When the Grits Hit the Fan

 This next installment of the Country Store Mysteries by Maddie Day continues to keep my interest.   In this book, Robbie finds herself caught up in another murder investigation when  day of snow shoeing leads to finding the body of a man seemingly disliked by everyone who knows him.  The ensuing investigation casts suspicion on friends and acquaintances and Robbie must decide if solving the crime is justification for breaking confidences.  

The mystery is well written and the guilty party was a surprise although looking back the full set of clues were there.  Day does a wonderful job of building characters that are emotionally relatable, whether the reader likes or dislikes them the feelings are present.  

I enjoyed how Robbie's other interest of crossword puzzle and puzzle solving in general is incorporated in the book.  There is also just enough about her relationship with Abe to make it an interesting aspect of the story without Robbie being portrayed as swooning for a man.  Overall I am enjoying the series and plan to continue reading it.

When the Grits Hit the Fan by Maddie Day
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable read with lots of side mysteries involved in the story. the character development and relationships continue to build in the series. I liked the fact the guilty party was pretty much a surprise. the author does a great job of mixing the culinary aspects of the story with the actual mystery

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #44
2. AtoZ   #2021AtoZReadingChallenge  #AlphabetSoupChallenge  "W"
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 Country Store #3
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #52
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #62
6. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 23
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #46
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #39
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes restaurants
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lake or ocean
• Weapons
• Row 3
• Drowning, water, ice
• Detectives- Robbie/Octavia
• Victims- Charles Stilton/ Lovey
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #  Shot #

Killer Green Tomatoes

 This second Farm to Fork book by Lynn Cahoon was very enjoyable.   I like how the story balances the business of running a restaurant with solving a mystery.  Angie is a character that is easy to like and root for.  Cahoon does a wonderful job of making her a believable character, between her stress of running a business and her reactions to those around her struggling.   She truly feels like a woman you could meet in your own life.   

They mystery is intriguing because the different leads keep the reader guessing who is the guilty party.  I also enjoy the fact there are some side threads to the story and it isn't just a linear solution to the mystery.  I will say I did pick up on the guilty party before the final reveal based upon a clue that Angie didn't grasp the significance of which was a bit strange since she is a "nosy" person by nature.  The ending was not ruined for me though as the why was explained in more detail at the appropriate reveal time.

I look forward to reading more in the series.

Killer Green Tomatoes by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cozy filled with mystery and delicious food

This is the 2nd in the Farm to Fork series and the small town drama continues to be well represented. Angie’s relationships with her coworkers, neighbors and boyfriend are all well written and developed. The main mystery is complemented by a few side stories that make the story even more enjoyable. I look forward to more in the series

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  √

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

Possible prompts

I will decide as the year goes along which prompts I use it for on several challenges since it meets multiple criteria within the challenge.

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  ID
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021  Farm to Fork #2
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #10
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #61
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021  
6. Cozy Mysteries  #2 color in the title 
7. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 22
8. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #45
9. Craving for Cozies  Book #38
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes restaurants
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1  Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Alley or mews
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Knife
• Detectives- Angie
• Victims- Heather
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #39  Shot #2

Scam Chowder

 It had been a while and quite a few cozies since I had last read a 5 ingredient mystery by Maya Corrigan.  I forgot how enjoyable it was to read about Val Deniston and her grandfather.  This is the second in the series and I plan to continue with the series for sure.  Corrigan does a wonderful job of mixing the characters in the story as members of the senior group and twenty somethings.  Her depiction of the interactions between Val and her grandfather are well written. The characters in the story are very engaging and center around these 2 and their individual circles of friends which overlap at times.

Corrigan shows the struggle between being respectful of one's elder while still trying to help look out for them.  Their living situation is further tested by the fact that Grandad is trying to portray himself as the creator of the recipes and meals that are really Val's doing.   The cooking and food plays a role in the storyline for sure but isn't necessarily as prominent as it is in other cozies such as the Hannah Swensen series.  

As with many cozies there is the inevitable relationship drama and angst as both Val and Grandad struggle with finding their way in new relationships.  Being caught in a murder investigation and struggling to keep your job doesn't make things any easier.

I like the characters and the slightly different take on who is at the center of the stories.  I find it refreshing that there are characters from multiple generations represented and given equal attention.  I plan to continue with this series.  

Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable cozy centered around Val Deniston and her somewhat cantakerous Grandpa. This time in the attempt to convince everyone that he is the Codger Cook Grandpa finds himself hosting a fatal dinner party. But who poisoned the victim and why? Val gets embroiled in the drama while trying to convince the police her grandfather is innocent. Meanwhile her romantic life seems to be fizzling and her interest's ex fiance is in town trying to win him back- quite deviously. The characters are a fun mix with some crazy moments. I enjoy the mix of young characters and their interactions with the older characters, many of whom are residents at the Village retirement complex. The book develops the relationship between Val and her grandfather and shows the struggles to be supportive while living with members of a different generation. Characters are well written as is the mystery. I found the guilty party to be somewhat surprising.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  MD
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 5 ingredient mystery #2
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #9
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #59
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  fc #20
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #43
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #36
9. Pick your Poison #5-3 A book written by a college professor
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes books on the menu
11. Medical Examiner Challenge  Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Row 2 
• Hand gun
• Detectives- Val Denison/Grandad
• Victims- Scott/Mary Lou
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #59  Shot #1

The Sanatorium

 This is a very dark thriller by Sarah Pearse.  It is set in a remote area of forest in the Swiss Alps at a new ultra modern hotel built on the footprint of an old Sanatorium.   There are mysterious deaths that play a role in the plot and at times the reader can even question if there is supernatural aspects to the story.  

The lead detective is Elin, a UK detective on leave for PTSD and at the hotel to celebrate her brother, Isaac's engagement to Laure.  Unfortunately the weekend is far from the pleasant vacation she and her boyfriend, Will, were hoping for when they flew to Switzerland.  

The story has plenty of plot twists and drama that leads the reader to suspect many of the different characters of being the guilty killer.   The reader is easily talked into suspecting different people and honestly I thought I had figured it out at points and then was shown why I was wrong.  

The remote setting and snowstorm definitely play a vital role in the story.  I also felt as though the hotel itself was a character with its own history and major role in the story.   It definitely played a key role and the story would have been weaker without the weather and location.  

Elin is a character rift with self doubt and questions her relationships with her brother and Will.  We slowly learn about her physical and mental stress and how it affects her entire being.  She is portrayed as someone haunted by her past and is obsessed with seeking answers.  I think it was an accurate portrayal of someone who suffered a tragedy at a young age and never had proper treatment to deal with it.   It affects her whole life and relationships.  

The only real issue I had with the story was the conclusion. I am not sure of the purpose of the epilogue unless it is to provide a setup for a sequel.  Otherwise, it is a very large unanswered question to the story.

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was good. I don't agree with the negative reviews but I understand where they were coming from. I think I didn't have as high of expectations as some of those readers so I didn't build myself up. The cover absolutely made me think of the Shining as did the description. There is a creepiness factor with the setting of blizzards and avalanches in a remote location in the Swiss Alps. The body count does rise and makes the story suspense grow.
Elin as the main character definitely comes across as a damaged character. Her full story is revealed to us as the plot goes along and some of it is more believable than others. Her relationships with her boyfriend and brother are definitely not perfect and the story demonstrates that.
Pearse provides many different potential villains and each make sense in their own right. As a reader I kept thinking it has to be this person, they don't seem the most obvious. In the end the true culprit is revealed and while the motivation behind their crimes is a bit weak, the explanations make sense and are given but this is why I gave it a 3 instead of a 4 star rating. There is an epilogue that completely confused me though, not sure if it's a set up for a sequel or just meant to leave you wondering.


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #42
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   Switzerland
3. Beat the Backlist #BTB2021  #39 book where the woods/forest are important
4. 2021TBR  #2021ReadingChallenge # 18 gothic novel
5. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #50
6. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #58
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #42
8. Around the Year in 52 Books #16. A book with a building in the title
9. The Unofficial Magnus Archives Challenge  #TMARC21  #2. The Buried: a Bottle Episode (set in a single room/place)
10. Pick your Poison #12-4 A book from a celebrity favorite list
11. Medical Examiner Challenge   4 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 4

Hotel room
Swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi

• Row 3
• Drowning, water, ice
• Detectives- Elin
• Victims- Dennis/Margot/Laure/Adele
13. 52 books in 52 weeks  #17 ice or snow bound

Toasting Up Trouble

I selected this cozy by Linda Wiken because it was a book set in Vermont and I had noted that one of the main characters was named Connor.  This provided a book for a prompt to select a book with a male family member as a character.   I lucked into finding an enjoyable new cozy series that I plan to read more of in the future.   I liked the event planning business that was the occupation of the main character, JJ and her friend/boss Skye.  There are some wonderful subplots in the book and the mystery itself is well developed and has a surprising ending.  Lots of suspects that seem feasible and the elimination process is realistic and logical.  If you are a foodie you will enjoy reading about the Culinary Capers group that JJ belongs to and the dinner parties they host.  

All in all an enjoyable book with more in the series to explore

Toasting Up Trouble by Linda Wiken
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

good solid cozy with a slightly different lean where the MC works with a PI to solve the mystery. Wiken does a good job of slowly revealing clues and character backgrounds to build suspense and help conceal the identity of the guilty party. looking forward to reading more in the series

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  √

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #43
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  VT
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #51
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #60
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 21
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #44
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #37
9. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2021  #6 A Character With The Same Name As A Male Family Member
10. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes books on the menu
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tag
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 2
• Lawn
• Weapons
• Row 2 
• Knife
• Detectives- JJ/Ty Devine
• Victims- Antonio Marcotti

 

Flamenco, Flan and Fatalities

 This is the 2nd book in the Happy Hoofer series by Mary McHugh.  I did not enjoy this one quite as much as the first book, Chorus Lines, Caviar and Corpses.  I think the narrator just didn't appeal to me as much in this book as it did in the first.  

McHugh has taken a creative approach to her narration that in principle I like, each of the books in the series is narrated by a different member of the dance troupe.  Conceptually a great idea, but I just didn't care for this narrator, Gini.  I guess one aspect could be that different readers might relate better to different characters, and thus make the series as a whole more appealing to a broader range of readers.  McHugh even comments in both books about how each member of the dance troupe has different personalities and traits that they love and dislike about each other.  Which is probably very realistic of most friendship groups.

Gini is a strong personality, just as Tina, the narrator of book 1 was.  I just found her too abrupt and butting in too much.  She bordered on rude at some points.  She seemed very dismissive of those who didn't share her beliefs on certain topics.  In many ways I just wanted to story to end so I didn't have to "listen" to her anymore. 

The mystery itself was a well written one although there were a few editing errors, they kept saying they were on a cruise (book 1 setting) when they were aboard a train.  The setting in Spain was very alluring and very descriptive.  I like the balance of landscape and scenery description with the other cultural features that are included in the stories.  I have several more installments in the series and will continue to read them as I enjoy this aspect of the series a lot even if the characters might be a bit annoying.  Hopefully the next narrator's perspective and personality will be more appealing.

Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities by Mary McHugh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed this book it didn’t engage me quite as well as the first book in the series. I think I didn’t really care for the narrator in this book. I like how the author is varying the narrator between different Happy Hoofers in each of her books but I just didn’t care for Gini very much. I did enjoy the descriptions of the Green Spain area of northern Spain. I liked McHugh’s ability to mix descriptions of the scenery and culture in with the storyline. I will continue to read the series to see how I like the next narrator

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   Spain
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2021  Book #8
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #57
4. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 19
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #41
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #35
8. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2021  Book Set On A Train
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  2 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 
• Row 3
• Train or subway
• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Poison, poisoned food
• Detectives- Gini
• Victims- Shamblees, Steve
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #53  Shot #2

Death with All the Trimmings

 This 5th Key West Critic mystery is not your typical holiday book although it is centered around Key West and their Christmas traditions.  Lucy Burdette does a wonderful job of capturing the charm and traditions of the island festivities and interweaving them into the life of her protagonist, Hayley Snow.  I have been in Key West at the beginning of the holiday season and it is fun to see those experiences reflected in this book.  They love any excuse to have a parade.

In this installment we meet some of Hayley's extended family as well as witness more of her interactions with the core group of friends she has made in Key West.  We witness the drama of her workplace and her thrill at meeting the New York Times food critic.  All this is mixed in with a mystery that she finds herself mixed up in unexpectedly.  

The characters and storylines shine in this series and I appreciate the mysteries are a subplot of the bigger story of Hayley's life in Key West.  The characters have realistic reactions to personal situations and Burdette does a wonderful job of capturing this in this book.  

Death with All the Trimmings by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I continue to enjoy reading about the exploits of Hayley Snow. I think what I enjoy the most about this series is there is a story being told with character interactions etc and then a mystery is interweaved in the story. The investigation and crime are part of the bigger story but aren't necessarily the entire focus. Much of this book is about Hayley and her job as a food critic. Again this book has many elements of the character and lifestyle of Key West, both those tourist would recognize and much of the charm that attracts the Conch Nation to live there.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #41
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2021 series 13 bk 4
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2021   Book #49
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #56
5. Calendar of Crime  #CalendarOfCrime2021   
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  free choice 18
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #40
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #34
9. Monthly Motif #MonthlyMotifGXO  yes restaurants
10. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
11. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scenes 

Row 3
Bar, store, restaurant

• Weapons
• Row 1 
• Fire
• Detectives- Hayley Snow
• Victims- Juan Carlos
12. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 8  Shot #5