Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge discussion
2025 Level Three (Super Sleuth)
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Sara 3b
2. slashing thru the snow, book 3 in Jacqueline Frost's Christmas tree farm mysteries. *Holiday (Christmas)
*career (also an inn keeper)
*craft? (makes glass jewelry to sell on the side but that doesn't play a part in the story)
I'm really enjoying this series. just wishing they weren't all Christmas related since I self-limit that to a specific time frame. and the protagonist in each book makes a point of mentioning how they are open year-round.
overall a good story. Cookie is an excellent side kick, even if a little kooky. it's kind of weird having a year between each book, especially when I read two less than a month apart this season, and I think that contributed to my sense that the final event was jumping the gun. 4 stars.
3. claw enforcement by Sofie Ryan (aka Kelly), number 7 in the second chance cat mystery series. * animal (cat)
* career (runs a vintage furniture store)
* craft (protagonist also repurposes some of the old furniture)
I largely chose this book at this time because the cat's name is Elvis. I've enjoyed the series but not so much as her magical cats series and it does occasionally confuse me between the two, which is why I now try to read only one series by an author at a time. the mystery is good; while I figured out the who pretty easily (couldn't understand how the heroine took so long) but the why was harder. 4 stars.
Mod
4. through the grinder, coffeehouse mystery #2 by cleo coyle.* culinary? (beverage, not food but has very in depth commentary on brewing coffee)
* career-based (centered on the coffeeshop she manages)
I've decided that these books don't actually qualify as cozy for me, while they certainly aren't as graphic as the alex cross or prey series, they are still more gritty than i'm used to thinking of as cozy. i think because she gets into the killer's mind/point of view which introduces a darker element than i typically look for. this book was definitely not happy and claire made some super stupid mistakes/omissions that made no sense. by the end, i felt like the criminal reveal was very wtf and didn't align with what the author had set up in the beginning. the protagonist (read author) is also very cavalier about hard drug use. so, while i enjoy these cahracters, i think i will be sticking to the author's haunted bookshop series instead. 3 stars.
5. murder in g major, the first in alexia gordon's gethsemane brown series.*paranormal (ghost character)
*abroad (ireland)
*career-based (focuses on her job as a school conductor)
*travel (she moves from the us to ireland for work)
i liked this better than the hallmark movie, i think because gethsemane had more personality in the book. there was also a running gag in the movie about people not being able to pronounce her name, which was stupid because everyone in the town is basically catholic, that is missing from the book. i think the main reason that i didn't give it 4 stars is because both she and the ghost were so bitter in the beginning and kept harping on it. maybe that's realistic but it was also off-putting and i almost gave up. i persevered and the story got underway before long. looking forward to the next one, especially since it ended on a wee cliffhanger.
6. murder in the art gallery, pet portraits mystery #1, by sandi scott.*animal? (one sister has a pug, the other a cat but they aren't part of the story)
*craft (georgie is an amateur artist)
i wanted to like this more, my biggest issue was the lack of motivation for the two protagonists to investigate the murder; they really had none other than being nosy. i also had to look up the series history because it references a bunch of things that had happened in a way that made me feel dropped into the middle of something already in progress. the sisters were great fun and excellently written. 3 stars.
7. goodbye cruller world, second in the deputy donut series by ginger bolton.*culinary (donuts)
*animal (cat)
*career (she runs a donut shop)
i like these stories, especially the respect they give to law enforcement. deputy donut (the cat) is cute and i like the protagonist, her boyfriend-to-be, and her father-in-law (she's a widow). the story was good, although the villain was pretty obvious from the get-go. honestly, the victim was one of those people no one was really sad to see go. it is a sad commentary on how people who are in toxic/abusive relationships tend to continue in that pattern. although it seemed the bride opened herself up to the first one (toxic) because it let her be the pampered princess.
what i don't like is yvonne passenmath (that might be spelled wrong since i've been listening to the books) and if she continues to appear, the next one will be my last for this series. while it's okay to have unlikeable, and even detestable, characters, having them play such a big part without being the villain or making any progress is just annoying. so far she's been totally static and appeared in both of the first two books. there are to many other books to read. (yes, i do dislike her that much.)
3 stars.
8. if books could kill, second in kate carlisle's bibloiphile mystery series.*craft related? (she's a bookbinder/restorer but that's also her job)
*based abroad (takes place in scotland)
*career based (at the edinburgh book fair)
*travel? (she has traveled to edinburgh but the book starts with her already on location)
the second book in this series didn't disappoint. i enjoy brooklyn and love that her craft (bookbinder) is so niche; i do wish we had gotten to see more of it in this entry. her parents, especially her mom, were a riot. the description of the edinburgh book fair seemed a bit schizophrenic - like it was both all consuming for the whole city but yet small and close at the same time. i've never been there so i can't say this isn't accurate - to the book fair that is. having been to the city and many of the locations described/used, it was a bit nostalgic. and some of that contradiction could be a common problem with most mysteries where the main character is supposed to be something other than a professional detective - they never seem to spend any meaningful time doing their actual jobs. the author keeps you guessing as to the villain (there are plenty of suspects) but her twist, while you don't see coming, is at least not of the variety of introducing the villain from no where.
my biggest qualm with the book was the pacing. even after the initial murder, the first half of the book is relatively sedate. this abruptly changes in the second half when suddenly brooklyn can't turn around without some attempt on her life being made, a very different feel from the first part. i would've preferred a bit more spacing between the episodes of peril. while i do enjoy the two love interests for brooklyn, it is giving me joe morelli vs. ranger vibes and i do think that has been drug out way too long in the stephanie plum books; i do hope the author doesn't attempt the same here.
looking forward to the next one! 4 stars.
the grim steeper by Gretchen rue, third in her witch's brew series.*animal?- she has a cat but he's more background/extra
*paranormal
*career - runs a combination bookstore/tea shop
*Holiday?- takes place over a fourth of July weekend but that's nothing to do with the story
a good book although I felt the initial setup for the crime has a much more original motive than the resolution revealed. all the main characters are loveable, especially the cat (of course). I found the protagonist's personal problems entertaining as well and even her nemesis didn't set my teeth on edge every time she appeared. I do hope there will be more.
3.5 stars
10. cappuccinos, cupcakes, and a corpse, the initial entry in harper lin's cape bay cafe series.*culinary (again, not food but beverage primarily)
* carrer based (she runs her family's italian cafe)
a fair mystery. I wanted to like this more because it is one of the few cozy mystery series my library has on audio but it just didn't grab me. it is well enough written, I can't really point to any big flaws other than being like so many others. at one point the protagonist gets a reality check from the actual police officer and is chastised - momentarily. it felt like the author's version of the "don't try this at home, these are professionals" warning on videos and such but I knew it wouldn't last because this is a series, and Fran was right back at her meeting in the next chapter. if you like culinary mysteries, this might be for you but apparently I need mine with a little more. 3 stars.
11. murder by manuscript by eve barrett, from her emily parker cozy mystery series. the cover says book one but there's another book whose cover makes the same claim so maybe this is a prequel/teaser?*animal related (cat)
*culinary? (the crime features a proposed cookbook and food)
*career based (takes place in the protagonist's book shop)
a cute short story. i don't usually read short stories so it felt rushed but i suppose that's the nature of the beast. i liked the characters but it was hard to believe the victim was that ignorant of the tested and proven benefits of natural materials. of course, the cat was my favorite but that's why i chose the story in the first place. looking forward to more from this author - hopefully full length. 3 stars, mainly because of the abbreviated length.
12. ghosts just wanna have fun, 6th in danielle garrett's beechwood harbor ghost series.*animal (ghost cat)
*paranormal (ghosts, not just the cat)
*travel (hawaiian honeymoon)
another fun entry in the series but a bit blah. taking the ghosts on your honeymoon - i can understand the crap scarlet would get from them for leaving them behind, especially from flapjack (my favorite), but still... of course, what would these books be without that greek chorus? the mystery is a bit weak and the focus of the story seemed to be as much on the various relationship dramas as the mystery. the pacing felt a bit uneven, alternating between more of a caper feel and then horror. i feel like the author is trying to up the supernatural stakes with each entry but sooner or later, that's going to result in negative returns, lose the cozy feel, or just get ridiculous. doing so really isn't that necessary to the overall plot of the series. still, looking forward to the next book. 3 stars.
13. haunting license from carol j perry's haunted haven series, #3.*paranormal (ghosts)
*career - based (inn keeper)
a fair book with a decent mystery. the author went for the easy answer with the solution when there was a much more questionable, and satisfying, suspect who would've made it more fun; i kept waiting for the last minute twist to end it that way but it didn't happen. while the motive was unique, it never seemed to develop into something viable and the last few chapters seemed to be mostly filler. on a side note, how does she even keep her b&b running with so many permanent residents working for their board? 3 stars.
14. the tea shoppe mysteries, a collection of four short cozy mysteries by four different writers.*career-based (protagonists all work in the same tea shop)
*culinary (tea shop with food)
when i chose this book, i didn't realize it was four short stories due to the presentation on-line. it's hard to rate since there were so many authors and some stories were better than others. my biggest qualm was the pastor in the first story - he was such a gossip with a relative stranger that i kept waiting for him to be revealed as the killer. and ashley in the third one seemed disturbingly lacking in empathy. overall the stories were simple enough, maybe a little too much, and executed well. 3 stars on goodreads, 2.5 on apps that allowed it.
15. the ghost of valentine past, #7 in bobbi holmes's haunting danielle series.*animal related? (a dog and cat make appearances)
*paranormal (ghosts)
*career-based (runs a b&b, theoretically)
*holiday based (valentine's day)
another good entry in the series. while i've been a bit down on the organized crime thread, it's becoming fairly comical at this point and will be weird when/if that storyline ever gets tied up. i'm divided over the inclusion of lucas's ghost as it didn't really seem to be fully developed or necessary. 3 stars.
16. drowning at the diner by beth dolgner. second in the nightmare, arizona series.*animal related? (there's a pet chupacabra and a werewolf but niether is a primary aspect of this story)
*paranormal
*career-based (characters work together in a haunted house)
this has so far shown itself to be a fun series with easy and quick reads that i'm really enjoying. the variety of characters seem to open the possibilities wide for future stories. in the second book, the murder came with a tragic backstory that affected the side characters more than himself but was one of those damned either way type of things. while the villain's reveal was tricky, the motive doesn't really make sense if you think about it too much. olivia's occasional bits of naivete are entertaining if ridiculous at this point, mostly how she still thinks the three witches are the age they present themselves to be. the romance if definitely more of a simmer than a slow burn but the thread of damien's missing father is getting dragged out a little too long; so far we've gotten one clue that he's still alive per book. at this rate, the characters will die of old age before solving that question. 5 stars.
17. Tamara Berry's Murder Off the Books, third (and final?) in the By the Book series.*career-based (she's an author trying to launch a book store
I honestly don't know if I would continue this series if another comes out. the mysteries are good enough and I like most of her characters - except the protagonist. she was so obnoxious in the first few chapters, before she got a mystery to solve, that I almost stopped reading. Tess somehow comes across as entitled and/or disconnected from reality, or at least the reality of small town rural life. it was entertaining in the first book but, as there has been no personal growth, now she's just a self-absorbed, condescending snot. the author's occasional virtue signalling was a bit jarring but I did like the solution to the murder and the fact that one of the suspects was not as innocent as most cozies would have them be. 3 stars.
I am loving your mini reviews, Sara.I've read several of the books on your list, but I like seeing what people think of them. And, I've picked up a couple of TBRs. Thanks!
18. Ill-Fated Fortune, first in the Magical Fortune Cookie series by Jennifer Chow.*culinary (family bakery)
*paranormal (magic)
*career-based
really liked this book. it has a good bit of magic but not really the woowoo kind. the main characters were likeable and I appreciated the family aspect. but can a bakery in a small town really survive on only two, now three, kinds of goods that don't even come in more than one flavor? and if each family member only has magic for one item, are the egg tarts common? guess I'll have to find out in the next book. 4 stars.
19. Mardi Gras Murder, fourth in the Cajun Coutry Mystery series by Ellen Byron. *career-based
*holiday based (mardi gras)
although this isn't the first book in the series, it's enough of a stand alone that you don't have to read the others to know what's happening. I can say this with confidence as it's the first I've read by the author, much less of this series. although, maybe because I'm jumping in at the middle of the series, I just didn't click with the characters. it was hard to get into the murder surrounding a pageant when the main character is so antagonistic towards the process. there were a number of things that just didn't add up with each other in the story. I'm still looking forward to trying the first in the series, give it a chance to win me over. 3 stars.
20. In Cold Chamomile, third and final in Joy Avon's Tea and Read series.*culinary (tea room)
*animal? (there's a boston terrier mentioned a couple times
*career-based (works in said tea room)
*holiday (valentine's)
the mystery is good and unique but not the focus. Too much time is spent on the romantic angst - the adult characters all come across as love-sick teenagers and are super wishy-washy, jumping to conclusions, just being stupid. my guess is the author knew this was going to be the final in the series and wanted to wrap up all the personal relationships but still include the drama she'd planned so it all came out in one book. if it weren't for that, I might've given it four stars. 2 stars in the end.
21. Bad Ghosts Club, Beechwood Harbor Ghosts #7, by Danielle Garrett.*animal (ghost cat)
*paranormal
this was pretty fun but the twist ending was a bit out of the blue for this series. instead of a mystery, it was more of a suspense storyline invovling elements not previously mentioned in the beechwood harbor GHOST mystery series. the author writes at least three series that take place in the same location and there is some interplay between the characters but this is the first time i've felt like i missed something reading only this series.
a number of series quit when they marry their primary couple (looking at you magical bookshop) or decide to never resolve the will they/won't they (stephanie plum is top of that list for me) so i'm very glad that the series is continuing. but then it never relied on romantic tension - we always knew whom scarlet would end up with. i feel that danielle garrett is handling the balance of mystery and personal life well with her characters as far as the plot goes, but they still make some nonsensical choices. i think i like lucas better than scarlet in this one. the sub-subplot of the ghost romance is starting to drag so i hope that get resolves soon. flapjack is as lovable as always. 4 stars.
22. An Inheritance to Die For, first of Joy Patrick's Magnolia Manor mysteries.i get that this is a short story/novella so things have to be condensed but i felt that the set up was so blatant with the self-obsessed boss and workaholic boyfriend, it was like the first five minutes of a hallmark movie so you knew where lilly was going to end up by the final page. actually, almost all the romantic and career plot points played out exactly like a hallmark movie, now that i think about it. thankfully, the mystery was better. a little overdone but i liked the characters of the town and lilly was definitely resourceful. the curmudgeonly police chief is a bit of a hoot. i look forward to seeing the story develop in subsequent entries. 4 stars.
23. Death Under Glass by Jennifer McAndrews, number 2 in the Stained-Glass series.*animal related (dog and cat though the cat has more page time)
*craft related (stained glass)
this was a fine mystery. it had believable characters although the constant statements by the protagonist that she needed to save money but then she kept spending it got tiresome. not saying it's not believable. what drew me to it was the stained glass premise but there wasn't much of it in the story. the villain was a surprise even though he'd been there the whole time. there was a bit of a disconnect for me because i figured it was set in new york state (they don't actually say so in the book) but a lot of the descriptions were valid to the south so i had to keep checking my thoughts. i also appreciated the honest, unbiased thoughts on the tension between the town trying to survive but not lose its character as it develops a tourist draw. i felt the romantic tension was forced, more the author trying to follow a formula than actually an original part of the story. i wouldn't mind reading others in this series (it only got three books) if i come across them. 4 stars.
24. the jig is up, first in lisa matthews's irish bed and breakfast series (note: doesn't take place in ireland but a reinvented town in the us.)* holiday (st. patrick's)
i liked the premise better than the execution but it shows potential. a town that needs to reinvent itself to survive is familiar in the pacific northwest as the logging industry was decimated but she never explains why Shamrock in Mass. had to; probably not logging. to be honest, the irish schtick is most of what drew me and, being a fan of dancing, especially tap, sealed the deal. the irish dance aspect was new, although there aren't many cozy mysteries featuring dancing of any sort so how could it not be? the daughters were very believable, especially maeve. there were some small things that bugged me, the biggest one being that her parents seemed to be struggling for money despite her father having been shot in the line of duty; police unions' take way better care of their people than that, especially since he had the time in to become chief. i'm not even sure he would've had to retire since that position is largely administrative anyways.
it was hard to sympathize much with kate as she was a bit annoying/overbearing. she seems to have a savior complex, and mentions her youngest being so sensitive but we never see evidence of that so i'm wondering if it's all in kate's head. not to mention she portrays her ex as though he ran out on her shortly after their marriage but then you realize bliz is six or so years younger than maeve so obviously he stuck around for a while. (at least by the end she is being more honest with herself/the readers in that regard.) colleeen acts like a child but what else does kate expect since everyone treats her that way? frank was the only one who really bothered me since he was such a stereotype, not sure why. and the fact that most of the town knows kate's big "secret" yet she thinks she can hide it from her kids. i could see the direction of the killer about half way through but couldn't narrow it down before the reveal. hopefully the next book will confirm my suspicions as to the remaining big secret. 4 stars.
25. murder at an irish pub, number 4 in carlene o'connor's irish village series.*based outside the us (ireland)
*career based (police officer)
i just really like this series. this entry was full of twists and turns and, while i cottoned on to who was the villain about halfway through, it kept me questioning right up to the resolution. which was twisty but in a nice way, not ocean's 13 confusing. everything felt like it was moving at a good pace, both the mystery and the romance. the only thing i felt was overdone was siobhan's reaction to macdara's jewelry store visit. otherwise, i found this book almost flawless. 5 stars.
26. the raven thief by gigi pandian. #2 in the secret staircase series. *culinary? (her grandpa cooks a lot and recipes are included but it's not a focus)
*animal? (there's a rabbit but he doesn't really play a part)
*career-based (construction and magician)
it's hard for a sophomore novel to live up to a strong debut, i think because the first one is usually unique so the shine is a little off the second one. like many others on my history, this book dropped in rating from the first and that's the only reason i can think of why. we've seen most of the hidden construction elements before and already met the quirky characters. i think another thing against the story line for this book was that the construction was already completed so we didn't get to follow tempest as she and her co-workers created the story and magic. not sure how i feel about moriarty; i see him as a sort of deus ex machina for the author. while sanjay is fun (i loved the opening scene!), i'm rooting for gideon. abra needs more page time, overall, a good story. i caught the literary allusion before the main characters but had still been suspecting one of two others, which i still think would've made better choices but that could just be my wounded pride talking. eagerly anticipating the next! 4 stars.
Added up a couple more TBRs. Thanks. Looking forward to seeing what's coming.
27. purrfect murder by nic saint.*animal related (cats)
*paranormal (protagonist can talk to cats)
*career based (reporter)
did not finish. it lost me when the protagonist, a regular reporter, honestly says, "Who did he think he was, bathing into town and telling her she had no business investigating a murder?". um, he's a police detective. I tried even after that but my heart sank when I saw I wasn't even half way through, a sure sign that I had better things to read.
the cats started off funny but quickly devolved into school boys on the playground. except the female and she became a slut. not saying its not realistic, but this is fiction bordering on fantasy. none of the characters were sympathetic, neither human nor animal. and the author seemed anti-spray/neuter, which is just irresponsible if your cat's are going to be free roaming. not to mention the heavy-handed social preaching.
gave it one star since i wanted to at least register my disappointment.
28. Murder in an Irish Castle, first in Ellie Brannigan's Irish Castle series.*animal related (dog plays a small part)
*based outside US
*travel? (protagonist moves to ireland after not having visited in years)
apropros of nothing, i would like to see more cozy mysteries in ireland that are written by and about irish people; other than carlene o'connor, i haven't found another such. now that i've gotten that out of my system, I liked this book. watching Rayne find her fitting not just in a foreign country but a foreign position was fun. although why she took so much crap from her cousin and didn't put her in her place much sooner is still a mystery. rayne was a bit of a contradiction in that she had so much pride she wasn't willing to reveal that she wasn't rich (didn't have to confess she was broke, just let them know she wasn't rolling in it) but then let her cousin and some of the staff walk all over her. I do hope the cousin's boyfriend goes in the next book because he is waving so many red flags as a potential abuser. or the cousin sets him right, like she starts to at the end. I didn't have the killer picked out, well I did but I was wrong, so I guess that's good but why am I so bad at these when I read so many?!? looking forward to the next in the series. 5 stars.
29. The Cats Came Back, number 10 in the Magical Cats series by Sofie Kelly.*animal related (do i really need to say what kind? :) )
*paranormal (again, series title says it all)
I've said it before, I'll say it again: I just love Owen and Hercules. knowing how troublesome two regular cats can be (is there such a thing as a normal cat?), I can't imagine trying to deal with two magical ones. Kathleen seems to have almost given up and is just using it for the greater good, which is fine. a little disappointed there wasn't more with Fred the funky chicken but nothing's perfect. 😆. and Kathleen's family is so normal and realistic, it's a nice change from all the dysfunction that is popular. the mystery was good although I saw the end almost from the beginning, largely from having read a similar solution just a couple months ago. I loved Roma and Eddy's wedding and feel it's about time Marcus and Kathleen got engaged. really hope the author gives us the reveal to Marcus of the cats' abilities and doesn't do it between books or otherwise off page. 3 stars.
30. Stunt Double Trouble, second in Maisie Dean's Booker Bros. Detective Agency series (alternately called Kacey Chance).*career based (protagonist works for a PI firm)
why 4 stars? mainly because it's not a murder. in fact, there's not even really a crime until the end as they are investigating insurance fraud. it's good, light, and quick. saw the the biggest riddle from about half way through but still had me guessing how many people would be involved. i also like that there's not really a romance, or maybe it's that there are too many options. but i'd be perfectly happy if they just stay friends.
31. Of Books and Bagpipes, third in the Scottish Bookshop series by Paige Shelton.*outside US (scotland)
*career-based (bookshop)
a good mystery that might've over-complicated itself with not just one but a whole school of red herrings. at least one in particular made it feel like the author didn't know who the killer would be, or changed her mind part way through, as it doesn't make any sense with the result. overall, well written and really brought to life various aspects of scotland farther afield than just edinburgh, the focus of the first book. 4 stars.
32. Claw Enforcement, number 7 in the Second Chance Cat series by Sofie Ryan.*animal related (cat)
Should be number 5 in my list chronologically, just realized I missed it. Must've been pretty good since I gave it four stars. The culprit and motive was fairly obvious about two-thirds of the way through but the characters didn't want to see it.
33. The Kielbasa Killer, first in Geri Krotow's Kielbasa Queen series.*culinary (protagonist runs a butcher shop and is planning to open her own cafe and bakery)
*career-based (butcher shop features prominently)
*holiday (easter)
*historical (takes place 40 years before it was written)
I guess this counts as historical since it takes place in the 1980s but was written in the 2020s. it was interesting in some ways because I was alive then but quite young so some of the things I remember. the ones that I don't remember could also have been due to regionalization, this taking place outside Buffalo, NY while I grew up in northern California. I had definitely never heard of kielbasa being a big Easter dish, or the butter lambs. the protagonist could've used some work but her grandma is a kick in the pants. I'll definitely read the next. 4 stars.
34. 'Til Death, #12 in Carol j. Perry's Witch City mysteries. (Side rant: it is so hard to find this book on the book search web sites. usually it's sufficient to type in the title without proper punctuation. even with the starting apostrophe, i had to add either the series or author. on, every, stinking, site. very disgruntling.)*paranormal (scryer)
*career-based (works for a news station, which plays a part in the story)
*travel (the second part she's on her honeymoon road trip through new england)
the main reason i gave this only two stars was that so little of it was the mystery; in fact, less than half the book was the mystery. the first half was spent promising a mystery that, i think, will be delivered in a future volume. so there's no satisfaction there other than lee and pete getting married. this might've been better as a short story.
35. Paw Enforcement, first in Diane Kelly's trilogy of the same name.*animal (dog)
*career-based (cops)
I can see why this didn't get more than three books. From the start, the author is trying to create a cozy version of Stephanie Plum but still keep some edge. The biggest detractor for me was the language. It was kind of funny the first time the dog is referred to as a "real bitch". After ten times in the first few chapters, it was tired. And that's the mildest of the cursing, which thankfully gets backed off as the story progresses.
To be honest, I almost gave up in the first part. Luz is not very likeable. Relatable yes, likeable no. She's just so angry all the time. (It was interesting that she kept attributing her temper to her Irish half but the Latin temper is just as notorious.)But she mellows once she's actually given something to do so that helped. It took a while for the mystery to really happen so there was a lot of negativity in the beginning since Luz was hating everything and the chapters all rotated between her, the dog's, and the Rattler's perspectives; being the criminal, the Rattler was obviously angry as well. And the dog wasn't thrilled with her lot either. Unlike the other book I read by this author, I felt the dog's chapters actually contributed a bit to the story/characters so it was fun.
The mystery was good and kept me guessing even though I had strong suspicions towards the final quarter. I appreciated how the cops behaved professionally and unlike the goobers in so many series; probably because the protagonists are police themselves. And the story actually takes place over months. There's just so much character/world building in the beginning that takes up so much of the book. 4 stars.
36. kitty confidential by molly fitz. first in the pet whisperer pi series.*animal related (cat)
*paranormal (can communicate with at least this one animal)
*career-based (paralegal)
i think i may need to back off mysteries a bit since i really don't have much to say, despite giving this four stars. a good mystery. the cat is fun, angie is still being developed.
37. Puppied to Death, 9 in C.B. Wilson's Barkview series.*paranormal (has to do with a sort-of fountain of youth)
*animal related (two dogs, one cat)
*travel (she goes to Hawai'i from California)
To be honest, I think half the reason i gave this 4 stars was sentiment and timing. It takes place on O'ahu, where I lived for a few years so I knew many of the places used. Even the streets. Also, I got this just a couple weeks before a trip to Kaua'i so it really helped put me in the mood. Although ninth in the series, this is the first one I've read and I will definitely be coming back for more. The only part that confused me was the first couple chapters until I sorted out who was who and that Barkview is not in Hawai'i (a map of O'ahu is provided in the front of the book). The mystery was good and the side characters were just quirky enough to be fun but not ridiculous; Auntie's connections were sooo authentic. While I felt it could've used a little more refining, my biggest quibble was that all the dogs were of the small yappy variety and I prefer the medium to larger ones. And the cat wasn't given enough to do. The mahjong clues were very cool - I hadn't realized the names of half the tiles, only playing the computer version myself.
38. Too Hot Four Hula, fourth in Jill Marie Lanids's Tiki Goddess series.*culinary? (centers around a drinks competition)
*animal related (there's a monkey for comic relief)
*travel (they go from Kaua'i to O'ahu for said competition)
i loved this and have ordered the first book in the series. it's just as cheesy as tiki bars but I really enjoy things that don't take themselves too seriously. this is the first book of the series that I've read but it wasn't a challenge as everything is explained well without being pedantic. the characters were well developed and individual, although it was hard to remember exactly who was who in the hula maidens zoo. my main problem was the monkey. I feel those are being overdone; surely there are other chaotic animals that can be used. not to mention, the monkey was apparently acquired from one of the Shriners days before their convention started. 4 stars.
39. Terrier Transgressions, second in the Pet Whisperer, PI series by molly fitz.*animal related (dog and cat)
*paranormal (can talk to a cat)
*career-based (paralegal)
not as good as the first one. while the story is fine, there isn't much new. neither angie nor octo-cat develop as characters. a couple of suspects are awful people for no real reason. and from where did such an abundance of redheads come?
40. Wedding Woes by JJ Chow (now writing as Jennifer J. Chow). Third book in the WInston Wong series.unfortunately, this is the only book in this series my app has on audio. it was pretty funny and the mystery was good but my favorite part was winston. not because he's a great sleuth, he isn't. he does some sleuthing but more tends to stumble into clues and the criminal finds him. inspector clouseau instead of holmes or even watson. rather, probable unpopular opinion here, because he's a guy.
in cozy mysteries, this is exceedingly rare. when people talk about diversity in cozies, this is what i think of because i listen to most of them and i get tired hearing of female voices all the time. even the couple i can think of that have male protagonists (hamish macbeth and the cat in the stacks) are narrated by women. which i don't have a problem with overall but i like variety.
another fun part was having an chinese-american protagonist who is very american. i like learning about other cultures but the reality is that not every minority group, especially more than two generations removed, is super in touch with their ancestral cultures. seeing this portrayed realistically was nice. definitely looking for the previous books in the series. 4 stars.
41. Hairless Harassment, book three in Molly Fitz's Pet Whisperer PI series.*animal related (cats)
* paranormal (can talk with one cat)
I think the sphinxes were a great addition to the story. Since I am not a fan of them personally, it was nice of the characters to have a similar reaction. Just like they did with the main characters, the naked kitties grew on me. It was an especially nice touch to have them talk in riddles. (I know I should talk about the mystery and character development first but let's be honest, the animals are the reason we read the series.)
Angie made some improvement in this story, especially in regards to her mother who was pretty over the top so I don't blame her for having a strained relationship. With so many people in the real world threatening no contact with less than perfect family, it's nice to see someone managing to live with it because all people are messy and flawed. sorry, getting off my soap box. i also realized that this series isn't focused on the romantic side, although getting there: book one had no romance, book two has a budding romance, but book three they're broken up and angie's looking at other guys. not the typical deciding between two guys from the beginning before committing to one. another more realistic aspect to offset the whole talking to a cat thing - which is why I'm here in the first place.
The mystery was also good and definitely included a few viable red herrings. did not see who was the criminal until the end but it was entirely possible, not some fifth act introduction. the method was definitely unique, if not a bit frightening for all cat owners but they have probably already contemplated the possibility so nothing to lose sleep over. 4 stars.
42. The Devil Drinks Coffee by Destiny Ford, first in the Kate Saxee series.Don't know if I should count it as it's not really a cozy. I'm including it mostly so others might become informed and make their own decision. The language isn't clean and the sexual bit is not behind closed doors, just interrupted. The mystery was decent, if something you'd expect to be written in the 1980s or earlier, not modern day. Even in Utah. Which is my biggest reason I won't continue with this series - the author has such an axe to grind against the Mormon church, and the state of Utah by extension. I'm not Mormon but this was almost a hate piece as there's no other reason the author chose to set her story in the state. For all her world-wise affectations, the fact that Kate didn't immediately deduce why the victim left town abruptly was silly; I did. Also, from the title and the description, I was expecting a paranormal aspect which was disappointing when I realized it wasn't coming. While well written, I won't be reading more of the series. 3 stars.
43. Kittyzen's Arrest by Addison Moore and Bellamy Bloom. First in the Country Cottage Mysteries.*animal (dog and cat)
*paranormal (animal psychic)
*career-based (inn keeper)
This was a good book with such a great balance between the impossible, reality, and humor. I came for the critters and they didn't disappoint except I wanted a bit more. The meet-cute was entertaining as well. Guess I don't have much to say except that it's a good book and I definitely recommend it if you like animals and supernatural in your cozies. Looking forward to more in the series. 4 stars.
44. Last Pen Standing, first in Vivian Conroy's Stationery Shop series.*animal related (dog)
*craft related (primarily sketching)
*career based (part owner of a stationery shop)
The stationary shop is a unique touch and apparently washi tape isn't what I thought it was or has more uses than i realized - need to look that up. I can definitely relate to buying notebooks because they are attractive. And the setting was lovely and very well described so that I could just about see it. The mystery kept me guessing but I disliked the stereotypical bullying small-town sheriff. I know authors need a reason for their amateur sleuth to get involved and solve the crime but inept law enforcement is so overdone, not to mention usually done with a ridiculously heavy hand. This is a series I could enjoy but I'm not going to rush out looking for the next book. 4 stars.
45. Fried Chicken Castaneda by Suzanne Stauffer. *culinary? (not really but includes a recipe for the title dish.)
*career-based? (she's on a journey to learn more for a career for which she wants to apply)
*travel (Chicago to and around Las Vegas, NM)
*historical (early 1929)
Another not necessarily cozy mystery but close enough. This is a clean historical fiction story that I greatly enjoyed. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a cozy mystery; it is more of a coming-of-age story with a mystery thrown in. There are two questions: who's selling poisoned bootleg liquor to the Indians (it takes place during prohibition) and who killed him? There is never much of a question regarding the first, just lack of proof. The second is solved in a bit of poetic justice but not by the protagonist, although she claims to have settled on the culprit when the police announce it.
My favorite part is the history. While I have seen The Harvey Girls, I didn't realize 1) they were real and 2) they were so widespread. It really makes me want to learn more about this aspect of rail culture, and look up photos. The two complaints I have are ones that maybe won't apply if this becomes a series. While there was a lot of diversity represented, the lesbian character was only there to check that box - she appeared just long enough to establish her sexual identity then disappeared for the rest of the book. I don't care too much either way about such inclusion but I dislike when it's done solely for the purpose of virtue signalling. The whole epilogue was also pointless to the story; it didn't add anything new. Again, it might become relevant if there's a sequel (I hope there is) but the ending was tight enough that that isn't a given.
4 stars.
46. Seams Deadly, first in Maggie Bailey's Measure Twice Sewing series.*crafty
*career-based (works in a sewing shop)
A fair mystery but I didn't like the main character so won't be continuing with the series. People talk about the white-savior trope in movies; I felt like Lydia has a city-savior mentality. She moves to a small town in Georgia (I think it's supposed to be based off Helen) from Atlanta to work at a quilting shop but she has an agenda to "improve" the store, which ultimately comes to fruition. She obviously considers herself above the local residents. It was nice that most of the rest of the characters weren't too stereotypical, except possibly for her young, goth/emo co-worker who is overly emotional. And the culprit in the end - came off a bit as a Scooby-Doo villain. The mystery was good and solveable by the reader, if not Lydia. I might have appreciated it more if I was a seamstress, or whatever the proper term is now, I forgot what they said on the book - sewer? stitcher? 3 stars.
47. The Last Curtain Call, #8 in Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Renovation series, and the last is also literal. :(*animal (dog)
*craft? (her job is historic restoration)
*paranormal (ghosts, a witch)
*career-based (see craft)
*holiday based? (includes the 4th of July but just cause, not part of the story)
*not exactly historical but she solves a case from the 1920s.
I might have rated this higher if it weren't the last book in the series; I'm not ready to say good-bye. Many other series I've finished, the final book usually gave you that impression from about half-way through and firmed that up by the final chapter (unless the series wasn't continued against the author's intentions). This feels like it wasn't intended to be the last, until you get to the epilogue that feels tacked on as an afterthought - and even that doesn't make it clear. There are a lot of questions raised by the mystery that don't exactly get resolved, new elements of ghost lore are introduced, and Mel's abilities are still developing. I liked the cross-over with Blackwell's other mystery series even though I don't read it. Really wish the author was still writing cozies beyond the Lily Ivory series; her newer books aren't exactly my type but I'm giving them a chance simply because I enjoyed this series (as well as her Art Lover's mysteries) so much. 4 stars.
* Holiday (Christmas)
* career (inn keeper)
* abroad (North Pole)
* paranormal
the winter witches of Holiday Haven is a series of cozy mystery novellas by different authors. so far, they have all featured different protagonists with little to no cross-over so order doesn't matter. I've also liked that they featured cases other than murder, usually finding missing people or animals. this one, however, is only moderately a mystery. something goes missing in the beginning and they are trying to find it but the focus of the plot is on the mischief done with the object, not actually finding it. still 3 stars.