REVIEW: The Body in the Library

 The Body in the Library
Author:Agatha Christie

Finally!! 

I started a challenge back in 2019 to read all of Agatha Christie's writing in publication order. Life really did its best to get in my way -- returning to full time work, a pandemic, a divorce, a cross-country move....lots of obstacles! 

But, through it all, I have kept reading. Now, there may have been months without any progress.....I've had a lot going on! But I'm still chugging along! 

All the while I have been waiting to hit the Miss Marple books. I read the first one -- Murder at the Vicarage -- way back in 2020. Finally got to the second Marple novel (only took me 5 years! lol) -- and I can't wait to read more. Don't get me wrong, I love Hercule Poirot. But I'm ready to start cycling through more Miss Marple books as well! A bit of variety! 

I read this book years ago, but remembered very little about it. I read my old paperback from my bookshelf along with an audio book (HarperAudio, 2012, 5 hrs 21 minutes, narrated by Stephanie Cole). When I finished reading, I relegated my old paperback to the recycle bin. Bookshelf space is at a premium, so I'm reading my collection of worn out paperbacks and letting them go. Have to make space for new books! 

And, let's face it.... it's ridiculous that I had all these lovely mystery stories on my bookshelves for years and never read them. All that space taken up on my shelves....and I never enjoyed the stories. Solving that problem now!! But what an endeavor -- so many books!!  

Now....on to the story!  

I enjoyed this story very much. I loved the fact that the villagers and even the local police respect Miss Marple and her sleuthing! Jane wasn't the only person on the case. The local police and several from the village joined in the investigation, too. They all acknowledged Jane's talents for sniffing out lies and evil doers! Anyone who questioned why an older lady should have anything to do with a murder investigation was promptly corrected by other locals. 

The plot was interesting and the twists/turns kept me guessing about the motive and the culprit until the very end. 

I absolutely adore Miss Marple as a character. She reminds me of a more refined and genteel Columbo. She pretends to be just a harmless, quiet older village lady when she is really quite shrewd and intelligent. She sees everything and bides her time, asking seemingly innocent questions.....until she has it all figured out and reveals the killer.  So, it makes perfect sense that Mrs Bantry sent a car to pick up Miss Marple just after they rang the local police. Sensible choice, of course! 

 Overall, I enjoyed this story. But, I found the plot a bit contrived. The reasoning for two murders was just a bit overdone. Well written, very enjoyable....but not realistic. Love, Love, Love Miss Marple though!  

This story has been adapted for television several times. 

Miss Marple: Joan Hickson plays Jane in this long-running series. The Body in the Library was her first appearance as Miss Marple in December 1984. The story was split into 3 episodes. The casting is perfect. I recognized this from the beginning. I loved the way Mrs Bantry woke her husband up "Arthur, Wake up. There's a body in the library. Mary just said so" just made me smile. The look on the actress' face, her tone....it was just perfect! And Mr. Bantry refusing to believe it "I am not going to walk downstairs and ask if there is a dead body in my library!" Followed by him putting on a robe and doing just that. Can you imagine??? The scene made me envision Agatha Christie smiling and even chuckling a little as she wrote this story. I wonder if she had a local older couple in mind, happily imagining them waking up to a dead body in their library.  I love Joan Hickson as Miss Marple. Even the costuming is perfect down to her black very sensible shoes. :) 

Marple: Geraldine McEwan was cast as Miss Marple in this very popular TV series. This story was adapted as the first episode of this series in 2004. It made some pretty big changes to the plot and characters. I enjoy McEwan as Jane. She definitely made the part her own. But, I didn't like the changes to the story very much. I think the story was fine the way it was, even though the plot / murder motivation was a bit too far-fetched. 

Les Petits Meurtres de'Agatha Christie: Season 1, episode 9 of this French television series adapted the book in 2011. The setting and investigators were changed. I don't speak French so did not look up this episode to watch. 

Graphic novel: A Swiss publisher released a graphic novel of the story in 2017 titled Miss Marple: Un Cadavre dans la bibliotheque. I don't read French either, so didn't look for a copy. 

Moving on to the next novel in my Christie reading challenge. Back to Poirot -- Five Little Pigs/Murder in Retrospect!

 

REVIEW: N or M?

 N or M?
Author: Agatha Christie

I will admit from the start that I am not a big Tommy & Tuppence fan. When I saw that this book was one of their adventures, I even rolled my eyes a bit. But, I did not waver from my challenge rules to read all of Christie's writing in publication order (or as close to it as I can get). 

I'm not sure if it's the characters I really don't care for....or the spy/war theme of most of their stories that just make me not really gravitate to these books as much as Poirot or Marple ones.  I did get pulled into the story rather quickly despite my initial annoyance, and ended up enjoying this book very much. 

As usual I read a tattered paperback version from my bookshelf while listening to an audio book. The paperback was a 1971 edition from Dell. As usual, the cover art was colorful and a bit bizarre -- love it!  When I finished reading, I threw the old worn out book in the recycle bin. Letting go of these old books to free up bookshelf space for new books.  The audio book was from HarperAudio (2012, narrated by Hugh Fraser, 5 hrs 45 minutes long). 

I don't remember where I got this old paperback. I collected many of Christie's novels here and there over decades.And then never got around to actually reading many of them. This paperback has a stamp in it from a used bookstore in Mobile, AL. I looked up the address -- Ernie's Books is no longer there. The
address is now home to a salon, a glass repair shop and a paint & sip place. I think Ernie's must have closed years ago as I found no mentions of it on the internet at all. So preserving its memory here since I tossed the worn out book in the trash. Would be so interesting to find out how it made its way from Alabama to Kansas (which is probably where I picked it up at a used book shop.....or maybe NC where I moved later in life). As it is, both Ernie's and the book are now retired. Does anybody else investigate things they find stamped or written in old books, or is it just me?

Now -- on to the story! 

Despite my lack of excitement at reading about Tommy & Tuppence, I enjoyed  this story. It's dated due to the theme -- World War II, the fifth column, being called up to act as undercover government agents, etc I didn't let it make me feel like I was reading yet another book about evil Nazis. I kept in my mind the entire time I was reading and listening that when Christie wrote this book (published 1941), England was in the thick of it. Her reading audience would actually have been worried about spies, invasion, and Nazis. They needed this story at the time -- two older regular people ferreting out a spy ring. A win. 

I discovered during my research that this book actually caused Agatha to be investigated by MI5 due to the name of one of the characters, Major Bletchley. It was a minor investigation, and wrapped up when she revealed the name was chosen based on a bad train experience and not because she had inside information about British war efforts.I wonder if Agatha took that as a compliment? When a spy novel causes the real spies to come check on the author, that's a sign it's a pretty good spy story, right? 

 Very enjoyable book. And, I really need to rethink my reluctance to really like Christie's lesser known main characters -- Colonel Race, Superintendent Battle, Tommy & Tuppence, Harley Quin, Parker Pyne, etc. All of their stories are good.....I just prefer Poirot and Marple. Experiencing these other characters is an added benefit of this reading challenge. I can't just pick and choose and read only the most famous characters or the most well-known books and stories.....I'm reading them all. Maybe by the end I will be excited to read about all the characters and not just two of them. I am hopeful! 

This story has only been adapted once. 

BBC One - In 2015, BBC one aired a 3-part Partners in Crime episode based on this book. I found the episodes on YouTube. 

Now that I have finished N or M?, I am finally up to a Jane Marple book -- The Body in the Library!! I've been wanting more Miss Marple since I read Murder in the Vicarage way back in 2020 - early days of my reading challenge! Thanks for the great story Tommy & Tuppence.....but I'm moving on to spend some time with Jane! 

REVIEW: Evil Under the Sun

 Evil Under the Sun
Author: Agatha Christie 

Evil Under the Sun is a Hercule Poirot mystery first published as a serial in Collier's Weekly in December 1940. It appeared in novel format in the both UK and US in 1941. 

I'm working my way through all of Agatha Christie's writings in publication order. Taking my time, and enjoying myself, so this endeavor may take me a good long while to complete!

As usual, I read an old paperback copy from my shelves while listening to an audio book. It's enjoyable to have the story read to me, I can look for changes in the text, and any French or other foreign words are pronounced correctly by the audio book narrator, rather than being totally mangled in my head as I read. :) 

My paperback copy (pictured above) is from 1975 (Pocket Books, $1.50). It's in relatively good shape for being 50 years old. The pages are brown with age, but the spine is nicely intact. Despite this, once I've read the book, I'm going to recycle it.  I have owned this paperback for years. It has moved here and there with me, but I never read this copy in all that time. I've read this book before, but it was a library copy and not the old paperback taking up space on my bookshelves. Now that I live in an apartment, and look to downsize in a couple years, my shelf space is at a premium. So, I'm reading these old paperbacks and then letting them go. The audio book version I listened to is from HarperAudio (2012, narrated by David Suchet, about 6.5 hours long -- very thankful for my local library and Hoopla!!)

Now, on to the story!

Although I had read this book before and watched the 1982 movie in the past, it had been long enough that I didn't remember the identify of the killer. The only thing I could remember is the murder happened at a beach resort. As usual, Christie starts out developing the characters and hints at the reason for the murder before the actual dead body shows up. There are plenty of suspects (like nearly everybody in the story lol) and lots of investigation by the police and Poirot. At several points I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was....and then changed my mind....changed it back.....changed it again lol  Christie set it up perfectly, making me unsure who was going to be revealed as a murderer at the end. 

This is not my favorite Christie mystery, but was a very enjoyable classic Christie whodunnit. The pacing was perfect. The book kept my attention from start to finish. 

I feel so sorry for Poirot. Every time he tries to go on vacation, someone has to commit a murder and ruin his trip!!

This novel has been adapted several times:

BBC Radio 4 - In 1999, BBC radio presented an audio drama starring John Moffat as Poirot.  The story is 2 hrs 16 minutes long. Moffat does a great job as Poirot. This is a full cast performance with some well done added sound effects. Very enjoyable!

1982 Movie - Peter Ustinov stars as Hercule Poirot in this movie adaptation. As usual, a lot of changes were made (and not for the better), and IMHO Ustinov is just not right for the part of Poirot. The changes start at the very beginning and just muddy the plot of the book for no reason. As a big Christie fan, for me, the 80s Poirot movies starring Ustinov are pretty bad, to be honest. I watched this for Diana Rigg, Maggie Smith and Roddy McDowall.

Agatha Christie's Poirot - The long-running television show had a episode based on this book in 2003 (Episode 1, Season 8). The episode makes some changes such as adding in Captain Hastings, Inspector Japp and Miss Lemon to the story. All in all, a very good episode!

Les Petits Meurtres de Agatha Christie - A French television series aired an episode based on this story. Many changes were made to the characters, the setting and some minor plot changes. The main plot points are followed relatively closely, however.

Video game - In 2007, The Adventure Company released a PC video game based on this story. Captain Hastings features as the player's character in the game, even though Hastings is not in the actual novel. 

I'm almost to Agatha's second Jane Marple novel!!! I read Murder at the Vicarage in 2020 and have been wanting more Miss Marple ever since!  Just one more book to go....  N or M (a Tommy and Tuppence Mystery)   I already have the old paperback copy pulled from my bookshelf and I'm starting on it tonight!

REVIEW: An Overdose of Death

 An Overdose of Death
Author: Agatha Christie

This Hercule Poirot mystery was first published under the title One Two, Buckle My Shoe in the UK in November 1940. US publication as The Patriotic Murders followed in February 1941. In 1953, Dell books changed the US title to An Overdose of Death. Like many of Agatha's Christie's books, this story was first serialized in a magazine in August-September 1940 before being released in novel form.  

Once again, I read an old, tattered paperback version of this mystery while I listened to an audio book. My 1975 paperback was heavily damaged and definitely worn out. I had this book on my Christie shelf for years, but never actually read it. Glad I finally got to enjoy the story!! The audio book version was released by HarperAudio in 2012, ran about 5 1/2 hours, and featured Hugh Fraser as narrator. 

This was the last huzzah for this 50-year old paperback. I read it, took a picture of the front cover, and recycled it. Time to let it go. Frees up bookshelf space for new books. 

 I have to say that I love the cover art from the 1960's / 1970's. Always such interestingly bizarre cover art! I am preserving the cover here. The vibe lives on despite my throwing the physical book away.

Now, on to the story!

This story is the last appearance of Chief Inspector Japp in Christie's novels.Such a great character! I will miss him as I read through the rest of Christie's writing. 

I enjoyed this story. It hasn't aged all that well due to the political theme of the basic story and some racist undertones. But, overall, it's an interesting mystery and kept my attention from start to finish. 

This story has been adapted for radio/television only twice:

Agatha Christie's Poirot:  This long-running television show adapted this story (Season 4, Episode 3). A very dark episode, but pretty much faithful to the book. It removes a lot of the odd racist statements made by characters in the novel. David Suchet shines as Poirot as usual! 

BBC Radio 4: In 2004, BBC Radio released an audio drama, starring John Moffat as Poirot. The drama runs about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Moffat does a great job as Poirot. These radio dramas are wonderful. You can find them online here:  https://fourble.co.uk/podcast/bbcradio7

I'm glad I finally read this book! It's not one of my favorite Christie stories by any means, but did make for an enjoyable read/listen. 

Moving on to the next book in my journey through Christie's writing -- Evil Under the Sun! 

 

REVIEW: Sad Cypress

 Sad Cypress
Author: Agatha Christie

 
After a break of a few months, I have started back on my journey to read all of Agatha Christie's writing in publication order (or as close as I can get - I've made a couple errors along the way!)

Sad Cypress was first serialized in a US magazine in December 1939 and in the UK in March 1940. In book form, it was released in the UK in March 1940, followed by US publication in the Fall of 1940. It is a courtroom drama mixed with a Hercule Poirot investigation. 

I'm glad to finally hit a new decade in my Christie reading adventure -- 1940! It took me awhile to get past the 20s/30s! Just 3 more novels and I finally get to Miss Marple!! 

 This is my first time reading this Poirot story. I have had a very old paperback version from 1966 on my Christie shelf for years, but never actually read it. It's very tattered. The pages have foxing and the spine is brittle. Worn out. I absolutely love the cover art. The 1960's and 1970s Christie paperbacks have the weirdest and most wonderful covers! Much as I love the cover on this one......once I'm done reading it, the poor old thing is being recycled. The pages are falling out. The cover is coming off. The paper is brittle. It's almost 60 years old. It's time.  But, before it goes, I'm giving it a good read. And, preserving its lovely cover in a photo here. When published, the paperback only cost 50 cents! The last paperback mystery I bought  at the bookshop the other day cost me $8.99. I looked up the equivalent in today's dollars for that 50 cents back in 1966...about $5. 

All right...all that aside...now for the story!

The book starts out a bit slow, but that's purposeful. The stage has to be set...the characters introduced....the problem hinted at.....then the murder. Agatha took her time skillfully setting up the scenario, while not revealing too much. But, once there are two bodies on slabs....one an elderly infirm woman and the other a younger, beautiful woman.....Hercule Poirot steps in. And, the investigation begins. The plot gets much more intense at this point. Purposeful story building.....love it!

I very much enjoyed this book!! I read my paperback copy while listening to an audio book as well (HarperAudio, 2012). The audio book is about 6 hours long and is narrated by David Suchet. Suchet, of course, portrayed Poirot perfectly as usual! He is superb at the part, even when just narrating. 

The book has been adapted for radio/television only 3 times:

BBC Radio 4 adapted the story for an audio drama in 1992. The radio drama is a bit over 2 hours. Poirot is played by John Moffat. Moffat, as well as the entire cast, do a wonderful job! The dramas done by BBC Radio 4 are always wonderful, with a full casts and interesting sound effects thrown in. I adore Old Time Radio, so any sort of radio drama is an entertaining listen for me. I highly recommend the Christie radio dramas. You can listen to them here: https://fourble.co.uk/podcast/bbcradio7  Just superb, IMO. 

Agatha Christie's Poirot adapted the story in Season 9, Episode 2. The episode makes some minor changes, but overall sticks closely to the plot of the book. Loved the episode! 

Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie, a French television program, adapted the story in September 2010. I do not speak French, so have to go by my research on this adaptation. Per what I could find online, the program made major changes to the plot -- moved the setting to France and the investigator and other details are different. 

I had my ideas about the culprit's identity in this lovely story, but I wasn't sure until the very end. My guess at the murderer was close....but wrong. A very enjoyable Poirot investigation. Classic! 

I really enjoy the Christie mysteries that are a quick read. Short, but packed with a great plot each time! 

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing David Suchet read me the book, then watching him act in the Poirot episode. Nobody can play the part like Suchet!! [And I will interject my firm opinion here.....will someone PLEASE tell Kenneth Branagh to STOP making horrible Poirot movies!!! His appearance, the clothes, the mannerisms are all wrong....and the mustache...terrible!! The plot changes are pure S. Leave it as Christie wrote it! Ugh.  Ok.....off my soap box now.] 

Moving on to the next Christie novel in my reading journey --  One Two, Buckle My Shoe (also published as The Patriotic Murders and An Overdose of Death in the US) I have my old paperback off my shelf and on the top of my TBR pile. It's another Poirot novel I have owned for years but never read, so I can't wait!!

Before I go.....I love this meme. It makes me laugh every time. I think Agatha would have found it funny as well. :)

 

REVIEW: Murder Lo Mein

 Murder Lo Mein
Author: Vivien Chien

The Ho-Lee Noodle House is competing in Cleveland's Best Noodle Contest. Lana Lee has just been made manager of the family business, so she's nervous about the competition. She knows their noodles are the best in town and she wants to win. But just as the competition starts to heat up, a judge drops dead after receiving a threatening fortune cookie. Once again, Lana is forced to do some amateur sleuthing to save the reputation of Asia Village and Ho-Lee Noodle House. 

Murder Lo Mein is book 3 in this series. This is my favorite book so far. The characters are already introduced and their relationships in place. The setting and general back theme is established. So, in this book there was not only some interesting character development and the addition of Lana's grandmother into the story, but also a really good mystery. The story kept my attention from start to finish. There was plenty of amateur sleuthing and twists to keep it interesting. I had my suspicions about the killer....but I wasn't sure until the reveal. Very enjoyable read! 

As usual, the cover art is just perfect! 

I'm moving on to the next book in this series -- Wonton Terror! 

REVIEW: Snow Way Out

 Snow Way Out
Author: Christine Husom

I love snow globes. Ever since I was a child, shaking that tiny little world inside the globe and watching the pretty snowflakes fall is just mesmerizing for me. The minute I found out there was a short cozy series about a snow globe shop, I had to read it! 

This first book starts out with the main character, Camryn Brooks, and her friends hosting a crafting class at her curio shop. Guess what they are making?? Snow globes!! 

This immediately made me happy with the background theme of this series.  If Camryn's shop was real, I would be in there handing over real cash. And, you'd better bet I'd be signing up for the class to make my own snow globe.

 Only one downside.......after class, Camryn discovers a snow globe on her store shelves that she doesn't recognize. It depicts a murder scene.  Then while walking home....she discovers that scene played out for real. Dead body with a knife in its back and all. 

That part of class I would not sign up for. :) 

I liked the snow globe theme of this first book, the characters, and the basic plot. The mystery kept my attention from start to finish. There were plenty of suspects, just the right amount of amateur sleuthing, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. 

 Definitely reading the other books in this series! I already have the second book pulled off my shelves and in my currently reading pile on my desk! :) 

 

 

REVIEW: Dim Sum of all Fears

 Dim Sum of All Fears
Author: Vivien Chien

I'm enjoying the Noodle Shop Mystery series! I liked this second book just as much as I did the first one! 

The basics: When her parents go to Taiwan to take care of family, Lana is left running the family restaurant. And just as Lana is proving to herself that she can skillfully keep the restaurant going in their absence, there is not just one murder right next door...but two! 

The plot of this second book definitely kept me engaged the entire time. There was just a lot going on! Lana and her sidekicks really had to work to figure out who was responsible for the crime. Lots of suspects, drama and amateur sleuthing. Vivien Chien definitely knows where to add little twists and turns to keep her readers glued to the page!

I can't wait to find out what is coming up next! I already have book 3 -- Murder Lo Mein -- added to my stack of books that I'm currently reading. 

REVIEW: Brownies and Broomsticks

 Brownies and Broomsticks
Author: Bailey Cates

This series has been sitting on my TBR bookshelves for quite awhile. Finally decided it was time to grab book one and jump in. Glad I did!

Brownies and Broomsticks a great start to the Magical Bakery Mystery series. Katie Lightfoot moves to Savannah, GA to help her aunt and uncle open a bakery. Just as she starts trying to figure out her new life, she discovers a secret about herself that she never knew....finds a fuzzy buddy....and her uncle is the number one suspect in a murder. Never a dull moment! 

I like the characters in this series and the background theme of a magical bakery and friendly witches. The plot kept my interest from start to finish. The mystery moved along at a nice pace. The background theme of magic and the bakery added to the mystery part of the story, rather than over-powering it. And, there are recipes at the end of the book! Always a plus when there are recipes! 

Moving on to book two -- Bewitched, Bothered and Biscotti. 

 

REVIEW: Fondant Fumble

 Fondant Fumble
Author: Jenn McKinlay

And....with the closing of this book, I have officially caught up with the author and am awaiting her publication of the next book in this series. I'm smiling not just because I enjoyed the book, but also because my new tactic of avoiding negative social media posts, depressing news and the state of my home country at the moment is working. Instead of watching the news and becoming depressed, I'm reading books instead. I needed a serious break from all that nonsense and scary stuff -- and I do believe books are the solution. 

In the month of March, I have read 16 books so far - all while still working my full time job and keeping up with household chores/responsibilities. This not only is helpful for my mental health, but also proves that I always had the time to read. I was just filling up that extra time with negative information, rather than entertaining stories. 

 So, for the present, I'm going to continue my reading project. No news. I have friends who have agreed to notify me if anything vital happens that I need to know. I'm going to concentrate on reading books from my shelves. Clear out some space for new books -- and read some series that have been languishing unread on my bookshelves for a long time!! 

Fondant Fumble is the 16th book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. When two pro football players decide to open a Fairy Tale Cupcake franchise, Mel is excited and the entire cupcake gang gears up to help with the grand opening of the new location. However, a dead body and a swarm of scorpions adds a bit too much excitement to the opening festivities. Can Mel, the gang and their two new friends catch the killer? 

I enjoyed this book! Very entertaining. The scorpions were a bit creepy crawlie, but the plot kept my attention from start to finish. I liked the football theme. There was plenty of sleuthing, suspects and twists. The recipes in the back of the book sound yummy as well! 

I would say that I'm moving on to the next book.....like I have throughout my binge reading of the 1st through the 16th book in this entertaining series -- but I'm out of books!!  I have chosen another cozy series from my shelf (10 books this time before I catch up with the author), and I'm going to just read from my shelves until I've cleared out some shelf space!! It's win-win all the way around. I keep a smile on my face, clear shelf space for new books, several authors get reviews posted -- and I'm getting to enjoy books I've had waiting on my shelves for awhile!! Yay!! 

On to the next series!! 

REVIEW: Sugar Plum Poisoned

 Sugar Plum Poisoned
Author: Jenn McKinlay

It's Christmastime and a musician friend of Angie's is in Scottsdale to do some holiday shows. Mel, Angie and the rest of the bakery gang are on duty providing cupcakes for the VIP room at the concerts. What could possibly go wrong? A dead manager, that's what. 

It seems the bakery gang just can't catch a break. A dead body seems to always mess up their best plans. 

I had a great time reading this Christmas theme mystery. The plot kept my attention from start to finish. There is plenty of suspects and sleuthing, with a few twists and turns thrown in to keep it exciting. 

The recipes at the end of the book sound amazing, especially the egg nog cupcakes! 

This book is the 15th in this series. At this point in time, there are only 16 Cupcake Bakery Mysteries. I have the final book in front of me as I post this review. Getting ready to start reading! I can't believe I binge read this entire series in less than a month! Just proves I like reading about cupcakes and killers!

REVIEW: Strawberried Alive

 Strawberried Alive
Author: Jenn McKinlay

14 down -- 2 to go!! 

I just finished Strawberried Alive and am happy to report that it's another fun installment in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. I needed an entertaining series to read to keep my mind off current events, the news, negative stuff for awhile. And, so far, this series fits the bill perfectly. I have binge read my way through 14 books so far....in less than a month. So yep -- my plan is working. I unplugged from the news and plugged into cozies. Best decision I've made in a long time! 

This time, someone is targeting business owners in Old Town, a historic district in Scottsdale. First someone takes a pot shot at Mel while she's at the bakery at night. Then the owner of a nearby business is shot.....and the attacks keep happening....finally leading to a death.  Someone is literally trying to kill business in Old Town. Can the cupcake crew break the case before business in the district is dead? 

I enjoyed this story. The mystery definitely kept my attention from start to finish. There were plenty of suspects, action and twists. The person I thought had done it was innocent...ooops. :) And, as usual, the book has yummy cupcake recipes in the back! 

Moving on to the next book -- Sugar Plum Poisoned!  After that one, there will only be one more book in this series left on my TBR shelf.  Whew! :)

REVIEW: For Batter or Worse

 For Batter or Worse
Author: Jenn McKinlay

Well, I binged my way through yet another book in this series. Since I put myself on a self-imposed news ban, I have been reading a lot of books instead. So much better for my mental health than depressing news programs. I'm keeping the smile on my face....and making spaces on my TBR bookshelves!

For Batter or Worse is the 13th book in the Cupcake Bakery series.

There's a lot going on in this book. Two main characters are getting married. Another is pregnant. One got a new job. Just a lot going on. I liked the way all those background plot situations worked out, except for one little twist in one of them that I thought was....well, stupid and unnecessary. Other than that one little thing, I liked all the character developments. 

The mystery moved along at a nice pace. There is some entertaining amateur sleuthing as usual with several suspects and a few surprise twists. The recipes in the back of the book look yummy. I shared them with a family member who is a trained chef who loves to bake cakes. Since I don't eat grain or much sugar, cupcake recipes aren't really my thing. But my family member will most likely try at least one of the recipes. :) 

I definitely enjoyed this story. Read the book in a day....and now moving on to the next -- Strawberried Alive!

REVIEW: Pumpkin Spice Peril

 Pumpkin Spice Peril
Author: Jenn McKinlay

Finished another book in this series! Having a great time binge reading my way through all of the books. I needed a series that was just entertaining, light and happy. What could be happier than cupcakes? Totally what I needed! 

Pumpkin Spice Peril is the 12th book in the series. This time Mel and the bakery gang are planning to supply cupcakes to a local art gallery as a good friend of Mel's is having her glass art featured in a special display. Rene has been working so hard to prepare for the event that she seems not quite herself. The whole situation gets much, much worse when the artist is poisoned.  Can the gang find out who poisoned Mel's friend? 

I enjoyed this book! And I really got excited about the pumpkin spice cupcake recipe -- only to find out my copy of the book had the recipe pages missing! Luckily, a bookish pal had the recipes saved and emailed me a copy. I can still bake cupcakes! :) 

The mystery moved along at a nice pace. There were plenty of suspects and a few twists here and there. The story also had some character development and new things coming up for the gang. I'm anxious to see what happens in the next book!! 

On to book 13 -- For Batter or Worse! 

REVIEW: Dying for Devil's Food

 Dying for Devil's Food
Author: Jenn McKinlay 

In this 11th book in the Cupcake Bakery series, Mel Cooper and her two besties, Angie and Tate, are going to their 15th high school reunion. Mel knows it's going to be a stressful evening. High school was not a pleasant time for her. 

Unfortunately, it goes much worse than she could have ever imagined. When the Mean Girl from her class is discovered dead in the restroom, Mel becomes a suspect. Pretty soon though, several members of her high school class are also being closely looked at by the police. Which one of them offed the meanest girl in school? 

I enjoyed this book. I've enjoyed all 11 books so far! This one brought back memories of a couple rude and obnoxious people I went to school with. Glad I never had to see them again after graduation. ha ha. I never bothered to attend any reunions. Just not interested. 

The mystery moved along at a nice pace with plenty of suspects and surprises along the way. The story definitely kept my attention from start to finish. 

On to the next book -- Pumpkin Spice peril! 

 

REVIEW: Wedding Cake Crumble

 Wedding Cake Crumble
Author: Jenn McKinlay

Well, I binge read my way through yet another book in this series. :) 

 It's been a long, long time since I found a series that got me zipping through books in no time. But, I have to say I'm having a great time reading my way through the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. The books have been on my TBR shelf for some time, but I kept passing them by as I wasn't sure I was ready to commit to reading 16 books. Once I start a series, I like to read from the first book through the most current.....and I just thought 16 books were going to take me forever to get through. But I'm already on book 10. Wish I had started this series a long time ago! 

This 10th book has two of the main characters finally getting married. But as they work to get the final preparations for the ceremony completed, people associated with the wedding start turning up dead. Does someone not want Tate and Angie to get hitched? 

I enjoyed this book! Angie was finally back to being feisty and Angie-like, rather than all the crying and whining she did in the previous book. I was relieved! There were some interesting developments for some side characters in the story as well. The mystery moved along at a nice pace and there were plenty of suspects and twists to keep me interested from start to finish. 

I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book!  On to the next -- Dying for Devil's Food! 

REVIEW: Caramel Crush

 Caramel Crush
Author: Jenn McKinlay 

I have breezed through the first 9 books in this series. Luckily this is one way to enjoy cupcakes without the calories -- binge reading a series about a cupcake bakery!

I like the setting, the characters and the plots of these books. Each story is just very entertaining and easy to read. I need an escape from reality regularly at the moment, and these books are perfect for that. 

In this 9th book, Mel is delivering an order of snarky break-up cupcakes when she discovers a dead body. Once again she's on the trail of a killer, much to the chagrin of her friends and family. 

I enjoyed this book. I've never heard of someone breaking off a relationship by sending insulting cupcakes, but I'm sure someone has done it. I would not want to be the person stuck delivering that sort of thing though. 

I do wish that the romance angles with the main characters would take more of a back-seat to the mystery portion of the plot in these books. I'm glad Angie and Tate are getting married in the next book. I am tired of hearing about their wedding plans and reading about Angie flipping out over everything. She did so much crying in this book I was getting really annoyed at her.  The word Bridezilla appeared way too many times in this book. Just elope already and get over it. lol. 

I read mystery books for the mystery.....not romance. Hopefully once those two get married, the romance will stop almost over-powering the mystery plot....and I can just settle in to Mel and the gang chasing down killers. 

On to the next book!!

 

REVIEW: Vanilla Beaned

 Vanilla Beaned
Author: Jenn McKinlay

This 8th book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series has Mel, Angie and Tate traveling to Las Vegas in an attempt to franchise out the bakery. Throw in an Elvis impersonator contest, a show girl who wants to be a baker, and a murder and plans quickly go awry. Someone seems to be willing to kill to stop a Las Vegas location from becoming reality.   

This book is my least favorite in the series so far. The main characters spent too much time arguing over the proposed new direction for the bakery and the Angie/Tate romance is just a bit cheesy for me. I want more mystery....less love life.  Mel's relationship issues with Joe is dragging out too long in my opinion. Either get married, or don't. The cliff hanger at the end of this book I found more annoying than interesting. I'm even getting tired of the Marty/Olivia dating angle.Olivia is my least favorite character in the series. Her constant attempts to insult and sabotage Mel are just waxing a bit old.

That being said, I'm enjoying this series. And I hope the plots find a new angle or two besides romance and Olivia being horrible. Something new would be nice. And I'm hoping a Holly/Manny romance angle doesn't enter into the picture. Way too many characters pairing off into couples. More mystery -- less romance. I hope!  

Moving on to the next book -- Caramel Crush!

REVIEW: Dark Chocolate Demise

 Dark Chocolate Demise
Author: Jenn McKinlay

This 7th book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series has my favorite cover art! So cute! 

This time, the cupcake gang is providing sweet treats for a local zombie walk event. Mel, Angie and the crew even dress up as zombies to get into the spirit of the festivities. Soon, the fun is put on hold though when a dead body is discovered in a prop casket. Things get pretty dicey as members of the bakery staff find themselves the targets of a dangerous killer. 

Lots of interesting character development in this book. The side plots are rapidly becoming just as entertaining as the mystery in each book. Was glad to find that my least favorite side character in this series didn't really figure into this book. It was a nice break from wanting to jump into the book and smack a character. :) 

The story lived up to the cool cover -- I enjoyed this one! 

On to the next book -- which I will say has my second favorite cover -- Vanilla Beaned! 

 

REVIEW: Sugar and Iced

 Sugar and Iced
Author: Jenn McKinlay

Yep. I did it again. 

 I binge read yet another book in this series. Sugar and Iced is the 6th book in the Cupcake Bakery series. And I raced through it cover to cover in no time. 

I just really like this series. It's light, entertaining, humorous and just fun to read. I like the main characters, and the background plot of a 1950's themed bakery. Plus, the mystery in each one has kept my attention from start to finish.  

And, right now, with everything going on in the world, I just really need a series that is just happy and fun. With just an edge of romantic drama here and there. 

In Sugar and Iced, Mel, Angie and the gang are baking cupcakes for a local beauty pageant. When one of the judges with a particularly nasty personality ends up dead under a table, things really heat up around the bakery. Part of their crew are even suspects in the murder. Once again the gang from Fairy Tale Cupcakes is on the trail of a killer. 

Great read! I enjoyed every word!

Now moving on to the next book in this series - Dark Chocolate Demise!  I have really been looking forward to this book because it has a Halloween themed cover!! Halloween is my favorite holiday, so I will definitely enjoy a Halloween theme book in this series! 

REVIEW: Going, Going, Ganache

 Going, Going, Ganache
Author: Jenn McKinlay

When a photo shoot at the cupcake bakery goes awry, Mel and the gang find their space invaded by a group of fighting magazine employees. The week long corporate boot camp is supposed to foster team building, but all it really does is lead to murder. Will they be able to bake 1000 cupcakes for charity and catch a killer, too?

I read this 5th book in the Cupcake Bakery mystery series in record time. I couldn't put it down. The mystery moves at a nice pace, and there are plenty of suspects and twists. There are also some character developments I didn't see coming. Can't wait to find out what happens in the next book! 

This series is entertaining and just fun to read. There are also recipes in the back. This time there is a grain free one! I will have to experiment to see how I can cut down the sugar as well before I try baking cupcakes I can eat. :) At least the experiment will be fun! 

On to the next book -- Sugar and Iced!

 

 

Review: Red Velvet Revenge

 Red Velvet Revenge
Author: Jenn McKinlay

Mel and the cupcake crew are headed to the rodeo in this 4th book in the Cupcake Bakery series. Soon their plans to sell cupcakes at the event go awry. A shooting followed by a dead body and sabotaged cupcakes soon have them on the trail of a killer. 

I enjoy the characters, the background plot of a 1950's theme cupcake bakery, and the mix of humor and mystery in this series. I needed something light and entertaining to read. This series fits that perfectly. 

So far I have been happily binge reading my way through these books. Luckily, I have the entire series on my shelf so I can binge read to my heart's content up until the final page of the newest book. Yay! 

The newest main character -- Oz -- is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. As well as Marty. :) 

Moving on to the next book -- Going, Going Ganache!

REVIEW: Death by the Dozen

 Death by the Dozen
Author: Jenn McKinlay

I am really loving this series! I have all of the books on my shelf. They've been there for some time. I kept passing this series up for shorter ones from my TBR pile. I have a thing about having to read a series from start to finish. And 16 books is a big commitment. 

Finally, I picked up book one and read it. Quickly. Total binge read. Then book 2....and now book 3. I now see that I will zip through all the way to book 16, finish the last page, and then find myself wishing there were more books! 

I love the background theme of a cupcake bakery with 1950's decor. I like the main characters and the setting. The mystery always keeps me engaged, and I find myself finishing one book and then picking up the next one immediately. There are also recipes in the back of the books! I eat grain free for medical reasons, so there are no "real' cupcakes in my future, but I can certainly bake some for my son! :) 

In this 3rd book, Mel and Angie are participating in a baking contest. It's a pretty big deal with celebrity chefs judging and a lot of public attention. Unfortunately, a local rival and a sly killer make the event stressful. First one dead body....then another. Can Mel figure out who the culprit is before they target anyone else? 

There is some nice character development in this book, as well as an addition that made me smile! Not giving it away -- read the book!! 

 On to book 4 -- I must keep reading!! :) 

First time I've binge read a cozy series in a long time! Having fun!! 

REVIEW: Buttercream Bump Off

Buttercream Bump Off
Author: Jenn McKinlay

I have a really bad cold, so I decided to spend this weekend resting, sipping hot tea and reading. Not just to recover from my cold, but to escape from the world for just a little while. 

I've had the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series on my bookshelves for quite awhile. I kept passing it up and choosing other series that had fewer books. I have this thing where I have to read a series in order from start to finish.....and I just thought 16 books was a lot to commit to. Something about feeling like death warmed over and the state of current events just drew me into a series about a cupcake bakery that has cheery bright colored covers.  

There's not many things that are happier than cupcakes. 

 So, I finally started reading my way through this series! Finished the first two books quickly. It might not take me too long to get through the whole series at this rate! 

In this second book, Mel Cooper's mom decides she is ready to start dating again. When her date is murdered, Mel and crew find themselves caught up in amateur sleuthing to clear her mom's name. And there's a little bit of love triangle drama. All in all, a very enjoyable read! The mystery moved along at a nice pace. There was some good character development for the main characters. And there were plenty of twists and interesting developments. 

I am really enjoying this series! I'm not sure if I'm binge reading because the books are so much fun to read or if I'm just reading faster as I know I still have 14 books to go? I think it's a combination of those two reasons! 

 On to book 3! :) 

REVIEW: Sprinkle With Murder

 Sprinkle With Murder
Author: Jenn McKinley

I desperately needed a distraction from the world. Just too many horrible things going on lately. I needed a smile and a break from reality. So, I started looking through my bookshelf. What is something happy that can get me away from it all for a little while?

Cupcakes. 

 Yep....cupcakes. 

 I've had the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series on my bookshelf for some time now. The entire series. But I kept reading other things first. I'm one of those people who has to read an entire series in order. And there's just something about committing to 16 books that just kept me grabbing trilogies or smaller series first. 

But, the colorful covers for this series and the cute background theme made me finally smile and grab book 1 off my shelf. 

I'm glad I did! 

Sprinkle With Murder is just a fun read! I found myself unable to put it down. I love the idea of a cupcake bakery all decked out in a grey, pink and white color scheme. I like the characters and found myself engaging in the story immediately. The mystery moves along at a nice pace, with plenty of amateur sleuthing and twists. 

And, there are recipes in the back!! I'm strictly grain free so there is no cupcake eating in my future, but I am very tempted to bake some for my son! Or attempt a grain free version as a treat for both of us. 

I'm very glad I finally started this series! I had a great time reading book one, and when I finally read my way through all 16 of the books I will free up quite a bit of space on my bookshelves for new books! 

I think I will make that a goal for 2025 -- reading my own books!  I have so many paperback mysteries that they are double stacked on my shelves. I need to read as many as I can and clear out space!! 

Moving on to book 2 in this series -- Buttercream Bump Off! If I read all the books as quickly as I did the first one, it won't take me all that long to get through all 16! The goal is to accomplish that before the next book comes out!

REVIEW: Cabin by Patrick Hutchinson

 Cabin
Author: Patrick Hutchison

DIY is not my forte in any way. The talents involved are just not in my skill set. I'm an office job sort of person. So, the basic plot of this book spoke to me. 

I can't imagine buying a dilapidated cabin in the woods as a project, and learning by trial and error how to fix it up. Patrick Hutchison shares his saga of buying a cabin in the Pacific Northwest that is in pretty bad condition and how that project changes his life. He has to work to afford the cabin project and often finds himself wishing he was there when he needs to be at the office. 

I had a great time reading about his six year renovation project. I can't imagine jumping into a huge project like that with very little knowledge about renovation and carpentry. Kudos to Patrick for pulling it off and for persevering even when he realized he had bitten off way way more than he could chew. 

This book became a national bestseller. I hope for readers' sanity that it did not motivate a bunch of people to buy old cabins with dreams of renovating them.

Very entertaining and interesting read. 

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

REVIEW: Sleep in Heavenly Pizza

 Sleep in Heavenly Pizza
Author: Mindy Quigley

I enjoy the Deep Dish mystery series. This newest book is an entertaining addition to the series. 

It's the holiday season in Geneva Bay, and the town is hosting its annual ice sculpting championship.  The whole town is transformed into a winter wonderland. Delilah O'Leary finds herself busily catering events leading up to the contest. 

But as with most holidays, things start to go wrong. An unexpected visitor shows up. A party guest disappears. And then.....a body is discovered. Delilah finds herself navigating drama.....and a murder. 

I had the best time reading this newest mystery in this series. It was snowing outside as I read which just gave the perfect atmosphere for enjoying this book. 

Ice sculptures are so pretty, and I could just imagine this whole town gearing up for hosting this event. And then to have the festivities put on ice because of a murder. Delilah and her sidekicks had quite the adventure with holiday drama! I had fun reading this story. The mystery moves along at a nice pace. There is plenty of background plot as well, which I also enjoyed. Delilah and her crew do an excellent job of amateur sleuthing. There were plenty of suspects and a few twists and turns I didn't see coming. 

 All in all, a great addition to this series! I look forward to the next book!

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

REVIEW: Curiosity Thrilled the Cat

 Curiosity Thrilled the Cat
Author: Sofie Kelly

I started reading this series several years ago. But then life got busy and I lost track of the series. Circling back around. I decided just to start over at the beginning and read from Book 1. After several years, I remembered the basics of the series but not so much detail that I already knew the killer's identity. 

The Basics: Kathleen Paulson moves from Boston to Mayville, MN to oversee the restoration of the town's library. She finds friends, a new purpose for her life, and two cute cats. Her cats seem unusual but Kathleen is still learning just how unusual they are. The town is gearing up for a music festival when a special guest for the festival is found dead.Kathleen finds herself a suspect in the case, so jumps in to do some amateur sleuthing to clear her name. 

I'm glad I read this book again. The plot and characters are entertaining. The mystery moves along at a good pace and has plenty of suspects and twists to keep a reader interested. The antics of the cats, Hercules and Owen, are endearing and fun. I like the background plot of the library restoration and life in Mayville.  

All in all, a very entertaining read. Moving on to book two! 

REVIEW: If You've Got it, Haunt It

 If You've Got It, Haunt It
Author: Rose Pressey 

This is a re-read for me. I read this book several years ago but then lost track of the series when life got in the way. Darn adulting cutting into my reading time! 

So....I have started the series all over again. :) 

If You've Got It, Haunt It is the first book in the Haunted Vintage cozy mystery series. 

I enjoy the mix of humor, supernatural and mystery. The vintage clothing background plot is interesting as well. I have no real interest in vintage clothing or designer brand, but Rose Pressey used it to skillfully craft an entertaining cozy mystery. The idea of a vintage clothing shop is intriguing. I live in a large metro region and I think a shop like that would be very successful here. Outfits that are different and one of a kind have an appeal for a lot of people. I like the main character, Cookie Chanel. She's smart, a skilled business-woman and a convincing amateur sleuth. Her bestie is a great character and her ghost side-kick is also likable. 

The cover art is very colorful and fits the series. 

 Overall, a fun read. 

I'm glad I'm revisiting this series! Enjoying it! 

Moving on to book 2! 

 

REVIEW: Death by Dumpling

 Death by Dumpling
Author Vivien Chien

I found myself craving Chinese food on multiple occasions while reading this book! 

 The basics: Lana Lee returns home after breaking off a bad relationship. She works at her family's restaurant. When the property manager is murdered, she finds herself investigating the death to save the reputation of Ho-Lee Noodle House. 

This story is a great start for the Noodle Shop Mystery series. I like the characters and the setting. The mystery moved along at a nice pace, and the characters for the series were introduced and developed enough for me to want to read the next book. 

I've had this series waiting on my bookshelf for some time. I'm glad I finally started reading! 

I have already started reading the second book - Dim Sum of All Fears. Enjoying it! And I see a couple Chinese food runs in the near future!