Tag: Mystery

Tell-Tale Treats

Is Felicity to blame when a hotel guest drowns after eating her enchanted cookies? Felicity Jin returns in the third installment of the Magical Fortune Cookie series.

A group of high school alumnae reunite years later and reserve rooms at Pixie Inn for an extended retreat. As part of their pampering package, Felicity delivers a scrumptious assortment of enchanted pastries, including her new almond cookies.

But the queen bee of the group is soon found dead in her bathroom, drowned in the tub, and she recently sampled the delicious baked goods. Could Felicity’s almond cookies have set off a fatal nut allergy? The enchanted pastries are supposed to bring joy, not sorrow—and certainly not death.

Boyfriend, Kelvin Love, is eager to assist, although odd things have been happening to his senses ever since he baked with Felicity. Will his extra sensitivity help or hinder the investigation? Plus, special bunny Whiskers lends a magical paw to the detecting since Felicity can’t and won’t relax until she restores both order and magic to her world.

My Review:

A delightful foodie cozy mystery with a light touch of magic that makes for such a fun read! Love the diversity among the characters and the ethnic baking descriptions. Everything sounds so exotic and yummy! And Felicity’s little something extra makes for a special touch. As does her unusual bunny sidekick!

In this third ‘Magical Cookie’ mystery, Felicity and Kelvin become entangled in another suspicious death. Loved their teamwork and the way their relationship has grown over the course of the series. And this time Kelvin discovers a unique talent that pairs nicely with Felicity’s and adds to their sleuthing finesse.

The well plotted mystery kept me guessing thanks to the nice posse of potential suspects with motives. So many characters to love and some to…well, strongly dislike…kept me emotionally engaged. And that intense climax…phew! Way to keep an avid reader on edge until everything gets sorted.

I really enjoyed listening the audio book narrated by Catherine Ho. Her performance delivered all these characters in the best (and worst) light and she is excellent at adding touches of drama and humour at just the right places. Highly recommend the audio book for discerning listeners.

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

Without a Clue + Giveaway

When a mystery writer mysteriously dies on a cruise filled with rabid fans, his protégé (and personal assistant) teams up with a rugged cowboy and fellow writer to crack the case. One part Only Murders in the Building, one part Book Lovers, and a whole lot of laughs, Without a Clue will keep readers guessing and swooning until the very end.

If there’s one thing Penelope Mae Dupont prizes most, it’s her composure–her ability to stay calm in the face of stress. It’s a vital trait in her job as a personal assistant to renowned mystery author Hugh Griffin. But when Pip organizes a book cruise featuring The Fabulous Seven–seven celebrated authors from different genres who have supported each other through thick and thin–her famed composure is in danger of sailing away. One boat, hundreds of devoted readers, and seven Big Personalities. What could possibly go wrong?

Disaster strikes when, on the second day of the cruise, Hugh is found murdered. And, in the face of gross incompetence by the on-board security force, Pip realizes she’ll need to be the one to discover who did it. With the ship stranded in the middle of the Atlantic and no help on the horizon, it’s up to her to unravel the mystery. Along with her friend Nash–a dreamy Western author who’s just as rugged as the cowboys he writes about. As Pip’s composure starts to sink faster than a leaky dinghy, Nash becomes her anchor in a storm of clues and red herrings.

With Nash at her side, Penelope dives into the murky depths of the mystery, navigating treacherous waters filled with unexpected twists and turns. No one, not even a desperately hopeful mystery sleuth named Pip, could anticipate the wild ride ahead. Whether she likes it or not, she is on the adventure of a lifetime . . . and maybe, just maybe, she’ll find love along the way.

In this laugh-out-loud funny Clue-meets-Emily-Henry rom-com, Penelope Mae Dupont is about to find out that in the world of mystery and romance, you have to risk going overboard to find the truth.

My Review:

A brilliantly crafted rom/com meets cozy mystery mash-up and so much fun! I especially enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Karissa Vacker. She not only brought distinctive voices to each character, she captured the nuances of all the personalities too, making this a superb listen!

I love the way the author gives equal billing to both mystery and romance, with plenty of comedic moments to lighten everything up. The story flows really well, all told from Penelope’s point of view and, believe me, being inside her over-active mind is highly entertaining!

Madcap mayhem ensues when a book cruise turns sinister — eeeeppp, love that ‘locked room’ aspect to the mystery. Obviously, the killer has to be someone on the ship, right? And unable to elude capture since they are surrounded by ocean! Which is a good thing….and a bad thing because that means the killer could strike again! Of course, Penelope turns amateur sleuth with the help of some friends which results in enough plot twists to keep things very interesting.

And readers who aren’t especially fond of the cozy mystery genre — never fear — this really isn’t that kind of book. Ferguson has done an amazing job of combining the best elements of both the romance and mystery genres and has created a unique hybrid which is sure to please a variety of readers.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Please note: this book doesn’t release until February 17, 2026, so this giveaway is an IOU until the release date. 🙂

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – paperback, ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Without a Clue, 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 January 10 2026

The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum

At the darkly glamorous height of the Roaring 20s, an independent Black intellectual and her bi-racial foster child are immersed in the vibrant world of the Harlem Renaissance – and a shocking murder on Striver’s Row – in this thrilling Jazz Age mystery for reader of Nekesia Afia, Jacqueline Winspear, Avery Cunningham’s The Mayor of Maxwell Street.

1926: Harriet Stone, a liberated, educated Black woman, and Lovey, the orphaned, biracial 12-year-old she is bound to protect, are Harlem-bound, embarking on a new, hopefully less traumatic chapter in their lives. They have been invited to move from Connecticut by Harriet’s cousin, Junetta Plum, who runs a boardinghouse for independent-minded single women.

It’s a bold move, since Harriet has never met Junetta, but the fatalities of the Spanish flu and other tragedies have already forced her and Lovey to face their worst fears. Alone but for each other, they have little left to lose—or so it seems as they arrive at sophisticated Junetta’s impressive brownstone.

Her cousin has a sharp edge, which makes Harriett slightly uncomfortable. Still, after retiring to her room for the night, she finally falls asleep—only to awaken to Junetta arguing with someone downstairs. In the morning, she makes a shocking discovery at the foot of the stairs.

What ensues will lead Harriet to question Junetta’s very identity—and to wonder if she and Lovey are in danger, as well. It will also tie Harriet to five strangers. Among them, Harriet is sure someone knows something. What she doesn’t yet know is that one will play a crucial role in helping her investigate her cousin’s murder . . . that she will be tied to the others in ways she could never imagine . . . and that her life will take off in a startling new direction. . . .

My Review:

What a wonderful introduction to Valerie Wilson Wesley’s storytelling! I was completely captivated by her craftsmanship. Her words not only brought each character to life, but captured the era and setting in a way that allowed me to visualize the entire story – like a movie playing through my mind as I read (or in my case listened.)

So many fascinating details around the Harlem Renaissance. Vibrant art and culture mixed with the bone crushing struggles of oppression and injustice. Harriet arrives with her young charge, Lovey, in the hopes of starting anew at the invitation of an unknown cousin. However, before Harriet can acclimatize to her new surroundings, she’s plunged into mystery and murder and a house full of strangers…one of whom could be a killer.

Rich characterization and a complex plot kept me committed to Harriet’s story and excited over the possibility that this is the first in a new mystery series. At least, I think that’s what that last scene was hinting at!

I enjoyed listening to Diana Blue’s narration of ‘The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum.” I was drawn to her soothing tone and the way she brought distinctive voices to characters of all ages and backgrounds.

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

Midnight on the Scottish Shore + Giveaway

The only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the German occupation of the Netherlands is to do the unthinkable–become a spy for the Nazis in Britain. She soothes her conscience with a plan to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. Her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

But perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence sends her to Scotland to radio misleading messages to Germany, messages about the naval base at Scapa Flow to be crafted by Lachlan. At the station in the lighthouse at Dunnet Head, Lachlan and Cilla must work together if the war is to be won. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy–a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

Master of World War II fiction Sarah Sundin takes you to the wild Scottish seaside, where danger lurks under the surface of the water–and in the depths of the human heart–for a WWII tale you won’t soon forget.

My Review:

Intense. Dramatic. Emotional. The kind of edge-of-your-seat World War II novel that Sarah Sundin is famous for. She fits this literary niche perfectly and I’m always amazed at the fresh points of view and different angles she finds to approach this subject matter. I always learn some new about this complex time in world history.

This time round I discovered how the war reached northern Scottish shores and the integral workings of the naval base at Scapa Flow. I had no idea! And what an atmospheric setting for espionage and intrigue! It even comes complete with a taciturn Scotsman whose loyalty to the United Kingdom is challenged because of the behaviour of his separatist brother. So, brooding is a skillset Lachlan has perfected. And he’s not about to give any leeway to a German spy, no matter what fantastical tale she spins.

But when Cilla is recruited by British Intelligence and sent back to Scotland to work as a double agent, Lachlan is forced to work with her and that’s when the sparks start to fly. They are so different in temperament, opposites in every way, though, surprisingly they compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Loved the balance between heart-stopping danger and heart-melting romance! Along with plain old real life struggles that happen even during (maybe especially) wartime. Complex characters with layered backstories enrich the story even more. ‘Midnight on the Scottish Shore’ is the definition of unputdownable read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Midnight on the Scottish Shore, 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 December 20 2025

Whispers at Painswick Court + Giveaway

Anne Loveday, a surgeon’s daughter, is determined to live a single, useful life. To escape her matchmaking stepmother, she accepts an invitation from an old friend to return to Painswick, the place she and her sister spent many happy summers until that last, fateful year.

Soon after arriving, Anne is asked to serve as sick-room nurse to Lady Celia, who forbade her nephew to marry Anne’s sister years before. Pushing aside resentments, Anne moves into Painswick Court, a shadowy old house rumored to be haunted. Also in residence are Lady Celia’s spinster daughter, her handsome adult nephews, and a secretive new lady’s maid. Two local doctors visit regularly as well, one of whom admires Anne while concealing secrets of his own. As an escalating series of mishaps befalls her patient, Anne realizes someone is trying to kill the woman. But who? When Anne finds herself a suspect and her determination to avoid romance challenged, can she discover the real killer–and protect her heart–before it’s too late?

Acclaimed Regency author Julie Klassen marries the best of historical romance and mystery in a novel full of English village charm, intrigue, and love.

My Review:

Happy sigh. You know how there are some books that just seep into your soul the second you start reading? Where the characters come alive and you can picture every scene and all the settings. Only it’s more than just picturing it all…it’s feeling it too. Where you become so immersed in the fictional world it’s a shock to surface in the regular world? Well, that was this book for me. Absolute sweet perfection. Five stars into infinity perfection!

Julie Klassen has such a gift for storytelling. From word choice to plot development and pacing. And there are so many intricate elements that need weaving together in this story. From the beguiling title that sparks so many questions to the rich characterization and the intriguing mystery – it all makes for such a compelling read.

A Classic Regency Romance with shivery Gothic undertones.

I listened to the audio edition of Whispers at Painswick Court expertly narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki. She’s been the voice of many of Julie Klassen’s novels and I always enjoy the way she breathes life into a host of unique characters. Her performance was a pleasure to listen to and enhanced my ‘reading’ enjoyment.

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

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

US – paperback or ebook – winner’s choice

Canada – ebook or audible — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Whispers at Painswick Court, 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 December 6 2025

Deadly Harvest

Random Retro Read

All Georgia Rae Winston wants is to fall in love. Life, of course, has other plans.

Georgia’s biggest challenge in the farming town of Wildcat Springs, Indiana, is figuring out how to win Evan Beckworth’s heart. Until the day she discovers the body of a former student in the woods. 

She assumes it was an accident. When she starts to suspect it wasn’t, it stirs memories of her father’s murder nine years earlier. A murder never solved. Georgia refuses to let that happen this time.

Not necessarily the wisest decision. 

As Georgia works with the sheriff’s department’s newest detective, Cal Perkins, she finds her heart slipping into his hands. But her head is pummeled with conflicting evidence and anonymous threats of severe consequences if she digs any deeper. 

In the end, Georgia faces a paralyzing choice. Ignore the dark secrets inside the family and friends who surround her or be willing to risk her own life to uncover the truth.

My Review:

published in 2018

What a delightful find! I don’t know of many cozy mysteries that also fit into the Christian Fiction category and Deadly Harvest is an excellent example of how well that works. I loved it — but do be aware that there is no mistaking the inspirational elements throughout the story. Prayer, scripture, bible study, friends who talk about Jesus and who are striving to follow Him. The characters are realistically flawed so this definitely isn’t a sugary sweet Utopia kind of read. Just be prepared to be uplifted in the midst of all the murder and mayhem! And yes, it actually works, as odd as that seems.

Love that Georgia has an unusual occupation for a heroine. She’s a farmer, spending her days out in the fields and working in the barn and doing all the things you would associate with farm life. She has an interesting backstory mystery which I think will play out more in future stories but in this first book in the series, Georgia stumbles upon a body on her property and the race is on to expose a killer…and new literary amateur sleuth is born!

Georgia’s gutsy and even a bit brazen when it comes to investigating. I enjoyed how up front she is and especially appreciate that she keeps the police in the loop when her snooping produces results. And speaking of the police…there is a new detective in town who just happens to be single. Yes, that’s a cozy mystery cliche and I love it!

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya . She did a fantastic job with these characters and delivered a compelling performance.

Happy Sidenote: Deadly Harvest is currently free on Kindle right now.

A Wonderful Christmas Crime

Innkeeper Holly White has a lot to be joyful about this season, until an attempted robbery throws the town into suspicion in the sixth installment of the Christmas Tree Farm mysteries from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

As Christmas descends on Mistletoe, Maine, Holly White has an extra gift for the a new baby on the way. Her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, has been worried about her elevated blood pressure and Holly has agreed to take this year easy. Being idle has never been one of Holly’s gifts, so when Evan surprises her with tickets to the town-wide dinner, she and her many cravings thank him. But when a thief tries and fails to steal an antique ornament from the dinner’s holiday display, it’s clear that someone is on the naughty list. 

The thief manages to escape, but after dinner, Holly spots their lifeless body. It’s clear that someone in town was keen to kill them. Evan is less than jolly to find his wife at the scene of yet another holiday homicide and asks her to promise that she’ll leave the investigating to the police. But Holly has never been one to turn down a challenge and has to get creative with the help of a few of her friends in order to find this killer.

Will she and her friends be able to stop the killer, and uncover the motive behind the attempted robbery, or will the killer strike again and paint the town a bloody red?

My Review:

What would Christmas be without some heartwarming murder and mayhem involving the ‘Christmas Tree Farm Mystery ‘crew?! This is one of my favourite cozy mystery series for so many reasons and this sixth book is a perfect example of why.

First — the cozy to mystery ratio is superbly written. While the investigation (both official policing and amateur sleuthing) is centerstage, Frost seamlessly incorporates exquisite cozy elements that provide an anchor of humour and heart to the story. The result is me alternately chuckling and swooning and feeling all nostalgically Christmas-y while trying to solve the mystery before Holly ( or at least keep up with her!) Makes for an incredibly captivating read.

Well, listen (again!) for me because narrator Allyson Ryan has become the voice I hear in my head when I think about these characters. She’s brilliant at giving everyone distinctive voices, including Holly’s disgruntled semi-feral cat Miss Cindy-Lou Who. And I always have the feeling that she is enjoying the story just as much as I am, which makes it feel like I’m buddy reading with a kindred spirit.

This is definitely a series I think should be read in order – not only for the character development, evolving friendships and slow-burn, toe-curling romance – but also for the sheer brilliance of all the holiday festivities. The author has an exceptional imagination and I love the mix of old favourite ‘reindeer games’ along with new traditions that appear in each book. This series breathes Christmas and, in fact, might just contain a hint of special Christmas magic on the side. I might be gloating a wee bit after reading that ending because, well, I knew it all the time!

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

Toils and Snares + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

A riveting tale of love, betrayal, and long-buried secrets, set in the heart of Alaska.

Daphne’s life takes a sharp turn when she becomes engaged to the love of her life, a beloved pastor in Anchorage. But joy is short-lived as she is thrust into the upscale world of her fiancé’s wealthy and influential family.

As the news of their engagement spreads, peculiar incidents start to unfold, leaving Daphne questioning whether there’s a sinister force at play. Haunted by her own family’s dark past, she begins to suspect that her secrets might be intertwined with those of her fiancé’s family—secrets that could shatter not only her own future but also the lives of everyone she holds dear.

From the bestselling USA Today author Alana Terry comes a gripping tale of danger, romance, and faith, set against the backdrop of the rugged Alaskan countryside.undefined

My Review:

An intriguing read and a little hard to define. Not quite a suspense, but there is a mystery, only it’s the kind that happens to Daphne rather than her trying to solve it. As a reader, I could see the pieces pulling together so there was still a bit of an armchair sleuthing component to the read which kept me turning pages.

Engaging characters with an interesting relationship – Daphne’s backstory is particularly compelling. And that’s about all I can say without posting spoilers due to the writing style and the shorter word count. A great read to go in blind and just let the story unfold.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy available to anyone, anywhere in the world so…woohoo…International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of the Toils and Snares, 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 October 25 2025.

Edam and Weep

When a fundraiser turns fatal, Carly Hale is confronted by a trail of clues that all point to her mother as the culprit . . .

When the local high school hosts a fundraiser, restaurant owner Carly Hale is happy to sign on and enlists her mother’s help selling her much-loved grilled cheese sandwiches at the school. But no good deed goes unpunished, and the vendor stationed next to them at the event turns out to be aggressively rude and bullies them both. Never one to be pushed, Carly’s mom gives the man a vicious tongue-lashing and assumes that’s the end of it—until later that day when the man is found dead, strangled with her scarf.

With her mom on the hook for murder, Carly has no choice but to find out who killed the man and why. It turns out the victim had always been bad news and had racked up a long list of enemies. One of those enemies may have been the menacing stranger Carly saw lurking on the edges of the fundraiser, but her intuition tells her the murdered man’s girlfriend may have been mixed up in it too. Certain one of them—or both—did the deadly deed, Carly realizes too late that all her sleuthing has landed her next on the killer’s hit list . . .

Includes tantalizing grilled-cheese sandwich recipes!

My Review:

Warning: reading this book may result in extreme grilled cheese cravings. Read at own risk. And I love that the author delights her readers with tantalizing adaptations of this classic sandwich staple. I had just as much fun reading about the ingenuous recipe ideas as I did following the mystery!

And that mystery — delightfully twisty-turny with plenty of suspects since the victim was so obnoxious! And, sadly, one of those suspects is Carly’s mom so…a girl sleuth has to do what a girl sleuth has to do! And this murder investigation couldn’t come at a worse time! Because Carly’s personal life is already complicated enough.

Love these characters and the growth we’ve seen in them all with each new book. The cozy aspects of this mystery are so heartwarming and comforting. Friends and family who always have your back. A cute rescue pup. The restaurant that’s like a second home to half the town. And, of course, the romance! Happy sigh!

The author has struck the perfect balance between cozy and mystery and both aspects of the story kept me frantically turning pages….well, avidly listening since I enjoyed the audio book narrated by the wonderful Mia Gaskin. She’s been the narrator for the entire series and I love that continuity. She has done a fantastic job with these characters which keeps me turning to the audio editions for my Grilled Cheese Mysteries fix.

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

Five Golden Wings

Readers will flock to NYT bestselling author Donna Andrews’ latest installment in the award-winning Meg Langslow series.

Two of Meg’s cousins, members of Mother’s vast Hollingsworth clan, are getting married, and both have chosen Caerphilly for their Christmas destination wedding . . on the same day, in the same venues. But while they’re cousins they’re also lifelong enemies. Mother’s efforts to keep the peace are wearing her down, and the battling brides (and their mothers) are making the holiday season miserable for everyone. So Meg steps in to keep the peace. And it was going badly even before she stumbles over the murdered body of the wedding photographer.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of suspects. The photographer has been hitting on many of the guests, bridesmaids . . . possibly even one or both of the brides. He’s also been slinking about and taking candid shots that are unflattering, embarrassing . . . occasionally even incriminating.

Can Meg help the local police nab the killer in time for the weddings to go on as planned? Unless, of course, the killer was one of the brides or grooms, in which case she needs to identify the killer in time to reveal their identity when she hears those fateful words, “If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now; or else forever hold your peace.”

My Review:

What would Christmas be without a new Meg Langslow seasonal mystery to get us into the holiday mood? And this 38th (Yes, 38!!! and I’ve read them all…multiple times) book is full of all the charm and humour unique to this incredible series. Discovering a new Meg Langslow mystery is the highlight of my reading year and the Christmas ones are extra special.

Of course, Christmas in Caerphilly has the nasty habit of including a festive murder and Meg is always in the middle of the intrigue! Luckily she has a great rapport with the Chief of police and her meddling comes in handy…especially since she always seems to be the one to discover the victim. Love that predictability and the way the author manages to infuse the real spirit of Christmas in the midst of all the murder and mayhem.

This Christmas two bridezillas are putting a damper on Meg’s Christmas celebrations. Love the nod to the first book in the series (three bridezillas in that one!) but even though the two books share a similar theme they are very different. There are some great plot twists with the mystery which kept me guessing and I love the way the author was able to include so many of my favourite characters in the seasonal sleuthing. And, of course, there’s plenty of humour and Langslow family hijinks to liven things up even more.

I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of ‘Five Golden Wings’, narrated by Bernadette Dunne, who has been with the series from the very beginning. I get such a cozy homecoming kind of feeling every time I listen to one of the Meg Langslow books. Dunne has created unique voices for the many characters and has kept them consistent over all these years! And she captures the humour and heart of these stories to perfection.

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