mysteries

A Tine to Live, a Tine to Die: A Local Food Mystery #1 – Edith Maxwell

Angela4 Comments

Although this is not a new cozy series, it is new to me. The first book was published in 2013 and there are 5 books in the series.

a Tine to Live, a Tine to Die Book 1 Cover Image

Cam Flaherty has newly taken over her Uncle and late Aunt’s farm, growing organic produce for the locals in Westbury, Massachusetts. She has a co-op of subscribers who come weekly to the farm to pick up their share of fresh produce. Most also volunteer at the farm with the various chores that keep Cam busy every day.

Shortly after Cam had to fire Mike Montgomery, he was found dead in her yard with her pitchfork in his neck, which proves to be a serious situation for Cam and a couple of other suspects. Cam finds herself juggling her farm work, the police, and a possible new romance while trying to get her new farm up and running.

Can she find the killer in time to save her reputation, and the reputation of her farm? This is a quick, fun read that you will be glad you picked up!

You can read more about Edith and her books on her website here: Edith Maxwell Website

What books have you been reading over the past couple of months? Any favorite cozies you would recommend? I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

One of My Favorite Series

Angela7 Comments

I have been reading cozy mysteries pretty heavily for the past year, but still pick up another type of book from the library every visit. I seem to always find the best books from just randomly wandering through the aisles and looking at different books that the title or cover grabs my attention.

One of those great finds was the Flavia DeLuce series, written by Alan Bradley. Whenever I find a new series that I adore, I always wish I had found it sooner. But sooner I was reading a different great series I loved and thought the same thing about.

Flavia is an 11 year old girl with two older sisters who love to torment her, a father who is aloof, and a housekeeper whom she seems to adore as much as she dislikes. Her father’s friend, Dogger, seems to be the anchor for Flavia in a family that frustrates her. Dogger is the groundkeeper, chauffeur, and basic man-of-many trades who lives on the estate with the family.

Flavia’s skill with chemistry, and her own extensive lab, has her solving murders in her village that seem to give the police force a run for their money. With Dogger’s help, Flavia seems to stay one step ahead of the police, and the murderers, and each new story builds upon the last, giving you a picture of the dynamics of this broken family, this motherless child, and the friendships she forms from solving mysteries.

There are only two books in the series I have not read yet, and hopefully I can get them from my library soon!

What is the last great read that you discovered?

All Murders Final – Sherry Harris

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Sarah Winston Garage Sale Cozy series book 3

ALL MURDERS FINAL mech.indd

As Sarah seeks to expand her garage sale business, she decides to go online with a virtual garage sale to help out her sales during the cold, snowy Winter months. Things seem to be going well, until clients are getting robbed, and Sarah is getting threatened, all while trying to deal with the two men in her life, and the family of mobsters that are renting the apartment next to hers.

Sarah being the one to find the body of the woman whom she had an online argument with the night before puts her in the hot seat, and it will take all of her wits, as well as some help from her friends, and maybe the mobsters, to clear her name and stop a murderer. When someone near-and-dear to her heart is looking like the next victim, Sarah risks it all. But does she make it in time?

Up next: My review of book 4 in the series, A Good Day to Buy.

You can find book three here: All Murders Final – Sherry Harris

The Longest Yard Sale – Sherry Harris

Angela2 Comments

Sarah Winston Garage Sale Cozy series book 2

The Longest Yard Sale book 2

As Sarah finds success setting up, and sometimes running, garage sales for others, she decides to have the Longest Yard Sale in New England. What looks like a successful turnout gets out of control as traffic gets jammed up everywhere, someone is setting fires in different spots all over town, and that dead body found in Sarah’s friend Carol’s Paint and Wine Shop is not the ending to the day that she was hoping for.

Now Sarah has to figure out who the murderer is, what happened to the painting that was stolen from Carol’s shop, and deal with two suitors; her ex-husband and someone from her not-so-distant past. Can she solve the mystery and clear her friends name?

Up next: My review of book 3 in the series, All Murders Final.

You can find this second book here: The Longest Yard Sale – Sherry Harris

The first book is here as well: Tagged For Death – Sherry Harris

Tagged for Death-Sherry Harris

Angela4 Comments

Sarah Winston Garage Sale Cozy series

I managed to read the first four book in this series in about a week, and absolutely loved them!

Tagged for Death cover image

Freshly divorced from her husband, CJ; Sarah now finds herself with plenty of time on her hands since she is no longer an Air Force wife. Her love for garage sales, finding a bargain, and negotiating a deal keep her occupied, and also open the door to a new form of employment; running other’s garage sales.

The cause of their divorce, a now-pregnant 19 year old named Tiffany, has gone missing. Sarah finds a startling discovery of bloody clothes belonging to CJ, (who happens to now be the Ellington Chief of Police), while she is going through some bags of items donated to the thrift shop on the base.

Her initial reaction is to hide them until she can figure out what is going on. Soon enough she has to bring it to CJ’s attention, and now they are both trying to clear his name, and find out what happened to Tiffany. Even though Sarah seems to have a couple people who are not fans of hers, she has her close friends who will stand by her through it all.

Up next: My review of book 2 in the series, The Longest Yard Sale.

You can learn more about Sherry Harris here: Author Sherry Harris

What are you reading right now? I have started on a new cozy series, and will be reviewing that very soon as well!

Giveaway Time!

Angela11 Comments

It has been too long since I have had a giveaway, and you do not want to miss this one!

Autographed Rules of Murder book

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I really want to keep one of these books for myself, but I won’t! Use the link to get entered into this drawing, and you could win an autographed book, as well as a notepad and ink pen! I am giving away two, and cannot wait to get these goodies in the mail and on the way to two lucky winners!

If you have any issues with the link, please leave a comment so I can get it fixed!

The Stanley Hotel

Angela17 Comments

Okay, so this is not a book review of The Shining, but I just spent several days in Colorado with my girls, and son-in-law, visiting my 21 year old who lives there. I did not know (or I should say, remember), that the Stanley Hotel was in Colorado. We were driving up to Estes Park, and I said “Wow, that looks just like the Stanley Hotel, to which 3 of my kids said….”Um, it is Mom.” To which I completely freaked-geeked out so of course we had to stop. If I had realized this, I would have scheduled one of their tours. We did wander around inside where we were allowed, and I have to admit, using the restroom was really creepy. Two of my girls refused to go inside. I was also the only one in the vehicle who had ever seen the movie, so I bought copies of it when I returned home to send to the kids who haven’t seen it 🙂

Have you ever visited or stayed here? I do not think I could sleep there to be honest.

Dipped to Death – Kelly Lane

Angela5 Comments

This was book #3 in the Olive Grove Mystery cozy series. I had read the first two quickly after finding them on a sorting shelf at one of my local libraries; this one I had to wait to be released.

Dipped to Death cover image

As with the first two, I loved this story, and had it read in less than 24 hours. (Yes; I am still not working due to the broke-my-ankle-in-3-places, more about that in another post!)

Eva Knox is still working at her family’s Olive Plantation in Georgia, and tripping over dead bodies left-and-right. This time it is an ex-fiance from Boston that no one in her family knew existed. Her other ex-fiance, sheriff Buck Tanner is of course on the case, both frustrating and frustrated by Eva at every turn.

I try to avoid the spoilers, but I have to say I hope this is a series that goes on for several more books! I am definitely anxious for the next book…there is a next book, right??? It isn’t often I will purchase cozy mysteries, as they are so readily available at my libraries, but this is certainly one I want in my personal library to read over and again!

You can find it here: Dipped to Death

Have you tried this series yet? I would love to here what you thought of it; and if you haven’t, I highly recommend it.

 

Short and Tall Tales: Moose County Legends (Cat Who Short Stories) – Lillian Jackson Braun

Angela8 Comments

Having long been a fan of Lillian Jackson Braun’s Cat Who mysteries, I was pleased to finally find this book on the library shelf. I discovered these fantastic stories about 20 years ago (or more) and have read all of them; most more than once.

Short and Tall Tales cover image

Jim Qwilleran is a journalist who moved to Moose County, 100 miles north of everywhere, after receiving a windfall of money from a benefactor. He and his two Siamese cats, KoKo and YumYum, solve mysteries all over Moose County and its adjoining counties. The characters through all 20+ books quickly become familiar friends you want to spend the day with.

This set of short stories is based on tales from local residents about some of the long-held beliefs and superstitions that have made Moose County what it is. I read this book in about an hour, and it is a great addition to any nightstand for some quick reading before sleep!

Are you familiar with the Cat Who Mysteries? How did you like them?

You can find this story here: Short and Tall Tales: Moose County Legends

Your Thanksgiving Themed Book!

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The cozy-mystery paperback I’ve included in my Autumn book box is “The Turkey Day Murder” by Leslie Meier.

Turkey Day Murder Cover Image

This is book #7 in the Lucy Stone mysteries, but is also a stand-alone book. So never fear, if you haven’t read any of the other books in this series, you will not be lost or confused! I have read several of the books in this series, and none of them in order 🙂 Each was a great read, and I was not questioning what I may have missed from a previous book that seems tied to the one I was reading.

This is just one of several fantastic items included! Everything is wrapped and packaged for a gift recipient, or you can indulge in this book box for yourself as we all get prepared for the upcoming Holiday Seasons!

You can order your Autumn Book Box here: Autumn Book Box