Dead at First Bark by Cindy Kirk - 3 Stars!

The town's dog, Jory leads loom shop owner Penelope Penrose to a young barista's dead body. When Penelope’s cousin becomes the prime suspect, she can’t help but start asking questions the police would rather she didn’t. Could this murder be about a lost diamond? Penelope needs to find the truth before time runs out.

This was an interesting cozy mystery. The characters are fun to read about, and I love how Penelope's grandmother had her friends help with the mystery. I honestly thought there should have been more to the mystery. The scenario with the diamond felt like it could have led to more of something. But that part of the plot seemed to fizzle out. There were times as I was reading this story that I felt like I was reading poetry. Some of the sentences were beautifully created, but I felt that there should've been more action, and more clues for the investigation. As I was reading this, I always felt bad for the dog. Maybe Penelope's grandmother can adopt him or something? I want to thank the author for the opportunity to read this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Easier Dead Than Drawn by Bailee Abbott - 3 Stars!

When the town council hires Chloe Abbington's friend, wall muralist Lana Easton, to paint a mural advertising the return of the floating amphitheater, not everyone in Whisper Cove is happy about the theater or Lana. Naysayers think the noise from concerts and visitors will disrupt their quiet community. It doesn't help that a lot of money taken from the town's budget is being used to pay the muralist for her services. The mood turns even more grim when Lana is found dead, and since Chloe was there alone to discover her body, that makes her the prime suspect. Can Chloe and her sister, Izzy find the true culprit among several suspects?

This cozy mystery had great characters and a wonderful plot that kept me confounded until the very end. One of the things that confused me was the number of suspects. There were too many to keep them straight in my mind. I love the idea of having a business like this that caters to parties where people can be creative using paints and other crafts. Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

A Dark and Stormy Knit by Peggy Ehrhart - 3 Stars!

The houses of Arborville, New Jersey are decked out for Halloween when Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser are alerted by the screams of teenage trick-or-treaters to the corpse next door. Their neighbor Adrienne’s sister, visiting from New York City, is slumped on the porch, fatally stabbed. And with countless people traipsing around in costume, the killer might be as elusive as an apple in a bucket of water. Can these best friends find the truth behind the murder?

This was a very interesting cozy mystery with characters that I love to read about. It's like visiting with old friends. Although, I wished for more time with the other Knit and Nibblers. The plot was okay. I understood why Pamela and Bettina got involved with the mystery, I just felt that the solution to the mystery came out of left field. I didn't understand fully how they figured out whodunit. I do want to read more from the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts - 5 Stars!

Bailey Briggs, a successful mystery author, returns to her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado and discovers the dead body of the founder. Bailey grew up on her grandmother's ranch where bees were raised and harvested for honey which her grandmother sells. When honey is found to be the murder weapon, Bailey's grandmother is the main person of interest. Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and ‘smoke-out’ the real culprit.
This was one of the funniest cozy mysteries I've read in a long time. I loved how the author used Bailey's grandmother's friends and put them in some silly situations that made me giggle. All of the characters in this story were fun to read about. The plot was confounding enough that I never could figure out who the culprit was and was surprised by the big reveal in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can't wait to read the next one in this series.

 

Irish Knit Murder by Peggy Ehrhart - 3 Stars!

Isobel Lister has always been a colorful character, and her fun-loving spirit is on display at the senior center celebration as she performs some beloved Irish songs. But just minutes later, her body is found backstage. Pamela finds herself suspecting everyone. There’s a Wiccan, a woman upset about cultural appropriation, two men Isobel was seeing, and old friends and family who may have feared Isobel would spill their secrets. But Pamela’s on the case, and that means for the killer, the jig will soon be up!
This cozy mystery seemed very low key, there wasn't a lot of excitement, and I felt the two main characters didn't really investigate much. This is one of those mysteries where I liked what happened during dinner and the knit and nibbler's club more than the mystery itself. I would like to learn more about the characters involved in the knitting club. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington books for the honor of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is solely based on my honest opinion.

 

Killer Research by Jenn McKinlay - 5 Stars!

  

Ms. Cole, a librarian and current candidate for town mayor, is shocked when she opens her trunk to discover a murder victim who just so happens to be a guy she dated forty years ago and the founder of a baking empire. As the town gossip mill turns, a batch of rumors begins to circulate about Ms. Cole's rebellious youth, which, along with being a murder suspect, threatens to ruin her life and her budding political career. It is up to Lindsey and Sully to figure out who is trying to frame Ms. Cole for murder and why.

This cozy mystery series is one of my favorites. It contains an intelligent sleuth, a intriguing plot, several wonderful characters who are great red herrings, and a setting that relaxes you into comfort while reading. I couldn't put this book down until the culprit was revealed. If you want a great cozy read, look no further.

A Painting and a Murder!

 

Kill Them With Canvas by Bailee Abbott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Chloe Abbington and her sister, Izzie, are running Paint with a View, their paint party business in the western New York lakeside town of Whisper Cove. Now, their aunt Constance—president of the local chapter of the Chautauqua Sisterhood—has hooked them up with a gig hosting a Halloween painting party. The event seems to be a success, until Chloe overhears an argument between Constance and Viola Finnwinkle, the Sisterhood director, about the fate of the local chapter. The next morning, Viola’s body is discovered floating face down near the town ferryboat dock. Eerily, the image is an exact replica of a painting Chloe and Izzie had discovered at the event the night before. Then, the police find Constance’s purple hat lying on the ground near the crime scene. Constance pleads innocence, saying the hat went missing during the event. Frantic, she begs Chloe and Izzie to help her. The sisters believe in her innocence, and start investigating.
This was an interesting cozy mystery with characters that are very likeable. I love the main characters’ business and how art plays a role in the story. But this mystery was too long and drawn out. I was getting bored with it, and the slow pace of the story made me want to put it down. The only reason why I wanted to finish it was to see whodunit. And, for once, I wasn’t surprised, I knew who the culprit was from the third chapter. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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A Sewing Murder!

 

Seams Like Murder by Dorothy Howell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Abbey Chandler returns to Hideaway Grove, where she spent her childhood summers, for a fresh start and a new life. When the local librarian is mowed down by a car, Abbey becomes a suspect and her car is impounded. She stays with her aunt, and learns how to sew and investigate the murder. Will she learn the truth and find the murderer before it’s too late?
This was a good start to a new cozy mystery series. This book had a good plot and some interesting characters. But it was slow, and there wasn't much excitement or suspense. The mystery itself kept me interested until the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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A Colorful Murder!

 

A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Coloring book creator Florrie Fox is attending the wedding of her wealthy boss and a famous romance author. They are marrying for the second time on the grounds of the Maxwell mansion. But when someone is poisoned during the festivities, Florrie realizes that someone doesn’t want a happily ever after.
This was an interesting cozy mystery. With so many suspects, it was hard to figure out whodunnit. The plot was suspenseful and kept me guessing. Florrie is a very likeable main character. She’s intelligent, and capable, I wish we could see more of her artistic side. I want to read the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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