Critical Threat by Lynette Eason

 Critical Threat

Book Summary

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioral analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn't mean they're not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer--in prison but certainly not out of Sam's life, as much as he wishes he was.

When bodies start showing up with Peter's MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They've met before--and though Grace thought they'd made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They'll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case--especially because it's about to get personal.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason doesn't give you time to catch your breath in this breakneck race to stop a serial killer.

My Thoughts

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason is the third book in the Extreme Measures series.  It can be read as a standalone.  There are references to the characters from first two books in the Extreme Measures series.  It can be a little confusing if you have not read those books.  I found Critical Threat to be a slow starter.  The pacing does pick up later in the book.  The characters are realistic.  We get to know Grace Billingsley and Sam Monroe.  I like that they are not law enforcement officers.  We get a different perspective.  Grace is a behavioral analyst (like the characters on Criminal Minds) and Sam is prison psychiatrist.  It was interesting learning about their professions.  I did not enjoy the drama in Grace and Sam’s lives.  I felt it was a bit much.  Grace has a brother who is an addict.  Grace’s family blames her for getting him addicted.  Sam has two kids and an ex-wife.   I could have done without the ex-wife drama.  Sam is also the son of a serial killer.  

The crimes were interesting.  There is graphic detail (the victims’ tongues are cut out).  I wish the mystery had not been so easy to solve (I wanted it to be challenging).  Some details do not seem realistic.  I am amazed at how often the killer was able to get close to Grace despite an alarm system and a security detail.  Plus, Grace is an FBI agent.  If she is as good as she claims, Grace should have picked up on him tailing her or being nearby.  The ending was fast paced.  There is romance interspersed with finding dead women and threats from the killer.  The romance progresses slowly.  I wish I had felt chemistry between Sam and Grace.  It felt like they were close friends instead of two people falling in love.  The Christian element is light.  Sam and Grace are Christians.  They talk about how they came to be Christians and there is prayer.  The point of view alternates between Grace, Sam, and the killer.  With the alternating POV, there are repetitive details especially with the Grace related incidents.  I would have enjoyed the story more if the pacing in the beginning had been snappier and there was less repetition.  Critical Threat will slay you with the son of a serial killer, an enraged inmate, a chancy killer, observant behaviorist, a teen wanting a telephone, and a terrible threat.  

Critical Threat is available from Amazon*.  The first two books in the Extreme Measures series are Life Flight and Crossfire.  Countdown is the fourth book, and it will be out on August 1, 2023.  You can follow Lynette Eason on Amazon and you will receive an email when she has a new book release. I appreciate you stopping by today.  I hope that you have a delightful weekend.  I will return on January 17 with The Courtship Plan by Kathleen Fuller.  It is the first An Amish of Marigold Novel.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

Dial M for Meow by Ruth J. Hartman

 Dial M for Meow

Dial M for Meow (Bookshop Kitties Mysteries) by Ruth J. Hartman

About Dial M for Meow

 

Dial M for Meow (Bookshop Kitties Mysteries) 

Cozy Mystery 

1st In Series 

Setting - Green Meadow, Indiana 

Gemma Halliday Publishing (January 10, 2023) 

Number of Pages 153 

 

When children’s book author, Christy Bailey, receives a call from her aunt Betty to help out at her bookshop, she drops everything to go. Christy packs up her two cats—Milton and Pearl, the stars of her children's mystery books—and leaves busy Philadelphia for tiny Green Meadow, Indiana. The timing of the call is perfect, as Christy’s letch of an ex-boyfriend has just cleaned out her savings, leaving Christy with a pile of unpaid bills and a desire to start over. And what better place to do that than a charming small town in Middle America?

But when Christy reaches her aunt's bookshop, instead of small town hospitality she finds a dead body! Even worse, her aunt is passed out in the corner, hands covered in blood. The dead woman is an old frenemy of her Aunt Betty, and while Christy knows her aunt is innocent, the local detective isn't so sure. With Milton and Pearl prowling for clues, Christy is determined to find the real killer and clear her aunt's name... before her story ends in tragedy!

About Ruth J. Hartman

 

Ruth J. Hartman spends her days herding cats and her nights spinning mysterious tales. She, her husband, and their cats love to spend time curled up in their recliners watching old Cary Grant movies. Well, the cats sit in the people's recliners. Not that the cats couldn't get their own furniture. They just choose to shed on someone else's. Ruth, a left-handed, cat-herding, farmhouse-dwelling writer uses her sense of humor as she writes tales of lovable, klutzy women who seem to find trouble without even trying. Ruth's husband and best friend, Garry, reads her manuscripts, rolls his eyes at her weird story ideas, and loves her despite her insistence all of her books have at least one cat in them. See updates about her cozy mysteries at Ruthjhartman.com. 

Author Links

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/ruth.j.hartman 

Website https://www.ruthjhartman.com 

Twitter https://twitter.com/ruthjhartman 

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3312900.Ruth_J_Hartman 

My Thoughts

Christy Bailey arrives in Green Meadow, Indiana with her two cats, Milton and Pearl.  Christy creates children’s mysteries starring her two wily furbabies.  Christy’s ex-boyfriend decimated her savings and racked up debt on her credit cards which is why she is looking for a fresh start.  Christy’s Aunt Betty invited her to live with her and help in Words to Read By.  Christy along with her two furry companions go to enter the bookstore only to find it closed.  She hurries up the stairs to the apartment above the bookshop to find a woman dead in Aunt Betty’s reading chair.  Aunt Betty is unconscious on the floor with blood on her hands.  When Aunt Betty rouses, she cannot recall what happened.   It seems someone knocked her unconscious with one of her bookends which left Aunt Betty with a goose egg.  Christy knows her Aunt Betty would not harm a soul.  The only way to clear her aunt is to don her sleuthing cap and pinpoint the killer. 

Dial M for Meow by Ruth J. Hartman is the debut of Bookshop Kitties Mysteries.  I found the story easy to read.  I like that Christy is an author of children’s mysteries.  Aunt Betty is a sweetie.  Milton and Pearl are adorable.  The cats seem to have taken on the attributes of Christy’s fictional sleuthing felines.  The mystery is straightforward.  There are a couple of suspects and a red herring.  There are clues to help readers solve the crime.  I like how Milton and Pearl helped Christy solve the crime.  I can tell the author has cats.  She captured their behavior and attitudes. There are several grumpy, rude characters.  I could have done with fewer grumpy Guses.  There is repetition of case details. I enjoyed the humor in the story.  The cat’s antics were amusing.  Dial M for Meow takes readers to the Midwest where there is a mysterious murder, clever kitties, a beloved bookstore, a childhood companion, a kindhearted relative, and a sleuthing

Dial M for Meow is available to purchase from Amazon.   You can find Ruth J. Hartman's other novels here.  The author is giving away four (4) ebook copies of Dial M for Meow.  You can click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below.  Leave a comment for an extra entry.  Good Luck!  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow with my thoughts on Critical Threat by Lynette Eason.  It is the third book in the Extreme Measures series.  I hope that you day is filled with joy.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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 January 10 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

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January 10 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 

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

Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay

 Fatal Fascinator

Book Summary

Hip hip beret! Hatmakers Scarlett Parker and Vivian Tremont return and must collar a killer when a castle wedding goes awry in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s new Hat Shop Mystery.

It’s wedding season and Viv’s longtime frenemy Piper May is getting married. She convinces Viv and Scarlett to take on the job of designing the headpieces for her “wedding of the year.” The well-to-do bride and her entourage are delighted to have Viv and Scarlett as their famous hat designer guests, but the hat-making pair are really just looking forward to a getaway at a castle in Sussex. It is to be a weekend full of events, culminating in the big ceremony.  

Unfortunately, on the first night of the festivities, the groom is found murdered, and the joyous holiday becomes the stuff of nightmares as no one is allowed to leave the castle until the investigation is complete. Although Scarlett assures Harrison Wentworth, her fiancé, that she and Viv will stay out of harm’s way, circumstances force them to step in when a secret affair between the deceased groom and a bridesmaid comes to light, and the murderer takes another life. Scarlett and Viv vow to unveil the killer’s identity before the wedding adds another to its death toll.

My Thoughts

Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay is a delightful story.  I am pleased to see the return of A Hat Shop Mysteries.  Scarlett Parker and her cousin, Vivian Tremont are back.  Viv agrees to make the bridesmaid’s hats for Piper May’s upcoming wedding.  Scarlett convinces Viv to attend the event which will give them a weekend in the country.  Unfortunately, their relaxing weekend goes awry when the groom is found dead.  The lead detective declares that no one can leave while the crime is being investigated.  Scarlett, of course, cannot resist digging into the case.  She gets help from Viv and her dashing fiancé, Harrison Wentworth.  Can the trio discover the killer’s identity before he strikes again?  

Fatal Fascinator is a fun story to read.  I love the characters, especially Scarlett.  She is a lively woman.  Scarlett is engaged to Harrison and has a darling puppy.  Things are never dull when Scarlett is around.  Vivian is a fashionista who is more reserved than her American cousin.  Harrison is a sweet guy who loves Scarlett.  The mystery was interesting, but it a little weak.  The murder of the fiancé occurs around the halfway mark.  I wish it had happened sooner.  By the time the whodunit happens, I knew who and how.  I had an inkling as to the why.  I am hoping the author will up her game in the next A Hat Shop Mystery.  Fatal Fascinator is the seventh A Hat Shop Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series.  I do recommend reading all the books in this engaging series.  There is humor throughout the story.  Scarlett manages to get herself in the oddest predicaments.  Fatal Fascinator is a diverting tale with an unbending bride, a precious puppy, superfluous luggage, a lifeless fiancé, a determined detective, fashionable fascinators, and a wedding date debate.

Fatal Fascinator is available from Amazon*.  The other books in A Hat Shop Mysteries can be found here.  You can find Jenn McKinlay's other delightful books here.  If you follow Jenn McKinlay on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for taking time out of your day to join me.  I will return on Tuesday, January 10 with Dial M for Meow by Ruth J. Hartman.  It is the debut of the Bookshop Kitties Mysteries.  I hope that you have a happy day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

Her Heart's Desire by Shelley Shepard Gray

 Her Heart's Desire

Book Summary

Mary Margaret Miller needs an escape from her small Amish community. She boards a bus, all alone, for a vacation in Pinecraft, Florida. Meeting Betsy and Lilly on the way, she's amazed to find two kindred spirits. They become fast friends and determine to have the best two weeks of their lives. For Mary, it starts when she meets Jayson Raber. The handsome and charming carpenter is taken by Mary from the get-go, but he has responsibilities back home in Kentucky--including a girl he's supposed to marry.

When someone from Mary's past shows up in Pinecraft, it seems like her perfect vacation is ruined. But that's nothing compared to what's coming when she realizes what Jayson has been hiding.

Take a vacation with New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray as she explores what happens when we allow our pasts to define our futures in this story of friendship, romance, and new beginnings.

My Thoughts

Her Heart’s Desire by Shelley Shepard Gray is the debut of A Season in Pinecraft series.  I love that the author set this book in Pinecraft, Florida.  I enjoyed reading Her Heart’s Desire.  I like the author’s friendly writing style.  I was quickly drawn into story.  I enjoyed meeting Mary, Lilly, Betsy, and Edith. We also get to know Jayson and Michael.  Mary, Lilly, Edith, Betsy, and Jayson traveled from their respective hometowns to Pinecraft.  They each needed a break from their lives.  Jayson has an important decision to make.  This is his last chance at freedom before going down a path that will allow him to fulfill his familial duty, but it will not bring him joy.  Mary has been unhappy for some time.  The vacation is her opportunity to get away from the people who have taunted her and made her life miserable.  A storm in Georgia forces the bus to stop at a motel for the night.  Betsy, Mary, and Lilly share a room.  They discover that they are the wallflowers in their communities.  The three ladies quickly become friends and look forward to enjoying their vacation together.  Mary enjoys her first day in Pinecraft and then she receives a phone call that changes everything.  Mary learns that Edith is coming to Pinecraft and will be staying at the same inn.  Edith is one of the people Mary wished to get away from.  It seems that God has a different plan for Mary’s vacation. 

The characters are realistic and relatable thanks to their flaws.  I could relate to Mary and how she felt.  It is terrible to be picked on and bullied.  Each of the characters need to go on a journey of self-reflection.  They need to examine their past and decide what type of future they desire.  I can tell that the author visited Pinecraft and Siesta Key Beach from her descriptions.  Her word imagery took me back to this beautiful beach.  Her Heart’s Desire is about forgiveness, friendship, family, romance, and faith.  The characters need to be open to God’s plan for their lives.  They need to listen to His guiding voice.  Her Heart’s Desire is a touching story.  There are good life lessons in this book.  I am looking to the next A Season in Pinecraft novel.  Her Heart's Desire is a moving story with a sudden storm, fast friends, a tricycle trip, a discouraging call, a smiling innkeeper, and finding forgiveness.  

Her Heart's Desire is available from Amazon*.  The second novel in A Season in Pinecraft series is Her Only Wish which will be out on June 6, 2023 (It is Betsy's story).  You can find Shelley Shepard Gray's other novels here.  Thank you for joining me today.  Tomorrow I am featuring Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay.  It is the seventh A Hat Shop Mystery.   I hope that you have a pleasant day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

Something Old, Something New by Amy Clipston

 Something Old, Something New

Book Summary

Sometimes treasure can be found where you least expect it.

In the decade since high school graduation, Christine Sawyer has realized her dream of opening Treasure Hunting Antique Mall, the place where shoppers find gems that are new to them. Between her store, her house, and her role as a doting aunt, she’s happy with her life—if a bit lonely. But she’s used to being less lucky in love than her fraternal twin sister. Britney was always the popular one, the head cheerleader who dated the homecoming king and quarterback, while Christine stayed in the shadows.

Brent Nicholson is still trying to come to grips with the shambles his life has become. After leading his football team to a state championship, he suffered a career-ending injury. Now he’s lost his construction business thanks to his so-called best friend. So, when his great-aunt Midge asks for his help readying her home to put it on the market, the opportunity to spend time with his biggest fan is a balm to his bruised soul.

But the antiques Brent finds in his aunt’s house lead him to an unexpected partnership with Christine. After being blind to her for so many years, is it too late for the former high school jock to win the heart of the self-proclaimed “nerdy twin”?

As they shift through items of the past, Christine and Brent learn to let go of the pieces they don’t want to bring into the future—and realize the value of what’s in front of them today.

My Thoughts

Something Old, Something New by Amy Clipston is a sweet small-town romance.  I like Amy Clipston’s casual writing style.  It makes the story easy to read.  I enjoyed getting to know Christine Sawyer and Brent Nicholson.  Christine operates an antique mall in Flowering Grove, North Carolina.  Christine is a fraternal twin.  She always felt she was the nerdy twin compared with her pretty, outgoing sister, Britney.  Britney has fraternal twin girls, Maddy and Mila (“the M&M’s) whom Christine loves dearly.  Maddy and Mila are cuties.  They are active little girls who love the color purple.  Brent dated Britney in high school.  He was the star quarterback, and she was the popular cheerleader.  Brent’s life has not turned out as he expected.  He has returned to town to help his Aunt Millie get her house ready so she can list is for sale.  Brent has no intention of staying in Flowering Grove because he cannot stand listening to his father’s criticisms.  The chemistry between Brent and Christine was obvious from the beginning.  The two are attracted to each other.  They each have a different reason for not reacting to the attraction.  

I enjoyed the descriptions of Flowering Grove especially Christine’s shop (I could spend hours exploring).  I wish I was Christine when she found the Nancy Drew’s packed away in Aunt Millie’s house.  I am glad the romance was not rushed.  I like how it progressed (become friends first and then move forward).  Christine and Brent got to know each other as they worked at Aunt Millie’s house.  I was not a fan of Britney.  She reminded me of the cheerleaders in my school (the pretty, stuck-up blonds who thought they were better than everyone else).  I thought the characters were realistic and relatable as was the town and situations.  The Friday night high school football games which are attended by everyone in the town is something that occurs in small towns all over the south (I lived in one for twenty years).  The story had some drama which kept things interesting.  I would have liked less repetition of details regarding the characters.  I just loved Aunt Millie.  She is a kind woman who does not hesitate to help bring Brent and Christine together (she would get the mischievous twinkle in her eye).  In Something Old, Something New we get to see that someone or something may have a beautiful exterior (or seems to have it all), it does not mean they do not have troubles.  I like how the title played into the story.  Something Old, Something New is a charming tale with Friday night football, a disparaging parent, lilac loving twins, an aunt in need, an improbable pairing, a twin conflict, and an abundance of antiques.

Something Old, Something New is available from Amazon*.  Amy Clipston has Breaking New Ground coming out April 11.  It is the third An Amish Legacy Novel.  You can find Amy Clipston's other delightful stories here.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will be back tomorrow with my review of Her Heart's Desire by Shelley Shepard Gray.  It is the first book in A Season in Pinecraft series.  I hope you have a happy day.  I am heading outside to start cleaning up my Christmas decorations (it will take a few days).  Take care and Happy Reading! 

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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

A Streetcar Named Murder by T.G. Herren

 Book Summary

Book Summary

Blackmail in the Big Easy turns to cold-blooded murder in this debut cozy mystery perfect for fans of Jane K. Cleland.

When the mysterious letter arrives by courier, Valerie Cooper doesn’t know what to make of it. She’s become the beneficiary of her late husband’s estranged uncle’s will—a man she never knew—and inherited a majority partnership in the family’s company, New Orleans Fine Antiques. Valerie knows nothing about antiques, but she decides to learn the business and become an active partner. She’s also got her hands full fending off Collette, a woman who wants to sell the huge old house in the Irish Channel neighborhood Valerie and her husband painstakingly renovated.

Valerie isn’t interested in selling—but when her best friend Lauren, drags her to a costume party for the women’s Mardi Gras club, the Krewe of Athena, she stumbles over Collette’s body, a jeweled dagger sticking out of her chest. In a rush of panic, Valerie recognizes the dagger from her shop—and before she knows it, she’s become murder suspect number one.

Egged on by Lauren, she starts digging into Collette’s business dealings, and the deeper she digs, the dirtier it gets. Now all fingers are pointing at Valerie. In a desperate bid to clear her name, Valerie frantically tries to find who could have gotten hold of the dagger. But among a cadre of guests in full costume, it could be impossible to find the thief—and unmask the real killer.

My Thoughts

A Streetcar Named Murder by T.G. Herren is the debut of A New Orleans Mystery series.  I thought the author captured New Orleans.  I like that she included the history of the city and events.  We get to learn about krewes and their origins as well.  Valerie Cooper, the protagonist, is a widow of five years.  Her twin boys are enjoying their first year of college.  My feelings about Valerie are mixed.  I want to like her, but she got on my nerves at times.  I wanted her to be less wishy washy.  The one time she was brave was when she should not have been.  Her friend, Lorna, is a force of nature.  I am amazed that the two are friends, especially after learning how they met.   Lorna came over to introduce herself to Valerie shortly after the family moved in.  The twins were running amok (terrible twos time two), and Valerie was worn out.  Lorna quickly got the boys in line (gave them orders) and then the two ladies enjoyed the wine that Lorna brought with her.  I would have taken the wine and sent Lorna packing.  

I found the story to be a slow starter.  The mystery did not take place until slightly past the halfway mark.  By the time the murder occurs, it was obvious who would die and how.  The solution to the whodunit was easy to figure out.  I believe the information was supposed to be a twist, but it can easily be discerned long before the reveal.  The mystery is wrapped up at the end, so I was not left with any lingering questions.  I did feel that there was too much repetition in the story.  I lost track of how many times we are told Valerie is a widow, that the family does not know why Arthur was estranged from the family, and that Lorna writes romance novels.  The pacing was slow.  The overly detailed descriptions and lack of action are the cause (do we really need to know what each person is wearing down to their tie tac or every detail of how Valerie makes her mac and cheese).  There is mild foul language and the consumption of copious amounts of wine.  There is some humor courtesy of Lorna.  As you can tell, A Streetcar Named Murder was not a hit with me.  A Streetcar Named Murder is a Southern cozy mystery with an enigmatic inheritance, a rude realtor, an unusual knife, a krewe party, a dying declaration, a disheveled detective, and a surprising revelation.

A Streetcar Named Murder is available from Amazon*.  You can follow T.G. Herren on Amazon and you will receive an email when the author releases a new book.   Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on January 3 with Something Old, Something New by Amy Clipston.  It is Amy Clipston's latest contemporary romance.  I hope that you have a safe and Happy New Year!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader  

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

Killer Cupid by Laurien Berenson

 Killer Cupid

Book Summary

Melanie Travis is taking a much-needed break from the dog show circuit for a romantic Valentine’s trip with her husband Sam, but when someone at their cozy Berkshires inn has an unexpected date with death, Melanie must slip into something sleuthier for the weekend . . .

 

Melanie is delighted at the prospect of three uninterrupted days alone with Sam (and, of course, her prize-winning Standard Poodle, Faith). They’re booked at the White Birch Inn, a picturesque New England resort nestled at the foot of a snow-covered mountain. The inn has a full slate of couples activities planned for the busy Valentine's weekend—date nights, sleigh rides, tobogganing, ice skating, and pop-up shops in the inn's ballroom —from the bubbly to the bubble bath, the resort is a perfect match for Melanie and Sam’s vacation. But the first night of festivities feature an event that isn’t on the program: murder.

 

The sheriff quickly launches an investigation, but at the inn keeper’s urging—and because she suddenly finds herself a person of interest in the case—Melanie tries to sneak a little detective work into her romantic getaway. But with the resort nearly sold out for the holiday weekend, there's no shortage of suspects, and Melanie’s secret sleuthing is already attracting the wrong kind of attention. Her Valentine’s trip is heating up faster than the chocolate fondue . . . just not in the way Melanie hoped. But if she doesn’t catch the cold-hearted killer soon, another innocent victim will get the kiss of death . . .

My Thoughts

Killer Cupid by Laurien Berenson has Melanie Travis and her husband, Sam along with Faith heading off for a relaxing, romantic trip for Valentine’s Day weekend.  Melanie’s brother, Frank and his wife, Bertie are joining them at the White Birch Inn in the Berkshires.  The couples are enjoying their mini vacay until the events coordinator ends up dead.  The local police are quick to write off the woman’s death as accidental.  Melanie has her doubts.  When the inn’s owner, Evelyn Barker asks Melanie to investigate, she is happy to oblige.  Melanie with assistance from Bertie and Faith sets out to locate the killer.

Killer Cupid   is the twenty-ninth A Melanie Travis Mystery.  It is a novella which can be read in one sitting.  I enjoyed reading Killer Cupid.  I was eager to see what mischief Melanie got into this time. We get to spend time with Melanie’s brother, Frank and his wife.  They go on the trip with Melanie and Sam along with Melanie’s beloved Standard poodle, Fern.  Fern’s age is mentioned a few times.  I hope the author is not preparing us for her departure.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the White Birch Inn and its surroundings.  It seemed like the perfect place to spend a romantic weekend.  The mystery was intriguing.  The events coordinator for the White Birch Inn is found dead by the ice-skating pond.  It appears that she died from exposure.  I had to wonder how a woman who is used to the frigid winter weather is not aware of the dangers of being outside too long.  What was Belinda Rush doing outside late at night?  Melanie is naturally curious about the case.  When the owner of the inn asks her to investigate, Melanie does not hesitate to say yes.  Melanie questions the staff and guests about the victim.  I like that Bertie joined Melanie on her sleuthing ventures.  Melanie is a bad influence.  Faith tagged along on some of the ventures.  The sweet poodle is a good judge of character.  I enjoyed the suspenseful reveal.  Aunt Peg, Davey, and Kevin provide humor, especially the rambunctious Kevin.  I like that we get to spend more time with Sam in this tale.  Killer Cupid is an entertaining cozy mystery, and I am eager for the next A Melanie Travis Mystery.  Killer Cupid is a merry mystery with a Valentine vacay, a faithful Faith, a deceased employee, sticky smores, spiked cider, and mistrustful Melanie. 

Killer Cupid is available from Amazon*.  A Furry Little Christmas is the next A Melanie Travis Mystery and it will be out on September 26, 2023.  You can follow Laurien Berenson on Amazon and you will receive an email when she has a new book coming out.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return on Tuesday with Something Old, Something New by Amy Clipston.  I hope that you have a relaxing week.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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