Book Review: Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott

Welcome to California’s Monterey Peninsula, where life looks calm and idyllic, but there is a sinister murderer in their midst. Shayleigh Myers has returned home to Bray Harbor, after a disaster of a marriage has left her practically destitute. She soon discovers that she has been left an inheritance from Bridget Early, the previous owner of Crystals & CuriosiTEAS.  With the help of her sister and young assistant, Tassi, she's hoping to convert the shop into a teahouse. That is, until a dead body lands on her roof and she must find a killer, before her new life is ruined before it has even started.

I absolutely love Lauren Elliott's Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries. As soon as I heard she had a new series, I knew I had to pick it up immediately! Well let me say, this series is even better! Right from the very first page, I was absolutely smitten with Shay, the sexy Irish pub owner next door, Liam, and even sullen teen, Tassi! 

The mystery itself had me in a tangled web, that I tried to unravel, but kept getting knotted up even more! The death's of Bridget and the man on her roof, become woven into questions Shay has about her own life, and it was truly a delight to see the final denouement revealed. 

If you enjoy paranormal mysteries, this series has been on your winter "must-read" list. Alike to me, you will be turning the last page and absolutely begging for more. I can't wait to take another trip to Bray Harbor, and see what adventure Shay is going to get into next!

Book Review: One Poison Pie by Lynn Cahoon

Kitchen Witch, Mia Malone, has returned to Magic Springs, where she hopes to set up her catering and culinary school. Things take a turn for the worst when her Grandmother's best friend, Adele, is found murdered. With the local police determined to pin the crime on Mia, she must solve the crime and free her name... with the help of a few unlikely friends.

Okay, I confess. I picked this one up based solely on the cover. At the bookstore it just screamed "buy me"! Well let's be honest, all the cozies scream that. But doesn't this one look fun?

From the very first chapter I loved the storyline and characters. Mia is returning to town with her ex's little sister, Christina, in tow. Mia can see that while Christina is troubled she has a good heart, and it was nice to see Mia take her under her wing! When things don't go as planned, it's the help of Christina, Grans, and two local Warlocks that help untangle the mystery. Oh how I loved all these characters!! I was so sad when I turned the last page, but luckily for me there are plenty more books!!

The mystery was a stunning whodunnit. I didn't guess the ending at all! I'm pretty good at picking up the clues, usually, but this one had me really stumped!

One Poison Pie is a spectacular start to this series. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries likeJuliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mysteries, then you need to try this original, highly enticing paranormal cozy mystery. Mia Malone is definitely my new favourite Kitchen Witch and I can't wait to visit again!

Book Review: It Came Upon a Midnight Shear by Allie Pleiter

By day I'm a yarn dyer, and by night I'm a knitter and reader. I absolutely love when my two worlds collide, and no-one does yarn-themed cozy mysteries like Allie Pleiter. I loved the first two, and I was excited to read the latest, It Came Upon a Midnight Shear.

This story brings Libby's past back to Collinstown with her ex-husband coming to town to stir up trouble. Unfortunately for Sterling, he's the newest murder victim in town. In order to clear her name, Libby and her Y.A.R.N.ies set out to solve the mystery!

The mystery was a fabulous whodunnit that left me guessing right until the end! I definitely had an "aha" moment when I realized a clue earlier in the book tied everything together near the end! I've gotten pretty good at solving mysteries, so I was thrilled when this one truly stumped me!

As someone that spends her whole life immersed in yarn, I am so captivated by these mysteries. The author always brings something special that resonates with how I feel as a knitter and dyer. This time it was the special qualities of vicuna. I loved learning about a fibre that I knew little about. Let's just say a little vicuna is definitely on my fibre wish list!

It Came Upon a Midnight Shear is my absolute favourite in this series [so far] and I can't wait to see what Libby gets up to next!

Book Review: A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St James

The Cypress Arete Society is one of the town’s oldest and most exclusive clubs. When assistant librarian Trudell Becket is invited to speak to the group about the library, its modernization, and her efforts to bring printed books to the reading public, her friend Flossie invites herself along. Flossie has been on the book club’s waiting list for five years, and she’s determined to find out why she’s never received an invitation to join. 

But not long after Tru and Flossie arrive for the meeting, they’re shocked to find the club’s president, Rebecca White, dead in the kitchen. Rebecca was a former TV actress and local celebrity, but was not known for being patient or pleasant. She’d been particularly unkind to the book club’s host for the evening, who also happens to be the mother of Detective Jace Bailey, Tru’s boyfriend. And Rebecca had made it clear that she didn’t think Flossie was book club material.

With her boyfriend and one of her best friends wrapped up in a murder, Tru has to work fast to figure out who cut Rebecca’s story short before the killer takes another victim out of circulation....[summary via Amazon]

We're back in Cypress with another fantastic mystery with Tru, Dewey and her friends. This time Tru gets involved in the death of a former actress, when she turns up to present a talk at the Arete Society, one of the most prestigious book clubs in the state. When her boyfriend's mom, Hazel, is fingered for the crime, Tru knows she is going to have to put her best detection skills to the test to solve this case!

I've been smitten with this series since I read the first book, The Broken Spine. Dorothy St James combines my love of books with a tantalizing mystery, and once I start one I can't put it down!

A Book Club to Die For provides a wonderful mystery for readers to solve. The author lays clues around town for the reader to pick up, and I managed to solve it just before Tru does. However, I had no clue on a couple of side storylines that also got their final clues! Oh how I wish I could share them here, but let's just say that the main and side storylines provide so many magical moments, and you don't want to miss this series - not for a single second!

This series has skyrocketed to one of my favourite new reads of 2022! Personally my year has been quite tumultuous and this series has provided me with peace and comfort, as so many mysteries have this year. If you're looking to get lost in a book, I highly recommend this series. I'm sure it will become your favourite too!

Book Review: Death by Spiced Chai by Alex Erickson

In a small town like Pine Hills, reputation counts for a lot. And for reasons that Krissy Hancock can’t figure out, someone is trashing hers. Cockroaches in the bookstore’s coffee, spiteful reviews, vandalism—Krissy is being framed for every bit of bad news around. Her boyfriend, local cop Paul Dalton, is on the case, but before they can source t[he saboteur, Krissy is in the frame for murder, too.

The murder weapon was a teapot full of Krissy’s favorite spiced chai, and all the local gossips are spilling the tea about her supposed involvement. But the real culprit has a grudge that’s been simmering for years. And unless Krissy can uncover the truth before the killer’s rage boils over again, it won’t just be her business in hot water—her life will be on the line too . . .[summary via Amazon]

It's time for another adventure in Pine Hills! Everything is going great for our resident bookstore owner and part-time sleuth, Krissy Hancock. That is until someone starts targeting her... cockroaches in her shop, vandalism and then framing her for murder. Who could really hate Krissy that much?

I really love this series. Bookstore, caffeine and cats... my three favourite things! Add in an enjoyable mystery and I'm ready for a good afternoon of reading! This time the mystery is centred around Krissy and someone is definitely out to get her. Death by Spiced Chai was definitely "spicier" as Krissy and Paul try to determine who is out to frame Krissy. This is a fast-paced mystery, that will have Krissy and the reader re-visiting older cases, trying to pick up all the clues.

This is one of my favourite series and I enjoyed this latest instalment. It is a little edgier than the previous books, but very much a good read. If you are new to the series, I recommend starting with the first book, Death by Coffee, as like a good cup of coffee, once you've had one you're going to need more, more, more!

Book Review: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

When Enola Holmes, sister to the detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared, she quickly embarks on a journey to London in search of her. But nothing can prepare her for what awaits. Because when she arrives, she finds herself involved in the kidnapping of a young marquess, fleeing murderous villains, and trying to elude her shrewd older brothers--all while attempting to piece together clues to her mother's strange disappearance. Amid all the mayhem, will Enola be able to decode the necessary clues and find her mother?[summary via Amazon]

What an absolutely delightful new series! The Case of the Missing Marquess is the first book in the Enola Holmes series, and I was positively charmed by it!

My son has been raving about the first Enola Holmes movie [based on this book] and I decided I needed to read the book first [of course, like most bibliophiles] before I watch the movie. I've been on a bit of a reading slump and this story brought me right back to my love of mysteries! 

Enola's mum has gone missing, and when her brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock, turn up to help, she realizes that she is she going to have to look for her mum herself! As Enola journeys from the country to the big city of London, she takes the reader on an adventure you won't soon forget!

I just loved The Case of the Missing Marquess. As a long-time fan of mysteries, it has all the elements to entice readers, young and old. Enola is a captivating heroine, and as she uses her wits to untangle the mystery of her missing parent, you can see that she has a lot in common with Sherlock!

If you haven't met Enola Holmes yet, you need to right away! This is definitely one series I will be hurrying to get the second book!