Pancho Villa’s Lost Treasure

Pancho Villa’s Lost Treasure: GKP’s Lost Treasure Series, Book 6

Grant Kelly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Short, enjoyable listen about Pancho Villa and his supposed hidden treasure. Kelly gives some background of Villa’s early years, his rise in power during the revolution, and his assassination. He then discusses the stories behind Villa’s accumulation of wealth and the legends of where the treasure was hidden. If you like history and/or mystery, you will enjoy this audiobook.

Murder at Christkindlmarkt

Murder at Christkindlmarkt: A Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery

Greta Sinclair

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Food blogger Darcy Finnegan travels to Vienna to write about their Christkindlmarkt, but she is drawn into an investigation when a well-known businessman is murdered. Along with Interpol agent and boyfriend Marcus Evans, Darcy is determined to get to the truth behind this crime. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this installment of the Darcy and Mozart cozy. Sinclair has a wonderful way with words and I felt like I was in Vienna, experiencing everything along with Darcy. The mystery was intriguing and the twists and turns had me invested in the story. I love the friendship between Darcy and Lizzie and her romance with Marcus is appealing. I loved the surprise at the end of the book! Sinclair also provides a glossary of the German words used throughout the story and even includes a recipe for Lebkuchen. This is a wonderful read and I encourage cozy mystery lovers to read not only this book, but the others in the series.

*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Murder Under the Autumn Leaves

Murder Under the Autumn Leaves: Silver Pines Mystery, Book 4

Lyla Blue

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Clare Garner is preparing her inn for the Silver Pines Fall Festival and things start on a high note when her dog Lucy wins the Leaf Pile challenge. However, when a body is discovered in one of the piles, Clare is determined to find the culprit of this mystery.

I have listened to all the books in this series so far and have enjoyed them all. The author tells an interesting story that focuses on not only the mystery but also the characters and their relationships. This book was a bit different because I felt the murder plot line was secondary to Clare’s relationships with Jackson and Blake. It was still a good read but it was more romance than mystery. I do like the way the author gives enough background information about the characters that a reader could jump into the series at this point and not be too lost. Overall, I would recommend this book to both cozy readers and romance lovers.

Cinnamon and the Clue in the Cardamom

Cinnamon and the Clue in the Cardamom: The Catmint Chronicles Cozy Mystery Series, Book 1

Amanda Sterczyk

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Rowan Thorne thought her life belonged in New York City with her job and her boyfriend. However, two things occurred on the same day which changed her mind. She caught her boyfriend cheating on her and she found out she inherited a tea shop (and a cat) in England from an aunt she didn’t even know existed. Rowan packs her bags and heads over the pond to begin her new life. When she gets there, she discovers that the shop is behind on the mortgage, her aunt’s special recipe book is missing and the cat has some mysterious qualities. Rowan is determined to find out who took the recipe book and save her shop.

I think this book has a lot going for it. The setting is a quaint English village, the residents are quirky and the mystery is intriguing. I related to the main character who is somewhat of an introvert and needs some space at times recharge her social battery. The story line is easy to follow and the author did a nice job of wrapping up the mystery and the motive. I felt that there is room for this author to grow in her storytelling. There are parts of the story that feel a little forced and did not flow smoothly. That being said, I feel that this is a solid 3 1/2 stars and I do look forward to reading more from this author.

*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Deck the Halls…Dead

Deck the Halls….Dead: A Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery

Tessa Aura

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Penelope Sinclair is preparing for The Curious Finds shop for Bath’s Festival of Lights. She’s hoping for a festive turnout, but instead, finds herself tangled up in the murder of Margot Bellamy, the malicious organizer. The suspect list is long, but time is short. Can Penelope, with the help of her trusty dog Teo, find the culprit before the festival is ruined?

I was gifted a copy of this book and I really enjoyed it. The story has a mystery with plenty of suspects, quirky characters and twist and turns that keep the reader engaged. I love the relationship between Penelope and Grandma Joyce and watching Sheriff Caleb develop a grudgingly admiration for the amateur sleuth is appreciated. If you are a cozy mystery reader, I encourage you to give this story a try.

Meatless Monday’s

Meatless Monday’s: The Good Chef Mysteries

Elsie Grey

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ex-police officer Lilly Jane Good owns and runs the Good Chef restaurant in Pine Grove. She is also a consultant for the local police department. When butcher Michael Dirk is murdered, Lily and detective boyfriend Lance Phillips investigate who could be behind this crime. This novella has an intriguing storyline that kept my interest throughout the book. The twist at the end was surprising and I like how the author foreshadowed what is to come in the next book. Though this is the fourth book of a series, I had no problems following the story. I had a minor issue with a couple of loose ends that weren’t tied up, but this did not impact my enjoyment of the story. Cozy mystery readers will enjoy this quick read. *I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Evil at Teatime

Evil at Teatime: An International Foodie Mystery Book 3

Ann Rose

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Megan and Reed jet off to England over Christmas for Reed’s next acting project. Megan is hoping to experience a quaint English Christmas, with a roaring fire and a good book. Then her in-laws decide that they would join the couple in England, to Megan’s dismay. Things get worse when there is a murder where Reed is to be filming and her haughty MIL is the prime suspect. Megan and Reed are determined to clear his mother’s name and find the true killer.

This was such a great read! The characters are well developed and the storyline captures the reader from the beginning. I was engrossed in the mystery and I definitely was not expecting the ending. There’s also humor and a bit of romance as Megan and Reed work on their marriage. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who likes cozy mysteries. 

*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed are my own.

Murder, Mistletoe and Spirits

Murder, Mistletoe and Spirits: A Hattie and Moose Cozy Mystery

Greta Sinclair

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Private investigator Hattie Leiper and Detective Bo Beckett were hoping for a crime-free date night at Leiper’s Fork Distillery when her dogs, Moose and Mini Pearl, stumble upon body of a missing distillery employee. Hattie and Bo work together to find out who the killer is and the motive behind the murder.

I love the books from the Hattie and Moose Cozy Mysteries series and this one is no exception. Sinclair does a wonderful job of creating characters that the reader can relate to and root for. Moose, Mimi Pearl and Cecil, along with Hattie’s best friend Gracie bring some levity to the story. And the slow burn romance between Hattie and Bo is becoming a bit more fiery. It’s a great mystery with several twists and turns. I highly recommend this book to cozy mystery readers!

Murder Under the Mistletoe

Murder Under the Mistletoe: A Willow Cove Mystery

J. J. Joseph

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is another fantastic installment in the Willow Grove Cozy Mystery series. What started out as an engagement party at the Willow Cove Wedding Chapel turned into a murder scene when someone strangled the hired Santa Claus during a blackout caused by a blizzard. Wedding coordinator Ally Fisher and her boyfriend Deputy Nate Dalton work together to figure out who took out Santa and why. I was gifted this book and I can honestly say that I really enjoyed it! Joseph has spun a tale that involves murder, twist and turns, humor and a bit of romance. It’s the perfect combination for a cozy! If you love cozy mysteries, I highly suggest you try this one out.

The Fight Before Christmas

The Fight Before Christmas: A Cozy Canine Whodunit Short Read

Sharon Michaels

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Fight Before Christmas is a cozy novella that features Holly Winters, a bakery owner and amateur sleuth. She becomes entangled in a mystery when a murder occurs during Willow Grove’s holiday festivities. Along with her trusty pets, Holly vows to find the culprit and bring them to justice. I listened to the audiobook and it went by very quickly. It was an easy to follow plot with some twists and turns to keep the reader/listener involved. There is a bit of quirkiness in the storyline as Holly is able to hear her pets talk to her. For the most part, I enjoyed the book. My only critique is that the conclusion to the mystery seemed a bit abrupt. However, this was a minor detail and overall, I think it was a good Christmas read.

Murder at the Maplewood Frosty Festival

Murder at the Maplewood Frosty Festival: An Ivy Sinclair Cozy Mystery Series

Erin Macy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Ivy Sinclair is assigned to report on the Frosty Festival, she’s expecting to write an easy article with food reviews and descriptions of events at the celebration. Instead, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery when one of the food vendors is murdered. With help from her friend Alice, Ivy uncovers secrets from the festival’s past that tie into the recent crime. Will Ivy be able to find the killer before they strike again?

This book is a small town winter cozy mystery that has some twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. It was a fast read with a relatively easy plot to follow. I had a minor issue with the ending, it seemed abrupt to me. But overall, I enjoyed the book and think other cozy mystery readers would like it.

*I was gifted this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

50 States of Murder

50 States of Murder: An Atlas of American Crime

Harold Schechter

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book contains bite-sized recaps of murders occurring across the United States. The author chose to focus on the more obscure crimes in each state. Many of the blurbs covered crimes in the 1800’s. As a true crime reader, I found this book interesting because I had not heard of most of the cases Schechter wrote about. His coverage is pretty succinct and if you are looking for detailed coverage, then this book is not for you. However, if you are interested in reading about lesser-known crimes from each state, you may enjoy this book. I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Patchwork, Paws & Puzzles

Patchwork, Paws and Puzzles: A Paw-liday Craft Caper Book

Kathryn Mykel 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is an entertaining mystery about a group of family and friends gathering to celebrate Christmas. Their get together is interrupted by several mishaps that threaten to ruin their evening. But in the end, they are happy to be celebrating the holidays together. I enjoyed this story, but at times, I felt like I was missing some background information that would have pulled the story together. These character are from Mykel’s  Quilting Cozy Mysteries series, so I think if I had read those first, I might have a better understanding of the characters. Overall, this is a nice holiday read that cozy mystery readers will enjoy. 

*I was gifted this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Haunting of Whaley House

Haunting of Whaley House: GKP Most Haunted Places, Series 1, Book 11

Grant Kelly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Whaley House is located in San Diego, California. Built on a former gallows site, many people believe that the house is haunted. Legend has it that the paranormal activity in the house is related to a curse put on the land by Yankee Jim before his hanging. He declared that tragedy would always be associated with this plot of land. After the Whaley House was built, the family faced the death of 2 of their  children while living there. The house later became a museum, but there have been several reports of  whispers and apparitions, leading people to believe that there is spiritual activity occurring there. I thought this audiobook was quite interesting. I had never heard of the Whaley House and thought the author did a good job of weaving a story that was intriguing.

Mystery of the Paris Catacombs

Mystery of the Paris Catacombs: A GKP Most Haunted Places, Series 1, Book 12

Grant Kelly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Most people have probably heard about the catacombs that exist under the city of Paris, but this audiobook digs a little deep into the mystery of these tunnels. Kelly discusses the possible paranormal aspects of the catacombs. There have been reports of people hearing voices and the feeling of being watched while underground. Some people have disappeared, never to be found. There have been chambers found that contain mystic symbols and alters, suggesting that these hidden rooms have been possibly used for mystic gathering. This was a very interesting book to listen to and it was only about 25 minutes long, making it a good listen for people who may not have the time to read/listen to a full-length book.

*I was gifted this audiobook book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.