Category: Cozy Mystery

Cheddar Luck Next Time

Cheese-obsessed Bird Eakles has just inherited her grandmother’s estate in a quiet, quirky Californian town. But when a body is found on her property, her life begins to get rather loud…

Bird Nichols is ready to make a fresh start in a familiar place. Last year, her parents died together in a car crash and her beloved grandmother is presumed dead from an ocean drowning. Bird is now moving onto her grandmother’s California coastal property, and finally living out her dream. Bird loves cheese like nothing else. It’s her autistic special interest, and she designs her boards along her sensory needs, and other people love them, too. 

But just when everything seems to be going right, the local troublemaker ends up dead on her rural road. Grizz, the closest thing Bird has to family, is the sheriff department’s favourite suspect, but she is determined to prove Grizz’s innocence. So now, Bird needs to unpack her possessions, assemble her pretty cheese boards, and find the true murderer before they strike again.

My Review:

Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant! A stellar start to what I hope to be a long lived series. From the pun-y perfect title to the engaging characters and the cleverly crafted mystery – it’s all cozy delight from start to finish.

Love neurodivergent heroine Bird whose obsession with cheese has led her to a unique career creating cheese boards for festive events. True confession: I might have deep dived into cheese boards on the internet — and oh my, but they are glorious works of art! Colour, texture, taste, arrangement — Bird has a talent and a passion that’s etching out a niche for her burgeoning business. And inheriting her deceased grandmother’s property has provided her with the perfect home/buisness base…except for the body in the woods. Bwahahaha!

Cato has achieved the perfect balance between the cozy elements (foodie descriptions to drool over) and the amateur sleuthing. All in a quirky town full of interesting (and sometimes aggravating) characters to provide depth and intrigue. Plus, there’s a potential for romance. Eeep! I am so on board for more Bird stories…even after that jaw-dropping , whhhaaattttt-just-happened?! ending. What is Bird going to do with that?

A compelling and captivating compulsive read…or listen in my case. I totally enjoyed Dominque Salvacion’s narration. She brought Bird’s personality to life along with a myriad of secondary characters which made for an entertaining ‘reading’ experience.

My thanks to Brilliance Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

A Death in Diamonds

The royally brilliant fourth book in the Her Majesty the Queen Investigates mystery series!

1957 – The young Queen is finding her way in a challenging world as the United Kingdom adjusts to being a country without an empire, without a place in post-war Europe, and without a reliable friendship with America. 

As she travels the world to try and build bridges, she is advised by the ‘men in moustaches’, as Philip calls them – her father’s old courtiers, who may or may not have her best interests at heart. One of them is trying to sabotage her: that much she is sure of. 

And then two bodies turn up, horribly murdered, in Chelsea, and the Queen finds herself unwillingly used as the alibi for somebody very close to her. 

She knows she can’t face these challenges alone. She needs the help of someone clever, discreet and loyal, someone she can trust. Then she meets ex-Bletchley Park code breaker, Joan McGraw …

My Review:

In a word: brilliant! This coming from a decidedly non-Royal watcher. But there’s just something about Queen Elizabeth and the way the author has captured her and life as a royal in general that is so engaging. And I love the clever way she has incorporated the amateur sleuthing while staying true to the reality of the Queen’s obvious logistical limitations.

The first three books in the series are contemporary novels but this fourth one takes us back to 1957 when a much younger Queen Elizabeth is juggling royal duties, family life and finding her way in a new post-war / Cold War world. Fascinating historical details and insights into what it must have been like for the young queen to gently break away from her trusted but oh so stuffy staff. Lots of pompous, moustached gentlemen who would prefer to remain in the past, keeping the Queen as a figurehead while they ‘wisely’ guide her path.

Only, there seems to be a saboteur in the palace and the astute Queen has her suspicions but lacks the freedom to find the evidence. And that’s where beleaguered typist (with an interesting war history) Joan comes in. She’s Watson to the Queen’s Sherlock.

Argh — there were times I wanted to scream over the insufferable chauvinism and backward 50s ideologies. But then I’d be chuckling over how the Queen deftly works around all those well-meaning men to solve not one, but two mysteries and all with them none the wiser. I dearly wished she could stand up and shout “Ta da! I figured it all out for you!” and take the credit instead of cleverly orchestrating the investigations behind the scenes.

A complicated mystery with lots of complex layers and multiple points of view kept me invested in the read right to the end. And left me hoping that we won’t have long to wait for the next ‘Her Majesty the Queen Investigates’ book to release.

Of note: Some mild language.

I listened to the audio edition, narrated by Samantha Bond who did a tremendous job with all these characters. From a young Queen to all the stuffy gentlemen and everyone in between. She made an already stellar story that much more engaging. Highly recommend the audio book if you are a listening kind of reader.

My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Dead Men Wag No Tails

Romance, treasure and danger collide in the charming coastal town of Twilight Cove. Don’t miss the newest instalment in USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox’s enchanting Magical Menagerie mystery series!

“For a small seaside town, Twilight Cove sure has plenty of excitement . . .”

Georgie Johansen’s return to the coastal haven of Twilight Cove has been a dream come she gets to work with Auntie O at the animal sanctuary, has adopted two very adorable dogs who have very special abilities and even has a blossoming romance with the gorgeous farmhand Callum.

It’s August and the town is buzzing with anticipation for the annual Dead Eye Days pirate festival. The excitement reaches a fever pitch when long-term resident Jasper, a pirate fanatic, declares he is in possession of a treasure map!

However, the hunt for treasure soon becomes a hunt for a murderer when Jasper is found dead, and Georgie is once again compelled to put on her sleuthing hat. With her extraordinary dogs Flossie and Fancy beside her, and Euclid, the mysterious great-horned owl, keeping a watchful eye on them, can she uncover the killer and protect Twilight Cove? Or will her curiosity put a bounty on her own head?

My Review:

I was beside myself with bookish glee when I discovered the first book in the Magical Menagerie Mystery series back in April and I’m happy to report that this second book is as good as, if not better than the first. It’s definitely earned a place on my favourite cozy mysteries list.

Love the animal sanctuary setting and the air of magical mystery. No worries if you’re not a paranormal fan, the magical elements are light and whimsical. Similar to Sofie Kelly’s ‘Magical Cats’ series or Amanda Flower’s ‘Magical Bookshop’ series. So, very much set in the real world (well, as ‘real’ as a cozy mystery can get!) with gentle enchanting touches that completely charmed me.

Georgie has settled quite nicely into life at the animal sanctuary with Auntie O and a host of entertaining critters to keep her busy. (And one very intriguing farmhand!) She had no intention of putting her sleuthing talents to use ever again but when a local man is murdered during the hubbub of the town’s annual Pirate Festival, well, how can an amateur sleuth resist? Plus there’s buried treasure to be found!

Such a fun cozy mystery with engaging characters (including Flossie and Fancy, springer spaniels with unique gifts that come in handy during an investigation!) There are plenty of solid suspects to keep an armchair sleuth anxiously engaged right up to the big reveal. And Fox’s writing style is beautifully descriptive, creating a cozy ambience that makes for a delightful read.

I enjoyed listening to Hallie Bee Bard’s narration of this book. She has a pleasant, easy-to-listen-to kind of voice that matches the author’s storytelling style perfectly.

My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Irish Soda Bread Murder

It’s almost time for the delicious warmth of Irish soda bread, but be careful where you bite–some of these recipes call for murder in this delicious collection of cozy mystery novellas featuring the popular St. Paddy’s Day treat.

IRISH SODA BREAD MURDER by CARLENE O’CONNOR
There’s very little time left before her wedding, but nonetheless Tara Meehan is helping out at her Uncle Johnny’s salvage yard for the day. Aunt Rose set up a convention for local psychics, including a bake sale to raise money for charity, but now she’s sick and available only via an iPad Johnny is carrying. The event promises to deliver a real pot of gold until Rose’s biggest rival shows up. Before Tara can utter a simple “top o’ the morning” to the man, he drops dead—with Johnny’s soda bread in his hands. It’s up to Tara to identify the deadly baker before another victim ends up chasing the rainbow straight into a grave . . .

AN IRISH RECIPE FOR MURDER by PEGGY EHRHART
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, the Arborville, New Jersey, Advocate is sponsoring a soda bread–baking competition. Bettina Fraser is excited—her bake-off idea was the one to get the green light! But when a town councilman acting as a judge keels over after sampling an entry, the party atmosphere dies just as quickly. Now it’s up to Bettina and her Knit and Nibble knitting club bestie, Pamela Paterson, to find the killer responsible for the murderous morsel.

MRS. CLAUS AND THE SINISTER SODA BREAD MAN by LIZ IRELAND
When April Claus arrives in Cloudberry Bay, Oregon, to check on her flooded inn, her biggest worry is to keep everyone from realizing her three companions—Jingles, Juniper, and Butterbean—are elves. But soon enough she has more serious worries—it looks like her hapless caretaker Ernie has been storing stolen goods at the inn! Then one of Ernie’s shady pals is found dead, and the murder weapon turns up in a decorative loaf of soda bread at April’s craft fair booth. It’s up to April to uncover the killer before she spends St. Patrick’s Day in the county jail!

My Review:

What fun to find a book that features St. Patrick’s Day as a theme! I’m only current with one of the series featured in this collection but I still found the other two novellas easy to jump in at mid series.

Irish Soda Bread Murder by Carlene O’Connor – Super excited about this addition to the ‘Home to Ireland’ series. I was so disappointed when it stopped after two books so I was eager to meet up with Tara and the gang in Galway. A fun mystery with a Christie-esque gather all the suspects together to reveal the killer grand finale. This is the only story actually set in Ireland and I was a bit let down since the narration didn’t include Irish accents (there’s only one American character in the mix.) It was kind of strange to hear some of the Irish phrasing without the lilt.

An Irish Recipe for Murder by Peggy Ehrhart – I’ve only read the first book in the ‘Knit & Nibble Mystery‘ series but it was fun to get reacquainted with these characters and I loved the Bake Off theme featuring Irish Soda Bread. Two amateur sleuths, a knitting group made up of an eclectic mix of personalities and a murder! Definitely more cozy than mystery in this novella. Lots of descriptive details on food and fibre crafts.

Mrs. Claus and the Sinister Soda Bread Man by Liz Ireland – My introduction to the Mrs. Claus series and this novella has charmed me into adding the rest of the books to my Serious About Series Challenge for the New Year. So. Much. Fun. The elves cracked me up all the way through (it’s their first time away from Christmastown.) So, quirky humour, great characters and a multi-layered mystery to solve. Not to mention a Soda Bread Man to bake. I’m still grinning.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of this collection, narrated by Carlotta Brentan. She did a great job giving distinctive voices to all the characters (with the exception of Irish accents in the first novella.) A pleasant listening experience.

My thanks to RB Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

I’ll Be Home for Mischief

Innkeeper Holly White is decking the halls this Christmas season, but someone is on the naughty list when a body is discovered in the fifth installment in the Christmas Tree Farm mystery series from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

It’s Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine, and the Historical Society has launched a widespread campaign to celebrate the town’s 150th anniversary. Descendants of the founding family, the Snows, have returned for the first time, and Holly is determined to make the family’s visit magical. In an attempt to put Mistletoe on the map, Holly’s mother, a respected local baker, attempts to break a record by baking the world’s largest gingerbread man, but her plans are whisked away when Mr. Snow’s body ends up in the batter. 

When Mr. Moore, the local mistletoe farmer, is accused of the crime, Holly reprises her role as amateur sleuth to protect the sweet older man. Between hosting the inconsolable Mrs. Snow and other guests at the inn, receiving threatening messages telling her to stop her investigation, and preparing for her first wedding anniversary with Sheriff Evan Gray, she might need a Christmas miracle to survive.

When someone breaks into Holly’s office and scratches a warning into her desk, she knows she has little time left. Can Holly uncover the killer before someone else gets burned, or is her involvement a recipe for trouble?

My Review:

Absolutely one of my favourite cozy mystery series and this fifth ‘Christmas Tree Farm Mystery’ is just as magnificent as all the rest!

Jacqueline Frost tackles murder and mayhem with a healthy dose of heartwarming and humour which makes me love these Mistletoe, Maine characters even more. I mean, who wouldn’t want Cookie and Theodore front and centre in their life?! And all the romance swirling around in this winter wonderland? Does my romantical heart so much good!

So, definitely a series that I think should be read in order — not only for the character arcs and relationship building, but for the sheer festive ambiance which the author makes fresh and exciting with each new book. Her Reindeer Games ideas are phenomenal and the way she portrays small town life with a Christmas-centric world view is sweet perfection.

And, while Frost is brilliant at infusing her stories with cozy vibes, she has an uncanny…and slightly disturbing (if you think about it too long)…way of introducing the murder. Let’s just say, ‘unique presentation’ and leave it at that! Bwahahaha!

Add in a solid mystery with enough suspects to keep this armchair sleuth on the edge of her seat, some very clever nods to the author, and the hint of Christmas magic (I’m a believer) and you end up with a holiday treat of a read.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Allyson Ryan — eeeeeeppppp!!!!! — one of my all time favourite voice performers. She brings such heart to these characters and I can tell she’s relishing their antics just as much as I am. It felt like I was reading a cherished Christmas novel with a kindred spirit. Enhanced my ‘reading’ pleasure that much more!

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

A Merry Little Murder Plot

‘Tis the season in Briar Creek, and this year festivities become fatalities in the newest Library Lover’s Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Fatal First Edition.

During the most wonderful time of the year, famous author Helen Monroe arrives in Briar Creek to be the writer in residence, but her “bah humbug” attitude excludes her from the many holiday celebrations the town residents enjoy. To try to spread some Christmas cheer, library director Lindsey Norris invites the new writer in residence to join her crafternoon club. Helen politely refuses and when an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, Lindsey begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason.

Another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting Briar Creek to be near Helen because she believes they are destined to meet. Having dealt with a stalker in the past, Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie, as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town.

When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park beneath the holiday-light display with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the reclusive novelist becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before “The End” becomes Helen’s final sentence.

My Review:

The ‘Library Lover’s Mystery’ series is one of my all time favourites. The books include the perfect blend of cozy and mystery along with a couple of delightful romances. And this book, #15 (!) showcases all the things I love about this series. So, yes, it’s best to read the books in order due to the phenomenal character growth and relationship developments. Plus the small town vibes are all kinds of sweet perfection — not to mention the library programming! I so want to be a Crafternooner!

There’s a wonderful mix of holiday, humour and mystery in ‘A Merry Little Murder Plot’ (clever title, by the way.) As Library Director, Lindsey has her hands full with a number of unexpected developments at this most wonderful time of the year…like a dead body. Because nothing says Merry Christmas quite like murder and mayhem! Bwahahaha!

Love the way the author fleshes out the secondary characters. There are layered complexities to each of them, which makes armchair sleuthing both fun and challenging. And, goodness, but did she ever get my emotions fired up as I was drawn into the mystery. Love, love, love becoming wholly immersed in a story and it’s so easy to do that when Jenn McKinlay is doing the writing.

Loved the sweet romantical bits included in this story. Not over done, so if you’re not a romance fan, you won’t mind a bit. But, I live for those tender little nods to a certain couple’s happily ever after so I was blissfully happy. Merry Christmas to me!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘A Merry Little Murder Plot’. Narrator Allyson Ryan does such a fantastic job creating distinctive voices for these characters and she’s part of the reason I choose to listen to the books in this series rather then read them. It’s a special kind of homecoming when I settle in to start a new audiobook and hear her voice coaxing me back to Briar Creek.

My thanks to Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Double Mocha Blues

Jocelyn “Joss” Miller, a twenty-something barista, works at Sugar Creek Cafe, a hip coffeehouse with deep ties to the local arts and music community. Joss is finally feeling like she’s found her purpose as her recently launched podcast soars in popularity. With her family’s blessings, Joss produces a special tribute to her grandfather.

What seems like a step towards healing instead sets off a firestorm of reactions in the community. There are a few who would rather not be reminded of how Joss’s grandfather had been murdered years ago. When the staunchest protester is found dead, Joss becomes the number one suspect.

My Review:

An intriguing start to a new spin-off series. Joss was a secondary character in the ‘Eugeena Patterson Mysteries‘ and her exuberance and quest for justice couldn’t be contained so she wrangled her way into her own series. There was a little bit of a disconnect because of the carry over of characters and Joss’s back story. I’ve only read the first Eugeena Patterson book so I hadn’t met Joss yet. So, it kind of felt like I was starting in the middle of a series, but not enough to diminish my enjoyment of ‘Double Mocha Blues.‘ And, of course, now I need to back track and catch up with Eugeena because a lot has happened in that good lady’s life!

A cozy mystery with an edge. The cozy elements — coffee shop, small town hominess, supportive friends and family — create a comforting balance to Joss’s cold case investigation of her grandfather’s murder decades ago — a racially motivated hate crime. Her podcast stirs up old hurts and resentments…and a new corpse. As a potential suspect, Joss has the incentive to do some sleuthing of her own.

A classic set up for a cozy mystery and Moody does it well. Loved Joss’s tenacious, feistiness and the deep loyalty she feels for friends and family — the whole community really. She’s definitely not a sit-on-the-sidelines kind of gal. Much to the frustration of a certain detective who doesn’t quite know what to make of her. Happy sigh. I do so love a befuddled detective love interest!

Really enjoyed this first book in the Joss Miller Mystery series and am anxious to dive into the second book soon since there’s a nice teaser about what cold case is up next for Joss’s podcast and it sounds so interesting!

Rockin’ Around the Chickadee

Bells are ringing and alarms are sounding in Donna Andrews’ latest cheery addition in the New York Times bestselling Meg Langslow series.

Meg’s sister-in-law, Delaney is pregnant. Since her due date is on or around Christmas Day, this is putting a bit of a damper on the usual holiday festivities. Meg and Michael are NOT hosting the usual house full of relatives and parties. Instead, Meg, along with her mother, her grandmother, her cousin Rose Noire, and her good friend Caroline, are militantly doing everything they can think of to keep Delaney quiet and healthy. All the relatives are farmed out to friends and neighbors; all the parties are being held somewhere else, and while Delaney is bored and mutinous, she’s doing well, and they’re managing to maintain a serene, peaceful environment for her . . . until a body is found in Meg and Michael’s yard.

The body turns out to be an attendee at Presumed Innocent, a nearby conference that Meg’s grandmother has organized. Some of the attendees want to learn how to exonerate a friend or family member who has been unjustly convicted, while the rest are avid true crime aficionados. And since the dead guy has been very vocal about his belief that most actual and would-be exonerees are guilty, guilty GUILTY!, nearly everyone at the conference dislikes him. But would any of them hate him enough to kill him? And can Meg still keep Delaney calm in the middle of a murder investigation, all while trying to catch the killer?

My Review:

Grinning madly while humming ‘Rockin’ Around the Chickadee’ with all the festive exuberance I can muster in the middle of an August heatwave. This latest Meg Langslow edition (#36…and may they keep coming forever!) is the perfect blend of murder and mayhem…and festive good cheer.

Thrilled to be back at the Caerphilly Inn (the hotel manager is one of my favourite secondary characters in this series) and there’s all the drama and hijinks you’d expect from any event organized by Meg’s family. And of course, it ends in murder and then the fun really begins!

A cast of familiar characters made this read feel like a homecoming of sorts. The twins are in their early teens now (gasp!) and seemingly immortal (yay!) Grandfather is as irascible as ever. Chief Burke has his hands full trying to solve the murder before Christmas and, naturally, Meg is on hand to do her own sleuthing.

And the piece de resistance is the way Donna Andrews weaves the warmth of the holidays and the spirit of Christmas giving into the story.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by the amazing Bernadette Dunne who will forever be the voice of these characters for me. I have the whole series in my audible library largely because of her stellar performances and I re-listen to the whole series every year. Donna Andrews and Bernadette Dunne are the best kind of cozy pairing ever!

My thanks to MacMillan Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this novel.

An Irish Bookshop Murder

An utterly gripping cozy crime murder mystery

Meet Ireland’s newest darling she’s a bookstore owner, a coffee lover, and a crime writer. Now Mercy McCarthy needs a little Irish luck as she takes on her first case! 

After receiving unexpected inheritance from her grandfather, Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie are now the proud owners of a charming antique bookshop in the tiny Irish village of Shamrock Cove. But before they can take in the beautiful view of the sea, one of their neighbors drops dead! 

Mercy finds the Judge, a well-respected man who lives next door, dying on his own doorstep. She rushes to help, but with his final words, he accuses Mercy of murder! Most of their new neighbors hear his words and, with suspicion pointing at Mercy, she decides to investigate the case to clear her name.

Searching amongst the Judge’s old books, Mercy uncovers letters proving several of the townsfolk had reason to dislike the judge—but was it the local pub landlord, the kindly cook or neighborly knitter who killed him? 

Then Mercy’s chief suspect turns up dead and she receives a threatening note, typed on paper from her own bookstore… Ireland was supposed to be a fresh start for Mercy and Lizzie, but dead bodies keep turning up.

Does Mercy have what it takes to nail the culprit or will the killer close the book on her time in this charming Irish village?

My Review:

I read a lot of cozy mysteries…A. Lot. And I have some fave tropes and settings but I go hyper crazy for two. Ireland and bookstores and, eeeeepppp, this first Mercy McCarthy novel features both! Plus, Mercy is a mystery author too! I’m gobsmacked and silly-giddy and super excited because this series is off to a great start!

There’s a wee bit of an edge to this cozy mystery, with the sisters’ backstories adding a somber note through layers of grief and overcoming. The author still delivers all the beloved elements of a cozy mystery though. The quaint Irish village, quirky neighbours and just the right amount of captivating descriptions so that I could picture myself right there with Mercy and Lizzie.

There’s the classic cozy mystery murder along with a host of potential suspects to keep things interesting and it’s complicated enough to give my sleuthing armchair a fair workout. Mercy is an avid investigator, though clumsy at times. What she lacks in finesse, she makes up for in determination and grit. Much to the chagrin of a certain detective (I’m experiencing heart palpitations at the potential romance vibes.) In fact, I might be a tad obsessed with these characters now. Hoping we won’t have long to wait for the second ‘Mercy McCarthy Mystery‘ to release! Love when I get invested in a story like I did with this one!

I listened to the brilliant audio edition of ‘An Irish Bookshop Murder’ narrated by Kimberly Wetherell who did such a wonderful job with the Irish accents and had me thinking in lilts the whole time I was listening to this book. Loved it soooo much and would highly recommend the audio.

My thanks to Bookouture Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book.

Resort to Murder + Giveaway

When Emmy Cooper’s life in Chicago is turned upside down, the young interior designer retreats to her family’s lake cottage resort in the beautiful Wisconsin Northwoods for a much-needed break. Hoping to clear her mind and gain a fresh perspective, she looks forward to enjoying the slower pace and the crisp, clean pine air at her beloved Cooper’s Cove Resort with her family, dogs, and her best friend, Whitney.

Unfortunately, her homecoming isn’t as calm as she’d hoped when Emmy finds out a ruthless development company is relentlessly pressuring Lake Covington property owners, including Emmy’s family, to sell their land so they can build an extravagant, modern resort that would ruin the quaint esthetic of the area. And things only get worse when Emmy finds the dead body of one of the developers floating in the lake—murdered!

Suddenly the police are involved, and since Emmy’s father was leading the fight to stop the shady development from getting approval, he’s quickly painted as the prime suspect. Now it’s up to Emmy to prove her father’s innocence, save the reputation of Cooper’s Cove, and find out who would resort to murder.

My Review:

Okay — first of all — cutest cozy cover ever!!! I feel like I can walk right in, nudge that little Yorkie over a wee bit and settle down for a sublime reading session! And that pretty package absolutely reflects all the delightfully cozy details you expect from a cozy mystery. 🙂

Retreating from personal drama, Emmy has returned to her family’s lakeside resort to regroup, only the peace and quiet and familial support she craves goes by the wayside when she finds a dead body on the property! Suddenly her quiet retreat turns into police investigating her father and the family’s livelihood in jeopardy. What’s a daughter to do but put on her deerstalker hat and go sleuthing?!

‘Resort to Murder’ is a fabulous debut novel! Annie McEwen has an engaging writer’s voice and a compelling story to tell. I love the Cooper family dynamics (such a cozy draw) and Emmy’s besties, Whitney and Marcus-with-the-mullet are a hoot! Their investigative skills aren’t quite finely honed, but what they lack in finesse, they make up with enthusiasm. And the cottagey resort setting is so appealing! (and perfect for a summer read.)

The well crafted plot kept me guessing (though I got there in the end. Yay me!) and I really like the way our amateur sleuths played nice with law enforcement. The detective on the case was a long time friend of Emmy’s dad and I liked his compassionate approach to the investigation. Of course our plucky heroine is too impatient to wait for the police to do their thing and a new literary amateur sleuth is born!

And — eeeeep — there’s a sweet romance brewing with a teen crush all grown up and that makes my romance lovin’ heart sooooo happy!

And — double eeeeeppppp!!! — the second book in the ‘Northwoods Mystery’ series is already out. ‘Dead, White and Blue’ (these titles!!!!) is definitely going to make it’s way onto my summer reading list.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Resort to Murder , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 20 2024.