Review: The Silence of the Flans

The Silence of the Flans by Laura Bradford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the premise of this book especially the idea of emergency dessert orders. My biggest complaint is the fact the amateur sleuth is a bit of an airhead when trying to solve the murder. There is an obvious source of a clue that Winnie doesn’t look at til the latter part of the book. She has a perfectly good source in her possession that she looks at several times before the lightbulb moment. Additionally there are some easy swept under the rug moments regarding false accusations and betrayal that I feel might have been more of a chasm creator than they were. I so enjoy the series I just think it could be a little tighter in its details

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Chapter Break Bingo Jun 24

 Chapter Break hosts a monthly bingo challenge.  Unlike most other challenges you may use a book to fill multiple prompts.  The only requirement is you must finish the book in the month of the card.  I haven't been actively doing this bingo but thought I would give it a renewed go.  

Review: Chili Con Corpses

Chili Con Corpses by J.B. Stanley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable installment in the series. James has grown on me as a MC. It is interesting to see the relationships he has develop and change. There are other relationships growing as well. In general I would say that is a main theme of this book. The murder is quite well constructed with plenty of suspects and red herrings. Looking forward to continue with the series to see where the relationships go

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Review: Meet Your Baker

Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great intro to a new series

I enjoyed this first in series book and the way it combined baking and the theater. There were lots of details about both and contained background info on the behind the scenes and on stage aspects of Shakespeare theater. The mystery had lots of characters and plenty of possible candidates for guilt

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Review: Chai Another Day

Chai Another Day by Leslie Budewitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great next book in the series. I enjoy how the story intertwined characters we had met in previous books. It can be read as a standalone but there is lots of information about previous books and crimes. They don’t spoil the other books but having read them provides context. This mystery was a bit of a guilty party out of clear air but the rationale of the murder makes sense. Looking forward to reading then next book and learning more about Seattle and its neighborhoods

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Review: The Sleeping Beauty Killer

The Sleeping Beauty Killer by Mary Higgins Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy all of this series. There’s something about the premise of this story that is intriguing. It reminds me of dateline or 20/20 investigations I also enjoy Laurie’s backstory and her relationship with her father and son.
This particular book took a different twist to the cold case investigation which was unique. I did suspect the guilty party before the reveal but it didn’t ruin the book since the premise is to rehash the stories of all the players in the old crimes

Looking forward to reading the rest of the series

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Review: One of Us Is Back

One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

crazy revenge story

Bayview is back in a bad way again. The old crew is thrown together as ghosts from their past resurface and cause issues. The story is a well woven thriller that highlights the dangers of keeping secrets

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Review: How the Penguins Saved Veronica

How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cranky old lady whose hard shell is cracked. During a very unlikely trip to Antarctica. Veronica is a strong willed Scot whose unlikely story is revealed in a unique manner. With multiple view points the book has a great perspective on life and the power of taking control of one’s happiness. I listened to this audiobook and really enjoyed the cast of narrators making the book all the more enjoyable

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Review: Murder in the First Edition

Murder in the First Edition by Lauren Elliott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

layered mystery to keep the reader guessing

Addie is caught in a triangle of love and intrigue during the Christmas season She finds herself torn between her past and her future as her dead fiancées father comes to town. Johnathan arrives just as a mysterious death occurs and a valuable book disappears. This story finds Addie unraveling that mystery as well as forging on new relationships with past foes . The book leaves the reader wondering how her new year will go and looking forward to the next installment

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Review: Bickering Birds

Bickering Birds by Mildred Abbott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

twisty turning book

This 3rd book in the series is full of suspects and accusations galore. It is also a nice tribute to bird lovers and presents a provocative look at what’s a good cause vs an obsession. Looking forward to reading the next book

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Review: Die Cut

Die Cut by Nelle Heran
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

intriguing cozy with fun scrapbooking ideas

A fun first in the series cozy mystery. It is an easy read and especially enjoyable if you like crafting. There are some scrapbooking terms and techniques incorporated in a mystery. The 2 main characters are fun to see their interactions and back and forth. Enjoyable and I’ll look for the next book

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Review: The New Couple in 5B

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

intense and fast moving

Wow this is an intense thriller that leaves the reader constantly guessing about who’s telling the truth who’s reliable what’s real. It’s a crazy fast ride that will keep you up at night and leave you feeling unsettled

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Review: Fit to Die

Fit to Die by J.B. Stanley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this 2nd book and found it to be an engaging read. I listened on audio and enjoy hearing about the Flab Five and their latest efforts to lose weight. The mystery was quite involved and the real target wasn’t identified immediately. The clues and the details were revealed slowly and built upon previous information. This made a very well structured story and kept me engaged. Looking forward to future supper club books with the expanded group of participants

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Review: Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage

Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable installment in the series. I enjoy the originality of the story line and the fact I feel like I’m reading about friends after so many years of the tv show and the books. It’s easy to keep the cast of characters straight since they are so familiar. This book has a wonderful level of details about Edmonton and is particularly enjoyable with its reference to the Oilers and hockey since I read it during the NHL playoffs which the Oilers are in currently. The mystery is well constructed amidst all the descriptions of the settings and the guilty party is a surprise but the plot works and the reasons make sense when explained. An enjoyable cozy read

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Review: Cheddar Late Than Dead

Cheddar Late Than Dead by Linda Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great twists and delicious grilled cheese

Another great installment in the series. The grilled cheese descriptions and recipes certainly make one’s mouth water. The mysterious death of a groom to be was certainly filled with plenty of twists and turns. The guilty party was a surprise as was the motive The female characters are strong but still have their vulnerability which makes them very realistic in my opinion.

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Review: Jealousy Filled Donuts

Jealousy Filled Donuts by Ginger Bolton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good continuation on the series. It is interesting to see how Emily is growing her business and her relationships all while dealing with her grief of losing her husband. The personal relationships are complex and are definitely intertwined with the mystery. At times the young adults seem a bit immature for their age but their impulsiveness does seem to be reflective of early 20s
I look forward to reading more in this series

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Review: Three Tainted Teas

Three Tainted Teas by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable installment in the kitchen witch series. I really had no idea of the guilty party until the moment of the reveal. There were clues but not do overwhelming as to make it obvious. This book definitely has the reader wondering about the existence of supernatural people with powers outside of the norm of society. I enjoy learning about the coven as Mia does too

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Review: Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

intense peek into the life of a very famous actor

Wow this book while very captivating is so tragic as well. As I read it I of course know that Matthew Perry has passed but you still cannot help hoping he truly conquered his demons. I have truly never wanted to be famous and now I believe that more than ever. The inside look at addiction and its nasty tentacles is eye opening and honest.

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Review: Carbs & Cadavers

Carbs & Cadavers by J.B. Stanley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this mystery especially the structure of the case and the balance of the group of main characters. I did find the MC, James Henry, a bit of a wet noodle. I think it was just a contrast to how often the female lead character is a strong independent woman. James just comes across as an indecisive man who has very little self confidence. His characteristics make sense for his backstory it is just not the typical detective in a cozy mystery. We do see his character gain confidence as the story progresses so it is realistic to see his character changing as the series progresses.

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