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Cackleberry Club #1
Eggs in Purgatory
INTRODUCING THE CACKLEBERRY CLUB MYSTERY SERIES!
The New York Times bestselling author of the Scrapbooking Mysteries and the Tea Shop Mysteries cooks up a delicious series full of friendship, murder, and one spectacular breakfast after another....
Suzanne, Toni, and Petra lost their husbands but found independence—and in each other, a life raft of support, inspiration, fresh baked goods, and their own business. But when the Cackleberry Club cafe opened its doors in the town of Kindred, who’d have guessed that the cozy oasis would become the scene of a crime?
Suzanne’s lawyer is found in his car out back of the Cackleberry with egg on his face and blood on the dash. Suzanne’s taking the crime personally. The murder not only reveals a scandal in her late husband’s past, but a stranger fleeing a messianic sect is begging Suzanne for help. Now, discovering a link between a dead man with secrets and a runaway cultist may be putting Suzanne’s own life on the line.
The New York Times bestselling author of the Scrapbooking Mysteries and the Tea Shop Mysteries cooks up a delicious series full of friendship, murder, and one spectacular breakfast after another....
Suzanne, Toni, and Petra lost their husbands but found independence—and in each other, a life raft of support, inspiration, fresh baked goods, and their own business. But when the Cackleberry Club cafe opened its doors in the town of Kindred, who’d have guessed that the cozy oasis would become the scene of a crime?
Suzanne’s lawyer is found in his car out back of the Cackleberry with egg on his face and blood on the dash. Suzanne’s taking the crime personally. The murder not only reveals a scandal in her late husband’s past, but a stranger fleeing a messianic sect is begging Suzanne for help. Now, discovering a link between a dead man with secrets and a runaway cultist may be putting Suzanne’s own life on the line.
289 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2008
41 people are currently reading
3695 people want to read
About the author
Laura Childs
93 books2,253 followersLaura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt and she is the best-selling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Scrapbook Mysteries, and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries.
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.
Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:
The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She's also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn't rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.
The Scrapbooking Mysteries - a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans' spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!
The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe's undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.
Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:
The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She's also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn't rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.
The Scrapbooking Mysteries - a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans' spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!
The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe's undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
January 18, 2021
Author Laura Childs has created a wonderful world with a fine group of outstanding female characters who work together at the Cackleberry Club Cafe. The cafe branches off into a cozy Book Nook shop, and The Knitting Nest, next door, offers a rainbow of assorted yarns from which to choose. Sheriff Roy Doogie is a good ‘ol boy whose bark can be bad; but his heart’s in the right place.
At the beginning, the victim is Suzanne’s lawyer. Suz is a widow and oversees the running and marketing of the restaurant. The victim is killed in the cafe’s parking lot and that stirs up problems. There’s also a mystery within a mystery concerning a nearby commune and what they have going on up there! In fact, this books plot covers a lot of ground between its covers, including multiple murders and man problems for the Cackleberry ladies. Humor lightens up the tense moments at just the right times. This is one of the most entertaining cozies I’ve ever read, and it’s going on my All-Time Favorites list!
At the beginning, the victim is Suzanne’s lawyer. Suz is a widow and oversees the running and marketing of the restaurant. The victim is killed in the cafe’s parking lot and that stirs up problems. There’s also a mystery within a mystery concerning a nearby commune and what they have going on up there! In fact, this books plot covers a lot of ground between its covers, including multiple murders and man problems for the Cackleberry ladies. Humor lightens up the tense moments at just the right times. This is one of the most entertaining cozies I’ve ever read, and it’s going on my All-Time Favorites list!
August 17, 2010
I had some trouble getting into this book. It was like the author took every single cozy theme she could think of and threw them all together- the main character owns a restaurant that also serves afternoon tea, hosts cake baking competitions, houses a book store w/ book discussions, and also a yarn shop, complete with knitting classes. She also saves battered women and extends the restaurant to a neighboring church. It was just too much and I came away knowing about all these different business objectives but not too much about the main character, her life story, her house, etc. I'll read the next book in the series because I usually like this author, but so far I'm a much bigger fan of the Tea Shop series than of the Cackleberry Club.
March 25, 2020
Let me start by saying I rate my cozy mysteries different than all other genres of books I read. I still use a five star rating system (or with cozies I like to think instead of stars how many cups of coffee/tea.….which is my idea of cozy). The following is how I rate my cozies:
1 cup of coffee- did not finish or will not continue on in series.
2 cups of coffee- this book has potential, but on the fence about whether I will read the next book.
3 cups of coffee- good- will definitely continue series, but did have some issues
4 cups of coffee- great- will definitely continue series- minor issues
5 cups of coffee-EXCEPTIONAL!
What I think about when I give my ratings:
1.) There called cozies for a reason, and that being said I know they are not for everybody. I love them!! Therefore the first thing I think about is how cozy are they? The more cheese the better for me…lol. The horrible puns in the titles…LOVE THEM. Yes…if you’re wondering... I am the person who loves laffy taffy jokes.
2.) Characters/ and relationships with secondary characters
3.) Setting/theme
4.) The mystery
I joined Suzanne in the midst of grief from her husband's death, and the new business at the Cackleberry club. Along for the ride was Toni, Petra, and several others quirky characters in the town of Kincaid. Suzanne and I found Bobby her lawyer dead in his vehicle at the Cackleberry club with literal egg on his face. Along the way another death occurs, and we rescued a woman and her daughter from a fanatical religious group.
I gave this book 3 large mugs of coffee. This book left me feeling "sunny side up".
The title is alright. I loved the cover of this book...it gave me a very old time mercantile store vibe..which to me is very cozy. As far as the setting…….
Let me say that the cackleberry might be my “heaven on earth”...I mean…..breakfast cafe, tea shop, book store, crafts...you give me some me access to some good Indian food and I might never leave….seriously amazing!
Now comes my issues with this series...although I would love the Cackleberry club it’s not very realistic. It felt like the author wanted to combine every cozy theme into one series.
There was also just too much going on in the story...there was not one but two murders, and a religious cult that Suzanne gets involved with. It was a little exhausting.
In the end, I do recommend you spend some time at the Cackleberry club...just make sure your rested before you dive in! I will be joining Suzanne and the gang in Kincaid for more shenanigans!
Check out my blog at: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
Hope everyday is a great reading day!!
1 cup of coffee- did not finish or will not continue on in series.
2 cups of coffee- this book has potential, but on the fence about whether I will read the next book.
3 cups of coffee- good- will definitely continue series, but did have some issues
4 cups of coffee- great- will definitely continue series- minor issues
5 cups of coffee-EXCEPTIONAL!
What I think about when I give my ratings:
1.) There called cozies for a reason, and that being said I know they are not for everybody. I love them!! Therefore the first thing I think about is how cozy are they? The more cheese the better for me…lol. The horrible puns in the titles…LOVE THEM. Yes…if you’re wondering... I am the person who loves laffy taffy jokes.
2.) Characters/ and relationships with secondary characters
3.) Setting/theme
4.) The mystery
I joined Suzanne in the midst of grief from her husband's death, and the new business at the Cackleberry club. Along for the ride was Toni, Petra, and several others quirky characters in the town of Kincaid. Suzanne and I found Bobby her lawyer dead in his vehicle at the Cackleberry club with literal egg on his face. Along the way another death occurs, and we rescued a woman and her daughter from a fanatical religious group.
I gave this book 3 large mugs of coffee. This book left me feeling "sunny side up".
The title is alright. I loved the cover of this book...it gave me a very old time mercantile store vibe..which to me is very cozy. As far as the setting…….
Let me say that the cackleberry might be my “heaven on earth”...I mean…..breakfast cafe, tea shop, book store, crafts...you give me some me access to some good Indian food and I might never leave….seriously amazing!
Now comes my issues with this series...although I would love the Cackleberry club it’s not very realistic. It felt like the author wanted to combine every cozy theme into one series.
There was also just too much going on in the story...there was not one but two murders, and a religious cult that Suzanne gets involved with. It was a little exhausting.
In the end, I do recommend you spend some time at the Cackleberry club...just make sure your rested before you dive in! I will be joining Suzanne and the gang in Kincaid for more shenanigans!
Check out my blog at: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
Hope everyday is a great reading day!!
March 5, 2018
Hmm.
I find it very jarring when a writer (who's previous books I have read and enjoyed) all of the sudden gets the urge to use foul language. I understand about each series needing to be different, but I don't understand why they have to go in that particular direction. Especially when the other books (with NO language) have worked so well for them! Oh well.
That said, I did like this book. After the first initial shock of language (and to be honest, its NOT like its "F" words), I really started to get into the characters. And then the swearing was very minimal. And I liked it enough that I will at least read the second book. Suzanne, Petra and Toni are great characters (their one flaw is that they love the words sh*t and a**h*le). They have loved and lived life and are ready to start again after some heartache in all three of their lives.
The mystery was good. I was rather stunned at the end. Laura Childs IS the queen of the "red herring". So we will give the next one a try and see how that one goes.
I find it very jarring when a writer (who's previous books I have read and enjoyed) all of the sudden gets the urge to use foul language. I understand about each series needing to be different, but I don't understand why they have to go in that particular direction. Especially when the other books (with NO language) have worked so well for them! Oh well.
That said, I did like this book. After the first initial shock of language (and to be honest, its NOT like its "F" words), I really started to get into the characters. And then the swearing was very minimal. And I liked it enough that I will at least read the second book. Suzanne, Petra and Toni are great characters (their one flaw is that they love the words sh*t and a**h*le). They have loved and lived life and are ready to start again after some heartache in all three of their lives.
The mystery was good. I was rather stunned at the end. Laura Childs IS the queen of the "red herring". So we will give the next one a try and see how that one goes.
December 1, 2020
A cozy mystery with some serious meat to the plot! Compelling issues that are relevant to the real world dealt with in a manner that is both entertaining and endearing are woven into the main plot to create a few red herrings as well as fatten this plot up to make it a tasty meal! I would love to stop into the Cackleberry Club and get to know these ladies in real life as they are my kind of gals! Intelligent, strong and persevering women who don't let life's tragedies get them down. I absolutely can't wait to get started on the next book! Added bonus for my audio loving friends, this series appears to be available on audio for at least the first 8 or so books!
January 13, 2009
I enjoy Laura Childs' tea shop mysteries and have found her scrapbooking ones to be just OK. But this new series based in the Midwest looks like it might be the best one so far. I thought the main characters had a little more depth to them then the other ones, but it still is in the genre of a light mystery with very little gore. Plus the description of all the food made me extremely hungry. The only thing I was disappointed in was that there weren't more recipes listed for all the egg dishes mentioned in the story!
August 8, 2012
Laura Childs' other two series are not among my favorites, but this series opener promises better things. Three friends--one widowed, one almost divorced, the third with a husband in a nursing home--start a small-town restaurant called the Cackleberry Club. When the widow, Suzanne, finds her lawyer's dead body behind the Club, they become enmeshed in a far-reaching mystery. Suzanne's husband was a physician and member of some of the town planning boards; now he's retroactively accused of taking bribes and Suzanne is told that she may have to pay $2,000,000 in restitution. There are attempts on her life, but they may be repayment for her interest in a young woman who is trying to flee a secretive local cult. Small-town Minnesota setting.
July 31, 2016
A good read for a long airplane/car trip if all else that they were selling in the gift shop was James Patterson books. I was really puzzled by the egg metaphors the author is using for this series. It's about a small diner/bookshop/yarn store/tea room and the women who run the....whatever the hell it is. I found the entire concept to be just weird and unfocused. Sure, the place serves eggs, but also books, scones and knitting needles? For crying out loud, pick a setting! I also found the shift in tone here from her other books to be odd. Not that I care about vulgarity (in fact, I rather enjoy it sometimes) but it felt very forced.
October 1, 2018
I didn't like this story. I was expecting this to be like the author's other series, Tea Shop Mysteries. This was too slow and too vulgar. I did like the diner and yarn shop and book shop combination. That was the best part of this book. I also didn't like the characters or mystery.
December 6, 2019
3.5
I loved the women of the Cackleberry Club! They are wise, funny and supportive of each other. The book was a fun and fast read. This is a new cozy series for me and I so glad I happened upon it. On to book #2.
I loved the women of the Cackleberry Club! They are wise, funny and supportive of each other. The book was a fun and fast read. This is a new cozy series for me and I so glad I happened upon it. On to book #2.
October 12, 2018
Not bad. The food descriptions were as delicious as the tea shop series. I liked the setting - touching all of book, cafe and craft cozies. I wasn't too sure about the main character, though.
February 20, 2024
This one is slow going. Too many things happening at once.
June 15, 2024
Good little cozy mystery but with a lot of characters thrown in at one time.
April 27, 2020
This is another series that I'm so glad I started from the beginning! I absolutely love the friendship and business relationship these three women have. Suzanne, Petra and Toni were keeping the town of Kindred fed, read and warm (with providing knitting classes and supplies for sale as well as an awesome cafe and bookstore.) Toni was such a hoot, and I definitely will say she's my favorite character. The three friends worked together like a well-oiled machine. There wasn't anything that one wouldn't do for the other. Suzanne was a widow, Petra had her husband, but the real Donny was lost to Alzheimer's and Toni...well it's complicated with her and Junior lol.
Along with the murder, there was a side story that got some awesome justice in the end. I loved that everything was explained at the end, and the story continued a little beyond finding out who the killer was (I never guessed this one). I enjoy it so much when there's lots of closure! I can't wait to read more, especially now that Suzanne might just have a guy interested in her.
Along with the murder, there was a side story that got some awesome justice in the end. I loved that everything was explained at the end, and the story continued a little beyond finding out who the killer was (I never guessed this one). I enjoy it so much when there's lots of closure! I can't wait to read more, especially now that Suzanne might just have a guy interested in her.
March 19, 2019
Mom and I enjoyed this read very much. It was a book we had wanted to read for a little while, and it also was read at the last book in our March Mystery Madness Challenge of 2019. What a fun challenge and what an awesome read. We even love the book so much that we made one of the recipes in the back. The Blond Brownies. Over all a great book and we look forward to returning to Crackleberry Club.
April 6, 2021
An interesting new series for me. I liked the set up and the characters. The Cackleberry Club definitely sound like the center of small town shananagins, gossip and good food. I like the friendship of the three main characters, they have a nice bond. I will definitely read on to see where their next adventure takes these ladies.
January 12, 2016
I like cozy mystery books. But this was too cozy and it read more like a commercial.. The author couldn’t describe anything from glassware to automobiles without brand names so much so I was beginning to think she was getting paid for product placement rather than writing a novel.
September 3, 2019
I loved the idea of a group of adult women friends running a diner/bookstore/yarn store, but my mind kept wandering during this book. It felt a bit all-over-the-place with cults, the prison-industrial-complex, and (appreciated, but page-consuming) descriptions of egg dishes.
July 28, 2022
What a good story! I don't know why I'm surprised, but dang it was good.
February 24, 2025
Read for book club. Cute story about 3 women who run a bakery/restaurant/ book store. Murder mystery.
February 7, 2023
This was a nice cosy with a good mystery and excellent descriptions of food. BUT I don't think the Women's Institute would be happy to hear that the Cackleberry Club served maple flavour scones with vanilla icing! Scandalous 😗
Despite messing with the scone recipe I will return to Cackleberry.
Despite messing with the scone recipe I will return to Cackleberry.
August 25, 2021
In this cozy mystery, three women who have lost their husbands, open what becomes a very popular cafe. Although extremely busy, they find the time to solve a crime and to help a young woman flee a messianic cult.
October 15, 2013
Sometimes women lose their husbands and need shoulders to lean on. They may not even all "lose" their husbands in the same way, but there is something about a good friend or two that makes things easier to deal with. Suzanne, Toni, and Petra are just that; great friends in sort of similar situations looking for good support in each other. They open the Cackleberry Club, a little cafe that also has a book nook and knitting area. It goes over great and they just love what they are doing. One day though the great times come to an abrupt end when Suzanne finds her lawyer dead in his truck behind her Club. Not just dead either...murdered! Soon Suzanne is delving in to put on her amateur sleuth hat and figure things out, after all it greatly affects her. As she digs deeper she learns that there are many secrets in her life and small town that she never had a clue about. Soon her late husband's character is put into question and Suzanne is about to loose things very important to her if she can't find answers. Will she find the answers at all? If she does, will they be answers that will help clear things up for the good or the bad in her life? Will she survive her digging into the past? Lawyers have many enemies, but what would cause one to kill him?
This was the first book I have ever read written by Childs. I must say I was extremely happy I picked it up! This book was full of mystery and drama. There was a bit of background in the first chapter or two, but it was well written background, not drawn out or too much, as in some books I have read. It gave the background needed to make the rest of the book make sense to the reader, but it didn't give the whole back story of every character in a drawn out fashion that makes readers want to quit reading. I loved the characters too! Suzanne, Toni, and Petra are one funny and fun loving group of ladies. They don't take gruff from anyone and they don't see anything as too big of a challenge. They all come from rough pasts and I think it makes them more realistic to the readers, I know it did for me. I felt like I got to know them throughout the book and became friends with them. I also just loved the adorable old dog Baxter and how he really seemed to "get" his owner Suzanne. I could just see his reaction to things. The mystery and drama of it all was simply amazing. It was chocked full of twist and turns and I felt like I was on a roller coaster at an amusement park. Every time I thought, ok...got it, there would be a sudden drop I never saw coming that I was thrown down. It was a mystery that came right down to the wire before I finally figured it all out. I found the whole book very exciting and I just loved the writing style! Childs definitely has a new fan! I can't recommend this book enough and I also can't wait to read on in the next book in this series to see where the ladies go now and what happens. A must read!
5/5 Stars!!
This was the first book I have ever read written by Childs. I must say I was extremely happy I picked it up! This book was full of mystery and drama. There was a bit of background in the first chapter or two, but it was well written background, not drawn out or too much, as in some books I have read. It gave the background needed to make the rest of the book make sense to the reader, but it didn't give the whole back story of every character in a drawn out fashion that makes readers want to quit reading. I loved the characters too! Suzanne, Toni, and Petra are one funny and fun loving group of ladies. They don't take gruff from anyone and they don't see anything as too big of a challenge. They all come from rough pasts and I think it makes them more realistic to the readers, I know it did for me. I felt like I got to know them throughout the book and became friends with them. I also just loved the adorable old dog Baxter and how he really seemed to "get" his owner Suzanne. I could just see his reaction to things. The mystery and drama of it all was simply amazing. It was chocked full of twist and turns and I felt like I was on a roller coaster at an amusement park. Every time I thought, ok...got it, there would be a sudden drop I never saw coming that I was thrown down. It was a mystery that came right down to the wire before I finally figured it all out. I found the whole book very exciting and I just loved the writing style! Childs definitely has a new fan! I can't recommend this book enough and I also can't wait to read on in the next book in this series to see where the ladies go now and what happens. A must read!
5/5 Stars!!
January 10, 2021
This was my first Laura Childs book and I very much enjoyed it. I listened to it as an Audiobook and Susan Boyce always makes them sound wonderful.
May 30, 2011
A small town eatery, brimming with deliciously mouthwatering breakfast fantasies is in trouble, a murder takes place in the back and the daily special is all over the corpse. Quaint charm and happy atmosphere are overshadowed by an investigation that seems to have more suspects than possible, it appears that the town is small but it holds many secrets. Suzanne, Toni, and Petra are best friends and coworkers, they run the charming Cackleberry Club together, and besides baking and cooking, brewing coffee and tea they also run a book club and a yarn shop, often housing tea parties and gatherings for special occasions. Suzanne is at a loss when her lawyer ends up murdered, but when she gets involved she barely escapes in one piece. It seems that whoever did her lawyer in has no problems going after her or anyone who wants to get involved in sleuthing, and to top it off the mayor thinks that her deceased husband has been involved in major fund theft, turning half the town against her. Battling local gossips, suspicious characters who are meddling in strange things and staying on top of her business gives Susanne and her friends more than they bargained for, but it makes for a really fun and very interesting mystery. For a cozy this has plenty of intelligence and still keeps it light and fresh, and did I mention the delectable food - this book is a must have for anyone who has a cook's block and is stumped for easy yet creative ideas, I am definitely going to make some of the savory and sweet items from it.
Not only is the mystery interesting but the food served in the book is absolutely fantastic. I adore the fact that this cozy mystery had some recipes in the back because reading the book gave me more culinary ideas than reading a food magazine. I also really liked the fact that the story wasn't watered down, some of the cozies out there are simple and at times a bit silly but this had a good plot, memorable characters - some seemed guilty for many different reasons and good clues that gave my brain a workout. There's a certain amount of innocence in this book but also a good balance of reality, I can't think of a better combo for this genre. Childs has impressed me with this little book, and I cannot wait to read the second one which will be out this year.
Not only is the mystery interesting but the food served in the book is absolutely fantastic. I adore the fact that this cozy mystery had some recipes in the back because reading the book gave me more culinary ideas than reading a food magazine. I also really liked the fact that the story wasn't watered down, some of the cozies out there are simple and at times a bit silly but this had a good plot, memorable characters - some seemed guilty for many different reasons and good clues that gave my brain a workout. There's a certain amount of innocence in this book but also a good balance of reality, I can't think of a better combo for this genre. Childs has impressed me with this little book, and I cannot wait to read the second one which will be out this year.
March 10, 2021
Enjoyed this new to me series!
September 23, 2016
Suzanne, Toni, and Petra lose their husbands but find independence when they open the Cackleberry Club. Then their cozy cafe becomes the scene of a crime when a lawyer dies with a secret on his lips and egg on his face. What this all has to do with a religious cult and Suzanne?s past could put her own life on the line.
Kindred, Tennessee is definitely small town southern life. Suzanne one of the three owners of the Cackleberry Club cafe along with her two friends, are believable characters. This cozy mystery has a touch of humor plus enough red herrings to keep you guessing about the culprit until the end of the book. I loved the Cackleberry Club along with its little rooms with books, knitting supplies, and homemade items. Perfect setting for a cozy mystery. It was great to see Suzanne reaching out to others in the community when they needed help and the ending with the church gathering in the Cackleberry Club to have service was a nice touch. A quick, enjoyable cozy read. This is the first book in the series. I will be reading the others. Recommended for all cozy mystery fans.
FAVORITE QUOTES: Prayer of a Breton Fisherman: "Lord,the sea is so wide and the boat is so small. Be with me."
"A hug is the perfect gift. One size fits all, and nob0dy minds if you return it."
"Always leave room in your life for the angels to dance."
"When I count my blessings,....I'm going to count you twice."
Kindred, Tennessee is definitely small town southern life. Suzanne one of the three owners of the Cackleberry Club cafe along with her two friends, are believable characters. This cozy mystery has a touch of humor plus enough red herrings to keep you guessing about the culprit until the end of the book. I loved the Cackleberry Club along with its little rooms with books, knitting supplies, and homemade items. Perfect setting for a cozy mystery. It was great to see Suzanne reaching out to others in the community when they needed help and the ending with the church gathering in the Cackleberry Club to have service was a nice touch. A quick, enjoyable cozy read. This is the first book in the series. I will be reading the others. Recommended for all cozy mystery fans.
FAVORITE QUOTES: Prayer of a Breton Fisherman: "Lord,the sea is so wide and the boat is so small. Be with me."
"A hug is the perfect gift. One size fits all, and nob0dy minds if you return it."
"Always leave room in your life for the angels to dance."
"When I count my blessings,....I'm going to count you twice."
March 2, 2019
#1 in the Cackleberry Club cozy mystery series
Well, this wasn't what I expected at all, but I enjoyed it very much. The main characters are three friends, in their 40's, who all lost their husbands and joined forces to create a series of little businesses--a café, book store, and knit shop. They are all very creative women who use their talents to create a successful business. Suzanne likes to cook and create recipes, plus she handles the bookstore. In her "spare" time she is pretty good at investigating and ends up getting involved when her attorney is killed. I found Suzanne to be a bit abrasive from time to time--almost rude and pushy. But her heart seemed to be in the right place, and I ended up liking her at the end. She was very helpful (although a little reckless) to a young woman caught up in a cult. And she was warm and friendly to the local church members. Although she got involved where she really shouldn't have and treated Sheriff Doogie pretty badly, I thought, they ended up working together and had a good relationship. There seems to be potential for a romantic relationship with Suzanne and the local ER doctor Sam, but we'll see if that goes anywhere. I will definitely continue with this series--I liked the small-town feel of it, and I admired these women and their ability to work together to create something positive in their town.
Well, this wasn't what I expected at all, but I enjoyed it very much. The main characters are three friends, in their 40's, who all lost their husbands and joined forces to create a series of little businesses--a café, book store, and knit shop. They are all very creative women who use their talents to create a successful business. Suzanne likes to cook and create recipes, plus she handles the bookstore. In her "spare" time she is pretty good at investigating and ends up getting involved when her attorney is killed. I found Suzanne to be a bit abrasive from time to time--almost rude and pushy. But her heart seemed to be in the right place, and I ended up liking her at the end. She was very helpful (although a little reckless) to a young woman caught up in a cult. And she was warm and friendly to the local church members. Although she got involved where she really shouldn't have and treated Sheriff Doogie pretty badly, I thought, they ended up working together and had a good relationship. There seems to be potential for a romantic relationship with Suzanne and the local ER doctor Sam, but we'll see if that goes anywhere. I will definitely continue with this series--I liked the small-town feel of it, and I admired these women and their ability to work together to create something positive in their town.
September 19, 2009
This is the first book in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series by Laura Childs, who also writes the Tea Shop Mysteries and the Scrapbook Mysteries.
Suzanne and her best friends Toni and Petra are co-owners of The Cackleberry Club, a restaurant/teashop/bookstore/yarn shop that has become very popular in the burgeoning town of Kindred.
One morning her attorney, Bobby Waite brings over some papers for her to sign, and a little while later, is found in his truck outside the building, with a bullet in his chest.
Believing that the local sheriff is in over his head, Suzanne decides to investigate on her own, and ends up trying to clear her husband's name of fraud. Once again, Childs has created some wonderful characters. But the plot just requires too many coincidences and wild leaps of logic in order to reveal the killer's identity.
I haven't really noticed this in her other series, so hopefully it's an anomaly. I'm looking forward to getting to know the inhabitants of Kindred, and trying out some of the recipes from the Cackleberry Club.
Suzanne and her best friends Toni and Petra are co-owners of The Cackleberry Club, a restaurant/teashop/bookstore/yarn shop that has become very popular in the burgeoning town of Kindred.
One morning her attorney, Bobby Waite brings over some papers for her to sign, and a little while later, is found in his truck outside the building, with a bullet in his chest.
Believing that the local sheriff is in over his head, Suzanne decides to investigate on her own, and ends up trying to clear her husband's name of fraud. Once again, Childs has created some wonderful characters. But the plot just requires too many coincidences and wild leaps of logic in order to reveal the killer's identity.
I haven't really noticed this in her other series, so hopefully it's an anomaly. I'm looking forward to getting to know the inhabitants of Kindred, and trying out some of the recipes from the Cackleberry Club.
September 26, 2009
Up until now, I would have said that Laura Childs is one of my very
favorite authors. I adore her always delightful Tea Shop Mystery
Series and can hardly wait to cozy up with the latest in her
Scrapbooking Mystery Series. However, her newest series; The
Cackleberry Club, I found rather disappointing. There was a
crudeness and tendency to mild vulgarity that was especially apparent
in the beginning. Totally unlike her other two series. The book began
like it had been written by someone else entirely, but Laura Childs'
sparkling creativity and love of cooking and entertaining were key
elements of the story and she has once again managed to create
interesting characters and an entertaining mystery. I will read her
next installment, but am not ready to add this series to my favorites
list...yet.
favorite authors. I adore her always delightful Tea Shop Mystery
Series and can hardly wait to cozy up with the latest in her
Scrapbooking Mystery Series. However, her newest series; The
Cackleberry Club, I found rather disappointing. There was a
crudeness and tendency to mild vulgarity that was especially apparent
in the beginning. Totally unlike her other two series. The book began
like it had been written by someone else entirely, but Laura Childs'
sparkling creativity and love of cooking and entertaining were key
elements of the story and she has once again managed to create
interesting characters and an entertaining mystery. I will read her
next installment, but am not ready to add this series to my favorites
list...yet.
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