Search
Yeast of Eden (A Pancake House Mystery Book 4)
Book
n USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox’s delicious new Pancake House Mystery, it’s up to...
cozy mystery mystery fiction murder Sarah Fox adult
For Whom the Bread Rolls (A Pancake House Mystery Book 2)
Book
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Crêpes of Wrath comes another decadent cozy mystery....
cozy mystery series mystery murder adult fiction
Genny's Ballad: The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series, Book 5
Book
By all accounts, everyone loves Genny. So why does someone want her dead? There’s something...
cozy mystery series Texas adult fiction mystery
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2579 KP) rated DM Me for Murder in Books
Feb 15, 2024
Mega-Influencer’s Murder Leads to Mega Trouble
Murder is the farthest thing from Coco Cline’s mind that Monday morning. Instead, she is thrilled that mega-influencer LaTage wants to use Coco’s company, Center of Attention Consulting, to launch her rebranding. Then Coco arrives at their meeting to find LaTage dead. With the police asking Coco for help understanding the online world that LaTage inhabited, she can’t help but dig just a little deeper. Will she be able to uncover a clue that will lead to the killer?
I was really looking forward to this book, and it didn’t disappoint. Coco and her friends are in top form, and I loved watching their relationships develop. The plot was fantastic with a couple of great twists and many suspects that Coco had to sort through to reach the logical solution. If you’re looking for a warm beach getaway, the setting with definitely appeal to you as well. I love seeing cozy mysteries expanding their themes. However, if you aren’t super into social media, you’ll still understand everything that happens here, and there’s plenty of talking to suspects face to face. Fans will be delighted with this book. If you want a fun, modern cozy, you’ll be glad this series trended to the top of your to be read pile.
I was really looking forward to this book, and it didn’t disappoint. Coco and her friends are in top form, and I loved watching their relationships develop. The plot was fantastic with a couple of great twists and many suspects that Coco had to sort through to reach the logical solution. If you’re looking for a warm beach getaway, the setting with definitely appeal to you as well. I love seeing cozy mysteries expanding their themes. However, if you aren’t super into social media, you’ll still understand everything that happens here, and there’s plenty of talking to suspects face to face. Fans will be delighted with this book. If you want a fun, modern cozy, you’ll be glad this series trended to the top of your to be read pile.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2579 KP) rated Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s in Books
Sep 25, 2024 (Updated Sep 25, 2024)
Interlopers at Christmas
April Claus’s husband, Nick, has just taken off on his annual trip around the world delivering presents when three human strangers are brought into town. They were found outside of Santaland injured from the cold. That means they need help before they can be sent on their way, so April and the elves work hard on keeping Santaland a secret while treating the strangers. But things take a turn when one of the strangers dies. Can April figure out what happened? Will Santaland keep its secret?
If you haven’t read this series yet, you are in for a treat. Yes, it is a cozy as you are thinking it might be, and the author has done a great job of building that cozy world for us to escape into. Yet the mystery is still well done, and April works hard to solve it. In the end, the clues lead her to a logical conclusion. The characters are as charming as ever, and the new ones fit perfectly into this world. I had to laugh and grin at the antics the characters get up to as the story unfolds. Fans of the series will delight in the latest entry. If you haven’t picked up the series, change that soon. After all, skipping it might just put you on the naughty list.
If you haven’t read this series yet, you are in for a treat. Yes, it is a cozy as you are thinking it might be, and the author has done a great job of building that cozy world for us to escape into. Yet the mystery is still well done, and April works hard to solve it. In the end, the clues lead her to a logical conclusion. The characters are as charming as ever, and the new ones fit perfectly into this world. I had to laugh and grin at the antics the characters get up to as the story unfolds. Fans of the series will delight in the latest entry. If you haven’t picked up the series, change that soon. After all, skipping it might just put you on the naughty list.
The Bush Tea Murder (A Caribbean Island Mystery #1)
5.0
Rate It
Book
Culinary journalist Naomi Sinclair is cooking up a maelstrom of trouble upon her return to the blue...
Culinary Cozy Mystery
Murder, Local Style
8.0
Rate It
Book
Retired caterer Valerie Corbin investigates a suspicious poisoning in this Orchid Isle cozy culinary...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2579 KP) rated Whiskey Business in Books
Sep 4, 2025
Reece Finds Murder In His New Business
Reece Parker has opened Subplot, a literary themed cocktail lounge, in his hometown. He’s trying to build his clientele, so he’s thrilled when a whiskey club wants to use the space for their monthly meetings. But the first night goes wrong when one new member seems to want to go out of his way to irritate everyone. After the meeting, Reece finds that member dead in the alley behind his lounge. Fearing the hit this might do to his business, he starts investigating. Can he find the killer?
I met the author this spring, so I’ve been looking forward to this book since then. And I really enjoyed it. It captures the cozy vibes well with the setting and the characters. I’d be interested in visiting, between murders, of course. I could really feel the love the characters have for each other. The mystery starts well, and doesn’t waiver on the way to the logical climax. I might have a niggle or two with it, but I’m being nitpicky here. Reece has recently come out to himself, and I appreciated how that subplot was handled as well. If you are looking for a new cozy series, you won’t go wrong picking this one up. Me? I’m waiting for the sequel.
I met the author this spring, so I’ve been looking forward to this book since then. And I really enjoyed it. It captures the cozy vibes well with the setting and the characters. I’d be interested in visiting, between murders, of course. I could really feel the love the characters have for each other. The mystery starts well, and doesn’t waiver on the way to the logical climax. I might have a niggle or two with it, but I’m being nitpicky here. Reece has recently come out to himself, and I appreciated how that subplot was handled as well. If you are looking for a new cozy series, you won’t go wrong picking this one up. Me? I’m waiting for the sequel.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2579 KP) rated Welcome to Cozy Town in Books
May 29, 2026 (Updated May 29, 2026)
Pitch Perfect Send Up of Cozies
Violet has just inherited a bed and breakfast from a great-aunt she didn’t know she had in a town she’d never heard of before. But, considering she’s in need of a fresh start, the timing is perfect. However, when her first guest is found murdered in his bed, Violet can’t help but wonder what is going on. Especially since everyone in town seems to be taking it in stride. What kind of town has Violet moved to?
The teaser doesn’t really give you a feel for this cozy short story. It is a giant wink and nod to fans of the genre, filled with humor at the tropes we all know. You can’t help but laugh as you read, especially since it is obvious that this all comes from a love of the genre. The mystery is solid. It might be a little out there, but it also works for this story. My only complaint is that the characters are a little thin, but given the page count, I’m being picky. I read the story in about an hour, so it isn’t super long. And, of course, there’s a recipe at the end. Cozy mystery fans must read this story. They will laugh their way through it.
The teaser doesn’t really give you a feel for this cozy short story. It is a giant wink and nod to fans of the genre, filled with humor at the tropes we all know. You can’t help but laugh as you read, especially since it is obvious that this all comes from a love of the genre. The mystery is solid. It might be a little out there, but it also works for this story. My only complaint is that the characters are a little thin, but given the page count, I’m being picky. I read the story in about an hour, so it isn’t super long. And, of course, there’s a recipe at the end. Cozy mystery fans must read this story. They will laugh their way through it.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2579 KP) rated It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder in Books
Oct 29, 2021 (Updated Oct 29, 2021)
Enjoy Christmas with The Family
The Belle View Catering Hall is busy with events as Christmas approaches, but Mia Carina gets distracted when the Boldano family asks for her help. Someone has shown up claiming to be Jamie’s long-lost brother. That’s a shock since Jamie didn’t even know he was adopted. Things get even more heated when Mia finds a dead body in her neighborhood. Can she figure out what is going on?
Those new to the series are in for a treat. Yes, this is a different cozy series since we have mobsters as characters and it is set in Queens. Yet these elements don’t overwhelm, and this feels like a cozy series. That’s mostly thanks to the characters, who come across as very real and likeable. In addition to the puzzling mystery, there are multiple sub-plots, which keep things hopping as we read the book. I did feel the climax didn’t quite work. Our questions are answered, but it was just a bit much. There’s plenty of Christmas spirit in this book, including a hilarious sub-plot about a Christmas light display contest. We get seven recipes and a couple of event tips at the end of the book. Fans new and old will enjoy spending this Christmas with Mia.
Those new to the series are in for a treat. Yes, this is a different cozy series since we have mobsters as characters and it is set in Queens. Yet these elements don’t overwhelm, and this feels like a cozy series. That’s mostly thanks to the characters, who come across as very real and likeable. In addition to the puzzling mystery, there are multiple sub-plots, which keep things hopping as we read the book. I did feel the climax didn’t quite work. Our questions are answered, but it was just a bit much. There’s plenty of Christmas spirit in this book, including a hilarious sub-plot about a Christmas light display contest. We get seven recipes and a couple of event tips at the end of the book. Fans new and old will enjoy spending this Christmas with Mia.
