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Ghost Light Killer (London Podcast Mystery #2)
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Several months after their first brush with death, Dannel Ortea and Osian Garey are back with a...
MM Cozy Mystery
Death by Haunted House
8.0
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When new neighbors move in next door, Hayley Powell is finding the Halloween spirit a little too...
Sleep in Heavenly Pizza
10.0
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Sleep in Heavenly Pizza is the fourth book in Mindy Quigley's delectable Deep Dish Mystery series,...
A Great Cozy Read!
I have come to adore cozy novels in recent months, so I jumped at the chance to read this delightful little mystery. What could be a better setting than a beautiful, picturesque little town in coastal California with a gorgeous pie shop! This is the third book in the Pie Town Mystery series by Kirsten Weiss, the first book being ‘The Quiche and the Dead’ followed by ‘Bleeding Tarts.’
Valentine (Val) Harris’ pie shop, ‘Pie Town’ is struggling, however, when Val’s quirky business partner and pie crust expert, Charlene, allows a reality television crew from the show 'Pie Hard' to film the shop, it seems that things might be about to change. If Val can tolerate criticism from an abrasive pastry chef during filming, the free publicity might turn the unusual opportunity into the sweetest deal she didn’t know she needed.
When the show’s bossy producer, Regina Katz, gets pushed to her death, Val and Charlene, once again, turn crime-solvers in the hope of finding the killer. Val needs to stay cool long enough to solve the crime and keep ‘Pie Town’ from falling apart, or else she just might go up in smoke before she ever graces the small screen.
For anyone, like me, who hasn’t read the first two books of the series, Kirsten Weiss, without being too overt, provides plenty of back-stories. Written in the first person, the characters in this novel were a scream and I particularly liked Val and Charlene’s interaction. I really enjoyed the easy-to-read writing style, the plot and the pace of the book.
All in all, “Pie Hard” is a lighthearted, lovely read, that combines mystery, thrills and murder and mayhem.
I'm looking forward to reading the first two books of the series with, hopefully, more to come!
[Thanks to #NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of #PieHard in exchange for an honest review.]
Valentine (Val) Harris’ pie shop, ‘Pie Town’ is struggling, however, when Val’s quirky business partner and pie crust expert, Charlene, allows a reality television crew from the show 'Pie Hard' to film the shop, it seems that things might be about to change. If Val can tolerate criticism from an abrasive pastry chef during filming, the free publicity might turn the unusual opportunity into the sweetest deal she didn’t know she needed.
When the show’s bossy producer, Regina Katz, gets pushed to her death, Val and Charlene, once again, turn crime-solvers in the hope of finding the killer. Val needs to stay cool long enough to solve the crime and keep ‘Pie Town’ from falling apart, or else she just might go up in smoke before she ever graces the small screen.
For anyone, like me, who hasn’t read the first two books of the series, Kirsten Weiss, without being too overt, provides plenty of back-stories. Written in the first person, the characters in this novel were a scream and I particularly liked Val and Charlene’s interaction. I really enjoyed the easy-to-read writing style, the plot and the pace of the book.
All in all, “Pie Hard” is a lighthearted, lovely read, that combines mystery, thrills and murder and mayhem.
I'm looking forward to reading the first two books of the series with, hopefully, more to come!
[Thanks to #NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of #PieHard in exchange for an honest review.]
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2269 KP) rated Haunted House Murder in Books
Aug 30, 2019
Cozy Halloween Hauntings
This collection of three novellas focuses on Halloween. The book opens with the title story featuring Leslie Meier’s protagonist Lucy Stone. A couple has moved into the old abandoned house in town, but they are rebuffing efforts from Lucy and others to welcome them to town. Then strange things start happening and rumors start flying. What is happening? Up next is “Death by Haunted House” by Lee Hollis which takes up back to 2009 and shows us what life was like for Hayley Powell while she was married. When the house next door, which is rumored to be haunted, gets a new family, Hayley’s husband Danny is certain that they are up to something. The discovery of a dead body in the nearby woods just confirms his theory – at least to himself. Is he right? Finally comes “Hallowed Out” from Barbara Ross. The local Haunted House tour is gearing up for Halloween, trying to bring some more people to town in the fall. However, when a reenactment of a crime leaves an actor dead, Julia Snowden must figure out what happened.
As you might expect in a collection of stories by various authors, some are stronger than others. Personally, I found the opening story to be the weakest – I think it might have worked as a short story, but even as a novella is was too long. The middle story was better, with some fun scenes and a good twist to the mystery. I adore Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake mysteries, so it was the reason I picked up the book. It also means I found the third story to be the best, with some good twists and a very fun sub-plot. While each story has plenty of fall atmosphere, these stories aren’t that spooky – they are by cozy mystery authors after all. Still, fans of these authors will enjoy picking up the book.
As you might expect in a collection of stories by various authors, some are stronger than others. Personally, I found the opening story to be the weakest – I think it might have worked as a short story, but even as a novella is was too long. The middle story was better, with some fun scenes and a good twist to the mystery. I adore Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake mysteries, so it was the reason I picked up the book. It also means I found the third story to be the best, with some good twists and a very fun sub-plot. While each story has plenty of fall atmosphere, these stories aren’t that spooky – they are by cozy mystery authors after all. Still, fans of these authors will enjoy picking up the book.
Sue (5 KP) rated I Know What You Bid Last Summer (Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery #5) in Books
Apr 23, 2018
Sarah Winston, a garage sale expert, knows how to run a successful garage sale and has made a business out of it. As part of a charity event, Sarah volunteers her expertise and agrees to manage an athletic equipment swap. While preparing the event, she is knocked out by a would-be robber and then the day of the event discovers the dead body of the local superintendent.
Sarah becomes an amateur detective and compiles a list of murder suspects that all seem to be other members of the school board. With her quick wit and sleuthing talents, Sarah must find the killer before the killer makes her another item for the dumpster.
This book is more than a charming cozy mystery; the author gives you inside tips into the world of garage sale selling and buying. The mystery, suspense, and moments of comedy keep you interested, while you try to guess who the culprit is.
Sarah becomes an amateur detective and compiles a list of murder suspects that all seem to be other members of the school board. With her quick wit and sleuthing talents, Sarah must find the killer before the killer makes her another item for the dumpster.
This book is more than a charming cozy mystery; the author gives you inside tips into the world of garage sale selling and buying. The mystery, suspense, and moments of comedy keep you interested, while you try to guess who the culprit is.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2269 KP) rated Iced Under in Books
Mar 9, 2018
It’s a cold, quiet February in Busman’s Harbor until Julia’s mom gets a mysterious package in the mail. Inside is a necklace, a family heirloom worth seven figures, that disappeared in the 1920’s. What happened to it all those years ago? And who sent it today?
This is definitely a different plot for a cozy, but I really loved it. Yes, there is a murder, but it comes in later and the mystery of tracking down family and the story behind the necklace takes center stage. Honestly, I like the break from the familiar formula. The characters are fun as always, especially the new ones. And I might have cried (in a good way) through the last couple of chapters. Fans of the series will appreciate this one best, but they will love it.
Note: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-iced-under-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is definitely a different plot for a cozy, but I really loved it. Yes, there is a murder, but it comes in later and the mystery of tracking down family and the story behind the necklace takes center stage. Honestly, I like the break from the familiar formula. The characters are fun as always, especially the new ones. And I might have cried (in a good way) through the last couple of chapters. Fans of the series will appreciate this one best, but they will love it.
Note: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/12/book-review-iced-under-by-barbara-ross.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Winnie’s new Emergency Dessert Squad business has been opened for six weeks, and it is quickly gaining customers. But then the unthinkable happens – someone dies after eating one of Winnie’s desserts. Now the phone has stopped ringing and it looks like Winnie may go out of business. In order to keep her new business running, she needs to find the killer, can she do it?
This series has such a fun premise, and the punny names that Winnie uses for her desserts are a delight. Just as much fun are the characters. They’re a bit unusual for a cozy series, but I appreciate them for that. The plot is strong as well. I saw a few plot points coming, but others caught me by surprise.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-silence-of-flans-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This series has such a fun premise, and the punny names that Winnie uses for her desserts are a delight. Just as much fun are the characters. They’re a bit unusual for a cozy series, but I appreciate them for that. The plot is strong as well. I saw a few plot points coming, but others caught me by surprise.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-silence-of-flans-by-laura.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2269 KP) rated Zero-Degree Murder (Search and Rescue Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When four hikers go missing on a mountain on Thanksgiving Day, Gracie Kinkaid is one of the only people to respond. She and her search partner quickly find one of the hikers, famous actor Rob Christian, but he’s injured. While they wait for help, a snow storm is coming in. What they don’t know is that someone is hunting for them on the mountain – to kill them.
Despite being published by Berkley Prime Crime, this is more a thriller than a cozy, with language and violence to go along with that. The pacing of the plot was uneven, with parts there were page turning and passages that were slow and even predictable. The characters were also not as complex as I would have liked. It wasn’t a bad book, but it also could have been better.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-zero-degree-murder-by-m-l.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Despite being published by Berkley Prime Crime, this is more a thriller than a cozy, with language and violence to go along with that. The pacing of the plot was uneven, with parts there were page turning and passages that were slow and even predictable. The characters were also not as complex as I would have liked. It wasn’t a bad book, but it also could have been better.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/01/book-review-zero-degree-murder-by-m-l.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.