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Mark
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May 22, 2023 10:31PM
Starting out the week with
Southern Ghost by Carolyn Hart https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Just finished Murder Past Due, the first in the Cat in the Stacks series. And now starting A Baffling Murder at the Midsummer Ball, the second in the Dizzy Heights series. Really enjoyed Murder Past Due - love Diesel the Maine Coon cat. However, the audiobook is narrated by a woman while the protagonist is male, which seemed odd. Generally I prefer when the narrator is the same gender as the protagonist. Just getting started on Murder at the Midsummer Ball.
Bradley, I know what you mean about some audiobooks being a bit odd. I listened to one with an American MC who moved to the U.K., told in first person. When she's speaking directly to someone (i.e., in conversation) she has an American accent, but otherwise the narration is done with a British accent. It kept throwing me off because she's supposed to be the one speaking.
Next up for me this week is
Murder at the Marina by Janet Finsilver https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wendy MeadowsAlaska series #3-#6
https://www.goodreads.com/series/2124...
Others seem to like these but the more I read the less I liked them. The first ones weren't great but I kept hoping they would get better. They didn't. For me they got worse.
I read #1 and #2 last year. Series concept appealed to me - middle aged Los Angeles homicide detective retires and moves to small town Alaska to run coffee shop and write books after husband dumps her. Coffee shop mostly forgotten. Writing books seems relegated to spare time activity but still profession and books sell. Mystery plots are farfetched. Main character and friend - character development inconsistent and contradictory to what they were like when introduced in book one. (view spoiler)
As a cat, occasional dog, rescuer and foster carer I don't do well with animal neglect or abuse.
Trigger warning book #3 (view spoiler)
Trigger warning book #6 (view spoiler)
Need to cleanse mind by reading something happier.
Coffee, Cream Pies, and Crimes
It's short but the mystery is good. I didn't guess who or why but I did guess some of the secrets. I liked that it wasn't obvious. I did not like Fran's boyfriend and friends going against her wishes and pushing her into doing something she said she didn't want to do! If I were her, I'd dump Matt because he was the worst boyfriend in this book.
It's poorly edited. Latte is described as a she at first mention and then he all the rest of the time. I'm pretty sure Latte was a he. Pick one and be consistent! Also Cape Bay seems to have migrated onto Cape Cod! It was not ON the Cape. It was in southeastern, Mass. I believe north of Plymouth, Middleboro and 1 hour from Boston. I'll double check my reviews to see if I figured out where it is supposed to be.
I speed read Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin
today for a book club meeting tonight. We really enjoyed this one. It was one of the better entries. I thought it had a nice balance of mystery AND cozy and Lori was a lot more likable. It had enough of the village to get a feel for it and the eccentric villagers but not too much so you're not reading about these nosy gossips so soon. I did miss the Pym sisters though. It doesn't sound like we'll see them for awhile.We didn't get to try the recipe this time. I'm not sure we'll get to the next one either.
I'm closing out May with
Murder at Sea, a cozy mystery short story anthology with stories by eight different authors. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Murder by the BookendThis was much, much better than the first. It was a bit long because it was repetitive but good. I guessed the killer but wasn't sure and the motive sure turned out to be a doozy. I didn't see all of that coming. Jenna has settled in and is more likable now and even in a relationship. There's more rare book content and bookstore activity PLUS an adorable dog!
Full review to come
I dedicated the month of May for reading cozies from various authors. Almost done with Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O'Connor. She is becoming a favorite of mine.
I'm starting out June with
Passport to Spy by Nancy Cold Silverman https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Murder at the Spring Ball: A 1920s Mystery
by Benedict Brown
Saw a review that compared the series to Wodehouse but it would be Bertie Wooster without Jeeves. Story is told from the POV of sixteen year old grandson of retired detective Superintendent Lord Edgington. For a first book in series it was okay and I may try another or I may go for re-read of Sayers' Lord Peter stories. The mystery was more to my taste than the characters as many of them were not likable.
just finished the ARC of
and am reading
Reading
for a January '23 Featured Series and Cozies (I am trying to catch up 2023 all way around!) I am enjoying it enough that I may read more of this series!
Starting out the week with the enjoyable
Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J. Chow https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Bound by Murder The best of the trilogy! I couldn't put it down. I had my suspicions about what happened to Jenna in Charlotte and I was sort of right but not entirely. This one has antique books, a cute dog, baked goods, new friends, and a compelling mystery.
I recently finished the Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke. Currently reading a non-cozy mystery and listening to The Alchemist of Fire and Fortune by Gigi Pandian.
I am reading The Game Is a Footnote
by Vicki Delany. Book 7 in the series. Very enjoyable series set on Cape Cod. Good characers, animals and pets. Start with book one though.
Just finished
Hot and Sour Suspects. Very good addition to the series, though I wondered at the MC's decision towards the end. The author really went through a tough time medically whilst writing this, and may still be, and my hat's off to her for pushing through it. Positive thoughts to you, Vivien Chien!
Alice wrote: "I am reading The Game Is a Footnote by Vicki Delany. Book 7 in the series. Very enjoyable series set on Cape Cod. Good characers, animals..."this series is fun
I'm kicking off the week with
Muddled Matrimonial Murder by Kim Davis https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Give Fudge a Chance
This is a good one, mystery wise! At first I was disappointed because Mal doesn't discover the body but she gets her moment to shine. Mella too. I didn't quite guess whodunit but I was not entirely surprised. There were some twists I didn't expect.
Ally is still kind of dumb and annoying. Her fudge sounds amazing and she is mature enough to discuss what she's feeling with Rex, at least. I just get nervous for her every time she goes off alone insisting she'll be fine LOL!
I'm listening to The Diva Paints the Town by Krista Davis. I enjoy this series.
A Cup of Holiday Fear by Ellie Alexander.
I am enjoying A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie. It is a Miss Marple mystery. I am half way through and Miss Marple has not appeard yet. I haven't read a Miss Marple mysteryin over 20 years. Enjoying. Well written.
Getting an early start on next week's release with
Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mark wrote: "Getting an early start on next week's release with Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."Ooh lucky ! The library JUST got #2 so I don't know if I can get that one.
I like the serie by Vicki Delany too.
QNPoohBear wrote: "Mark wrote: "Getting an early start on next week's release with Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."Ooh lucky !..."
Mark - let me know what you think, that is one series I follow
Mark wrote: "Getting an early start on next week's release with Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."Mark I look forward to reading your review.... that is one series I follow
i got to read the ARC
and it was wonderful.... i posted my review on my goodreads page
Sarka B wrote: "I like the serie by Vicki De
lany too."i just read the ARC and I loved it
Alice wrote: "I am reading The Game Is a Footnote by Vicki Delany. Book 7 in the series. Very enjoyable series set on Cape Cod. Good characers, animals..."she has so many great books.... I really enjoyed this one
Just finished Fateful Words
A Scottish Bookshop Mystery by Paige Shelton. This series is so much fun especially if you like Scotland. There is always alot going on so you have to pay attention but it's worth it!
marita wrote: "Mark wrote: "Getting an early start on next week's release with Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."Mark I look..."
If you follow the link in my original post, you'll see my review. But the short version is, I enjoyed it.
While I wait for my Tea by the Sea mystery to come in, I picked up Elementary, She Read
. I'm not super familiar with the Holmes canon and know more about the author than the stories so we'll see if I like this one. I should save this one for the weekend of the 4th and see if my mom wants to go to tea on Cape Cod while everyone else has grilled foods and seafood. yuck! A Sherlock Holmes themed tea room would be fun.
Once I read this month's featured novels, I will be finishing up Tea-shop-mystery series. I just finished two of them earlier this month and will catch up with the most recent Lemon Curd Killer. I also have the last two books in the Dog Clyub Mystery series Paw and Order Sit, Stay, Slay my reading next shelf.
Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue SeaThis one was more of a traditional cozy. Complaints were that it was far fetched but I thought it was on par with some of the other cozy series I've read. I didn't quite like the darker tone but it was a good mystery.
The Cozy Cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from Today's Bestselling Mystery Authors is introducing me to some series I haven't read yet.
Body on Baker Street is a little more Sherlockian but I can appreciate the passionate fandom and the mystery was good. I didn't guess who the murderer was but the murderer or murderers was/were high on my suspect list.
QNPoohBear wrote: "Body on Baker Street is a little more Sherlockian but I can appreciate the passionate fandom and the mystery was good. I didn't guess who the murderer was but the murderer or murder..."I love Holmes pastiche. I’ll definitely add that series to my reading list.
I read Dedication to Murder
which features two mysteries. The historical mystery of the wedding dress in the attic was so painfully obvious but I didn't expect the twist. When I solved the historical mystery it led to me figuring out the modern mystery. Addie should have been quicker. Her romantic drama was way too horrible and unbelievable. Aunt Anita's story was way too cliched and an unbelievable mystery. Loved the books though.
I am reading one of my favorite cozy seriesMurder on the Poet's Walk
by Ellery Adams. I have read the books in the series. I was Storyton was a real place I would definitely go there.
Hello! I am currently reading Ellen Byron mysteries- I am on book #6- Murder in the Bayou Boneyard: A Cajun Country Mystery.I prefer cozy mysteries...
And I like furbie mysteries too...
I'm finishing up Murder in Tuscany. I enjoy the writing style and the wonderful setting. I'm also enjoying having a male MC who is a retired DCI; it's not very common in cozies. A very small part of the story may be considered risque by some readers but it didn't bother me. I was bothered by the mention of a long ago crime by the victim, a true sleazeball.I have the second one on the tbr:
Murder in Chianti.
Starting the week with a Christmas themed short story -
The Ghost of Christmas Granny by Sue Ann Jaffarian https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd. Love the Flavia series. This one is really good so far (I am about 60% done).
