A Coastal Bookshop Murder

Tracy Auten

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Mystery author Junie Carmichael returns to Thistleberry Point after her Aunt Nora passes away. Her plan was to pack up and close Nora’s bookstore but her plans change when she comes across a dead body at the store. Junie, along with Nora’s best friend Flo and chatty parrot Edgar, attempt to unravel the mysterious death. They find that there are several suspects in the town and work to find the true killer.

The author does a bang-up job of telling an engaging story that feels like a roller coaster ride. The suspects all have plausible motives and the plot keeps the reader guessing until the end. I admit that I was surprised by the ending (in a good way). Mystery readers will enjoy Auten’s work.

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

Murder at the Inn

Murder at the Inn: A Beth Sanders Cozy Mystery

Iris Kingsley

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While participating in the Windy Hollow Culinary Expo, baker Beth Sanders becomes entangled in the mysterious death of an obnoxious food critic. When digging for clues with her friends Beth and Penny, they learn that several people had a motive for murdering Nigel Verner. Can they pinpoint the culprit before someone else perishes.

Kingsley does an excellent job of weaving an engaging plot with plenty of zigzags between suspects. It keeps the reader on their toes as they attempt to figure out the culprit. I highly recommend this book to lovers of cozy mysteries.

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

Monkey Shenanigans & A Midnight Murder

Monkey Shenanigans & A Midnight Murder: A Howdunit Gripping Cozy Thriller Prequel (Bed & Breakfast Cozy #.5)

Peyton Stone

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When B&B owner Avery Jensen checks in a couple for the night, she has no way of knowing that the woman would turn up dead the next morning. To make things more complicated is the fact that the man she was with turns out to be the lead detective called in to investigate the murder. No one, except her friends Jess and Elle, believe Avery when she insists that Detective Charlie Winthrop is the killer. After all, he has an ironclad alibi. Or does he??

This book was impossible for me to put down. It’s not typically that a murder mystery begins with the reader knowing who the killer is. I loved reading how Avery was able to figure out how it was done. This was a fast-paced story that grabbed the reader’s attention from page one. I definitely recommend this book!

 

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

The Mill Site Murder

The Mill Site Murder: An Intriguing Small Town Murder Mystery Exposing Shocking Truths (An Emma Lang Cozy Mystery Book 4)

Nellie Stein

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Event planner Emma Lang finds herself in the middle of a mystery when she discovers the dead body of the tissue mill’s maintenance manager during their 75th Anniversary celebration. At first it was believed to be accidental, but the more Emma investigates, the more she comes to realize it was murder. As she delves into the incident, she finds that several people may have reasons for wanting him dead. Can she figure out the culprit before she becomes the next victim?

I found this book to be well-written with fun characters and lots of twists and turns. The story kept me engaged and guessing right up to the conclusion. This is the first book I have read in this series but am definitely interested in going back and reading Stein’s earlier books.

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

A Cache of Deceit

A Cache of Deceit: A Cozy Mystery of Stitched Clues and Silent Warnings 

Alsie Hunter

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Antique expert Magda Lane is drawn into a mystery when Jack Holt asks her to help solve a puzzle left by his great-aunt Edna that will lead to an inheritance. Jack, Magda and her friend Ivy work to decipher the clues left behind, but they are not the only ones on the trail. Will they be able to solve the clues and find the cache before someone else discovers it?

This mystery has a more serious feel to it than some cozies (not a criticism, just an observation). The clues and puzzles really engage the reader. I was intrigued by the mystery and was anxious to see how it all turned out. This is a good read for those who like to be challenged by clues and puzzles.

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

Murder Served Cold

Murder Served Cold: A Chloe Lane Mystery

Daisy Bell

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Book store owner Chloe Lane finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation when someone poisons a reviled food critic during Bramble Dale’s cookoff. Her friend, Rosie, has been framed for the murder and it’s up to Chloe and her Yellow Lab Peanut to clear her name. Along with her friends, Chloe pulls at threads until the mystery is solved and the killer is apprehended.

I really enjoyed this mystery. It was fast, fun read with great characters, several suspects and a plot that was interesting without becoming overly complicated. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s work and I recommend that other readers check her out.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Baseline Betrayal

Baseline Betrayal: A Green Acres Cozy Mystery (Expected publication date 5/28/25)

Nina Hunt

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More trouble in Green Acres! Mia and her son, Eli, stumble onto a town-wide conspiracy after a basketball scout is found dead. As suspicion grows, they team up with the Granny Sleuths and their Yorkie, Toby, to discover the truth. Can the town survive the conspiracies and corruption that has been going on for decades?

The author spins another complex tale of corruption and secrecy that plagues the town of Green Acres. The twists and turns come fast and furious and as the reader, it can get a little confusing. I feel that readers who like intricate conspiracies will enjoy this book.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.