Bernard Jan's Blog - Posts Tagged "cozy-mystery"

Broken Heart Attack by James J. Cudney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Have you already read one or both books from Braxton Campus Mysteries? If not, this is a good moment because James J. Cudney is about to release the third book from the series!

After finding a dead body on campus in Academic Curveball, the main protagonist of the series Kellan has the opportunity to solve a sudden death mystery in the second book Broken Heart Attack which happens during the King Lear play’s dress rehearsal. His grandmother’s friend succumbs to a suspicious heart attack, and Kellan and Nana D are ready to solve a possible crime.

This is a cozy mystery that will make you love it, not only because of its intrigue, strongly characterized and entertaining protagonists and another masterful cliffhanger, but also because of the genuine humour that keeps forcing the hearty laughter out of you. Nana D rocks even more than in Academic Curveball, and her relationship with her grandson Kellan is a pure fun and entertainment.

Broken Heart Attack is another book in which James J. Cudney proves himself as intelligent, skilful and humorous author ready to push boundaries. I have no doubt his third book Flower Power Trip from Braxton Campus Mysteries will be yet another success in the series.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

Bernard Jan



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Flower Power Trip by James J. Cudney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


While Kellan Ayrwick, a brilliant one, as his Nana D likes to call him, is trying to resolve a new Braxton murder, he is not aware of another mystery that will hit closer to his home.

Flower Power Trip is a multilayer story full of memorable characters, blooming with an irresistible charm. This is the third book in the Braxton Campus Mysteries and if you haven’t read the first two books, please do that. As the author takes us deeper into the life of Braxton, the more we love it. From book to book his characters are more alive, more realistic, more present and funnier and we want to hang out with them more!

Their creator James J. Cudney, a brilliant one, is making us addicted to his cozies and people we’ll miss and wait with expectation until the next book from the series downloads to our Kindle or lands on our bookshelves.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com
Bernard Jan



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Mistaken Identity Crisis by James J. Cudney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It is not an action book, but it’s packed with so much adrenaline that you rush through it like on a speed wagon. In Mistaken Identity Crisis James J. Cudney throws his main character Kellan into a series of challenging situations ranging from a string of jewelry thefts to a discovered electrified body smelling of murder for which his brother Gabriel is a suspect, the kidnapping of his wife Francesca and the mafia war between Castiglianos and Las Vargas families, his nana taking mayor’s office, an unexpected phone call from Hollywood, and, and, and.

Excitement never stops in a brilliant fourth book of the Braxton Campus Mysteries. Is it just my feeling or has James J. Cudney just added another notch on his golden belt?

BJ
www.bernardjan.com
Bernard Jan



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Haunted House Ghost by James J. Cudney




The title says it best: you have a haunted house; you have a ghost. But you also have Halloween, the Fall Festival, a murder, a killer, and a 50-year-old skeleton. What more do we need to get intrigued and dive into this macabre story!

Haunted House Ghost is a cozy mystery novel finely dosed with excitement, expectation, curiosity, and humor. James J. Cudney has created a true holiday atmosphere and charismatic and funny characters we love more and more as the popular series develops. In the fifth book in Braxton Campus Mysteries, he raised the ladder even higher. How far he will go? Only the sky’s the limit!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

My reviews of Academic Curveball, Broken Heart Attack, Flower Power Trip, and Mistaken Identity Crisis.

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Bernard Jan



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Legally Blind Luck by James J. Cudney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


From book number one to book number seven, I just love this series! Braxton Campus Mysteries became like a parallel life to me, life I observe through the eyes of a curious and eager reader and a devoted fan.

What I love most about it? The mystery behind at least one murder James J. Cudney throws in front of our feet in each of his books? Check! Intrigue and complexity of relationships that lead to the unexpected discoveries which turn Kellan into a murder detector? Check! Realistic characters with intelligent dialogues spiced with drops of natural humor that make us burst into a spontaneous laughter and chuckle? Check! Or the impressive use of strong words which raises Cudney’s writing above the usual expectations from cozy mystery novels? Check!

A quest for hidden talisman with its deadly curses is in the focus of Legally Blind Luck and the events which lead to a horrific murder and losing a relative. Cozy mystery fans will love the addition of historical and adventure elements. But let’s not forget to appreciate the amazing, unforgettable and epic Nana D and her hilarious dialogues with her brilliant one as we follow Kellan in his new suspenseful investigation.

I can and will never get enough of Jay’s humor. Especially when he throws Nana D and Kellan in their verbal ring. This is where he wins all my sympathies!

“Put your underwear on too tight again? Must cut off the circulation to your brain. Answer my question, please. Are you free to meet her, or is this just useless obstinance, brilliant one?”

“Answer my question, you crafty miniature Elf-on-the-Shelf.”

I blinked my baby blues like a naughty puppy begging for clemency.

What were these madcap women forcing me to do now?

Love it! A new instant Braxton Campus Mysteries success!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

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Bernard Jan

Sleigh Bell Tower by James J. Cudney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Sleigh Bell Tower: Murder at the Campus Holiday Gala (Braxton Campus Mysteries #8)
by James J. Cudney is an incredible book. When I thought the author said it all in his previous seven books, he surprised us with another cozy mystery delight of a book.

A carefully and finely plotted mystery, Sleigh Bell Tower gives us a small army of interesting characters, a taste and smell of holiday festivities, a dispute over the proposed landsite to build a new boutique hotel, a suspense of a new murder, twists and turns of an exciting amateur sleuthing, pleasant creeps of paranormal, and a lot a lot of humor, family drama and intrigue (my favorite parts).

The most stellar part of the book is again Kellan’s and Nana D’s relationship. I wanted to start my review with quoting some of their dialogue, because already from the first opening lines of Chapter 1, Nana D and Kellan shine in being sassy wisecrackers. But as I flew through the book, pulled by its great promises, I realized that wouldn’t be possible. My review would end up pages and pages long as I would copy-paste all their hilarious thoughts and conversation. Their dialogues are brilliant, cunning, and contagiously funny, almost unreal! Both Kellan and Nana D are utterly charming and strong characters you must love. It hurts your bowels while you laugh at their verbal fights and outwitting. I would like to know if there are real Kellan and Nana D in the author’s life and not only in his imagination because they are more lively, convincing, and tangible than some real people I know.

Thank you, Kellan, and Nana D, for all the laughter, guffaws, and smiles; thank you, Jay, for yet another humorous and adorable hit from the Braxton Campus Mysteries!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

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Bernard Jan