Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer

Charles and Celia, along with Peter, and Margaret, brother and sister to Celia, have inherited an old house in a small village in England. An eccentric Aunt had left it to them complete with no electricity and a ghost known as the Monk. It has an old Priory and a neighbor, Mr. Titmarch, who floats around in the dark of night chasing moths and crosses regularly onto their land. The other Neighbors are the Colonel, and the Vicar and his wife. If the place only had rats Celia and Margaret could probably manage but they draw the line at the Monk.

Georgette Heyer writes a very well-executed Mystery with this one. Her characters are droll, sophisticated and amusing.The book is a light-hearted mystery but at the same time there is a sinister undercurrent. Things keep happening that are odd.  Heyer, has a natural genius for farcical remarks and post-war humor in which the men are both bored, sanguine and witty while they perform quite heroic things they make light of...this was a very good book to start at night but the problem was how to stop. I like the way the Golden Era produced mysteries.The plot and people are entertaining enough that I kept reading till the early hours and still kept on.

This one is much lighter, and funnier than other Heyer's but the plot is no less interesting. The Aunt adds a lot to the eccentric side. I wish I could have joined them while they moved the planchette around. I just really like the characters in this one. I feel Georgette Heyer is underrated as a mystery writer. This is a good one...

Blurb:

What begins as an adventure soon becomes a nightmare...

Locals claim it is haunted and refuse to put a single toe past the front door, but to siblings Peter, Celia, and Margaret, the Priory is nothing more than a rundown estate inherited from their late uncle-and the perfect setting for a much-needed holiday. But when a murder victim is discovered in the drafty Priory halls, the once unconcerned trio begins to fear that the ghostly rumors are true and they are not alone after all! With a killer on the loose, will they find themselves the next victims of a supernatural predator, or will they uncover a far more corporeal culprit?

Killalot (An Ivy Meadows Book Six) by Cindy Brown

Ivy Meadows goes undercover at a Renaissance Fair as a sashaying, mute, belly dancer ...with a sign hanging on her bum. She plunges into her sleuthing to find out who had killed a Jouster. The Knight's horse that had been stolen- ended up at a famous Broadway Producer's Ranch. Strictly in the name of following a lead she puts herself up for an acting job as Marilyn Monroe. The characters at Renaissance include a bird training act, a fellow jouster who has been arrested and a Wizard who partakes of magic dust a little too often.

Cindy Brown writes from a strong background in the Theater. Her cast of characters are finely drawn and ring true to form. The hilarious Ivy, who is always late, drinks too much coffee and has a boyfriend she worries about- adds a great touch to these cozy mysteries. The action keeps the book a fast read because you never know what Ivy/Olive will get into next. The character is someone you would love to have as a friend though.

 The Renaissance Fair plot provides a lot of magic, color and fabulous people. If you enjoy funny, fast- paced mysteries this is the one for you. I do and so I am giving it 5 stars.


Blurb:

A jouster, a playwright, and a detective walk into a faire…but it’s no joke when one ends up dead.

Actress and part-time PI Ivy Meadows is thrilled when she learns that the famous playwright behind Hello Dolly Madison is in Arizona. Not so much when she realizes he’s a suspect in the murder of a Renaissance faire jouster.

As is her friend Riley. And about a thousand other people, all disguised in Renaissance costume during the fatal jousting match.

When Ivy is hired to investigate the killing, she goes undercover as a Cockney belly dancer at the faire and finagles her way into the playwright’s Kennedy-inspired version of Camelot—as Marilyn Monroe, no less.

Then, in the midst of her toughest case ever, Ivy has to solve another dilemma: Will she follow her lifelong dream of being an actor or settle down with the love of her life?

The murder investigation, the play, and real life come together in a twist that begs the question: Is there a happily-ever-after for anyone?

Tandem Demise: A Cycle Path Mystery by Duffy Brown

Evie wandering around the dockside at night finds a dead body-one more to add to her black cloud. Evie had been trying to save money on freight, apparently her bike rental shop makes just enough to pay bills yearly. Fiona and she are intrigued and determined to be in on the solution. The local Police come in the form of Nate Sutter. The body appears to be one that Sutter recognizes or else he likes looking at the stars in thought...a lot. There is a sweet addition in the form of Evie having a romance, not that stops her from dogging the investigation. The Wedding planners added a nice touch as did the Police Clerk and her boyfriend...but Evie's Mother was quite simply a hoot.

Duffy Brown writes a quirky, just-fun mystery. Mackinac Island is one that anybody would want to visit with no car traffic and charming little shops. The characters are people you would like to revisit and build a relationship with if you knew them in person. The dialog is hilarious at times with a touch of slapstick events but I found myself laughing more than once.

Do yourself a favor and read this one if you like warm, rollicking mysteries with likeable people, charming places and a few red herrings. Five stars for this one.


Blurb:
Smugglers on the hunt, a police chief on the run, lost loot and a dead wedding planner have the Mackinac Island regulars riding in circles

After solving two murders, bike shop owner Evie Bloomfield thought life on Mackinac Island would settle into boredom until she finds out Nate Sutter, island police chief and once-upon-a-time under cover cop is on the run. Some badass guys from Nate’s Detroit days think he stole money from them in a champagne smuggling operation and now they’re headed to the island to get their loot. Evie is determined to help Nate because he’s a good cop, Nate is determined to keep interfering Evie and island locals out of harms way, and the crooks are determined to get their money.
To add to the island’s problems there’s a dead guy on the dock and the new wedding planner is more interested in playing bedroom bingo than ordering bridal bouquets.

With the help of Fiona, Evie’s BFF and local newspaper editor, Evie is determined to prove Nate innocent, figure out how champagne smuggling, bodies on the dock and a bad wedding planner are tied together and not wind up taking a long walk off a short pier herself.

Tied up with strings by Madeline McEwan

Betty Grape has flown to England and ultimately Devon, to visit her old friend's Daughter, Catia. She has promised her mother to check up on her. She finds the cottage is seven miles from town and the nearest neighbor are two brothers living in a caravan in a field. Katia is babysitting the house for a Professor Braithwaite and his wife. On the first day that Betty arrives someone has left a package with a cat collar in a box. While visiting the outside loo she finds a lot of medicine that belongs to the Professor's wife. Her bedroom though, has been cleaned out and is cold and sterile. This will lead to a two-fold mystery. 


I found Betty a strong, opinionated, character. She obviously would like to convert the British to American ways and food.  I can see that the character could be amusing. Katia has a sad history with a fiance that committed suicide. She is working on a thesis but remains sullen more than friendly. But there is a surprising twist to the Novella. I liked the characters of Peter and Paul and the introduction of a character in Peter that is not mainstream.

The questions throughout the plot threw me out of the story a few times. I felt as though I had no background about Betty's Detective Agency. The premise deep in Devon with a mysterious death looming over it has a lot of promise-but there is an odd, jerky quality to the plot. The heart of the story was the mystery and possible murders but they sizzle out without a definite end. I am rating this three stars.

The Chinese Orange Mystery by Ellery Queen

Ellery Queen is once again involved in a mystery and this one is a real puzzler. He has been invited to dine with Kirk, whose Partner collects valuable stamps and jewels.  A plump, middle-aged man shows up, who refuses to state his business, and is put into the Office sitting area. By the time Kirk's Secretary, Mr. Osborne, remembers he is there...it is too late. He is dead. The room has had all the furniture turned the wrong way and all his clothes have been put on backwards. Two African spears have been inserted between the body and behind the head, giving the appearance of horns and of a trussed-up offering.

This Mystery is considered to be one of the best of the series. It was written in 1934 and it has all the elegant sophistication of William Powell in the Thin Man Series. Wealthy people live in Hotels with Secretaries and dress for dinner. The elderly Father is looked after by a private nurse and even though the Depression is on- it does not touch wealthy collectors of stamps. The writing flows like a well- filled cocktail and the who "dunnit" aspect is intriguing and led me to read these pages till four in the morning. The Chinese Orange  Mystery was voted the eighth best locked- room mystery of all time by seventeen well known Detective Writers and Reviewers.

This particular Novel is also cited in reference works referring to the locked- room puzzle. It is intriguing and keeps your mind working furiously to solve it. What more could a Reader ask for than a top of the line puzzler? I know you will like it.The ending alone is a minor miracle. This is another in the golden mystery time frame that I highly recommend.

My thanks to Netgalley and Penzler Publishers

Blurb:

A topsy-turvy crime scene sends a detective on a puzzling quest for the truth.

The offices of foreign literature publisher and renowned stamp collector Donald Kirk are often host to strange activities, but the most recent occurrence­―the murder of an unknown caller, found dead in an empty waiting room―is unlike any that has come before. Nobody, it seems, entered or exited the room, and yet the crime scene clearly has been manipulated, leaving everything in the room turned backwards and upside down. Stuck through the back of the corpse’s shirt are two long spears―and a tangerine is missing from the fruit bowl. Enter amateur sleuth Ellery Queen, who arrives just in time to witness the discovery of the body, only to be immediately drawn into a complex case in which no clue is too minor or too glaring to warrant careful consideration.

Reprinted for the first time in over thirty years, The Chinese Orange Mystery is revered to this day for its challenging conceit and inventive solution. The book is a “fair-play” mystery in which readers have all the clues needed to solve the crime. In 1981, the novel was selected as one of the top ten locked room mysteries of all time by a panel of mystery-world luminaries that included Julian Symons, Edward D. Hoch, Howard Haycraft, and Otto Penzler.

Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer, famous for her Regencies, also added to her stock some delectable mysteries set in the Golden Era. The writing is crisp with snappy dialogue and eccentric characters. I found myself laughing more than once. Part of the charm of this Era is coming across sophisticated people-very reminiscent of The Thin Man Movies. This book is of course set in pre-war partying of the thirties with dinner parties and lots of drinking.

The Verekers, Tony and Kenneth are brother and sister. Along with Murgatroyd, their maid, they live in artistic quarters and rub along. Arnold, the older brother, is murdered and discovered in the Stocks near a Village, where he has a little hideaway for Women. It could almost be a bad joke but it isn't. Inspector Hannasyde is assigned to the case and focuses on the Verekers and their friends. The mixture of secretiveness and naivete mixed with a second murder adds to the mix. I didn't try to figure out who the Murderer was I just enjoyed the Story for its mixture of fun and buildup.

If you enjoy Mysteries from the 1930's and 1940's add this one to your collection. I am a big fan of that period and I really enjoyed this Story with all its froth and cunning characters. I plan on continuing with the series and I am giving it five stars.

Blurb:
A Moonlit Night, a Sleeping Village, and an Unaccountable Murder...
In the dead of the night, a man in an evening dress is found murdered, locked in the stocks on the village green. Unfortunately for Superintendent Hannasyde, the deceased is Andrew Vereker, a man hated by nearly everyone, especially his odd and unhelpful family members. The Verekers are as eccentric as they are corrupt, and it will take all Hannasyde's skill at detection to determine who's telling the truth, and who is pointing him in the wrong direction. The question is: who in this family is clever enough to get away with murder?
"Miss Heyer's characters act and speak with an ease and conviction that is refreshing as it is rare in the ordinary mystery novel."-Times Literary Supplement

Traitor's Purse by Margery Allingham

There is something so delightful about a really good Margery Allingham Mystery. She is one of the best at complicated plots and so very English. This story was published in 1941 and has complex characters, murder and enemy agents. It also has more of Amanda and romance if you are familiar with the Allingham Series.

Albert Campion wakes up in a Hospital with total amnesia. The thing that is driving him is his mission. It is terribly important and very secret. During this time he has to "act normal" even among his dearest which includes Amanda and Lugg, his Servant.  The problem is he can't remember anything, including the mission. He is afraid that he has killed a policeman and that the force is after him. Albert escapes from the hospital and ends up riding with Amanda and a guest- who will soon be murdered. Amanda and he are staying at a Place called the Institute he found out.  She has been following him...but how does it all tie in? Why the murder?

The texture of the first half of the book, at least, has Albert Campion sick and working in the dark. But it is a finely-drawn wording that has him discovering his friends and enemies in a new light. Allingham, is a master at leading you through a mosaic of word patterns holding it tense and fine in parts. She also has the ability to make you feel that you are at a golden time of the mystery and privy to the well-educated class of Great Britain. I always feel I have read a Master when I finish. If you enjoy Sayers and Christie then you should enjoy Allingham and in the words of Amanda,"Be gone across the raging tide"


Blurb:
Celebrated amateur detective Albert Campion awakes in hospital, accused of attacking a police officer and suffering from acute amnesia. All he can remember is that he was on a mission of vital importance to His Majesty’s government before his accident. On the run from the police and unable to recognize even his faithful servant or his beloved fiancée, Campion struggles desperately to put the pieces together—while World War II rages and the very fate of England is at stake.

Published in 1941, Traitor’s Purse is “a wartime masterpiece” (The Guardian).

“Uncommonly exciting stuff, replete with Allingham’s skill in story-building and the plausible characters that make her as much a fine novelist as a mystery writer.” —The New Republic

“Margery Allingham stands out like a shining light. And she has another quality, not usually associated with crime stories, elegance.” —Agatha Christie

Tail of the Dragon by Connie Di Marco

Julia Bonatti, an Astrologer, goes back to work for a week with her old Boss, David. He is a lawyer. She reports to work for Secretarial duty and falls back into her old routine. Until... the whole floor hears a scream. Of course no-one expected to find the other Co-Partner stabbed. For several weeks Julia had thought of calling David because he had disturbing signs in his chart. This is about the time he and two more people got death threats. This is Book three in the Zodiac Mystery Series for Connie Di Marco. I had no problem following along and I don't think any other Reader will...

It's an unusual premise to have a "whodunit" built around Astrology. But I like it. There are many planets and adverse aspects in a Chart with a Client. Julia had been making a living at it, although, not a great one. There is a romantic interest in this mystery which is Julia's first, after the death of her fiancee ,who was murdered. The Killer has never been caught. That has a mystery attached to it but a photograph has surfaced. Will that help identify the car or the person driving?

The characters are integrated with a diverse crew which always adds to a Book. How else are we to start guessing who did it? This was a good read for a rainy night and I enjoyed it.

Blurb:

A rare astrological event could help San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti avoid a deadly destiny
Julia Bonatti loves the freedom of working for herself as a professional astrologer. But after receiving several unexpected bills, she considers a temp job offer from her old boss a stroke of luck too good to pass up.

On her first day, the posh law office becomes a crime scene when one of the partners is found dead. Julia discovers that a series of death threats have been sent to several employees of the firm, and she uses her astrological expertise to discover possible motives. But before she can convince the authorities of what she knows, the killer strikes again. Will Julia unmask the culprit before he, or she, takes another life?

The Prisoner in the Castle: A Maggie Hope Mystery by Susan Elia MacNeal

Maggie Hope has been assigned to the Isle of Scarra, off the West coast of Scotland, with a group of other SOE Agents. They all are there because they know too much or have committed a transgression in training- like Camilla. The atmosphere is brooding at Killoch Castle, a Victorian hunting Lodge filled with hideous decor.

Years before the Owner of this Castle- Marcus Killoch, had hunted men like animals and performed unspeakable acts. He in turn was murdered, along with his hunting friends. Some say the ghosts were still there, along with the servants.

The Agents are all trained and bored, sitting out the war with their cigarettes and alcohol. Maggie explained it like this-broken, powerless, and trapped. Death returns to the Island, filling the scene with a déjà vu. The murder of the Officer, who is in charge of the facility, has set the zoo loose. Hysteria, rears its ugly head in Anna, one of the Agents, who believes the ghost of the former Owner-  has come back. Something is terribly wrong on Forbidden Island and suspicion builds with each page.

This is a tense story, loaded with atmosphere and murder. The characters are each filled with boredom, guilty secrets, tension and an occasional liaison. The conversation is witty, flippant and at times terrified among them, but, that makes for interesting reading. Who is the psychopath among them is the only unanswered question? I found the deaths reminiscent at times of Agatha Christie's, And Then There Were None.

An Island set in the west coast of Scotland, gray and remote, certainly added to the thriller aspect of this Mystery. I could smell the fear coming from the characters before the end of the book. Yet there is one more twist in store for the readers.This historical thriller rates Five Stars...

Blurb:
A series of baffling murders among a group of imprisoned agents threatens the outcome of World War II in this chilling mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Churchill’s Secretary.

World War II is raging, and former spy Maggie Hope knows too much.

She knows what the British government is willing to do to keep its secrets.

She knows the real location of the planned invasion of France.

She knows who’s lying. She knows who the double-crossers are. She knows exactly who is sending agents to their deaths.

These are the reasons Maggie is isolated on a remote Scottish island, in a prison known as Killoch Castle, out of contact with friends and family.

Then one of her fellow inmates drops dead in the middle of his after-dinner drink—and he’s only the first. As victims fall one by one, Maggie will have to call upon all her wits and skills to escape—not just certain death . . . but certain murder.

For what’s the most important thing Maggie Hope knows?

She must survive.

A Gentleman's Murder by Christopher Huang

Christopher Huang, writes a mystery set in a brooding post -War London of 1924. It is the aftermath of World War I- still for most of the Soldiers. Lt. Eric Peterkin is an Officer, who has returned to England, and all the things he loves about it. He associated his Club with all the other Peterkin's who came before him- as well as his Father. He follows a code of honor that dwells on and would be expected by his family. The last place he expected a Murder was at his Club, the Britannia- catering to Gentlemen who fought. Why should the bet from one Officer to a new Member lead to death?

A large cast of Characters, revolve around the Britannia Club, allowing Lt Eric Peterkin quite a bit of scope in solving the mystery.  Then- a body is found buried in the Woods around a former Hospital for wounded, military men. It is that of a female and she died violently. This touch added a gothic moment to the Book which I liked. But this is a case where murder will continue and we can only wonder why.

The half -Chinese Character and his Sister allow for an unusual twist in the 1920's. However, it is the moody quality of the book touching on the scars, internally and externally of the returning men that add depth. Peterkin, is very like his Father, and determinedly carries on through prejudice, lies, interference,and a complex social- system that rules England during that period. I found the story an interesting twist and the strength of it Holmesian. I will continue on with the series and the next adventure. 

Blurb:
he year is 1924. The streets of St. James ring with jazz as Britain races forward into an age of peace and prosperity. London's back alleys, however, are filled with broken soldiers and still shadowed by the lingering horrors of the Great War.

Only a few years removed from the trenches of Flanders himself, Lieutenant Eric Peterkin has just been granted membership in the most prestigious soldiers-only club in London: The Britannia. But when a gentleman's wager ends with a member stabbed to death, the victim's last words echo in the Lieutenant's head: that he would "soon right a great wrong from the past."

Eric is certain that one of his fellow members is the murderer: but who? Captain Mortimer Wolf, the soldier's soldier thrice escaped from German custody? Second Lieutenant Oliver Saxon, the brilliant codebreaker? Or Captain Edward Aldershott, the steely club president whose Savile Row suits hide a frightening collision of mustard gas scars?

Eric's investigation will draw him far from the marbled halls of the Britannia, to the shadowy remains of a dilapidated war hospital and the heroin dens of Limehouse. And as the facade of gentlemenhood cracks, Eric faces a Matryoshka doll of murder, vice, and secrets pointing not only to the officers of his own club but the very investigator assigned by Scotland Yard.

Murder She Reported by Peg Cochran

Peg Cochran has written a delicious 1938 murder mystery with all the sights and sounds of the Depression. Elizabeth is a "girl Friday" on a Newspaper even though her family is one of the wealthy. Through a lucky break she takes over photographing a Debutante Ball with the "It girl" featured prominently. Beautiful gowns and sleek- haired escorts provide the color but who could predict it would end in murder?

"The Rich are not like you and me," Kaminski noted, as he wrote his byline. He is a hardened Newspaperman reeking of onion and cigarettes. He took Elizabeth under his wing barking," Do you want to work for the Newspaper or not?"  Biz, her shortened name, questioned the ethics of taking photos of people at their very worst and most vulnerable. She had snapped a crying girl with blood all over her dress but questioned the right and wrong of it. Death left a bad taste in her mouth and a white-faced Biz. The murders continue as she and Kaminski track down clues and interview people. They relentlessly pursue the police theories for their newspaper. But Biz has a few ideas of her own.

The smooth delivery lines and the elegance of the attires really helps this Mystery bring that Era to life. But it's not all golden- the seamy side is written in also, so, that  makes a well-integrated murder mystery. I really enjoyed it and I will continue with the series. Five stars...

Blurb:

A Park Avenue princess discovers the dark side of 1930s New York when a debutante ball turns deadly in this gripping historical mystery for readers of Victoria Thompson, Anne Perry, and Rhys Bowen.

Manhattan, 1938. Tired of being trapped in the gilded cage of her family’s expectations, Elizabeth Adams has done what no self-respecting socialite would think to do: She’s gotten herself a job. Although Elizabeth’s dream is to one day see her photographs on the front page of the Daily Trumpet, for now she’s working her way up as the newsroom’s gal Friday.

But fetching coffee isn’t exactly her idea of fun. So when veteran reporter Ralph Kaminsky needs a photographer to fill in for a last-minute assignment, Elizabeth jumps at the chance. At the Waldorf Hotel, Elizabeth is tasked with tracking down the season’s “It girl,” Gloria DeWitt, who will be making her society debut. Working her own connections to New York’s upper crust, Elizabeth manages to land an exclusive interview with Gloria.

Then Gloria’s stepmother is shot dead in a Waldorf bathroom, placing Elizabeth at the scene of a headline-worthy scandal: “Murder of a Society Dame.” Now Elizabeth will have to get the scoop on the killer before her good name gets dragged through the gossip columns—or worse. . . .

Coroner's Pidgin, A Campion Mystery

Margery Allingham is an exceptional Writer. Her plots are sophisticated, as are her characters. The last one I read- I thought this is my favorite and then I felt the same with the next one. She has the ability to describe characters in a pre-war or post-war setting- in an England none of us knew. Charming, intelligent, people who get themselves in a bad situation and among the group- one is a killer.

Albert Campion has come home from doing intelligence work for the Government and is headed home to his wife and son. He stops off at his London flat for a luxurious soak in the tub- representing beauty, luxury and civilization to him. A body has been brought up the stairs and laid in his bedroom. A Woman, he has never seen, reposes there and has been brought by Lugg, his butler, and the Dowager Marchioness of Carados. The situation is ludicrous and he bows out determined to go home. The Taxi Driver has other plans. He wakes up chloroformed with a Policeman standing over him. His clothes, have been strewn over an empty building and himself drugged. Despite his best intentions of catching the train home he has to solve the mystery.

The characters are stunning in this book... consisting of a group of people collected together by Johnny Carados, Marquess and RAF Pilot.  Two of these are Peter Onyer and his wife, Gwenda. Peter, managed his financial affairs and Gwenda, acted as her husband's secretary. Ricky Silva, petulant and artistic, did the flowers. Captain Gold ruled the household servants, and a plump, cheerful Dolly, went about putting everything right. Then there is Eve Snow, Johnny's girlfriend and Susan, who Johnny is to marry despite that fact. Don Evers is in love with Susan.

Allingham is amazing at the way she collects the characters and sews them into a complicated plot but does it in a way in which you stay fascinated. One of the writers from the golden era of mysteries she is equal with Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers. I finished this book in one night and it stayed with me for several days. If you like charming and evocative- along with sophisticated people from another Era, then this is for you. I loved it. 

Blurb:
World War II is limping to a close and private detective Albert Campion has just returned from years abroad on a secret mission. Relaxing in his bath before rushing back to the country, and to the arms of his wife, Amanda, Campion is disturbed when his servant, Lugg, and a lady of unmistakably aristocratic bearing appear in his flat carrying the corpse of a woman.

The reluctant Campion is forced to put his powers of detection to work as he is drawn deeper into the case, and into the eccentric Caradocs household, dealing with murder, treason, grand larceny, and the mysterious disappearance of some very valuable art.

 

The Fairfax Incident by Terrence McCauley

The first Chapter starts slow, but- this book is a roller coaster of a ride. The writing is strong and reminiscent of Dashiell Hammett's, The Maltese Falcon. This one grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. It has everything a 1930's Detective Story should have...strange deaths, beautiful women, lots of players and a brash Humphrey Bogart type Lead.  I love this type of story set in the thirties and forties, when they are well written. 

Mrs. Eleanor Blythe Fairfax of Park Avenue hires Charlie Doherty to prove her Husband was murdered. But no-one believed that. The Chief of Police had a thick conclusive file on it. Her Brother, Dr. Blythe, thinks Eleanor is trying to prove the impossible. But, if the case is as dead as her husband- why do people keep trying to kill Charlie? Who is being blackmailed to report his movements and why?

Charlie hasn't had time for Women, since his Wife divorced him and went back to Poughkeepsie, New York with his two kids. Now, the Secretary is trying to seduce him on top of everything else. That is only the beginning of Charlie Doherty's trouble. I thought I would read this book over two or three days. But I couldn't quit  until I found out how it ended. It is reminiscent of the great Detective thrillers of that Golden Era of Writing. I really enjoyed the fast pace. I am giving it five stars.

Blurb:

Award-winning author Terrence McCauley takes you back to a time when booze was outlawed, crime ran rampant, and New York City was a powder keg waiting to explode…

Manhattan, 1933. Charlie Doherty may have been kicked off the force after The Grand Central Massacre, but thanks to a wealthy benefactor, his private detective business is booming. Catering to the city’s wealthy elite, Doherty is making a good living chasing down wayward spouses and runaway socialites when the case of a lifetime lands in his lap. Mrs. Fairfax, a wealthy widow, hires Doherty to prove her husband’s suicide wasn’t actually a suicide. It was murder.

At his benefactor's urging, Doherty takes the case. He expects to pocket a nice chunk of change to prove what everyone already knows: Walter Fairfax walked into his office in the Empire State Building one morning, took a phone call, and shot himself. But Charlie took the widow's money, so he begins to dig.

He quickly finds out there is more to the Fairfax incident than a simple suicide. Before long, he discovers that Mr. Fairfax was leading a double life; running with a dangerous crowd that has a sinister agenda that threatens to plunge Charlie’s city – and his country – into another war.
In an investigation that quickly involves global implications, Doherty finds himself against not only some of the most powerful people in New York City, but against the most evil men in the world.

Reviews:

"A total knockout. A slam-bang mystery and a story that just won't quit. You will not put it down.” ―Timothy Hallinan, author of the Poke Rafferty and Junior Bender novels

"McCauley has merged a classic detective story with a full-on actioner, and it works beautifully.” ―Booklist

"An intriguing standalone from McCauley...readers will hope to see more of the likeable, capable Charlie.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Readers will be glued to the pages.” ―Suspense Magazine

Lowcountry Bookshop (A Liz Talbot Mystery Book 7)

Susan Boyer has another hit on her hands with Lowcountry Bookshop. It is like returning to old friends. The books are set in the charming areas of Stella Maris and Charleston, which is a treat with its shops and Restaurants. The Characters are likeable and you can read this book without having read the others.

Poppy Oliver found herself in trouble after reporting a hit and run. Someone decided to hire Liz Talbot and her Partner Nate to prove her innocence. There were two calls made that night to report the incident one from the victims phone and one from a burner phone. Why was Phillip Drayton-the Victim, outside during a storm and why had some kind of pepper spray been used on him? As the Partners investigate it becomes obvious a lot of answers are needed to solve this mystery. Colleen, a ghostly friend, who appears to just a few people might help.

This book flows with a nice juicy mystery. Prepare to put your  feet up and spend the evening because this one grabs hold and doesn't let go. I really liked it. So I am giving it five stars.


Blurb:

Lowcountry PI Liz Talbot returns to the streets of Charleston in the seventh installment of Susan M. Boyer’s USA TODAY bestselling mystery series.

Between an epic downpour and a King Tide, those historic streets are flooded—and dangerous. A late night tragic accident along the Lower Battery leads Liz Talbot straight to her next case.

Who’s the client? Well, now, therein lies the first puzzle. When the police arrive at the scene of the accident, Poppy Oliver claims she’s only trying to help.

But the dent on the front of her Subaru and the victim’s injuries provoke a certain Charleston police detective’s suspicious nature. A wealthy, anonymous benefactor hires Liz and her partner Nate Andrews to prove Poppy Oliver’s innocence.

What exactly was Poppy Oliver up to? Is she a random good Samaritan who happens upon the accident scene? Or perhaps this tragedy wasn’t an accident. She just might be his abused wife’s accomplice.

Why does everyone involved in this case have a sudden burning urge for reading material, leading them to the same charming bookshop along the waterfront?

From a risqué, exclusive club in an old plantation to an upscale resale shop in the historic King Street shopping district to a downtown graveyard crawling with ghosts, Liz tracks a group of women who band together to help victims of domestic violence.

In her most challenging case yet, Liz fears she may find a killer, but justice may prove elusive.                                                     

Murder She Wrote: A Date with Murder

Jessica Fletcher is at it again in, A Date with Murder. Her close friends Hal and Babs Wirth have hosted a Labor Day Barbq with games. Hal Wirth dies during the event and everyone takes it for granted it is a heart attack. But something is nagging at Jessica and her instincts will take her into a complicated murder and us a great mystery.

Donald Bain wrote 46 mysteries in the Murder She Wrote Series. Television and these books have made Jessica one of the most beloved characters in mysteries. Jon Land brings a fresh approach to the 47th in the series, more in line with his background writing thrillers. He brings a harder edge but the plot has all the turns and twists that keep you reading late into the night.

I have loved revisiting this Series and Cabot Cove. There was always something so special about the Character and formed our own version of an American Miss Marple. Land has his writing cut out for him, but, he is first class and I look forward to him continuing the series. I gave it five stars.

Blurb:

Jessica Fletcher investigates a friend's murder and a dangerous dating service in the latest entry in this USA Today bestselling series...

Jessica Fletcher takes up the case of her good friend Barbara "Babs" Wirth after Babs' husband Hal suffers a fatal heart attack that Jessica has reason to believe was actually murder. At the heart of her suspicions lies a sinister dating site Hal had used while he and Babs were having marital issues, a site that may be complicit in somehow swindling him out of millions.

Jessica's investigation reveals that Hal was far from the only victim and when his former business partner is also killed, a deadly pattern emerges. Jessica teams up with a brilliant young computer hacker to follow the trail but as she gets closer to the truth, two near misses force her to realize that she may very well be the next victim.

The stakes have never been this high as Jessica finds herself being stalked by the killer she is trying to catch. She must now set the perfect trap to avoid her very own date with murder.

Murder in the Locked Library (A Book Retreat Mystery) by Ellery Adams

Ellery Adams writes a sparkling cozy-  flush with details. I am enthralled with rare books and secrets that have to be kept...well who isn't? This book is loaded with them. The characters will remain favorites once you are introduced to them. Butterworth, the Butler, was one of mine-but he is backed up by a strong recurring cast. I cannot wait to read the other books in this series and I will have my nose buried in Book One to Three next week.

Jane is the Guardian of Storyton Hall along with her two sons. Her Mother and Father live upstairs. Sinclair, who is the Head Librarian, works with clients and is a rare book expert.  Certain aspects that Visitors learn may later be important for clues.  I was fascinated by the details..how to hold a book by cradling it or washed hands versus gloves. In fact, all sorts of technical things are imparted. Are they information or red herrings? Cradling the book is definitely worth knowing for those of us who collect at any rate...  The workers in the soon- to- be- spa area dig up the bones of a man. But how long has he been dead? The book found with him in the grave was unreadable, so, the text might be written with onion juice or some other secret way of writing. But how does this affect Storyton and will there be more deaths?

Secrets, rare books, invisible text, a gutsy heroine and delicious food...how much better can a mystery get? Not much...five stars on this one.


Blurb:

Welcome to Storyton Hall, Virginia, where book lovers travel from near and far to enjoy the singular comforts of the Agatha Christie Tea Room, where they can discuss the merits of their favorite authors no matter how deadly the topic . . .
 
With her twins, Fitzgerald and Hemingway, back in school, Jane Steward can finally focus on her work again—managing Storyton Hall, and breaking ground on the resort’s latest attraction: a luxurious, relaxing spa named in honor of Walt Whitman. But when the earth is dug up to start laying the spa’s foundation, something else comes to the surface—a collection of unusual bones and the ragged remnants of a very old book. The attendees of the Rare Book Conference are eager to assist Jane with this unexpected historical mystery—until a visitor meets an untimely end in the Henry James Library. As the questions—and suspects—start stacking up, Jane will have to uncover a killer before more unhappy endings ensue . . .

“Combines clever clues, a smart and courageous heroine and an interesting setting in a whodunit that will inspire readers to make further visits to Storyton Hall.”

Nun After The Other (A Giulia Driscoll Mystery Book 5) by Alice Loweecey

Alice Loweecey writes a bang-up mystery from the first chapter.  Frank, a police officer and Giulia, who runs a Detective Agency, are on a married, date- night when they hear a scream. They arrive too late to see what happened, but, they are confronted with a dead Nun and a rabid little Chihuahua, who keeps nipping at ankles- while licking the face of Sister Mary Margaret. The Nuns are being terrorized and Eagle Developers is the likely Candidate. But someone is hiring people to paper the windows with smut and calling at all hours. They have had two people break in. Giulia is hired to find out what is going on and stop them being harassed or worse.

Meanwhile, Giulia's brother has an accident at work and is in a coma. Giulia and Frank take his three kids into their small Cape Cod House. Salvatore, who was enough to drive a Saint to leave and did manage to isolate everyone, including his wife and Giulia. Her name is not mentioned in his house.

This book is a combination of fast- paced mystery with lots of humor. The scene in which each Nun quotes a bible verse in order to get the Mother Superior to hire Giulia is laugh-out loud funny. Although it may help if you went to Catholic School as I did. But there are topics worth exploring in the Book too. One is the commercial greed of the Developers working to redo and make huge sums out of the slums. Or the fact the three kids had to hide the fact they slept in one room and were not with their Father because of Child Protective Services. I couldn't decide if I should say a rosary or enjoy the quips. I can tell you I finished this book in one night and laughed a lot. A very enjoyable quirky Mystery I gave it five stars.

My thanks to Netgalley and Henery Press

Blurb:
Nuns and murder and ghosts, oh my! Here comes Giulia Driscoll again, and boy, is she in for it this time.

It all starts when a frenzied Chihuahua leads Giulia and Frank Driscoll to the body of a nun in the street near a convent. The nuns fear they’re being harassed by the biggest developer in town and quickly embrace Giulia as their savior.

Of course, the former nun who exposed the drug ring run by a priest and nun will save their home and discover the murderer.

And of course, Giulia not only takes this job, but also all the other jobs clamoring for her attention. The result: Driscoll Investigations is pushed to its limit.

Then Giulia’s brother falls into a coma and she brings his kids to her house. Talk about a crash course in parenting for pregnant Giulia!

Did we mention the convent ghost? She loves the house, hates the nuns, and chain-smokes. Why couldn’t Giulia’s first honest-to-goodness ghost be shy and sweet?

More importantly, does the ghost hate the nuns—or the developer—enough to indulge in a bit of murder to liven up the afterlife?

Lost Books and Old Bones by Paige Shelton.

Paige Shelton, has written a charming premise with her character, Delaney, who works for The Cracked Spine. This bookstore specializes in rare books and manuscripts. Set in Edinburgh, I loved the fact that it started out with the moody background of Scotland and lots of artifacts.

Sophie and Rena, came into the shop to sell, "an Atlas of Illustrations of Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Pathology" made up of 25 books which are very rare. I, along with Edwin, Delaney's boss, would have had eyes filled with tears at the hand- drawn illustrations. I just wish I had cataloged them at an Archives. Although graphic, they are an amazing example of medical knowledge at the time of the Industrial Revolution.

Several months later...Sophie, Rena, Delaney and Mallory are four girls on the town enjoying the group, "The Mad Ferret"  until Sophie and Rena see Dr. Eban of their Medical School. He is one of the fascinating Professors they have, but slightly eerie in his thirst for Robert Knox, who bought murdered corpses from Knox and Hare. These two were famous killers during the early 1800's. The Medical Students, have a service for the Corpses they work on, and it is held at Greyfriar's Kirk. Dr. Eban invites all of them to the funeral.

He makes it clear that he is fascinated with Edwin's Secret Room, the place where he keeps all his treasures. In fact, he is interested in the scalpel of Dr Knox- which disconcerts Delaney. She is used to denying that the room exists to protect the valuable holdings. But not everyone believes her.

Delaney has a boyfriend who is the proprietor of Delaney's Wee Pub. The sign and her name- she thought was meant to be. Tom met her at The Cracked Spine that night, so that she can look for the scalpel. Her boyfriend of ten months is the romantic interest in the series. The relationship between them is strained by a Reporter hot on the trail of a story, which adds some tension to the plot because of the prior dating of her and Tom.

A murder is discovered. Has it been brought on by the mystery of "The Dark Side," which is aptly protected by a red door? This, of course, houses Edwin's wonderful finds that he keeps for himself. Odd how a myth has spread and everyone is interested in and determined to see it. Is the killer?

So began a multi-faceted mystery with lots to recommend it. I will certainly be reading more of this series and enjoyed the addition of the Hare and Burke murders. Everyone has secrets and that is how I like my mysteries. 

My thanks to Netgalley the opinion is my own.

Blurb:

A delightful new mystery featuring bookseller and amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols, set in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Delaney Nichols, originally of Kansas but settling happily into her new life as a bookseller in Edinburgh, works at the Cracked Spine in the heart of town. The shop is a place filled with curiosities and surprises tucked into every shelf, and it’s Delaney’s job to research the rare tomes and obscure artifacts that people come to buy and sell. When her new friends, also students at the medical school, come to the shop to sell a collection of antique medical books, Delaney knows she’s stumbled across a rare and important find indeed. Her boss, Edwin MacAlister, agrees to buy the multivolume set, perhaps even to keep for his own collection.

But not long after the sale, one of Delaney’s new friends is found murdered in the alley behind the Cracked Spine, and she wonders if there is some nefarious connection between the origin of these books and the people whose hands they fell into. Delaney takes it upon herself to help bring the murderer to justice. During her investigation, Delaney she finds some old scalpels in the bookshop’s warehouse—she and discovers that they belonged to a long-dead doctor whose story and ties to the past crimes of Burke and Hare might be connected to the present-day murder. It’s all Delaney can do to race to solve this crime before time runs out and she ends up in a victim on the slab herself.

The China Governess (the Albert Campion Mysteries) by Margery Allingham

Margery Allingham, sweeps you into a Mystery-complex and intricate from the very first page. Her writing is as excellent as any of the great English Mystery Writers from the Golden Age of Mystery. The Characters are likeable and eccentric, much like a favorite Professor, you might have had. The Scenery is descriptive with roads and places, that were bombed during World War II. The Turk Street Mile, with all the deceptiveness and squalor it was capable of, laid the foundation for a first class mystery.

Superintendent Charles Luke is called in to visit a middle age Couple, whose apartment has been torn apart. On the mirror in the guest room are the words, "Go home Dick." It resulted in the death of one of the first class tenants as they are named by Luke. Councilman Cornish is outraged and demands that Scotland Yard do something.

Timothy Kinnit has taken his fiance, Julia, to his old Nanny, Mrs. Broome. She hides the eighteen year old in The Treasure Room of the ancient building, when they have unexpected guests. While Julia is hiding behind curtains leading to a stairway- she hears a conversation that shocks her. Her engagement is put on hold until Tim can find out the truth.She appeals to Albert Campion to help her. The truth... which ever way it falls, does not matter to her, but it does strongly to her Father and her intended.

The complexity of the plots that Margery Allingham wrote were a thing of beauty. Her descriptions shimmer with 1940's language, and places. Often, the people are built around the class system of England before and after World War II. But the characters have charm, with their intellectual naivete and good humor. Mrs. Broome quickly became a favorite. If you enjoy Dorothy L. Sayers you will certainly like Allingham who was just as good a writer. Although we have many good Authors today I still favor the Era of the 1930's to 1940's for quality mysteries.

Blurb:
“Margery Allingham stands out like a shining light. And she has another quality, not usually associated with crime stories, elegance.” —Agatha Christie

Timothy Kinnit is rich, handsome, and successful, but his past is a mystery to him. When he learns, on the eve of his elopement, that he is adopted, he must question everything he thought he knew.

In desperate search of answers, Kinnit calls on private detective Albert Campion to shed some light on his past, and how it connects him to the notorious Turk Street Mile slum. Meanwhile, his illustrious adopted family has a sinister secret of its own—involving a murderous nineteenth-century governess—that must also be brought to light by Campion’s investigations.

A Brush with Shadows (A Lady Darby Mystery) by Anna Lee Huber

Anna Lee Huber writes a tight, compelling mystery with Gothic overtones. The dark, brooding, landscape sets the tone for a grim Manor and a clutch of forbidding relatives. It has been fifteen years since the last visit. Gage's Grandfather has sent for him to investigate the disappearance of his cousin. But the visit has an eerie turn that night, when a mysterious figure, watches from the foot of the bed. The next morning- the windows were open... when they had been closed... and a rope has been attached to the building allowing access.

Alfred, the missing Cousin, went for a walk on the Tors and never returned. His Mother and Brother are both determined nothing has happened, yet, there is a definite mystery here. Why is someone determined to hinder the investigation with missing trunks and footwear laces that have been cut? Then his Grandfather is acting strange. The Villagers have no idea Alfred is missing, threatening letters have been sent and there is a supposed witch. Add all this, to the brooding landscape, and the places a man may get lost on the moor, and believe me you will start and finish this Book in one night.

I found the scenery, with its beauty and deadliness, added to the story line. The characters intensified the dramatic undertones and fast pace. I will definitely be picking up the books I have not read yet. Huber has a winner with this Series. I gave it five stars.

Blurb:
Sebastian Gage returns home to battle the ghosts of his past and prevent them from destroying his future with Kiera in the latest exciting installment in this national bestselling series.

July 1831. It's been fifteen years since Sebastian Gage has set foot in Langstone Manor. Though he has shared little with his wife, Lady Kiera Darby, about his past, she knows that he planned never to return to the place of so many unhappy childhood memories. But when an urgent letter from his grandfather reaches them in Dublin, Ireland, and begs Gage to visit, Kiera convinces him to go.

All is not well at Langstone Manor. Gage's grandfather, the Viscount Tavistock, is gravely ill, and Gage's cousin Alfred has suddenly vanished. He wandered out into the moors and never returned. The Viscount is convinced someone or something other than the natural hazards of the moors is to blame for Alfred's disappearance. And when Alfred's brother Rory goes missing, Kiera and Gage must concede he may be right. Now, they must face the ghosts of Gage's past, discover the truth behind the local superstitions, and see beyond the tricks being played by their very own eyes to expose what has happened to Gage's family before the moors claim yet another victim...

Plum Tea Crazy ( A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs

Laura Childs has continued the adventure in her wonderful Tea Series. Theodosia Browning and  Drayton Conneley are invited guests of Timothy Neville at the Gaslights and Galleons Parade. The  widows- walk on the roof is the perfect place to watch the ships come in from all over the World for the Event. Amidst a volley of cannon...a scream rings out and a man falls. Carson Lanier, is impaled on a wrought iron fence. It is an obvious case of murder, but he seems to have no enemies...or even a good reason why this should happen.

  Theodosia, who works side- by- side with Drayton in the Indigo Tea Shop is asked by Timothy to help investigate the mystery. She is dragged into a feud, with a scene worthy of a cat fight in a film noir, between Sissy Lanier and Betty Bates during a showing at Delaine’s shop. A rock is tossed through her window. Sissy shows up at the tea shop bereft because her Fidelity account had been raided. Jud Harker’s apartment is illegally visited  and she finds out some juicy information concerning Bob Garver’s grant money and loan. A very entertaining plot unfolds with some of the locals providing the bounty.

But for me... the Teas that are served and the food throughout this book are especially charming. Imagine a carefully blended plum-flavored Ceylonese black tea. This was a visit for me with old friends in their elegant Tea Shop and a chance to try some of these wonderful blends... as I sat with my cup of Tea and read this book. A delicious little mystery and a surprise twist at the end. Very enjoyable.

Blurb:

Theodosia Browning investigates a Charleston steeped in tradition and treachery in the latest Tea Shop Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Laura Childs.

While viewing the harbor's Gaslights and Galleons Parade from the widow's walk of Timothy Neville's Charleston mansion, local banker Carson Lanier seemingly tumbles over a narrow railing, then plunges three stories to his death. But a tragic accident becomes something much more sinister when it's discovered that the victim was first shot with a bolt from a crossbow.

At the request of the mansion owner, Theodosia investigates the tragedy and is soon neck deep in suspects. An almost ex-wife, a coworker, a real estate partner--all had motives for killing the luckless banker, but one resorted to murder to settle accounts.

My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley

The Pajama Frame by Diane Vallere

Madison Night, who bears a close resemblance to Doris Day, and loves all things mid-century, is left Sweet Dreams Pajama Factory, which produced sixties pajama and peignoir sets. I  drooled over the buttery yellow and mint green designs. That is one of my favorite Era for clothes. One of the fun parts of this book is that you are descriptively indulged with wonderful house designers and cute clothes. Madison runs her own shop, Mad for Mod, that specializes in getting these wonderful items first. To that end she cultivates Estate Planners and those in the know. But Alice Sweet leaving her a deserted building and a six decades old mystery has the historical society, and a group of protesters after Madison.

The Factory, where a woman died sixty years ago -in suspicious circumstances, yields another dead body. That's only the beginning. Not too many people can deal with murder and a shih tzu,who has gotten skunked all in one day. But Madison had help in the form of a hunky Captain she had met on other cases. Keys, mysterious letters, storage units and Mrs. Sweet's family are hard to deal with but Madison is as worried about her boyfriend in California as she is being set up. What about the gun?

I liked the wise cracking and the flow in this newest mystery of Diane Vallere. There is a continuation of build-up between the characters and I loved the retro angle. I have a soft spot for vintage and movies from that Era, so, I really enjoyed visiting with these characters. A good little mystery and now I need to go back to the first one and read Book One. Like me- I am sure you will enjoy this series.

My thanks to Netgalley and Henery Press

Blurb:

Interior decorator Madison Night is no stranger to the occasional odd inheritance. But when an octogenarian friend dies and leaves her a pajama factory, the bounty is bittersweet. Once a thriving business, Sweet Dreams closed decades ago after a tragic accident took the life of a young model. Or was that simply a cover up?

Between her friend's death and her own stagnant life, Madison is tempted to hide under a blanket of willful ignorance. But when family members and special interest groups lobby to expose the secrets of the factory, Madison gets caught in a tangle of secrets and lies and discovers that sometimes, the bed you make is not your own.

The Phantom of Oz (An Ivy Meadows Mystery Book 5) by Cindy Brown

Cindy Brown writes a fun, clever little mystery. Her zingy Heroine works for her P.I. Uncle but Olive/Ivy is also a theater actress who works in plays and auditions. The fun begins when Candy Treat calls Ivy and asks her to meet her backstage at the famous old Deco Playhouse,The Grand Phoenician. Candy is working in The Wizard:A Space OZpera. Ivy gets hired for an understudy, as a series of incidents happen, that land one cast member in the hospital. The Lady in White, who is the resident ghost, is blamed for most of the accidents that happen. But a ghost doesn't loosen screws on a chandelier do they?

The Theater is also rife with competition and ugly scenes from Babette, the Star of The It Girl. She is hunting for her new hopeful Actress, who turns out to be Candy. Olive is worried about her friend, who has been hiding secrets, and lying to her. The play is loaded with children munchkins both playing a part and trying to meet people to further their Careers. In amidst the constant activity are barbed remarks from Babette. The mix of people with jealousies, ambition and protective stage mothers furthers the plot. Add in creepy underground sets and a well- the Lady in White drowned herself in, and you have a fantastic blend of characters and plot.

I laughed out loud several times reading this book. It is hard to pull off wit and mystery but Cindy Brown does both very well. Ivy is likeable and the cast of characters in the play are unique. I admit to a penchant for Theater Mysteries. This one has everything. A very enjoyable read and I look forward to the next one. I gave it five stars.

Blurb:

Creepy munchkins. A mysterious phantom. And a real Wicked Witch.

Are you ready for it? Actress and part-time PI Ivy Meadows has been hired to uncover the cause of the creepy accidents that plague the roadshow The Wizard: A Space OZpera and find out who dropped a chandelier on the Wicked Witch of the East.

Was it the ghost who haunts the Grand Phoenician Theatre? A “wicked witch” in the cast? Or is it someone—or something—more sinister?

It’s Ivy’s most personal case so far.

Her best friend Candy, who’s touring with the show, is caught in a downward spiral of self-destruction, and is in more danger than she knows.

To save her friend and the show, Ivy must answer even tougher questions: Do spirits really exist? What is real beauty? What does friendship mean?

Ivy needs to learn the answers, and fast—before Candy reaches the point of no return.

Murder on the Rocks (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery #5) by Shawn Reilly Simmons

 

Three Characters gather for a meeting and breakfast and end up in the middle of a robbery. They are set to work on a Movie. Arlena will star, another will offer set advice and Penelope runs the catering. Nadia, who offers tennis advice,is hurt by an attack during the holdup but the real nasty stuff for the friends will start once they relocate to Vermont.

Penelope's boyfriend is apparently a long- time character and works for the Police Department.  Joey, with a new Partner, is tracking down the thugs while Penny and he stay in contact as much as they can. The Director insists the Catering Unit work with Conservation so they are not allowed to use plastic anything. They are out in the Country so far Penelope cannot even get service for her phone. She is also assigned to morning yoga. Her Catering Assistant starts a romance with the Brother who directs the Movie. Add a family argument over a farm and all kinds of sightings of a mystery man and you have a real "who dunnit!"

I had not read any of these books before so I have to admit I was lost part of the time. I definitely feel you want to read these in order. They have a lot of action and are easily read in one night. Joey and Penny have an ongoing romance that readers will build on... a fun read.



Blurb:

Shawn Reilly Simmons has cooked up something rocky this time, and it’s going to be a delicious read.

After surviving a brazen attack at one of her favorite local cafes, Penelope Sutherland is ready to escape the big city and head to her next film set. She and her Red Carpet Catering crew set up their kitchen on location in the tranquil mountains of Vermont.

But peace and quiet aren’t on the menu.

It starts to get hot when a series of accidents befall the celebrity tennis pro consulting on the film. Then mix in an uptight director, an isolated location, and a quirky bunch of locals with secrets of their own and that’s a recipe for disaster.

Penelope soon suspects a connection between the cafe attack and the incidents on set, and you know what comes next. She must uncover the truth before her goose gets cooked.

This page-turner is serving up the coziest of entertainment, and you do not want to miss it.

Curses, Boiled Again! by Shari Randall

 I looked at this Title and knew I had to read it. Come on, who wouldn't smile? The Lobster on the Front just added more humor as did the almost 1950's illustration look to the Cover. This is a well- plotted book with a few twists easily finished in one night.

Aunt Gully, Owner of the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack, entered a contest with her famous lobster roll. The Contest is televised and has footage. Along with three other entrants she watches in horror as the Judges show all the symptoms of poison. Each of the four Restaurant Finalists are under suspicion until the Police can find the guilty party. How much competition and jealousy among the Finalists I will leave you to read and enjoy. Because the plot builds a first- class, cozy mystery. The actual Detective work will be done by Allie, one of Gully's nieces, along with her Sister Lorelei. Oops, she prefers to be called Lorel. But I don't want to forget Allie's best friend, Verity, who runs a vintage clothing store with an eye for couture and drives a 1962 DeSoto with fins.

Mystery fans will like the twists in the plot and the warmth of the background. I mean how do you beat the Ocean for scenery? The driving question throughout the plot... would they overcome the rumors of food poisoning? Would they find the Lobster Libber? Yes, this has one and a lot of other surprises going on. Allie will have to find the key to it all and Readers will delightedly follow right along beside her.

Blurb:
Welcome to the seaside hamlet of Mystic Bay, where the fish is always fresh, the folks are ever-friendly, and murder is on a roll. . .
Allie Larkin was living her dream as a ballet dancer when a bad fall put her out of business. Now she’s back home in Mystic Bay to heal a broken ankle while also helping her dear Aunt Gully get her Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack off the ground. Nothing would help Gully more than winning the local food festival’s Best Lobster Roll contest. The competition is sure to be killer—especially after one of the contest judges dies after eating a roll from one of Gully’s biggest rivals.


Soon, all eyes fall on Gully as the prime suspect. Allie may only have one good leg to stand on, but she’s not going to let her aunt go down for a crime she never could have cooked up. Can Allie, along with her devoted crew of friends, family, and customers, find a way to trap the killer and claw herself out of this hard-boiled murder case?

Shari Randall:

A native New Englander, Shari loves hanging out with the gang at the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack in fictional Mystic Bay, Connecticut, where the lobster rolls are delicious, the company’s good, and murder’s always on the menu.

When she’s not committing murder (on the page, of course), Shari enjoys walking the beach near her house, traveling, reading, visiting her globe-trotting children, and dancing. She’s currently trying to talk her husband into a tango class.