Theatre of Secrets

Theatre of Secrets: A Quillhaven Magical Cozy Mystery

Tessa Silver

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Director Olivia Sweetwater comes to Quillhaven to head the latest production at the Silver Quill Theatre. As the play is coming together, the costume designer is murdered and it comes to light that Martha’s costumes were not only beautiful, but also magical. With the help of lighting director Max, sheriff Noah,  local witch Annie and her enchanted cats Leo and Luna, Olivia is determined to uncover the killer before opening night.

Theatre of Secrets is a wonderful addition to the Quillhaven series. Silver’s storytelling is enthralling and captures the reader’s attention. I love how she creates stories around new characters while utilizing characters from previous books. This book contains mystery, magic and a sweet love story that paranormal cozy mystery lovers will enjoy. I recommend not only this book, but the whole Quillhaven series. You won’t be disappointed!

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

A Zappy Little Christmas

A Zappy Little Christmas: Hometown Hardware Mysteries Book 3

Paula Charles

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pine Bluff, Oregon is opening the holiday season with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree and hardware store owner Dawna Carpenter is looking forward to a relaxing ride on the trolley with her daughter, April and neighbor, Smitty. However, Smitty spies a dead body in one of the Christmas displays and it’s up to Dawna and April to find the killer.

I enjoyed reading this story. I love the concept of a mother/daughter amateur sleuth team. The characters are well developed and the storyline is solid. The author kept me in suspense until the end. With all the twists and turns, I couldn’t figure out the killer. Charles is also able to give the story a warm, holiday feel despite the murder taking place. Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. I have not read the first two books, but I was able to follow the plot with no issues. All in all, I would recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

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

Murder on the Moonlight Express

Murder on the Moonlight Express: A Gripping Train Ride Whodunnit

Nell Piper

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Hazel Whitmore wins a trip on the Moonlight Express and is expecting to take a luxurious train trip with her best friend, Birdie and her cat, Mr. Darcy. Instead she finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Murder on the Moonlight Express seems to pay homage to Agatha Christie and her Murder on the Orient Express. At the beginning of the book, I was interested to see how this story was going to unfold. I liked the characters of Hazel and Birdie and enjoyed their banter. I am a fan of “locked room” cozies and with the story being set on a train, I was intrigued how this mystery would play out. However, about half way through, I was struggling with the plot. It seemed a bit convoluted and some of the red herrings didn’t make sense to me. Also, I felt the author relied heavily on similes and metaphors in her writing, which I felt slowed down the pace. If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. It has some strong points and readers who like their mysteries complex would most likely enjoy it.

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

Mocha, Masks and Murder

Mocha, Masks and Murder: An Amelia Clark Cozy Read

Kara Post

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Retired librarian Amelia Clark becomes embroiled in a murder mystery when she discovers the body of an antique dealer behind Brewed Awakening. Along with her best friend, Nora and her faithful companion, Duke, Amelia attempts to unravel this puzzle and find the killer before they can strike again.

This book was an interesting read with plenty of mystery, secrets and intrigue. Post’s main character is a strong, independent woman with an eye for detail and a dog with great instincts. The story is fast-paced and suspenseful, however, the plot becomes a little confusing in places and a few pieces of the puzzle seem a bit forced. Despite these minor flaws, I found the book entertaining and would recommend it to other readers.

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

Pumpkin Spice and Malice

Pumpkin Spice and Malice: A Willa Honeycutt Mystery

B. J. Cade

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an entertaining read! Cade brings the reader along on a roller coaster ride of murder, red herrings and plenty of twists and turns. There are no shortages of suspects as the main character tries to clear her name when a judge of a pie contest drops dead after she takes a bite of Willa’s entry. I love how Willa uses  both evidence and instinct to help her determine the culprit. The author also infuses humor throughout the story in the banter between Aunt Sylvia and Gertie. Overall, I found this book to be a fast-paced, engaging read that I couldn’t put down! I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading cozy mysteries.

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

Secrets in the Mist: Book 1

Secrets in the Mist Book 1: The Lochraven Romantic Mystery Series

Cait Byrne

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Isla MacLeod is a book restorer who has taken over the family business in Lochraven, Scotland. Life is going smoothly until real estate developer Finlay Fraser arrives in town with a plan to modernize the quaint village. At first, Isla is against any changes that Finlay proposes. But things change when there is a murder in Finlay’s yard and he is framed, even though he was with Isla at the time. As they work together to find the real killer, their feelings for each other begins to grow. Will they solve the mystery before one of them becomes the next victim?

Byrne weaves a story of mystery, betrayal and romance. Being set in Scotland, she uses Scottish words and phrases to bring realism to the setting. The plot was fast-paced with lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending that I was not expecting. While some aspects of the story felt a bit rough around the edges (such as a few timing inconsistencies and information that was presented somewhat awkwardly), I still found the story enjoyable overall. There are many positive elements that make this an engaging read.

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

Thonis-Heracleion

Thonis-Heracleion: A GKP Mystery Series 1, Book 12

Grant Kelly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thonis-Heracleion is an ancient Egyptian port city that vanished over 1,000 years ago. It was rediscovered  in 2000 by divers in the Mediterranean Sea. Kelly tells a fascinating story of the city’s rise and fall. He discusses the importance of Thonis-Heracleion, the mysterious disappearance of the city and artifacts and treasures found when rediscovered. He gives the reader an overall picture of this captivating narrative. Readers of history, mystery and adventure will enjoy this account.

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