Death at the Highland Loch by Lydia Travers

Death at the Highland Loch by Lydia Travers

by CarolNo Comments
Death at the Highland Loch is an enjoyable, typical historical cozy. Our sleuth is Poppy Proudfoot, a young, well off widow whose parents are in Australia. So she has the money and freedom to more or less do what she wants. She's pretty, smart (she has a law degree), and has the requisite dog, an adorable lab named Major. In this first outing, she has two cases she's working on. Her friend, Lady Constance Balfour, wants her to find out what happened to an bracelet that her husband apparently purchased shortly before his death. And then there's the murdered man down by the lock. Granted Inspector MacKenzie has told her to stay away from the murder investigation, but at least he seems to have a sense of humor about her interference. If nothing else, Poppy is sure of her own competence. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job dealing with the large cast and variety of...
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The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

by Carol1 Comment
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles is the second novella featuring Mossa and Pleiti. We've colonized Jupiter, "Giant," but are still working towards one day returning to Earth. Mossa, our investigator, is on a missing persons case that takes her to Veldageld where Pleiti lives and works. She of course asks Pleiti for help, since it is one of the university students who seems to have disappeared. I can't decide how I feel about Mossa and Pleiti's relationship. Pleiti spends so much time picking over every little comment or decision Mossa makes that it get annoying. I like them together and I like how they have different strengths and abilities - I just want Pleiti to communicate better and be a little less insecure. I feel like that's what I always want in romances and why I don't usually read them. At least here the main focus is on the mystery and not their relationship. The mystery is put together well and I...
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Dark Chocolate Demise by Jenn McKinlay

Dark Chocolate Demise by Jenn McKinlay

by CarolNo Comments
The Cupcake Bakery Mysteries are typical cozies. This time around Mel, Angie, and the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew have the truck set up at a local zombie walk. Of course, the event takes a horrible turn when one of the "zombies" is killed and left in their prop casket, a zombie whose outfit is strikingly similar to Angie's. I've complained before about over-arching storylines taking over a series. This time, it's Joe's super-important, super-dangerous case against a mob boss. It came up in the book previous to this one, maybe, when Joe had to break up with Mel. (But don't worry, he's still spying on her.) Since Joe is Angie's brother, everyone's worried that she might have been the actual target. The mystery is pretty obvious. And I'm tired of Angie and Mel's love lifes. Of course, next time I can't decide what to read, I'll probably borrow #8 from the library. The characters are decent and I love cupcakes....
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Killing in C Sharp by Alexia Gordon

Killing in C Sharp by Alexia Gordon

by CarolNo Comments
I read the first Gethsemane Brown mystery back in 2016 when it came out, but never got back to the series. Last year I watched the show on Hallmark mysteries, which was fun. Killing in C Sharp has been sitting on my to-read list for probably years now, but the audio was available from the library and I was in the mood for something light. (I'm always in the mood for something light.) There is a lot going on in this one. Ghost hunters have come to Gethsemane's cottage to prove her friend and resident ghost, Eamon, exists. A true crime writer is in town working on an updated version of the book she wrote on Eamon and his wife. Aed, a once-famous composer, is premiering his new opera at the opera house and giving a couple guest lectures at the school. He is followed by the reviewer who nearly killed his career with a bad review. And the opera manages...
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Autumn Harvest Murder by R.M. Murphy

Autumn Harvest Murder by R.M. Murphy

by CarolNo Comments
I'm not a fan of how these mysteries are framed, but I guess it makes them a little unusual. Denny is in a nursing home, telling one of the workers about the murders he helped solve. This time around, Denny is serving up pizza at the annual Harvest Festival and his Autumn Harvest Pie, with roasted organic butternut squash, carrots, garlic and kale, along with a three cheese blend is quite the hit. Unfortunately, when he goes back to the farm to pick up more veggies, he finds the owner, Flora, dead. By now, Denny is developing a bit of a reputation, so people assume he'll look into it. It's a short mystery so we obviously have limited suspects. The clues were decent, although once Denny makes a certain connection, it becomes very clear. Is he eventually just going to move back to town? Is he going to keep staying in a mediocre hotel? Does he take his food truck to other...
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I Kill Always Love You by Helen Golden

I Kill Always Love You by Helen Golden

by CarolNo Comments
Bea, Perry and their families are taking a much needed holiday on the beach in Portugal. There are three villas in the complex and the security is good, but the neighbors are famous Hollywood people, which is a little concerning. Bea certainly doesn't want the press showing up. But then the director ends up dead in the pool at a party Perry and Simon are attending and the press becomes the least of Bea's worries. The man was not universally liked, but the police are focusing on the maid who Bea and her team are sure is innocent. To prove she's innocent, Bea, Perry, Rich, and Simon need to figure out who the real killer is. They definitely have their work cut out for them - turns out almost everyone is lying though and the clues point in different directions. The characters are fun and I love how well our main group get along and work together. Even the kids...
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