Showing posts with label ME mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ME mystery. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Borrowed Crime

 Borrowed Crime is the 3rd book in the Bookmobile Cat series by Laurie Cass.  The antics of Eddie the cat certainly are front and center along with his relationship with Minnie.   The story highlights what a positive impact animals can have on our lives.  Additionally, the services of the bookmobile show what a welcome and necessary outlet they provide in more rural areas.   I  have fond memories of bookmobiles as a child and I love that this book shows the fun it instills in the younger generation.

As for the mystery it is well constructed and I wasn't 100% sure on who the guilty party was which is unusual for me.  I normally figure out the criminal before a cozy is finished.   I appreciate that Minnie is a "normal" person just trying to do her job and enjoy her daily life.  The drama that surrounds her relationship with her boss, Stephen, adds a great layer to the stories.  I recommend this series for those looking for an engaging cozy.


Borrowed CrimeBorrowed Crime by Laurie Cass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable book especially for cat lovers. i like the fact the Minnie feels like an authentic person. Her relationship with her Aunt Frances, her cat, Eddie, and her coworkers create an all around character who feels like someone you would want to be friends with. This series is best read in order as their are recurring characters that progress through the stories

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

  1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 76
  2. What an Animal Book #44
  3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #90
  4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #69
  5. Cozy Mysteries   #10 next cozy in a series from one of CMRC's 2021 book chat selections
  6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #60
  7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #85
  8. Craving for Cozies  Book #78
  9. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
  10. Beachcomber Challenge  
    • Crime Scene- parking lot
    • Weapon- rifle
    • Detectives- Minnie
    • Victims- Roger Slade
  11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #40  Shot #3
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Saturday, July 16, 2022

High Stakes

 After reading Dead Cert earlier this month I decided to pick another Dick Francis book to meet the prompt written when you were 5.  I remembered how much I enjoyed his storytelling and figured it was easy enough to select a stand alone that was published in 1975.   I had never actually read this one so that was a nice added bonus.  

As always he crafted a well written book set around horse lifestyles.  In this case the steeplechase is the focus of the horse racing.  There is quite a large amount of deception and plotting that occurs in this story.  I also enjoyed the side information about Mr. Scott's toy inventions.  Be sure to read the author notes on how he formed this character and who he based it upon.

This book is a great pick for those who like well crafted mysteries and horse lovers.

High StakesHigh Stakes by Dick Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A gritty book about revenge and the depth people will go when they feel wronged. As with all Dick Francis books the story centers around the horse racing community. Each of the mysteries sheds a little bit of background information about horses and the racing world. I am enjoying going back and reading books written in the 1970s. It is enjoyable to read modern books without modern technology and the detective work is much more about footwork and observations

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

  1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #60
  2. What an Animal Book #40
  3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #71
  4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #56
  5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #48
  6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #70
  7. Craving for Cozies  Book #65
  8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
  9. Beachcomber Challenge  
    • Crime Scene- toy workshop
    • Weapon- machine
    • Detectives- Steven Scott
    • Victims- Ganser Mays
  10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #86  Shot #2
  11. Bookworm #17 A book that was published when you were 5 years old
  12. Pick your Poison #84 a book by an author you consider amazing
  13. Century challenge  1970s


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Sunday, March 13, 2022

Christmas Cake Murder

 This book, Christmas Cake Murder, Hannah Swensen #23, is the other portion of the combined Holiday-themed entry by Joanne Fluke.  This one is a bit of a prequel to the series and goes back and tells the reader the origin story of Hannah's bakery, the Cookie Jar.  We are also provided a glimpse into the first mystery she found herself embroiled in solving.  This book has a twist as the mystery is being told in the form of a journal entry written by one of the town elders, Emmie.  This format made for a fun twist on the usual cozy.  All in all, I always enjoy reading this series even if it is a reread.


Christmas Cake MurderChristmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I reread this one as part of the Christmas compilation. I really enjoy how the story is a combo of the live-action of Hannah and her family combined with the written journal/stories of Emmie the main character outside the Swenson family. It is fun to read the origin story of the Cookie Jar and Hannah’s adventures. The descriptions of the Christmas Ball from years gone by was wonderful as well

View all my reviews


Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  


  1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  24
  2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 13  Book #2
  3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #26
  4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #16
  5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #11
  6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #25
  7. Craving for Cozies  Book #24
  8. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
  9. Beachcomber Challenge  
    • Crime Scene- hospital/sidewalk
    • Weapon- heart attack/hospital
    • Detectives- Hannah Swensen
  10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #44  Shot #5
  11. Nancy Drew #27. The Secret of the Wooden Lady (1950) - read a book written by a female author
  12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #23 reread
  13. OWLS 22  # 12 Star Gazing: A book with a star on the cover or in the title
  14. Pick your Poison #106 an epistolary book
  15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #18 Teen Detective


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Tuesday, March 1, 2022

From Beer to Eternity

 Besides the fun play on words, From Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris feels like an ode to Hemingway.  Harris captures the charm of the Panhandle of FL in a glimpse of what FL is like before all the crazy high rise development.  There are areas in the Panhandle that have restricted building heights and developments in an effort to keep from overrunning with tourism.  This book was especially fun for me to read as we have family that live in Ft. Walton Beach so we spend lots of time in the area.  The points of interest and descriptions resonated well with me.  

I also thoroughly enjoyed the character of Chloe Jackson and her interactions with Vivi.  The locals that she meets and comes in contact with are real feeling and the caution with which they treat her as an outsider feel authentic.   The mystery is well written and the motives plausible.  There are some side distractions that also fit well with the main plot line.  I look forward to reading more about Chloe and the Sea Glass Saloon.  I also enjoy Sherry Harris' other series about Sara Winston and garage sale business, although the setting of FL is much more enticing than Mass. when we are dealing with winter weather.


From Beer to EternityFrom Beer to Eternity by Sherry Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great start to the series. I found this book extra enjoyable because I am familiar with the area where it is set. Harris captures the culture and attitude of the Panhandle quite accurately. The characters are so easy to relate to and it is absolutely conceivable that Vivi would treat Chloe just as she does. There is a cautiousness and distance to the relationship that feels authentic to the situation. The actual solving of the murder is well constructed and the guilty party was a bit of a surprise but made perfect sense. I look forward to reading more about Chloe and her adventures in the Panhandle.

View all my reviews


   

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  


  1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #20
  2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #22
  3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #13
  4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #8
  5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #22
  6. Craving for Cozies  Book #21
  7. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
  8. Beachcomber Challenge  
    • Crime Scene- alley
    • Weapon- knife
    • Detectives- chloe jackson
    • Victims- 
  9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #4  Shot #3
  10. Around the Year in 52 Books #12. A book related to glass
  11. Nancy Drew #44. The Clue in the Crossword Cipher (1967) - read a book where a puzzle of some kind is solved
  12. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #4 title starts with "f" or "s"
  13. OWLS 22  #54 No Foolish Wand Waving: A book without magic
  14. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #19. A book that takes place during your favorite season
  15. Pick your Poison #89 west side story a tragic love story
  16. Lifetime of Reading  yes Mid 20s
  17. Unruly Reader Bingo  #24 vintage



  

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Monday, February 28, 2022

Matchmaking Can Be Murder

Matchmaking Can Be Murder is the first book in the Amish Matchmaker series by Amanda Flower.   It is a great pairing with the candy shop series because Millie provides an Amish perspective and voice to the same town and people that Bailey interacts with in that series.   Bailey is an Englischer living in an Amish community.  Both ladies find themselves caught up in murders they did not mean to get involved in but end up assisting friends/family.   Looking forward to reading more of this series.   


Matchmaking Can Be Murder

Matchmaking Can Be Murder by Amanda Flower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a wonderful complement to the Amish candy shop series. This one has an MC who is Amish so it gives it a different feel and perspective. Millie’s speech and actions are carefully thought out unlike many protagonists in cozy mysteries who tend to be impulsive. The side kick Lois is a wonderful source of levity. She also serves as the ability to explain Amish tradition to the reader since she is Englisch. The two ladies remind me of Thelma and Louise or Lucy and Ethel. Their personalities work well together. The story itself is well written and thoughtfully constructed and although I had some suspicions about the guilty party I wasn’t 100% sure until the reveal. I look forward to reading more about Harvest, OH in this series and the Amish Candy series. It is enjoyable to read overlapping characters in discrete storylines

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  


  1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #13  
  2. Color Coded Green
  3. What an Animal Book #8
  4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #15
  5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #8
  6. Cozy Mysteries   Bonus  #3 5 cozies each with a cover or spine representing one of the colors of the Olympic rings  Green
  7. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #5
  8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #16
  9. Craving for Cozies  Book #16
  10. Around the Year in 52 Books #3. A book with 22 or more letters in the title
  11. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  #7. About a Difficult Choice
  12. Bookworm #29 Read a book that's been on your TBR for over a year
  13. Nancy Drew #6. The Secret of Red Gate Farm (1931) - OR read a book where the mc has a garden
  14. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #35 in your tbr pile
  15. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #40 Read a romance with a single parent in it
  16. OWLS 22  #38 Greenhouses: A book with a green cover
  17. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #42. A book that features two languages
  18. Pick your Poison #8 he said she said book
  19. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
  20. Beachcomber Challenge  
    • Crime Scene- greenhouse
    • Weapon- wrench
  21. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #6  Shot #6
  22. 52 books in 52 weeks  #15 Spiritual
  23. Unruly Reader Bingo  #13 free choice



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Thursday, December 9, 2021

A Slice of Murder

 This is the first book in a series by Chris Cavender.   It is set in a small town outside Charlotte, NC.  The title refers to a pizza slice as that is the main setting of the cozy mystery.  Eleanor is the unfortunate delivery person who discovers a dead customer;  one who happened to have been on the receiving end of a public slap by her.   Turns out the customer is more than just a flirt who makes undesired advances.  

He has plenty of questionable aspects to his past that come out as Ellie and her sister investigate his murder.  Ellie has a past relationship with the sheriff which is not helping her prove her innocence.  As the story progresses there are more and more suspicions that lead to more and more possible suspects.   The climax is quite dramatic and not exactly the expected villain.   The story does a great job of building on Ellie's relationship with her sister, her employees, and a friend who would like to be more than friends.  Cavender does a nice job of developing these relationships and leaves the reader wondering where things will progress in future books.  I look forward to reading more in the Pizza Lovers series.


A Slice of MurderA Slice of Murder by Chris Cavender
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great character developement, lots of suspects and a surprising conclusion

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

.

  1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #131
  2. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #143
  3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #158
  4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #98
  5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #135
  6. Craving for Cozies  Book #116
  7. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
  8. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #78  Shot #1


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Wednesday, December 8, 2021

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 MistakeGardenias 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

View all my reviews


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 #
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Monday, December 6, 2021

Six Shooter 2022

This year I am participating in 3 challenges hosted at Rick Mills' blog.  His focus is on mysteries and fun ways to track them.  I did them last year and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I am also participating in the Medical Examiner challenge and the Beachcomber Bingo challenge.


Six Shooter 

The other fun tracking task is his Six Shooter Challenge.  This one also involves reading mysteries.  Each distinct author you read opens a new target for you.  Then as you complete an additional book by that author you score an additional shot.   Continue to score until you complete 6 shots for an author.   

Target 1:  Laura Childs  Target Completed

Target 2:  Debra Sennefelder


Target 3:  James Patterson   


Target 4:  Sherry Harris


Target 5:  Stuart Woods


Target 6:  Amanda Flower  Target Completed


Target 7:   Joanna Campbell Slan  Target Completed

Target 7a:   Joanna Campbell Slan
Target 8:  Lucy Burdette
Target 9:  Agatha Christie

Target 10:  Mary Higgins Clark 

Target 11:  Jenn McKinlay /Lucy Lawrence/JosieBelle 

Target 12:  Jessica Fletcher  

Target 13:  CA Phipps

Target 14:  Leslie Burdewitz

Target 15:  Sheila Connolly  
Target 16:  Sally Goldenbaum
Target 17:  Nancy CoCo
Target 18:  Kate Carlisle 
Target 19:  Libby Klein Target Completed
Target 20:  Jennifer Joy/Becca Bloom
Target 21:  J.M. Griffin
Target 22:  Ovidia Yu
Target 23:  Tonya Kappes
    Target 24 C. A. Larmer
    Target 25  Meredith Potts
      Target 26  Sara Rosett

      Target 27  Donna Amis Davis
      Target 28 Vivien Chien
      Target 29 Rhys Bowen
      Target 30 Ruby Loren  Target Completed

        Target 31 Winnie Archer
        Target 32  Sarah Fox
        Target 33 Alyssa Maxwell
        Target 34  Lynn Cahoon  Target Completed
        Target 35 Bree Baker/Julie Anne Lindsey/Jacqueline Frost/Julie Chase   Target Completed
        Target 35A Bree Baker/Julie Anne Lindsey/Jacqueline Frost/Julie Chase


        Target 36 Paige Shelton
          Target 37 Miranda James 
            Target 38 Lizzie Josephson Target Completed

            Target 39  Leena Clover
            Target 40 Laurie Cass
              Target 41 Ellery Adams
              Target 42 Denise Swanson
              Target 43 Lauren Elliot
              Target 44 Joanne Fluke  Target Completed
              Target 45 Chris Niles
              Target 46  Judy Moore
              Target 47  Victoria Gilbert
              Target 48  Mary McHugh
              Target 49 Kate Lansing
              Target 50 Lisa Unger
              Target 51 Mollie Cox Bryan/Maggie Blackburn
              Target 52 Maddie Day/ Edith Maxwell   Target Completed
              Target 53 Ginger Bolton
                Target 54 Maya Corrigan
                Target 55 Cheryl Hollon
                Target 56 Jeanne Burrows-Johnson
                Target 57 Kathleen Bridge
                Target 58 Eva Gates
                Target 59 Erika Chase
                Target 60 Amy Lillard
                  Target 61 Daryl Wood Gerber/Avery Aames
                  Target 62 Lorna Barrett/ Lorraine Bartlett
                  Target 63  Mildred Abbot
                  Target 64 Isabella Alan
                  Target 66 Elizabeth Logan
                  Target 67 Karen McManus
                  Target 68  Catie Murphy
                  Target 69  Marc Jedel
                  Target 70 Kaitlyn Dunnett
                  Target 71  Rosie A. Point
                  Target 72 Eve Calder 
                  Target 73  Chris Cavender/ Tim Myers
                  Target 74  Ana T. Drew
                  Target 75 Verena Deluca
                  Target 76 Ruth Ware
                  Target 77 Tricia L Sanders
                  Target 78  Jennifer S Alderson
                  Target 79 Adriana Liccio
                  Target 80 Bethany Blake
                  Target 81  Virginia Lowell
                  Target 82  Cleo Coyle
                  Target 83 Lee Hollis
                  Target 84  Betty Hechtman
                  Target 85 T.C. LoTempio
                  Target 86 Dick Francis
                  Target 87  Mona Marple
                  Target 88 Julia Buckley
                  Target 89 Linda Reilly
                  Target 90  Zanna Mackenzie
                  Target 91 Laura Bradford
                  Target 92 Alexis Morgan
                  Target 93 Krista Davis

                    Target 94 Diane Vallere
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