#cozymysteries – Rosepoint Publishing

Muddled Through by Barbara Ross #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

A Maine Clambake Mystery Book 10

Book Blurb:

Mud season takes on a whole new meaning in the coastal town of Busman’s Harbor, Maine, when local business owners sling dirt at one another in a heated feud over a proposed pedestrian mall. Vandalism is one thing, but murder means Julia Snowden of the Snowden Family Clambake steps in to clean up the case . . .

When Julia spots police cars in front of Lupine Design, she races over. Her sister Livvie works there as a potter. Livvie is unharmed but surrounded by smashed up pottery. The police find the owner Zoey Butterfield digging clay by a nearby bay, but she has no idea who would target her store. Zoey is a vocal advocate for turning four blocks of Main Street into a pedestrian mall on summer weekends. Other shop owners, including her next-door neighbor, are vehemently opposed. Could a small-town fight provoke such destruction? When a murder follows the break-in, it’s up to Julia to dig through the secrets and lies to uncover the truth . . .

My Review:

When last I tuned in to the Snowden Family Clambake mysteries, the family had decided to renovate the mansion on the Busman’s Harbor land where they hold their seasonal popular clambakes.

Julia Snowden has not quite started prep for another clambake season when the owner of the pottery shop where her sister Livvie works is arrested for the murder of Phinney Hardison in the unit on the other side of her shop. Zoey Butterfield is rather new to Busman’s Harbor and is lobbying for an unpopular pedestrian mall proposal. She and the ole boy had a big row at the town hall meeting the previous evening. Livvie asked Julia for help in the investigation as having found the guy in their shared basement makes it look like a done deal for the cops.

Well, shucks. Where’s my fish story? No fight over lobster traps or clam field? Where’s my perfumed ocean scent hanging in the air over fire coals? I rather missed that.

Okay, well, of course, there are other issues going on, not the least of which the recent breakup with Chris. I was rather ambivalent about him—but now it looks like there might be another prospect in the wind. Julia, however, does have a new friend in Zoey that I assume will appear in future series installments.

I loved Book 9, Shucked Apart, and later read Book 11, Hidden Beneath, and have read a number of her other Maine Clambake mysteries as well as another of her series, but keep coming back to this series with the atmospheric odors of the coast, the vision of the area, and the food—oh my stars—the food! You just can’t get fresh seafood in the Midwest and we must live vicariously through these delightful cozy series.

So, although I understand there is a mud season in Maine, it just didn’t compare to those clambake seasons for me. Mind you, there were recipes in this one as well at the end of the narrative. Somehow, this installment didn’t capture that ocean breeze excitement for me.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Women Sleuths, Amateur Sleuth Mysteries
Publisher: Kensington Books
ISBN: 978-1496735706
ASIN: B09HRCJYXF
Print Length: 274 pages
Publication Date: June 28, 2022
Source: Local Library

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries and the Jane Darrowfield Mysteries. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at http://www.barbararossauthor.com

#TuesdayBookBlog

Solid Gold Murder by Ellen Byron #AudiobookReview #cozymystery

Golden Motel Mystery #2

Book Blurb:

Dee Stern’s Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains promises a tranquil getaway for outdoor lovers in the scenic Californian village of Foundgold. But when Dee accidentally triggers a modern gold rush, she suddenly turns her peaceful retreat into a hotspot for mayhem and murder . . .

With the summer season looming, former Hollywood sitcom writer Dee Stern has one small goal—scrubbing her motel’s unflattering moniker as the “Murder Motel.” Dee and ex-husband-turned-business-partner Jeff Cornetta are excited to introduce a family-friendly panning activity complete with fool’s gold just in time for the peak tourist months. Except neither could have anticipated the discovery of a real gold nugget or the ensuing social media frenzy. In a flash, the viral sensation draws grizzled prospectors, wide-eyed adventurers, and trend-chasing thrill seekers to the abandoned mines scattered around the woods . . .

The instant popularity proves great for business, but it also attracts a group of out-of-touch Silicon Valley techies with dreams of striking it rich—again. Dee finds herself particularly annoyed by the insufferably smug Sylvan Burr, a retired CEO who sold his startup before age 30 and won’t let anyone forget it. But things take a sinister turn when Sylvan meets a grim fate at the bottom of a mineshaft, leaving Dee at the center of a deadly mystery that could end her days as a motelier. And while Sylvan had plenty of enemies, Dee suddenly faces adversaries rooting against her own success. Now, with her life and the future of the Golden Motel hanging by a thread, Dee must unearth a minefield of suspects and outwit a greedy killer before she finally digs herself too deep . . .

My Review:

Another new series in which I managed to pick up in Book 2, but read it like a standalone. In this installment, Dee and ex-husband Jeff motel partner have successfully concluded their brainstorming session with the idea of having a gold panning experience.

Touted as a family-friendly experience and expecting to salt the sluice with some fool’s gold for fun, their brilliant idea turns viral when a real gold nugget is discovered.

Hoping the whole panning idea would smother the nickname of “Murder Motel,” the place suddenly swarmed with paying motel guests also attracting the wrong kind of tourists. When one is found dead, it definitely doesn’t help their rep. Especially when the death is obviously not a natural one.

Some of her guests are serious gold hunters, while others just want to soak up the tree-dotted mountainscape, the clear pine air, the quaint tiny town of Foundgold and Goldgone. Goodness, a lovely cross-section of characters, including Bud the bear, and an old hound dog named Nugget, left behind by the late owner.

It’s an easy, laid back mystery, as much character driven as mystery plot, the characters and setting accounting for much of the charm of the book, particularly the conversations, dialogue between the exes. There are bits of humor interwoven through the plot. Of course, the deceased was a nasty guy with lots of people who’d want to see him at the bottom of an abandoned mine and not moving.

There are twists and turns and lots of theories bantered around, all designed to throw you off the trail. Enjoyable little cozy escape from the everyday, and includes the requisite denouement you may not have seen coming.

Many thanks to the publisher and my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuth Mysteries, Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: Tantor Media
ASIN: B0DVMHQQ3L
Listening Length: 7 hrs 23 mins
Narrator: Amy Melissa Bentley
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

Ellen Byron - author — Ellen Byron – author

The Author: Ellen is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of the Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Cajun Country Mysteries, and Catering Hall Mysteries (under the pen name Maria DiRico). Her mysteries have won multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and Lefty Awards for Best Humorous Mystery Lefty awards from the Left Coast Crime conference. Bayou Book Thief, her first Vintage Cookbook Mystery, was also nominated for an Anthony award. A Very Woodsy Murder, debuting in July 2024, will be the first book in her new Golden Motel Mystery series, which is inspired by her former career as a sitcom writer.

Ellen’s TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly Odd Parents; she’s written over 200 magazine articles; her published plays include the award-winning Graceland and Asleep on the Wind. She is a native New Yorker who lives in Los Angeles and attributes her fascination with Louisiana to her college years at New Orleans’ Tulane University. She also worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing. Have an early copy of Martha’s first book, ENTERTAINING? Ellen’s standing right next to her in the group shot.

Happy Thursday

Accidental Magic: A whimsical witchy midlife mystery by Iris Beaglehole #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday

Myrtlewood Mysteries Book 1

Book Blurb:

Welcome to Myrtlewood, a quirky town, steeped in magic, tea, and mystery…

Life’s a struggle for Rosemary Thorn and her teen daughter, Athena. But their regular troubles are turned upside down after Granny Thorn’s mysterious death.

Despite her cousin’s sinister manoeuvrings, Rosemary returns to Myrtlewood and the sprawling, dilapidated Thorn Manor. But there’s more to the old house than meets the eye, as Rosemary and Athena soon find out — in a whirlwind of magic, adventure, mystical creatures, and endless cups of tea.

Life in Myrtlewood would be bliss if Rosemary could only clear her name in a certain murder investigation, solve the mystery and stay out of mortal peril – for at least a little while!

A small town with endless secrets, strange activities, and a house with a mind of its own.

This book is for you if you love:

mysteries set in small magical villages
witches, fae, shifters mythologically inspired stories
the idea of a self-cleaning house which also renovates and sometimes does the grocery shopping
genuine magic woven into the story
whimsical world-building
paranormal women’s fiction
a midlife main character
queer-friendly stories
a big dose of humour!

WARNING: This book contains a somewhat ditzy main character (there are reasons revealed later in the series) and her rather stroppy teen daughter who has been having a hard time. If these things are triggering for you, please put the book down and step away. The author does not wish to inflict any stress or irritation upon you. You will also find magic based on genuine witchcraft and mythology in this series as well as a lot of UK spelling and diverse characters. If these are not your cup of tea then don’t worry, there are plenty of other books that will suit you out there in the world!

My Review:

I’m not above reading a good witchy story or paranormal, so when my daughter recommended this one, I went looking for it. Yes, it was right in my well-stocked library—an audiobook!

Also, score, it’s Book 1. I’ve managed to find a few lately and love that I can get in with the introduction to the series (in this case, nine installments). Rosemary Thorn and her teenage daughter returns to Myrtlewood following the death of her granny for the reading of the will and return to her childhood home, Thorn Manor.

Surprise! Her memories of Thorn Manor is not what she finds. Worse, there is a question of whether or not good ole Gran died of natural causes or was helped. It’s a small town, of course, where everybody knows everybody and the extended family is not exactly fans of Rosemary.

It quickly became apparent I wouldn’t be either. Go ahead, read that blurb again. There are trigger warnings, one of which is that Rosemary is a ditz (worse, actually) and her snarky daughter needs to be given some tough love. I can’t imagine a mother allowing her daughter to speak to her like that, much less in front of other people.

Rosemary is introduced to the magical side of the Thorn family and the quirky support characters in the little town. Also, the house is magical and, indeed, haunted. But can Gran talk some sense into Rosemary? Maybe not.

Guess I’ve just gotten tired of snotty little kids in the TV sitcoms who appear to rule the roost and have the laugh track hanging on every word. So, the slow burn with these two didn’t help what might have been an interesting, well-paced storyline. Also, I’m not a fan of cliffhangers and this one is a douzy.

Okay, yes, the blurb gives you a warning, but does this novel get better in subsequent installments? Will Rosemary ship Athena off to military school in Minnesota? If you enjoy those bullet points listed in the blurb, you will no doubt enjoy the banter between mom and daughter. I did enjoy the little ghostie things that popped up, and I do love the banners and the covers—way compelling! I may be forced to read the second just because of the cover.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Supernatural Thrillers, Cozy Mysteries, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Podium Audio
ASIN: B0C8ZQMJRN
Listening Length: 12 hrs 55 mins
Narrator: Lorna Bennett
Publication Date: July 25, 2023
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)

Title Links:

Amazon-US

Amazon-UK

Barnes & Noble

The Author: Iris Beaglehole is many peculiar things, a writer, researcher, analyst, druid, witch, parent, and would-be astrologer. She loves tea, cats, herbs, and writing quirky characters.

#ThrowbackThursday

The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday

A Secret Bookcase Mystery Book 1

Book Blurb:

Behind the shelves of The Secret Bookcase, where the sun slants through the windows onto rows of classic crime novels, a body lies…

Bookseller Annie Murray is thrilled when the mystery-themed book festival she sets up to revive the dwindling fortunes of her workplace and sanctuary seems poised for success. But events take a shocking turn when a body is discovered hidden behind the shelves, and it’s revealed that the victim is Annie’s old college acquaintance.

Determined to ensure the festival’s success and save the small town of Redwood Grove from a killer, Annie begins piecing together clues with the help of her friends. But as the list of suspects grows longer—a local boutique owner, an envious old classmate, a bitter ex-boyfriend—Annie is drawn deeper into the case.

With the aid of her old criminology professor-turned-detective, can Annie unmask the murderer before they turn her festival into a real-life whodunit?

My Review:

I love it when I get the chance to get in on the ground floor—with Book 1 in a new series and by one of my favorite authors.

The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander — AI Icon by Freepik.com

The Body in the Bookstore introduces the reader to Annie Murray, bookseller and events manager of a quaint little bookshop in iconic rural Redwood Grove. Annie and her bestie Scarlet planned to open a detective agency after they graduated with degrees, but then Scarlet was murdered.

Business is lagging in the bookshop, however, book signings are not bringing in customers, and she comes up with a brilliant idea to involve the town in a special three-day Mystery Festival.

The festival is a big success until a body is discovered—in her bookshop.

Good thing the lead detective is her old professor with whom she can work and Annie and her local buddy get to work on the whodunit.

There are some engaging support characters here, including a kitty. Annie is a smart, independent protagonist, capable of delegating, multitasking. She uses what experience she’d gained from investigating her friend’s murder and begins a concentrated investigation. She has the clues, the support, and the resources.

The death of her friend Scarlet will continue to drive her and in the meantime, she has established a basis for the side hustle.

Looks to be a good start on the new series with an atmospheric small town and down home people. Writing style is well-paced with a solid cozy plot and those who enjoy the genre will surely enjoy this one.

I downloaded a copy of this audiobook from my local well-stocked library. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mysteries, Amateur Sleuth Mysteries, Women Sleuth Mysteries
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
ASIN: B0D64CW59W
Listening Length: 7 hrs 18 mins
Narrator: Ellen Quay
Publication Date: June 19, 2024
Source: Local Library (Audiobook Selections)
Title Links: The Body in the Bookstore – Amazon-US
Amazon-UK
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

The Author: ELLIE ALEXANDER is a voracious storyteller, a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over thirty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.

She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.

Find out more about Ellie, her books, and writing courses by visiting her online:

Website: https://www.elliealexander.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexander
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexanderauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexanderauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexanderauthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ellielovesbooks
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexanderauthor

#ThrowbackThursday — AI graphic by Freepik.com

Two Audiobooks and an eBook – Listen While You Work #BookReviews

Mini-Reviews – Catching Up on the TBR*

I’ve solved my TBR problem by getting the audiobooks. And, no, I can’t always find a new book in an audiobook format, but you’d be amazed at what your library stocks. So, it appears I’m now listening to approximately two audiobooks to one read. It would seem I’m more active than I thought and audiobooks are ideal for getting the activities accomplished while listening to a great book—especially if it’s read by a dynamic narrator. I have a few favorites. These are a few of the latest.

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My Thoughts

Oh good grief! This one gets crazy quickly. Probably the most outrageous of the series (this is #4) and not only stretches disbelief but invents it. Quirky, nutsy fun, just go with it. Dialogue can get juicy. There is some romance for those who must have some kissy scenes. Vero takes center stage in this one and with her questionable background I’m hoping she’ll go back there (the background). Otherwise, fast read, entertaining. 3 stars

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Author: Elle Cosimano
Narrator: Angela Dawe
ASIN: B0C3NM21TR
Listening Length: 9 hrs 5 mins
Publication Date: Mar 5 2024
Amazon
Goodreads

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My Thoughts

No, it’s not an Andy Carpenter installment, my favorite paired with fav narrator Grover Gardner. This was written eight years after the start of his Carpenter series, definitely a testament to his talent in delivering a serious, thoughtful narrative with a moral punch. The protagonist, a reporter, dreams of equaling his famous father and perhaps pulling a Pulitzer. When an event happens that might get him there, however, events turn ugly, becomes sick and twisted enough to see the price may be too high. 4 stars

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Fiction
Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc.
Author: David Rosenfelt
Narrator: Matt Wolfe
ASIN: B003K20QH2
Listening Length: 7 hrs 44 mins
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2010
Amazon
Goodreads

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My Thoughts

Book Five and of course it being an Underwater Investigation, I grabbed it. Usually this unit is all about evidence retrieval but in this case a seasoned diver has gone missing. Then boy does it get complicated! Well developed characters, atmospheric (are you kidding?!) and recommended. 4.5 stars

Book Details:

Genre: Heist Thrillers
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Author: Andrew Mayne
ASIN: B0C7HGT7DD
Print Length: 286 pages
Publication Date: Mar 12, 2024
Amazon
Goodreads

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Summary

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice just went too far. I was totally on board with installments one and two. Number three went further afield and this one off the tracks. Silly entertainment. A fan of this series might tolerate this book and hope that episode five will get back on the rails.

♥Down to the Wire demonstrates the breadth the author can write with this introspective and thoughtful twist on the old “be careful what you wish for.” I had to go back and look to confirm the author was the same David Rosenfelt who writes the wise-cracking but brilliant semi-retired dog-loving attorney. This one keeps you on the edge of your seat.

♦Dark Drive is the Amazon Editors’ pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense. The CE and I’ve read others by this author, the last being Night Owl, a techno-thriller. Always intelligent, bright, and informative, I tend more toward the underwater storylines. Definitely for the reader who enjoys action adventure.

I received a copy of these audiobooks from my local library or the author and publisher through NetGalley that in no way influenced my reviews. These are my honest thoughts.

*To Be Reviewed

Audiobooks! Listen, Not Read, the Most Recent #NYTimesBestseller #TuesdayBookBlog

#Audiobooks

It’s always a challenge to find a good audiobook and I must admit to choosing and getting fifteen minutes into the narration only to find I can’t stand the narrator, the pace, or the rude, crude, and socially unacceptable (at least to my generation) dialogue.

The good news is that my audiobooks (almost without exception) are downloaded from my local library and I’m neither required to review nor explain why I dnf’d it. The best part is that they can be enjoyed in the car, in your ear at the store, or in the kitchen on that little portable speaker.

So, to my surprise, trying to choose a book for my regular Thursday audiobook post, discovered I had a number of audiobooks backlogged to review (or not). Those I did finish ranged from literary fiction, crime fiction, police procedurals, medical, and legal thrillers, coming of age, to cozy mysteries.

Yeah, I even surprised myself.

I’ll go ahead and mention that of these seven, my favorite would be Michael Connelly’s The Crossing. The man can write—and never fails to capture and keep my attention. Still, you may find one here that captures your attention. I hope you do, so here, in no particular order:

The Keepsake: A Rizzoli and Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen. Rizzoli being a Boston homicide detective, Isles a medical examiner, are off on the mystery of what appears to be the switch of a recent body with that of a mummy in a local museum. This novel released in September, 2008 by Random House Audio and narrated by Deirdre Lovejoy is deemed a medical and forensic thriller. And btw, Rizzoli & Isles also happens to be a drama TV series that appeared between 2010-2016 starring Angie Harmon as Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as Dr. Maura Isles. While I enjoyed to an extent, I did find my mind wandering a bit, but it is a unique storyline and I always appreciate medical and legal thrillers. 4 stars

I just read The Spy Coast by this author, her new series The Martini Club.

Silent Night, Deadly Night: A Year-Round Christmas Mystery, Book 4 by Vicki Delany. My annual bow to a Christmas cozy. Yes, I got it because of the promise of a dog, a Saint Bernard, on the cover. And he is included in the storyline. It’s categorized as an animal cozy, released in March, 2023 by Tantor Audio narrated by Amy Deuchler. This one is about the protagonist’s mother throwing a reunion for her college buddies and the unexpected and suspicious death of one at a potluck. Perhaps this would be better read than listened to—the narration really got on my nerves. 3.5 stars

Betrayal: A Robin Lockwood Novel, Book 7 by Phillip Margolin. An author and series I enjoy, also read Murder at Black Oaks last year. This audiobook is narrated by Thérèse Plummer and was just released November 7, 2023 by Macmillan Audio. It is classified as a legal or crime thriller. Because the protagonist is now a prominent defense attorney in Portland but was a rising MMA fighter, I have a little difficulty identifying with her. She takes on the case of a fighter up for the death of an opponent following a fight in which she took a performance-enhancing drug. I liked it, but I’m not in love. 4 stars

The Crossing: Harry Bosch, Book 18 by Michael Connelly also an Amazon Editors’ pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense. Since Bosch’s ostensible retirement from the LAPD, the novels have been borrowing from another Connelly series, his half-brother defense attorney Mickey Haller. I love the Haller series and with the Bosch series narrated by none other than Titus Welliver, does it get any better than that? This audiobook released in November, 2015 by Hachette Audio. Of course, it’s a police procedural, crime fiction genre but I’d say if Haller’s in it, would also be a legal thriller as well. So 5 stars both for novel and narrator. Of course, there is a Bosch: Legacy TV series starring Titus Welliver developed by Michael Connelly, Tom Bernardo and Eric Overmyer. “Bosch: Legacy season 2 continues plot lines from season 1 and then uses The Crossing (2015) as the main storyline.” https://www.michaelconnelly.com/bosch-tv/

I last read Desert Star, a Renee Ballard book in March this year. Another good Connelly series.

Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson, an Amazon Editors’ pick for Best Literature & Fiction. This is a short audiobook (6 hrs 13 mins), but packs a punch. Narrated by Kevin Wilson, and Ginnifer Goodwin it was released last November 2022 and is a Southern Fiction, Coming of Age Fiction novel. Wow. Once again, the critics loved it, but the general reading public is divided between 4 and 5 stars. It began rather slowly. I got hooked on what started a fascinating look into what can happen with “word of mouth.” Rumor. Stories. Pretty soon they don’t even resemble the original chronicle. These are kids. The full story may be exposed twenty years later. It’s an exploration of imagination and interpretation. I enjoyed it. So, 4.5 stars—but I can understand the slow start.

Endangered Species: Anna Pigeon by Nevada Barr released on May 5, 2022, and narrated by Cindy Williams, published by Phoenix Books. Yes, I do believe that is Cindy Williams, the actress who died in January this year at the age of 75. This audiobook is a real shorty at only 2 hrs 46 mins. That’s good, as Cindy, bless her heart, definitely could not replace Barbara Rosenblat who totally sells the part of Anna Pigeon, the US park ranger. I’ve always enjoyed this series and I enjoyed this location storyline as well—picture-perfect but isolated Cumberland Island off Georgia–just not as much as usual. A plane crash on the island is the result of sabotage. A victim and—collateral damage? 4 stars

In September, this year, I listened to A Superior Death. The series is a good one and I can always find another I haven’t read/heard before.

Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin, narrated by Julia Atwood. It was released last October, 2022 by Dreamscape Media, LLC and is a police procedural mystery. Yes, there’s a dog—Huck. Corporate lawyer Ava Burch gave up the big city to move near Big Bend National Park (Texas). She grew up raising search and rescue dogs. Her dog catches some attention when he finds an abandoned campsite that leads to a cold case. Those who are familiar with my preferences know I’m not big on romances. This one morphs into a romance when she meets Grant Wycoff. Not my cup of tea. Those who enjoy that play of tension and release might very well love it. I signed up for a police procedural. 3.5 stars

I’m currently listening to None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell. Listed as Amazon’s #1 Best Seller in Women Sleuth Mysteries, it also has a mixed review by regular readers like you and me. Not quite sure why it’s classified as a women’s sleuth mystery, but guess we’ll both find out when I review it on Thursday, December 7.

What about the audiobooks listed above. Find one that interests you? Have you already read or listened to one? What did you think? I’d love to know.

Death by Cutting Table by Susie Black – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Holly Swimsuit Mystery Book 4

“This fairytale happens when? The second Tuesday of next week.”

Book Blurb:

Mermaid Swimwear CEO Butch Oldham was an equal opportunity scoundrel who screwed anyone and everyone in his wake. So, the question wasn’t who wanted the bastard dead. The question was, who didn’t?
After Mermaid sales exec Holly Schlivnik finds colleague Queenie Levine standing over Oldham’s battered corpse nailed to a fabric cutting table with a pair of cutting shears plunged deep into his chest, the cops soon recover Queenie’s hidden blood-soaked sweater, discover her stormy relationship with the victim, and her public threats to make Butch pay for destroying Mermaid by stealing it blind.
When Queenie is arrested for Butch’s murder, Holly jumps into action to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a slinky, and nothing turns out the way the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent for revenge.

My Review:

What you say? The old girl is reading a cozy mystery? Yes, and I was craftily coerced by glimpsing the cover. Whoever came up with that one deserves a percentage of sales.

The unlikely protagonist is Holly Schlivnik, a houseboat resident, dog owner, and high-level executive of private label division of Mermaid Swimwear—in LA (of all places). Bucks all the normal trope background, except maybe that she owns a canine companion Sigmund (Siggie) who artfully answers all her questions with the appropriate woof.

Mermaid Swimwear CEO Butch Oldham has gotten his just desserts by being offed and pinned to a cutting table; spread-eagled like his butterfly collections. I won’t go into detail regarding further forensics; suffice to say you can’t unsee that one.

Of course, for me, it’s the snarky sense of humor that provides the hook and after that I’m lost—must finish the book and it’s a good one. Well-plotted and paced, the characters are way too much fun (including the Yentas), beginning with co-worker, Queenie Levine, who is accused of the crime. Well, you can’t ignore that one—no way Queenie would have done it—ample motive or not. How many others had a good motive? Lots! Good her bestie Assistant Medical Examiner Sophia Cutler MD (known as Snip) can be called on as Holly has Detective Josiah Jones to maneuver.

I ate it up. And loved most of it! Dialogue is a hoot, the writing style keeps you glued. Loved the characters with the exception of the possible romantic triangle (although it was resolved well).

“Two men frantic over the thought of losing me? Guess neither one got the memo. You can’t lose what you don’t have.”

I have to protest the number of times Nancy Drew is referenced and the conversations with both Detective Jones and Captain Alvarez—I can’t imagine speaking to high-ranking officers like that without receiving a stern warning immediately.

“You want me to quit interfering? Arrest the right suspects.”

Overall, however, the sense of humor was fun, the narrative gripping, and the romp through the investigation highly engaging and entertaining. Will definitely be looking for another in the series. Highly recommended.

I received a gratis copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuths, Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
ASIN: B0C62HRJXM
Print Length: 202 pages
Publication Date: August 2, 2023
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

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The Author: Susie Black biography

Named best US author of the year by N. N. Light Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Reach her at mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

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Happy Halloween!!

The Bark of Zorro (Gone to the Dogs Book 4) by Kathleen Y’Barbo – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Valentine’s Day, aka National Singles Awareness Day

Book Blurb:

Who Is Spray Painting the Dogs in Brenham, Texas?

Cozy up with your favorite pooch and unwind with a small-town mystery in book 4 of the Gone to the Dogs series.

Strange happenings are afoot in Brenham, Texas, as dogs start showing up at the Lone Star Veterinary Clinic with a Z spray painted on them. The cops blame pranksters, while pet owners are blaming each other. Receptionist Cassidy Carter uses her social media expertise to try to get the culprit caught on camera, but Texas game warden, Justin Cameron, thinks online media attention is the last thing this case needs. It’s bad enough he’s currently being followed around by reality TV cameras. When Cassidy’s post goes viral, more dogs are found painted and her new home gets marked with a big Z too. How could her good intentions have backfired so badly?

Gone to the Dogs series:
Off the Chain by Janice Thompson
Dog Days of Summer by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Barking up the Wrong Tree by Janice Thompson
The Bark of Zorro by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Every Dog Has His Day by Janice Thompson
New Leash on Life by Kathleen Y’Barbo

My Review:

Once again I blundered into a series that is written by more than one author. I’ve read neither author before but thinking this is a good start, as I certainly enjoyed it.

It’s a sweet read, entertaining, and of course my big draw—dogs.

In this case, however, one is discovered having had a “Z” painted on the side of him. The main character, Cassidy Carter, is the Lone Star Veterinary Clinic’s office manager involved in the Second Chance Ranch Dog Rescue, all round gofer. So it is when the regular person in charge of taking an abandoned dog call is otherwise occupied, Cassidy goes to find the dog. She does and in hazardous conditions.

Later also involved is game warden Justin Cameron. Justin apparently has an unwelcome entourage—a television reality show in which he’s involved. I won’t call this inst-love, but it supplies the romance part of the cozy theme mystery.

I liked the dogs in the storyline as well as the inclusion of humorous highlights, not so much Justin. He bothered me as being too hovering, controlling, and for me the red flags popped up. Not so for Cassidy apparently as, of course, he is gorgeous, sexy, and studly.

In the meantime, there appears more than one dog sporting painted “Z”s on their furry sides and it’s time to zero in on the perp. I did have a little problem with the reveal—another of those who do not appear in the plot throughout the book. No way to have guessed who.

The pacing is fine and it’s wholesome. I liked Cassidy except for the CYA she issued more than once regarding her position being “just an office manager.” Maybe so, however, the setting is interesting, the characters (for the most part) engaging, and I’ll likely seek a second in the series.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Rosepoint Rating: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance, Cozy Mysteries
Publisher: Barbour Publishing Inc

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1636095178
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1636095172

ASIN: B0BFCFNG8S
Print Length: 256 pages
Publication Date: April 1, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

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The Author: KATHLEEN Y’BARBO is a Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of more than one hundred books with two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she is a member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, Texas A&M Association of Former Student and the Texas A&M Women Former Students (Aggie Women), Texas Historical Society, Novelists Inc., and American Christian Fiction Writers. She would also be a member of the Daughters of the American Republic, Daughters of the Republic of Texas and a few others if she would just remember to fill out the paperwork that Great Aunt Mary Beth has sent her more than once.

Kathleen and her hero in combat boots husband have their own surprise love story that unfolded on social media a few years back. They make their home just north of Houston, Texas and are the parents and in-laws of a blended family of Texans, Okies, and three very adorable Londoners.

To find out more about Kathleen or connect with her through social media, check out her website at http://www.kathleenybarbo.com.