Off The Shelf -- A Victim at Valentine's

 

This is the fifth title in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series & doesn't disappoint.  The bookstore is the venue for a Valentine's themed matchmaking event.  All is going well, love is in the air until Annie discovers the body of one of the sponsors of the the event.  She & her loved ones are drawn into investigating with the encouragement of Annie's mentor, Detective Caldwell. This book also progresses the story of Annie's investigation of her friend's murder that occurred before the series began.

I continue to enjoy this series.  The mystery was well plotted, though I figured it out before the reveal.  I just like these characters, their relationships, and this setting.  I so wish this bookstore was real.   Definitely read this series.

Thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read & review this title.  The opinions given are solely mine and freely given. 

Off the Shelf -- The Last Kingom

 Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.  This series is one of my favorites and was like coming back to a favorite place.

Cotton Malone is a retired Magellan Billet agent trying to live a quiet life as a bookseller, but he keeps getting pulled back in.  This time someone is stealing from Ludwig II's castle, Herrenchiemsee.  What ensues is an engrossing tale entwining mystery, adventure, and history into a rollercoaster ride of reading delight.

Cotton is, as always, an intriguing protagonist.  The surrounding characters  unfold, develop, and shift in interesting ways.  The underlying historical mystery is engrossing.  

I definitely recommend this one.  Knowing the characters and the series is helpful.  I think bits may be confusing without knowing the history, but the critical bits are well filled in.  

Off the Shelf -- Skeleton Key

Skeleton Key is a layered tale, part mystery, part family chronicle, part drama.  It is engrossing, intriguing, heartwarming, and sad all at once.  Told from the perspective of Nell, our narrator, we begin with the 50th anniversary celebration of The Golden Bones, an as yet unsolved treasure hunt 

book created by Nell's father.  Things go awry at the planned unveiling of the final  piece of the puzzle and down the rabbit hole we go.

Nell is still emotionally affected by being attacked by an overly enthusiastic searcher/treasure hunter as a teen and avoids the limelight, distancing herself from her family. She reluctantly appears at the celebration and is drawn into the unfolding situation unwillingly.  As she explores and attempts to understand what is happening, she learns more about her family than she ever wanted to know.

I enjoyed the story.  The mystery was layered, the emotions raw and real.  There is an emotional journey with these characters with twists and turns.  While not the ending I wanted, the ending makes sense.  If you're seeking a psychological mystery, this definitely satisfies.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hatchette for the opportunity.  All opinions are mine and freely and honestly given.

Off the Shelf -- Cheddar Late Than Dead

 

The third entry in the Grilled Cheese Eatery series finds our heroine, Carly unexpectedly catering the bridal shower of a high school friend.  She is drawn into investigating after the groom collapses and dies after crashing the gathering and her friend is the prime suspect.

I enjoyed this title more than the others in the series.  The mystery is layered, relationship dynamics explored.  I feel like we're finally finding some of who these characters are.  There was a little more meat here than in previous entries in the series.  I like Carly's relationship with her staff and her family.  The chaste, innocence in her relationship with Ari is the odd point for me.  She is a widow with relationship experience so that part feels off at times.  

The opinions expressed are mine and given freely.  Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity!

Off the Shelf -- No Parm No Foul

This is the second Grilled Cheese  Mystery.  It's Halloween and the Balsam Dell is getting ready for the annual food competition. Carly is excited, as it's her first year entering her eatery. The owner of Sub-a-Dub Sub, Ferris Menard, is angry at Carly because Grant, her part-time employee left Menard's employ to work full time at Carly's eatery.  He angrily confronts Carly in front of customers and is found dead in his own shop the next morning.  

The investigation hits close to home, and Carly decides to see if she can figure out who the real killer is.  

The mystery was interesting.  The characters are more developing a bit from the first book. I really enjoyed Evelyn Fitch and hope to see more of her. This is the coziest of cozies, no curse words, witch is considered a harsh word, and Carly and her boyfriend share only the tiniest of kisses.While this a little more chaste than my normal cozy, I like the characters.  I did find myself getting annoyed with Carly's method of analyzing her relationship with Ari.  Honestly, the connection between Carly and Ari is where the writing falls the fattest for me.  It feels artificial and takes me out of the story.

The descriptions of the food make me want grilled cheese.  I see the Alvin Special in my future.

Off the Shelf -- Against the Currant

 

This is the opening entry in the Spice Isle Bakery Series. Lyndsay Murray and her family are realizing Lyndsay's childhood dream of opening a bakery in Little Caribbean in Brooklyn.  Things are going well until the owner of another bakery threatens to run then out of business then storms in on opening day and argues with Lyndsay in front of everyone.  He is found murdered the next morning, and Lyndsay is the main suspect!  She is desperate turn the detectives' attention to other suspect so starts her own investigation.

I absolutely loved this book.  Lyndsay and her family are fun, loving, and complex.  My favorite has to be Granny.  The mystery is engaging as well.  I appreciate the culture of the West Indies that is part of the story. The recipes included sound amazing.  

I am looking forward to more books in this series.  These are my opinions only and are freely given.  Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity!

Off the Shelf-- Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

Thanks to Netgalley and Mariner for the opportunity to read and review this title. Such an fun romp!

Our narrator is Ern Cunningham, gathering with his family for the first time in years for a reunion at a winter resort. Ern's day job is writing books about writing mysteries, and he shares his insider knowledge as the mystery of the dead man found on the mountain the morning after his arrival.

The pacing is well done, the mystery unfolds beautifully.  The characters feel real, their relationships and struggles are grand  but human.  The author balances humor and pain exquisitely.  Plus, it is a darn intriguing mystery told from a very different perspective.

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

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 -- 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.

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.

Off the Shelf -- A Dash of Death

 Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book. This is the first in a new cozy mystery series. Samantha, Sam to her friends, is down her luck. Her fiance ended their engagement three weeks before her wedding. Her job prospects are limited, and her future feels uncertain. A friend persuades her to vend the scratchmade bitters that were to be her wedding favors at the Historic Homes Tour. Her bitters are a success, and things are going smashing until one of the guests mysteriously falls ill.

Samantha's past work as an investigative reporter compels her to dig into the situation, which quickly becomes complicated. The plot is well written. The supporting characters are engaging. Sam falls the most flat for me. Beyond her reporter's instincts and relationship troubles, there is not much fleshed out about her.

I did find the book engaging and liked the inclusion of recipes, though I would have preferred more of the recipes mentioned to be included. I will likely read a second outing for this series if there is one to see if Sam becomes more fleshed out.

The opinions expressed here are mine alone and are freely given.