And to All a Good Bite by David Rosenfelt

And to All a Good Bite by David Rosenfelt

by Carol3 Comments
I have to admit that the reason I read these books is Grove Gardner's narration. He is just perfect for Andy Carpenter's sarcasm and self-deprecating humor. This time around the dog-lover accused of murder is Jeff Wheeler. Two years ago, Jeff's girlfriend was killed when her office building exploded. Jeff has never made it a secret that he blamed her boss, Stanley Franklin, but now that Franklin is dead, murdered in his own home, Jeff is the main suspect. The reader of course knows Jeff is innocent, but Andy and his team need to convince the jury. The best way is to figure out who did do it, but as always that's easier said than done. The plot is put together well with a couple of nice twists. The courtroom scenes move at a good pace, but the dialogue in this series is always the highpoint. It's funny and sharp. And of course, we have adorable dogs. While the cover is adorable...
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A Wonderful Christmas Crime by Jacqueline Frost

A Wonderful Christmas Crime by Jacqueline Frost

by Carol4 Comments
It's Christmas time, which in Mistletoe, Maine, means another murder. This time around, the dead woman is in town with a antiques show, and was caught earlier on the evening she died trying to steal an antique decoration from a bakery. When the bakery owner, Alice, comes under suspicion, Holly want to help. Holly's husband, Sherriff Evan Gray, wants her to leave the mystery to him, especially since she's pregnant. It annoyed me how everyone treated Holly with kid gloves. Yes, she needed to pay attention to her blood pressure, but that's for her and her doctor to worry about - and maybe Evan, but definitely not everyone in town. She's an adult woman with five solved murders to her credit. She doesn't need baby sitters and constant reminders to watch what she eats. I'll grant you, it frustrated her too, and she did tell her friends and family to back off, but so much of the story was wasted on...
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Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards

by Carol1 Comment
Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is a clever mystery that I enjoyed but probably won't work for everyone. Six not-quite stranger, all down on their luck, are invited to play a murder mystery game at the remote Midwinter retreat over Christmas. The rules are semi-clear and the prize is "life-changing." The book invites the reader to attempt to solve the murder puzzle, but whether you sit down with pencil and paper while reading or not, the story is enjoyable. We end up with two mysteries, the one in the puzzle and, as is to be expected, one of the guests is killed. Of course, a snowstorm has left the retreat cut off. The Midwinter Trust employees seem to have their own agenda, too. The is a book that's definitely heavier on plot than characters. While all the characters are interesting and have a bit of personality, i never actually cared about them. Yes, I wondered who would get...
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Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews

Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews

by Carol1 Comment
I am a sucker for Christmas cozies, and since they start releasing in October, that's typically when I start reading them. The Meg Langslow series is one I dip in and out of, but typically enjoy. It's Christmas again in Caerphilly and what would Christmas be like without a bunch of quirky relatives and a murder? Two of Meg's cousins are having weddings in Caerphilly the Saturday before Christmas - not a double wedding, more like competing weddings- same photographer, same venue, but different times and each seems determined to outdo the other. Actually, it seemed like a weird setup - who could possibly have thought this was a good idea? But it's the photographer who ends up dead, not one of the wedding party. The story moves along quickly and some of the bride's antics and others' responses are downright funny. Meg somehow manages to keep her calm in the midst of the chaos- and helps solve the murder, since...
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Kalikimaka Killer by Jasmine Webb

Kalikimaka Killer by Jasmine Webb

by CarolNo Comments
It's Christmas in Hawaii and Charlie has two cases going on. The first is tracking down a bail-jumper - and of course she manages to get tasered again. Zoe brings her the murder case. Zoe believes one of her patients in the emergency room was poisoned, but the cops aren't taking her concerns seriously, so she asks Charlie to investigate. The mystery was decent. The dead woman's friends are basically the only suspects, since they are the only ones who would have had the chance to poison her. Charlie discovers the woman had a few secrets, but none seem to give anyone a reason to kill her. The clues are tucked in well and the whodunnit made sense. It's as fun and madcap as always. And it is Christmassy - we have several Santa gone bad moments and a kiss under the mistletoe....
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The Christmas Eve Murders by Noelle Albright

The Christmas Eve Murders by Noelle Albright

by CarolNo Comments
I don't know. The Christmas Eve Murders had a lot of what I'm looking for in a Christmas cozy - a warm fire, Christmas decorations, good food, too much snow, and quirky characters, but I never really bought into it. Maddie Marlowe, a reporter, is having the worst Christmas Eve ever. She's heading home to a town just outside of Edinburgh, but got a late start because she had to work late. Then a traffic tie up made her reroute taking her through the Yorkshire Dales, where her car breaks down. Due to the increasing snow, the auto club can't get to her until the next day, so she has to take refuge at the local pub, the Merry Monarch, which also has rooms for rent. For some reason, the pub hosts a Christmas Eve scavenger hunt, which she is convinced to join in on. And then of course, there's a murder. Maybe the fact that Maddie is an outsider,...
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