Carried to the Grave and Other Stories by Leslie Budewitz

 Carried to the Grave & Other Stories

Book Summary

In her A Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries, Agatha Award-winning author Leslie Budewitz introduces us to Jewel Bay, a tight-knit Montana community that thrives on tourism and farm-to-table fare. Featuring Erin Murphy, beloved proprietor of the Merc—a century-old general store converted into a local foods market—each book brings us closer to the folks who call Jewel Bay home, and the cunning culprits in their midst.

In this delicious new collection of five short stories and one novella, she takes us further into the heart of Jewel Bay—from the playhouse to the Merc, from funerals to food festivals—with equal parts humor, suspense, and compassion, and no shortage of murder to spice up the menu . . .

In CARRIED TO THE GRAVE, a long-hidden family secret refuses to be put to rest.

Jewel Bay’s community food festival serves up the perfect opportunity for a devious killer with an appetite for murder in POT LUCK.

In THE CHRISTMAS STRANGER, a small gesture by a mysterious man turns out to change lives . . . and much more.

A romantic getaway to a secluded beach town in Mexico provides a deadly remedy for a couple’s trouble at home in A DEATH IN YELAPA.

As the local playhouse opens for the season, it’s curtains for a stage manager with a secret in PUT ON A DYING FACE.

And in AN UNHOLY DEATH, when Kate and Paddy Murphy open Murphy’s Mercantile in 1910, they know making a go of it in rough-and-tumble Montana will be hard work, but for a local preacher, it’s murder.

My Thoughts

Carried to the Grave and Other Stories by Leslie Budewitz contains tales involving the characters from A Food Lover’s Village Mystery series.  Erin Murphy in Jewel Bay, Montana runs the Merc, a local food market.  There are five short stories and one novella in this book.  This is a nice addition to the series. Each storyline ties back to Erin Murphy and/or The Merc.  We get to see how Adam went from friend to husband in this collection.  I especially enjoyed An Unholy Death where we get to go back to the opening of The Mercantile.  I thought the stories were well-written and engaging. We get a chance to explore Jewel Bay and get to know the unique characters (past and present) that reside in the town a little better.  Fans of the series will enjoy these fun mysteries.  You can read all at once or one at a time. Carried to the Grave and Other Stories contains humor, romance, mystery, kindness, and more than a little mayhem.  

Carried to the Grave and Other Stories is available from Amazon*.  You can find the novels in A Food Lover's Village Mystery series here.  You can find Leslie Budewitz's other novels here.  Thank you for visiting today.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the Celebrate Lit Tour for Murder at Madison Square Garden by Linda Shenton Matchett.  I hope that you have a friendly day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles: A Food Lover's Village Mystery

Welcome!  Leslie Budewitz is the author of A Food Lover's Village Mystery series and A Spice Shop Mystery series.  She is the first author to win Agatha Awards for both fiction and nonfiction. Leslie lives in northwest Montana with her husband, a musician, and doctor of natural medicine, and their cat Ruff, a cover model, and avid bird-watcher.  You can connect with her on her website, http://www.LeslieBudewitz.com, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz is the fifth novel in A Food Lover’s Village Mystery series.  Erin Murphy is the manager of Murphy’s Glacier Mercantile (aka The Merc) in Jewel Bay, Montana.  The town is getting ready for Christmas with Decorating Day.  While switching out a tub of lights, Erin witnesses (along with the rest of the town) an unpleasant scene between Taya Thornton and her daughter, Merrily.  Erin is shocked at the bitterness expressed by Taya towards Merrily after eighteen years.  Erin invites Merrily over to The Merc and to the cookie swap at her house on Sunday.  Merrily does not show up for the cookie exchange, and she is AWOL from Building Supply where she works on Monday.  Not only is Merrily missing, but cash from the business is as well.  Many say that Merrily failed to change her ways.  Then Merrily is found dead with a string of Christmas lights around her neck.  With Greg Taylor as a prime suspect, Erin starts snooping (not that she needed a reason).  Who would risk going on Santa’s naughty list by killing Merrily? Can Erin wrap up the case before her wedding?

As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is well-written and has a steady pace.  I found the authors conversational writing style to be pleasing.  I was drawn into the story and my attention was held throughout.  Jewel Bay is a charming, small town that goes all out for Christmas.  I loved the descriptions of the shops and the decorations (I wanted to visit and do some shopping).  I like how everyone pitches in to help with various activities.  The characters are nicely developed and, for the most part, are friendly and relatable.  Detective Bello is the grinch of the story (I could imagine him saying Bah Humbug).  I enjoy Erin’s approach to sleuthing with her Spreadsheet of Suspicion.  The mystery was well-crafted and multi-faceted.  There are many gratifying cozy moments in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles.   Erin is preparing for her wedding, buying Christmas presents, cooking, cookie exchange, Erin and Adam with their new home, baking, Adam worrying about his brothers coming to town, and spending time with family and friends.  While there is a lot going on in the story, it is not overwhelming.  I agreed with Erin about the cuteness of the Property Brothers.  I recommend reading the books in A Food Lover’s Village Mystery in order.  I am grateful for the list of characters at the front of the book (helpful).  It was a pleasure to visit Jewel Bay in As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles and I look forward to returning in the next A Food Lover’s Village Mystery.  As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BookBub, GooglePlay, and Kobo.

The author is giving away to print copies of As the Christmas Cookies Crumbles (Rafflecopter form below or click here). Make sure to leave a comment on my blog to get an extra entry.  Thank you for stopping by today. Please take the time to visit the other stops on the tour.  I hope you have a very merry day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – COZY WEDNESDAY

June 7 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW

June 7 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW

June 7 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 8 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

June 8 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

June 8 – Carole's Book Corner – GUEST POST

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June 17 - Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 18 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW

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June 19 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

June 19 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

June 19 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

June 20 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW

June 20 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

Treble at the Jam Fest: A Food Lovers' Village Mystery

Thank you for visiting today.  A Food Lovers' Village Mystery series contains Death Al Dente, Crime Rib, Butter Off Dead, and the newest addition is Treble at the Jam Fest.  The author, Leslie Budewitz also writes A Spice Shop Mystery series. Readers can follow Leslie on Amazon and receive emails when she releases a new novel.  

Treble at the Jam Fest by Leslie Budewitz is the fourth book in A Food Lovers’ Village Mystery series.  Erin Murphy is the manager of Murphy’s Mercantile in Jewel Bay, Montana.  It is time for the annual Jewel Bay Jazz Festival and Workshop event.  The Merc (as locals call it) will be hosting a special Friday night concert in the courtyard featuring Gerry Martin, a jazz guitarist.  The evening is a hit, but Erin notices tension between Gerry, Gabby, and Dave.  The next day Erin is in the shop when she receives news that a body was discovered on the rocks by the Jewel River.  Erin quickly rushes towards the river and discovers that the body belongs to Gerry Martin.  Two people witnessed Gerry having a lively discussion with a figure they could not identify.  That person then pushed the guitarist over the edge.  Erin immediately swings into investigator mode to track down Gerry’s killer.   Who disliked Gerry enough to want him dead?  As it turns out, the musician was not as well-liked as Erin thought.  The killer is not pleased with Erin’s probing and attempts to put her out of commission.  Will Erin be able orchestrate the killer right into police custody?

Treble at the Jam Fest is nicely written and has a great concept.  I did feel that the pace was a little slow and the story did not engage me.  There are numerous characters, businesses and products introduced in the story (too many).  It can be hard to keep them all straight especially if you are new to the series (like me).  The main character did not win me over (she was alright).  I give Treble at the Jam Fest 3 out of 5 stars.  The murder mystery is a no brainer.  I could pinpoint the killer early in the novel.  Erin’s reason for investigating this crime was paltry (let’s face it, Erin did not need a reason besides her curiosity).  One detail that gave me a good laugh is Erin believing she is maintaining the “chain of custody” on an item she found and removed from the crime scene.  I felt that too much time was devoted to Erin’s questions and thoughts.  I wanted more action and less contemplation.  Treble at the Jam Fest has romance, friends, family, music, a mystery and plenty of food.  

I hope you have a pleasant and relaxing Saturday.  I have a summer cold so I plan on taking it easy today.  I will will share my thoughts on With You Always by Jody Hedlund next time. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader