What Cozy Are You Reading? > Likes and Comments
“Lemon Pies and Little White Lies” by Ellery Adams
Greatly enjoyed Aunt Dimity and the Buried Treasure! It was a nice mix of mystery and village life. I do so love those Finch residents. They're not all here but there are some newcomers to meet. Their museum is very sweet and I really like that idea. We didn't try the inedible WWII eggless fruitcake but we do like applesauce cake with honey, raisins and nuts. Our short, furry honorary member gave his raisinless mini cupcake 4 paws up and begged for more.
QNPoohBear wrote: "Greatly enjoyed Aunt Dimity and the Buried Treasure! It was a nice mix of mystery and village life. I do so love those Finch residents. They're not all here but there are some newco..."I'm not that far in the series. May have to jump ahead for applesauce cake recipe.
QNPoohBear wrote: "Greatly enjoyed Aunt Dimity and the Buried Treasure! It was a nice mix of mystery and village life. I do so love those Finch residents. They're not all here but there are some newco..."Now I want to skip way ahead and read this! I'm only on book 9. 😁
I'm starting out the week with
Requiem for a Mouse by Miranda James. Sadly, this was a weaker entry in the series.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
L J wrote: "may have to jump ahead for applesauce cake recipe..."#9 is AD Snowbound? We didn't like that one so much. The apricot compote got a thumb's up from the book club though.
IF you want an Aunt Dimity recipe, they're all online on her website accompanied by a cute illustration.
http://www.aunt-dimity.com/recipes-1-...
The recipe isn't from the book. It's one I found in the archive at the University when I was in library school but you can Google "World War II applesauce cake" and there are several variations. You cream shortening, honey or sugar (rationed) together, mix in applesauce, baking soda and flour, add raisins and walnuts. It's pretty easy and tasty with or without cream cheese frosting. I make it cupcakes but a half recipe works great in a loaf pan.
My review of
Murder 101 by Maggie Barbieri is here.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Although goodreads calls it a cozy, the sexual tension my be a bit much for some cozy readers.
QNPoohBear wrote: "L J wrote: "may have to jump ahead for applesauce cake recipe..."#9 is AD Snowbound? We didn't like that one so much. The apricot compote got a thumb's up from the book club though.
IF you want ..."
Search? Why haven't I done that?
Thank you! Thank you!
One of two book regrets that I didn't "lose" and pay the library for, World War II rationing cookbook I checked out.
I was out of town and missed major changes at library that included getting rid of older books. Months later I was in library. The previously full mystery section was over half empty. A few newer Richard Lockridge were there but older North books he wrote with Frances were gone along with other fiction and non-fiction that age including the WW II cookbook.
The other book I regret not "losing" was in another library and was thrown away along with the other books.
I never "lost" any books but I learned.
Visiting Grandmother we noticed Mother and I were the only ones who had checked out the 1940s/1950s Lockridges and Rex Stout books. We offered to buy them and they were delighted to sell them to us even before they learned we were paying specialty mystery book store price rather than library book sale price.
My review of
Aunt Bessie Remembers by Diana Xarissa is here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Murder in the Book Lover's Loft
by Ellery Adams. Book 9 in the series. I really love the characters in this series. I am wondering if this is the final book in the series. Ms. Adams seems to tied up a lot of loose ends.
Alice wrote: "I finished Murder in the Book Lover's Loft by Ellery Adams. Book 9 in the series. I really love the characters in this series. I am wondering if this is the final book in the series...."Huh, you've got me wondering, as well.
I wondered the same thing when the book came out a year ago. Since the books in that series came out yearly, almost like clockwork, and there's no indication of a book #10, I suspect that's where the series ends :(
Happy 4th of July!! I lined up three related reads for the occasion!
The Firework Frenzy -- finished
Framed and Frosted
Fourth of July Forgery
Have any of you read Mike Befeler's Omnipodge series or books therein? There's no page for the series, but I know of three books thus far:*01 Old Detectives Home
*02 Last Gasp Motel
*03 A Mystery Yarn
This description grabbed my interest and I'm wondering if any of you can offer your opinions.
Imagine a retirement home populated with residents such as an aging Hercule Poirot and a dementia-suffering Sherlock Holmes, and run by staff including Art Doyle, Dash Hammett, and Dot Sayers. In this light-hearted spoof of the mystery genre, every character is either a real person from the mystery writing world or a character from a mystery novel. On anything but a dark and stormy night, a dead body is found. The staff managers find themselves unable to control the unruly old detectives. Mix in clues and red herrings galore, as this colorful cast of suspects investigate each other, and the top detectives of all time unite to solve their most difficult whodunit yet.
Karen wrote: "Have any of you read Mike Befeler's Omnipodge series or books therein? There's no page for the series, but I know of three books thus far:*01 Old Detectives Home..."
Not yet, but I have the first one. I need more time in my days for reading!
Mark wrote: "I need more time in my days for reading!"Tell me about it!!
Meg wrote: "Happy 4th of July!! I lined up three related reads for the occasion!
The Firework Frenzy -- finished[bookcover:Framed and Frosted|5805..."
👍🏽 Love it!
Karen wrote: "Have any of you read Mike Befeler's Omnipodge series or books therein? There's no page for the series, but I know of three books thus far."It looks like that's intended to be a trilogy. But his Paul Jacobson series has at least six books, and I've enjoyed the ones I've read so far. Paul has a memory issue so that when he sleeps, he can't remember very short term things (like things that happened yesterday). That gets him into some serious - and often comical - situations.
I had two similar books going at once. I finished An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder
. I couldn't put it down but I was a little disappointed it didn't include more of the Exposition.I started listening to
Murder at the Debutante BallIt's stretching my credibility a lot that Cleo knows so much and Flossie seems to understand what they're discussing. Also that the aunt would just shut down her husband by saying out loud "They're old enough to know where babies come from!" That doesn't seem very Victorian to me.
Next after that is Fondant Fumble
Fondant Fumble
by Jenn McKinlay
Narrated by Allyson Ryan
Hoopla audio
For me one of the most enjoyable of the series partly because the competing baker was less venomous than usual but mostly because I liked the guest cast. Hope to see football team members in future books.
Arachnids... *shiver*
Barb wrote: "But his Paul Jacobson series has at least six books, and I've enjoyed the ones I've read so far. "Thanks, Barb. It was actually a posting about his Paul Jacobson series that got me looking at Mike Befeler to begin with. I saw the title of book 1 of the Omnipodge series and TBRed his work. I wondered if anyone had experienced it.
I'm hoping with you liking the one, the other will be just as good. Thanks for the input. The premise just sounds so interesting, fun, and funny.
L J wrote: "Fondant Fumble
by Jenn McKinlay
Narrated by Allyson Ryan
Hoopla audio
For me one of the most enjoyable of the series partly because the competing baker was less venomous than usual but mostly because I liked the guest cast. Hope to see football team members in future books.
Arachnids... *shiver*
..."
I'm halfway through. I like Keough but not Toby. I love Mama June! The victim had to go. He was supremely awful. I'm really not thrilled with the latest development in the cozy world BIG BIG spoiler (view spoiler)
Fondant FumbleThe mystery was good but the cozy not so much. ONE joke went on too long and it was dumb. I really like Keogh and Mama June. Mama June raised her boy right. Keogh has business savvy, he's smart, sweet, kind and is self-aware enough to know when it might be time to walk away. (Unlike another QB who returned after retirement).
I loved sleuthing with Mama June but I missed the rest of the crew. They only had brief cameos.
I think this series has come to an end, sadly. If anyone has an interesting and unique idea for another one, let Jenn know but my feeling, from her posts on Jungle Red Writers, is she's moved on to rom coms and her new fantasy novel. SNIFF! She owes us a Hat Shop wedding at the very least!
I'm kicking off the week with
Murder on Devil's Pond by Ayla Rose https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
QNPoohBear wrote: "Fondant FumbleThe mystery was good but the cozy not so much. ONE joke went on too long and it was dumb. I really like Keogh and Mama June. Mama June raised her boy right. Keogh ha..."
I was hoping she might do spin-off rom com series centered around the football players, their bakery, Mama June, etal. Many rom coms, especially with mystery elements, work for me unless I'm expecting a cozy and get a rom com.
L J wrote: "I was hoping she might do spin-off rom com series centered around the football players, their bakery, Mama June, etal. Many rom coms, especially with mystery elements, work for me unless I'm expecting a cozy and get a rom com..."I love Mama June and want her to come back, I really liked her son but not enough to want to read a book with Keogh and Tyler as the main characters. Oz, Marty and Ray DeLaura, yes! I preferred introverted Mel and firecracker Angie above all the other sleuths she's written, including Lindsey, my very fictional alter ego (with a job).
My next book was
Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket, the latest in the always funny Jaine Austen series by Laura Levine https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My review of
Honeymoon Cruise Murder: by Dawn Brookes is here.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My brief review of
Aunt Bessie Solves by Diana Xarissa is here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm looking at one of next week's new releases early. I had a fantastic time with
A Very Woodsy Murder, the first in a new series by Ellen Byron.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've been barreling through my tbr this month. The cozies I finished up lately :
Pint of No Return - perfect timing for this hot weather
Chilled to the Cone - ditto
A Vision in Velvet - love this paranormal series
Paw and Order - a real favorite; Chet is awesome 😊
A Murder in Long Island - first in a 1920's series
The Missing White Lady - second of the same series (reading now)
Meg wrote: "I've been barreling through my tbr this month. The cozies I finished up lately :Pint of No Return - perfect timing for this hot weather[book..."
I really liked that series and am sad it ended.
I finished [book:Sheep with One Eye Open|204629202]
I love this series! The animals are so charming! Alvina the dancing Alpaca and Bocelli the singing donkey are my favorites.
The humans are mostly great too but not the mayor. She's a piece of work. While she's not as bad as the guy in Dog Town, she's a politician and it's all about optics for her.
QNPoohBear wrote: "Meg wrote: "I've been barreling through my tbr this month. The cozies I finished up lately :...I really liked that series and am sad it ended."
Which series PoohBear?
Cat Scratch Murder
by Karen McSpade
Serial installment. It might make an okay book but I'm not interested in reading serial.
Despite cat on cover this is not a cat cozy. There are 4 cats but mostly they are hauled around in a couple of carriers rather than being well cared for feline characters. Poor kitties.
QNPoohBear wrote: "I finished Sheep with One Eye Open..."I'm sooo behind on this series! 😂 I think I'm around #8 or so. Thanks for the nudge to get on with it.
Meg wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "I finished Sheep with One Eye Open..."I'm sooo behind on this series! 😂 I think I'm around #8 or so. Thanks for the nudge to get on with it."
Me too. I signed up for KU free trial ahead of Amazon Prime Day so I can catch up.
The Shake Shop series by Dana Mentink ended after only 3 books. For some reason ice cream themed books don't last long.
My book club enjoyed Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse. The writing in the series gets better and better and the plot was a good one. It's a murder mystery but still gentle and set in an English country village. The cookies are easy to make but take forever to bake so make sure you have enough time. They're delicious with or without tea or maybe a cup of milk.
I finished When the Crow's Away
by Auralee Wallace. Book 2 of the series. Fun series about witches and ghost. Quick read.
Sharing something I got in email from an author: Free cozies today only!Contemporaries:
https://cozymysterybookclub.com/bookb...
There are also links to paranormal and historical.
It's scary how many I already had in my tbr and haven't gotten to!
Meg wrote: "Sharing something I got in email from an author: Free cozies today only!Contemporaries:
https://cozymysterybookclub.com/bookb...
There are also links to paranormal and historical...."
Oh my gosh - I just grabbed so many!!!! Thank you for sharing this. I look forward to discovering new-to-me authors!
I'm glad you had fun!! I managed to add a few myself!
I'm celebrating Christmas in July with
The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning by PJ Fitzsimmons. It's a historical cozy mystery with plenty of laughs.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Enjoying Corpse in the Carnations by Meyer
I'm ending the week with another Christmas themed cozy
Sugarplum Dead by Carolyn Hart https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mark wrote: "I'm celebrating Christmas in July with The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning by PJ Fitzsimmons. It's a historical cozy mystery w..."I was a beta reader and it made me laugh out loud in several spots.
(view spoiler)
I'll be reading the next Anty soon and his cousin Teddy Quillfeather.
I read Murder at Madame Tussaud's and did not enjoy it. It was dark, the body count was high and a politician sounded way too familiar.
QNPoohBear wrote: "Mark wrote: "I'm celebrating Christmas in July with The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning by PJ Fitzsimmons. It's a historical c..."Yes, those were two great parts. Lots of laughs in the two I've read so far. Looking forward to reading more.
I figured out WHO right away based on process of elimination from the pattern established in previous books. I was impressed with how Theo figured out the WHY. The cozy tea details are so lovely and charming. I wanted to dive in and attend the Downton Abbey Tea! I've been to a Titanic tea but haven't been able to make the Downton tea at the same museum.
Halfway through listening to
It's going quickly and I like the balance between village life and the mystery of Aunt Dimity's past. The only thing I question is the metal detecting. If we've already established Finch was NOT a Roman settlement or even an important historical site, are we still expecting to find something special? I snorted with laughter at what they have found so far. I just love these people!
So in this book we seem to learn the origin story of Aunt Dimity's special stuffed animal companions!