A Vacation of Mischief

by Sabetha Danes (Editor), J. Wilson (Editor), Verena DeLuca

It's been a hard year, and these sleuths have earned a vacation.
But what's a vacation with out a case to wreck it?

Relax into these vacation themed mysteries,
as the sleuths do their best to solve their latest case!

Will they get it solved in time to get in a bit of self care for themselves?

Genres: Anthologies, Cozy Mystery

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2022

About the author

Sabetha is an eccentric introvert located in Central Texas, in a Stars Hollow-esque small town. Her default language is sarcasm, and is fueled by coffee. As a life long bibliophile, she reads and edits all genres but specializes in fantasy and cozy mysteries. Her degree in interpersonal communication helps her over-analyze characters that are only found in stories. She spends her days with her daughter and dude walking trails and drinking coffee. Did we mention she’s enjoys a great cup of coffee?

Reviews

[Chad Barrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read one book in this anthology and that was Murder Glazed Over. Married sleuths are taking a vacation above a bakery but when the husband goes downstairs to get some donuts he finds the baker dead.

In this short story they put the clues together to come up with the killer and it’s a surprise twist you might not be expecting!

I hadn’t read any of the previous books by this author so I didn’t have the background on this couple but they do put the clues together to solve the crime!

A quick read!

[Becky Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these two super sleuths. They have decided they need a vacation so they are staying above the Delish Bakery. When Cole heads down to get some donuts he discovers the baker dead. But could it be suspected animal rights activists involvement? I love the pampered pets and the fancy stroller for the pooch. Fun book to read!

I received this as an ARC for free from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Vacation of Mischief is book #4 in A Cozy Mystery Tribe Anthology.

The only story I read in this was Murder Glazed Over. It was a quick read. Cole and Katherine are a cute couple and there are sweet puppies.

Thank you to the author and for the copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read HITCHCOCK'S PERFECT MURDER BY BRITTANY E BRINEGAR: i loved this faced paced story! quirky complex and interesting characters. I especially love Becky and Boone. a fun storyline and lots of twists and turns make this a page turner and a must read!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verena DeLuca has written a charming pocket size cozey mystery with a splash of murder. This short but sweet cozey mystery mystery has it all charming, colorful small town characters. A plot that curves around and gives out bit by bit of clues coverd in delightful clarity that will take you by surprise .Acquire " Death Glazed Over " A Vacation of Mischief 😊 Kat

[Lee Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pedicures and Perpetrators
I give this book a four star because the reveal of who done it was sloppy. The storyline was good and I like the characters and the lead up was good.

Hitchcock’s Perfect Murder
I enjoyed reading the story. I liked that the author let us astray with several different possible perpetrators and then revealed the truth in the end. Well done

Azure and the Case of the Rogue Ride
Now this storyline captured my attention and I really enjoyed reading this book. I want to know more about shadow and his friend so I want to read the next book!!

Beaches and Bloody Hands
This was fun to read and I enjoyed the storyline. I would like to read more about Autumn and Simon.

Murder Glazed Over
Interesting plot with lots of twists. The story ended too soon and there’s no way that Cole could have known all those answers about the family. I would like to read more about Cole and Katherine.

Flint and Steel
I liked the way the author unfolded the thefts and the reasons for them. And I liked the characters. I’d like to read more if there is a series.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vacation of Mystery is the fourth novel in A Cozy Mystery Tribe Anthology. I love these novels and all I can say is they are just plain adorable. Our two sleuths have had a tough year and they really need to get away from it all. So what do they do they decide to take a vacation and are staying above the Delish Bakery. When Cole heads downstairs for their morning doughnuts he discovers the baker dead. Katherine and Cole jump right into the mix and attempt to solve the murder. Now the question is will the two get a “rise” out of the community? Or will they “knead” to search elsewhere for the culprits?
A super fun story. Just perfect to curl up with you morning coffee and your very own doughnut and attempt to solve the mystery yourself. I received this novel from BookFunnel and this is my true and honest review.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed, Murder Glazed Over which is one short story in an anthology, I feel it lacked depth. I couldn't relate right away to the characters as I felt there was no back story or more information about them. The protagonists, Cole and Katherine are on vacation, with a reputation of having solved murders previously. While staying above a bakery Cole goes down to get some donuts and finds the baker dead. Was he murdered? The couple go about looking for clues as to why the baker is dead. With lots of strange relationships, an arranged marriage and convoluted clues, we get to the surprise ending. It was a fun, fast read. I received and ARC of this story but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Christine Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I didn’t realize when I agreed to read this story was that it was only one story in an anthology. It’s a little hard to review a book based on only one of the stories.

So, my review is based on Murder Glazed Over only. This is a very short story, can easily be read in a couple of hours. There isn’t much time to really develop the characters. This is my first story by Ms. Mykel so maybe I would have understood the characters better after reading other books but a couple of paragraphs tying in previous books might have set the stage a little better.

Overall, the storyline is pretty good, but there is not a lot of depth. I thought the ending was rather abrupt. It felt rushed. However, if you’re looking for an easy short read, this could be the book for you.

[Maureen Horswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathryn and Cole are on a vacation to a cute town, where it appears all the shop keepers adore dogs. Cole is hoping for a vacation that does not include murder. He decides to pop downstairs to the local bakers to get his wife some breakfast, only to find one dead baker. Perhaps the town isn’t so cute after all.
The one witness has four paws and is traumatised by it all, and to make it worse, someone is trying to frame the poor thing for murder

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this easy to read, delightful short story! The characters are wonderful, well introduced and developed, and I loved how well the hubby and wife communicated with each other and how each one's perspective contributed to solving the murder of a baker while they are on vacation. It has a very good story line and once you start reading it, you don't want to put it down because you want to see what is going to happen or develop next.

[Kevin Cannon (Monty's Book Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unaware that this was an anthology as I only had 'Murder Glazed Over' to read provided by the author.

The story started with a good idea for a mystery but the investigators seemed to solve the murder far too easily using large jumps of logic.

Mildly humorous in places but could do with being a bit longer with more realistic clue solving

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable anthology

I enjoyed these vacation themed cozy stories. Most of the authors were new to me an have sparked interest in reading their series to learn more about their characters

[Sandy Goodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy mystery

[Carolyn Bragg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The descriptions setting each scene are good. Sights, smells, sounds. Then the people talk and do their thing. No more sounds, smells, sensations (cool smoothness of the pillowcase, etc.), except in the bakery. We are introduced to a place, then it fades slowly away during the "action."

I felt that this story was rushed, all the way through. It's a clever story. But it's as if details were being stuffed into corners so everything would fit in the space given. I kept stopping and going back a couple of paragraphs; telling myself to slow down.

Then I was literally stunned (mouth hanging open--which I never do), when one character claimed to know who the killer was.

I knew this was an anthology, but I wasn't expecting an Ellery Queen announcement! I was so stunned, that I read the end like "Yeah, yeah, that was the killer, yeah, details I noticed, yeah, two I didn't. (Huh.) Talk about a quick ending! There's nothing wrong with the announcement. I was just completely unprepared for something so blunt. (Maybe I read too many cozy mysteries in a row? I don't know.)

So, I had to go back to figure out who said "Man, I thought..." (A name there would help. Machine-gun dialogue can get messy.) Then I read through to the end again.

About the couple. I liked them, at first, but I didn't laugh when they did. It's not very funny when I'm told someone laughs. Show, don't tell. (I know, everyone hates that, but it's what works best.) I also understood that Cole was flustered when he hung up the phone, but then...nothing. He wasn't breathing hard, absently looking around, or looking at his watch, or even watching out the window. He just waited for Katherine to say her line.

Writing is hard because it seems like there are a million details to remember. I try to picture each scene on film, with the best cast I can possibly imagine for the parts (not often stars). I watch the camera pan around, catching details; cars splashing down the street, a rock making a stroller buck. Not all of the details are important, but if you can see it, smell it, feel the humidity, then everyone will.

I said I liked the couple at first. They seemed harder and harder to please, asking unreasonable questions, saying how great they were. I liked them less.

I have no idea why the thing at the end is a "good point." I'm curious, but I'm almost willing to argue against it, whatever it is.

The ending was good, and fit with my general theory, but again, rushing like a bullet train.

2.8/5 Stars: Rounded up to 3, but needs work.


Merged review:

Murder Glazed Over
The descriptions setting each scene are good. Sights, smells, sounds. Then the people talk and do their thing. No more sounds, smells, sensations (cool smoothness of the pillowcase, etc.), except in the bakery. We are introduced to a place, then it fades slowly away during the "action."

I felt that this story was rushed, all the way through. It's a clever story. But it's as if details were being stuffed into corners so everything would fit in the space given. I kept stopping and going back a couple of paragraphs; telling myself to slow down.

Then I was literally stunned (mouth hanging open--which I never do), when one character claimed to know who the killer was.

I knew this was an anthology, but I wasn't expecting an Ellery Queen announcement! I was so stunned, that I read the end like "Yeah, yeah, that was the killer, yeah, details I noticed, yeah, two I didn't. (Huh.) Talk about a quick ending! There's nothing wrong with the announcement. I was just completely unprepared for something so blunt. (Maybe I read too many cozy mysteries in a row? I don't know.)

So, I had to go back to figure out who said "Man, I thought..." (A name there would help. Machine-gun dialogue can get messy.) Then I read through to the end again.

About the couple. I liked them, at first, but I didn't laugh when they did. It's not very funny when I'm told someone laughs. Show, don't tell. (I know, everyone hates that, but it's what works best.) I also understood that Cole was flustered when he hung up the phone, but then...nothing. He wasn't breathing hard, absently looking around, or looking at his watch, or even watching out the window. He just waited for Katherine to say her line.

Writing is hard because it seems like there are a million details to remember. I try to picture each scene on film, with the best cast I can possibly imagine for the parts (not often stars). I watch the camera pan around, catching details; cars splashing down the street, a rock making a stroller buck. Not all of the details are important, but if you can see it, smell it, feel the humidity, then everyone will.

I said I liked the couple at first. They seemed harder and harder to please, asking unreasonable questions, saying how great they were. I liked them less.

I have no idea why the thing at the end is a "good point." I'm curious, but I'm almost willing to argue against it, whatever it is.

The ending was good, and fit with my general theory, but again, rushing like a bullet train.

2.8/5 Stars: Rounded up to 3, but needs work.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable cozy mystery. Murder in a donut shop. Who did it?? You will have to read this book to find out more. Warning -I wanted a glazed donut after reading.