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Millie (22 KP) rated Duck the Halls (Meg Langslow, #16) in Books

Jan 27, 2020  
Duck the Halls (Meg Langslow, #16)
Duck the Halls (Meg Langslow, #16)
Donna Andrews | 2013
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
So, I started this book around Christmas and am just now finishing it. I think that was a result not so much of the book itself - it wasn't poorly written or anything, I just kept picking up other books instead. Overall, it was a nice, fluffy, cozy mystery that I probably would have enjoyed more if I had read the whole thing at Christmastime. Yes, there were a lot of religious undertones, but I sort of expected that with a Christmas book. I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a book to get into the Chistmas mood.


*Although I did receive this book for free through Goodreads First Reads, all of my thoughts and opinions are my own.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2510 KP) rated The Body in the Hayloft in Books

Dec 4, 2025  
The Body in the Hayloft
The Body in the Hayloft
Catherine Dilts | 2025 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Rose Creek Book Club is Back in Action!
Callie’s ranch has been invaded by guests when the Equi X event loses their location at the last minute and Callie’s husband offers the Double C for their use. Equi X is supposed to celebrate the best of the equestrian community, both the novice and the expert, and some of Callie’s friends and their loved ones are participating. But when one of the presenter’s cats goes missing, Callie finds herself among those trying to locate the pampered pet. When Callie finds the pet, she also finds a dead body. Is it an accident? Or has the book club found themselves involved in another murder?

It’s been two years since we last got to visit the ladies of the Rose Creek Book Club, but it was worth the wait. Yes, all the characters we love are front and center here, and I enjoyed getting updates on them and their lives. They each have their own storyline, which allows them to shine. It also slows down the mystery a bit, but for the most part, everything is balanced well. And the mystery has plenty going on to keep us guessing. I did figure things out just before the characters did, but barely. And the climax answered any lingering questions I had. If you want a cozy mystery with a strong community, be sure to check this series out. Fans will be delighted to return to see how these characters are doing.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2510 KP) rated Knot in My Backyard in Books

Feb 5, 2020  
Knot in My Backyard
Knot in My Backyard
Mary Marks | 2014 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder Hits Close to Home
Martha Rose’s neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California used to be peaceful and quiet until a local private school built a baseball stadium in the open space that used to boarder her street. She and her neighbors have tried to fight it, even after it was built, but no one is willing to listen to them. While out for a walk one morning, Martha finds the dead body of Dax Martin, the school’s baseball couch. The police begin to quickly focus on her neighbor Ed Pappas, who had a fight with the victim recently, but Martha doesn’t believe he is guilty. Can she prove it?

Quilting doesn’t play as big a part of this mystery as it did the first in the series, but it is still an active part of Martha’s life, as are her quilting friends. It’s hard to complain since this book is filled with a strong mystery. Martha strikes out early, which only adds to her drive to solve things, and makes the solution more satisfying for us when she does. Some of Martha’s attitude and actions early on were a little frustrating for me, but it made me appreciate the character growth we saw in her later in the book. The rest of the cast are great, and I enjoyed spending time with them, returning characters and new characters alike. When I read the first book in the series, I found some needless political comments off putting, but they were absent in this book. The plot does bring up a few political issues as a natural part of the plot, but they are kept in the background here – the book never stops to peach and they only come up very briefly. As a Los Angeles resident, I enjoyed seeing places I know pop up in this book, especially a few key scenes that took place near where I played ultimate Frisbee for years. Overall, this is a fun second mystery that will please cozy mystery readers.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2510 KP) rated Fatal Sign-Off in Books

Aug 27, 2025  
Fatal Sign-Off
Fatal Sign-Off
Sarah E. Burr | 2025 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Local Podcaster Signs Off for Good
It’s been a mostly quiet few months for Winnie Lark in the small town of Copper Bay. The drama in town involves Milton Mulligan who has started a podcast that trashes local businesses. So, when he is poisoned, the question is who didn’t have a motive. With some of Winnie’s family and friends on the suspect list, she can’t help but investigate Milton’s death. Will she uncover the culprit?

I fell in love with these characters in the earlier books of the series, so I was anxious to revisit them again. It was like meeting up with old friends, and I enjoyed the growth we saw in many of their relationships. The mystery is well paced with plenty of red herrings and twists. But the climax left me impressed with how things had been planned out. I did have to roll my eyes at how some political issues were put into the book in a way that felt unnecessary and forced to me. On the other hand, I loved the references to other books, especially cozy mysteries. If you love cozy mysteries, you need to pick up this series.