Death at Balsam Bay

 Death at Balsam Bay: A Tilly Lefleur Mystery (Book 1)

Maisie Graves

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Tilly Lefluer and her daughter Callie, return to Balsam Bay after her father disappears in what looks like a canoe accident. However, Tilly believes that there is more than meets the eye and she is determined to uncover the truth. When a second death occurs, Tilly, Callie, Des (dad’s rescue dog) and a group of offbeat locals help Tilly join forces to unravel a mystery that runs deeper than anyone imagined. 

This book grabbed my attention from page one and never let go. Graves delivers a solid plot with well-developed characters and plenty of suspense. The way she describes the scenes make you feel like you are there in the middle of all the action. This book had me guessing the outcome all the way to the end and the mini cliffhanger—wow! I highly recommend this book for cozy mystery readers.

*I received an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Murder and the Whispering Wedding Dress

Murder and the Whispering Wedding Dress: A Willow Cove Cozy Mystery

J.J. Joseph

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Ally Fisher has left the big city to open a wedding venue in Willow Cove. During the grand opening, a vintage wedding dress is stolen and the museum’s curator is found dead. As Ally and her golden doodle Theo search for answers, they uncover secrets and mysteries that go far deeper. Will Ally find the killer before she becomes the next victim?

This book is an engaging read that is well-written and easy to follow. I like how the author developed the main characters and builds suspense throughout the story. There are plenty of suspects and red herrings that keep the reader on their toes. There is also some historical intrigue and espionage thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

*I received an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Death of a Critic

Death of a Critic: A Sherlock Paws Cozy Mystery

Kit Sterling

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Bookstore owner Molly Stanford is asked to be a panelist at the Calico Bay Book Festival. She thought she would be sharing her love of books. Instead, she becomes entangled in the murder of caustic book critic Bentley Crouch. One of the suspects is her friend’s sister and Molly, along with her friends and terrier mix Sherlock, work to prove Lavinia’s innocence. Can they find the killer before they strike again.

Sterling does a nice job of creating a plot that is fast paced and easy to follow. The characters are colorful and move the story along. There is no shortage of suspects and motives, which keeps the reader guessing until the end. This book is part of a series but it works well as a standalone. This is definitely a fun cozy mystery and I would highly recommend it! 

*I received an ARC of this book. Any opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Hotter than Coffee and a Killer Brew

Hotter than Coffee and a Killer Brew: A Jenna McGregor Mystery

Willow Thorne

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Brewed Awakenings owner Jenna McGregor just wanted to peacefully serve coffee and pastries to the citizens of Maple Grove. Her hopes are dashed when she finds the body of retired history professor Dr. Patterson behind her shop. The professor’s death leads Jenna and her friends in to a complex mystery of secrets that have been hidden for decades. Can they crack the code before there is another fatality?

Thorne weaves a tale of secret societies, puzzles and corruption in this fictional crime story. The three main characters have a great relationship which provides good banter and the plot is filled with twists and turns. At times, Jenna’s clumsiness and Lisa’s ditziness go a little overboard. But overall, I enjoyed reading this book and encourage other cozy mystery readers to check it out.

*I received an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Murder at Buttermilk Cafe

Murder at Buttermilk Cafe: Windmere Cove Cozy Mystery Book One

Harper Burton

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Former food critic Izzy Harper moves back to Windmere Cove to open up the Buttermilk Cafe after being humiliated by mentor and fellow food critic Spencer Reed. After building her clientele using her grandmother’s recipes, Reed comes to do a tasting. After criticizing most of Izzy’s food, he suddenly keels over and dies. Izzy is being looked at as a suspect, so she is determined to clear her name. Along with her friend/chef Max and her loyal golden retriever Noodle, Izzy starts to pin down possible suspects. Will they be able to identify the murderer before another victim has their last meal?

Burton does a great job of setting the scene, developing the characters and roping in the reader with her descriptive vocabulary and doses of humor sprinkled throughout the mystery. The plot does become a bit complex for my personal taste, but I did love the way she named her recipes after emotional situations (ex. Emotional Baggage Mac & Cheese). She also ended the book with a mini cliffhanger that I believe will lead into the next book of the series. If you like conspiracies and intricate mysteries, this book is for you.

*I received an ARC of this book. Any opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Forecast: Foul Play

Forecast: Foul Play (The Weather Girl Mysteries, Book 1)

Ashleigh Quinn

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Autumn Davis wants to follow in her late mother’s footsteps and become a meteorologist. She lands a job at Moore Broadcasting and is looking forward to making her mark. Autumn finds herself in the middle of a storm when the lead meteorologist, Amber Davis, is found dead at the station. Amber had made plenty of enemies so there is no shortage of suspects, including Autumn. Autumn joins forces with custodian Carl to investigate the murder and clear her name.

This novella (152 pages) is a 2nd edition of this book of the same title from 2 years ago. I felt that the plot was pretty well developed and it was easy to follow along. The characters have some depth and I love the camaraderie between Autumn and Carl. I enjoyed reading this story and encourage other cozy mysteries to give it a try.

*I received an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Dead Men Don’t Act

Dead Men Don’t Act: A Carolina Teal Cozy Mystery Book 3

CC Trace

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Carolina and her sister Angela are preparing to host a traveling Shakespeare troupe at their B&B. The group is performing Hamlet for the local residents. That is, until the lead actor, Shawn Presley, is stabbed during a rehearsal. Who had the motive to sabotage the props? Is it Oliver, the understudy who was playing Hamlet until he was demoted for excessive alcohol use? Or maybe the female lead, Eve, who Shawn broke up with before they arrived? Carolina and her group are determined to find the killer before another murder occurs and the curtain drops.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. The story is fast-paced and easy to follow. There are several twists and turns throughout the plot. The characters are well developed and there is humor and a touch of romance that fits easily into the flow. This is the second book I have read in this series and I am really looking forward to the next installment. Cozy mystery fans, enjoy!

*I received an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.