The Taste of Datura by Lorenzo Petruzziell

The Taste of Datura by Lorenzo Petruzziell

by Carol1 Comment
The Taste of Datura is set in Naples and does a fabulous job of bringing the city to life - the place, food, people, and some of the mythology. Nick is in Naples when he is contacted by a black market dealer about a bracelet he has in his possession. Turns out there are several people interested in the bracelet, which makes Nick curious about its history and meaning. I was not in love with Nick. I didn't quite understand what his profession was, if he had one. He's resourceful and stubborn but has little common sense when pretty women are involved. The book is fast-paced with plenty of action, violence, and tension. We've also got a touch of the paranormal, too, with Laura who is a medium. Her visions center around the bracelet and the people touched by it. She's nice but a little too trusting for my taste. The mystery here is why the bracelet is so important and...
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A Cocktail to Die For by Helen Golden

A Cocktail to Die For by Helen Golden

by CarolNo Comments
I thoroughly enjoy the Right Royal cozy mysteries, and A Cocktail to Die for is not exception. This time around Lady Bea, Perry and a small group of friends have gathered for a relaxing spa weekend at Chasingham House prior to Perry's wedding to Simon. Another small group is also staying at Chasingham celebrating a birthday. It's no surprise that one of the birthday party ends up dead. Lady Bea and Perry are the kind of people I would love to hang out with in real life if so many deaths didn't happen around them. The mysrtery is well-plotted and engaging.The story takes place over two days at the hotel, and there is a limited number of suspects, but with the lies and tension, it's difficult to guess the solution. As always, Bea and Perry are perfect. This is a fun read, a great mix of murder and humor. We also get to spend time at the hotel which sounds fabulous....
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Turkeys and Thanksgiving by Leena Clover

Turkeys and Thanksgiving by Leena Clover

by Carol2 Comments
Turkeys and Thanksgiving was my first visit to Pelican Cove, but it was a cute story. Mr. Harrison's prize turkey is missing and he asks Jenny, our amateur sleuth, to find it after the police don't take him seriously. Jenny and her friends, the Magnolias, seem fun and like the type to get into predicaments. I like how the town seems to pull together, like for a Thanksgiving potluck. The mystery itself wasn't terribly complicated, but this is a novella so I wouldn't expect it to be. It was a good holiday read and a nice introduction to the series for me....
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Treats, Tricks, and Trespassing by Kathleen Suzette

Treats, Tricks, and Trespassing by Kathleen Suzette

by CarolNo Comments
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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A Dead Herring by Helen Golden

A Dead Herring by Helen Golden

by Carol2 Comments
I admit to having a fondness for country house mysteries, especially when a winter storm has everyone snowed in. Lady Bea is refurbishing rooms at Drew Castle with her business partner, Perry Juke, while her brother, Lord Fred, is hosting a shooting party, so Bea has to mix her work with helping her brother by playing hostess. Then one of the guests, Ben Rhodes, ends up dead, killed in his bathtub. And it's just Bea's luck that DCI Fitzwilliam is the only officer closed enough to get to them through the snow. I thoroughly enjoyed A Dead Herring, as I have the other three in the series I've read. Bea is a wonderful character, smart and persistent. Perry is funny and competent in his own right. I love how he and Simon, his boyfriend/ chef/ former CID officer, help Bea and watch out for her. They make a great trio. The book moves along quickly with the expected clash and attraction...
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