Detective Evander “Andy” Mills once thought his life was over. While it has changed quite drastically from the life he once lived - he hBook Summary:
Detective Evander “Andy” Mills once thought his life was over. While it has changed quite drastically from the life he once lived - he has started to find a place for himself. This is thanks largely to the community around him.
Andy can support this community by solving the mysteries and murders that the police ignore. Take his latest case, which begins as a simple (but troubling) case of blackmail. It doesn’t take long before it gets much darker.
My Review:
If you love mystery novels with a side of historical fiction and loads of LGBTQ+ characters, you’ve got to check out the world of Andy Mills. The Bell in the Fog is the second novel in this series, and I am here for it.
I first fell in love with this series with Lavender House - but I think I loved The Bell in the Fog even more. Here, the characters have been given a chance to grow, and boy, did they. Andy’s backstory, in particular, seemed to blossom within these pages, and I can’t wait for more.
The mystery in this book immediately sucked me in. It was layered and nearly impossible to predict - in the best way possible. Likewise, the secondary characters help flesh out this world, making it feel alive. I don’t think this series would be the same without them.
Long story short, The Bell in the Fog is the perfect follow-up for this series, and I’m already counting down the days to the third novel (Rough Pages, estimated release of October 2024).
Highlights: Historical Mystery Murder Mystery Detective Series LGBTQ+
Thanks to Forge Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Lila Macapagal has started to gain a bit of a reputation. Like her godmothers, she can't seem to stay out of people's business. Unlike tBook Summary:
Lila Macapagal has started to gain a bit of a reputation. Like her godmothers, she can't seem to stay out of people's business. Unlike them, she only gets involved after somebody gets murdered. Somehow, Shady Palms is getting more lethal by the day.
The good news is that the cafe she runs with her best friends is doing well. Plus, her godmothers are starting up their own laundromat. Granted, that new location will drum up lots of drama in what should otherwise be a quiet town...
My Review:
Murder and Mamon is the fourth installment in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series. It's still a cozy (yet deadly) delight. Likewise, this series has consistently made me hungry while reading. Why are there so many yummy treats/recipes! The temptation!
While I still love the cozy/foodie vibes, I must admit that the longer this series runs, the more it feels like Cabot Cove. I mean, it's supposed to be this sleepy and safe town, but we're now four murders in? More than that, these murders all seem to happen around the same part of town/family.
Admittedly, Murder and Mamon is not my favorite of the series. It isn't the strongest, but it is still fun! It was nice getting a chance to see more of the family. I also enjoyed the conversations surrounding the godmothers and their gossiping habits. I would love to see if that conversation continues in other novels. (I'm assuming the series is far from over?).
What I loved most about Murder and Mamon is how much it surprised me. After the murder, I was worried that things would go in a certain direction, but it didn't! I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the reveal and the overall direction it took. Well done.
Highlights: Cozy Mystery Amateur Sleuths Heavy Food Elements Family Drama
When Emily George left her small town, she thought she was leaving it for good. Little did she know that her dreams of being a famous chBook Summary:
When Emily George left her small town, she thought she was leaving it for good. Little did she know that her dreams of being a famous chef would be torn apart – by her fiance. Now she's back home and unsure what to do with herself.
Luckily, she has a strong support network to come home to. Thus, the idea of a cannabis cafe is born. However, something awful happens before her dreams of the cafe are even off the ground. A murder has occurred in this sleepy little town. Will she be the one to take the blame?
My Review:
If you're looking for a cozy mystery with lots of personality, you've got to check out A Half-Baked Murder. Though fair warning – this book will make you wish there was a cannabis cafe in your town. Speaking from experience.
Overall, this was an entertaining cozy mystery. Emily's character has a tragic backstory (naturally), but there's still a lot of hope in her. It adds depth without putting too much emotional strain on the reader. And I do not doubt that her past will come back around later in the series. I really enjoyed this novel's vibe and am planning on reading the rest of the series as it comes out. Bonus points for amazing secondary characters and a hint of a potential romance. More, please!
I've been craving another cozy mystery series for ages (I'm going to blame Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series for getting me back in the cozy mysteryI've been craving another cozy mystery series for ages (I'm going to blame Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series for getting me back in the cozy mystery mood). So when I saw Dead and Gondola, I knew I had to try it. This is the first novel in the Christie Bookshop series, written by Ann Claire. Brownie points for the punny title, naturally.
Ellie Christie has finally made her way back home only to find that things are not as calm and quiet as she had remembered. Or perhaps that's the recent murder making everything feel much more chaotic.
Ellie and her family run a sweet little bookshop named the Book Chalet. It even has a bookstore cat named Agatha. But when a customer is suddenly murdered, it will take Ellie, her sisters, and Agatha combined to solve the case.
“An active imagination was an occupational hazard of a life with books.”
You can't promise me a cozy mystery involving a crime-solving cat and not expect me to dive in with everything I have! But seriously, I've been looking forward to finding a new series such as this, so I was excited to give Dead and Gondola a try.
There is so much charm in this book that it may sometimes feel a bit stifling. Likewise, there are many delightful cozy mystery tropes, from the family that loves murder mysteries to the bookshop cat. It's all quite idyllic if you're willing to overlook the body.
I'll confess that the humor (okay, and the cat) enchanted me here. It was so refreshing to sit down and laugh while reading. Clearly, I've been reading too many dark books lately (is there such a thing?).
Let us not forget all of the Agatha Christie references – in case the description alone didn't make that obvious! You'll find plenty of little references, hat tips, and easter eggs here, so if that is your jam, you're in luck!
Admittedly, the pacing for Dead and Gondola wasn't perfect. Some scenes could have been cut out, making the novel shorter and with a more rapid pace. But all things said and done, it was still a fun mystery to read.
Thanks to Bantam and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Ohhh! It's that time again! No, seriously, we may only be three books in, but the new release of Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery has quickly become sometOhhh! It's that time again! No, seriously, we may only be three books in, but the new release of Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery has quickly become something I look forward to. The latest installment is Blackmail and Bibingka, and it is pure perfection.
We're heading into the Christmas season at Shady Palms, which means there wille lots of food and festivals. And probably a murder or two, based on how things have been going here lately. Lila Macapagal will be at the center of all this chaos, naturally.
The odds of mischief and mysteries increase when Lila's cousin, Ronnie, comes back to town. The boy has always caused trouble, and his habits don't seem to have changed much as an adult. Though only time will tell.
“If you've turned up after all these years just to break Tita Rosie's heart again, I'll kill you. I'm serious. And Ate Bernie will help me hide the body."
Guys! Words cannot describe how excited I've been for the next novel in Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery. This has quickly become my favorite cozy mystery, and if you haven't given it a shot, please reconsider. It's amazing.
Blackmail and Bibingka bring us back to Shady Palms – an area full of local cuisine, colorful characters, and a couple of murder cases. Like many a cozy mystery, Lila Macapagal always finds herself in the middle of these investigations. Mostly because she can't leave well enough alone; it's an oddly endearing trait!
I love that this story takes place during Christmastime (though I almost wish I had been patient enough to line up the holidays). It added even more charm and whimsy to an already abundant setting.
Speaking of the setting, I think I enjoyed the setup more for this particular novel. More than the beauty contest, at any rate. This time, we're focused on establishing a new winery, which is fascinating on all fronts. It also fits in nicely with the food-oriented themes.
The mystery was enjoyable; the stakes were high (but not so high as to induce anxiety), and the characters were on point. Oh, and of course - Blackmail and Bibingka made me crave Filipino food like you wouldn't believe. So plan for that.
As always, I'm charmed by Mia P. Manansala's writing and cannot wait for the next addition to this series. Hopefully, we won't have to wait more than a year or two.
Megan Malone is an American living in Ireland. For the most part, she loves her new life. Her boss can be tough to work with, but at leaBook Summary:
Megan Malone is an American living in Ireland. For the most part, she loves her new life. Her boss can be tough to work with, but at least she gets a place to live out of the deal. Megan drives for the Leprechaun Limo Service, which gets her around town.
Unfortunately, things are about to head south. When one of her clients, Elizabeth Darr, dies suddenly while dining at a restaurant. Worse, Megan is friends with the others of said restaurant, so she has a vested interest in ensuring the truth comes to light.
My Review:
Dead in Dublin is a delightful, cozy mystery with a lot of charm and personality. Granted, I may be biased, as I have always enjoyed Catie Murphy's writing. If you're looking for a cozy Dublin-based mystery, this book is for you.
Right from the start, you get a feel that there's a depth to Megan's character. She has a history, and it will probably take some time for that to all come out. I adore this storytelling style, as it makes it easier to stay invested in the character for a longer-running series.
As for the mystery itself, it was entertaining. It had a lot of twists and turns – some I saw coming, but many surprised me. Throw in the quirky secondary characters; you can see why any reader would enjoy it.
This novel marks the first in The Dublin Driver Mysteries, which makes me wonder what other messes Megan will find herself in. She's the nosy type (as all amateur detectives seem to be), so I can see her getting involved in anything that happens nearby.
Liz (Quirky Cat)
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Books:
cozy-mystery
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