Killer, Paper, Cut

 Kiki Lowenstein #9 by Joann Campbell Slan is the next book in the series.  A Halloween fundraising crop, straightforward if not a lot of work.  That is until Kiki's employee gets stabbed during the event.   The case brings out lots of secrets and underlying bigotry.  The book is great at highlighting not everything is as it seems with people and often we think they have it easier than they do.  In general, Kiki is a trusting individual so she is shocked by the way others have kept secrets and how mean they are to people.  She finds herself trying to solve the mystery of the attack on her friend all while trying to prepare for a move and help her son adjust to his new surroundings, oh yeah and deal with morning sickness at 7 months pregnant.  If it sounds a bit overwhelming, it is.  

Kiki's fiancee, Chad Dettweiler, tells her she has a hobby besides scrapbooking and that's worrying.  I definitely found myself relating to this side of her personality in addition to her love for scrapbooking.  I really liked that the store and hobby played a bigger role in this book than they had in the past 2 books.  I also found myself rooting for Kiki to finally find some quiet and easiness in her life.  Just in case you thought things would go better, drama ensues. We are left with a cliffhanger for the next book which left me ready to start the next one even though I have plenty on my list I need to finish first.  

Killer, Paper, Cut by Joanna Campbell Slan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

another enjoyable book that shows Kiki and her family growing literally and figuratively. It seems like Kiki just cannot catch a break as this time she and her family are facing an imminent move and she finds herself searching for answers to the attack on her employee, Lauren. In this book new relationships develop and old ones come under scrutiny. The ending leaves the reader hanging and wanting to read the next book in the series.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Kiki Lowenstein #8
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #148
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #163
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #101
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #138
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #119
8. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge50. A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library) 
9. Pick your Poison #3-4 A book about a haunted house 
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #7  Shot #4

Group Photo Grave

 This is the next installment in the Kiki Lowenstein series by Joann Cambell Slan.  This one does get back to the roots of including the paper crafting and personnel of Time in a Bottle.  Kiki once again is trying to assist family members in clearing their names for a murder they didn't commit.  This story highlights more of Sheila's, Kiki's ex mother in law, past and relationships. Sheila and Kiki have an interesting relationship that has developed and expanded through the series.   In this book we see more of Sheila's relationship with Robbie and some of his past as well.  His professional life is brought up more in this book especially the political side of being Chief of Police.  There is plenty of drama to go around in addition to the solving of a murder.  All in all another good installment in the series.

Group, Photo, Grave by Joanna Campbell Slan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This wedding does not turn out the way Kiki's mother in law, Sheila, intended it to. Despite a rough scene in the middle of the day, the reception finishes and she expects to leave on her dream cruise for her honeymoon with Robbie. Instead, they find themselves caught up in a politically motivated investigation that drags Sheila into the middle of the drama. This book develops Sheila and her history into the story more as we learn more about her HS days. She and her bridesmaids all went to CALA the same school Kiki's daughter, Anya, now attends. It seems that HS drama was not left in the past and someone seems to want to frame Kiki's family for the murder of a Plastic Surgeon. Kiki and Dettweiler attempt to help solve the murder while being forbidden to get involved publicly. As always Kiki gets drawn in and helps uncover the murderer. Another great installment in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 yes book 8 in Kiki Lowenstein series
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #147
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #162
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #100
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #137
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #118
8. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #47 A book from your TBR list you associate with a favorite person, place, or thing
9. Pick your Poison #7-1 A book with a kilt on the cover - character wears a kilt all the time in book
10. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #7  Shot #3
12. 52 books in 52 weeks  #

Picture Perfect Corpse

 This is the 7th book, by Joann Campbell Slan, in the series involving Kiki Lowenstein and centers around her life as an employee at a St Louis scrapbook store.  Most of the installments include many scenes at the store and discuss paper crafting, this one did not have as much.  This wraps up a building drama between Kiki and Dettweiler's pasts.   Brenda Dettweiler cannot seem to let her ex go and now she is taking it out on Kiki and blaming her for the demise of her marriage;  taking no ownership of her fault in the situation.  Kiki is also finally getting some resolution in the death of her husband George 5 years before.  The story does wrap many of those threads up while introducing more complexity into their lives.  

The subplot about Nicci - Anya's friend is a relevant one for today's society and is something that should be discussed more to help those struggling with these demons to find help.  

I know many people won't enjoy the heavier topics discussed in the books and this is definitely not in the light and cheery cozy category but I do enjoy this series and look forward to discovering how the next pieces evolve in this ongoing saga.

Picture Perfect Corpse by Joanna Campbell Slan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always enjoy reading the Kiki Lowenstein books because they include my other favorite hobby- scrapbooking.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 yes still working through series
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #145
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #160
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #99
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #136
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #117
8. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge 44. The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover 
9. Pick your Poison #24-1 A book that had been on your TBR list more than a year
10. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #7  Shot #2

Gardenias and a Grave Mistake

 This is the first book in the series about Diana Flowers by Ruby Loren.  I had previously read the prequel to this series and enjoyed it.  I am not sure how much I really like this series but I will give at least one more book a go before deciding one way or the other.  It wasn't a bad book it just didn't capture me like other series do.  I think it might  just be the fact it is the initial book in the series so I will continue for at least one more.

The characters are quirky and there is plenty of suspicions to go around when a best man appears dead in a wedding cake at the first-ever wedding event Diana is working at.  It doesn't help that it is her neighbor's wedding and she's been a bit of a bridezilla.   She gets caught up in the whodunnit as the local DCI is a bit of a bumbling fool.

Add to that the mystery of why Jim had left her his house and fields and there is plenty perplexing Diana. The mystery slowly unravels and it makes sense in the end after plenty of confusion on who is guilty. 

If you are interested in gardening and flowers in particular you will like that aspect of the series for sure.  I don't have a green thumb so that part didn't resonant strongly with me.

Gardenias and a Grave Mistake by Ruby Loren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

an interesting mix of characters in a cozy mystery set in South East England. There is plenty of suspicion and duplicity going on while Diana Flowers is trying to solve a mystery or 2 in this first book in the series. there are some quirky characters and I am interested to see how the series progresses. enjoyable cozy including nosy neighbors and a bridezilla, not to mention past childhood boyfriends. I liked that this cozy did not have the MC involved in a romantic relationship even if she is coming out of a bad breakup

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Book 1 Diana Flowers
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #142
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #157
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #97
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #134
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #115
7. Medical Examiner Challenge  4 Toe Tags
8. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #  Shot #

The Honeymoon from Hell

 This is the 7th book in the cruise series by Lizzie Josephson.  I appreciated this one focusing on Keith and Adriana and their relationship.  It is enjoyable to see the recurring characters that appear in the books.  It makes the series feel like a weekly tv show where you know who the good guys and the bad guys are each time.  This book focused on a Caribbean itinerary with visits to St. Marten, Curacao, Guadelope and Grenada.  There is a nice level of detail on the things to see and do in those different locales.  Always enjoyable to read these series' entries. 

 I look forward to reading the spin off series about fun cruises aboard a less formal set of ships.  This spin off was introduced in this book and will seem to focus on the singles cruises that Cosmo cruise sales director likes to propose. 

I only gave this book a 3 star because the editing was a bit lacking in this book.  There were some redundant conversations and story segments that detracted from the flow  of the book a bit.  

The Honeymoon From Hell: Book Nine: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries by Lizzie Josephson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fun adventures in the Caribbean for Keith and Adrianne. This book explains the spin off series I had seen this year by Lizzie Josephson. I look forward to reading that series to see how she portrays the less formal fun cruises in those adventures. This book had a nice adventure and visits to Caribbean islands. There were a few editing errors so that's why I gave it a 3 instead of a 4

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Grenada
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Series 9 #8
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #138
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #153
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #93
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #130
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #111
9. BooklistQueen   #24 a summer read
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes 
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #43a  Shot #3

Homicide in Hardcover

 In a rather funny twist, this is the 2nd cozy I read this week that involves book restoration.  This one by Kate Carlisle was even more interesting for me because it discusses the detailed techniques of bookbinding.  I have actually had some experience in doing this through my various scrapbooking retreats through Club Scrap.  So, the descriptions of the restoration and binding are quite interesting to me.  

The mystery itself is very well written and full of plot twists to keep the reader engaged.  This is actually the first book in the series although I had previously read a later installment last year.  This book introduces us to Brooklyn and her family.   They are quite interesting characters with unique family dynamics.  Her best friend, Emily, is a childhood friend she met when her family moved to the commune north of San Francisco.   Yep, this book has lots of stereotypical fruits and nuts to go around.   There is also lots of high society SF money to be found in the showing of rare book collection being debuted in the story.  The relationships are well developed and will continue to grow as the series progresses if the later installment is any indication.  I look forward to reading the interim books to fill in the gaps.

Behind the story and the root of the murders is a copy of Faust that is written in German. The restoration of this book seems to be the source of crimes being committed.  Brooklyn keeps finding dead bodies and trouble everywhere she turns.  There are definitely plenty of red herrings and the guilty party is quite a surprise at the end especially the motive.  

This book weaves some German history around the time of WWII into the story as well.  So the 3 mysteries I read this week are all connected in some fashion, WWII Germany or book binding/restoration.  A strange coincidence to say the least with a little bit for everyone.  

Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Action packed cozy with a bit of a historic plot line mixed in with modern crime solving. There are several subplots and mysteries contained in this first installment of the Bibliophile series. Who knew book preservation could be so exciting

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #123
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Bibliophile Mysteries #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #133
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #147
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #90
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #127
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #108
8. Pick your Poison #20-4 A book with the word "hard" in the title
9. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  
10. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Basement

Row 5

Bedroom

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Pointy object
• 
  
• Detectives- Brooklyn/Derek
• Victims- Abraham/Enrique
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #20  Shot #2

Bookman Dead Style

This is the 2nd book in the series set in Utah by Paige Shelton.  There is a bit of every stereotypical aspect of the state in this cozy.  Skiing, celebrity, no coffee drinking and sister wives all rolled up into a mystery full of celebrities.  In addition to the film stars and festival, there is plenty of book restoration and printing to read about as well.  The series is a great mix of plots and the mysteries continue to be challenging to solve.   I look forward to reading more in the series.  

 

Bookman Dead Style by Paige Shelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great story set in Utah. A glamorous film festival is in town with. Plenty of mystery and intrigue. Could Hollywood leading man, Matt Bane, really have killed his sister? Is he that great of an actor to fool them all. There’s plenty of mystery and intrigue to be found in this fun cozy. There’s a bit of printing and typing nostalgia built into the story and it continues to develop characters and relationships. I look forward to more in the series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #121
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Dangerous Type #2
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #131
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #145
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #88
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #125
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #106
8. Pick your Poison # 10-2 A book with a typewriter on the cover 
9. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 4

Hotel room

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Pointy object
• Detectives- Clare Henry
• Victims- Cassie Bane
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #41  Shot #2

The English Breakfast Murder

 This is the 4th book in the Tea Shop Mysteries.  This is the one series of Laura Childs that I am not caught up on reading all of the books.  I think I have put this series off more because I know I am quite behind and the scrapbooking ones will always get extra attention from me since that is another passion of mine.  This is a great series if you enjoy Southern hospitality and especially learning about tea and tea blends.  There are strong female characters in this series that contrast well with the male characters.  I appreciate that Theodosia is not all about her relationship with Jory, but rather is a bit of a side story.  Often cozies seem to get caught up a bit too much in the romance and minimize the strength of their female detectives.   My only complaint with this book was the ending felt a bit unsettled.  I didn't walk away with a clear sense of closure despite knowing who the guilty party was.  I still will keep working on the series and hope to catch up on them by the end of 2022.  

The English Breakfast Murder by Laura Childs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I always enjoy the different series by Laura Childs. For some reason this one just read a bit slower than many of the cozies and felt a bit disjointed. It may be due to the fact it is an early book in the series and the characters and relationships are being introduced and developed. I like the characters that work in the Indigo Tea Shop and appreciate their quirkiness and differences. I think I just felt a bit unsatisfied at the end. The guilty party was identified but there wasn't any real recap of the how and even the why was a bit ambiguous to me. I like the series though and will continue to read this along with her other series.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #119
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  South Carolina
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  series 42 book 1
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #129
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #143
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #86
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #123
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #104
9. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  In the Library with the candlestick
10. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Boat
• Weapons
• Row 5
• Hands or fists
• Detectives- Theodosia/Drayton
• Victims- Harper Fisk
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #1  Shot #5

Wedding on the Windsong

 Adrianne and Keith are finally tying the knot and of course it is on a cruise ship.  They decide to do it in Australia on one of the new boats her Aunt is gifting them for their wedding.  Of course trouble ensues in the form of a crazy stalker.  This book like all the others highlights many tropical sites and focuses on the reefs and undersea adventures.  

Wedding On The Windsong: Book Eight: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries by Lizzie Josephson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great scenery and mystery loved the inclusion of Indonesia in the story and the details of Australia. Enjoyed the development of the relationship between Adrianne and her parents.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes Indonesia

Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Series 9 book 8

Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #128

Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #142

Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #85

Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #122

Craving for Cozies  Book #103

Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes

Six Shooter Challenge  Target #43a  Shot #2

Trouble in Tahiti

 Anyone who has been or dreams of going to the South Pacific will love this latest installment by Lizzie Josephson.   There is wonderful details about the different islands and the activities that can be found on each imbedded in this cozy mystery.  There is a troublemaker trying to alter the outcome of the first ever Gold Cup cruise competition in French Polynesia and Adrianne and Keith find themselves embroiled in it all.  I continue to love this series and how it showcases cruise ports and destinations while presenting wonderful non murder mysteries

Troubles In Tahiti: Book Seven: The Cozy Cruise Mysteries by Lizzie Josephson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful cozy set in Polynesia

Lizzie Josephson has written another wonderful installment in her series. This one is a well researched and accurate depiction of the islands of French Polynesia. These books are a pleasant departure from the cozies based around murders. The mysteries are still well developed but just center on crimes aboard cruise ships that do not involve murder. Great series

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Tahiti
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Series 9 book 7
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #127
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #141
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #84
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #121
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #102
8. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #43a  Shot #1

Caramels with a side of Murder

 This is the second entry in the Daley Buzz series by Meredith Potts.  What I find unique about this cozy is the amateur detective is actually working cooperatively with the police.  This is of course facilitated by the fact Sabrina Daley is dating the police officer in charge of the investigation.  

The story has some good plot twists and succeed in carrying on some backstory plot from the initial book in the series.  The disappearance of Sabrina's sister 10 years prior makes a somewhat important appearance in this book's plot.  I am eager to see how that storyline plays out over the series. 

 For those that enjoy supernatural cozies there is a touch of that in this book although not as pronounced as the stories with witches and talking animals but a psychic does play a role in this book.  All in all, I enjoyed this next installment in the series and look forward to reading more.  Fortunately, this is a series found in Kindle Unlimited so I can get my feel readily and at no direct cost.  

Caramels with a Side of Murder by Meredith Potts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unlikely duo

Contrary to many cozy mysteries this one finds the lead character., Sabrina Daley, partnering up with her police detective boyfriend. Rather than have her go off and investigate on her own, David Devi to have her collaborate with him. While w bit unrealistic, it does make for a less contentious storyline. Overall a well structured mystery with a good conclusion

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  series 41 bk 2 
2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #126
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #140
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #83
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #120
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #101
7. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Kitchen or bakery

Row 5

Home or business office

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Rock, brick, blunt object
• 
  
• Row 5
• Stocking, pantyhose, belt, scarf, tie
• Detectives- Sabrina
• Victims- Terri/Rod
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #28  Shot #2

Patterns in the Sand

 This is the second book in the Seaside Knitters Mysteries by Sally Goldenbaum.  I am really enjoying this cozy series.  It reads a little more like a literary fiction story than a typical cozy in my opinion.  The character development and their introspection make it a more substantial read than many of the fun lighter cozy series.  Nell, Izzy, Birdie and Cass need to work to clear their new friend of a murder accusation.  Small town gossip makes Willow a prime suspect when she arrives in town just before Aidan is murdered.  The secrets she is keeping add to the appearance of guilt.  

But she is not the only one keeping secrets it seems.  As the story unfolds there are many characters acting suspiciously and casting guilt on themselves.  It turns out there are more things going on in the artist haven than most realize.  But are these secrets worth killing for?  

Goldnebaum does a wonderful job of laying out a mystery with suspects to spare.  The nice thing is she clears up all the loose ends and they all make sense.  I am really looking forward to reading more in this series.

Patterns in the Sand by Sally Goldenbaum
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many are keeping secrets in this small town and particularly in the artist's haven. But what secret is worth killing for and why now?
This is an intriguing book with characters of a variety of ages and personalities. The mystery itself is well written where the reader is led to suspect several different individuals and the true guilty party is quite unexpected. If you are looking for a series with a well developed cadre of main characters and strong female leads this is definitely one to pick up and give a read.

View all my reviews

  

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #118
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 yes
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #125
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #139
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #82
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #119
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #100
9. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  In the Library with theCandlestick
10. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lake or ocean
• Lawn
• Weapons
• Row 3
• Drowning, water, ice
• Row 5
• Medicine or drugs
• Detectives- Nell/Izzy/Birdie/Ben
• Victims- Adian Peabody/Billy 
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #18  Shot #2

Hook, Line, and Murder

 This is the 54th book in the Murder, She Wrote series by Jessica Fletcher.  This one has a good plot that is more about a missing person than solving a murder which makes for a nice change.  It is also easy at times to feel empathy toward the villain and to dislike some of the good guys.  This is due to the depth of motives/reasoning that is explained in the story.  If you like fishing and outdoor adventure this book has plenty of that included in its plot and description.  There is also a bit of an unexpected twist at the end which is a bit unusual for this series.  All in all this is a good installment in the long written series.

Hook, Line and Murder by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable installment in the series. I liked that it involved another strong female lead along with Jessica Fletcher. The story of a fugitive in Maine seemed probable as did the revenge aspect of the story. There is a good twist toward the end that made for an added plus

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #116
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Murder She Wrote #46
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #126
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #137
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #80
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #117
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #98
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Boat
• Weapons
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Jessica
• Victims- Wes Caruthers
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #12  Shot #6

Foul Play

 Installment # 59 in the Stone Barrington series by Stuart Woods turned out to be a bit surprising.  There were more twists and turns than a typical book in this series.  The client is also a bit more layered than many of them- it is not really clear whether he is innocent and naive or a manipulator in disguise.   This book will have Stone flying back and forth to the Cape and CA.  If you like to travel vicariously through your books and characters you will enjoy all the descriptions of flying private and glamourous living.  Of course it wouldn't be a book about Stone without bedroom scenes but these are more implied than many of the other books in the past- I must say I enjoy this format more; it's kind of like a movie cutting to the doorway and then the post action scene as the resumption of the story.  The series will keep everyone engaged to see where Stone and Holly's relationship goes going forward.  Always a fun thriller to read and this one even had a bit of a shocking ending

Foul Play by Stuart Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a bit more surprising than many of the Stone Barrington books. There were definitely more twists and turns than many of the recent installments. While Stone is definitely following in his bedroom tryst ways, there is a bit of a hint at developing the relationship with Holly Barker in a different direction than previously expected. The readers will have to stay tuned to see how that turns out. The client in this book is a bit different and it is hard to ascertain his motives at times- is he innocent victim or a behind the scenes manipulator? The journey to finding out the truth is quite exciting.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #115 
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Series 3 Stone Barrington #59 
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #122
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #136
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #116
6. Medical Examiner Challenge  3 Toe Tags
7. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Airplane or airport

Row 5

Home or business office

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Row 3
• Bomb or explosion
• Detectives-Stone/Dino
• Victims- Rod & Shep Treadhouse; Victor Kranik
8. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #5b  Shot #2

  

Kilt Dead

 I had read a previous installment of the Liss MacCrimmon series by Kaitlyn Dunnett last year.  I had selected that book because it fulfilled the "X" requirement in my alphabet challenge.  I usually try to read series from the beginning but this was an exception.  I did feel the fact I had read a future book did not ruin this book although it would have been better to read them in order as certain facts about the central characters make it a bit predictable since I had read a future book.  If you like cozy mysteries with strong young and older women in the primary detective role then you will like this book.  Additionally, anyone interested in Scottish heritage and goods will find this book a fun read.

Kilt Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first in the series set in a small town in Maine. Liss is a great character coming back to her hometown after a min unexpected end to her career. The book centers around her Scottish heritage and her Aunt’s Emporium. The story has many likeable and unlikeable characters. The mystery unravels and an unexpected suspect is revealed. The book does a great job of balancing the mystery with character and relationships developing as Liss reacquainted herself with HS friends as she tries to solve the mystery

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #112
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Liss MacCrimmon #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #119
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book # 133
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #78
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #114
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #96
8. Pick your Poison #7-3 A book with a plaid cover
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 3
Bar, store, restaurant

• Weapons
• Row 4
• Push or fall
• Detectives- Liss
• Victims- Ms. Norton
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #75  Shot #1

Murder at Marble House

 This cozy by Alyssa Maxwell is the 2nd installment in her Gilded Newport series.  This story centers around a woman, Emma, who is a bit of an rebel for her time.  She is a cousin of the Vanderbilt family and finds herself at the center of an investigation into the murder of a medium at her Aunt's home.  She must delicately investigate the murder and its relationship to the disappearance of her cousin, Constance, from Marble House.  The cozy gives the reader a glimpse into the past and the wealth of the Vanderbilt's and their peers in Newport, RI in the 1900s.   The mystery is well written and it is interesting to read about a woman who is challenging the norm or her era; all the while experiencing many of the same struggles woman face in the modern era.  

Murder at Marble House by Alyssa Maxwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable historic cozy featuring the Vanderbilts and their cousin Emma Cross. Set in Newport in the gilded age this is a charming series with a strong female lead who has a firm resilience. She is strong willed and independent in an era when women were to be proper and run a household. She is inspiring in her determination and her desire to do as she believes is right not just what others think she should do. The mystery itself is well structured and compelling including the motivations for the crimes.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #111
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Rhode Island
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #118
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #132
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #76
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #112
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #94
10. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #14
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 5

Garden, park, gazebo
Beach or shoreline

• Weapons
• Row 5
• Hands or fists
• Detectives- Emma/Derrick/Jesse
• Victims- Ellen Deveraux/ Lady Alexa
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #38  Shot #2

Murder in Season

 This is book 52 in the Murder She Wrote series penned by Jessica Fletcher and co authors.  This is the first I have read with the new author Jon Land and I must say he gave a bit of a refreshing feel to the series.  The storyline was a bit less predictable while still including the mainstay of characters in Cabot Cove.  Jessica has just returned to her home after a major renovation due to fire and her nephew Grady and his family come for the holidays.  There is a bit of a nostalgic feel as Jessica realizes how much she misses have family to celebrate the holidays with and life in general.  The mystery is well structured and spans centuries in the discovery of the guilty parties.  

The founders of Cabot Cove had secrets and they are unearthed in this book along with some of the descendants' secrets as well.  I appreciated the handling of the discovery of a connection to past behaviors that are not acceptable in today's world.  The presentation of the situation and then the commenting by characters that you cannot view historical events through filters of society today was a welcome change from many books that try to sermonize to readers.  The authors do a wonderful job of condemning the acts as something that shouldn't be repeated today but also provide the framework of the historic time to explain how it fit into that era.  

I look forward to reading more in this series if this new author continues to co-write with Jessica.

Murder in Season by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book has a new co author and I feel it has given new originality to the series. Set in the ever charming Cabot Cove at the holiday season, it is enjoyable to experience small town holiday traditions. Unfortunately crime has other plans for a smooth Christmas with family and friends for Jessica Fletcher. She and Sheriff Metzger find themselves investigating multiple murders related to the founding families of the town. I appreciate they addressed the problem with applying current social standards to history. You don’t have to condone the actions of the past but also they need to be viewed with a perspective of the times not the modern norms. The mystery is well constructed and keeps the reader wondering until the end. The twist on the missing treasure is a wonderful aspect too. I look forward to reading more by this new author duo

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #109
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  27-2
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #116
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #130
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #74
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #110
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #92
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  4 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Pathway or forest
• Row 2
• Lawn

Row 5

Home or business office

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Rock, brick, blunt object
• Axe or hatchet
• Row 5
• Medicine or drugs
• Hands or fists
• Detectives- Jessica/Mort
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #12  Shot #5

Dead Bath and Beyond

 This is the 4th book in the Victoria Square series by Lorraine Bartlett.  This series is a fun mix of crafts/antiques with mysteries mixed in.  Katie is a great character with ample ability to manage a business but still having a realistic dose of insecurity and uncertainty in her social and business life.  The series feels a bit different than many cozy mysteries as Katie doesn't have a central female BFF whom she confides and colludes with.  In this case many of the supporting and recurring characters are male although Katie does interact with Rose quite a bit at Artisan Alley, it's not a central sounding board or co-conspiring relationship.   Instead, the main characters she bounces her investigations off are male- her boyfriend and her friend, Ray Davenport, are the 2 main characters filling that role but at times her friend Seth in a central character as well.  

This book will especially be appealing to readers who like to boat as it centers around the end of the boating season on Lake Ontario. There are quite a few sailing related scenes and conversations.  As always the book is full of false suspicions and the ending is a bit surprising but does tie up all the pieces of the story that had been presented as unexplained situations.  I will admit though I did lose track of all the different characters in this book and was a bit uncertain who was the guilty party in the overall scheme of the story.  I think this may have been correlated to the fact that I listened to this on audiobook rather than read it and that caused me to lose track of the large cast of characters introduced in this story.

All in all a good book in a great series.   

Dead, Bath, and Beyond (Victoria Square, #4) by Lorraine Bartlett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the audio book version of this cozy. There are some good plot angles and the development of relationships both personal and professional are well written. They are realistically up and down with struggles that feel probable. The mystery itself is well written and the story wrapped up well at the ending.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #106
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Book 4 in series 31
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #114
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #128
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   sept
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #73
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #108
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #91
9. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lake or ocean

Row 5

Bathtub, shower, bathroom

• Weapons
• Row 3
• Drowning, water, ice
• Detectives- Katie/Ray
• Victims- Jake
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #67a  Shot #3
12. Audiobook  #2021AudiobookChallenge  Book#11

Death on the Green

 This second Dublin Driver mystery by Catie Murphy is set mainly on the golf courses of Bull Island while Megan Malone is driving the pro golfer, Martin Walsh, and his wife.  The sport of golf is central to the story as the victim is Martin's old friend and co-competitor Lou MacDonald.  The plot has plenty of twists and turns and the motive is quite well concealed til the end.  The story mixes some glamourous living in with a bit of romance but all in all it is a well written cozy mystery.  The Irish colloquialisms are well presented and quite amusing to see Megan, an American transplant, stumble over word choices at times.  All in all this is a lighthearted cozy series that is entertaining and easy to read.  

 

Death on the Green by Catie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This second installment of the Dublin Driver series. Megan finds herself caught up in another murder while driving for a professional golfer. This cozy has a great mix of foreign intrigue and a well written mystery. The characters are both charming and abhorrent. The ones you are to like are quite appealing and tug at your heartstrings the ones who are antagonistic are easy to dislike. The outcome of the story is quite surprising and keeps the reader on edge til the very end

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #104
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Ireland
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Dublin Driver #2
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #112
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #126
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #72
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #106
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #90
10. Diversify your reading #DYRC21  Crime
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 5

Beach or shoreline

• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Rock, brick, blunt object
• 
  
• Row 5t
• Hands or fists
• Detectives- Megan Malone
• Victims- Lou MacDonald/ Nick Collins
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #73  Shot #2

Murder in the Cookbook Nook

 This latest installment in the Book Retreat mysteries kept me engaged in the story and continues on a wonderful series.  Storyton Hall  is the setting for this series by Ellery Adams.  This wonderful high end hotel is set in the Virginia mountains and focuses around a book themed hotel.  There are many wonderful characters in the series and the reader gets to know them as the series has progressed through 7 books.   

This particular book centers around a cooking competition so fans of Chopped and Hell's Kitchen will enjoy the central plot.  Another interesting aspect to this story is a cross over of the characters from the Books by the Bay series written by Ms. Adams.  Olivia Limoges visits Storyton Hall when her friend and chef, Michel enters into the competition being hosted there. The book shows some of the behind the scenes drama on a cooking reality show and also some of the machinations behind Instagram Influencers as well.  It makes for a modern twist on the cozy mystery.  

The mystery itself is well written and keeps the reader guessing throughout the story.  All in all I really enjoyed the book

Murder in the Cookbook Nook by Ellery Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is always a joy to read this cozy series as Adams makes many references to other works of literature. This story continued to develop the characters in Jane's family and close knit circle of friends. The characters and their relationships are so realistic as a reader you feel as though you are right there amongst them. I enjoyed the cross over with Adams' other series by having Olivia Limoges appear with Chef Michel in this book. Anyone who loves mysteries and who loves cooking competition shows will enjoy this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #102
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Book Retreat #7
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #110
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #124
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #71
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #105
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #89
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 1
• Kitchen or bakery
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Pointy object
• 
  
• Detectives- Jane/Sinlair/Lachlan/Butterfield
• Victims- Chef Pierce
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #46  Shot #2