A Study in Murder

Title: A Study in Murder
Author: Callie Hutton
Published: May 12th 2020 by Crooked Lane Books
Format: eBook, 320 pages
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: A Victorian Book Club Mystery #1

I can’t tell you the number of times my mind began to wander when I was reading this dry and overwritten book. A book that attempts to shock the sensibilities of the aristocrats of 1890 Bath, England, when Lady Amy Lovell descends her grand staircase to greet her ex-fiancé only to discover his body in the library with a knife. Yes, we are playing a drawn-out version of the game of Clue. Only this time there was a letter spelling out the evil doings of Ronald St. Vincent and how opium has taken over the upper classes. Add in the usual players used to distract the reader and the striking Lord Wethington, who just so happens to show up when needed, and you have a book that falls short.

By the time I reached the end, I was disappointed in the fact that there was no humor. This book attempted to bridge the gap between stoic historical mysteries and the cozy mystery genre which the cover touts. I think I was expecting something along the lines of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell, since both books take place in the same time frame, and with the same types of characters, but then again, there will only be one Veronica and Stoker no matter how hard the author is trying to duplicate them.

Murder is Waiting

Title: Murder is Waiting
Author: Lynn Cahoon
Published: June 30th 2020 by Lyrical Press
Format: eBook, 175 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Tourist Trap Mystery #11

Murder is Waiting is a nice return to the people and places of South Cove and that is where the appeal of this book ends. Unfortunately, the advice Jill Gardner gave to Deek, in regards to writing his book, seems to be true throughout this book. When Deek is struggling with his writing, Jill advises him to just tell the story as it flows, and don’t be worried about an outline, it will all come to you. Which is exactly how this book read. No clear-cut plan and an ending that is abrupt with little leading up to the culprits and how they fully tie together.

Jill is a reluctant maid-of-honor for Amy’s upcoming nuptials, but before the big day she must first turn into a party organizer, figure out why the Heritage Society rejected her bid, fight off a land developer and his army of cohorts, and figure out who killed Frank Gleason. All before leaving for Las Vegas and a bachelorette party that turns into a foot chase and the arrest of two people that the reader lost track of since they made no real impact.

Disjointed from beginning to end, not to mention the inability of the author in keeping track of what a person is eating or how two people who have hourly wage jobs can afford a forty-thousand-dollar wedding. The author needed a major clean up and refocus before this book could ideally hit the mark.

The Pact

Title: The Pact
Author: Linda Castillo
Published: April 28th 2020 by Minotaur Books
Format: eBook,
Genre: Police Procedural, Novella
Series: Kate Burkholder #11.5

The author tends to put out a short novella just before a new book release and “The Pact” is her latest offering, with the first chapter of “The Outsider” tuck into the end to whet your appetite.

This short mystery is grounded on ignorance and judgment. When the father of pre-teen Kevin Dennison forbids his son from befriending eleven-year-old Aaron Kuhns, the boys decide to become blood brothers and runaway to live out a scene from a graphic (comic book) novel. What they didn’t foresee were the dangers that can lurk in unfamiliar areas and an impending storm that will put their lives at stake unless Chief Kate Burkholder and Agent John Tomasetti can get to them in time.

Linda Castillo builds strong unforgettable characters throughout her Kate Burkholder series and ‘The Pact’ does not let down her readers. This quick read will put your right back into Painters Mill were the Amish and the English will forever have their differences and it is up to Kate to keep the peace and gain their trust.

Mousse and Murder

Title: Mousse and Murder
Author: Elizabeth Logan
Published: May 5th 2020 by Berkley Books
Format: eBook, 304 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Alaskan Diner Mystery #1

From the beginning, you can tell this is not a new writer, though the series is new, the writing is more polish than a first attempt. Camille Minichino, who writes under many pseudonyms, is now taking her readers to the Bear Claw Diner in Elkview, Alaska.

The plot does fall into the usual hometown girl returning to familiar places when Charlie Cooke returns to take over her mother’s diner with hopes of bringing it up to date with new ideas and recipes. This last attempt resulted in a full out fight with the head chef and when he turns up dead Charlie not only is a suspect but needs to find the true killer before she loses what her mother worked so hard to build.

The usual he/said, she/said runs rampant, the perfunctory handsome law enforcement person is prominent, and of course there is a beloved pet, this time a cat. ‘Mousse and Murder’ will be a hit or miss type of read. Some will love it, others who have been around the cozy mystery world for a while, will not find anything new in this first Alaskan Diner Mystery series.

A Spell of Trouble

Title: A Spell of Trouble
Author: Esme Addison
Published: May 12th 2020 by Crooked Lane Books
Format: eBook, 331 pages
Genre: Cozy Magical
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: An Enchanted Bay Mystery #1

From the description, “A Spell of Trouble” sounds like it would be an automatic go-to for me. A cozy mystery complete with returning home to a small town and an animal companion, add in a bit of mystical and the book should have been a home run.

Unfortunately, Aleksandra “Alex” Daniels is dull and the town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina, complete with mermaids, water witches, and a family business of an herbal apothecary remained flat. Now, with two deaths and Alex’s Aunt Lidia to blame for the first, Alex finds herself in the middle of an investigation while at the same time learning of her family history, the truth surrounding her mother’s death, her burgeoning talents, and a wish to return to the city and her safe life.

Esme Addison did try to spice it up with two separate suitors for Alex but they too provided no spark. There is a bit of stretching and a little “who is that again”, but for the most part, this was a forgettable entry into a new series.

Anchored Inn

Title: Anchored Inn
Author: Karen MacInerney
Published: February 28th 2020 by Gray Whale Press
Format: eBook, 238 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: The Gray Whale Inn Mysteries Book 10

I don’t want to say that it was obvious from the beginning, but when an author mentions a character, then drops tidbits about them along the way, it only heightens the reader's curiosity and then makes it obvious which character should receive more attention.

Cranberry Island, Maine in all its autumnal beauty is marred by the discovery of a young woman who went missing twenty years ago. Natalie Barnes, the owner of the islands B&B didn’t know of the disappearance so when she began to hear the rumors and a second body, that of the island handyman, is discovered, Natalie and her team of island natives go into high gear to discover what is going on and prevent it from happening again.

Karen MacInerney, who has gone the self-publishing route, has thrown a great deal into this book and goes to vast lengths to mix up the troubles in an attempt to keep the reader engaged, but at times, goes a bit too far and makes more out of a storyline than should have been. From a reclusive multi-millionaire and his team to a discovered sunken German U-Boat to the supposedly missing daughter of her friend, the reader is pulled in multiple directions which only tends to confuse instead of enhancing each storyline.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

Title: The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
Author: Josie Silver
Published: March 3rd 2020 by Ballantine Books
Format: eBook, 369 pages
Genre: Romance
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Growing up, it has always been Lydia, Freddie, and Jonah. Since Jonah was in the car with Freddie on the night of the accident, and only received a few stitches, Lydia can’t help but blame him. The best friend, the third wheel, the person that always came along with Freddie. There was no one else to blame but him.

Lydia Byrd is suffering since the death of her fiancé Freddie. Encouraged to seek professional help, Lydia is prescribed sleeping pills, unbeknownst to anyone, this little pill allows her to enter a parallel dreamworld where she meets up with Freddie and can see what could have been.

Living two lives is taking its toll and in a spur of the moment chooses to drop everything and head to the airport. With few options, Croatia it is. Once there, I won’t say that she finds herself, but she does come to terms with the pain of losing her first love, the future without him, and through nightly phone calls to Jonah, she begins to heal and to forgive.

Not usually a fan of the romance genre, I was heartened when it did not bog down into the usual gushing and swooning. You can feel Lydia’s love, and her pain, and her forgiveness, without the usual eye-rolling and wanting to heave the book across the room. By the end, which is suitable for a Hallmark movie, I loved the characters. Josie Silver builds each with just the right amount of attention, without pushing the boundaries, and though the reader can see something coming, and hopes for what is best, the ending is still a giant exhale and smile.