Murder in Bloom

Murder in Bloom: An Unputdownable Lila Jennings Cozy Mystery

Diane Scotland

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Florist Lila Jennings becomes suspicious when the mayor of Maplewood dies under suspicious circumstances. She uncovers an embedded code in the floral orders that lead to the town’s buried secrets. With the help of pet shop owner Ethan Bell, best friend Lucy Bellweather and Officer Paul Harris, Lila is able to unravel the conspiracy and help bring justice to Maplewood.

Scotland constructs an elaborate plot that combines mystery, conspiracy and intrigue. The creation of using flowers in coded messages is original and captivating. Her characters are well written with a strong female lead, a supportive male lead and a quirky best friend. There were a few too many floral puns for me, but they fit into the theme of the story. The book ends with a budding romance and a cliffhanger, leaving the reader to want more. I recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers who enjoy conspiracies in small towns.

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

Murder and the Glittering Pin

Murder and the Glittering Pin: A Willow Grove Cozy Mystery

J. J. Joseph

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Ally Fisher is a bridal venue owner in Willow Grove. While attending a bridal fair at The Luxe, her competitor’s venue, influencer Jessa Lark is found murdered backstage. The snarky Jessa has acquired many enemies, so there is no shortage of suspects. Ally makes it her mission to unravel the mystery and make sure justice is served. 

This book is the 4th in the Willow Cove series. Though there are reoccurring characters, it is a standalone story that can be read out of order. Joseph develops a plot that has mystery, humor and an undercurrent of attraction between Ally and Sheriff Nate Dalton. I found myself engaged throughout the story and eager to find out the killer’s identity. My only issue was that most of the characters were introduced in rapid succession at the beginning of the book. Though I understand the reasoning behind this for storytelling purposes, I had some difficulty keeping the characters straight in my mind at first. All in all, I enjoyed this book and encourage other cozy mystery readers to give this book a read.

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

Death on the Trail of Jesse James

Death on the Trail of Jesse James: A Pelican Shores Cozy Mystery Book 6

Bessie Barr

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Finn Dockery attends a Pelican Shores potluck with her friends Birdie and Martha. Afterwards, several potluck attendees become extremely ill. Is it accidental food poisoning or something more sinister? At the same time, Finn is also receiving cryptic threats from someone calling themselves “Jesse James”. She and Birdie try to unravel both cases and determine if they are separate incidents or possibly related. When a public health inspector is then killed in a crash while driving Finn’s sabotaged golf cart, she realizes that she is the actual target and is determined to identify the killer.

This is book 6 of the Pelican Shores series and I must say, I really enjoyed it. Barr crafts a story that grabs you from the get-go and keeps you invested until the reveal at the end. And it is a doozy! Her characters are well written and a bit quirky, which adds to the fun. I love the evolving romance that is occurring between Finn and Pace, it’s like a slow burn. I definitely encourage readers who enjoy a fast-paced, cozy mystery to pick up a copy.

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

Murder, Music and Mischief

Murder, Music & Mischief: A Delight Music Row Whodunnit Cozy Mystery

Greta Sinclair

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PI Hattie Leiper and her sidekicks Moose and Cecil become entangled in the murder of country music superstar Ruby Dean after she collapses during a performance. After her best friend, Gracie, becomes a suspect, Hattie is determined to clear her name and find the killer. 

This book is the first of a new series by Greta Sinclair and it is off to a great start! Her characters are fun and quirky, there are plenty of suspects and there is both humor and a hint of romance throughout. I really enjoy that the plot is engaging and easy to follow. Sinclair constructs an entertaining story that many mystery readers will enjoy.

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

Killer Investment

Killer Investment: A Cristi Lennox Cozy Mystery 

Calee Claiborne

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Cristi Lennox inherited her Aunt Sylvia’s home in Silver Creek and plans to restore it to use as an event venue. She and her golden retriever Murphy moves into the Oyster Shell Inn, owned by her cousin Abbi, while renovations are underway. When developer Blake Thatcher is found dead in his room, everyone staying at the inn becomes a suspect. Cristi begins to investigate and finds that the suspects all have secrets they’ve been hiding. She works to untangle the web of deception before she becomes the next victim.

This was quite an interesting read. I enjoyed the easy-to-follow plot and the twists and turns that kept me invested. I felt the author also did a great job of developing the main characters and building the suspense. I was surprised at the reveal and liked how Claiborne made sure that all the loose ends were wrapped up. This is a quick read that I recommend to other cozy mystery readers.

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

The Best Man’s Toast

The Best Man’s Toast: Livvy Mercer Mystery Book 2

Brett Monk and McKenna Langford

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Bartender Livvy Mercer is looking forward to working the wedding reception of her friends Chance and Brynne. She expected to handle a rowdy crowd but didn’t anticipate investigating the mysterious death of the best man. As she tries to untangle the web of lies, she also is dealing with her budding feelings for FBI agent Garrett Lucas. Will Livvy be able to uncover the murderer?

This is the first book I have read from this series and can guarantee it will not be the last. The authors made Livvy a strong character with flaws and demons. They provide flashbacks and back stories from book one to help the readers who have not read Book 1 understand Livvy. The plot is twisty and full of false leads that kept me engaged and guessing throughout the book. There is also a mini-cliffhanger, which makes me look forward to reading the next book. I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.

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

Mystery of the Missing Maestro

Mystery of the Missing Maestro: A Junie Carmichael Mystery

Tracy Austen

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Next Chapter bookstore owner Junie Carmichael becomes concerned when choir director Sybil Keyes seems to have disappeared into thin air. As she and her friend Flo begin searching for Sybil, they come across a financial scandal involving the church. Will they be able to discover what happened to Sybil and who’s behind the cover-up.

I enjoyed reading this book. The author has does a good job of presenting an easy-to-follow plot and interesting characters. There is intrigue and mystery keeps the reader engaged and the well-placed humor ands another dimension to the story. It is a fun read and I think other cozy mystery readers would enjoy this book.

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