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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2593 KP) rated Once Upon a Murder in Books

Feb 21, 2024  
Once Upon a Murder
Once Upon a Murder
Samantha Larsen | 2024 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not as Strong as the First Book
It’s 1784, and spinster Tiffany Woodall is hoping to put the chaos and intrigue of the last few months behind her. However, when she finds a dead body on her way to work at the castle one morning, she knows that isn’t going to happen. When the local bookseller, the man Tiffany loves, is accused of the crime, she can’t help but get involved. Can she figure out what happened?

The first book in this series was one of my favorites of last year. This book wasn’t as good, but it was still enjoyable. As with the first book, the mystery takes a backseat at times. However, here the other storylines weren’t as compelling. This is especially true of the romance. I was glad it wasn’t dragged out too much and I bought it in a way I wouldn’t in other series, but I wasn’t as invested in it. When the murder really kicks in during the second half, I was more fully on board, and I love how that was resolved. Likewise, I still loved all the characters and did enjoy seeing what happened to them. Fans of the first will want to pick this up. If you missed the first, you’ll definitely want to start there.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2593 KP) rated Lime and Punishment in Books

Jan 14, 2026  
Lime and Punishment
Lime and Punishment
Cathy Wiley | 2025 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder Leaves a Tart Taste on This Festival
Jackie Norwood and her friends have landed in Maverick Key, one of the smaller of the Florida Keys, for their key lime festival. Everyone is happy to be there since it is February. But Jackie is disturbed to find out that two bar owners have been killed in the last few weeks. She was hoping for a more relaxed festival this time, however, it looks like murder has followed her once again. But it’s only after she runs into her high school band teacher and learns he’s the prime suspect that Jackie decides she must investigate. Can she clear her friend of the crime?

This book sets up the story as quickly as possible and then delivers a mystery filled with plenty of twists, great suspects, and red herrings along the way to the logical climax. All of Jackie’s friends are present, and they continue to provide the cozy core of these travel stories. I love how some relationships continue to evolved. We also get a nice dose of puns and other humor. There are plenty of key lime based recipes, and not all of them dessert. I was thrilled to be back for Jackie’s latest adventure. Fans new and old will find plenty to enjoy here.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2593 KP) rated The Quirky Quiz Show Caper in Books

Jul 4, 2026  
The Quirky Quiz Show Caper
The Quirky Quiz Show Caper
Sally Carpenter | 2016 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Does Sandy Know the Answer to the Big Question?
One Monday, Sandy stops by a small local theater to talk about an upcoming appearance and to talk to his brother, Warren, who moonlights at the theater’s organist when he’s not teaching at a nearby college. As Sandy is going to leave, he stumbles on a dead body in the building’s basement. The victim turns out to be one of Warren’s students, and the evidence seems to be pointing to Warren. Can Sandy find the killer before his brother goes down for a crime he didn’t commit?

Yes, I am teasing the right book. There is a quiz show, but it comes late to the story. I wasn’t bored waiting to get there, and it did tie into the bigger mystery. When we got to the climax, my questions about the plot were answered, but the way the villain tried to silence Sandy didn’t make any sense. I like how we are slowly getting to know the people in Sandy’s life as the series progresses. We get to see him in a different light as a result. The characters were all good. Yes, there were some obvious flaws to me, but overall, I enjoyed this book.