The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds by Bobbi Holmes

The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds by Bobbi Holmes

The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds is the second in the Haunting Danielle series. I did not read the first, but I felt the author did a fine job getting me up to speed. Danielle Boatman inherited Marlow House from her aunt and is planning on opening it as a B&B. The house is haunted by Walt Marlow, who is charming. I think his murder was solved in the first book. Danielle's annying cousin, Cheryl, has showed up and wants her half of the inheritance, especially the Thorndike necklace. This was a fun book. I liked Danielle and her friends, at least the ones who believe in her. Cheryl is a bit over the top, but it works for the story. The cops were less than competent, as in most cozies. The mystery moved along at a good pace, with several suspects and enough clues and red herrings. I was surpised by who the killer turned out to be. ...
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Treats, Tricks, and Trespassing by Kathleen Suzette

Treats, Tricks, and Trespassing by Kathleen Suzette

Treats, Tricks, and Trespassing picks up six years after the Pumpkin Hollow Mysteries left off. I haven't read any of the Pumpkin Hollow books, but this sounded like a perfect Halloween-ish read, so I picked it up. The author does a good job of introducing the characters, although there are a lot of them. The town itself is fun and quirky, embracing Halloween all year round. Mia and Christy are candy makers and have a cute shop in town. When a local woman is killed in the abandoned mansion, Mia's husband, Detective Ethan Banks, is put in charge of the case, but Mia and Christy decide to do some snooping, and trespassing, on their own. I didn't love the characters, maybe because I didn't know them well. The mystery was okay, with several suspects and a good mix of clues and red herrings. It was fun enough as a seasonal read, but probably not a series I'd pick up outside of...
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Dead to Rights by Jasmine Webb

Dead to Rights by Jasmine Webb

Who wouldn't love to find out they've inherited a house and bookshop near the sea in Cornwall? And from a relative they didn't even know? Sign me up. It's not going so great for Mack, though. First, someone else is living in her house - a grandmother she never knew. Then, there's a dead body in her bookstore, and somehow the police have settled on her as a main suspect. I liked a lot of things about Dead to Rights. Mack is a good character - funny, tenacious, a bit snarky. Her grandmother is a hoot. The two make a good team and even their bickering is funny. I like the town with the bookstore, Ugly Mug coffeeshop, and amazing hiking trails. I even like the cat. I didn't like how stupid the cops seem to be. Yes, the detectives in cozy mysteries tend to be a bit bumbling, but this was over the top. I didn't like how Mack trusted a...
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Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews

Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! is # 34 in the Meg Langslow series, but the first I've read. Honestly, the bird titles just never grabbed my attention. But this one takes place at Christmas and I always love a fun Christmas mystery. It worked fine as a stand-alone, although I assume I would know the characters way better if I had started at the beginning. Meg is a wife, mother, and blacksmith - which really has nothing to do with birds. She has been roped into competing on Blades of Glory, a weapon-making reality show being filmed at Ragnar's house right before Christmas. The show has a variety of competitors, all men except Meg, some of whom are nice and some are total jerks. The two producers and the director are not so great either and want to keep any holiday feel out of the show. Sabotage, an attack, and a murder occur on the set,...
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A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke

A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke

This second Record Shop Mystery is a fun, breezy, cozy mystery read. In the first book, we met Juni and her sister, Maggie and Tansy who have opened a record album/ coffee chop is Cedar River, Texas. This time around the mayor has been murdered and of course the Jessup sisters are in the thick of it. Tansy is the one who brewed the coffee that killed him and Juni is the one who discovered the body. I like the sisters. They support each other, but can also be a bit snarky. Their family and friends are well-developed too. And of course, we get a couple of cute animals, including a cow. The mystery itself is good. I did guess who the killer was, but there were plenty of red herrings for distraction. The treasure hunt side plot was a nice addition. ...
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Death at the Deep Dive by Josh Lanyon

Death at the Deep Dive by Josh Lanyon

I thoroughly enjoy this series for the characters, mysteries, and setting. Ellery is such a nice guy and I've enjoyed his relationship with Police Chief, Jack. They make a good pair. Pirates Cove on Buck Island is a small town with quirky residents, as befits any good cozy, and Buck Island's pirate history adds a unique flavor. Ellery finds a back of Spanish coins tucked away in the bookstore. Apparently sixty years ago, Vernon Shandy did discover the famed Blood Red Rose treasure before he was killed. By now Ellery has built a bit of a reputation for his amateur detective work, and Vernon's sister Vera, matriarch of the Shandy clan, asks Ellery to solve the murder, offering a list of suspects that includes Ellery's great aunt Eudora. The mystery was put together well. We had several suspects, but the solution is actually a bit sad. The ending of the book was quite sweet, however, and I'm looking forward to the next in...
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