Book Review: Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

When The Cookie Jar becomes the setting of a star-studded TV special about movies filmed in Minnesota, Hannah hopes to shine the spotlight on her bakery—not the unsavory scandal swirling around her personal life. But that’s practically impossible with a disturbing visit from the shifty character she once believed was her one and only love, a group of bodyguards following her every move, and a murder victim in her bedroom. Now, swapping the crime scene in her condo for her mother Delores’s penthouse, Hannah and an old flame team up to solve a case that’s messier than an upended chocolate cream pie. As suspects emerge and secrets hit close to home, Hannah must serve a hefty helping of justice to an unnamed killer prowling around Lake Eden . . . before someone takes a slice out of her![summary via Amazon]

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder is the 24th book in the Hannah Swensen mysteries. Hannah is reeling after the shock of her husband leaving her, and finding out the real story as to why he left. All Hannah wants to do is get on with her life. However, it seems like her ex-husband, Ross, has other ideas. When Ross turns up dead, Hannah must sift through a whole town-full of suspects to find the killer.

The Hannah Swensen mysteries were one of the first cozy mystery series I discovered. I've been reading (and re-reading) them over the years and they still delight me. After finishing Christmas Cake Murder (in which the reader is taken back to before the beginning), I leapt right into the next (and most current) book in the series.

With Ross's death in Chocolate Cream Pie Murder it feels like the story arc involving Ross is finally over. Being a Team-Norman girl myself, it could be wishful thinking on my part!  From the second Ross comes back into town, and starts threatening Hannah, it becomes apparent that he is destined to turn up dead. With Ross being the most disliked person in Lake Eden, anyone (and maybe everyone) could have been the killer! 

As with a lot of long-running series, I really enjoy the character development. Having finished Christmas Cake Murder just prior, it is interesting to see how far the characters have come, and the growth they've made. Particularly Hannah's relationship with her mother. I'm eager to watch the characters grow and develop, in hopefully many, many more books in this series.

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder is a good addition to this series. From the mystery of Ross's past, to solving of the murder, it kept me guessing until the end. Add in the delicious recipes, and it's easy to see why I'm hooked on this series!! I will be eagerly awaiting the next book, Coconut Layer Cake Murder, which releases in February, 2020. 

Book Review: A Cup of Holiday Fear by Ellie Alexander

Ashland, Oregon, looks as pretty as a postcard this holiday season. The halls are decked, stockings hung, and eyes are all aglow―mostly thanks to the buttered rum. Jules Capshaw and her staff at Torte are busier than ever. . . still, even the town’s most in-demand bakers need to take a break. So Jules invites everyone to celebrate at the local Winchester Inn’s Dickens Feast, a six-course extravaganza with Yorkshire Pudding, Christmas goose, and all the trimmings. But as the weather outside becomes frightful, things inside turn less delightful when one of the guests ends up as dead as Scrooge’s doornail. Now it’s up to Jules and her helpers to make a list of suspects―and check it twice―to try to find out who’s naughty, who’s nice, and who’s guilty of murder…[summary via Amazon]

It's the holidays in Ashland, Oregon. Juliet Capshaw and the gang at Torte are ready to celebrate the holiday and provide festive cheer and delectable treats for everyone in Ashland. However, not everyone has festive cheer on their minds... When the staff get together for a Christmas party at the Winchester Inn they don't expect their night to end with a dead body! With the holidays inching closer and a murderer on the loose, Jules must put all her detective skills to the test before the holidays are ruined.

I love every visit to Ashland. The staff at Torte are always cooking up something mouth-watering, and Jules (along with her friend Lance) are always getting up to something interesting. If Lance is involved, it's something mischievous too!!!

This time the mischief involves solving the case of a murdered guest at the Winchester Inn. Jules and Lance are certain the murderer isn't a school friend, but what do they do when all signs point to their friend? Well they hunt for clues of course - and only in the most stylish of ways if Lance has anything to say about it!

I really like the amateur detecting duo of Jules and Lance. They're best friends and not romantically involved at all, and I find this is what sets these two apart from other series. There is a strong bond between them, and I love the constant bantering between Jules and Lance. 

The setting for the murder is just delightful (in-a-I-love-a-good-setting kind of way!). It's the Dickens Feast at the Winchester Inn, and I could just picture the scene of a perfect holiday feast. It completely had the feel of an Agatha Christie novel, set at Christmas, and just waiting for Hercule Poirot to enter and say "the butler did it"!

From beginning to end, A Cup of Holiday Fear is a delightful holiday mystery. It hits all the right notes with quotable Shakespeare and simply delectable, mouth-watering treats. Add in the holiday atmosphere and an unfathomable Christmas mystery and it's easy to see why this one is topping my holiday reads this year!

If you haven't picked up the Bakeshop Mysteries, you need to add these to your reading list. While I highly recommend starting from the first book, Meet the Baker, it is possible to jump right in with A Cup of Holiday Fear. Ellie Alexander gives you enough background information that you won't feel lost. I do warn you though... afterwards you will be wanting to read the backlist in this series for the wonderful mysteries and fantastic recipes!

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!

Book Review: Haunted House Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross

Tricks and treats keep the Halloween spirit alive in coastal Maine. But this year the haunted house theme is getting carried a little too far . . . 

HAUNTED HOUSE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER Newcomers to Tinker’s Cove, Ty and Heather Moon have moved into a dilapidated house reputed to be a haven for ghosts. Now strange noises and flickering lights erupt from the house at all hours and neighborly relations are on edge. And when a local boy goes missing near the house, it’s up to Lucy Stone to unravel the mystery of the eccentric couple and their increasingly frightful behavior.

DEATH BY HAUNTED HOUSE by LEE HOLLIS For the past two years, the house next door to Hayley Powell has sat abandoned after the owner died under mysterious circumstances. The Salinger family has recently taken possession of the property, but the realtor behind the deal has vanished—after a very public and angry argument with Damien Salinger. If Bar Harbor’s newest neighbors are murderers, Hayley will haunt them until they confess.

HALLOWED OUT by BARBARA ROSS With its history of hauntings and ghost sightings, Busman’s Harbor is the perfect setting for Halloween festivities. But when a reenactment of a Prohibition-era gangster’s murder ends with a literal bang and a dead actor from New Jersey, Julia Snowden must identify a killer before she ends up sleeping with the fishes. 

There’s nothing like home sweet home in this trio of Halloween tales . . .[summary via Amazon]

Halloween is one of my favourite holidays and I couldn't resist digging into this new collection of spooky stories by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross.

From Leslie Meier comes a spooky tale of a couple that don't appear to be all that nice, and may be up to something sinister. Lee Hollis delivers a deadly tale when a real estate agent is found murdered. Could it be the creepy newcomers next door? Last, but definitely not least, Barbara Ross returns us to Busman's Harbor, where a ghost tour turns deadly.

Haunted House Murder was the perfect spooky read. I loved stepping back into each of these series. They each created the perfect mystery, and murderous at that, to provide that early spook that I look forward to every September! 

It's been a while since I visited each series (not because they aren't awesome, but because I've stepped away from reading for a while) and I loved getting re-aquainted with each series. I definitely will be picking up each series to continue on!

If you're looking for the perfect appetizer for your spooky, holiday reading then pick up Haunted House Murder. These three fabulous, female authors never disappoint!

Book Review: Silent Night, Deadly Night

It's the week before Thanksgiving, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures, is preparing for a weekend reunion of her mother's college friends. But when the group of women comes into Merry's shop, Merry is met with frosty attitudes and cold hearts.

The women argue amongst themselves constantly, and the bickering only intensifies after one of the friends is poisoned. With her father's role as Santa in danger due to his proximity to the crime, Merry will need to use all of her investigative gifts to wrap this mystery up and save Santa and her favorite holiday.[summary via Amazon]

In the fourth instalment in the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries, it's almost Thanksgiving in Rudolph and the holiday spirit is in the air. While Merry is busy at Mrs. Claus's Treasures, her mom is getting ready for a reunion with her college friends. However, the perfect weekend together doesn't go as planned, especially when the friends start constantly arguing and bickering. When one of the college friends turns up dead, at Merry's parents' house, Merry is determined to solve the mystery, and bring the holiday spirit back into their lives.

The Year-Round Christmas Mysteries are one of my favourite cozy mystery series. The atmosphere of the holiday season shines in Rudolph, even with the sinister crime lurking around the corner (because this is a cozy mystery!), and I always look forward to the next book in the series. 

Silent Night, Deadly Night is a compelling read, and is as good, if not better, than the previous instalments. This is one series that just keeps getting better and better. 

While I love the murder mystery, it is always the side stories that keep me coming back to the cozy mystery genre. These secondary stories are at their best in Silent Night, Deadly Night. There is a lot going on in Rudolph, and Merry is just the right person to set everything right and save Thanksgiving!

Vicki Delany had me stumped with the mystery, and I wasn't able to solve it before Merry. This made the denouement even more enjoyable for me, as I watched everything unravel.

If you haven't picked up the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries yet, you really should. They deliver a top-notch mystery with the perfect cozy town atmosphere. 

Book Review: A Killer Edition by Lorna Barrett

With her assistant, Pixie, picking up more responsibility around the shop, Tricia Miles suddenly has a lot more time on her hands. Tricia decides to join the local animal-rescue board and enter the Great Stoneham Bake-Off, but neither pans out as smoothly as she’d hoped.

Balancing a bake-off that’s heating up with a frosty reception from the board, Tricia stops by Joyce Whitman’s romance bookstore looking for a book to get her fired up. She stumbles on something hot, but it’s an argument between Joyce and her neighbor Vera Olson instead of a steamy read. When Vera turns up dead in Joyce’s garden hours later, Tricia has to wonder—could Joyce be the killer? Or is the culprit still lurking in town?

One thing is for sure, someone in Stoneham is stirring up something more sinister than sweet. Tricia is determined to win the cutthroat cooking contest, but first she will have to make sure no one else is in danger of getting burned....[summary via Amazon]

It's time to visit Stoneham again in Lorna Barrett's latest mystery, A Killer Edition.

Tricia is feeling a little lost. Her assistant manager, Pixie, has everything under control at her shop, Haven't Got a Clue, so Tricia is trying to fill her time. Unfortunately the frosty reception she receives when she tries to join the board for a local animal shelter, isn't making her feel any better. However, life is about to get interesting again when she uncovers a dead body and enters a local baking contest.

The Booktown Mysteries is the only series that I've stayed up to date with over the last 10 years of reading cozy mysteries. I absolutely love the release of every new addition to the series, and look forward to visiting Stoneham again and again!

The mystery itself is top-notch. While I had a feeling the cause of the murder, I was completely surprised when the murderer was unveiled. I love that Lorna Barrett always keeps me on my toes with a good mystery to unravel!

More than the mystery, I love the development of not just the relationships but life in Stoneham. A Killer Edition is the 13th book in the series and a lot has happened in Stoneham over the last 13 books. I really feel that Lorna Barrett develops this series at a realistic pace. Friendships and relationships go up and down, as life takes its course, and you can see this in this series. I love seeing  the development in  the relationship between Tricia and her sister, Angelica. They have grown closer, but there is still some rivalry there, as evidenced by each of them wanting to win the Bake-Off!

A Killer Edition is another fantastic instalment in this series and I absolutely can't wait for the next one!