Book Review: Two Dogs Lie Sleeping by Lia Farrell

Mae December is finding herself neck-deep in crime again in her latest adventure. When her sister, July, visits the Booth Mansion she doesn’t anticipate in finding a dead body. July is one of many designers helping to restore the Booth Mansion and she’s horrified to discover the body of her ex-boyfriend, who went missing some fifteen years earlier. As the mystery unravels Mae and Sheriff Ben discover that Tommy didn’t just disappear but was driven away. But by who? And why did they come back and kill him?

I really enjoyed the first Mae December mystery. I found Mae a fascinating character, with depth and intrigue, and I was looking forward to tagging along with her and all her canine friends on another mystery.

Mae’s second adventure is even better than the first. In the first book, Mae alludes to the fact to July’s first love, but it doesn’t give away any details. In this second installment, the whole sad story is revealed. July and Tommy were in love and July really thought she and Tommy were going to get married and live their happily-ever-afters. However he went missing and that was the end of their relationship. I like how Lia Farrell has picked up this loose thread in July’s life and made a mystery out of it.

The mystery was quite suspenseful, while still fitting accurately within the cozy genre. If you’re looking for a compelling mystery, then this series is for you. I was kept guessing right till the end trying to figure it out before Mae and Sheriff Ben did.

Lia Farrell writes very character-driven mysteries. All my favourite characters from One Dog Too Many are back and there is a new canine to love. “Tater” is Mae’s new corgi puppy and she’s just adorable! Animal lovers everywhere will fall in love with Tater.

Two Dogs Lie Sleeping was another fantastic whodunnit from Lia Farrell. This series is now one of my firm favourites and I’m really excited to see where she takes the series next.

Book Review: One Dog Too Many by Lia Farrell

Meet Mae December. Not only does she have a unique name, she lives in the happiest little spot, just outside Nashville. She's recovering from the loss of her fiance a year ago, but otherwise content and happy with her dog boarding business. Well that is if Elvis' owner will come pick up. Elvis is an over-medicated pomeranian and Mae is a little worried when his owner, Ruby, fails to pick him up on time. When she goes searching for Ruby, she discovers her dead body in the grove. Mae's curiosity gets the better of her and she starts to investigate the murder, much to the chagrin of the local Sheriff.

I've said it before and I will say it again... cozy mysteries are better with animals! Whether it be dogs or cats, my favourite cozy mystery series are those that feature animals. When I saw "One Dog Too Many" I knew that this one would be a favourite, because look at the cute (albeit over-medicated) pomeranian on the cover!

However, it wasn't just the dogs in this book that make it special, it is the wonderful characters that Lia Farrell has created, and how they are all an integral part in Mae and Sheriff Ben solving this mystery!

I instantly connected with Mae December, with her love of animals. She runs a boarding kennel and also has three dogs of her own, two of which she breeds - a Corgi and a Pug! Even though Elvis is high maintenance, she loves what she does, and her love of animals shines off each and every page of this mystery.

One Dog Too Many is a suspenseful mystery that was very engaging from start to end. I found the mystery fascinating, especially with Ruby's desire to stir everything up. There certainly was no end of suspects in this case!! However I also felt like I connected with so many characters in this quaint town. I especially loved Miss Dory, who is the office manager at the police station and a complete hoot! Sheriff Ben describes her as "Miss Dory, the Goddess of Information, the Queen of all Knowledge." She's an integral part of the investigation, and she was a delight to get to know.

Reading One Dog Too Many was like finding a diamond in a haystack. There are so many indie/small press mysteries popping up every week, and it can be hard to find which ones you want to start. I recommend adding One Dog Too Many to the list of books you should read. The Mae December mysteries have quickly zoomed close to the top of my favourite mysteries, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the next one.

Book Review: First Degree Fudge by Christine DeSmet

Ava Oosterling has returned to her home town of Door County, Lake Michigan. Away from her career in LA as a tv writer, she is trying to get her little fudge store up and running. She's hoping an endorsement from ex-film star Rainetta Johnson, will help. However when Rainetta chokes on Ava's newest creation, Cinderella Pink fudge, Ava finds herself making less fudge and trying to stop herself from ending up in jail!

While I don't have much of a sweet tooth these days I do love fudge. Having read Nancy Coco's cozy mysteries featuring fudge (the Candy Coated mysteries) I was keen to try more fudge mysteries.

Set in Wisconsin there were plenty of Green Bay packers references, which thrilled this Green Bay fan, and I got a real feel for this small town of Door County, even though I've never visited. Christine DeSmet's descriptions of the fudge-making process and the delicious fudge that Ava makes had my mouth watering.

I did guess the mystery very early on, and wasn't too surprised when I got it right as Christine DeSmet left some pretty obvious clues for the reader. While this wasn't the strongest and best debut mystery I've read, it was still an okay read and I plan to read more books in the series. I hope the series strengthens with the next book and I'm particularly looking forward to more fudge recipes!

Book Review: The Million Dollar Bond Robbery

Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings have another mystery on their hands when they have to solve the puzzle of a missing million dollar bond that has been stolen on it's journey to New York.

I like the short stories because there a lot of them, which means a lot more Agatha Christie for me to enjoy, and also because I usually have more success solving these than I do the full-length novels. In the case of The Million Dollar Bond Robbery I did guess the mystery before Captain Hastings. However I suspect Hercule Poirot had this one solved before he even heard of it!

My favourite line from this story: "Good Lord, Poirot! Do you know, I'd give a considerable sum of money to see you make a thorough ass of yourself - just for once." I love the relationship between Poirot and Hastings.

This was another good Agatha Christie short story. If you haven't read a Agatha Christie novel yet, I recommend picking up one of her many short stories.

Book Review: Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came by M.C. Beaton

Agatha Raisin is feeling in the dumps after her failed marriage to James Lacey and even her good friend, Charles, has abandoned her and gone off to be married in Paris! Feeling like she needs a holiday she heads to a sunny island. This visit sees a murder happen on the island (wherein a husband kills his wife) and when Agatha discovers another murder on her return to Carsely, she wonders if it is the same scenario. Kylie Stokes is set to marry her fiance, Zac Jensen. However her body is discovered floating down the river, following recent flooding. Agatha believes the murder is just the same as the husband killing his wife, on the island she visits, and investigates in the hopes of pinning the murder on Zac. With no Charles or James nearby to help her investigate, she calls on her new neighbour, detective writer, John Armitage, to help.

I love Agatha Raisin. In a world where most cozy sleuths find their happily ever afters pretty quickly, she's still looking for "the one". Thankfully she realized pretty quickly that the one was not James Lacey. He's now gone to join a monastery and it's up to Agatha and new neighbour, John, to solve this case. Despite her long history with failed relationship, Agatha is an optimist and I like that about her. She's also stubborn as all heck and she never gives up on a case!!

This case sees her trying to infiltrate a disco club to find out who Kylie really was, and whether she died from a drug overdose as suicide, or was it murder. The thing I like about Agatha (and M.C. Beaton) is they always find interesting and plausible reasons for Agatha to investigate. This time she takes the angle of working on a tv show to find out more about Kylie and her friends.

Since this mystery took place near Carsely, we got to see a lot of my second favourite character - Mrs Bloxby. Mrs Bloxby is the vicar's wife and she truly has a heart of gold. I strongly believe she's the only one that really knows Agatha, and probably knows her more than Agatha knows herself. The advice she gives Agatha always rings true, and hopefully one day Agatha might take some of the advice to heart!!

Agatha Raisin and the Day of the Floods was another delightful instalment in this series. As always Agatha had me laughing at her quick mouth (and temper!) as she tries to solve the mystery, and the book was over all too soon! Luckily for me I still have plenty more Agatha Raisin mysteries to read.