Audiobook Review: Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House by M.C. Beaton

I love Agatha Raisin! She makes life in the country seem very exciting and she's always up to something. This time Agatha and her new neighbour, Paul, are investigating a haunted house. When the mean old lady that owns the house ends up dead, Agatha and Paul are sure it is murder and start to investigate.

Agatha has such spirit, but she is also a romantic and looks to Paul to be her next love. Of course Paul is married and is just toying with her. She deserves so much better, and I was happy to see Sir Charles Fraith also get in on the action too. When it comes to her love life I know she is not suited for James Lacey and I hope maybe Sir Charles will continue to be in her life.

Romance aside this was a really fun mystery, that delved into the history of the Cotswold. Agatha continues to bumble along until she has the case solved and her never-ending spirit and determination kept me interested.

I love Penelope Keith's narration. She's one of my favorite narrators and the true voice of Agatha Raisin. I'm looking forward to picking up the next Agatha Raisin mystery.

Book Review: Marked Down For Murder by Josie Belle

It's almost Valentine's Day and life for the Good Buy Girls is good. Joanne is expecting her first baby, and the girls are excited for their friend, even if Claire is more than anxious to find out if Joanne is having a boy or a girl. Maggie is happy that she is finally together with handsome police detective, Sam, and everything looks like it is coming up love hearts and roses. That is until Maggie's nemesis, Summer, mom rolls into town. If anything Blair Cassidy is more bossy than Summer and she's determined that her daughter should be with Sam, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to break up Maggie and Sam. Her plans go awry when a dead body turns up, and it looks like Summer is the prime suspect. Even though Summer is the last person that Maggie would defend, she is certain that Summer is innocent and sets out to prove it.

This is the fourth book in the Good Buy Girls mysteries. I've been reading this series since 50% Off Murder hit the shelves in 2012. With my love of shopping and especially discount shopping, I warmed to this series instantly, when I first started it. With each new mystery it keeps getting better and better.

The Good Buy Girls are four friends that love to shop and find a good deal and have been there for each other through thick and thin. With Joanne about her to have her baby, they are about to hit another milestone together. I love the closeness of this group. They are all very different personalities, and in different stages of their life, but they are incredibly close and I love the feeling of "friendship no matter what" amongst them.

I liked this mystery. It involved a visitor to town, so I had a hard time trying to figure out whether it was someone from town with a grudge against him or someone else entirely. Jenn McKinlay crafts complex mysteries and I had a hard time trying to figure it out before the Good Buy Girls did.

Marked Down for Murder was another fantastic mystery from the master of small town mysteries, Jenn McKinlay. If you haven't read this series yet what are you waiting for? Whether you pick up the first or the most recent in the series you are sure in for a great afternoon of cozy sleuthing with the Good Buy Girls.

Book Review: To Fudge or Not To Fudge by Nancy Coco

Fudge meets reality tv in the latest installment in the Candy-Coated Mysteries. Fudge extraordinaire, Allie McMurphy, is busy working at her fudge shop and hotel and preparing for the Lilac Festival. When her old culinary school teacher asks her to fill in a spot on a reality tv show she hopes for some publicity for her hotel, but what she doesn't bank on is murder. With random bones turning up in mulch around town and another dead body on set, this is one mystery that Allie and her friends will have trouble untangling.

I really, really liked All Fudged Up. I love finding new fudge recipes and creating my own fudge recipes as well, and I love the concept of a mystery series surrounding a fudge shop. Allie, her dog "Mal", short for Marshmallow, and all the people in town are so fun to visit with! If you love mysteries with dogs you will love Mal. With Mal's love of digging up bones it seems like she's almost got this mystery solved before the police!! Imagine the police chasing a dog with a human bone in its mouth and you will see the hilarity in the pages of To Fudge or Not to Fudge.

I like Allie McMurphy and not just for her ability to make my mouth water as she makes fudge, she's also a fun heroine, who has a taste for adventure. Between cooking on the reality tv show and running the McMurphy it is amazing that Allie has time to solve a murder, but between Allie and her friends, and Mal too!, they sure do give this one their best shot.

To Fudge or Not to Fudge was as enticing and tasty as a pan of fudge! The mystery kept me on the edge of the seat, and I love visiting with Allie's friends and family. I know I will be counting down the days until the next mystery with Allie McMurphy.

Audiobook Review: Murder of a Needled Knitter by Denise Swanson

I can’t imagine anything worse than going on your honeymoon with your MOTHER! Okay maybe going on your honey with a murderer on the same cruise ship! Well in Skye Denison-Boyd’s latest adventure she has both on her honeymoon. Her mother is on the same cruise ship as Skye and Wally and there is also a murderer on board.

I liked Denise Swanson’s new book for a number of reasons. Firstly I love Scumble River and Skye and Wally. I’ve been reading these books for a long time and I’m glad to see Skye getting her happy ever after with Wally. Even if there honeymoon did include her mom, Mae. There is more interactions with Skye, Wally and her parents, Mae and Jed, then I’ve ever seen before. This of course happens when you’re stuck on a ship together. I love how Wally stands up for Skye, and we all know Mae is the kind of woman that it can be hard to get a word in!!

I’ve also wanted to take a crochet cruise. It looks so relaxing to crochet on the water and visit new places. Mae and Jed are part of a knitting cruise group and it is anything but relaxing, especially with one of their own meeting her death. It turns out not all knitters are the peaceful, grandmotherly type!

Murder of a Needled Knitter was a great adventure on the seas, and I liked watching Skye and Wally working together to solve the mystery! It was a tangled web and it left me guessing right until the end.

I chose to listen to Murder of a Needled Knitter in audiobook format. It was my first time listening to Christine Leto narrate and it was a really enjoyable experience. I definitely will pick up future books in this series on audio. I love being able to knit and crochet while I listen, and Christine has a great voice to tell the ups and downs of a cozy mystery.

Murder of a Needled Knitter was a great listen and I can’t wait to find out what is in store for Skye and Wally in their married life, when they return to Scumble River.