Mint Cookie Murder

Merry Wrath Mysteries #2

by Leslie Langtry

From national bestselling author, Leslie Langtry comes another Merry Wrath Mystery that will leave you laughing 'til it hurts—scout's honor!

Ex-CIA agent turned suburban scout leader, Merry Wrath, is just trying to live a normal, quiet life. But all that goes out the window when a convicted traitor (who’s inconveniently not in his prison cell) dies on her doorstep, and an obese cat, who bears a disturbing resemblance to Hitler, decides to move in.

To make things worse, it’s time for the annual troop cookie sale, her new boyfriend’s old college flame shows up to win him back, and someone’s shooting at Merry in the frozen foods section of the grocery store. Is the assassin after her or the cat? Is Riley, her hot former CIA handler, hitting on her? Is Rex, her boyfriend, going to dump her? Will she sell enough cookies to take her troop to Winter Sniper Camp? If Merry doesn't find answer to these questions soon, it may be too late!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Humor, Fiction, Contemporary

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 26, 2015

About the author

Leslie Langtry is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the Merry Wrath Mysteries and the Bombay Family of Assassins Greatest Hits series. She lives in the Midwest with her family and is an active Girl Scout volunteer. Her dream is to someday invent calorie free cake.

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, easy read. Could have used a little bit of editing but otherwise a good one.

[Allison Hartman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I think of this book or the one before. I marched on to the second book in the series because it was a light fast read and I've been in a reading slump. These books were recommended in my Jana Deleon, whose books I am obsessed with, group so thought I'd give them a try.

I will say I like the characters. I love the inner ramblings of Merry. It makes for a fun, not serious read.
They are no where as spectacular as Jana's 'Fortune series' but in some parts I have really laughed out loud because Merry is funny! Merry is no Fortune though.


BUT......but.... the inconsistencies/errors are driving me mad!!

One example.... Merry answers the door to Rex and it is Saturday yet Kelly has a doctor appointment that day and the next day they are to have a girl scout meeting after school which um would be Sunday?

Another example.... Book One Merry said she had never been to Greenland. Book Two Merry talks about an experience she had in Greenland.

I know these are small but there are so many of these little errors that they are hard to overlook. Maybe I'm just too anal when it comes to these things??

Has anyone else noticed this? I dug through the comments to see if anyone else mentioned it and saw nothing.


I am moving on to book three though because the plots are good and like I said I enjoy Merry's inner ramblings and they are light, fast reads. I'm hoping as the series goes on they get better.

[Sherry Sharpnack · Rating 2 out of 5]

A woman moves back to your home town after a career in the CIA. A cat "adopts" her. Plotline ensues. This looked like a promising cozy for me.
Nope.
Merry Wrath - an assistant Girl Scout troop leader - opens her front door to find a dying man on her doorstep. Merry calls her best friend, Kelly, who tells her to call Merry's detective boyfriend(?) who conveniently lives across the street. Later that day, a tuxedo cat (yes, please!) shows up demanding her care and attention. That evening, a complete stranger turns up in her back yard, claiming to be a neighbor checking up on the neighborhood. Hmmm.
To complicate everything, Merry's former CIA boss, Riley, shows up and moves in to "protect her." Riley quickly figures out the actual identity of the "neighbor." The cat always hisses when his name is mentioned - probably the only amusing through-theme in the cozy. To further complicate matters, an old flame of the detective boyfriend shows up.
There are so many holes in all of this that I don't know where to start, so I won't. I narrowed down the "bad guy" before told, which is another minus to this cozy, as I know that "it's always who you least suspect" (to quote "The Simpsons.") I did enjoy how the cat became an integral part of the story line. Otherwise.... I won't be reading the rest of the series.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Wrath, former CIA operative, is laying low in a small town in Iowa and thinks her hardest job is as a Girl Scout leader (dreading cookie sale time). But when she finds a dead man on her porch and a cat that looks like Hitler in her house things become complicated. Leslie Langtry uses wit and sarcasm to humor the reader and many twists and turns to keep us guessing about the murder.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. I got a lot of information I'd been missing. I'm reading the books as I can get them. I can't wait to read this whole series.

[FangirlNation · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mint Cookie Murder by Leslie Langtry is a terrific sequel to Merit Badge Murder. Merry Wrath and her best friend, Kelly, lead a girl scout troop together, and it's time to sell Girl Scout Cookies. No problem. Merry’s former CIA partner owes her big time, and it seems that the employees at Langley love cookies more than anyone anywhere in the world. Merry will be able to fund lots of cool gadgets for her troop now! But life gets more complicated when her doorbell rings and Merry answers, only to find a man in his death throes on her front stoop. The man is Lenny Smith, a man who had sold classified information to the enemy and just escaped from the SuperMax prison in Colorado. With him is a cat who looks just like Hitler, making Merry want to name him Kitler. However, her friends talk her out of the name, causing her to name him Philby after a famous spy against the British for the Soviets in the Cold War, since she doesn't know whose side the cat is on. Adding to the chaos is the sudden appearance of a well-known assassin named “Bobb with three Bs” who makes life even more dramatic, and every time someone says his name, Philby hisses angrily. One might think that life couldn't get any more dramatic, but of course it does.

Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation

[SarahSmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Just like the first book in this series, Merit Badge Murder, this had everything I want in a romantic mystery; humor, crazy characters, even crazier antics, and of course some romance. The romance seems a bit secondary in this one, but that didn't detract from Leslie Langtry's amazing ability to write laugh out loud characters and situations. This was a quick hilarious read, and definitely worth your time.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a good time with this book. It reminded me a lot of Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune Mystery series. This is like one of those Over-the-Top Comedic Action Flicks, like Miss Congeniality or Spy. You don't take it seriously, but you have a fantastic time with it anyway.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mint Cookie Murder by Leslie Langtry is the second book in the Merry Wrath Mysteries series. Ex CIA agent and now girl scout leader Merry Wrath has a former traitorous agent turn up dead on her doorstep. A fun, crazy mystery, entertaining and totally unbelievable. Lots of laughs and very enjoyable.

[Gary Sundell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The cover critter looks more like a dog than a cat. Looking forward to the book later this year.

[Susan Bernhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a fan of the first book in the series.

[Teri-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing story about grown-ups, not a lot of profanity and no sex. I'm enjoying this series when in the mood for something I don't have to take seriously.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but did get a bit fed up over the indecision of which man she wanted, which at times took over from the mystery. This is written in the style of Jana DeLeon's Miss fortune series but with young children instead of elderly sidekicks. I would have liked the children to have been in it more (and less romance) because when they were I couldn't help but laugh at there comments. I liked the characters and the introduction of the cat, another humours sidekick. The mystery took a number of twists, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure. I read the first book a few years ago and when I was reintroduced to Leslie's character Merry through 4 Sleuths & A Bachelorette (a joint novel by four authors) I decided to see if the series was on audio book and to pick up where I left off, hence book two. Now that she might have solved the romance dilemma I think I will have to continue on to book three.
Merry Wrath has given up her CIA career for a simpler life, like selling girl scout cookies with her troop. So she is surprised when she opens the door to find a man dying on her porch. Especially when it turns out he was a CIA agent that was jailed for selling state secrets. Merry's ex boss moves in to help her sort out the problem, along with a stray cat. When a hitman introduces himself as a neighbour to Merry it begins to feel like old times. What is he looking for in her garden? And if she was on his list why didn't he take her out when he had the chance? Is Merry the target? To complicate things the man she thinks is her boyfriend is out to dinner with an ex girlfriend. Can Merry really be expected to stay in a safe house when the ex in back in town or the girls are relying on her to sell cookies? There is only one way to solve all her problems and that is find out why the dead man choose her door to die at.
I liked the narrator. She did some good voices to bring the characters to life.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mint Cookie Murder is book two in the Merry Wrath Mysteries series by Leslie Langtry. Merry Wrath wants a new life as the suburban Girl Scout leader after leaving the CIA, but that is not what happens. For poor Merry, a body turns up on her doorstep, and an obese cat and her ex-CIA handler arrive in town after the incident in the local supermarket. Will Merry lose her boyfriend Rex, or will she find the killer? The readers of Mint Cookie Murder will continue to follow Merry Wrath to discover what happens.

Mint Cookie Murder is the first book I have read by Leslie Langtry, and I did enjoy reading this book. I engaged with the characters and the story of this book. I loved the ending of this book; I could not stop laughing. I enjoyed Leslie Langtry's portrayal of the characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. Mint Cookie Murder was well-written and researched by Leslie Langtry. I like Leslie Langtry's description of the settings of Mint Cookie Murder that complement the book's plot.

The readers of Mint Cookie Murder will learn about the purpose of the annual Girl Scout cookie drive. Also, the readers of Mint Cookie Murder will understand the problem corruption in government can have on communities.

I recommend reading this book.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl Scouts, cookies and a great cozy mystery

I love the Merry Wrath Mysteries so far and Mint Cookie Murder, book 2 was awesome! The characters are likeable and interesting and the cozy mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing. There is a love triangle but it appears to be resolved in this book. I laughed in quite a few places. The humor is well placed. Merry Wrath was a former CIA agent but was forced to retire. She now lives in a small town in Iowa and helps her best friend Kelly with a girl scout troop. A guy breaks out of prison and ends up dead at Merry's house and all kinds of stuff happens. Merry's boyfriend Detective Rex Ferguson has an ex girlfriend in town for a conference and she is beautiful which causes Merry to worry. Merry's former boss, Riley Andrews is staying with her and is helping the CIA with the case of the dead guy. Plus on top of all of that, Merry ends up with a cat. This is an exciting cozy mystery and there is a little profanity but it is such an enjoyable book and series! I bought both the ebook and audiobook. The audiobook is well done and is very enjoyable. #MintCookieMurder #MerryWrathMysteries #GemmaHallidayPublishing

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mint Cookie Murder is the second book in the Merry Wrath Mystery series. Merry is a former CIA operative, living in Iowa and trying to live her best life. Much as she is trying to leave her old life as an International Woman of Mystery, she keeps finding herself pulled back into CIA related mess. That's how she always seems to end up in strange situations. Like navigating the annual cookie sale for a Girl Scout troop by day and dodging assassin's bullets by night.

I'm loving the humor, pure entertainment and fun in these books! Merry Wrath is a great main character. She really just goes with the flow and does the best she can do. She's required to help the troop sell cookies....so she sells cookies to CIA Agents and spies. Why not? Spies need delicious cookies too. Hundreds of boxes of them, apparently.

This time around, a well known assassin appears in town and seems to be targeting Merry. A convicted traitor somehow escapes from a supermax prison to show up dead on Merry's front porch. And, there's a fat, cranky new resident of Merry's house -- a cat who looks like Hitler.

Fun read! Loving these books! Moving on to Book 3 - Marshmallow S'more murder!

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry Wrath is an ex-CIA assassin turned Girl Scout leader in Who's There (IA). Mint Cookie Murder opens with a man dying on her driveway, her inheriting a cat who resembles Hitler (she names the cat Philby), and a possible assassin named Bbob who showed up in her backyard. And of course this happened just as cookie season rolled out. To make this more interesting, her boy friend Rex (a city police detective) who lives across the street is having dinner with a former female friend and her former CIA handler Riley is showing romantic inclinations. Then there is the strange vet, the pissed off red-haired Girl Scout Council member, and a grouchy best friend Kelly all conspiring to keep Merry from solving the case and sorting out her life. A fun romp. Now, I just need to get hold of other books in the series and see exactly how bloodthirsty a group of Girl Scouts can get!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a new author for me. In the second of a series, Merry, ex-CIA, returned to her small Iowa home town. One night the door bell rings and a guy dies on her front porch. Enter her former boss (Riley) and her boyfriend Rex (another detective ) to take charge of the case. The victim it seems escaped from a maximum security prison in Colorado. To complicate matters, it's determined that there is an assassin gunning (literally) for Merry. In the process, Merry discovers a stray cat in her house who hisses each time the alleged assassin's name is mentioned. Things get complicated until the last twist at the end. I really enjoyed this book and will certainly search out books by this author again,

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first Marry Wrath mystery and woke my wife up laughing and shaking the bed while reading while she was trying to nod off...Though a funny and entertaining cozy mystery, "Mint Cookie Murder," isn't that laugh out loud, guffaw read, like the first...Merry Wrath was exposed and retired, Valerie Plame-like, from the CIA, and then moves back to her hometown in Eastern Iowa. Now, instead of black bag jobs around the World, she spends her time as a Girl Scout leader, as well as, becoming interested in the local, hunky police detective across the street...That is, until the dead body of a traitor, supposedly held in a Super Max prison shows up on her doorstep and a fat, stray cat enters her life...Good decent fun!!!

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book I couldn't put down! At first I was hesitant to continue reading this series, but I'm glad I picked up the 2nd book. This series is similar to The Miss Fortune series, but is different in ways that make them not compete with each other.
Merry Wrath is one character that has a personality that is fresh and relatable. The 2nd book really helped set the tone of the characters. While there is humor in the book there is a still a mystery that will keep the reader suspended till the end. Similar to the 1st book I had no clue who the culprit was till revealed!
Excited to start the 3rd book!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the series. The main character is Merry. Merry is an ex CIA agent . She answers the door and finds a man she doesn't know dead on her doorstep. That starts everything. Her old handler shows up and her kind of boyfriend from across the street has an old girlfriend showing up who turns out to be no good. Merry finds she now has a cat but even though she wasn't sure how she felt about the cat, he became someone every one wanted. Now it seems to all be coming together but the more answers she gets the more confused she feels. Can she figure this all out before it's too late ?

[Diane ~Firefly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Merry and it is adorable that her 2nd grade girl scouts love all the "alternative" things she teaches them (being a former spy and all).

This time a dead spy shows up at her door, which bring Riley to town and an overweight cat that looks like Hitler moves in. Plus Rex has an old girlfriend in town and it is girl scout cookie season so Merry is busier than usual.

some things didn't make sense. If Suzanne was behind it all, why did they keep digging up the cat grave as she knew it was alive and in her care???

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie Langtry does it again! Merry comes up against one of her biggest obstacles ever... and it isn't some secret mission from her former employer (the C.I.A.). Merry must sort her feelings for her detective boyfriend and her former handler, figure out why a dead hacker made his way to her house before dying, and sell a bunch of girl scout cookies! Merry Wrath, one of the most likable and relatable protagonists out there. solves the mystery with sarcasm, humor, and wit. Oh, did I also mention the mystery surrounding the cat who vaguely resembles an infamous German dictator?

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Mystery then this is one for you. You will meet all the Characters and a Cat that is in trouble with some bad spies that finds a home with a retired ex- CIA Agent Merry Wrath. Merry has to find out who wants her and the cat dead and why, also Merry has two very HOT SEXY GENTLEMEN after her, one is her Detective neighbor across the street and the other one her temporary house guest Agent and ex-handler of Merry when is worked for CIA Agency. What's a Girl to do Simple FIND OUT WHO IT IS AND WHY.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ex cia agent is retired to her home town and has been helping her best and only friend with a Girl Scout Troop. A few months previous a Yakusa named Midori Ito Was found dead in her kitchen. Now another person convicted of espionage has arrived dead on her front porch. And a cat mysteriously appears. That has a Hitler mustache. And then an assassin shows up. And the Girl Scouts are selling cookies, and the CIA is willing to buy lots of them. A fast paced amusing book. I need to find the first in the series.

[Jan Vasilius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fast paced, girl scouts

This is a very enjoyable series. The heroine is likeable. Both extremely competent and clueless. Nice inclusion of red herrings. Sexual content restricted to a few kisses. The story has bits that extend from book to book, so if you dislike teases/loose ends be warned. The best part is the girls. I want a lot more girl scouts! The 4 Caitlyn/Katelin/etc. s is genius. Nice addition of cat who is obnoxious but has no magical powers.
SPOILER: Why does Philby hiss when Bob is mentioned? I gotta know!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cookies, Cats, and Crazy Exes!
Merry is back with another adventure, and another dead body has turned up at her house. It's cookie sale time, and she is trying to make sure that her troop's sales exceed their targets, as well as figure out what is going on with her boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend who has just shown up to town. This was another highly enjoyable read in the Merry Wrath series, and I look forward to continuing with her adventures.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

All hail Philby!!

Merry is becoming the worrisome, over thinking girlfriend. Bleh.

Rex is seeing another woman. Gasp!

Riley sleeps naked. Yum!

Kelly is mood swinging faster than a pro tennis player hits balls on a court. Confusing!

And Philby is the greatest cat ever! All hail the Philby!!

And don't forget that everyone dies at the age of forty because people are just too old!!

Have fun!!

[GERRY Hermans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry & her best friend Kelly are out to sell girls guide cookies for the troop of 14 girls. Merry is ex CIA with her maybe boyfriend FBI spook, Riley, her possible boyfriend & neighbour Rex a police detective. Of course there's murder, mayhem, spies, & sniper, the girls in the troop. An impersonating vet & kittens! Wacky goings on.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, easy read perfect for days when you want to read something fun and not overly complicated.
I have to admit that as a former Girl Scout counselor, I often found myself chuckling while I was reading. I could not recommend this book more. It's a pretty long series, but thus far it has been worth every minute.