The Shugborough Inscription

The Shugborough Inscription: GKP Mystery Series 1-Book 4

Grant Kelly

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The fourth audiobook in this series, Grant Kelly introduces the mystery of the Shugborough Inscription, a cryptic puzzle that has stumped people for over 250 years. I had never heard about this before, so I enjoyed learning the history of the monument and the theories that have been developed. Could it be something as simple as a monument dedication or perhaps it’s the answer to finding the Holy Grail. This audiobook would appeal to those who enjoy history and puzzle solving.

Beach Brawl

Beach Brawl: A Quilting Cozy Mystery

Kathryn Mikel

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A quilting guild goes to the beach for a quilting retreat for what they thought would be a relaxing time. However, they were not expecting a murder to interrupt their getaway. The friends (Cara, Bean, Trudy, Haze and Marnie) all become suspect as they were the last people known to see the victim alive and other than Cara, each of them have a motive. Can Cara prove her friends’ innocence or is there really a murderer among them?

This book is a quick read that has an interesting plot. The characters are not as well developed as they probably would be in a longer book, but the author gives a nice description of each quilter at the end of the book. I would have liked to have seen the description at the beginning of the book to give the reader a chance to get to know each character. The plot line was quite interesting and I was surprised at the ending twist. Overall, this is a good read for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

*I received this book as a gift and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Murder at the B & B

Murder at the B & B: A Maplewood Bay Cozy Mystery

Kaylynn Smith

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When Blakey Monroe arrived in Maplewood Bay to take over her inherited B & B, she was not expecting a full house, major repairs and a dead body at breakfast. Undeterred, Blakely teams up with her neighbor, Bobby, to find the killer and bring peace back to Maplewood Bay. 

The author used the point of view of both Blakely and Bobby to tell this story. I thought this was clever and made it interesting to hear from both characters. When I started this book, I was engaged with the characters and premise, but towards the end, some issues popped up that affected my enjoyment of the story. It seemed to me that the culprit came out of nowhere and the reason behind the murder was a little confusing. Also, the wrap up at the end of the book seemed to be a bit redundant. All that being said, I do think this author shows a lot of promise and I look forward to watching her grow as a writer.

*I received this book as a gift and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Polaroid Murder

The Polaroid Murder: A page-turning and suspenseful small-town culinary cozy mystery

Vivian Keys

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Kelsey Woods moves back to Carlyle Cove to help her Aunt Clara in her cafe. While volunteering, she meets a 10 year old boy named Barry and his circumstances reminds her of her own childhood. While helping Barry locate his mother, she becomes involved with a mystery from the past that is related to Barry’s mother. Along with her friend Elinor (a retired PI), Kelsey is determined to solve the mystery and reunite Barry with his mother.

This book had two plot lines that were intertwined: reuniting Barry and his mother, Ruthie and the 1988 disappearance of Ruthie’s friend, Gina. The first part of the story focuses more on Kelsey fostering Barry, while the mysterious disappearance develops more slowly. I think this worked well for this story as it gives the reader a chance to bond with the characters and in turn, become invested in the mystery. While the culprit becomes clear relatively early on, it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment. The real draw is discovering the “how” and “why”. Definitely a good cozy read!

*I received this book as a gift and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Act Like You’re Murdered

Act Like You’re Murdered: A Sammy Brooks Cozy Mystery Series

Daisy Belle

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When actress Toria Bennett is found dead in her trailer on her movie set, Sammy Brooks feels compelled to investigate when her best friend, Emily, becomes the prime suspect. Due to Toria’s abrasive behavior, the suspect list is long. Sammy and her friend Jax search for evidence to clear Emily. Will they be able to solve this murder and free Emily?

Belle has created a fast-paced and entertaining story that captures the readers attention. There is humor, quirky characters and a hint of romance. I was not expecting the surprising twist at the end! This was such a fun read and I feel cozy mystery readers will really enjoy this book!

*I was given this book as a gift and all opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Nightblooms and a Burial

Nightblooms and a Burial: A Poppy James Cozy Mystery

Gemma Harper

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Poppy James becomes involved in a Willowbrook mystery she finds her florist friend Ivy slumped on the floor of her shop. Following Ivy’s journal and clues, Poppy is determined to finish Ivy’s journey and discover the secrets that the town’s garden holds.

This book was not what I expected. It started out as a serious-minded cozy mystery when Ivy mysteriously collapses. However, as the story moves on, it delves into paranormal/fantasy as Poppy investigates. Honestly, this book was not my cup of tea. However, I feel that the story was well written and readers of this type of book would enjoy Harper’s tale. 

*This book was gifted to me and all opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

Pride & Prejudice & Potions-Lizzy’s Story

Laura Drake

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Journalist Lizzie Bennet moved back to Austen Heights when her dad became sick. Lizzy and her sisters are half-witch and half-fae, residents of the town tend to look down on them.  When her mom becomes a suspect in a murder case, Lizzy is determined to clear her name. Unfortunately for her, this means that she has to work with Darcy, a complicated fae who keeps himself and his magic closed off to the world. Will Lizzy be able to solve the case and get her story before the killer strikes again?

Drake combines cozy mystery, romance and fantasy to weave a story that grabs the reader’s attention from  page one. I enjoyed the character development and the plot twists throughout the book. There is great humor and banter between the main characters and their disdain towards one another slowly dissipates as they begin to know each other. I found this to be an intriguing read and think other readers would enjoy this book.

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