Book Review: Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

It’s Christmas many years ago, and topping young Hannah Swensen’s wish list is becoming the go-to baker in Lake Eden, Minnesota. But as Hannah finds out, revisiting holiday memories can be murder . . .

With her dream of opening The Cookie Jar taking shape, Hannah’s life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle in Lake Eden—especially when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas Ball from the past in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes for the merry festivities, she instantly becomes enthralled by Essie’s old notebooks—and the tale of a woman escaping danger on the streets of New York . . .

Hannah’s surprised by Essie’s secret talent for penning crime fiction. She’s even more surprised when the story turns real. As Hannah prepares to run a bakery and move out of her mother’s house, it’ll be a true miracle if she can prevent another Yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake . . .[summary via Amazon]

I know it's only September, but I'm already in the holiday spirit. I'm enjoying digging into all the "holiday-themed" cozy mysteries, and no one does holidays better than Hannah Swensen!

Christmas Cake Murder is set before the first Hannah Swensen mystery, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, and sees Hannah back in Lake Eden. Hannah is home from college to help her mom and sisters, after the death of her father. Together with her mom and sisters, Hannah helps organize a Christmas Ball, in honour of Essie, a much-loved elderly local. What begins as just organizing an event, turns into so much more when they uncover what seems like a "crime fiction" story, written by Essie. Could it be fiction or is it fact, and is Essie's life in danger?

The Hannah Swensen mysteries were some of the first cozy mysteries I read when I discovered the genre, and they still remain a favourite of mine. The combination of a cozy small town, delectable recipes and a tantalizing mystery make them a favourite for mystery readers around the world. In this, the 23rd book in the series, Joanne Fluke is taking us back to before the beginning. I really liked seeing how Hannah comes back to town, and her idea for setting up The Cookie Jar, and all of her family's life before the first book.

The mystery storyline was cleverly done. What begins as a crime fiction story turns into much more. I loved reading the story within the story and trying to guess how it fits into everyone's life in Lake Eden.

Christmas Cake Murder is a wonderful addition to this series, and it has definitely gotten me into the holiday spirit! It's the perfect cozy mystery to add your reading list this holiday season! 

Book Review: Word to the Wise by Jenn McKinlay

Lindsey Norris is finally getting married to the man of her dreams--but it's not all roses for Briar Creek's beloved library director, as gardening enthusiast and town newcomer Aaron Grady gives the term "book lover" a whole new meaning. Inappropriate looks and unwelcome late-night visits to Lindsey's house have everyone from the crafternooners to Lindsey's fiancé, Sully, on edge.

When Grady's dead body is found staged outside the library and all the clues point to Sully, Lindsey knows it's up to her to dig through the hidden chapters of Grady's previous life to find the real culprit and clear Sully's name. But becoming a thorn in the killer's side is not without its consequences, and the closer Lindsey gets to the truth, the more determined the murderer is to make her just a footnote.[summary via Amazon]

In the latest adventure in the Library Lover's Mysteries, Lindsey Norris is preparing to get married to Sully. However, not all is going to be clear sailing, when a library patron develops a crush, that turns into stalking, with a deadly twist. When Sully is accused of the murder, Lindsey must do all she can to keep her man out of jail!

My favourite sub-genre of cozy mysteries is "book-themed" mysteries. There is just something about books within books that sets my bibliophile heart-a-flutter. One of the best series that represents this sub-genre is the Library Lover's Mysteries. 

The mystery itself is very compelling and suspenseful. Lindsey becomes part of a stalking incident, when a library patron believes there is more to her friendliness then being a good librarian. I got caught up in the mystery and was rapidly reading faster and faster, waiting to see how she was going to solve this one.

I liked the realism surrounding this mystery, and the life lessons it imparts on how much of our personal information is out there, on the internet, and available for anyone to see.

Word to the Wise is a great addition to this already-fabulous series. As with all long running series, I've enjoyed seeing the characters develop with each story. I've particularly enjoyed seeing the changes in Mrs Cole, "the lemon", and the crew at crafternoons. With this in mind, I absolutely can't wait for the next book. With the little hint we're given at the end of the book, I know every reader will be counting down the days until the next release.

Book Review: Trouble is Brewing by Ellie Alexander

Jules Capshaw, owner of the charming bakeshop Torte, meets Sloan Krause, who's in from out of town for the beer festival that has landed in Ashland, Oregon. Sloan is the brewmaster at the famed der Keller brewing company that operates out of Leavenworth, Washington, and she’s come to the festival to show off the newest spring brew. When Sloan drops in to Torte for a pistachio bar and a latte, she meets Jules, who is instantly smitten with the idea of incorporating beer into some baked goods. But when the two go off to sample some of der Keller’s brews, they realize that one of the kegs have gone missing. Is someone trying to steal the secret recipe? It’s up to Sloan and Jules to get to the bottom of this—and soon. [summary via Amazon]

Trouble is Brewing is a short story in the Bakeshop Mysteries, that features Jules Capshaw and Sloan Krause, who is a brewmaster at der Keller (and is featured in the Sloan Krause Mysteries).

Sloan is in Ashland for a beer festival. However, things start to go wrong when they discover one of the kegs has gone missing. Together, Sloan and Ashland hunt down the keg and try to find out who stole it.

This was such a fun cross-over between two great mystery series. Instantly upon meeting Jules and Sloan get along, and when the mystery of a missing keg comes to surface, they find clues to solve the puzzle. I've read books in both the series, and I just love that Ellie Alexander combined the two to create a fun, little mystery. While not murderous, the mystery was fun to solve.

Trouble is Brewing is a fun, delightful short mystery, that features the best of both series. For readers that haven't read either series this is a great place to start. The reader gets introduced to a few characters, without spoilers, and gives you a taste of how enticing these mysteries are.

Book Review: Jealousy Filled Donuts by Ginger Bolton

It is a truth universally acknowledged—cops and donuts go together. Exhibit A: Deputy Donut Café, owned and operated by detective's widow Emily Westhill and her father-in-law, the retired police chief of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Named after Emily's adored and adorable tabby, the donut shop is a favorite among cops, firemen, and EMTs, as well as tourists and townspeople. So when Fallingbrook needs donuts for their Fourth of July picnic, Emily's shop gets deputized.

But a twisted killer has found another use for Emily's treats. At the picnic, a firecracker is hidden in a stack of raspberry-filled donuts and aimed at the unwitting queen of the festivities. When it explodes, she is killed. Having her jelly donuts involved puts Emily in a sticky situation, and when a shady shutterbug tries to frame her with incriminating photos, she finds herself in quite a jam. To preserve her freedom and her shop's reputation, Emily needs to solve this case—before the fuse-lighting felon goes off again … [summary via Amazon]

In the third book in the Deputy Donut Mysteries, it's the Fourth of July holiday and everyone is feeling the holiday spirit. Well almost everyone.... Before the parade the "Queen" of the festivities is very vocal about her distaste for everyone around her. However, was she mean enough to deserve to die? Emily must ask this question and more to uncover the mystery. Especially as it was her donuts that helps bring the deceased down.

I really enjoyed the previous books in the Deputy Donut Mysteries, and they've quickly shot up on my list of "must buy" books. Jealousy Filled Donuts is just as good, if not better, than the first two books. It's filled with a delicious mystery to solve, fantastic character development and mouth-watering descriptions of donuts. 

Ginger Bolton truly kept me on the edge of my seat with the mystery. There is so many characters at play... there is the creepy Landsdowne, who seems intent of framing Emily, the ex-boyfriend, Ian, or maybe it is Gabrielle, her bestie, who comes second in everything? I didn't manage to solve the mystery before Emily, and I was quickly turning pages faster and faster to try to uncover the killer, alongside her.

Of course anyone that knows me knows that I love the character development in cozy mysteries. It is what keeps me coming back for more. Emily is an interesting amateur sleuth. She's a widow, and her husband was a police officer. She runs her donut shop with her father-in-law. It has been interesting watching her, as she recovers from the loss of her husband. I like the way Ginger Bolton has kept her recovery at a realistic rate. She hasn't leapt into a romantic relationship, and I think this realism is what is making me enjoy this series so much. Well that and "Dep" her adorable cat!

Jealousy Filled Donuts is a 5 star (or should that be 5 donut!) read for me. I can't wait to visit with Emily and her friends again!

Book Review: Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander

When Sloan Krause walks in on her husband, Mac, screwing the barmaid, she gives him the boot. Sloan has spent her life in Leavenworth, Washington becoming an expert in brewing craft beer, and she doesn’t have time to be held back by her soon-to-be ex-husband. She decides to strike out on her own, breaking away from the Krause family brewery, and goes to work for Nitro, the hip new nano-brewery in the Bavarian-themed town. Nitro’s owner, brewmaster Garrett Strong, has the brew-world abuzz with his newest recipe, “Pucker-Up IPA.” This place is the new cool place in town, and Mac can’t help but be green with envy at their success.

But just as Sloan is settling in to her new gig, she finds one of Nitro’s competitors dead in the fermenting tub, clutching the secret recipe for the IPA. When Mac, is arrested, Sloan knows that her ex might be a cheater, but a murderer? No way. Danger is brewing in Beervaria and suddenly Sloan is on the case.[summary via Amazon]

Let me start by telling you I'm not a beer drinker. I have celiacs disease and prior to being diagnosed with celiacs, I wasn't a beer drinker. I was born and raised in Australia, where beer is almost the national drink. However, having said that I loved Death on Tap so much that maybe it could bring me over to the "beer side"!

Death on Tap is the first book in the Sloan Krause Mysteries. After discovering her husband is cheating on her, Sloan Krause decides she needs a change and leaves the Krause family brewery to join new brewer in town, Garrett Strong, at "Nitro". When a dead body is found on Nitro's premises, Sloan sets out to find the killer, in an effort to keep her husband out of jail.

I was absolutely smitten with this debut in a new series!! The world of brewing is so much more complex then I thought. If you're a beginner to brewing (like me), Ellie Alexander fills you in with mouth-watering descriptions of what makes a beer a great beer.  Combined with a stellar mystery, and this book was a recipe for success!!

I loved "Beervaria", where its Oktoberfest for more than just one month a year! Within the first couple of chapters, I fell in love with the cozy town, where its beer 24/7 and plenty of German-kitsch as well. 

The mystery itself was thrilling, but the development between the characters put it over the top. Sloan is a complex character, especially with her childhood being raised in foster care, and I'm excited to see what happens to her next, both at the breweries and in her personal life.

Whether you're a beer connoisseur or not, I highly recommend this series. It's a fun, thrilling adventure through the world of beer and mystery!