REVIEW: Died in the Wool

 Died in the Wool
Author: Peggy Ehrhart

Died in the Wool is the second book in the Knit and Nibble Mystery series. Pamela, Bettina, Nell and all the members of the knitting group have been hard at work knitting stuffed aardvarks to raise money for the local high school sports program. 25 cute little stuffed 'varks are for sale at the knitting club booth at a local festival. However, they come up two aardvarks short at the end of the day. Did some shoplifter make off with the goods? As they search around the booth for the missing stuffies, they find more than they bargained for. A dead body. With a cute stuffed turquoise colored aardvark posed right in the middle of his chest.

Oh no! Things do not look good for the members of the knitting club. Soon they are all getting side eye from the entire town. Can the knitters do a little sleuthing and repair the reputation of the club and stop the ugly rumors about a "Killer Aardvark''? Read the book to find out!

I really enjoy this series! I like the setting and the cast of characters. Plus there are knitting patterns and recipes at the back of the book! :)

On to book 3 -- I already have it checked out from the library and on my desk as I finish typing up this review!

REVIEW: Read Herring Hunt

Read Herring Hunt
Author: VM Burns

I first read this second book in the Mystery Bookshop series back in 2018 before it was published. Then life kinda swooped in and I lost track of so many series I enjoy. Back now...and I started reading this series (and several others) all over again from the beginning. Having a great time!

Samantha Washington, Nana Jo and her senior friends, Dawson and the whole crew are back in Read Herring Hunt, the second book in the Mystery Bookshop series. Samantha was widowed about a year ago. She fulfilled a dream she had with her husband to open a mystery bookshop. The shop is doing quite well, despite the dead body discovered nearby when it first opened. Sam lives in an apartment over the store. Nana Jo still stays over often. And adopted member of the family and college student, Dawson lives in the apartment above the garage. Things are getting easier for Sam...the shop is making money, she has friends, and she's trying to learn to enjoy life without her husband.

Dawson has become entangled with the wrong sort of girl. Nana Jo (always quick to express her opinion) hates her and calls her a floozy. Obviously the tart has her eyes on Dawson because he's a popular and talented football player at the local college, with prospects for a pro career. The day after breaking off his relationship with her, Dawson comes to work at the bookshop with a black eye and scratches on his face. He blames Melody for the injuries. Unfortunately, the floozy is found dead, and Dawson is immediately suspect number one. Sam, Nana Jo and the gaggle of lovely seniors join forces again to prove his innocence (before the upcoming big football game of course).

I love this series! Nana Jo is a hoot. And her friends are even more fun. They are outspoken and very good at helping Sam with her amateur sleuthing. Iris is my favorite. She has to be stopped each time she almost lets loose with curse words. Sam is a great main character. She's trying to put her life together after a terrible loss, and building the dream she had with her husband is making a new life for her. The other supporting characters like Dawson and Sam's sister, Jenna, make this a funny, feel good, entertaining cozy mystery series. Sam is also writing her own murder mystery series set in Britain in the 1940s. The story she is writing is included within the book, making each story a mystery within a mystery. This time, the story forms around the former King Edward VI who just abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. A woman is shot during a shooting party....who was the intended victim? And was the motive political?

Fun, entertaining and suspenseful cozy! The cover art is perfect -- very colorful with Sam's poodle smack dab in the middle. :) Very eye catching! I already have book 3 requested at my local library. Woot!

REVIEW: Sarah Brown and the Cabin

 Sarah Brown and the Cabin
Author: Audrey Walker

Every Fall I end up binge reading mysteries and thrillers. I guess there's just something about the weather growing colder and spending more time indoors that makes me want to curl up with a good investigative story. I also love discovering new-to-me authors. So, I gladly added this book to my autumn reads.

I discovered Audrey Walker's books quite by accident. I accepted a freebie copy of a prequel to another series she writes. And this first book in the Sarah Brown series was a freebie special at an online bookseller. The story is short -- only 7 chapters -- but a nice introduction to Sarah Brown. I'm very curious what the next book in the series is like, so the free first story served its purpose. It's not too difficult to suck a book blogger into a new series. :)

The basics: Sarah Brown is a detective known for her sometimes unconventional investigative tactics. She needs a break, so she goes to stay at the family cabin in the mountains for a few days. Her annual getaway. But, her vacation is basically ruined when a dead body shows up outside the cabin. She has no clue who the dead woman is, who killed her or why the body was left outside the cabin where she is staying. The investigation quickly heats up and Sarah discovers her own life might be in danger.

I like Sarah as a main character. She's feisty and a good detective. The mountain cabin setting is great as well and the plot is an interesting premise. But, the story never really hits a true conclusion. It just stops. There is no explanation of who or why. Too many unexplained plot threads. I feel like I read an unfinished story. Too much is left unexplained at the end. After reading this entire story I'm in pretty much the same boat as Sarah Brown -- I have no idea who the dead woman is, who killed her, or why the body was left outside Sarah's cabin. I can't even really call the ending a cliff hanger -- nothing was revealed....at all. Like I said, I feel like I read an unfinished story.

I'm willing to invest the time to read the next ebook in the series to see if more information is revealed and anything concluded. I'm intrigued. But if there's no conclusion or definite explanation of any of the plot in the next ebook, I will  unplug at that point. I've read too many indy digital releases that spread one plot line out really thinly over multiple ebooks instead of ever concluding any portion of the story. It doesn't make for enjoyable reading, or good writing.

Interesting start to a series, even if the ending was completely unfulfilling. I'm willing to read the next book to see what happens.

MOVIE REVIEW: Ghost Stories (2017)

 Ghost Stories (2017): BluRay
Director: Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman

We moved to CO at the very end of June, and I just got my TV/Blu-Ray player set up this week. I just couldn't find any motivation until a few days ago to fuss with all the wires and assembling the stand I bought for it. Done now though. So, I celebrated by checking out a couple movies from the local library. Saw a BluRay for an interesting looking horror movie with Martin Freeman in the cast. I really like Freeman -- so gave it a try!

The move is based on a stage play written by the directors. I wish I could see the play. I enjoyed it as a movie, but a stage play has a completely different vibe than a film. The movie's ending is superb -- I'd love to see how they staged it!

The basics: Professor Philip Goodman has spent his entire career debunking fake psychics and supernatural hocus pocus. He doesn't believe any of it is real. Then, he is sent to investigate 3 supernatural occurrences that supposedly can't be explained. Will the skeptical Prof Goodman be a believer by the end??

Definitely worth a watch! Some great horror effects and the stories were creepy with an interesting vibe. The stories also added to a central plot instead of just being stand alone, unrelated horror stories like some other similar movies have done. Very enjoyable! Andy Nyman (plays Goodman) is a very skilled actor (and director for this particular film). Martin Freeman was awesome too, as usual.

Enjoyed it!

REVIEW: Death by Cashmere

 Death by Cashmere
Author: Sally Goldenbaum

This series has been on my I-really-want-to-read-this-list for years, and I believe I did read this first book before, but then lost track of the series. You know -- life happens and reading takes a back seat. Sometimes for very, very long stretches of time.

But, I'm trying to find balance. So, I have a new routine. I visit my lovely local public library at least once a week - it's my Friday morning day-off thing I do just for me. And, I take time to read every day, even if it's only for a few minutes. Balance is important. Work is also important, but it can't be the constant main focus of my life. Nope. Making sure to add in some books and the peace they bring as well.

I like the characters in this book. The Seaside Knitters -- a group of friends, all different, all intelligent, all creative. That would be such a cool group to belong to! They meet once a week at Izzy Chambers knitting shop in Sea Harbor, MA. Food food, lovely yarn, a bit of gossip....fun! But things take a dark turn when someone they all know is killed. The circumstances are strange, and the knitters find themselves doing some sleuthing to find out if their friend made a foolish choice.....or was it murder?

I already have book 2 in this series on the way to my favorite public library via inter-library loan. Woot! Can't wait to find out what the ladies knit next......and what case will have them sleuthing again! This was definitely a great addition to my annual fall cozy reading binge!

REVIEW: The Broken Spine

 The Broken Spine
Author: Dorothy St. James

Trudell Becket is shocked when she hears that the library where she works is going to become a bookless technology center -- digital only. In a panic to save what books she can, she enlists the help of some fellow employees to hide a stash of books in a hidden room in the library's basement. When the man responsible for the change is killed...in the library, no less....Trudell is a suspect. She and her secret bookroom crew have to do some amateur investigating to keep Trudell out of trouble!

I love my local library's digital site....but I would really hate it if the library system here suddenly got rid of all physical books, movies and music offerings!! I can see the benefits....but it would leave so many patrons wanting "real'' books! Not to mention those without a computer or device would be left out in the cold! I silently cheered Trudell as I read about them sneaking books to the basement....and I kinda didn't feel too badly about the guy who got offed. :) Just kidding....but still...he was a bit of a wanker. Taking books to the landfill??? Grrrrr!!!!!!!!!

I liked the characters and setting. The plot moved along at a nice pace and there was plenty of sleuthing and suspects. Very entertaining and fun to read!

I already have book 2 in this series on hold at the library! 

REVIEW: The Cluttered Corpse

 The Cluttered Corpse
Author: Mary Jane Maffini

The Cluttered Corpse is the second book in the Charlotte Adams cozy mystery series. Charlotte is a professional organizer. Unfortunately, sometimes while clearing up other people's clutter she just happens to get pulled into a messy murder investigation.

The basics: Charlotte has a new client. Emmy Lou is an attractive woman with a nice life....but she has a serious problem with clutter. Fuzzy, cute clutter. Stuffed animals. Everywhere. Thousands of them. Who best to de-stuffie Emmy's house? Charlotte of course! The job gets a lot more complicated though when Charlotte finds a dead body at the bottom of Emmy's stairs.....and Emmy confesses to murder. In public. In front of multiple police. At the top of her lungs.

This story reminds me of episodes of hoarding television shows -- I could picture mounds and mounds of stuffed animals filling up this woman's house. A few stuffed animals are cute -- I have a few myself. But thousands of them? That would be creepy. When it gets to be an obsession on a grand scale like that, the darn things just wouldn't be cute anymore. Perfect setting for a murder!

I enjoy this series. I like the characters, the concept and the plots are entertaining. In Cluttered Corpse, the plot moves at a nice speed, there are plenty of twists and surprises, and lots of investigation. My favorite characters? The two wienie dogs, of course! Followed closely by Jack. All tried and true friends!

I will definitely be reading the rest of this series! I enjoy this author's writing style and I have thoroughly enjoyed the first two books!

On to the next -- Death Loves a Messy Desk!

REVIEW: Death Overdue

 Death Overdue
Author: Allison Brook

Carrie Singleton is a free spirit. She doesn't stay in one place too long. She likes her freedom. But, then she gets offered the job as head of programs and events at the library in Clover Ridge, CT. It's a better paying and more permanent job than she has ever had before. She not only discovers that the job is a bit hectic, but that the library has its own resident ghost. Things get out of hand for Carrie immediately. Her first event is a presentation by a retired local police detective. Al Buckley claims he has new information about a decades old local murder case. But, before he can reveal the new evidence....he drops dead. Right in the middle of the library. Carrie feels a bit guilty because Al was poisoned at her library event, so she decides to investigate not only the death of Al Buckley, but the old murder case of Laura Foster as well.

I loved this book! Not only because of the haunted library theme -- perfect for an October reading! But also because I just enjoyed the characters, the plot and the premise for this new series. Carrie is a strong and intelligent woman who loves her freedom but also realizes that being an adult requires....adulting. The ghost of a former librarian is a hoot -- and a helpful side character that is woven into the plot. Nicely done! And I got sucked right into the story from the beginning. Poor Carrie -- her first event at her new job and the speaker drops dead. Not only that but there is a bit of job tension, jealousy and funny goings-on at the Clover Ridge Library. I had to keep reading to find out if Carrie survived both her promotion, all the adulting, and her amateur sleuthing. :) A great mix of mild spookiness, humor and mystery.

The mystery moved along at a nice pace with a nicely complex plot. There were several situations going on with multiple suspects. It was a well-written,enjoyable read!

As with most cozy mysteries, the cover art for this book is supremely awesome. :) Definitely eye-catching!

Moving on to the next book in this series!

Allison Brook is a pen-name for author Marilyn Levinson. For more information on the author and her other books, check out her website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com/

REVIEW: Fishing for Trouble

 Fishing for Trouble
Author: Elizabeth Logan

Loved returning to Elkview, Alaska for this second book in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series! This time around, everything is in uproar when a customer dies minutes after walking into the Bear Claw Diner. Charlie Cooke and her friends are soon on the case to figure out what killed the young man who had come to Elkview for summer work at a local fish processing plant.

Fishing for Trouble is just as entertaining as the first book. I like the background plot of a diner in a small Alaskan town. I like the characters (Benny the cat is my favorite, of course!) and the plot. There is more than enough amateur sleuthing, twists and surprises! Very entertaining read.

As I read, I kept thinking about what it must be like to be a summer worker in Alaska. I understand that there is a lot of money to be made in the fishing industry, but also know it's hard work, often dangerous, and messy. I'm sure there are a lot of college students who fund their tuition with work like this or just people looking for a bit of adventure or a temporary high paying job -- and I have huge respect for every one. I can see why the author crafted a cozy murder mystery around the summer influx of workers into fish processing plants -- perfect setting for a fictional murder mystery.

I love the cover art for this series! The cover for this second book shows Benny being his best cat self as usual with a huge moose buddy in the background. Made me smile when I picked the book up at the library. Cozy covers are always so colorful and fun! |

I have the 3rd book in this series on my TBR list at the library -- I can't wait to read it!

REVIEW: The Charterhouse of Evil

 The Charterhouse of Evil
Author: Janice Tremayne

I'm picky about which horror novels I read, and which ones I leave alone. As I write this, it's spooky season....and I'm even more picky about my horror reads leading up  to Halloween. I want a story to be scary, suspenseful, and well-written, plus there has to be an interesting plot to go along with the horror aspects. Janice Tremayne's books always deliver spooky-done-right. Her writing has a permanent place in my spooky reading season line-up. A horror tale should invest a reader in the story and characters....and then totally creep them out! This author delivers that each time. With work and parental responsibilities, I only get so much reading time and I am never disappointed that I invested time in a Janice Tremayne book.

The Charterhouse of Evil is the 5th book in the Haunting Clarisse series. Orphans are mysteriously dying and Clarisse is called in to investigate. That's the only snippet of plot I'm going to give away. It's important to come into the book with as little knowledge of the story line as possible. Supernatural horror is just more scary when the story is a surprise! I will say this:  this story is eerie, suspenseful and scary! I am not an easily creeped out person, but I read this story at night, and I shouldn't have. I finished this story at 2 am.....and laid down to sleep on the couch as the Fall breeze coming in the screen door was so nice. We live on the top floor of our building, so I can leave the sliding door open with little fear of anyone intruding. I settled in for some good sleep, but kept being jerked awake by weird noises. Then I saw movement out on the balcony. Cue creepy, feel-like-I'm-being-watched vibes.....I sat straight up and got that stabbing rush of adrenaline. Something was at the screen door! Then I realized it was my nightly guests I can't seem to scare off -- pigeons. Don't tell my teenager. He will never let me live it down that Janice Tremayne creeped me out enough to make me startle awake in the middle of the night because of ..... pigeons. I'm sure the birds are laughing too. Feathered jerks!

Another great story in this series! And Tremayne's Zack Bolder series is also very good! I will keep reading each book this author writes as she never disappoints me. The cover art is awesome as well!

REVIEW: After Midnight

 Close to Midnight
Author: Various, edited by Mark Morris

I absolutely love horror short story anthologies! It's a great way to discover new-to-me horror writers and each story can be vastly different while still being creepy. I find myself reading through anthologies quickly to get reviews done on time, and then I get a physical copy and take a slower trip through the stories for a second time. And this collection is no different. I read through this once to be able to post my review. And I'm at the top of the hold list at my local library to get my mits on a physical copy so I can look each author up, re-read their story and really soak in the creepy vibes.

I have never been disappointed by a story anthology in this series. I read both of the prior collections -- Beyond the Veil and After Sundown. Thoroughly enjoyed each one! That's why I'm back for the 3rd round! Wouldn't miss it for the world!

This collection has 20 stories. Most of the authors were new to me. Some I have read before. I liked some of the stories better than others. But, there weren't any that I didn't enjoy reading. Nice varied mix of horror stories. They are all horror tales, but there is no central theme. I liked the surprise of each new story going off in its own direction.

Very entertaining and creepy story collection! I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the next collection! I will add to this review once I get my hands on a physical copy and can take my time meandering through the tales again. Sometimes with horror you just have to take time to stop and smell the blood, if you know what I mean.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: A Christmas Candy Killing

 A Christmas Candy Killing
Author: Christina Romeril

I enjoy reading cozy mysteries, especially those with a holiday theme. It's even better when the book is the first in a new series and from a new-to-me author! When I saw this book available for review, I jumped right on it. Had to read it!

Felt a little weird reading a Christmas theme cozy in August.....but just thinking about Christmas and snow and the holidays somehow made the afternoons feel a little less blazing hot. I even made a cup of cocoa at one point because the book kept mentioning chocolate. Had to have some!

The basics: Murder and Mayhem is a mystery bookshop owned by twins, Alex and Hannah. Just before Christmas, murder becomes something real and not just something in the books they sell. One of their neighbors is killed and one of the twins is a suspect!

This is a fun, entertaining read! I like the characters, the basic premise, the idea of a mystery bookshop, the plot -- I just had a fun time reading this story in general! The mystery progresses at a nice pace. There is a good amount of amateur sleuthing and surprises along the way. Great start to a cozy series!

I will definitely be reading more of this series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: What Song the Sirens Sang

 What Song the Sirens Sang
Author: Simon R. Green

Simon R. Green has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read his Nightside series. When that series ended, I found his Ismael Jones stories and now Gideon Sable to be excellent successors.

Gideon Sable is a sneak thief and con artist. But not your run-of-the-mill sticky fingered second story man.....let's just say that Gideon steals things that aren't really classified as steal-able. He steals supernatural items. Things that shouldn't exist. Collectibles that are magical and dangerous. But not by himself. His friend, Annie Anybody, helps him out. A criminal duo of the most interesting kind -- a man who can steal anything and a woman who can be anybody.

If anybody can pull off a supernatural heist series, it's Simon R. Green. He's in his best element in this series. And I love every single new story that comes about about Gideon and Annie. This time Gideon is the victim. He's tasked with appraising a very dangerous magical item, but before he gets the job done the item is stolen from him. Pissed is not a strong enough term for how angry Gideon is when he discovers the theft. He's livid -- and looking for the person that dared to steal from him.

Great story! Simon R. Green never lets me down! I'm definitely going to keep reading this series as long as the stories keep coming out! Ishmael Jones, too! Any reader who enjoys urban fantasy with supernatural/paranormal tones will love both these series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Severn House. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: All That is Wicked

 All That is Wicked
Author: Kate Winkler Dawson

I guess I have to admit that I'm somehow obsessed with murder cases. I watch documentaries on true crimes all the time. I read murder mysteries, true crime books, non fiction about investigations. And I listen to about a bazillion podcasts on the topic. Yikes. If I was ever a suspect in a murder, the FBI would have a field day with my search history. Not a killer -- I'm just interested in investigations of solved and unsolved murders/violent crimes.

When I saw this book available for review, I had to read it. Not only had I not heard of this serial killer, but I hadn't heard of Kate Dawson either. Glad I rectified both issues! I have two other books by this author  added to my TBR at the local library, and I'm followed two of her podcasts as well!

This book is intense. Edward Rulloff was an evil, violent, disgusting person. He was a genius and a serial killer in the 19th century before the term "serial killer" even existed. His case was one of the first to become a public spectacle and media frenzy. And, doctors and scientists practically lined up to study Rulloff. In fact, a renowned university still has this killer's brain preserved in a jar.

Awesome book! Dawson definitely did huge amounts of research and tells the tale in a factual, yet interesting way. This book kept my attention from start to finish. I was so curious about the doctors and psychiatrists back then who were just trying to learn about the human brain and criminal behavior. So interesting!

I'm definitely going to read more by this author. I enjoyed reading about a case that I really hadn't heard of before.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Penguin Group. All opinions expressed are entirely  my own.**

REVIEW: The Ghost and the Stolen Tears

 The Ghost and the Stolen Tears
Author: Cleo Coyle

I have been reading this series faithfully since the first book came out. Even when there was a 10 year break between books.The stories are always entertaining and fun to read! This series is definitely in my top 5 favorites!

The Ghost and the Stolen Tears is the 8th book in the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series. This time Penelope and her ghostly PI, Jack, are doing some sleuthing to exonerate an innocent woman. It's not easy to prove someone innocent when they act guilty!

This newest story definitely kept my attention from start to finish. Plenty of sleuthing and suspects. The plot moves along at a nice pace with a few twists and surprises along the way. I love the basic premise of this series -- a long-dead PI assisting a bookshop owner to solve mysteries. Jack is such an entertaining character and I love the mix of old-time detective cliches and slang into the story.

The cover art for this series is always awesome. I usually buy the paperbacks each time a new book comes out and I also listen to the audio book through my local library. The audio books are always top notch and fun to listen to!

Another entertaining book in this series! And I see the next book -- The Ghost Goes to the Dogs -- is coming out in May 2023. Woot!! Already added to my TBR list!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing, but also have my own copy on pre-order! Will be re-reading this as soon as my physical book arrives! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**