A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian

A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian

by Carol1 Comment
A Midnight Puzzle is the third in the Secret Staircase series, and I do think they are best read in order. Tempest, a former stage magician, is enjoying her work with her father's Secret Staircase Construction company. So, when a customer who is filing a lawsuit against the company is murdered, Tempest decides she has to investigate to save the family business. This time around the connection to Tempest's family is clear. The man is murdered by a booby trap at the theater Tempest is renting for one final show, the theater where Tempest's mom disappeared. I'll be honest, this overarching mystery about the family curse has not been my favorite part of the first two books. I'm glad we get a solution here, but for me, this book just wasn't as fun as the last one. And I did guess the killer before it was revealed, although there were a couple of decent twists before we got there. I listened to...
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Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter

Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter

by CarolNo Comments
It's always fun to catch a new series at the beginning. Jaime has recently divorced due to her husband's infidelity and she is starting over again. Thanks to a bad prenup all she has for the years she spent working with her husband in their construction company is one very rundown house. She decides to go ahead and renovate rather than sell it as is. But of course, when she knocks down one of the interior (non-structural) walls, she finds a corpse. When the cops designate her house a crime scene, she decides she has to figure out who the killer is as soon as possible so she can get back to work on the project. The mystery is put together well. We've got several suspects and a couple of the clues are right up Jaime's alley. Jaime is a good character, rediscovering herself and finding her strengths. She also knows everyone in town, which makes it easier for her to...
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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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The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany

The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany

by CarolNo Comments
This is the 9th book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series. I have read a few of the books, but not all, and I don’t think it hindered my enjoyment of this one. This time around a psychic fair comes to town which brings in more customers than Gemma could have predicted – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was an outspoken proponent of Spiritualism after all. Gemma, against her better judgment, agrees to join her friends at a séance held by Madame Levalier. During the séance, there is a commotion in the library, the lights go out and when they are turned on, Madame Levalier is dead, stabbed in the neck with a hat pin. Obviously, someone in the room is a killer, and Gemma is anxious to discover who. I like Gemma. She’s like most cozy sleuths – owns a bookstore, has two dogs, has a detective boyfriend, and lives in a cute small town. She’s very observant but can...
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In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones

In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones

by CarolNo Comments
I really wanted to like In the Wick of Time. it has so many good points - good setting, Christmas, quirky characters, even a bit of magic, but it was just lacking for me. Tabby and Sage are not women I want to hang out with. Well, Tabby maybe, at least she seem semi-sensible most of the time. Sage, however is selfish and whiny. The magic in this world was a little confusing. Tabby and Sage are energy users, I think, but other people cast spells and enchantments. Apparently the cops know magic exists, but Tabby's boyfriend doesn't - or maybe he does, I'm not sure. There was also one scene between an energy vampire and Sage that made me uncomfortable and wasn't really dealt with. The mystery itself was fine, even if the killer's motive was pretty weak. I don't think I'll pick up any more in the series....
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A Chapter on Murder by Sue Minix

A Chapter on Murder by Sue Minix

by CarolNo Comments
A Chapter on Murder is the third book featuring author/ bookstore owner/ amateur sleuth, Jennifer Dawson. This is the first I’ve read in the series and it worked fine as a stand-alone for me. Although maybe I would have liked Jen and her friends and family a bit better if I had started at the beginning. I can’t put my finger on why, but I never quite warmed up to our main character. Jen has a lot going on this Christmas. Her bookstore desperately needs more business if it’s going to stay open. She’s working on the third book in her series and is determined to have a rough draft ready before the release date of her second. She and her boyfriend’s relationship has been running into some rocks. To top it all off, she finds a dead man outside the door of her bookshop. When a good friend is arrested for the crime, Jen decides it’s up to her to...
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