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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2271 KP) rated Battered in Books
Feb 14, 2020
Murder Hits Close to Home
Alene Baron runs Whipped and Sipped with her best friend, Ruthie Rosin. Together, the two have turned the café and coffee shop into a healthy choice with a loyal clientele. They serve only the best coffee, and most of their items are vegan, even the sweet treats, that is popular in their neighborhood in Chicago. Alene lives a few blocks away from the café in a condo she shares with her father and her three children. Her world is a little chaotic, but it gets more so when she finds one of her neighbors dead one afternoon. It is clear that he was murdered, and soon Alene is casting everyone in the role of killer. Since she knows everyone who might be a suspect, can she figure out what really happened?
This book has a couple of twists on culinary cozies that I enjoyed, the healthy food that is served and the large city setting. Author G. P. Gottlieb still manages to keep this book feeling cozy despite that setting, and I enjoyed spending time in a bigger city. There are a lot of characters, and their relationships are complicated. There is a list of characters before the book starts, but it didn’t take too long for the character’s personalities to come through and it became easy to keep them straight. There are some prickly characters in the book, and it was actually easy to root for one of them to be the killer. We get a bit of a backstory dump early on, which makes it a little slow to get going. We do need some of this information as the plot unfolds. Once the murder happens, we’ve got several good clues and red herrings. I thought I figured things out early, but I was surprised by the climax. There are a total of thiry recipes in this book, with them leaning toward the healthier side of things thanks to the vegan theme of the café. This book features a slightly different take on the culinary cozy mystery, one I ultimately enjoyed.
This book has a couple of twists on culinary cozies that I enjoyed, the healthy food that is served and the large city setting. Author G. P. Gottlieb still manages to keep this book feeling cozy despite that setting, and I enjoyed spending time in a bigger city. There are a lot of characters, and their relationships are complicated. There is a list of characters before the book starts, but it didn’t take too long for the character’s personalities to come through and it became easy to keep them straight. There are some prickly characters in the book, and it was actually easy to root for one of them to be the killer. We get a bit of a backstory dump early on, which makes it a little slow to get going. We do need some of this information as the plot unfolds. Once the murder happens, we’ve got several good clues and red herrings. I thought I figured things out early, but I was surprised by the climax. There are a total of thiry recipes in this book, with them leaning toward the healthier side of things thanks to the vegan theme of the café. This book features a slightly different take on the culinary cozy mystery, one I ultimately enjoyed.
Sue (5 KP) rated The Pajama Frame in Books
Apr 23, 2018
The Pajama Frame is book #5 in the Madison Night Mystery series. While the books can be read as stand-alone, each preceding book builds on the characters and their relationships.
When her octogenarian friend dies and leaves interior decorator Madison Night a pajama factory, Madison is faced with a decades-old tragedy and a more recent murder. All Madison wants to do is hide from the drama, but when estranged family members and special interest groups want to get into the sealed factory, Madison realizes she is caught having to solve a mystery before she becomes the next victim.
As with previous Madison Night books, I found the character of Madison delightful and refreshing. She is no-nonsense, quirky, snarky, and a throwback to Doris Day. Who wouldn’t enjoy an independent woman that dresses and enjoys decorations from the era of the fifties and sixties? Add to the mix a love/hate relationship with the chief of police Tex and a few witty friends & neighbors; you have the perfect chemistry for a delightful cozy mystery series.
When her octogenarian friend dies and leaves interior decorator Madison Night a pajama factory, Madison is faced with a decades-old tragedy and a more recent murder. All Madison wants to do is hide from the drama, but when estranged family members and special interest groups want to get into the sealed factory, Madison realizes she is caught having to solve a mystery before she becomes the next victim.
As with previous Madison Night books, I found the character of Madison delightful and refreshing. She is no-nonsense, quirky, snarky, and a throwback to Doris Day. Who wouldn’t enjoy an independent woman that dresses and enjoys decorations from the era of the fifties and sixties? Add to the mix a love/hate relationship with the chief of police Tex and a few witty friends & neighbors; you have the perfect chemistry for a delightful cozy mystery series.
Sue (5 KP) rated Death al Fresco in Books
Apr 23, 2018
Sally Solari is working very hard to make a name for herself at her recently inherited restaurant, but her father has different plans. He doesn’t seem to remember that she no longer works at the family restaurant Solaris’ and keeps pulling her in. While taking an open-air painting class of the Monterey Bay coastline, Sally’s dog Buster finds a corpse tangled up in the kelp.
The body is identified as Gino, a local fisherman and regular patron at Solaris’. Is it true what everyone is saying? Is Sally’s dad negligent for allowing an inebriated customer to leave the restaurant alone at night? Witnesses claim that Gino was drunk when he left the restaurant, but his waitress swears that she only served him to beers with a full meal. Can she find out the truth before her father’s reputation and that on his restaurant goes down the drain?
This is not your average cozy mystery full of cuteness. Sally is a smart and multifaceted character that has you cheering for her to find the bad guys.
The body is identified as Gino, a local fisherman and regular patron at Solaris’. Is it true what everyone is saying? Is Sally’s dad negligent for allowing an inebriated customer to leave the restaurant alone at night? Witnesses claim that Gino was drunk when he left the restaurant, but his waitress swears that she only served him to beers with a full meal. Can she find out the truth before her father’s reputation and that on his restaurant goes down the drain?
This is not your average cozy mystery full of cuteness. Sally is a smart and multifaceted character that has you cheering for her to find the bad guys.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2271 KP) rated The Skeleton Takes a Bow (Family Skeleton Mystery #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Georgia has reluctantly agreed to let Sid, her best friend the skeleton, star in the play at her daughter’s high school. Okay, star might be the wrong word since Sid’s skull is playing the part of Yorick in Hamlet. Either way, he’s excited to get out of the house. However, when he is accidently left at the school overnight, he hears a murder. With no body, the police won’t take Georgia seriously. Can Sid and Georgia track down the killer when they don’t know who the victim is?
This is a fun dip into the light end of the paranormal spectrum since Sid is the only paranormal element in the book. The plot is different from a normal cozy, and as a result appears to wander a bit at the beginning, but the author uses all those elements in the end before bringing us to a logical climax. Meanwhile, the characters are fun, charming, and fully fleshed out. Yes, even Sid.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-skeleton-takes-bow-by-leigh.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a fun dip into the light end of the paranormal spectrum since Sid is the only paranormal element in the book. The plot is different from a normal cozy, and as a result appears to wander a bit at the beginning, but the author uses all those elements in the end before bringing us to a logical climax. Meanwhile, the characters are fun, charming, and fully fleshed out. Yes, even Sid.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/05/book-review-skeleton-takes-bow-by-leigh.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Better Off Thread (An Embroidery Mystery #10) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Marcy shows up at the hospital ready to play elf for some sick children only to find that Santa, being played by her friend Captain Moe, is suspected of murdering a hospital administrator. Sure that the two detectives in charge of the case arent going to worry about finding another suspect since they have Moe, Marcy and friends decide to investigate on their own.
I was surprised to find out after I finished this book that it was #10 in the series. On the one hand, I should have guessed because the characters and their relationships with each other were all so well developed. I didnt feel like I was missing a lot of background though, so I assumed it was a newer series. Whether youve been with this one from the beginning or are just jumping in now, youll want to catch this installment. Better Off Thread is the perfect cozy to get you in the mood for a little holiday music and some Christmas shopping!
I was surprised to find out after I finished this book that it was #10 in the series. On the one hand, I should have guessed because the characters and their relationships with each other were all so well developed. I didnt feel like I was missing a lot of background though, so I assumed it was a newer series. Whether youve been with this one from the beginning or are just jumping in now, youll want to catch this installment. Better Off Thread is the perfect cozy to get you in the mood for a little holiday music and some Christmas shopping!
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Murder at the Mansion in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Like Kelly, I always imagine all of California as being warm and sunny. The northern California setting was a new one for me, and I loved the idea of the cozy B&B and Inn along the coast. There is a great supporting cast to help Kelly solve the crimes at Redwood Heights. I think Id like to spend an evening hanging out with the Silver Sentinels, as they call themselves. With plenty of misdirection to keep me guessing, I found this to be an entertaining read.
There are lots of returning characters in this story. I admit, it took me a little while to get them all straight in my head! While the mystery was enjoyable on its own, since this is only the second book in the series, Id suggest starting back at the beginning if youre going to give this one a try.
<i>NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.</i>
There are lots of returning characters in this story. I admit, it took me a little while to get them all straight in my head! While the mystery was enjoyable on its own, since this is only the second book in the series, Id suggest starting back at the beginning if youre going to give this one a try.
<i>NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.</i>
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Telling Tails (Second Chance Cat Mystery #4) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
When Sarahs friend Rose decides to personally deliver a purchase from the shop, she sees what she believes is a murder being committed. Minutes later she is knocked unconscious. The police refuse to believe she saw anything, and assume that she either imagined it or her head injury may be causing her to believe she saw something she did not. Sarah and Roses other friends come together to help her find the truth.
This was a great cozy, full of family, friends, cats, and clues. Its a large cast of characters to keep track of, but each one has their place in the story and helps to create a feeling of community. You can jump right in with this book and have no trouble following the story or characters, but I do plan to go back to the beginning so I can get the full story on some of the interpersonal relationships. Plus, Im always a sucker for a cover with a cat on it!
This was a great cozy, full of family, friends, cats, and clues. Its a large cast of characters to keep track of, but each one has their place in the story and helps to create a feeling of community. You can jump right in with this book and have no trouble following the story or characters, but I do plan to go back to the beginning so I can get the full story on some of the interpersonal relationships. Plus, Im always a sucker for a cover with a cat on it!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2271 KP) rated Olive and Let Die (Greek to Me Mystery #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Georgie’s mother abandoned her 20 years ago, and Georgie has not heard from her since. Naturally, she is surprised when the woman walks back into her life, having reinvented herself as soap star Melanie Ashley. Before the two women can talk, however, they find a dead body. Melanie quickly identifies the victim as her cousin Doreen. Did Melanie’s return to town have something to do with Doreen’s death? What secret is Melanie hiding?
This is another fun, fast paced mystery. It did seem to wander a bit at the beginning, but everything comes into play before the climax. The climax is a little different for a cozy, and I thought it worked very well. The characters, old and new, are both really strong. Unfortunately, a few minor editing issues annoyed me, but they didn’t affect the plot or solution to the mystery in any way.
NOTE: I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-review-olive-and-let-die-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is another fun, fast paced mystery. It did seem to wander a bit at the beginning, but everything comes into play before the climax. The climax is a little different for a cozy, and I thought it worked very well. The characters, old and new, are both really strong. Unfortunately, a few minor editing issues annoyed me, but they didn’t affect the plot or solution to the mystery in any way.
NOTE: I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/11/book-review-olive-and-let-die-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2271 KP) rated Death Crashes the Party (Liv And Di In Dixie Mystery #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Liv McKay is working with some clients to plan an anniversary party for them when they find two dead bodies in their garage. The murder victims worked at the trucking company Liv’s father-in-law owns. Soon, rumors are swirling about Liv’s family, and the police are uncovering some things that are upsetting the family. Liv and her best friend Di Souther start their investigation to find out what is really happening. Can they figure it out?
This was a very enjoyable debut with some twists on the usual cozy set up, which I really enjoyed. Liv is a fantastic main character, and Di is a wonderful sidekick. I did feel they were a bit passive early on, but that soon changed and they threw themselves headlong into solving the mystery, which featured plenty of surprises and twists. Throw in a bit of humor, and you have a winner. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-death-crashes-party-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was a very enjoyable debut with some twists on the usual cozy set up, which I really enjoyed. Liv is a fantastic main character, and Di is a wonderful sidekick. I did feel they were a bit passive early on, but that soon changed and they threw themselves headlong into solving the mystery, which featured plenty of surprises and twists. Throw in a bit of humor, and you have a winner. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/07/book-review-death-crashes-party-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2271 KP) rated One Fete in the Grave in Books
Jul 6, 2018
This Fourth of July Ends with the Bang of Murder
When the fireworks show ends, party planning Liv McKay thinks her day organizing her town’s Fourth of July festival is over. Unfortunately, someone finds the body of councilman Bubba Rowland. Despite being on the council, Bubba had his enemies, and one of them was Earl, her mother’s new fiance. Can Liv help her mother by clearing Earl’s name?
This book starts with a bang – of fireworks, but it isn’t too long before we find Bubba’s body. Unfortunately, the book does still have some pacing issues as Liv’s party planning business slows things down. I did find one sub-plot lots of fun, however. The mystery does have some good suspects and twists before we reach the logical climax. Liv’s family and friends, including best friend Di, are as charming as ever. The suspects work, although we don’t get to know them as well as we might in some mysteries. This is a fun cozy for a relaxing summer read or any time of the year.
This book starts with a bang – of fireworks, but it isn’t too long before we find Bubba’s body. Unfortunately, the book does still have some pacing issues as Liv’s party planning business slows things down. I did find one sub-plot lots of fun, however. The mystery does have some good suspects and twists before we reach the logical climax. Liv’s family and friends, including best friend Di, are as charming as ever. The suspects work, although we don’t get to know them as well as we might in some mysteries. This is a fun cozy for a relaxing summer read or any time of the year.