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Charlie Kingsley Mysteries #2
Ice Cold Murder: Charlie Kingsley Mysteries, Book 2
When Charlie agrees to accompany her friend Claire to her late grandmother's reading of the will, she assumes she is simply there for moral support.
She doesn't expect things to get so...strange.
It’s odd enough that it takes place over a weekend, but that’s just the beginning....
They also need to stay in Claire's grandma's supposedly haunted house with Claire's estranged family.
Things get even worse when a huge storm snows them in. No electricity, no phone, and no way out.
Throw a dead body into the mix, and there’s no question it’s now the world’s worst family gathering. Ever.
At least Charlie brought lots of tea, which she's going to need as she races to solve this closed-circle mystery before her friend’s dysfunctional family get-together results in anyone else being murdered.
Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She's back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.
While this book can be listened to as a standalone, you may find it more enjoyable to listen to them in order, which
The Murder Before Christmas
Ice Cold Murder
Murder Next Door
Murder Among Friends
The Murder of Sleepy Hollow
Red Hot Murder
Other books in the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series
A Grave Error (prequel)
Loch Ness Murder
She doesn't expect things to get so...strange.
It’s odd enough that it takes place over a weekend, but that’s just the beginning....
They also need to stay in Claire's grandma's supposedly haunted house with Claire's estranged family.
Things get even worse when a huge storm snows them in. No electricity, no phone, and no way out.
Throw a dead body into the mix, and there’s no question it’s now the world’s worst family gathering. Ever.
At least Charlie brought lots of tea, which she's going to need as she races to solve this closed-circle mystery before her friend’s dysfunctional family get-together results in anyone else being murdered.
Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She's back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.
While this book can be listened to as a standalone, you may find it more enjoyable to listen to them in order, which
The Murder Before Christmas
Ice Cold Murder
Murder Next Door
Murder Among Friends
The Murder of Sleepy Hollow
Red Hot Murder
Other books in the Charlie Kingsley Mystery series
A Grave Error (prequel)
Loch Ness Murder
Audible Audio
First published January 25, 2022
579 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Michele Pariza Wacek
64 books1,433 followersA USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories. Mystery stories, to be exact. They're clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn't enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.
Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.
When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)
Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.
When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
February 18, 2024
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🎵
This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 2
Clarie and Charlie are going to a family cottage for the reading of the will. The lawyer is found murdered in the middle of a snow storm. Strange things are going on no phone or electricity. Then the truth comes out leading to the arrest of the killer.
I would recommend this series and author to readers of mystery novels. 2024
This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 2
Clarie and Charlie are going to a family cottage for the reading of the will. The lawyer is found murdered in the middle of a snow storm. Strange things are going on no phone or electricity. Then the truth comes out leading to the arrest of the killer.
I would recommend this series and author to readers of mystery novels. 2024
March 18, 2025
It was really good. Though I expected someone else to be the murderer and I was surprised.
January 29, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Charlie Kingsley is invited by her friend Claire to go with her to her grandmother’s cottage for the weekend for the reading of her grandmother’s will. At first, it seems like an odd request but if Claire needs her Charlie is not going to refuse. As soon as she arrives she realizes why her friend needed her, her sister is downright mean and nursing a huge grudge. Other family members are chilly with her and each other too. But they can’t leave. A huge winter storm has moved in dropping several inches of snow and creating whiteout conditions. The power and phones are out as well. To stay warm a few family members go out in the elements to get wood for the fireplace but along with the lumber, they find another guest, ice-cold and dead. There is a murderer in their midst and Charlie knows she needs to find out who before more bodies start to pile up.
This is the second book in a series that is a spin-off from the author’s Secrets of Redemption Series so I am a little late to the party when it comes to Charlie Kingsley. That being said the author did an excellent job providing enough backstory that I didn’t feel lost. But Charlie is a complex character and I feel the need to know her better. I hope to read more of Ms. Wacek’s books to fulfill that need.
Claire’s family is a very dysfunctional family with plenty of secrets and angst. They are all dynamically written. You could cut the tension with a knife.
I loved that the book was set at a snowy cabin far enough outside of Redemption that the storm really kept the group stuck where they were. Set in a time before everyone had a cell phone and neighbors a mile or more away made the setting even eerier. Redemption does sound like an interesting place too. Again I want to know more.
The mystery was well-plotted given that all the suspects were present and impossible to avoid, with each person trying to lay the blame on another. Charlie remained very focused and took in every clue and piece of evidence. After some really nice twists, the real culprit became clear. I loved when each piece of the puzzle came together and the dramatic reveal.
This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last. Knowing her books are set in my home state of Wisconsin just adds to my desire to read them all.
I found Ice Cold Murder to be a very entertaining read. Had I read previous books featuring Charlie this book would have been a Perfect Escape (5 stars) but because I need to get to know Charlie better it was An Enjoyable Giveaway (4 stars). Stay tuned as I get caught up on this character.
Charlie Kingsley is invited by her friend Claire to go with her to her grandmother’s cottage for the weekend for the reading of her grandmother’s will. At first, it seems like an odd request but if Claire needs her Charlie is not going to refuse. As soon as she arrives she realizes why her friend needed her, her sister is downright mean and nursing a huge grudge. Other family members are chilly with her and each other too. But they can’t leave. A huge winter storm has moved in dropping several inches of snow and creating whiteout conditions. The power and phones are out as well. To stay warm a few family members go out in the elements to get wood for the fireplace but along with the lumber, they find another guest, ice-cold and dead. There is a murderer in their midst and Charlie knows she needs to find out who before more bodies start to pile up.
This is the second book in a series that is a spin-off from the author’s Secrets of Redemption Series so I am a little late to the party when it comes to Charlie Kingsley. That being said the author did an excellent job providing enough backstory that I didn’t feel lost. But Charlie is a complex character and I feel the need to know her better. I hope to read more of Ms. Wacek’s books to fulfill that need.
Claire’s family is a very dysfunctional family with plenty of secrets and angst. They are all dynamically written. You could cut the tension with a knife.
I loved that the book was set at a snowy cabin far enough outside of Redemption that the storm really kept the group stuck where they were. Set in a time before everyone had a cell phone and neighbors a mile or more away made the setting even eerier. Redemption does sound like an interesting place too. Again I want to know more.
The mystery was well-plotted given that all the suspects were present and impossible to avoid, with each person trying to lay the blame on another. Charlie remained very focused and took in every clue and piece of evidence. After some really nice twists, the real culprit became clear. I loved when each piece of the puzzle came together and the dramatic reveal.
This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last. Knowing her books are set in my home state of Wisconsin just adds to my desire to read them all.
I found Ice Cold Murder to be a very entertaining read. Had I read previous books featuring Charlie this book would have been a Perfect Escape (5 stars) but because I need to get to know Charlie better it was An Enjoyable Giveaway (4 stars). Stay tuned as I get caught up on this character.
November 7, 2024
OOOOH Boy!
Okay, so I was right about a lot of things but not about who until I got to one specific point. Then it was clear. Can't say much more than that. Claire's sister, Amelia, was really a piece of work, and honestly, I was so annoyed by her. But I did like the arc that story took.
This one is what I'd call a creepy cozy. Elements combine to leave the reader feeling as though there are psychic elements (not really) and ghostly sightings (again, not really) going on. You almost get the feeling that the house is sentient (and malevolent) but again... not all is as it seems. I think that readers who WANT those things in their books will be satisfied, but readers who prefer to leave that supernaturalness out... will also be satisfied. It does a pirouette on the line between them and where the other foot falls is up to the reader. Again, I appreciated the clean language and lack of smutual stuff.
Okay, so I was right about a lot of things but not about who until I got to one specific point. Then it was clear. Can't say much more than that. Claire's sister, Amelia, was really a piece of work, and honestly, I was so annoyed by her. But I did like the arc that story took.
This one is what I'd call a creepy cozy. Elements combine to leave the reader feeling as though there are psychic elements (not really) and ghostly sightings (again, not really) going on. You almost get the feeling that the house is sentient (and malevolent) but again... not all is as it seems. I think that readers who WANT those things in their books will be satisfied, but readers who prefer to leave that supernaturalness out... will also be satisfied. It does a pirouette on the line between them and where the other foot falls is up to the reader. Again, I appreciated the clean language and lack of smutual stuff.
January 2, 2024
I enjoyed the first book this second was a bit slow and repetitive
January 20, 2022
Michele PW has done it again. Another page turning cozy mystery involving Charlie Kingsley.
I read the first book just before Christmas last year and I really enjoyed it. The character of Charlie is funny, smart and I love that she runs a tea shop. I cannot wait to see what she gets into next.
Charlie lives in the quaint town of Redemption, Wisconsin. Her dear friend Claire has just lost her grandmother and has asked Charlie to join her for a family weekend get together at a cottage where the will is to be read. Once they arrive, things take a deadly turn. The lawyer who is supposed to be reading the will, has turned up dead. A snowstorm has them snowed in and has knocked out the phones, or has it? A missing brother, a dead contractor, a mother with dementia, and the cottage is rumored to be haunted. One thing after another seems to be going wrong, when suddenly all the pieces fall into place. Charlie stumbles upon the truth and exposes a long time, dark family secret. Can they find the killer before another victim is claimed? I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
I read the first book just before Christmas last year and I really enjoyed it. The character of Charlie is funny, smart and I love that she runs a tea shop. I cannot wait to see what she gets into next.
Charlie lives in the quaint town of Redemption, Wisconsin. Her dear friend Claire has just lost her grandmother and has asked Charlie to join her for a family weekend get together at a cottage where the will is to be read. Once they arrive, things take a deadly turn. The lawyer who is supposed to be reading the will, has turned up dead. A snowstorm has them snowed in and has knocked out the phones, or has it? A missing brother, a dead contractor, a mother with dementia, and the cottage is rumored to be haunted. One thing after another seems to be going wrong, when suddenly all the pieces fall into place. Charlie stumbles upon the truth and exposes a long time, dark family secret. Can they find the killer before another victim is claimed? I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.
January 22, 2022
Synopsis
When Claire's grandmother dies, an unusual stipulation causes her family to assemble at their remote, mostly unused summer house. Family hostilities necessitate that she has an ally at the gathering and so she asks Charlie to accompany her. But this merely uncomfortable reunion becomes more than just a disagreeable meeting when the solicitor is murdered and all attendees are isolated by heavy snowfall.
Characters
Level-headed Charlie is at the forefront of this mystery even though she's peripheral to the premise of the story. As a friend, she's loyal and willing to advocate for Claire. Charlie is the kind of person you need in your corner when you are faced with an arduous battle. Claire, herself, is beleaguered by her extended family and is constantly disparaged by them. Whereas she is normally a fairly upbeat person, in this story, she is not her cheerful self. The family en masse is a brooding entity in which each person engenders his/her distinctive traits. And finally, there's Wyle - Charlie's foil - who's still sensible and sure despite the deadly circumstances.
Plot
This book was twisty and full of malicious insinuations cast by the side characters. The author is wonderful at building tension; not only via the murder but also through the type of sniping that often accompany familial relationships. Unpacking the intricate plot took skilful writing - a difficult task to complete before a story becomes overly long but successfully navigated in Ice Cold Murder.
Personal note: I took against a character early on in the story and was delighted to see them eventually receive their comeuppance.
Final Note
I wholeheartedly recommend this modern take on a country house mystery. It checks off all the boxes for a perfect cosy.
~~~~~~~~
Thank you to BookSirens and Michele Pariza Wacek for the opportunity to review this eARC. My opinions are left freely and are, as always, honest and true.
When Claire's grandmother dies, an unusual stipulation causes her family to assemble at their remote, mostly unused summer house. Family hostilities necessitate that she has an ally at the gathering and so she asks Charlie to accompany her. But this merely uncomfortable reunion becomes more than just a disagreeable meeting when the solicitor is murdered and all attendees are isolated by heavy snowfall.
Characters
Level-headed Charlie is at the forefront of this mystery even though she's peripheral to the premise of the story. As a friend, she's loyal and willing to advocate for Claire. Charlie is the kind of person you need in your corner when you are faced with an arduous battle. Claire, herself, is beleaguered by her extended family and is constantly disparaged by them. Whereas she is normally a fairly upbeat person, in this story, she is not her cheerful self. The family en masse is a brooding entity in which each person engenders his/her distinctive traits. And finally, there's Wyle - Charlie's foil - who's still sensible and sure despite the deadly circumstances.
Plot
This book was twisty and full of malicious insinuations cast by the side characters. The author is wonderful at building tension; not only via the murder but also through the type of sniping that often accompany familial relationships. Unpacking the intricate plot took skilful writing - a difficult task to complete before a story becomes overly long but successfully navigated in Ice Cold Murder.
Personal note: I took against a character early on in the story and was delighted to see them eventually receive their comeuppance.
Final Note
I wholeheartedly recommend this modern take on a country house mystery. It checks off all the boxes for a perfect cosy.
~~~~~~~~
Thank you to BookSirens and Michele Pariza Wacek for the opportunity to review this eARC. My opinions are left freely and are, as always, honest and true.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
I wanted to like this book, as I was excited about discovering a new cozy series. The premise of the story was also good. However, the execution was just…annoying. I’m not sure what was worse, the endless repetition of the same senseless conversations or the incessant ridiculous theories. The book could’ve been half as long and told the same story with much less frustration. The guilty party was obvious early on, making it even more difficult to endure. Toward the end, I started skipping ahead, and I don’t feel like I missed anything.
December 29, 2025
Ice Cold Murder throws Charlie into what should have been a simple weekend of moral support turns into chaos when a will reading, a haunted house and an estranged family collide. A massive snowstorm traps everyone inside with no power, no phones and no escape, making the appearance of a dead body even more unsettling. I loved the snowed in stranded setting and all the family drama surrounding Claire, which fit perfectly into the tension of the story. I did not guess the ending at all and was genuinely surprised by how it wrapped up.
March 13, 2025
I do NOT understand the high rating on this series. This is the second one I've listened to in the series and to be honest, it really didn't have a plot. It felt like nothing more than an annoying group of people throwing repetitive accusations at one another. I own the third book on audio and will not be listening to it. 1 star
February 7, 2022
After reading the first book in Charlie Kingsley Mystery series by Michele Pariza Wacek, it was a no brainer to request the ARC of the second book, "Ice Cold Murder." I couldn't wait to catch up with the characters I met in November to see what they had gotten themselves into this time. I was not disappointed!
Charlie hesitantly agrees to attend a weekend at a remote cabin with her friend Claire for the reading of Claire's grandmother's will. She knows she's going to be the outsider in what will be a family event, but she has no idea what she's in for and boy is she in for some family drama and secrets!
When Charlie and Claire finally make it to the cabin, Claire's sister Amelia makes sure to let Charlie know she's not welcome and this is a family event. The atmosphere isn't the only thing that's chilly at the cabin though, as a snowstorm has blown in and the guests are now stuck in what Claire believes is a haunted house. While waiting for the lawyer to arrive, Amelia and Claire head out to the woodhouse for wood for the fire, but wood is not all they find. There's a body under a tarp inside the woodhouse and now everyone's a suspect.
Charlie doing what she does best, beside making her specialty teas and tinctures will have to dig deep into this family's secrets to get to the bottom of this one. No one is safe as long as this murder goes unsolved, but who among Claire's family has motive to kill? The family secrets will have to come out for Charlie to get to the bottom of this one, but is the family ready to talk?
I've really enjoyed this series so far. Cozies to me are all about the characters and the characters here are great! The author does a wonderful job of making them feel like real people, people that I'd welcome in my home. The dialogue is spot on, in fact there's a part in the book where the family is arguing and I swear I was standing in the background of a real family argument, it was so real! The book was funny at times, and it was chilling in others. What's not to love a supposed haunted cabin, a snowstorm that has the family snowed in, family secrets, a murderer among them and an already tenuous relationship between family members! This is a must-read series, and I can't wait till book three comes out later this year! Happy Reading!
Charlie hesitantly agrees to attend a weekend at a remote cabin with her friend Claire for the reading of Claire's grandmother's will. She knows she's going to be the outsider in what will be a family event, but she has no idea what she's in for and boy is she in for some family drama and secrets!
When Charlie and Claire finally make it to the cabin, Claire's sister Amelia makes sure to let Charlie know she's not welcome and this is a family event. The atmosphere isn't the only thing that's chilly at the cabin though, as a snowstorm has blown in and the guests are now stuck in what Claire believes is a haunted house. While waiting for the lawyer to arrive, Amelia and Claire head out to the woodhouse for wood for the fire, but wood is not all they find. There's a body under a tarp inside the woodhouse and now everyone's a suspect.
Charlie doing what she does best, beside making her specialty teas and tinctures will have to dig deep into this family's secrets to get to the bottom of this one. No one is safe as long as this murder goes unsolved, but who among Claire's family has motive to kill? The family secrets will have to come out for Charlie to get to the bottom of this one, but is the family ready to talk?
I've really enjoyed this series so far. Cozies to me are all about the characters and the characters here are great! The author does a wonderful job of making them feel like real people, people that I'd welcome in my home. The dialogue is spot on, in fact there's a part in the book where the family is arguing and I swear I was standing in the background of a real family argument, it was so real! The book was funny at times, and it was chilling in others. What's not to love a supposed haunted cabin, a snowstorm that has the family snowed in, family secrets, a murderer among them and an already tenuous relationship between family members! This is a must-read series, and I can't wait till book three comes out later this year! Happy Reading!
January 26, 2022
What better to read on a cold January night than a book set in a cottage with a checkered past, complete with a murdered attorney and a severely dysfunctional and damaged family.
Ice Cold Murder is the second book in Michele Pariza Wacek's Charlie Kingsley series. The book starts out with Charlie Kingsley making plans to accompany her friend Claire to the reading of Claire's grandmother at a country cottage owned by Claire's family. The cottage is said to be haunted and there have been a number of tragic events that have surrounded it throughout the years. Charlie and Claire arrive at the cottage in the middle of a snowstorm and before the evening is out, the body of the attorney is discovered in the woodshed.
The author has done a fantastic job of creating a cast of characters and plot line that definitely falls into that OMC (One More Chapter) category. I was particularly impressed with the inclusion of each character's backstory and integration of normal and some not-so-normal family dynamics in order to create natural biases and conflicts amongst them. As the plotline unfolded, the author created significant red herrings and twists that lead the reader, as well as the characters, to make erroneous assumptions with the killer actually playing a part in trying to direct the blame and focus without seeming to be manipulating the situation until the very end. As far as the ending and revelation of both the killer and the motive, let's just say that the result is absolutely worth the read, however, I would highly recommend that anyone choosing to read this book not have any other plans because you won't want to put it down.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free from the author at booksirens.com, and am leaving this fair and honest review voluntarily.
Ice Cold Murder is the second book in Michele Pariza Wacek's Charlie Kingsley series. The book starts out with Charlie Kingsley making plans to accompany her friend Claire to the reading of Claire's grandmother at a country cottage owned by Claire's family. The cottage is said to be haunted and there have been a number of tragic events that have surrounded it throughout the years. Charlie and Claire arrive at the cottage in the middle of a snowstorm and before the evening is out, the body of the attorney is discovered in the woodshed.
The author has done a fantastic job of creating a cast of characters and plot line that definitely falls into that OMC (One More Chapter) category. I was particularly impressed with the inclusion of each character's backstory and integration of normal and some not-so-normal family dynamics in order to create natural biases and conflicts amongst them. As the plotline unfolded, the author created significant red herrings and twists that lead the reader, as well as the characters, to make erroneous assumptions with the killer actually playing a part in trying to direct the blame and focus without seeming to be manipulating the situation until the very end. As far as the ending and revelation of both the killer and the motive, let's just say that the result is absolutely worth the read, however, I would highly recommend that anyone choosing to read this book not have any other plans because you won't want to put it down.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free from the author at booksirens.com, and am leaving this fair and honest review voluntarily.
February 22, 2022
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. A family has been called to a relative's home deep in the snow covered mountains for the reading of the Will. Can you say spooky? After all what could go wrong? Wink! The setting for a great mystery is perfect in this book. This family is literally trapped in this house. The snow is up to the door, the telephone lines are down and the electricity has gone off. All of these occurrences happen AFTER discovery of a dead body. There is no cell service and everyone is looking strangely at one another. The author does a great job of providing a hosts of suspects and making the scene eerie. After all would you want to be trapped in a house knowing that one of the guests is a murderer? I would classify this mystery as a whodunit type of mystery. You think you know who the culprit may be, and then she takes you down a different pathway. This would make a fantastic movie. I must confess when I first started reading this book I was not sure if I would like it or not because of the references to the house being haunted and such, but it soon becomes apparent that the ghost stories are just part of the drama surrounding this house. This is a good old fashioned mystery.
January 24, 2022
Picture this: A large, very dysfunctional family is summoned to hear the reading of their aunt's will. The prickly congregation gathers in an isolated (and reputedly haunted) cabin during a snowstorm. The barbs between combatants have barely begun to fly when the power and phones go dead. Oh, and there's a corpse in the woodshed.
Ice Cold Murder is a satisfying cozy with twists and turns, family secrets and surprises. As the tale unfolds, the tension ratchets up nicely as Charlie (our sleuth) realizes her friend Claire is being set up for the murder and worse. Charlie's persistence and devotion to her friend save the day and old wounds are healed.
I'm going to admit something - I almost gave up on this book during the first two chapters. The reader is faced with a bewildering number of relatives, ancient family history, and current entanglements. I figured I'd never keep them straight and almost gave up.
I'm glad I didn't.
Ice Cold Murder is the second in the Secrets of Redemption series. I have not read the first but am looking forward to checking it out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ice Cold Murder is a satisfying cozy with twists and turns, family secrets and surprises. As the tale unfolds, the tension ratchets up nicely as Charlie (our sleuth) realizes her friend Claire is being set up for the murder and worse. Charlie's persistence and devotion to her friend save the day and old wounds are healed.
I'm going to admit something - I almost gave up on this book during the first two chapters. The reader is faced with a bewildering number of relatives, ancient family history, and current entanglements. I figured I'd never keep them straight and almost gave up.
I'm glad I didn't.
Ice Cold Murder is the second in the Secrets of Redemption series. I have not read the first but am looking forward to checking it out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 8, 2022
When her friend Claire asks her to attend a family weekend retreat/will reading, Aunt Charley is curious, but goes to support her friend. However, when they discover something "terrible in the woodshed." Are they trapped in the cabin with a murderer? And, in a time before cell phones, unable to call for help with no way out, as the snowdrifts get higher and higher... Will they all make it out alive?
As the family dynamics pit sister against sister, Charley must wrestle with the ultimate dilemma. Is her friend losing her mind to early dementia or is something more sinister involved.
I enjoyed this installment of Aunt Charley's story, and will be, eventually diving into the psychological thriller that this is the spin off of. Charley was away from her baking and teas, we got to see more of what makes her tick outside of her business. Also, as a child of the 80s and 90s, it was neat to think about how many conveniences we take for granted now-a-days, like cell phones and computers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As the family dynamics pit sister against sister, Charley must wrestle with the ultimate dilemma. Is her friend losing her mind to early dementia or is something more sinister involved.
I enjoyed this installment of Aunt Charley's story, and will be, eventually diving into the psychological thriller that this is the spin off of. Charley was away from her baking and teas, we got to see more of what makes her tick outside of her business. Also, as a child of the 80s and 90s, it was neat to think about how many conveniences we take for granted now-a-days, like cell phones and computers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 28, 2022
Ice Cold Murder is the second book in the Charlie Kingsley mysteries. Charlie sells her homemade teas and tinctures in the town of Redemption and on the side solves mysteries.
When Charlie's friend Claire asks her to accompany her to the reading of her grandmother's Will, Charlie has misgivings. The reading is to take place at Claire's family "cottage" in a secluded spot outside of town. Claire is estranged from her family and she desperately wants Charlie to come as a support. What follows is a story about family secrets and how they can turn a family against itself in an effort to keep them hidden. This is almost a locked door mystery with a murder and all the possible perpetrators stuck in the house during a huge snowstorm with no phone service or electricity. Also there is Brandon Wyle, a Redemption detective and the boyfriend of another family member (Wyle appears in other books as a foil and/or a compatriot of Charlie's in solving homicides).
I enjoyed this mystery. There were so many suspects with so much hatred and distrust among them that it was easy to see how Charlie was overwhelmed with possible solutions while trying to keep Claire safe. I did not guess the murderer until the person was revealed. I will definitely read more books in this series!
When Charlie's friend Claire asks her to accompany her to the reading of her grandmother's Will, Charlie has misgivings. The reading is to take place at Claire's family "cottage" in a secluded spot outside of town. Claire is estranged from her family and she desperately wants Charlie to come as a support. What follows is a story about family secrets and how they can turn a family against itself in an effort to keep them hidden. This is almost a locked door mystery with a murder and all the possible perpetrators stuck in the house during a huge snowstorm with no phone service or electricity. Also there is Brandon Wyle, a Redemption detective and the boyfriend of another family member (Wyle appears in other books as a foil and/or a compatriot of Charlie's in solving homicides).
I enjoyed this mystery. There were so many suspects with so much hatred and distrust among them that it was easy to see how Charlie was overwhelmed with possible solutions while trying to keep Claire safe. I did not guess the murderer until the person was revealed. I will definitely read more books in this series!
January 28, 2022
Wow! This book has everything to make it the incredible book that it is! A supposedly haunted house, a family with a lot of secrets and rivalries, a gathering of the family in the haunted house to hear the reading of the will, the death of the lawyer before the will is read, along with a blizzard of a snowstorm, assuring that no one can leave and help can’t arrive!! It’s lucky that there are two non-family member guests to help figure out what is going on. One is a friend who loves solving puzzles, of which there are quite a few, and the other a detective dating a family member. This is definitely a book that is hard to put down once you start reading. There are so many twists and turns you really have to pay attention. Highly recommended for Murder mystery fans. No gore but lots of suspense. I received a free copy of this book from BookSirens and write this review voluntarily.
February 1, 2022
⁸I didn't read the first book in this series, but jumping in midstream was doable. I didn't feel like there was back story that I was missing so this could easily rank as a stand alone.
The book had all of the trappings of a cozy mystery - characters were likable, amateur sleuth, small town setting, and "gentle" in nature (no graphic content). I enjoyed the mystery set up and eagarly anicipated who the culprit was. What prevented me from ranking it higher was the ending. It seemed to wrap up a little awkwardly, almost as if the author rushed to bring it to a close. That wouldn't, however, prevent me from reading another in this series. I enjoyed the book overall and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy cozy mysteries.
I received an advance review copy from Book Sirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book had all of the trappings of a cozy mystery - characters were likable, amateur sleuth, small town setting, and "gentle" in nature (no graphic content). I enjoyed the mystery set up and eagarly anicipated who the culprit was. What prevented me from ranking it higher was the ending. It seemed to wrap up a little awkwardly, almost as if the author rushed to bring it to a close. That wouldn't, however, prevent me from reading another in this series. I enjoyed the book overall and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy cozy mysteries.
I received an advance review copy from Book Sirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 8, 2022
This is the third book in the Charlie Kingsley Mysteries and I had read the first book and loved it. Charlie owns a tea shop and she is always helping people with the right teas. When Claire one of Charlie’s friend wants her to go with her to her late Grandmother’s cabin for a reading of the will she was hesitant to get involved but decided to go for support. Wow, Claire’s sister is hateful to her and holding a grudge, aunts, uncles and cousins all have issues with one another. But then they get stuck in the cabin from a blizzard and the lawyer shows up dead. Strange things start happening in the cabin and no one really trusts anyone. But then it really starts pointing the finger towards Claire. I loved the twists and turns in this book and I honestly can’t wait for the next book.
I received this ARC from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received this ARC from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 6, 2022
Tea Shop owner Charlie Kingsley agrees to accompany her friend Claire to a remote cabin for the reading of her grandmother's will. Claire needs her as moral support as she has been estranged from her family.
The power goes out in the middle of a snowstorm. Claire & Charlie go to get wood from the woodshed and find her grandmother's attorney dead under a tarp. Someone there for the weekend is a killer. Mix in dysfunctional relationships, old family secrets, stories of the cabin being haunted, and you have the perfect mystery for a cold winter's night.
This was my first book for from this author and I enjoyed it. I had not read the first book of this series but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I was given a copy by the Autor and Book Sirens in return for an honest review.
The power goes out in the middle of a snowstorm. Claire & Charlie go to get wood from the woodshed and find her grandmother's attorney dead under a tarp. Someone there for the weekend is a killer. Mix in dysfunctional relationships, old family secrets, stories of the cabin being haunted, and you have the perfect mystery for a cold winter's night.
This was my first book for from this author and I enjoyed it. I had not read the first book of this series but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I was given a copy by the Autor and Book Sirens in return for an honest review.
January 17, 2022
Ice Cold Murder is Book 2 in A Charlie Kingsley by Michele Pariza Wacek. I loved book 2. I thought the story was clever, had a touch of humor, and a murder. Charlie was going with Clair to a weekend reading of her grandma Flows will. When the lawyer, George, is found dead, the adventure begins! I felt Michele Pariza Wacek has written an enjoyable story with wonderful characters. The murder and clues were excellent. I can hardly wait to read Book 3, Murder Next Door. Make yourself a cup of tea and settle down to a great cozy mystery. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
January 27, 2022
Charlie is going with Claire to the reading of her Grandmother's will. But the reading has to be done at the old family house in the woods. The family is estranged and nobody has been to the house in years. There is a huge snow storm, as in feet of snow, not inches. The power goes out and a dead body is found in the shed. Tensions get even higher as everybody suspects everybody else. Family secrets are revealed and leads to more questions. Is the body in the shed related to the secrets? And is the mystery of the uncle, who has been missing for 20 years, finally solved? Charlie pieces the stories together to discover the true culprit.
January 22, 2022
When Charlie Kingsley gets invited to a weekend long will-reading with a friend, she’s not sure what to expect. She’s further thrown by the rumors that the house is haunted, though living in a haunted house herself, she’s not overly concerned. That is, until the snowstorm strikes, stranding them in the odd house. And then they find the dead body…
This book was a fun read. The setting is fantastic. What better place for a murder mystery than a snowy cabin where you can’t escape the killer! The main character is likeable. The writing is easy to breeze through and doesn’t bog down with unneeded details. There are lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing as the family comes together and everyone begins to point the finger at everyone else.
All in all, I found this book to be a fun, entertaining read and would recommend it. This is the second book in the series. I didn’t read the first and had no trouble jumping in mid-stream.
This book was a fun read. The setting is fantastic. What better place for a murder mystery than a snowy cabin where you can’t escape the killer! The main character is likeable. The writing is easy to breeze through and doesn’t bog down with unneeded details. There are lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing as the family comes together and everyone begins to point the finger at everyone else.
All in all, I found this book to be a fun, entertaining read and would recommend it. This is the second book in the series. I didn’t read the first and had no trouble jumping in mid-stream.
February 2, 2022
The moment I start reading the book,you couldn't let go of the book. Charlie's character sketch is always on the go yet believable. A family full of secrets and every one is a suspect. The build up is very interesting and keeps you hooked. This was my first read in the charlie Kingsley mystery series and I couldn't get enough of her witty and logical camaderie in the story. I look forward to reading more charlie Kingsley books.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 5, 2022
The family is called up to a cottage for the reading of the will from Grandma Flo. Charlie goes with Claire for moral support and ends up stuck in the cabin with 8 other family members during a snowstorm. They find the lawyer dead in the woodshed and the family starts accusing each other of the murder. Some real twists are added, to keep the pages turning.
February 13, 2022
This was a really enjoyable read. Although it's the second in the series, I hadn't read the first and it didn't make any difference.
It begins with Charlie agreeing to accompany her friend Claire to her family's cabin for the weekend for the reading of her grandmother's will. Due to the snow, they end up trapped there for the weekend with no phones working and so we have a kind of locked room mystery on our hands.
The family is quite dysfunctional to say the least and this adds to the whole situation. I liked the character of Charlie and also her friend Claire. Claire's family on the whole are quite unlikeable and this family have a lot of secrets. The story flowed well and I was gripped right from the start. The discovery of the murdered lawyer starts the finger pointing and the tension ramps up even more.
I was thoroughly hooked and read this in a day. It's my first book by this author and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It begins with Charlie agreeing to accompany her friend Claire to her family's cabin for the weekend for the reading of her grandmother's will. Due to the snow, they end up trapped there for the weekend with no phones working and so we have a kind of locked room mystery on our hands.
The family is quite dysfunctional to say the least and this adds to the whole situation. I liked the character of Charlie and also her friend Claire. Claire's family on the whole are quite unlikeable and this family have a lot of secrets. The story flowed well and I was gripped right from the start. The discovery of the murdered lawyer starts the finger pointing and the tension ramps up even more.
I was thoroughly hooked and read this in a day. It's my first book by this author and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 23, 2022
I received an ARC free from BookSirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Suspenseful!
Steady paced!
Interesting plot!
A good page turner!
Well defined characters!
Intreging!
Read and enjoy!
Suspenseful!
Steady paced!
Interesting plot!
A good page turner!
Well defined characters!
Intreging!
Read and enjoy!
February 6, 2022
Who killed George and why??? Wow, what a family!!! I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
February 21, 2022
This is what I would call a suspenseful cozy mystery. Well developed plot, fully developed characters, great setting. I haven't read the first book but had no trouble jumping in with the second book. I will definitely be reading the first book and the rest of this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 14, 2022
An excellent murder mystery. Very gripping and everyone suspecting each other of murder. Ultimately it was Claires friend Charlie who helps to solve the murder.Very enjoyable read.
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