A Fair-ly Complicated Murder!

 

A Hint of Mischief by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Courtney Kelly, the proprietor of a fairy garden and tea shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, is having an old sorority sister's fortieth birthday bash, and a famous actress, Farrah Lawson, is flying in for the occasion. Courtney has less than two weeks to paint a mural, hang up tinkling windchimes, plan party games, and conjure up all the details. While she works her magic, the hostess and her girlfriends head off for an indulgent spa day, which leads to a fateful facial for Farrah, followed by her mysterious death. Could the kindhearted eyebrow waxer who Farrah berated in public really be the killer? Courtney thinks otherwise, and with the help of her imaginative sleuth fairy, sets out to dig up the truth behind this puzzling murder.
This fantasy cozy mystery was interesting to me. The setting was beautifully described and makes me want to visit there and see if I can spot a fairy. The plot is full of twists and red herrings that made me indecisive about the culprit’s identity. I love reading about the sleuth and her life working at the shop. What threw me off about this mystery was the abundance of suspects, I was confused and couldn’t tell them apart, at times. I will read another mystery from this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Wedding Preparation + Stalker = Murder!

 

Word to the Wise by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lindsey Norris is finally getting married to the man of her dreams. But a town newcomer and gardening enthusiast is obsessed with her, and it’s creeping everyone out. When his dead body is found outside the library and all the clues point to Sully, Lindsey knows it's up to her to dig through the hidden chapters of Grady's previous life to find the real culprit and clear Sully's name.
This was another great story to a fabulous cozy mystery series. Lindsey is one of my all-time favorite sleuths because she’s intelligent, resourceful, and very sweet. Briar Creek feels like it could be any town in the Northeast, but with a cozier atmosphere. The plot was very suspenseful, and the romantic subplot made the less exciting moments fun. I can’t wait for the wedding, and the next installment.


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Food Competitions can be Murder!

 

Restaurant Weeks Are Murder by Libby Klein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Poppy McAllister is teaming up with her former fiancé, Tim, and his condescending partner, Gigi to compete in the Restaurant Week challenge. Poppy's specialty is pastries, despite her devotion to a Paleo diet. Things get heated quickly when some ingredients get switched and Tim's accused of sabotage. When harmless pranks escalate into real hazards, one of the judges dies from food poisoning. Can Poppy find the killer before she becomes the prime suspect?
Reading this author’s cozy mysteries always puts a smile on my face, and this installment is no different. Poppy is, as always, fun to read about as she deals with her zany aunt and hilarious cat. The plot is very suspenseful, and I loved to hear about all of the wonderful foods presented at the competition. There are even some recipes found at the end of the book. I will definitely read more from this author.


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Birds, and Swindlers, and Murder, Oh My!

 

Killers of a Feather by T.C. LoTempio
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

With the grand re-opening of her Urban Tails Pet Shop just days away, Shell McMillan has her hands full planning entertainment for the event, including a fortune-telling parrot. But her mood is threatened by rumors of the return of Johnny Draco, a former investment guru who swindled money from most of the residents of Fox Hollow and then vanished without a trace. And when the parrot predicts a grim future for Draco and his dead body is found hours later, Shell realizes that people she has come to know are suspects. She investigates to find the truth behind the murder.
I liked the premise of this cozy mystery, and the characters were fun to read about. But I felt that there was something missing in the plot. There seemed to be inconsistencies with certain aspects of the main character’s investigation. I actually went back to read certain parts of the story, figuring that I might’ve missed something. Even though the story confused me at times, the ending was satisfactory. Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy of this book.


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A Mafioso's Love Story!

 

His Prisoner by Misty Winters
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Mia gets kidnapped by Antonio because her father owes Antonio’s family money. Mia’s father used to work for them, and then he stole from them. So, Mia is Antonio’s prisoner. Only if the prisoner didn’t desire the captor…
This mafia romance is full of unique characters, steamy scenes and a plot that is action-packed. But I didn’t like the ending of the story. Technically, it’s a happy ever after. I just feel that something else should’ve happened. I didn’t like the way the character of Mia turned out. She wasn’t heroic in the least. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


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Hannah Swenson Mysteries #20 Review!

 

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

Published in 2016. The holidays have arrived, and Hannah and her friend Lisa have agreed to provide the goodies for the town’s annual production of A Christmas Carol. But before anyone can say “Bah, humbug!” a sackful of trouble ensues. Like the fact that Lisa’s husband will be playing Mr. Claus to his ex-girlfriend Phyllis Bates’ Mrs. Claus. Or that before the curtains go up, Phyllis is found dead in the snow. As the suspects begin to pile up, Hannah is determined to find the murderer before Christmas.
This was a good holiday cozy mystery filled with delicious recipes, diabolical red herrings, and a mystery that will confound you until the culprit is revealed. Hannah was at her sleuthing best, as she questioned her suspects and looked for clues. The dreams about her father gave an interesting touch, and a little Christmas “spirit.” I will continue to read this series.

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Murder, She Wrote #28

 

Panning For Murder by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published in 2007. Jessica's cruise becomes a working vacation when her friend Kathy tags along, hoping to find her sister Wilimena, who vanished from the same vessel. Distantly related to Alaska's most famous madam, a woman who may have struck it rich during the Gold Rush, Wilimena apparently took the cruise to find the treasure. As Jessica and Kathy investigate Wilimena's disappearance, they learn that she was quite outspoken about her gold claim, and may have attracted the wrong kind of attention. Can Jessica and Kathy find Wilimena in time?
I love these cozy mysteries. Jessica Fletcher is the likeable wise older lady who writes murder mysteries and travels. All of the side characters are interesting to read about. The setting of this story is beautifully described, and made me feel like I was right there with Jessica. The plot was action-packed and suspenseful. I will read more from this wonderful series.


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