
Nine Lives and Alibis
Book
In Nine Lives and Alibis, the seventh in Cate Conte's Cat Café beloved cozy mystery series,...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Pink Lemonade Cake Murder in Books
Sep 5, 2023
Once again, fans of the series will know what to expect. The mystery is decent, but the story is padded with lots of talk about food, even for a culinary cozy. And the sub-plot involving Mike slows down the beginning of the story. I also had a hard time buying how the police deal with Hannah’s sleuthing in this book. And yet, I still do like checking in on the characters, and the recipes sound delicious as always. The cliffhanger makes it obvious we are back in the soap opera territory I had hoped we’d left behind. If you are curious about the series, start with the early books to see why so many people read it.

Barbecue Can Be Deadly
Book
Sho Tanaka is fired up to support his sister, Jenny, and spice up his life post-nursing career...

Murder on Oak Street (A South Shore Mystery #1)
Book
New York, 1904. After two years as a coroner’s physician for the city of New York, Daniel...
Historical Mystery Cozy

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Muddled Matrimonial Murder in Books
Jun 14, 2023
I’d kind of forgotten about Brad’s stalker until she became the focus of this storyline. The plot was great since Emory, despite what she uncovers, keeps coming back to the grooms as the best suspects. Yet when we reach the suspenseful climax, things make perfect sense. There are some interesting developments that fans of the series will enjoy. And yes, I do recommend reading this series in order. That’s fine since the characters are so charming, and I enjoyed spending time with them again here. There are another dozen recipes, including some twists on Thanksgiving favorites and lots featuring cranberries. If you are looking for a fun cozy, you’ll be glad you picked this one up.

French Quarter Fright Night
Book
The third in the fabulous cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and...

The Jig is Up
Book
Irish step dance takes a deadly turn in this Celtic cozy series debut, perfect for fans of Carlene...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Send in the Clowns in Books
Oct 12, 2024 (Updated Oct 12, 2024)
I’d let too long go between visits with Ellison, but it was great to be back in her presence. The returning characters are fun, and I’m not minding the love triangle yet. The plot started out quickly and the pace never lagged. The ending was weaker than I would have liked, but it did answer all our questions. I didn’t enjoy a couple of the elements rooting in the changing times of the 70’s. One of them definitely takes the book outside of cozy territory. On the other hand, I loved the little details that put us in that decade. And the humor continues to entertain. This is a great book to read in October for the seasonal feels, but you’ll enjoy it any time of the year you pick it up.

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated A Scaly Tail of Murder in Books
Feb 15, 2024 (Updated Feb 15, 2024)
Yes, this is one of the rare paranormal series I read since Frankie has discovered she really can communicate with animals. Since the last couple of books have found Frankie out of town, I enjoyed seeing all the regular haunts this time around. The characters are also fun, although I did have some issues with how Frankie treated Jeff in this book. Likewise, a couple of times, Frankie seemed to know something we hadn’t seen her learn. But both are minor overall. The plot had plenty of viable suspects and some nice surprises before we reached the logical end. Meanwhile, the characters provided plenty of smiles and laughs. If you are looking for a light paranormal cozy, you’ll be glad you picked this book up.

Rivers and Creaks
Book
A grumpy innkeeper. A dead guest. Can he solve the locked-room mystery before his business crumbles...