Tag Archives: Cozy Mystery

Bakeries and Buffoonery by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

Posted on by
12

Bakeries and Buffoonery by Elizabeth Pantley – a Review

 

Amazon

Description:
It’s a magical book club! When this group chooses a book, magic happens. The mystery comes to life, and they find themselves part of the story. To exit the book and get back home, they need to solve the mystery and reach The End.

This time, the club chooses a book called The Great Cake Rivalry, because, well … cake! They read the back cover and it’s unanimous. So off they go into another grand adventure into a town aptly named Frosting.

Frosting is a rural town in an idyllic setting. The people live quiet lives most of the year. But in the spring, things change. The Annual Cake Competition becomes the focus of every man, woman, and child. They take this competition seriously. The cakes are spectacular. The festival is fabulous. For a week there are contests featuring all kinds of cakes. The people of the community become official tasters and vote for the winning cakes in each category.

The grand finale is a display of finely decorated cakes, made by the town’s bakeries. The winner of the best design receives a prize package that would make any baker dizzy.

Sadly, this event has been tainted. Once a year, each one different, but all somehow related to this event, a person is murdered. The main investigator is stumped, but that could be because he’s an inept buffoon.

Can the book club help the people of this community figure out who is causing this disturbing pattern of deaths, and stop another murder from happening? Can they figure out why some of the citizens dress so oddly, and why they always wear those unique backpacks? All while they fill themselves to the brim with cake, of course.

 

 

Review:

Bakeries and Buffoonery by Elizabeth Pantley is the 4th book in her fun Magical Mystery Book Club series. Refresher: Paige and her Aunt Glo, inherited the grandmother’s country inn, which comes with a magical library.  The magical library consists of 8 members, who choose a book, and they are transported into the story, with cozy mysteries that they have to solve. This is a lighthearted and fun series, with wonderful characters and a magical cozy mystery.

The group gathers for their next meeting in the library, choosing a book called The Great Cake Rivalry and off they go on another adventure, ending up in a town called, Frosting.  It is a quiet town, but when spring comes around, the Annual Cake Competition becomes the focus of the town, where bakeries compete for prizes.  The competition is very serious, and in the last few years, there has been a murder each year, which no one has solve.   The town are all obsessed with the wonderful cakes, which include an amateur baking contest, which the group participates in, as well as attending the festival.  It was fun to watch all the members of the club try to find clues to the murderer, as well as enjoy all the cakes, and food along the way. 

Bakeries and Buffoonery was a terrific and fun addition to this series, with all of the members in the middle of this mystery. There were many suspects, with different clues, as they continued to get more information, including doing their own baking in the amateur contest. I really enjoy the camaraderie between the club, and love the concept of becoming part of the chosen book.  I really like Paige, Glo and other members, but of course I loved Frank, the talking cat.  There were a number of surprises throughout, which was so much fun and a blast to read.  Bakeries and Buffoonery was a wonderful lighthearted fun magical mystery, which was very well written by Elizabeth Pantley.  I look forward to the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 

Share

Playing Dead by Peggy Rothschild – a Review

Posted on by
8

Playing Dead by Peggy Rothschild – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

 

Description:
Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.

Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.

When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot?

 

 

Review:

Playing Dead by Peggy Rothschild is the 2nd book in her Molly Madison series. Molly Madison, our heroine, is a former ex-cop and private investigator, who moved recently to the small beach side town, Pier Point, California.  Molly has two dogs that she trains, Harlow and Noodle, and in a short time, she adds a couple more to help train for some neighbors.  She brings her dogs to a training facility, Playtime Academy for agility and scent training, also meeting new people with dogs.  Molly meets many different people, but overhears complaints from others about a nasty member.  In a short time, during scent training, Noodle will find the body of a murdered woman, who was Celeste, the person everyone hated. 

Trying to stay out of the investigation, Molly agrees to take care of Celeste’s dog, and ends up becoming permanent, since the husband wants nothing to do with the dog, Buster.  When Felicity is accused of murder, Molly begins to use her investigative knowledge and find the real killer. Along the way, she finds clues that possibly incriminate a number of people, with the police not too happy with Molly giving them information.  With all that going on, Molly’s life is crazy, investigating the murder, discovering her boyfriend being married, and also taking on the job to take care of another dog, Sky during the day.

What follows is an exciting, fun cozy mystery with many possible suspects, and a surprise game changing ending.  I did like some of the secondary characters, but I loved the wonderful dogs (Harlow, Noodle, Buster, Sky and Thor). It was wonderful to watch how Molly was so good with the dogs and the fun they had.  The last third of the book was exciting and tense, as Molly discovers the truth.   Playing Dead was a fun cozy mystery, that was very well written by Peggy Rothschild. If you like lighthearted, cozy, mystery, suspense stories, you need to read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Share

Doggone Deadly by Deborah Blake – a Review

Posted on by
12

Doggone Deadly by Deborah Blake – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
When the woman running the big regional dog show calls out sick, dog groomer Suz Holden is asked to take over. But it’s too much for her to handle by herself– considering the president of the kennel club, Olivia Weiner, criticizes her at every turn–so she calls in her best friend, Kari Stuart, for help.
A long, stressful day goes from bad to worse when a local breeder is found dead, and the murder weapon seems to incriminate Suz.

While Kari knows her friend isn’t guilty, the police aren’t so sure, especially after a second murder points to Suz again. But trying to run a dog show and investigate a murder at the same time is like herding cats, and Kari will have to rely on the rest of the Serenity Sanctuary staff to keep things running smoothly while she–and her beloved and clever kitten, Queenie–sniff out the truth.

 

 

 

Review:

Doggone Deadly by Deborah Blake is the 2nd book in her fun Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery series.  I loved the first book, as we were introduced to the heroine of this series, Kari Stuart, and her adorable black kitten, named Queenie (who quietly gives her tips to help solve the crime).

In Doggone Deadly, Kari is helping out her best friend, Suz, in setting up the annual local dog show; she also sets up her own booth for her animal shelter, to alert people about dogs and cats available for adoptions, as well as hoping for donations. 

During the first day, Suz and Kari overhear a few arguments, one person fighting with a breeder, a woman showing her dog is convinced a breeder stole her dog, and a protest is going on outside.  Suz also has to deal with the nasty president of the kennel club, as well as also showing her dog.  Later that day, the handler (breeder) was found murdered, and the police are suspecting Suz, since it was one of her scissors that was used by the killer.  The second day another victim is found murdered. Of course, Kari and Queenie will need to find the killer.

What follows is another cute cozy mystery, with wonderful secondary characters (Suz, Angus, Sara, Bree) and fun adorable dogs and cats. Kari was a great heroine, and I continue to adore Queenie.  Doggone Deadly was a light hearted and fun small-town mystery that kept you guessing till the very end. Deborah Blake did a wonderful job writing this story, and keeping our interest throughout. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

Exercise is Murder by Carolyn Arnold -a Review

Posted on by
11

Exercise is Murder by Carolyn Arnold -a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository / Google Play / Apple

 

Description
Getting in shape isn’t an easy walk in the park…..

Running junkie Katie Carpenter takes a tumble down a ravine and ends up facedown in the Hudson River. The police conclude her death was an accident, but those who were close to Katie aren’t buying that she just tripped and fell—including her pro-athlete boyfriend. But it’s Katie’s fitness trainer and friend who hires the McKinleys to investigate. 

Anything but an easy case to solve, Sean and Sara will break a sweat trying to figure out who had the most to gain from the young woman’s death. Sadly for Sean most of the evidence seems stacked against Katie’s boyfriend—a man Sean idolizes. Can he put aside being starstruck long enough to view things objectively? If Katie’s killer is going to be caught, he and Sara will need to remain flexible and it might require bending the rules a bit.

Romance. Humor. Murder. Are you looking for a murder mystery without all the graphic violence and foul language? Something that you can enjoy in an afternoon and walk away feeling good about afterward? 

How about a dash of humor and romance? If so, meet former detectives Sean and Sara McKinley. 

When a billionaire leaves them all his money, they no longer have to work, but they find themselves sticking to what they’re good at—solving murders. Undercover, off the books, and around the world, they’ll get to the bottom of things…and romance it up along the way.

 Read in any order or follow the series from the beginning: 
The Day Job is Murder
Vacation is Murder
Money is Murder
Politics is Murder
Family is Murder
Shopping is Murder
Christmas is Murder
Valentine’s Day is Murder
Coffee is Murder
Skiing is Murder
Halloween is Murder
Exercise is Murder

 

Review:

Exercise is Murder by Carolyn Arnold is the 12th book in her McKinley Mysteries series. I haven’t read any of the previous books, but they are all different stories, so you don’t have to read them in any order. 

Sean and Sara are investigators for “Pay It Forward Investigations”  (Quick recap) Sara and Sean used to work for Albany police department, and they would still be there if it hadn’t been for Sean and a random act of kindness to an elderly gentleman. And who in turn paid it forward ….. The man was in fact a multimillionaire, and so Sean and Sara were rich overnight……

The couple are called in after a murder involving a runner is committed. (Their personal trainer has asked for they’re help) 

There aren’t many suspects, and sadly for Sean his idol is in the frame (Levi is a pitcher for a baseball team)  

The police have closed the case and called it an accident, but Sean wants to find out more, the more he listens to the detective, the more he thinks they aren’t really interested, it’s an open and shut case!!!! 

As the case evolves, both Sean and Sara are convinced it wasn’t an accident. If it was Levi, then why? 

I have to admit I’m not usually a fan of husband and wife duo’s (I instantly think of the old 80’s telly series “Hart to Hart”) but I was pleasantly surprised, it’s really well written, Sean and Sara bounce along pretty well. Plenty of laughs and a few surprises. And the fact they don’t have a perfect marriage (Sara finds out that Sean is a huge sports fan and kept it from her) it doesn’t seem like much, but if it’s important to Sean then Sara wants to know, she feels a little hurt, is there anything else he’s hiding? Is there more to her husband than meets the eye? 

We have a few characters that have been in previous books, and they all seem relevant to the story (nothing worse than having people that aren’t really needed in the story) 

It’s a short story, so it won’t take long to find out whodunnit. 

And the murderer is ….. Well you will have to read to find that bit out?

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy supplied for review

Share