Review -- Banana Cream Pie Murder

Hannah and the whole Lake Eden crew are back in Banana Cream Pie Murder to solve the latest killing in their small town. Hannah’s mother discovers the body this time, just before Hannah returns from her honeymoon cruise. It’s full steam ahead when Hannah and hubby arrive home and they are tossed into the investigation, along with two very busy careers – her cookie store and Ross’ thriving television career – all while they’re settling into married life. 

A bake sale and pie-eating contest serve as a fundraiser for the local theater group as well as the chance to draw out the murderer. Of course, intrepid Hannah is at the center

of the danger and the action, following clues, discovering and discarding red herrings and figuring out whodunit in this latest installment of the fun, popular series.

Fans will not be disappointed…especially with the great twist at the end that will have readers eagerly awaiting the next release in the series from author Joanne Fluke. 

Four stars!

Review -- The Semester of Our Discontent

The Semester of Our Discontent

A Lila Maclean Mystery

 by

 Cynthia Kuhn

Henery Press

When newly minted English professor Lila Maclean keeps showing up at the scenes of crimes at Stonedale University, suspicion is cast her way…until her cousin and fellow professor is arrested for murder. Lila decides she has to find out what is going on, now that the police believe the case is solved. A second murder keeps Lila in the crosshairs of the detective looking for the second killer, until another professor is arrested.

Her investigation puts her in the path of danger and when she comes face-to-face with the killer, Lila may not live long enough to clear her colleagues, let alone work towards tenure at Stonedale.

Ms. Kuhn has written an impressive debut cozy mystery. Her descriptions of academia and the stress of aiming for tenure hit the mark. And her writing style draws in the reader to see, hear and experience life on a campus. I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the second installment of the Lila Maclean mystery series.

Five stars!

Review -- A Devious Lot

 

 

When Molly Appleton and her new husband go to England for their honeymoon, she promises no sleuthing or adventures. It’s a tough promise for the reporter and senior staff writer for Collector’s Weekly, but she’s sticking to her word. Then they go to tiny Marlow Crossing to visit Molly’s Aunt Tessa and her neighbor turns up dead. Molly agrees to help the local inspector with his investigation. Molly’s husband has to return to the US, but she stays on to work on the case. Soon, two more villagers are missing and the suspects are adding up. Who is a murderer and who is an innocent bystander?

With side trips to London and another village to follow the clues and ask some questions, for a while Molly is no closer to finding the murderer than is the inspector. When things start to heat up, you won’t know who she is in the most danger from…and neither will Molly.

From antiques to new friendships, there’s plenty to enjoy in A Devious Lot, so grab your copy, a hot cuppa and enjoy!

Four stars.

Review -- Karma's a Killer

Karma’s a Killer

By Tracy Weber
Midnight Ink

When Seattle yoga instructor and dog owner Kate Davidson is invited to teach a dog-and-owner yoga (doga) class at a fundraiser for a no-kill shelter hosted by her pet supply store owner boyfriend Michael, she has no premonition it will end in murder. But before long, there’s a protest by animal rights activists, a suspicious fire and a drowning…and Kate is in the middle of trying to figure out if the mother she believes abandoned her as a child had a hand in any of it. With her pregnant best friend Rene at her side, Kate investigates, all while coping with her mother’s arrest for murder, ongoing home renos, the hospitalization of Michael’s father, and the attempted dog-napping of her special needs German Shepherd rescue Bella. As they navigate the practice and politics of animal rescue and animal activism, they encounter a number of people who could’ve committed the murder—co-workers, other rescuers, family…it’s a wide circle of suspicion. When Kate and Rene find themselves face-to-face with the murderer, how will they and Rene’s unborn twins survive the encounter?

This is my first Tracy Weber novel, and it definitely will not be my last. Ms. Weber creates appealing, multi-dimensional characters you want to cheer for…and villains you want to see get their comeuppance. She has a deft hand with her animal supporting cast as well and also sprinkles in interesting yoga information. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing who-dun-it, and you may think you’ve figured it out a couple of times. Ms. Weber is skilled at setting a scene, so from the controlled chaos of a fundraiser dog walk to the serenity of a yoga class, you will feel like you are right there.

If you want to sit back with an enjoyable cozy mystery read, don’t miss Karma’s a Killer.

Five stars!

Review -- A Room with a Pew

A Room with a Pew

by Peg Cochran

Beyond the Page Publishing

A Room with a Pew is book four in the series, and the laughs continue to abound, along with murder and mystery. When fifty-something homemaker Lucille Mazzarella (like mozzarella but with an “a,” as she explains) stumbles across the body of her cousin Louis in his car in the parking lot of their parish church, it’s not long before she’s on the hunt to find out who killed him. Was it a professional hit? Was it related to the big wad of money the notoriously cash-poor Louis had stashed away? What was Louis doing to that ended up with him dead in the church parking lot?

Lucille and her best friend Flo are soon searching for clues to the identity of Louis’ killer, and from a job interview at what turns out to be a strip club to festive family dinners to worrying about family issues to being kidnapped by a serial killer, the action just keeps on coming in A Room with a Pew.

There is a healthy dose of humor in this easy-to-read mystery as well. In A Room with a Pew, it’s kind of like discovering bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s mother and her mother’s best friend are now out and about solving murders, mysteries and more in her hometown. There is a full cast of interesting characters and lots of action, but nothing too graphic or gory. This is a good book to grab on a stormy weekend or to relax with after a busy day.

Review -- Wedding Cake Murder

Wedding Cake Murder

By Joanne Fluke

Kensington Books

Fans of Joanne Fluke’s Minnesota-set mystery series have been anticipating the nineteenth whodunit, Wedding Cake Murder, complete with tasty recipes as always.

As Hannah Swenson prepares to marry her college sweetheart, Ross Barton, she’s also competing in a nationally televised baking tournament. Talk about pressure for Hannah, but with the support of her family and friends, she’s ready to take it all on—competition, a wedding and cooking on television.

In New York City to tape the first leg of the contest, Hannah meets the judges and other competitors, then wins the Hometown Challenge and brings the final rounds of the competition home to Lake Eden. Just as the rivalry heats up, one of the judges turns up dead in Lake Eden Inn’s walk-in refrigerator with a knife in his chest. Celebrity chef judge Alan Duquesne’s spiteful reputation means there is more than one person with a motive to murder him, including some of the contestants in the Food Channel’s dessert chef competition.

I’m a fan of the Hannah Swenson cozy mysteries, but I will admit I’m not thrilled with her marriage to Ross in this book. Perhaps the author has something in mind for a mystery going forward and this is part of that story arc, but Ross seemed to come out of left field after readers invested many hours following Hannah’s efforts to decide between Mike and Norman, rooting for one or the other to become Hannah’s partner in crime!

Readers will not be disappointed with the mystery or Hannah’s sleuthing escapades in Wedding Cake Murder. It’s an easy read and it’s nice to visit with the Lake Eden residents once again.