The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side (1962) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) One had to face the fact: St. Mary Mead was not the place it had been. In a sense, of course, nothing was what it had been. You could blame the war (both the wars) or the younger generation, or women going out […]
Crown Court Killer (2022) Dahlia Donovan (London Podcast Mystery) Dannel and Osian are once again pulled into a murder mystery, when their friend (and defense soliciter) Wayne is accused of murder. “Barristers tend to specialise in certain areas of the law. They’re often brought in on complicated cases to handle matters in court.” Bradley spoke […]
4:50 from Paddington (1957) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) This might be one of my favorite Miss Marple mysteries. It’s definitely one of the most memorable. At that moment another train, also on a downline, swerved inwards towards them, for a moment with almost alarming effect. For a time the two trains ran parallel, now one […]
Miss Vee and the Lecherous Lawyer (2020) Delilah Knight This has the bones of a good story. However, the editing was poor enough that paragraphs seemed out of order, and there were continuity errors. And I am pretty sure the police didn’t have grounds for arrests, which made that part of the story problematic. Additionally, […]
A Pocket Full of Rye (1953) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) This is one of the stories that has always stuck with me–probably because of the rye mentioned in the title. Rex Fortescue dies in his office, and the police immediately suspect murder. “I gather you don’t think it was natural death,” he said dryly. “Not […]
Murder Is Announced (1950) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks at 6: 30 p.m. Friends please accept this, the only intimation. This is post WWII story, and there are so many bits regarding that I love. “You know the Fuel Office won’t […]
Thirteen Problems (1932) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) The Tuesday Night Club (1927) The Idol House of Astarte (1928) Ingots of Gold (1928) The Blood-Stained Pavement (1928) Motive versus Opportunity (1928) The Thumb Mark of St. Peter (1928) The Blue Geranium (1929) A Christmas Tragedy (1930) The Companion (1930) The Herb of Death (1930) The Four […]
The Moving Finger (1942) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) This is the third Miss Marple mystery, and one I’ve reread multiple times, yet this time through I picked up some things I’d not noticed before. Which isn’t unusual, but is fascinating, as things I have learned elsewhere shine a different light upon things I’ve read before. […]
The Body in the Library (1942) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) The second Miss Marple book has both Miss Marple and Sir Henry Clithering. One of the things I always loved Agatha Christie books is how descriptive they can be. The gay, laughing expression on his face was wiped off as though by a sponge from […]
The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) This is the first Miss Marple novel. I’d somehow forgotten that it’s told from the point of view of the vicar, and Miss Marple is only a secondary character–even if she does solve the mystery. Miss Marple is a white-haired old lady with a gentle, […]
Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking (2022) Raquel V. Reyes (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery) I read Mango, Mambo, and Murder and Mia P. Manansala’s Arsenic and Adobo very close together, and have spent the past year confusing the two, because cozy mystery with food and a female lead are what I remembered. To be clear, I liked […]
Blackmail and Bibingka (2022) Mia P. Manansala (Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery) As previously, I finished this story with a slight pang of disappointment. It’s not bad–not at all–but I want it to be just a tiny bit better. I think it was the mystery that was the issue. I guessed pretty quickly who was involved […]
The Secret of Bow Lane (2022) Ashley Gardner (Kat Holloway) Set in England in 1882 The Sixth Book in the Below Stairs mystery series finds Kat embroiled in her own mystery. Her husband’s actual wife has come to Kat demanding assistance in discovering treasure Joe supposedly had before he died. Kat has little interest, but […]
Death at the Deep Dive (2022) Josh Lanyon (Secrets and Scrabble) This is book seven of the Secrets and Scrabble series. However, book six has not yet been published “due to circumstances outside our control”. Luckily, at this point in the series the switch isn’t a problem, since they are written as stand alones (mostly). […]
Purloined Poinsettia (2022) Dahlia Donovan (Motts Cold Case Mystery) Motts has been fascinated by cold cases since her childhood best friend was murdered and no one every caught. Recently, she’s discovered that the majority of girls she went to school with have been killed in the interim. Now, as they are slowly closing in on […]
Lock, Stock and Peril (2022) Charlie Cochrane (Lindenshaw Mysteries) Set in early 2021 during the pandemic. What a year 2020 had been, and the start of 2021 wasn’t shaping up that great, either. The pandemic is a part of the story, because it was part of the world at the time, but it is not […]
Renovated to Death (2022) Frank Anthony Polito YA author PJ and his fiance, the actor JP, became starts of the home renovation show, Domestic Partners, and are trying to settle on a house for the next season. Unfortunately, one of the owners of the house the are planning to renovate doesn’t want to sell. And […]
The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020) TJ Klune This book came out a week into the pandemic lockdown, and it’s possible it might have been lost in the ensuing insanity. Except that it is such a comforting read, it was precisely the thing to read to escape the world. Linus works for DICOMY (Department […]
An Impossible Impostor (2022) Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell) Set in England in 1900. Veronica and Stoker are back in London, when Sir Hugo comes to them to ask a favor: check on his goddaughter, and see if the man claiming to be her brother is truly returned from the dead. He is asking Veronica, because […]
A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder (2022) Dianne Freeman (Countess of Harleigh Mystery) Set in London in 1900. I’ve been picking up books, then putting them down, and noe and Murder and it was precisely what I was in the mood to read. It’s a cozy mystery. This is book five. Main character is […]
Peach Cobbler Murder (2005) Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen) This is the 7th Hannah Swensen book. I think I’m going to drop this series for a bit. I like the mysteries–and I very much liked the set-up for this one. But her romantic dilly dallying is grating on my nerves. To be clear–I am perfectly fine […]
Sugar Cookie Murder (2004) Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen) This was a locked-room of sort, with everyone (mostly) trapped in a single location due to a blizzard. It also had a lot more recipes than previous books–including non-desserts. As always, I was amused by how dated the technology made parts of the story seem. Andrea sounded […]
Fudge Cupcake Murder (2004) Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen) Book 5. When the sheriff turns up dead, Hannah’s brother-in-law is accused of killing his political opponent and since Andrea is stuck on bed-rest, it’s up to Hannah to find the killer quickly–before her brother-in-law drives her sister crazy. I’ve got some other news, too.” “What’s that?” […]
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (2003) Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen) This is the 4th book in the series and since I couldn’t find it on sale, I borrowed it from the library. First, this book is almost hilarious not set in current times. You really need a cell phone, Hannah.” “I don’t want a cell phone.” […]
The Vanishing Type (2022) Ellery Adams (Secret, Book, & Scone Society) One of the things I particularly like about this story is the variety of the characters within. And that those traits don’t define the characters: Sheldon is ace but also Hispanic and Jewish and someone who suffers from chronic pain, and also someone who […]
Blueberry Muffin Murder (2002) Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen) A cute cozy mystery with lots of delicious baked goods. The heroine has a major “not like other girls” feel, but it is an early book. I was amused as all get out reading some of the passages that specifically dated the book. I mean: There was […]
Strawberry Shortcake Murder (2001) Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen) It doesn’t seem like 2001 was that long ago, but it was really a different world. “Yes, Mother.” Hannah stretched out the phone cord and walked over to the cupboard that held Moishe’s food. Once the warm-up was complete, Vera used Lucy’s mouse to click on the […]
Homicide and Halo-Halo (2022) Mia P. Manansala (A Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery) Lila Macapagal is supposed to be getting ready for the opening of the cafe she is opening with her best friend. But instead she is guilted into judging the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant, which she won as a teenager. And, of […]
Lady Odelia’s Secret (2022) Jane Steen (Lady Helena Investigates) Set in England in 1882. I read the first book, Lady Helena Investigates, soon after it came out, and was disgruntled when there wasn’t a sequel. Until a couple weeks ago I stumbled across the second book in the series. HUZZAH! Lady Helena is a widow, […]
Lessons in Seduction (2010) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1907. Jonty and Orlando go undercover to investigate a possible murder! Jonty has to go as himself, since he and his family are too prominent for him to be unrecognized, but few people know Orlando on sight. “We thought the role of professional […]
Lessons in Temptation (2009) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1907 Orlando is sent off to see if any of a collection of books being sold in Bath would be worth purchasing. Jonty takes the time as a vacation, and becomes involved in a production of Macbeth with an old friend. “I’ll definitely […]
Lessons in Power (2009) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1907 Orlando is not best pleased when Matthew Ainslie visits–he and Jonty are settling into their new home–but is willing to listen to what the man wants. What he wants is for Orlando and Jonty to look into the murder of which his […]
Lessons in Discovery (2009) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1906 Amnesia! An historical murder! Letters hidden for centuries! It’s been a year since Jonty and Orlando met, but they didn’t expect to spend their first anniversary in the infirmary, with Orlando suffering from a concussion and a complete loss of memory of […]
Lessons in Desire (2009) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1906 Jonty and Orlando take a vacation! Murder ensues! That’s the summation, but it isn’t at all the feel of the story, just so you know. Unsurprisingly, Orlando has never taken a vacation. “It sounds delightful, Jonty,” Orlando said, with liar written plain […]
Lessons in Love (2008) Charlie Cochrane (Cambridge Fellows) Set in England in 1905. Jonty has returned to St Bride’s College as a fellow in English. He is immediately drawn to dark, silent, and grumpy mathematics fellow Orlando Coppersmith. The words aren’t used (because of the setting) but Orlando is very clearly demi. Orlando thought it […]
A Carriage of Misjustice (2020) Charlie Cochrane (Lindenshaw Mysteries) Alas, I am now all caught up with this series. Robin and Adam are newlyweds, but since it’s midterm, it’s back to work for both of them until they can take a proper honeymoon over summer break. Unfortunately, Robin is seconded to Hartwood to lead up […]
Death and the Joyful Woman (1961) Ellis Peters (The Felse Investigations) (T)hat was the sign – The Joyful Woman. Lovely, isn’t it? Goes right back to about 1600. Detective-Sergeant George Felse of the county CID is called back to the pub whose opening he’d attended just hours earlier, when the owner–businessman Alfred Armiger–is found dead, […]
Christmas Dessert Murder (2021) Joanne Fluke (A Hannah Swensen Mystery) This is actually two novellas: “Christmas Caramel Murder” (2016) “Christmas Cake Murder” (2018) The first story is Hannah (the main character) telling a friend with whom she is out to dinner, the story of a murder she get involved in the previous winter. The second […]
Old Sins (2019) Charlie Cochrane (The Lindenshaw Mysteries) I am thoroughly enjoying this cozy series. After a vacation, Robin and Adam are (mostly) ready to jump back into their jobs for the fall. Even if they keep putting off making definite plans for getting hitched. The real reason they were making no progress was the […]
Two Feet Under (2018) Charlie Cochrane (Lindenshaw Mysteries) Adam Matthews and Robin Bright are settling into their new jobs: Adam is deputy headmaster at a new school and Robin is Chief Inspector at Abbotston (the nick that had all the issues in the last book). When Robin is called out to a body found at […]
The Postscript Murders (2021) Elly Griffiths (Harbinder Kaur) Apparently I don’t love mysteries written in the present tense. Primarily because sentences like this are jarring. There’s another man called either Brodie or Brady, Harbinder never does discover which it is. Can she see into the future that she will never learn his name? Which was […]
Jury of One (2016) Charlie Cochrane (Lindenshaw Mysteries) Inspector Robin Bright had been meant to be enjoying the weekend with his partner Adam Matthews, but a murder has him and his team called in while the Abbotston team tries to deal with a serial killer. It’s a cozy mystery, and just what I was in […]
Aunty Lee’s Delights (2013) Ovidia Yu (Singaporean Mystery) After Rosie “Aunty” Lee became a wealthy widow, instead of shopping and gossiping, she opened a cafe where she could cook and gossip. During her step-son’s wine tasting dinner the discussion is on a body discovered on the beach that morning. But no one except Aunty Lee […]
Body at Buccaneer’s Bay (2021) Josh Lanyon (Secrets and Scrabble) This was delayed, and delayed, and delayed. However, a brief check of her website made it clear that she (like the rest of us) was struggling with the pandemic, and would be unable to meet her publishing schedule. Which, good for her for realizing that, […]
Mango, Mambo, and Murder (2021) Raquel V. Reyes (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery) Miriam Quiñones-Smith has finished her PhD in food anthropology, but instead of becoming an author or education, she has moved back to Miami, where her husband was able to find a better paying job closer to support from his family. “I’m a food […]
Murder Most Actual (2021) Alexis Hall Liza and Hannah are having a bit of struggle with their marriage. A struggle that Hannah tried to help by scheduling a vacation for just the two of them: no internet, no cell services, just the two of them in the wilds of Scotland. Except that Hannah didn’t consult […]
Pickled Petunia (2021) Dahlia Donovan (Motts Cold Case Mystery) The third Motts mystery finds a young woman at Motts’ door, asking for help in finding her mother. It also find the London detective in charge of the cold case from Motts’ childhood worried that the person who killed her best friend as a child has […]
Murder in the Cookbook Nook (2021) Ellery Adams (Book Retreat Mysteries) Jane Steward runs Storyton Hall–a retreat for book lovers in a small town in Virginia. A cooking show is going to be recording episodes–and basing the challenges on favorite books and stories of the host. I picked this up because I’ve been enjoying the […]
The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks (2008) Josh Lanyon This is an interesting story in a lot of ways. First, I think this is one of her earlier books, and the writing isn’t quite as smooth as I’ve come to expect from her. Secondly, it’s set in that weird time where before DADT ended and before […]
Homicide in Hardcover (2009) Kate Carlisle (Bibliophile Mystery) A mystery about books! Sounds like JUST my thing! It was not my thing. I ended up rage reading to finish it. Brooklyn is the child of hippies and a book restorer who is good enough to have set up her own independent business. She has been […]