Midnight Snacks are Murder: A Poppy McAllister Mystery plus a Giveaway!

Midnight Snacks are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery)

by Libby Klein

About the Book

Midnight Snacks are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

2nd in Series

Kensington (July 31, 2018)

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1496713056

Digital ASIN: B0776HFC8V

When her sleepwalking aunt is accused of committing murder, Poppy McAllister finds out there's no rest for the weary . . .

Between trying to get her gluten-free baking business off the ground and helping her aunt remodel her old Victorian into the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast in Cape May, New Jersey, Poppy is ready to call, “Mayday!” And now Aunt Ginny—who's a handful wide-awake—is sleepwalking on her new sleeping pill prescription and helping herself to neighbors’ snacks and knickknacks.

Even more alarming, a local humanitarian who worked with troubled teens is found murdered, and the police suspect the “Snack Bandit.” Other than a bad case of midnight munchies and some mild knickknack kleptomania, Aunt Ginny is harmless. Someone’s trying to frame her. Poppy will need to work tirelessly to uncover the killer and put the case to rest—before Aunt Ginny has to trade in her B & B for a bunk bed behind bars . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!

About the Author

Libby Klein dabbles in the position of Vice President of a technology company which mostly involves bossing other people around, making spreadsheets, and taking out the trash. She writes culinary cozy mysteries from her Northern Virginia office while trying to keep her cat Figaro off her keyboard.

Author Links

Website – https://libbykleinbooks.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/libbykleinbooks/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/LibbyKleinBooks

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/libbykleinbooks/

Purchase Links

Amazon    B&N    Kobo   Google Play  BookBub

My Thoughts

Midnight Snacks are Murder by Libby Klein is the second book in A Poppy McAllister Mystery series.  Poppy McAllister has her hands full with completing the renovations on Aunt Ginny’s Victorian home to turn it into the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast, whipping up goodies for her gluten-free baking business, and keeping an eye on Aunt Ginny and her cat, Figaro.  But then her mother-in-law, Georgina decides to visit to check on her investment and proves more of a hinderance than a help (as usual).  Georgina has her own ideas for the B&B and is constantly undermining Poppy’s instructions to the contractor, Smitty.  Thank heavens for Giampaolo and his soothing presence.  Then strange thefts start plaguing the neighborhood where the thief is taking knickknacks and eating snacks.  It seems Aunt Ginny’s new medications have caused her to sleepwalk.  After a visit to the doctor, Poppy takes Aunt Ginny around the neighborhood offering apologies and returning the stolen items.  The next day, police arrive to arrest Aunt Ginny for the death of Brody Brandt whose crime scene looks similar to those of the Snack Bandit as Aunt Ginny has been dubbed by the press.  Someone is framing Aunt Ginny and Poppy intends to reveal the truth to keep Aunt Ginny out of the slammer.  Poppy needs to work quickly, though, because Aunt Ginny is on house arrest which gives her too much time to plot mischief.

Midnight Snacks are Murder will have you laughing the whole way through with Aunt Ginny and Georgina’s antics.  While this is the second book in the series, it can be read alone. I thought Midnight Snacks are Murder to be nicely written, to have a steady pace and smooth transitions.  While Poppy is the main character, she is overshadowed by Aunt Ginny, Georgina and Figaro (the cat).  I like finding out more about Georgina and the reason for her behavior.  However, I do not see her changing her behavior overnight.  I find Aunt Ginny to be too over-the-top.  She comes across as crazy instead of eccentric.  I did not understand why the local cops did not just stick her in a cell and throw away the key when she kept escaping house arrest.  The city had a cop stationed outside the house (no city can afford to waste manpower in that manner).  I was happy that Poppy actively investigated the murder.  I am surprised, though, that people were so willing to talk to her (it is New Jersey) considering she is not with the police or a private investigator.  I thought it was a breeze to finger the culprit, but others may be surprised when the solution is revealed (depends on your sleuthing level).  I did not like the love triangle present in the story or the amount of time devoted to romance.  I felt Gia was coming on too strong and seems too perfect (of course, there is his mother).  The presents he bought Poppy were considerate and expensive.  I was drooling over the description of cobalt blue Viking dual fuel range (I want it).  I enjoyed the ending with Mrs. Galbraith (it gave me a good laugh).  A couple of Poppy’s recipes are included at the end of the book. If you enjoy amusing cozy mysteries with comical hijinks, then you will not want to miss Midnight Snacks are Murder.

There is a preview of Restaurant Weeks are Murder (the next A Poppy McAllister Mystery) at the end of the book which comes out on February 26, 2019.  The first book in this series is Class Reunions are Murder which is currently $.99 on Amazon (at least it was at the time I wrote this posting).  Thank you very much for stopping by today.  Make sure to enter the giveaway before you depart.  You can enter via the form below or click here.  The other stops on the Great Escapes Midnight Snacks are Murder Virtual Book Tour is below.  I will be featuring Death on the Menu by Lucy Burdette on August 3.  I hope you will visit to see what I thought.  Have a charming day and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 31 - StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

July 31 - Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

August 1 - The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

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August 2 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

August 2 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

August 3 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 3 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 5 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

August 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 6 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW  

August 6 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

August 7 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

August 8 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

August 8 – Moonlight Rendezvous – REVIEW, GUEST POST

August 9 – Maureen's Musings – REVIEW

August 9 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 10 – The Cozy Pages – REVIEW

August 10 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

August 11 – Bookworm Cafe – REVIEW

August 11 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW

August 12 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

August 12 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 13 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 13 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

Class Reunions are Murder: A Poppy McAllister Mystery

Greetings Fellow Readers!  Phoebe's Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher will be published on February 6.  It is the first book in the Nantucket Legacy series.  

Class Reunions are Murder by Libby Klein is the first installment in A Poppy McAllister Mystery series.  Poppy McAllister is a widow of six months.  Since her husband passed away, she has stayed cooped up in her home watching cooking shows, overindulging in sweets, talking to her cat (Sir Figaro Newton) and avoiding her overbearing mother-in-law, Georgina.  She receives an invitation for her twenty-fifth high school reunion along with a strange note from her high school nemesis, Barbie Pomeroy Clark.  The last thing Poppy wishes to do is attend, but her friend Sawyer insists she attend (responds to the invitation for her).  It does give Poppy a chance to visit her unique Aunt Ginny and see how she is faring.  After purchasing a new (hideous) dress that fits, Poppy is off to the reunion.  Barbie has not changed one iota since high school (mean, nasty, bully).  Poppy’s friend, Sawyer gets into an altercation with Barbie.  When Poppy goes to check on Sawyer, she finds Barbie dead in front of her old locker.  Amber, another high school nemesis, is now a police officer and arrests Poppy of the crime.  Poppy is soon released (thanks to old high school boyfriend) and she sets out to prove her innocence.  The suspects list is quite long since Barbie made enemies on a daily basis.  Poppy must also help her Aunt Ginny deal with an aggressive social services worker and cope with her new diet/exercise regimen prescribed by the holistic doctor (to help with her depression).  Poppy needs to locate the murderer before she ends up celebrating her 30^th reunion behind bars.

Class Reunions are Murder is a debut novel from Libby Klein.  The book opens with middle aged Poppy McAllister a hot mess.  She is grieving the loss of her husband (understandable) and dealing with a difficult mother-in-law (who objects to Poppy spending any of her inheritance).  Poppy has been eating donuts, fudge, cookies, brownies and other sweet (unhealthy but delicious) treats for the last six months (gained 60 pounds).  She spends her days in workout/yoga clothes that are ill fitting and stained while watching cooking shows (and talking to Figaro).  The last thing she wants to do is return to Cape May, New Jersey for her high school reunion (I do not blame her).  Circumstances (and a conversation with an inmate while she was in the local jail) in Cape May force Poppy out of her funk.  There is a murder (she is being railroaded by an angry police officer), a social services worker is trying to force Aunt Ginny into an assisted living facility, a holistic doctor puts her on the Paleo diet and suggests Poppy try yoga, and none of her clothes fit her.  Aunt Ginny is a lively, eccentric and lonely woman.  I believe she has missed having family nearby and that is why her home has been neglected.  There are two love interests for Poppy (which I found odd since she is still grieving her husband).  The handsome barista, Giampaolo and her old high school boyfriend, Tim.  The mystery was interesting with several suspects (her high school class had a number of mean girls).  The clues are sprinkled throughout the book to aid readers in identifying the culprit.  Poppy does not take to sleuthing right off, but gets better as the story progresses.  She is fortunate to have help from her friends and Aunt Ginny. I believe many readers can relate to high school drama with the bullying mean girls, the jocks and good friends. I like the point the author made about perception.  Every story has two sides with each person having a different perspective. The various storylines were nicely wrapped up at the end of the book.  I did find a repetition of information (a common problem lately in cozy mysteries), and I felt the book was a too long (407 pages).  A little editing would have enhanced the story.  Class Reunions are Murder is a light, humorous cozy mystery that will have readers chuckling through the whole book.  Class Reunions are Murder will be published on January 30.  Midnight Snacks are Murder is the next novel in A Poppy McAllister Mystery series and it will be available on July 31.

I will be back tomorrow with my thoughts on Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake by Sarah Graves.  I hope that you have a stupendous day.  Thank you for visiting, take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader