together. The characters remain a little thin, but they are strong enough to pull us into the story. There are a couple who show up from the previous book, so be aware of minor spoilers. The laughs are plentiful again, especially thanks to Annie’s mother-in-law. Do keep in mind that this book was originally released in 2002 as a couple of elements are dated, but nothing major. Overall, you’d be a fool to pass on this book.
I love it when authors get creative with their plots, and we’ve got a winner here. I especially appreciated how everything came together. The characters remain a little thin, but they are strong enough to pull us into the story. There are a couple who show up from the previous book, so be aware of minor spoilers. The laughs are plentiful again, especially thanks to Annie’s mother-in-law. Do keep in mind that this book was originally released in 2002 as a couple of elements are dated, but nothing major. Overall, you’d be a fool to pass on this book.

The Winter Mystery
Book
THE WINTER MYSTERY by Faith Martin Discover a new series of whodunits by million-selling author...
Contemporary Fiction Crime Mystery Whodunit

Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Twist of a Knife (Hawthorne & Horowitz Mystery #4) in Books
Aug 7, 2022
Getting back into a Hawthorne & Horowitz mystery is like meeting up with an old friend you haven't seen for ages but it's as if you saw them yesterday so if you haven't read any of the previous in the series, don't worry, you will fall into the story and the characters quickly.
Once again, Mr Horowitz provides a treat of a murder/mystery staring himself as one of the main characters alongside the enigmatic and mysterious Daniel Hawthorne. Are they friends or do they just tolerate each other? I'm still trying to work that one out but Hawthorne is the one Anthony turns to when he is accused of the murder of a theatre critic who panned his play Mindgame.
With an eclectic and wonderful cast of characters, Hawthorne sets about trying to find the murderer amongst a host of viable suspects (Anthony included) in his own inimitable way whilst the evidence stacks up against Anthony and an arrest by the police appears to be inevitable and imminent.
Written at a great pace, this is full of humour, mystery and is thoroughly enjoyable and I loved it. What I particularly like about this series is the lack of violence which makes a nice change to what I usually read and I am looking forward to (hopefully) the next in the series and that more details are revealed about Hawthorne!
Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for enabling me to read The Twist of a Knife and share my thoughts.
Once again, Mr Horowitz provides a treat of a murder/mystery staring himself as one of the main characters alongside the enigmatic and mysterious Daniel Hawthorne. Are they friends or do they just tolerate each other? I'm still trying to work that one out but Hawthorne is the one Anthony turns to when he is accused of the murder of a theatre critic who panned his play Mindgame.
With an eclectic and wonderful cast of characters, Hawthorne sets about trying to find the murderer amongst a host of viable suspects (Anthony included) in his own inimitable way whilst the evidence stacks up against Anthony and an arrest by the police appears to be inevitable and imminent.
Written at a great pace, this is full of humour, mystery and is thoroughly enjoyable and I loved it. What I particularly like about this series is the lack of violence which makes a nice change to what I usually read and I am looking forward to (hopefully) the next in the series and that more details are revealed about Hawthorne!
Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for enabling me to read The Twist of a Knife and share my thoughts.

Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Blood Ties in Books
Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 10, 2017)
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book. A great combination of intrigue, mystery and even a touch of the supernatural, this whodunnit is filled with a fair few climactic twists. DI Charlie Moon returns having to work against the grain after his suspension from duty, even hiring the help of a local journalist to solve this gruesome murder. While the conclusion may have ended abruptly, it culminates in the ultimate karmic retribution. Jenny Francis manages to capture both the idyllic countryside and the brutality of injustice in one swoop of her pen. An enjoyable read.

Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Protector in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This book was a great read. It was fast paced & not easy to predict. Unlike a lot of murder mystery thrillers the ending even made me cry. The main character Jane is prefectly flawed like all of us, but at times it was taken a little bit too far to be believeble. At the same time my heart went out to her & I wanted to see her overcome her demons so to speak. The horror that Emily experienced was heart breaking. She was another character I found myself rooting for through the book. Very well written!