To Catch a Witch: A Wishcraft Mystery

Happy Book Release Day!  The Hope Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter (I will be featuring this on August 14) is out today along with Death on the Menu by Lucy Burdette, The Coroner by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush, Blessed be the Wicked by D.A. Bartley, The Girl on the Doorstep by Lindsey Hutchinson (featuring on August 11), A Dark and Twisting Path by Julia Buckley, To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake and The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis.  

To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake is the eighth novel in A Wishcraft Mystery series.  Darcy Merriweather runs As You Wish, a personal concierge service, in the Enchanted Village in Massachusetts.  She has been hired by Abby Stillwell to organize this year’s annual Wicked Mad Dash.  The proceeds from the race will help pay the medical bills for little Aine Bryant.  The event gets off to a bumpy starts courtesy of Vince Paxton and his magical pranks.  Abby asks Darcy to go over the bookkeeping ledgers for the race since they are off from the previous years.  Abby then departs to warm up for the race, but she does not return.  A search commences, and Abby is found dead below Aural Gorge bridge.  As Craft investigator, Darcy teams up with her fiancé, Nick Sawyer (police chief for Enchanted Village) to track down Abby’s killer.  Darcy is worried about her sister, Harper.  She has been running herself ragged since she broke up with Marcus.  Her health is in jeopardy and Dr. Dennis Goodwin has some shocking news.  To top it off, Dorothy Hansel Dewitt is attempting a coup and the only person who can save the village from her reign of terror is heartbroken Harper.  Can Darcy conjure up the killer before her suspects fly off?  

To Catch a Witch is an enchanting cozy mystery.  It is well-written and has a steady pace which makes for an easy to read story.  Heather Blake has created delightful characters for A Wishcraft Mystery series.  Darcy has embraced life in the Enchanted Village.  She is now running As You Wish, gotten engaged, a wonderful stepmom to Mimi, takes care of their numerous pets, is the Craft investigator, and helps her friends.  Darcy has a caring heart and does not like to see anyone hurting.  She has also taken to rehabilitating Vince Paxton who found his Craft too dull and has taken to dark magic.  If Darcy can turn Glinda around, then Vince should be a piece of cake.  There is a humorous scene with Aunt Ve and Archie that involves Magnum PI and Pina coladas.  Two of my favorite characters are Pepe and Mrs. P.  They are just adorable, and Pepe is a wizard with a needle (I would for him to craft me a dress). The author was creative when making up the magical abilities for her series.  They are unique along with the names.   The Enchanted Village is a charming small town outside Salem.  Each shop is special and suits the owner (no big box stores in this hamlet).  If you have not read any of the previous novels in A Wishcraft Mystery series, I do not suggest you begin with To Catch a Witch (you would be missing out on the backstory that is needed to understand the characters and the magic).  Each book in the series builds upon the previous one.  I thought the mystery was spellbinding and multifaceted.  There are several suspects with motive to kill Abby plus it turns out that Abby had a few secrets of her own.  There is active investigating and I appreciate that Darcy works with the police to help solve the case.  Nick is happy to have her assistance and just warns her to be careful (Nick is a sweetie).  You will need to be clairvoyant (or a master cozy mystery sleuth) to solve Abby’s murder.  I could have done with less repetition (I do not need to be told the same thing multiple times), but that is my only grievance. To Catch a Witch is packed full of intriguing storylines, and it will keep you riveted until the very end.  I wish we did not have to wait a year for the next bewitching installment in A Wishcraft Mystery series.   

To see the other titles in A Wishcraft Mystery series, click here.  Thank you for stopping in today.  Tomorrow I will be sharing my feelings about Purrder, She Wrote by Cate Conte.  It is second book in A Cat Cafe Mystery series.  May you have an entrancing day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

  

Kris

The Avid Reader

Death Over Easy: A Country Store Mystery plus a Giveaway!

Death Over Easy (A Country Store Mystery)

by Maddie Day

About the Book

Death Over Easy (A Country Store Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

5th in Series

Kensington (July 31, 2018)

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1496711236

Digital ASIN: B0776H5T7B

Restaurateur Robbie Jordan is ready for the boost in business a local music festival brings to South Lick, Indiana, but the beloved event strikes a sour note when one of the musicians is murdered . . .

June’s annual Brown County Bluegrass Festival at the Bill Monroe Music Park in neighboring Beanblossom is always a hit for Robbie’s country store and café, Pans ‘N Pancakes. This year, Robbie is even more excited, because she’s launching a new bed and breakfast above her shop. A few festival musicians will be among Robbie’s first guests, along with her father, Roberto, and his wife, Maria. But the celebration is cut short when a performer is found choked to death by a banjo string. Now all the banjo players are featured in a different kind of lineup. To clear their names, Robbie must pair up with an unexpected partner to pick at the clues and find the plucky killer before he can conduct an encore performance . . .

Includes Recipes for You to Try!

About the Author

Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef and holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-nominated author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and three cats in Massachusetts.  As Edith Maxwell, she writes the Local Foods Mysteries (Kensington Publishing) and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Midnight Ink).  You can find all Maddie's/Edith's identities at www.edithmaxwell.com. She blogs every weekday with the other Wicked Cozy Authors at wickedcozyauthors.com. Look for her as Edith M. Maxwell and Maddie Day on Facebook and @edithmaxwell and @maddiedayauthor on Twitter.

Purchase Links

Amazon  B&N   Kobo  Google Play BookBub

My Thoughts

Death Over Easy by Maddie Day is the fifth novel in A Country Store Mystery series.  Robbie Jordan owns Pans ‘N Pancakes in South Lick, Indiana.  Robbie currently has her father and his wife visiting from Italy and they are staying in her newly refinished B&B rooms over her restaurant.  It is June and time for the Brown County Bluegrass Festival that is being held in nearby Beanblossom.  It will mean extra business for her restaurant plus some of the musicians are staying in her B&B.  Robbie enjoys an evening at the festival despite Pia Bianchi causing some disharmony.  The next morning Lt. Buck Bird stops by for breakfast and mentions that Pia was found dead at the Beanblossom covered bridge that morning.  She was strangled with banjo strings (ouch). When Sue Berry ends up at the top of the suspect list, Robbie swings into action. Pia managed to antagonize a notable number of people giving Robbie a suspect list longer than an operetta.  Robbie will need to compose the clues into a harmonious tune to pick out the cut-throat killer. 

Death Over Easy is nicely written and has a steady pace which makes for a satisfying reading experience.  I like the characters in the story.  Robbie is a smart, strong woman who has started a new business as well as doing construction on the upstairs rooms to expand her business.   It is sweet that Robbie is finally getting to know her father, Roberto Fracasso.  I wish his wife, Maria spoke better English, so we could get to know her as well.  The town of South Lick is quaint small town with friendly residents.  The author has created a cozy environment.  It is like visiting old friends when I pick up a new A Country Store Mystery.  It is neat how each book features a different theme or event and I enjoy the various vintage kitchen tools mentioned.  There are many pleasing cozy moments throughout the story as Robbie cooks, attends the festival, spends time with her kitten, and interacts with her friends, co-workers, boyfriend and family.  The mystery was straightforward with some misdirection, a handful of suspects, a search through the woods, and a twist at the end.  I like that the local police work with Robbie and are not portrayed as dullards.  While Death Over Easy can be read alone, you would be missing some of the background on Robbie Jordan.  I recommend reading A Country Store Mystery series in order.  There are recipes at the end for a couple of the dishes featured in the story.  Death Over Easy is a charming cozy mystery that will have you eager for the next A Country Store Mystery.

The other novels in A Country Store Mystery series are Flipped for Murder, Grilled for Murder, When the Grits Hit the Fan, and Biscuits and Slashed Browns.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I will feature To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake tomorrow.  Before you depart, make sure to enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter form below or click here.  Also, please take the time to visit the other stops on the Great Escapes Death Over Easy Virtual Book Tour (see schedule below).  Stay cool and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 1 - Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW  

August 1 - 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

August 2 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

August 2 – Babs Book Bistro – REVIEW

August 3 – Sapphyria's Books – REVIEW

August 3 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 5 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 6 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

August 7 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

August 8 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 9 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

August 10 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

August 10 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT

August 11 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

August 12 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 13 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW  

August 14 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW

Italian Iced: An Ethnic Eats Mystery

Welcome!  In the Dog House by V.M. Burns will be released on August 21 along with As the Tide Comes In by Cindy Woodsmall.  Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon will be released on August 28 as well as Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier.  

Italian Iced by Kylie Logan is An Ethnic Eats Mystery.  Laurel Inwood is gearing up for Italian cuisine month at Terminal at the Tracks in Hubbard, Ohio.  She knows it will be a popular theme with their patrons.  The first night Laurel notices a shabbily dressed older man with a fedora nursing a cup of coffee.  When she arrives home at Pacifique, she is greeted with an open door and her kitchen is in a disarray. Someone went through all her cookbooks.  On Saturday morning when Laurel arrives at the restaurant, she finds the kitchen ransacked and, again, all the cookbooks have been disturbed. Detective Gus Oberlin arrives to take a report and hints that he would love to try the gelato.  Laurel opens the walk-in freezer and finds her former employer and Hollywood actress, Meghan Cohan frozen on the floor.  She is wearing a disguise and Laurel recognizes her as the woman she bumped into the previous night.  What was Meghan looking for among Laurel’s belongings and why was she incognito?  The real question is who killed Meghan Cohan?  The suspect list is lengthy as Meghan antagonized every person she encountered.  Laurel needs to find the killer quickly, so she can get rid of the pesky reporters plaguing the restaurant. 

Italian Iced is the third book in An Ethnic Eats Mystery series and it can be read alone.  I like the characters in this cute cozy mystery series.  Laurel is a strong main character with a passion for food.  She has found a home in Hubbard along with close friends and her boyfriend, Declan Fury. The mystery was multifaceted with red herrings and twists.  Armchair sleuths will have a difficult time solving this whodunit.  I did have two unanswered questions at the end, though, that I wish the author had addressed.  There is plenty of yummy sounding food mentioned throughout the book as Laurel creates Italian dishes for the restaurant.  There is romance as Laurel and Declan’s relationship deepens. The ending was charming and romantic.  It seems, though, that Italian Iced is the last novel in An Ethnic Eats Mystery series.  I am happy that the author took the time provide a satisfying ending for her readers.  If you are looking for a cozy mystery with engaging characters, luscious food, and a killer mystery, then you should read Italian Iced.  The first two novels in An Ethnic Eats Mystery series are Irish Stewed and French Fried.

I appreciate you visiting today.  Tomorrow I am featuring Death Over Easy by Maddie Day.  I am one of the stops on the Great Escapes Death Over Easy Virtual Book Tour.  May you have a thought-provoking day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

S'More Murders: A Five-Ingredient Mystery plus a Giveaway!

 

S'more Murders (A Five-Ingredient Mystery)

by Maya Corrigan

About the Book

S'more Murders:  A Five-Ingredient Mystery

Cozy Mystery

5th in Series

Kensington (July 31, 2018)

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1496709196

Digital ASIN: B0776HN51M

Managing a fitness club café and collaborating on a cookbook with her grandfather are Val Deniston’s usual specialties, but she’s about to set sail into nearby Chesapeake Bay—straight into a murder case . . .

Since catering themed events is a good way to make extra cash, Val agrees to board the Titanic—or at least cater a re-creation of the doomed journey on a yacht. The owner of the yacht, who collects memorabilia related to the disaster, wants Val to serve the last meal the Titanic passengers ate . . . while his guests play a murder-mystery game. But it is the final feast for one passenger who disappears from the ship. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Now Val has to reel in a killer before s’more murders go down . . .

Includes delicious five-ingredient recipes!

About the Author

Maya Corrigan blends her love of food and detective stories in her A Five-Ingredient Mystery series set in a fictional historic town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The first book in the series, By Cook or by Crook, was published in 2014. It was followed by Scam Chowder in 2015, Final Fondue in 2016, and The Tell-Tale Tarte in 2017.

Before taking up a life of crime (on the page), she taught university courses in writing, detective fiction, American literature, and drama. She won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Unpublished Mainstream Mystery / Suspense. Her short stories, written under the name of Mary Ann Corrigan, have been published in anthologies. When not reading and writing, she enjoys theater, tennis, trivia, cooking, and crosswords. Her website features trivia about food and mysteries.

Author Links:  WebPage     Facebook

Purchase Links

Amazon  B&N   Kobo  Google Play   BookBub

My Thoughts

S’more Murders by Maya Corrigan is the fifth novel in A Five-Ingredient Mystery series.  Val Dennison has been hired to cater a special dinner hosted by Otto Warbeck who is a collector of Titanic memorabilia.  He wants Val to recreate the last dinner served on the Titanic on his yacht, Abyss.  It is a ten-course meal for eight guests and he insists it be held in a few days on Saturday, April 14 (the anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking).  Val is reluctant to take this particular job, but the money she will earn will pay for the repairs needed to Granddad’s home (those blasted termites).  On Saturday Val, Bethany and Granddad board the Abyss and begin their dinner preparations while the yacht heads out into open water.  Bethany oversees the s’more appetizers requested by Otto’s wife, Cheyenne.  After they sit down for dinner, Otto announces he has created a mystery game for them to play while they eat (he even has scripts).  The water becomes choppy due to a storm, the pilot of the yacht is in distress and Otto cannot be found.  Val, with the help of her friends, dives into the case.  There are eight suspects with motive to harm the victim.  Val wades through the clues with the hopes of spearing a killer.

S’more Murders is nicely written, and it has some interesting characters.  I find that Grandad (Don Myer) steals the show from Val.  He is an eccentric and gregarious older gentleman with a zest for life.  Val came across as bland and I am not a fan of her boyfriend, Gunnar.  Gunnar is an amateur actor who wishes to expand his skills.  He is contemplating a change and Val wonders how she will fit in with his plans.  Personally, I would wish Gunnar good luck on his new venture and look for a boyfriend who is more compatible.  I would like to see the author flesh out Val’s character and have her grow as a person.  The mystery was intriguing with multiple suspects and misdirection.  I think that many readers will be surprised when the full solution is revealed.  I could have done with less speculation and rehashing of the clues (it gets old).  I did find the pace to be a little slow, and I had trouble staying invested in the story (my attention wandered).  Val whips up some delectable foods in the story and the descriptions will have your mouth watering (and your stomach growling).  I like how friends and family come together to help and care for each other.  S’more Murders can be read alone if you are new to the series.  Welcome aboard Val’s high seas adventure in S’more Murders.

I appreciate you stopping by today.  Please take the time to visit the other stops on the Great Escapes S’more Murders Tour (see schedule below) and enter the giveaway.  You can enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter form below or click here.  I hope you have a fascinating day.  I will be sharing my thoughts on Italian Iced by Kyle Logan tomorrow. Stay cool and Happy Reading.

Kris

The Avid Reader

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

July 30 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

July 31 - Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

July 31 - Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

August 1 - Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 1 - Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

August 2 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

August 2 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

August 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy - GUEST POST

August 3 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

August 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

August 5 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

August 6 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 6 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW

August 7 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 8 – Readeropolis – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 9 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 9 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT

August 10 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW  

August 10 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

August 11 – A Blue Million Books – GUEST POST

August 12 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

Death on the Menu: A Key West Food Critic Mystery

Death on the Menu: A Key West Food Critic Mystery

by Lucy Burdette

About the Book

 

Death on the Menu: A Key West Food Critic Mystery

Cozy Mystery

8th in Series

Crooked Lane Books (August 7, 2018)

Hardcover: 295 Pages

ISBN-13: 978-1683317463

Digital ASIN: B078MBKH95

When a killer strikes just before flan time, beloved food critic Hayley Snow is forced to sniff out the killer before someone else bites the dust. Hayley Snow, fiery food critic for Key Zest magazine, has just landed a ticket to one of the most prestigious events in Key West: a high-brow three-day conference at the Harry Truman Little White House. Even though she’ll be working the event helping her mother’s fledgling catering business, there’s plenty of spicy gossip to go around. But just before her mother’s decadent flan is put to the test, Key West’s most prized possession, Hemingway’s Nobel prize gold medal for The Old Man and the Sea, is discovered stolen from its case. Unsavory suspicions point to Gabriel, a family friend and one of the new busboys working the event, who mysteriously goes missing moments later. Anxious to clear his name, Gabriel’s family enlists Hayley to help find him, but right as they begin their search, his body is found stabbed to death in the storeroom. Hayley has no shortage of suspects to interrogate and very little time before the killer adds another victim to the menu in national bestselling author Lucy Burdette’s delectable eighth Key West Food Critic mystery, Death on the Menu.

About the Author

Clinical psychologist Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib) has published 16 mysteries, including the latest in the Key West food critic series, DEATH ON THE MENU (Crooked Lane Books, August 2018.) Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She's a member of Mystery Writers of America and a past president of Sisters in Crime. She blogs at Jungle Red Writers and shares her love for food with the culinary writers at Mystery Lovers Kitchen She lives in Madison CT and Key West FL. Read more at www.lucyburdette.com.

​Author Links:

Facebook: WWW.facebook.com/lucyburdette

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lucyburdette

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lucyburdette

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/robertaisleib​

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4781149.Lucy_Burdette

Purchase Links:

Amazon  B&N  IndieBound BookBub Kobo

My Thoughts

Death on the Menu by Lucy Burdette is A Key West Food Critic Mystery.  Hayley Snow is helping her mother cater a three-day event at the Harry Truman Little White House in Key West, Florida.  Catering the Cuban/American conference is a coup for her fledgling business.  Nathan Bransford, Hayley’s boyfriend, would prefer if Hayley bowed out since it is a controversial event and protestors will be present.  On the first day of the event, Hemingway’s Nobel prize gold medal for Old Man and the Sea on loan from Cuba disappears.  It is the first time the medal has ever left Cuba and the Cuban delegates are outraged.  Despite searches of the house and staff, they are unable to locate it. That night as the flan is being served, Gabriel is found stabbed to death in the kitchen closet.  Gabriel’s family asks Hayley to investigate his death and get justice for the family by finding his killer.  Despite Nathan’s objections, Hayley plunges into the case.  Miss Gloria and Hayley are worried about the houseboat for sale next to them.  The last tenants were party hearty types that continually disturbed the residents of Houseboat Row.  Plus, Hayley has articles to write for Key Zest magazine and little time to sample the local Cuban cuisine for her critique.  Hayley is in for a busy weekend in Death on the Menu. 

Death on the Menu contains good writing and engaging characters.  Lucy Burdette does a wonderful job at world building.  She includes various shops and sites in Key West.  Her descriptions bring the area alive.  I do not recommend reading Death on the Menu without having read An Appetite for Murder which will give you an introduction to Hayley, her friends, her job, and the area.  I liked the inclusion of Key West history and information about Ernest Hemingway (adds to the world building).  There are some lovely cozy moments in the story along with tasty food descriptions.  I am a fan of Miss Gloria and I envy the pair living on a houseboat (except when a hurricane is approaching).  I like Miss Gloria’s love of sequins (it is cute) and Hayley’s love of high top tennis shoes (I adore my Converse and have them in different colors/prints).  While I am not a fan of Nathan, he does do something at the end that puts him a better light.  I did feel that Death on the Menu is a slow starter and the pace throughout the book was slow.  The mystery was interesting, but I wish it had been more of a challenge to identify the guilty party.  I felt that some details were missing from the story (what is the mother’s name and the name of her catering business for example).  There are recipes included at the end.  They include Cuban roast pork, black bean soup, mojito cake and flan.  I thought the ending was sweet, romantic and upbeat.  Join Hayley Snow on her latest sleuthing adventure in Death on the Menu.

Death on the Menu will be available on August 7. Thank you so much for stopping in today.  Please take the time to visit some of the other stops on the Great Escapes Death on the Menu Virtual Book Tour (see below).  I will return tomorrow with my review of S'More Murders by Maya Corrigan.  It is the fifth book in A Five-Ingredient Mystery series.  I am off to await the cable installation people (lucky me).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

August 1 - Books a Plenty Book Reviews - REVIEW

August 1 - Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 2 – Mystery Lovers Kitchen – RECIPE

August 2 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 2 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 3 – Killer Characters – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 3 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

August 4 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

August 4 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

August 5 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 6 – Map Your Mystery – INTERVIEW

August 6 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

August 6 - Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

August 7 – Jungle Red Writers – GUEST POST

August 7 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – RECIPE, REVIEW

August 7 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT

August 8 – The Conscious Cat – GUEST POST

August 8 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

August 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - REVIEW

August 9 – Mystery Lovers Kitchen #2 – RECIPE

August 10 – Wicked Cozy Authors -  GUEST POST

August 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

August 11 – Book Babble – REVIEW

August 12 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

August 13 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

August 13 – Mallory Heart Reviews – REVIEW

August 14 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW

August 14 – Mysteries with Character - AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 15 – Fabulous Florida Writers​ – GUEST POST

August 15 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW

August 15 – Varietats – REVIEW

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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July 31 - StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

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August 1 - The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST

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Poppy Harmon Investigates: A Desert Flowers Mystery

August is here!  The Hope Jar by Wanda Brunstetter comes out on August 7.  You can pick up a free preview of the book on Amazon (it is such a heartwarming Amish novel).  Death on the Menu by Lucy Burdette also comes out on August 7 along with To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake (I cannot wait for this one).

Poppy Harmon Investigates by Lee Hollis is the first novel in A Desert Flowers Mystery series.  Poppy Harmon is shocked when she learns that her recently deceased husband, Chester gambled away all their money and left her deeply in debt.  Poppy with the aid of her two friends, Iris Becker and Violet Hogan open The Desert Flowers Detective Agency.  Unfortunately, people do not want to hire three mature women to solve their cases.  That is when Poppy recruits her daughter’s actor boyfriend, Matt Cameron to be the face of the agency.  Matt, though, prefers a more hands on approach.  Their first client is entertainer, Shirley Fox who lost uninsured jewelry in a recent break in at her home in the Palm Leaf Retirement Village.  It turns out that there have been a rash of burglaries in the complex.  Shirley wants the agency to retrieve her cache of jewels.  While investigating the thefts, Poppy finds actress, Olivia Hammersmith dead in her home.  Are the thefts and the murder connected?  Poppy, Iris, and Violet along with Matt are determined to get answers and make a success of their fledgling business. 

Poppy Harmon Investigates has an adorable cover and it is what drew me to the book.  I thought the book was easy to read.  It is a little bit of a slow starter, but the pace picks up as you get further into the story.  The author took the time to set up Poppy’s character along with Iris, Violet, Heather and Matt.  Poppy, Rose and Violet are lively ladies in their 60s who are ready to take on a new challenge.  How Poppy obtained her private investigators license was a little farfetched.  Her “experience” does not qualify her for the work.  The mystery did not begin until I was 40% into the story when the agency is hired to investigate Shirley’s jewelry theft.  The murder does not occur until later in the book and I wish it had been more of a feature.  It is an interesting mystery.  The two mysteries are not difficult to solve especially for those readers who devour cozy mysteries.  There is humor sprinkled throughout the story (my mother laughed her way through the book).  She thought the ladies and Matt’s antics were quite entertaining.  I was not fond of Heather and her treatment of her mother.  She feels that it is silly for her mother to embark on this venture at her age and does not hesitate to let Poppy know what she thinks repeatedly (it was inappropriate and uncomfortable).  Heather does not appreciate Matt getting involved in her mother’s shenanigans (Heather’s words). Iris has her grandson, Wyatt set up their website and utilizes him for his other handy computer skills (hacking).   I did not like how they encouraged his hacking (and hope that they do not get caught).  The interactions between Poppy, Iris and Violet are delightful and their hijinks will have you giggling.  My rating for Poppy Harmon Investigates is 3 out of 5 stars.  A Desert Flowers Mystery series has potential.  I hope the author will add a more compelling mystery in the next book that is the focus of the story and develop the characters further.  Poppy Harmon Investigates is a light, amusing cozy mystery that will appeal to fans of Lee Hollis.

Lee Hollis also writes A Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series.  I will return tomorrow with my review of Midnight Snacks are Murder by Libby Klein.  It is the second novel in A Poppy McAllister Mystery series.  I hope that you have a sunshiny day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader