Off the Shelf -- Muffin But the Truth

 Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this title.  In the 16th entry in the Bakeshop Mystery series, Juliet (Jules) and her bakery, Torte, are hired to cater a weekend retreat/camping treat for an executive management team.  It is stressful and chaotic but feels manageable until one of the executives is found dead. Jules finds herself trying to sort it all out with a little help from her best friend and her bakery team.

I have read a book or two in a different series by Ellie Alexander but this is first in this series.  The descriptions of the food and the process of making it are interesting and make me want to eat the food.  I was a little disappointed that there were no recipes in the book.  I found the descriptions of nature delightful.  The characters did not really pull me in and felt a little one dimensional.  There were quite a few moments where Jules reflects on her life,, and it gets a little tedious for me by the end of the book.

As for the mystery, it did not seem to me that Jules' efforts really contributed to solving it.  The whole resolution felt contrived.  All in all, not a series I will likely return to.

Off the Shelf -- Vinyl Resting Place

 Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book. This is a series debut. Junior Jessup has returned to Texas to open record shop/cafe with her sisters in a building full of family history. Their grand opening celebration is less grand after June finds a dead girl in the supply closet! A local detective that happens to be Juni's ex believes Juni's uncle is responsible so Juni and her sisters step in to save their uncle.

The underlying theme here is family. It's done well. The characters are interesting, likeable. The pace is nice without being too slow. The mystery unravels in a nice way. 

All in all, an enjoyable read and a great start to what seems to be a fun series. Lots of great music references and tons of great puns.  

Off the Shelf -- The Lady With the Gun Asks the Questions

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to review this title.  A series of short stories set in 1928 featuring the delightful Miss Phryne Fisher and her compatriots.  The stories are concise, thoughtful, and capture th Miss Fisher you love from the novels.  These stories evoke the feel and spirit of spending a few hours with Phryne.  I highly recommend this collection.
 

Off the Shelf --A Sprinkle in Time

 Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this title. The second book in the Shake Shop series does not disappoint.

Trinidad is settling into life in Upper Sprocket, connecting with the residents and getting into the rhythm of running the shop.  All is going well, until she and Papa Luis discover a body in his trunk.  Who is it?  Where did the body go?  How deep does the mystery go?  

The relationships between characters develops a lot.  The mystery is intriguing, though I kind of figured it out partway through the book.  The ride to get there was enjoyable.  I like these characters and will definitely keep coming back to Upper Sprocket

Reviews to Come

 

I have finished all  four of these but have not yet written the reviews.  They will be coming soon.

Off the Shelf -- A Spoonful of Murder

 Liz, Thelma, and Pat are retired schoolteacher friends in an English village. They gather weekly at the local garden center for tea and company.  Their routine world is shattered after an encounter with another former teacher friend suffering from dementia.  Thst friend dies shortly after, and something doesn't feel right so they look into it.

The characters are interesting though have little development, and the writing is a little clunky.  The transition between character perspectives is hard to follow at times, and being in everyone's thoughts can be hard to follow. The identity of the murderer was clear to me from the beginning.  What was well-done is highlighting the scams the elderly often fall prey to and their impact. Not sure if I would read another in this series.

This review is given openly and honestly.

Off the Shelf -- Under Lock & Skeleton Key

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this title.

This book was so much fun! Tempest is a fifth generation magician whose family is haunted by a curse. A tragedy during Tempest's Vegas show results in her returning home to Hidden Creek, where she is feeling sorry for herself, until the body of her former assistant turns up in the wall of a house Tempest's father is working on.

I love the characters in this book and their relationships, their connections. The inclusion of heritage resonates. The locked room mystery is intriguing. All in all, an engrossing, well-plotted novel.

This review is freely and honestly given.

Off the Shelf -- All the Queen's Men

 

S.J. Bennett delivers again.  The second book in Her Majesty Investigates is as delightful as the first.  A staff member is found dead in the palace.  Was there foul play?  Also troubling is a beloved painting turning up in the office of a Sea Lord.  Her Majesty asks Rozie to look into the painting and how it wound up there.  The tale is set in 2016 amid Brecon, the US election, and many other current events.  The cast of characters is engaging, the mystery intriguing, and the queen is a true delight. I can't wait for more.

Off the Shelf -- Love & Other Disasters

I devoured this in one day. Dahlia and London meet on the set of the cooking competition show Chef's Special, where London is the first nonbinary competitor. As they get to know each other, a connection forms. This book is so well written, the characters so fully developed. The pronoun usage flows seamlessly as we root for these all too human characters. It is a delight to read a queer nonbinary romance. I eagerly await more from this author.

Off the Shelf -- A Deadly Affair

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow and Custom House for the chance to read and review this title. This is a collection of stories from the Queen of Mystery with the theme of love and murder.
The 14 tales cover the range of Christie characters -- Poirot, Marple, Tommy & Tuppence, and Parker Phyne. I found something to like in each of them. My favorites were Death on the Nile (Parker Phyne) and The King of Clubs (Tommy & Tuppence). Each of the stories was an enjoyable ride. I love Christie's reveals! Check this one out!

This review is freely given, and the opinions are entirely mine.

• Comment

 

Off the Shelf -- Murder on the Menu

 Thanks to Netgalley & Harper 360/One More Chapter for the opportunity to read and review this title. This is the debut in the Nosey Parker series. Jodie "Nosey" Parker returns to her hometown village in Cornwall with her daughter to be a caterer.

Jodie, a former police officer, gets the opportunity to cater her childhood friend, Tony's wedding.  All is going well until Tony's ex-wife crashes the cocktail hour the night before the wedding and is found dead the next morning.  Jodie finds herself compelled to investigate after her friend us named a suspect.

I really liked the pacing of the story.  The village and its residents are well crafted.  The connections between characters has a real quality to it.  The mystery unfolds gradually and is well done.  I will definitely be checking out more of this series.

The opinions in this review are solely mine and are freely given.

Off the Shelf -- A Fatal Booking

 

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this title. This is the 3rd book in the Booklover's B&B Mystery series and the first in this series that I have read. Charlotte own Chapters, a literary themed B&B in Beaufort, NC. A friend from her former career as a teacher books the B&B for a weekend Book Club getaway, and things go away when one of the guests is murdered on the property.

I found the characters likeable and am intrigued by their history. Ellen, Charlotte's neighbor is most intriguing. I like the feel of the setting, a small southern beach town. I love the idea of the B&B.

I worked out the identity of the murderer pretty quickly, but the ride was still enjoyable. I will likely check out the rest of this series.

The opinions expressed and mine alone and are given freely.

Beyond The Eats: Alton Brown Live

 Last night, we went to see Alton Brown at the Koger Center in Columbia, SC.  We splurged on VIP tickets, and the experience was worth every penny.  I had a lot of anxiety, as this was my first outing in pandemic times.  The Koger Center staff checked face masks and shared that AB was a stickler for COVID protocols, including requiring all staff be tested.  I felt safe and enjoyed the show.

VIP ticket holders got to attend a pre-show Q&A with Alton & Elizabeth.  It was intimate and hysterical.  I shared Batley's love of Scabigail, and Alton said she has expensive tastes and likes yachts.  He asked Batley's name, and Elizabeth asked for a picture.  I asked Elizabeth how Alton talked her into QQ.  He just sat down and hid while she told the story.  Turns out she suggested he do something during the pandemic on YouTube, went to make dinner, and he went live when she walked onto the patio.  And yes, Worst Cooks was as terrible an experience as it looked to be.

The first act was a song followed by Alton storytelling some of his food regrets.  He is so engaging and a master of comedic timing. The smores story alone is worth the price of admission. There was an audience participation quiz show.  Contestants were selected based on scores on his online quiz. I was on the list but not selected.  It was creative, and I would watch the hell out of it on TV.

The second act was a cooking demo, and I won't spoil it for you but it is amazing and innovative and so very Alton.  Alton and Elizabeth wrapped up with a song about one of Alton's challenging foods.  Enjoy a few pics from last night.

Off the Shelf -- London Bridge is Falling

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read and review this book.  While I have not read the entire Bryant & May series, I have read a few and am familiar with the characters.

The Peculiar Crimes Unit is about to be shut down, and Bryant is not ready to ve done.  An investigation into the death of elderly woman from neglect to forestall the closure turns out to be more than meets the eye.  The cast of characters and all of their quirks is delightful.  The plot feels meandering at times, but it is purposeful and a fun ride.  The mystery is engrossing.  All in all, a great read.

This review is given freely and openly. Opinions are mine.

Off the Shelf --Up to No Gouda

 

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this title. This is first in a new culinary cozy series.Carly has returned to her home town after losing her husband and opened a grilled cheese restaurant. Her building is sold, and her new landlord evicts her. He is discovered dead outside the restaurant, and one of Carly's employees, Suzanne, is the prime suspect. To save her friend, Carly investigates.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. The descriptions of the grilled cheese sandwiches had me craving one. The cast of characters is interesting. The relationships with some of the characters is a little weird in that progress through problematic issues in a breeze, trust super quickly, or just feel weird. I will give this series another book or so.

This is review is given freely.

Off the Shelf -- Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library

 Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this title, scheduled for release on February 8, 2022. This is the 2nd book in the Lakeside Library series and the first I have read.

Rain is the local librarian in the Wisconsin town of Lofty Pines and has recently decided to stay in town and run the library year round. The town is buzzing with excitement for the annual Ice Fishing Jamboree until one of the participants is found dead in his fishing shanty, resulting in the husband of Rain's best friend being accused if murder. Rain and her best friend, Julia, investigate to clear his name.

The actions of the characters falls a little unbelievable to me, even in a cozy mystery. There is a lot of unnecessary and excessive discussion of the winter weather.