Book Reviews – Carol's Notebook

A Death of Fresh Air by Helen Gold

October 3, 2024September 26, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

This time around, Lady Beatrice and her business partner, Perry Juke, are working on the refurbishment of Clary House, which a few years ago had been The Seaside Lounge. Simon and Ryan are planning to reopen it as a restaurant, Salt Air. Of course, it doesn't go smoothly and a skeleton is found inside the wall. Turns out the chef from the Lounge hadn't left for Australia, but had been killed and his body hidden. Bea and Perry get involved, of course. I really enjoy this series and the cover of this one is adorable. Lady Beatrice is a delight, as always. I love that her friendship with Perry and Simon remains a priority for her, even as her relationship with Rich develops. The supporting cast in these books is just so great. It's like catching up with old friends. The mystery was put together well. There were clues, but also enough red herrings that I was surprised by the...

The Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series #1-3 by Marcy Blesy

September 25, 2024September 25, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

Rosi is recently divorced and out of a job. She heads from her home in Illinois to Tucson to help out with her dad, who is having knee surgery, planning to stay for a couple of weeks. Her parents rent a house for the cooler months in the Tucson Valley Retirement Community. She meets a few of the locals, but of course it's not long until she finds a dead body, Salem Mansfield, the bookstore owner. Rosi doesn't think Police Officer Dan Daniel is up to the task of finding the killer, so does some investigating of her own. I like Rosi. She's funny and smart and the relationships between her and her mom and dad felt real. She also connects with the local landscaper, her potential love interest, and gets an adorable puppy. All the good ingredients in a cozy. I will say that even though the mystery was good, the characters stole the show. Rosi has, of course, decided...

Rockin’ Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews

September 13, 2024September 13, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

Rockin' Around the Chickadee is #36 of the Meg Langslow books, a series I dip in and out of. I think that's part of my problem with it. Andrews does a good job with the characters growing and changing, but I only catch bits of it. But it's way too long a series for me to go back to the beginning. Meg is a blacksmith, wife of professor/ actor Michael, mother of twin boys, assistant to the mayor, and a member of the quirky Hollingsworth family, and, of course, our amateur sleuth. She wears a lot of hats and in each book one or the other seems to be at the forefront. This time, being a member of the Hollingsworth family is at the top of the list. Her grandmother is hosting a conference highlighting the Presumed Innocent organization and several of the family members are helping by being on panels or making sure it all runs smoothly. While most attendees...

A Christmas Murder by Mary Grand

September 9, 2024September 6, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

I love a good Christmas mystery and this had all everything I could ask for. We've got a manor house turned hotel where a tension-filled family is spending the holiday. We've got a snowstorm, making transportation nearly impossible. And then one of the guests, press mogul Duncan Fern, is found dead. Susan, our amateur sleuth with two adorable dogs, is at Bishopstone Manor helping Meera, the owner/manager, who hurt her leg in a fall. Susan is convinced the man was murdered, even if the family and police would rather pretend otherwise. The mystery was well put together. We had plenty of suspects all of whom had secrets. Duncan was mean, rich, and a bully. He gave plenty of people reason to want him dead. This is the third mystery in the series, but worked fine as a stand-alone. Susan is likable even if she makes some odd decisions. And the island seems like a lovely place to live, discounting the occasional...

Peking Duck and Cover by Vivienne Chien

September 5, 2024September 5, 2024 by CarolNo Comments

It's Chinese New Year and Lana Lee is busy managing Ho-Lee Noodle House and organizing a celebration to take place at Asian Village. The head event planner, Ian Sung, has decided there will be music, a lion dance performance and a raffle. Lana, as his second in command, is looking forward to the event but is understandably tired of Ian's nagging. And of course someone is killed during the event - one of the lion dance performers. By now, most people assume/expect Lana to investigate, and of course she does. It's nice to see Lana back in Cleveland, even if any closeness she developed with her sister while they were in California has disappeared. I also like the way she and her boyfriend detective handle trying to solve the same murder. Lana's grown over the series and it's nice to see her coming into her own. The mystery itself was well-done. The dead woman was surrounded by messy relationships and secrets....

The More the Terrier by David Rosenfelt

August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 by Carol2 Comments

This series has the cutest covers. This is the typical Andy Carpenter book. We've got a rescue dog, an innocent client, and a possible mob connection. That being said, the formula works every time, mostly because Andy is a great character. He's funny, smart, self-effacing, sarcastic, and loves dogs. And the narrator, Grover Gardner, pulls it off wonderfully. Andy's friends and family are also likeable and well-developed, if a bit quirky at times. The mystery itself is well-done, with plenty of red herrings and potential suspects. I like how all of Andy's team gets in on the action. While the story takes place around Christmas, the holiday does not impact the story much. It's not a book I would feel the need to save till December....