Dead Men Don’t Dig Tunnels

Dead Men Don’t Dig Tunnels: A Carolina Teal Cozy Mystery Book 4

C. C. Trace

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

During Pine Haven’s Prohibition Weekend, guest speaker Dr. Everett Langley was giving a presentation about the secret tunnels under the town. He hinted at a big reveal during his keynote address he was giving the next day. However, he turns up dead in those very tunnels that night. Carolina, her sister Angela and her friends Goldie and Jack begin to investigate when it’s revealed that her late father had ties to these secret passages. With a distracted sheriff,  plenty of suspects and Kalua’s super sniffer, Carolina races to find the killer before they strike again.

This is book number 4 of the Carolina Teal series and I think they just keep getting better! The twists and turns of the story kept me guessing throughout and the last reveal shocked me. Trace weaves a story that is fast-paced and entertaining. Her characters are well developed and the slow burn romance developing between Carolina and Jack is sweet. I can’t wait for the next installment!

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

The Kryptos Enigma

The Kryptos Enigma: GKP Mystery Series Book 2

Grant Kelly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This 22 minute audiobook discusses Kryptos, the cryptographic sculpture that was consigned when the CIA built its headquarters in Langley, VA in 1990. Artist Kim Sandborn created this sculpture with 4 coded messages, 3 which have been solved. Kelly dives into the background of this artwork and theories behind the fourth unsolved puzzle. I had never heard this story before, so it peaked my interest in this subject. This is not a deep dive, but rather a starting point to this fascinating piece of art.

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

Murder on Lake Everly

Murder on Lake Everly: A Claire Hastings Cozy Mystery

Bonnie Blume

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Relics & Riches owner Claire Hastings begins to investigate the murder of a local developer when it is tied into a treasure chest with a hidden map that she recently acquired. With several possible suspects, Claire and her friend Ruby work to expose the killer before they strike again.

Blume weaves a complex tale that ties a past unsolved death to a current murder. There are plenty of suspects and even more secrets that keep the reader guessing throughout the story. There is a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming and turned everything on its head. Good, suspenseful read!

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

Murder Beneath the Bookshop

Murder Beneath the Bookshop: An Emma Lang Cozy Mystery Book 5

Nelly Stein

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Resort manager Emma Lang discovers the body of handyman Jed Nolan in the basement of her grandmother’s rental house. She and her friends learn that there are secret tunnels under the town of Port  Davis and Jed’s murder may be linked to these tunnels and a decades old jewelry robbery. Can Emma get to the bottom of this mystery before the killer claims another victim?

Even though this is the 5th book of the Emma Lang series, Stein does a nice job of giving enough background to make this an enjoyable standalone. Her vivid descriptions makes the reader feel that they are right there. The plot has twists and turns, quirky characters and many secrets. There is also a romance, a wedding and a mischievous goat that makes trouble wherever it goes. There is a lot going on in this book and sometimes the subplots overshadow the main story. Still, this is a fun and engaging read that cozy mystery fans are sure to enjoy.

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

Shadow of the Ripper

Shadow of the Ripper: GKP Mystery Series 1

Grant Kelly

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This audiobook gives a quick summary of the “Jack the Ripper” murders. The book gives a short synopsis of each victim, discusses the letters sent to the press during this time and reviews the police investigation. It also explores some possible suspects of these crimes, including the theory of Jack the Ripper actually being a woman. This is a good starting point for people who want to learn about this serial killer.

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

Signed, Sealed and Stabbed

Signed, Sealed and Stabbed: A Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery

Tessa Aura

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Antique dealer/amateur sleuth Penelope Sinclair gets pulled into the murder of Eloise Turner, who is killed by a letter opener from Penelope’s shop. Though Detective Caleb Grant warns her to stay out of the investigation, she and her Teacup Chihuahua Teo, dig into the case and find secrets that have been long buried in the town of Bath. Will Penelope unmask the killer before she becomes the next victim.

This book is the third in the Penelope Sinclair series. Aura continues to flesh out the main characters in this series, Penelope and Caleb. She also is slowly building a partnership between the two. The plot is a bit complex at times and there were a couple of small threads that I felt were not completely wrapped up. That being said, I enjoyed the story and was engaged throughout, trying to solve the mystery before the ending reveal. I believe that cozy mystery lovers will enjoy this book.

*I was given an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

X Marks the Stalker

X Marks the Stalker: A Dark Romantic Comedy (The Hemlock Society Book 1)

K.N. Wilder

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is not my usual fare, but I was curious because I’ve not read a “dark romantic comedy” and I thought I’d give it a whirl. First, a word of warning: this book contains some disturbing scenes and graphic language. The author is very upfront about this and gives a content warning at the beginning, which I appreciate. The plot itself was riveting and despite being a little uncomfortable about some of the scenes, I wanted to keep reading to find out the conclusion. I’m not sure why this book is considered comedy, it did have humor throughout, but it struck me more as a thriller. Overall, if you like dark mystery with spicy romance and don’t mind rough language, this book may be for you.