Book Review: A Call for Kelp by Bree Baker

Everly Swan is busy as a bee running her beachside iced tea shop, and the small island of Charm, North Carolina is abuzz—Mitzi Calgon, an iconic Hollywood actress, is in town! Everly's great-aunts are making a documentary about beekeeping and Mitzi has agreed to help. Aunt Clara and Aunt Fran are determined to save endangered honeybees but soon find themselves in a bind when Mitzi turns up dead. Soon, reporters and fans swarm the island, muddying the water and disrupting the peaceful lives of the townspeople.

Everly's never been good at minding her own beeswax, so she starts following her own leads and combing through the evidence. Then there's the mystery of Detective Hays—ever since their kiss under the mistletoe, he's been acting distant. And he's annoyingly determined to keep Everly away from the case. With her beekeeping aunts' reputations on the line, the sleuth will stop at nothing to crack the case. But when she receives a cryptic warning to "Bee Careful", Everly realizes that she's gotten herself into a really sticky situation...[summary via Amazon]

I'm back reading cozy mysteries and the first one on my list is the latest Seaside Cafe Mystery, A Call for Kelp. I always enjoy catching up with Everly and her aunts and seeing what is happening in the picturesque town of Charm.

In this adventure Everly's great-aunts have a few visitors in town to help with the documentary they are making about beekeeping. One visitor is a friend of Everly's grandmother, Mitzi Calgon. When Mitzi turns up dead, all evidence points to someone close to Everly and she must do all she can to find the real killer.

The Seaside Cafe Mysteries never disappoint and I'm so glad I picked this one up! The mystery itself was very intriguing, as I tried to solve it alongside Everly. Beyond the mystery, Everly manages to untangle some mysteries surrounding folks in Charm as well. It's these characters with such depth that has me coming back again and again. 

While I'm not an avid beekeeper (beyond enjoying honey!) I like that there is more than just the tea shop to interest readers. I'm definitely learning a lot reading this series.. well enough to know I don't want to tangle with a bee!

If you enjoy a light-hearted, intriguing mystery, with enough charming characters to fill a cozy town, then this series is for you. The absolutely icing on the cake (or lemon slice in your tea!) is the delectable delights that Everly cooks up. I absolutely can't wait to visit Charm again!

Book Review: Southern Sass & Killer Cravings by Kate Young

For generations, the women of the Brown family on Peach Cove Island have been known for their Southern sass and sweet homemade desserts at their beloved Peach Diner. Since their mother's passing two years ago, Marygene has been stuck in Atlanta while her sister Jena Lynn has been running the family business. Now Marygene has left her husband and returned to her hometown, where she can almost feel Mama's presence.

But all is not peachy back home. Marygene has barely tied on an apron when a diner regular drops dead at the counter. When it turns out the old man's been poisoned, Jena Lynn is led away in handcuffs and the family eatery is closed. Now, to save her sister and the diner, Marygene must find the real killer. With some startling assistance from her Mama's spirit, Marygene will be serving up a special order of just desserts . . .[summary via Amazon]

Summer is for reading cozy mysteries set by the sea! This setting is fast becoming my favourite as I've read several wonderful "island" mysteries lately, including the Seaside Cafe Mysteries by Bree Baker and the Cookie House Mysteries by Eve Calder. After finishing Southern Sass and Killer Cravings I can now add another wonderful "island" mystery series to the list!

Marygene is returning home to Peach Cove Island, recovering from an abusive marriage. She's ready to help her sister, Jena Lynn, with the baking at her family cafe, the Peach Diner. However, not all goes to plan when Jena Lynn inadvertently poisons a customer, who moments later turns up dead. Now it's up to Marygene to clear her sister's name and find the real killer.

From the first page I was instantly charmed by Southern Charm and Killer Cravings. For me, southern charm and island delights are the perfect pairing, and I'm happy to report that Kate Young does this combo justice with the first Marygene Brown Mystery.

I like Marygene. She's still licking her wounds from a terrible marriage, but she's all about family and she's determined to find a killer and clear her sister's name. Her adventure is somewhat complicated by her father, who she has a rocky relationship with, and is the Sheriff, and ex-boyfriend and now Deputy, Alex. However her best friend, Betsy, is by her side and ready to get them into lots of trouble!! All of these fun characters combined to create one of the best "firsts" I've read in a while. This was absolutely unputdownable!

If you love books oozing with southern charm, and mouth-watering treats, then you should race to your nearest bookstore/library and grab a copy of Southern Sass and Killer Cravings. It's a charming mystery that will keep you up late, as you try to devour it in one sitting! I absolutely can't wait for the next one!

Book Review: Bookman Dead Style by Paige Shelton

It’s January, and the Star City Film Festival has taken the Utah ski resort town by storm. Movie stars are everywhere, carving fresh powder on the slopes and crossing the thresholds of Bygone Alley’s charming boutique shops—including The Rescued Word, where Clare Henry and her grandfather restore old typewriters and beloved books. When cinema’s hottest superhero, Matt Bane, enters their store to buy some personalized notecards, it’s hard not to be starstruck.

But when Clare sees the police leading Matt out of The Fountain hotel in handcuffs only a few hours later, she can’t believe her eyes. The affable actor is accused of killing his sister, but Clare’s convinced he’s wrong for that role. Now it’s open call for suspects as Clare tries to reel in the killer before another victim fades to black...[Summary via Amazon]

I love this series! I was absolutely blown away by the first book, To Helvetica & Back, and this second one was even better!

This time Clare and Chester, who owns The Rescued Word, are being dazzled by movie stars that are in town for the Star City Film Festival. When one of Hollywood's own is accused of murder, Clare leaps to his defence. After all Matt Bane seems so nice... he couldn't possibly have killed his sister or could he? It's up to Clare, along with her best friend, Jodie, and boyfriend, Seth, to solve the crime and save an innocent man.

I really enjoyed that this mystery involved a dead body that wasn't part of Star City. Too often we see cozy mystery writers killing off all the locals (okay maybe not all!) and it's nice when it is a stranger to town. While the Hollywood stars might be strangers, I soon felt like they were locals as we got to know them more. Especially Matt Bane, the Hollywood boy-next-door!

If you detest romantic triangles, then this series is for you! I love the sweet relationship forming between Clare and geologist, Seth. It's beautifully written, and along with the other relationships of our favourite couples in Star City, I feel like I'm reading about people I know. It is always fun to see what everyone is up to in Star City.

Bookman Dead Style is a beautifully written whodunnit. I absolutely love this series, and even though it has since been cancelled, I intend to devour all three books in the series. If you like a bookish cozy mystery series with a twist this one is definitely for you!

Book Review: Handbook for Homicide by Lorna Barrett

Haven't Got A Clue bookshop owner Tricia Miles's relationship is on the rocks. After a not-so-fun vacation with her on-again-off-again lover, Marshall Cambridge, Tricia's hoping for smooth sailing back in Stoneham. Unfortunately Booktown greets her not with blue skies but with another body. 

When Tricia's assistant manager, Pixie, finds homeless vet Susan Morris's body behind Haven't Got A Clue, Pixie's checkered past makes her the prime suspect. Tricia sets out to clear Pixie's name armed with only an anchor insignia earring found at the scene of the crime. 

As Tricia digs deeper she discovers Susan was involved in a scandal right before retiring from the Navy—but since nobody in the village knows Susan, even Tricia's one lead is in danger of drying up. With family drama brewing in the background and all of Stoneham convinced her manager is a murderer, Tricia knows she has to get to the bottom of the case soon before Pixie's life is sunk.[summary via Amazon]

Lorna Barrett is back with her 14th book in the Booktown Mysteries! I've been reading the Booktown Mysteries since the very first book, Murder is Binding. This series and the Cupcake Mysteries (by Jenn McKinlay) were two of the first cozy mystery series that I discovered, and I've kept up with every new release... and been delighted with every single one!

Mystery aside, what delights me about this series is the complex relationship between Tricia Miles and her sister Angelica. I have enjoyed watching their relationship develop and change, and I love how close they have become. Lorna Barrett has written a believable relationship between these two, and I think anyone with a sibling or close family will enjoy reading these mysteries and follow along with Tricia and Angelia's adventures.

The mystery itself is first rate! It's not Tricia that finds the dead body this time, but her assistant manager, Pixie. With Pixie's colourful past, she's concerned that she is going to be wrongly accused of the crime and enlists Tricia to help solve the mystery!! The mystery touches on the troubling aspects of homeless vets, and I really liked how a difficult, and often overlooked, topic was introduced and what Tricia does to help the situation. It definitely made me more aware of what I could do in my own area to help, and I'm glad Lorna Barrett covered the topic in this book.

Handbook for Homicide is at times a heart-breaking tale, but it is delivered with superb writing and delightful characters. The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat, and I absolutely loved the ending (no spoilers!) Needless to say I can't wait for the next book in the series! If you're a fan of bookstore-themed cozy mysteries you need to read this series!!

Book Review: Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart

Pamela is hosting the next Knit and Nibble meeting and can’t wait to liven up her otherwise empty home with colorful yarn, baking, and a little harmless gossip. She even recruits Amy Morgan, an old friend who recently moved to town, as the group’s newest member. But on the night of the gathering, Amy doesn’t show. Not until Pamela finds the woman dead outside—a knitting needle stabbed through the front of her handmade sweater . . 

Someone committed murder before taking off with Amy’s knitting bag, and Pamela realizes that only she can spot the deadly details hidden in mysterious skeins. But when another murder occurs, naming the culprit—and living to spin the tale—will be more difficult than Pamela ever imagined . . .[summary via Amazon]

Being not just a knitter, but also a indie dyer of self-striping yarn, I absolutely love reading cozy mysteries that centre around a knitting group. It was with absolute delight that I picked up this new-to-me series, and I found not just a great mystery, but a delightful knitting group that I can't wait to visit with again!

Pamela Paterson is hosting her regular knitting group, Knit & Nibble, when she discovers the body of a long-time friend outside her house! Pamela feels compelled to investigate the crime, especially as Amy Morgan was not just a great friend to her, but also because she is a fellow knitter! As clues unravel, Pamela can't help but wonder if the crime relates to a mystery skein of yarn that Amy had in her possession! Together with her knitting group, Pamela must put all her best detecting skills to work to solve the crime!!

I really enjoyed this first book in the series. Pamela is a smart, intelligent sleuth, with a really interesting job - she works at home for a fibre-related magazine. As a knitter I found her job really intriguing, and I love the way the fibre is woven into each storyline of this book. This is something that I think fibre-lovers will appreciate immensely!

The mystery was very detailed, and I found myself grasping for clues, and trying to solve it before Pamela, but not succeeding. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, as it unfolded.

Murder, She Knit is a fabulous beginning to what looks like a great series, and I can't wait to visit with Pamela and her friends again!