Carol’s Super Sleuth Level 4 Challenge

[Carol]

Super Sleuth Level 4:

[Carol]

Level four (Sleuth Extraordinaire) -

B) Two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 20 cozy books of your choice (total of 40 books)

✅ Two from culinary (anything dealing with food: restaurants, baked goods, etc.)
....1. Crime Chowder by Hillary Avis….Finished 09/10/2021
....2. The Spia Family Branches Out b Mary Leo….Finished 02/20/2021

✅ Two from animal related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.)
....1.Classified as Murder by Miranda James
Finished: 03/19/2021
Rating: 4 🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Charlie Harris is a widower who works part-time in the University of Athena’s Archive section. Charlie owns a Maine Coon cat named Diesel. Diesel is loved by the town. He accompanies Charlie to almost everywhere he goes on a leash. Charlie takes on a job doing an inventory and classifying a rare book collection for an elderly man. This man, James Delacorte thinks someone is stealing from him. After Charlie and Diesel start the job, James is found dead in his private library. The police enlist Charlie to aide in the investigation especially after a second body is discovered. In addition to the murders, Charlie discovers a copy of Poe’s Timberland missing. Which one of the family is the culprit of the murders and taking the valuable copy? Enjoyed this story with lots of twists and turns. Plus enjoyed Charlie’s son, Sean role in working with his Dad to make sure he stays safe until the culprit is found. The reader will also meet Dante, the dog who comes to live in Diesel’s territory. A good read. This is book #2 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
....2. File M for Murder by Miranda James
Finished: 06/01/2021
Rating: 4 🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Charlie Harris is a widower works part-time
in the University of Athena’s Archive section.
He and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, go almost
everywhere together. Diesel is loved by the town.
Charlie’s son, Sean is back home with his dog,
Dante.
Now Charlie’s daughter, Laura has come home
from Hollywood to work as a fill in professor at
the Athena college.
Laura’s old boyfriend, Connor Lawton, is also
working at the college as a writer-in-residence.
One of his girlfriends has followed Connor to Athena
to make sure he stays away from Laura.
But when Connor turns up….Dead….Laura becomes
the prime suspect.
Charlie and Diesel must match wits with Charlie’s
housekeeper’s daughter, Deputy Kanesha Berry.
A fast paced, well plotted murder mystery with a
cast of artfully created characters.
The family relationship between Charlie and Laura
was very heartwarming.
This is book # 3 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone.

✅Two from craft related (any kind of hobbies - knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.)
....1. Paintings Can Be Deadly by Cindy Bell….Finished 09/09/2021
....2.Death By Cashmere] by Sally Goldenbaum…Finished 11/01/2021

✅ Two from paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.)
....1. The Crone's Curse by Evelyn Cullet….
Finished 07/21/2021
....2. Kittyzen's Arrest by Addison Moore….
Finished 10/22/2021

✅Two from cozy mysteries based outside the US (example: Belinda Lawrence series (British))
....1. Death at the Olde Woodley Grange: A murder mystery featuring a clever and warm female amateur detective by Tannis Laidlaw….Finished 09/19/2021
....2. Cornish Requiem: The Tremayne Mysteries Series by Merryn Allingham….Finished 02/04/2021

✅Two career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.)
....1. Lethal Flip: A Home Renovator Mystery by M.E. Bakos….Finished 05/23/2021
....2. Ruff and Tumble by Chelsea Thomas….
Finished 07/10/2021

✅Two holiday based (set during any holiday - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines, etc.)
....1. Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolton….Finished 10/23/2021
....2. Hollyberry Homicide by Sharon Farrow….Finished 09/03/2021

✅Two travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.)
....1. Snowed In at the Archive by Ellie Thornton….Finished 01/08/2021
....2. The Fog Ladies: Family Matters by Susan McCormick….Finished 03/03/2021

-✅Two historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present)
....1. The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep….Finished 01/15/2021
.....2. Winston Churchill's Renegade Spy by
Steve Haberman….Finished 04/10/2021

✅ Two is your choice! (freebie!)
....1.Memories Can Be Deadly by Cindy Bell….Finished 01/02/2021
....2. The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman….Finished 01/13/2021

Extra 20:
1. Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell….Finished 02/07/2021
2. Bitter Harvest by Sheila Connolly….Finished 03/05/2021
3. A Death at Eastwick by L.C. Warman….Finished 01/23/2021
4. Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day….
Finished 03/12/2021
5. Out of Circulation by Miranda James….Finished 06/16/2021
6& 7. Country Cousin Mysteries: Collection One by Sam Cheever….Finished 01/05/2021
8. Shucked Apart by Barbara Ross….Finished 02/03/2021
9. Going, Going, Ganache by Jenn McKinlay….Finished 02/26/2021
10. A Berry Baffling Businessman by A.R. Winters….Finished 03/16/2021
11. The Fear Hunter by Elise Sax….Finished 03/22/2021
12. The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren….Finished 03/31/2021
13. A Catered Murder by Isis Crawford…
Finished 04/09/2021
14. Nail Biter by Sarah Graves….Finished 08/06/2021
15. Murder at Catmmando Mountain by Anna Celeste Burke….Finished 08/01/2021
16. Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O'Connor….Finished 08/01/2021
17. Death by Chocolate Snickerdoodle by Sarah Graves….Finished: 08/20/2021
18. Limoncello Yellow by Traci Andrighetti….Finished 08/28/2021
19. A Tangle in the Vines by Anna Celeste Burke….Finished 09/22/2021
20. On Borrowed Crime by Kate Young
Finished 10/16/2021
21. Designer Dirty Laundry: A Samantha Kidd Mystery by Diane Vallere…Finished 10/08/2021

[Yvonne]

So glad to have you join us in 2021! Enjoy!

[Carol]

Category Paranormal # 1
The Crone's Curse by [author:Evelyn Cullet|3425303
Finished: 07/21/2021
Rating: 5 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇
Review:
Heather Stanton’s Aunt Julia is living with a curse.
The curse was put on Aunt Julia by an old crone
for “perceived injustice”. Aunt Julia and Heather
are living together in Willow Bend, Illinois.
Dead bodies, arson, a psychic, red stiletto, betting
on horses, all follow Aunt Julia….Are all these
happenings because of the crone’s curse?
Come along with Heather as she tries to convince
Aunt Julia that the curse is not real.
The characters are well created, well developed
plus intriguing.
The plot is well presented and well written with
plenty of intrigue, drama, humor with a touch of
romance.
I enjoyed the shenanigans of Aunt Julia even though
she was a shady and quirky person.
A very enjoyable read.
I volunteered to read The Crone’s Curse. It is book #2
in the Willows Bend Cozy Mystery series. Looking
forward to reading more books by Evelyn Cullet.
Thanks to author for the opportunity. My opinion
is voluntary and my own.

[Carol]

Category Paranormal # 2
Kittyzen's Arrest by Addison Moore
Finished: 10/22/2021
Rating: 4 🍁🍁🍁🍁
Review:
Welcome to Cider Cove! Maine and the home
of Bizzy Baker. The nickname Bizzy was the
result of a sibling unable to pronounce her
real name and it stuck with her.
Bizzy can read minds, not everyone’s and
not all the time. She can also communicate
with animals. Only one other person knows
of her special ability. Bizzy does not want to
end up caged in a government paranormal
agency because of this ability.
It is Autumn in Cider Cove where people come
to see the changing leaf colors. There is a
Harvest Festival at the Cove and Haunted
Harvest Festival at the pumpkin patch.
Down on the beach Bizzy’s cat which is a
black and white longhaired tabby named
Fish is being chased by a freckled mixed
breed named, “Sherlock Bones”. Sherlock
owner is Jasper Wilder who everyone calls
a vampire. Their is an instant attraction
between Bizzy and Sherlock.
During a bonfire on the beach, Bizzy
discovers one of her waitstaff stabbed to
death.
Turns out Jasper is actually a detective
who will handle the murder investigation.
Bizzy decides to start her own investigation
even after Detective Wilder warns her to not
get involved due to the danger involved.
A myriad of cleverly created characters, some
quirky, some zany, but all well defined.
I felt the murder mystery mixed with romance
enhanced the book.
Recipe for Café Apple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
given at the end.

[Carol]

Category Historical Mystery # 1
The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep
Finished: 01/15/2021
Rating: 5 ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
Review:
Suspense, drama, intrigue, precarious situations
with shocking twists and turns put the characters
to the test. This is a truly enjoyable read full of
antics and interesting, well created characters.
The story takes the reader on a scary trip through
London’s underground in 1885. Intrigue, suspense,
dynamic circumstances add drama and twists to
keep the reader’s full attention.
The book has three dimensional and multifaceted
characters in a complex, fast paced plot.
A young man, Jackson has come to London to
become a Constable on the police force. On his
first day, he finds himself late after being run into
on his way to work. This was part of a con. Little
does he realize what results will occur from this
meeting of fate.
Kim, the Thief of Blackfriars Lane is an orphan
who has grown up in the streets. She runs a ring
of con-people who con the rich to give to the poor.
Then the man who is like a father to Kim disappears.
Where has he gone? Who has taken him? His wife
turns to Kim.
When the case comes to the police, Jackson says
he will find him in order to keep his job. To find the
cabbie Jackson and Kim will need to pool resources.
A thrilling drama that will take you through the
dreads of society then mix you with society’s elite.
I throughly enjoyed reading this tale of historical
fiction.
I would highly recommend reading this book.
I volunteered to read The Thief of Blackfriars Lane.
Thanks to Barbour Publishing via NetGallery for
the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Carol]

Category Historical Mystery # 2
Winston Churchill's Renegade Spy by
Steve Haberman
Finished: 04/10/2021
Rating; 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review:
A stunning, explosive, electrifying, fast paced
adventure with a riveting storyline!!!
Who can you trust??
Come along with Jonas Shaw, ex-New York
City detective and fired bodyguard of British
Prime Minister Winston Churchill as his adventure
begins in the summer of 1940. He is in Zurich,
Switzerland for the purpose of picking up a
small family inheritance.
He finds himself requested to uncover a suspected
spy infiltrating the British government.
This action packed thriller will take him to France,
Spain and Portugal. The author has you travel right
along with the character. You see what he sees.
You feel what he feels, uncover secrets when he
does & you dare to rush into situations with him
even when you are not sure who to believe or trust.
This complex plot with subplots weaved into the
main plot keeps the reader on their toes as not to
miss a clue but be able to travel along with a cast
of well defined, well fleshed, in-depth and intricate
characters into a world of dangerous espionage.
Jonas faces dangerous, suspenseful, mysterious
situations full of intrigue that is heightened to
mountainous proportions with drama plus plenty
of thrills, chills, twists and turns.
The tension was very thick and well sustained.
This story grips you from the beginning. It
intensifies until the final word.
I volunteered to read Winston Churchill's
Renegade Spy. Thanks to the Review Crew for
the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and my own.
A Highly Recommended Read!!!

[Carol]

Category British # 1
Death at the Olde Woodley Grange: A murder mystery featuring a clever and warm female amateur detective
by Tannis Laidlaw
Finished: 09/19/2021
Rating: 5 🏘🏘🏘🏘🏘
Madeleine (Maddie) Brooks, a divorcée,
and a former probation officer is now a
real estate agent. She is staying in a
friend’s cottage in Oxfordshire, an
English Village.
She shows the Olde Woodley Grange to
a man looking at the property for someone
else. This turns out to be a woman with
a daughter and a son.
After a bid is put on the house, Maddie
arranges with the owner for the woman
and her children to rent until the woman
sells her other home.
Then there is a murder on the property!!
It is the man who originally looked at the
property.
Mix in an over neighborly new next door
neighbor, an overstimulated ex-wife,
deceit, dark secrets, drugs plus a touch
of romance to round out this good read.
I felt this was an extremely well written,
well plotted murder mystery with several
subplots. There are a lot of twists and
turns to keep the reader on their toes.
I found the characters to be three
dimensional plus multifaceted. They
were well created plus involved in a
very complex, suspenseful, intriguing,
interesting and dynamic murder mystery.
The story moved along at a fast pace and
made the reader feel as if they were there
with the happenings.
This is book # 5 in the Madeleine Brooks
Mystery series. It can be read as a stand
alone as the author provides enough
backstory along with the present.
I volunteered to read Death at the Woodley
Grange. Thanks to the Cozy Mystery
Review Crew for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Carol]

Category British # 2
Cornish Requiem: The Tremayne Mysteries Series
by Merryn Allingham
Finished: 02/04/2021
Rating: 5 👍👍👍👍👍
Review:
Leo Tremayne receives a phone call that his
father has suffered a heart attack and is
hospitalized.
Along with his wife, Nancy and his assistant,
Archie Jago , they fly off to the Cornish coast.
The Tremaynes will stay at the family house,
Penlevel with Perry, Leo’s brother. Archie will
stay at his mother’s home in the village.
Nancy soon discovers things are not right in
this Cornish village.....Leo’s Dad’s heart attack
is not what it seems, the death of her
father-in-law’s best friend is then meets the
eye, the anonymous threatening letter are
more than a prank, incidents at the mine are
more than they seem as is the death of one
of the mine agitators.
The more Nancy questions...the more dangerous
she becomes to the person seeking revenge.
An action packed, very detailed adventure with
well defined, well created characters.
I felt like I was on their Cornish escapade with
Leo, Nancy and Archie.
This is book # 3 in the Tremayne Mystery series.
It can be read as a stand alone.
The author mixes enough of the past with the
present for the reader to follow along effortlessly.
I highly recommend Cornish Requiem.
I volunteered to read Cornish Requiem. Thanks
to the author for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Carol]

Category Career-Based # 1
Home Renovator
Lethal Flip: A Home Renovator Mystery by
M.E. Bakos
Finished: 05/23/2021
Rating: 4 🛠🛠🛠🛠
Review:
Katelyn Baxter is a House Flipper. This is
another name for a Home Renovation Specialist
who renovates houses then sells them hoping
to make a profit.
Katelyn is in the process of fixing a house in
Crocus Heights, Minnesota. This time she is
without her handyman as he is on vacation.
But she will find an adventure that will keep
her on her toes. In this adventure she will
deal with a ghostbuster, dead rats, a dead
woman plus sage burning sessions.
Did the woman die naturally or was she
murdered? Katelyn decides to investigate.
The characters are all well developed, realistic,
well created and intriguing.
The plot is well written making the story
suspenseful with plenty of drama, humor and
a touch of romance.
I volunteered to read Lethal Flip. Thanks to the
Cozy Mystery Review Crew for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Carol]

Category Career-Based # 2
Dog Groomer
Ruff and Tumble by Chelsea Thomas
Finished: 07/10/2021
Rating: 4
Review:
A quick, enjoyable and humorous read!!
Amy and her card shark grandmother, Petunia
are dog groomers. Their friend, Betsy works
with them at Creature Comforts.
Setting out to groom a dog for a Hollywood
personality, Margo Edmonds, they find her
dead body. But when the police arrive the,
body is not there? What happened to the body?
Amy decides to solve the mystery along with
Petunia and Betsy who provide a lot of humorous
moments.
The reader will also meet Lucky the dog Amy owns,
Jonathon the bulldog, Majesty the afghan, Mary
the dog Petunia brings into the shop, various other
dogs that get groomed.
A subplot is written by Fluffy the cat Amy owns
which adds zest to the story.
The book does need better editing but is still very
entertaining and an enjoyable read.
I volunteered to read Ruff and Tumble. I received
a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am
voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carol]

Category Culinary # 1
Crime Chowder by Hillary Avis
Finished: 09/10/2021
Rating: 4 🍜🍜🍜🍜
Review:
Bethany Bradstreet is a fry cook at the Seafood
Grotto. Bethany’s roommate since Culinary school,
Kimmy Caldwell works as a cook at another
restaurant.
Kimmy’s Aunt Amara lives in a historic house that
a local real estate developer gave her money to
build a porch. One night the house, the house goes
up in flames. Arson!! Luckily Aunt Amara and her
fur baby, Sharky escaped the fire. The destruction
of the house made the way for the approval of
a new condo development.
Bethany is asked to cater a gala celebrating the
development. When things go sideways, Bethany
presents a clam chowder soup demonstration.
Beside her food ingredients, a pistol is found in the
bottom of the soup!! How did it get into the soup?
The developer is found dead in the Bell Tower. Shot.
Now it is up to Bethany & Kimmy to clear her aunt’s
name and to find the culprit who turn her clam
chowder into “Crime Chower” as the newspaper is
called it.
A well written, well plotted murder mystery with a
few subplots involved.
I felt right at home with all the characters within the
story. They were all well described both the good
ones and their nemesis.
A nice, quick good read.

[Carol]

Category Culinary #2
The Spia Family Branches Out by Mary Leo
Finished 02/20/2021
Rating: 5 🫒🫒🫒🫒🫒
Review:
Grab a plate of cheese, a loaf of Italian bread,
olives, a bottle of extra virgin olive oil before
starting to read to avoid getting hungry as
reading.
Located in Sonoma Valley in California, the
Spia Family which is an Italian family operation
consisting of ex-mobsters, ex-cons and
reformed killers runs an olive growing, picking,
pressing and selling of olive oil plus its various
products.
Mia Spia is a recovering alcoholic who has just
discovered that her father has arranged a
marriage for her with the mobster she found
laying in the road shot. This man is now under
her care. But this man is also engaged to her
father’s bodyguard, Angelina.
When Angelina turns up dead, Mia, her best
friend (Lisa) plus Jade (her new half sister)
set out to find the killer.
I felt the story was well plotted with several
sub plots, drama, suspense with plenty of
twists and turns. There are many humorous
moments plus after each chapter a recipe
is included. Get ready for Orange Olive Oil
Muffins, Insalata Caprese for Two, Deviled
Eggs: Italian Style, Lasagna, Spia Pasta Sauce
plus olives 🫒, olives 🫒 and more olives 🫒.

[Carol]

Category Freebie # 1
Memories Can Be Deadly by Cindy Bell
Finished: 01/02/2021
Rating: 5 😊😊😊😊😊
Review;
When a resident of Sage Garden is found
in the community room dead, the Sage
Garden Sleuth’s immediately go into action
to discover who murdered her and why.
Come along with these mature investigators
while they piece together the why and
wherefores of this well plotted mystery.
The Sleuth’s are a retired crime journalist,
an ex-cat burglar, a retired detective and
a retired account.
As the investigation continues, the group
discovers they have two situations that need
to be solved.
Plenty of twists and turns to keep the readers
attention from the beginning until the final
word.
This is book # 8 in the Sage Garden series. It
can be read as a stand alone.

[Carol]

Category Freebies #2
The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman
Finished: 01/13/2021
Rating: 5 😀😀😀😀😀
Review:
An amazing, arresting and gripping storyline
filled with period details, multifaceted
characters, intrigue plus class conflicts.
A story with well defined characters that jump
off the pages into your heart. I was able to feel
their pain, understanding their circumstances
as the descriptive writing pulled me right into
the mix of the story.
It is 1915 in San Antonio when an independent
widow arrives at the Menger Hotel with a
trunk full of dresses, jewels and accessories.
Hedda Krauss plans to find a suitable husband
to replace the one she lost. But instead she
meets a ghost. A ghost who terrorizes then
robs her of all her jewelry.
Forward ahead in time to 2017 where Dini
Blackstone is a tour guide and a fifth-generation
magician. Her favorite tale is the one of Hedda
Krauss who she believes to be a con woman
who made her living from her ghost story.
Then Quinn Carmichael arrives. Quinn is the
great-great-grandson of the famed Detective
Carmichael who investigated the Hedda Krauss
robbery. He has come with a box full of items
regarding Hedda’s time at the Menger Hotel.
I was throughly engrossed in this story. I loved
the secrets of the past mixing with the present.
The concept of this book made it an entertaining
read.
A Highly Recommended Read.
I volunteered to read The Lady in Residence.
Thanks to Barbour Publishing via NetGallery for
the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Carol]

Extra #1
Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell
Finished: 02/07/2021
Rating: 4 🎂🎂🎂🎂
Review:
What a delicious, mouthwatering read!!! Sophia Cummings, the head pastry chef for a popular New York restaurant returns home to Rumford, Kentucky. Sophia discovered her boyfriend, Noah the chef, cheating on her and needs a break away from New York. Sophia connects with her old high school friends. One who was getting married soon and had the wedding cake baker pull out so Sophia ends up volunteering to make the cake. What she doesn’t expect is to be at the Rumford Country Club when their head chef is found dead in the club’s kitchen. Intrigue Sophia finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation plus she needs to prove the manager innocent. The characters are well defined with amazing interaction between them. The details took me right into the small Southern setting of Rumford. I felt that the characters included me into their activities. Recipes for Rev Velvet Crunchies, Surprise Puffs, Southern Skillet Apple Pie, Banana Pudding Cupcakes, Kentucky Butter Cupcakes and Kentucky Derby Pie included after the books end. I am not sure which one to try first!! There is an empty bakery in Rumford, will Sophia stay there to open her own or go back to the prestigious restaurant in New York?

[Carol]

Extra #2.
Bitter Harvest
by Sheila Connolly
Finished: 03b05/2021
Rating: 4 🍎🍎🍎🍎
Review:
With the first Apple harvest over at
Meg Corey’s orchard in Granford,
Massachusetts, she will have to decide
whether it is her last!! While waiting for books
to be tallied, a huge snowstorm hits the area.
Meg’s furnace dies then the electricity goes
off so Meg, Seth Chapin( the next-door neighbor
and Briona Stewart (her orchard manager and
housemate live life old fashion style....fireplace
for warmth and light.
Meg and Seth discover a sampler all crumpled
up in the corner closet. It was signed by Violet
Cox and dated 1798. Violet was twelve when
she sewed the sampler. Meg starts to investigate
how this is related to her family.
Very informative regarding samplers and
genealogy that held my attention.
Meanwhile someone is targeting Meg to add to
the mystery.
Loved the antics of Dorcas and Isabel, the goats
plus Lilly, Meg’s cat and Max, Seth’s golden retriever
add to the story.
This is book # 5 in the Orchard Mystery series. It
can be read as a stand alone.

[Carol]

Extra #3
A Death at Eastwick by L.C. Warman
Finished: 01/23/2021
Rating: 5 😃😃😃😃😃
Review:
John Eastwick, Sr. Has died. His son John
Eastwick, Jr comes home from college to
the Eastwick Mansion.
Then shock #1....a scandal breaks out in
all the news resources, John Sr bribed his
son’s way into college with generous donations.
This comes to light right before John Jr’s
last semester before graduation. He will never
graduate from this prestigious college.
Shock #2....the reading of the most current
will. Instead of John Jr and his mother
inheriting his father’s, it is divided among
his mother, John Jr, his father’s estranged
brother, the brother’s wife and son plus the
estate chef, the estate lawyer and his father’s
secretary.
Shock #3....the murder of one of the inheritors
while everyone stayed the night at the estate
after the will reading.
Shock #4....the robbery of a million dollar
painting during the night.
An extremely well written, attention holding,
plot within a plot.
The characters were multifaceted, each having
their own intriguing secrets and personalities.
An enjoyable read.

[Carol]

Extra #4.
Candy Slain Murder by Maddie Day
Finished: 03/12/2021
Rating: 4 🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼
Review:
Welcome to South Link, Indiana. We will go to
Pans ’N Pancakes cafe for a bite to eat.
Robbie Jordan owns and runs the cafe, store
and B & B.
A house fire in town reveals a human skeleton
in the attic. The body was of a woman who had
gone missing years ago. Then a murder occurs.
Mix in an adopted man looking to met his mother,
sister and grandmother plus social issues of the
day for truly enjoyable read which includes antics,
interesting characters and lots of mouthwatering
foods.
This is book # 8 in the Country Store Mystery series.
It can be read as a stand alone effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Candy Slain Murder. Thanks to
Kensington Publisher via NetGallery for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
Recipes included at the end for:
Gingerbread People, Holly Cookies, Teriyaki Chicken
Wings, Corrine’s Beef Stew, Spinach-Red Pepper
Egg Bake and Peppermint Mocha Muffins

[Carol]

Category Travel
Snowed In at the Archive by Ellie Thornton
Finished: 01/08/2021
Rating: 5 ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Review:
Property Attorney Mila Thomas needs to go
to a county archive for evidence to stop the
demolition of several of the town’s older
buildings to keep history alive. Along with
her multimillionaire friend and lawyer partner
they head off to spend the Christmas weekend
searching through the county archive located
in the Granite Pass, Wyoming for any historical
information they can obtain.
Oblivious to the fact that a huge snow storm
has whipped up since their arrival, they keep
on working.
ATF Agent Alex Delaney had no intention of
going to Granite Pass but when he realized
Mila was in danger, he was off to protect her.
On the was he finds a woman and child stuck
in a snow drift. He takes them along to the
church with him.
Danger, drama, suspense, intriguing, drug
dealers with weapons, a stranded driver, a
kidnapped victim add a second chance
romance for a gripping, riveting read.
I was thoroughly engrossed into this story.
I could feel the cold and depth of the snow.
I was surprised at how well Father Terri
McDowell had stock the church with supplies.
A Highly Recommended Read.
I volunteered to read Snowed In at the Archive.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Carol]

Carol wrote: "Category Travel # 1
Snowed In at the Archive by Ellie Thornton
Finished: 01/08/2021
Rating: 5 ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Review:
Property Attorney Mila Thomas needs to go
to a county archive for evidence to stop the
demolition of several of the town’s older
buildings to keep history alive. Along with
her multimillionaire friend and lawyer partner
they head off to spend the Christmas weekend
searching through the county archive located
in the Granite Pass, Wyoming for any historical
information they can obtain.
Oblivious to the fact that a huge snow storm
has whipped up since their arrival, they keep
on working.
ATF Agent Alex Delaney had no intention of
going to Granite Pass but when he realized
Mila was in danger, he was off to protect her.
On the was he finds a woman and child stuck
in a snow drift. He takes them along to the
church with him.
Danger, drama, suspense, intriguing, drug
dealers with weapons, a stranded driver, a
kidnapped victim add a second chance
romance for a gripping, riveting read.
I was thoroughly engrossed into this story.
I could feel the cold and depth of the snow.
I was surprised at how well Father Terri
McDowell had stock the church with supplies.
A Highly Recommended Read.
I volunteered to read Snowed In at the Archive.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Carol]

Extra # 5
Out of Circulation by Miranda James
Finished: 06/16/2021
Rating: 5🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Charlie Harris is a widower works part-time
in the University of Athena’s Archive section.
He and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, go almost
everywhere together. Diesel is loved by the
town.
This year Charlie finds himself on the
library’s Fundraising gala committee. This
means he is being put into the middle of
Vera Cassity and Miss An’gel and Miss
Dickce Ducote who are known to always
disagree regarding the gala.
Nobody really cares for Vera. Charlie’s
housekeeper, Azalea has a very strong
dislike of Vera Cassity but won’t open up
the reason.
The gala where all the guests are dressed
as mystery writers and fictional detectives
turns deadly when Vera Cassity body is found…
Dead. More intriguing is that Charlie finds
Azalea standing over the body. Now he and
Charlie must prove Azalea’s innocence.
Deputy Kanesha Berry has been removed
from the case seeing that her mother, Azalea
is the chief suspect. So now the unlikely two
Charlie and Kanesha need to put their heads
together to save Azalea. Plus Diesel don’t
forget to included in the solution.
Lots of secrets are exposed.
A cast of well defined, colorful and vivid
characters mix with the southern charm
found in Athena, Mississippi.
This is book # 4 in the Cat in the Stacks
Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone

[Carol]

Extra 6 & 7
Country Cousin Mysteries: Collection One Sam Cheever
Finished: 01/05/2021
Rating: 5 👍👍👍👍👍
Review:
Deer Hollow, Indiana is where we meet Joey
Fulle and her pit bull, Cacophony better known
as Caphy. Joey lost her parents in a small
plane crash several years ago. Joey has
inherited their home and warehouse.
While out for walk, Caphy brings Joey a
clump of fur. Upon investigation Joey discovers
a dead body stuffed into a wood chopper on
the edge of her property. Whose body is the
dead one? Whose wood chipper? Why was this
mess left on Joey property?
A well written, well plotted mystery puzzle with
a cast of colorful characters.
County Cousins Second Story in the Collection.
Penney Sellers is a real estate agent. She has
come to Deer Hollow to get residents to sell
their properties. She is extremely uncouth with
people.
After trying to get Joey to sell and being refused.
Caphy finds Penney Sellers floating in the pond
on Joey’s property.
Joey finds herself involved in another murder
investigation. She also find herself with a
ferocious Siamese cat named LaLee.
A talented written, complex which involves
Joey is very well written with a well created cast
of colorful, some quirky and vivid characters.
I volunteered to read Country Cousins Mysteries
Collection One. I received a free copy of this
book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving
a review.

[Carol]

Category Holiday Based # 1
Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolton
Finished; 10/23/2021
Rating: 5 🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼
Review:
Fallingbrook, Wisconsin is where the annual
Ice and Lights Festival is held every Christmas
season.
It is the home of Emily Westhill, a widow and
a donut shop co-owner with her father-in-law.
She lives with her fur baby cat named Deputy
Donut, kicknamed Dep who adds flavor to the
story.
Emily and her co-worker have created an
ice sculpture in the town square naming it
Frosty the Donut.
Emily is skiing with Fallingbrook’s detective
who is her good friend when he gets called
to an accident involving a tour bus. The bus
ran off the road in the snow storm and
the driver is hurt.
Emily follows him to the scene of the accident
to see if she can assist.
The driver is taken to the hospital while the
town arranges for the passengers on the tour
to be housed in the town’s homes.
Emily ends up housing the tour guide who is
the driver’s girlfriend at her home.
The next morning on the way to work Emily
discovers Frosty the Donut knocked down.
Upon closer inspection, Emily discovers the
body of the driver….Dead under the knocked
down sculpture.
There is a multitude of well defined, colorful,
three dimensional and multifaceted characters.
They are all involved in a complicated,fast paced,
dynamic, intriguing mystery which takes place
during the Christmas season.
There is a dog, named Ivan who belongs to
a detective in State’s police force that is sure
to entertain the reader.
I felt the Christmas spirit of the Cider Cove
residents with all the town’s decorations,
ice sculptures plus I loved how the town
volunteered to feed and house the bus
passengers in the their own homes after the
bus accident.
In addition to its holiday charm the town
showed the unconditional friendships among
its residents.
A snow storm increases the drama but painted
a beautiful detailed picture to enjoy.
Come along with Emily as she helps investigates
who murdered the bus driver.
Although this is book # 6 in the Deputy Donut
Mystery series, it was the first of the series that
I read. It was so well written mixing the past and
present that I had no trouble following the book
as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read Deck the Donuts. Thanks
to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
Looking forward to start reading the series from the
beginning.

[Carol]

Category Holiday Based #2
Hollyberry Homicide by Sharon Farrow
Finished: 09/03/2021
Rating: 4🎄🎄🎄🎄
Review:
This story takes the reader to Oriole Point
in Michigan. Marlee Jacobs is the owner of
The Berry Basket where she sells all things
berry related. She is busy decorating her
store and home for Christmas with
Nutcrackers, snow globes, twinkle light,
everything Christmas. She is also preparing
for the upcoming Hollyberry Festival.
This festival includes a parade, snowman
building contest, street caroler’s, hot chestnut
stands, food truckers, horse-drawn carriage
rides and an open-air Hollyberry Market in
the park. There is a huge Christmas tree in
the town square….so big that it keeps falling
over from the lake winds??
The town is also putting on The Christmas
Carol play. The man who for years played
Jacob Marley has died. While everyone else
believes it was old age, Marlee suspects
foul play. Marlee takes over his part in the
production.
A fire prevents the play production from
happening. Then the huge tree falls on the
man playing Santa…accident or on purpose??
A terrific cast of characters are weaved
Into the story making the reader feel as if
they are right there along with the cast.
A fun read with yummy recipes at the end.
But a quick reminder: Real Holly Berries are
poisonous to eat.

[Carol]

Category Travel # 2
The Fog Ladies: Family Matters by Susan McCormick
Finished: 03/03/2021
Rating: 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review:
What a read!!! Come along and meet the
residents that live in the same apartment building
with Dr Sarah James. Sarah has just finished her
internship. She heads to a vacation at Paradise
Cove near Big Sur in California. A couple are
arguing and Sarah steps in to calm their baby.
After her vacation, Sarah returns to her life in
San Francisco but is surprised that the wife
from the resort ends up murdered supposedly
by the husband. He has been arrested and is
jailed for her wife’s murder. This does not sit
well with Sarah.
So Sarah brings the story to the elderly residents
at the apartment. They call themselves the Fog
Ladies at they love investigating in the city of Fog.
I loved these characters. Each has their own
personality plus their own quirks and ways of
thinking but they look out for each of their group
without questions.
They discover a pattern with a murdered spouse,
a million dollar insurance payment and the other
spouse jailed for murder. When Sarah’s friend and
family become the next target, Sarah and the Fog
Ladies set out to thwart the murderer.
A complex, puzzling main plot accompanied by
several sub plots.
A Highly Recommended Read.
I volunteered to read The Fog Ladies: Family Matters.
It is book # 2 in the San Francisco Cozy Murder
Mysteries series. It can be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
Looking forward to reading more of this author’s
book.

[Carol]

Extra # 8
Shucked ApartShucked Apart byBarbara Ross
Finished: 02/03/2021
Rating: 5 🦀🦞🦐🦞🦀
Review:
Andie Greatorex, owner Great River Oysters has
her oyster farm on the Damariscotta River. She
is the largest of the six oyster farms and has
filed to increase the area of her farm. When Andie
has two buckets of her oyster seed stolen worth
$35,000, she turns to Julia Snowden of Maine
Clambakes in Busman’s Harbor Maine for her help
in catching the culprit before all the oyster seeds
die. Julia has become known a a part time sleuth
in the area plus she is the significant other of
Chris who plays poker with Andi.
While the investigation is ongoing, Andi turns up
dead....Killed with oyster shucking knife.
Julia is determined to catch the culprit for both
the robbery and the murder.
I enjoyed learning about the oyster farming and
aqua-farming both from the business aspect
and political issues involving neighbors and
other fishermen such as the lobstermen.
The author takes the reader on a tour of this
area showing how tourists add to the financial
survival of these small towns.
This is book # 9 in the Maine Clambake Mystery
Series. I can be read as a stand alone as the
author ties the past and present together effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Shucked Apart. Thanks to
Kensington Publishing via NetGallery for the
opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and my own.

[Carol]

Extra # 9
Going, Going, Ganache by Jenn McKinlay
Finished: 02/2602021
Rating: 4 🧁🧁🧁🧁
Review:
A photo shoot, a food fight, a corporate
cupcake boot camp, a dead body in the
alley, a huge gala, all spice of the lives of
Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura of
Fairy Tale Cupcakes located in Scottsdale,
Arizona.
A humorous mystery with an array of
various personalities leaving the suspect
list wide open. Each suspect seem to have
something got hide.
A mouthwatering read from beginning to
end.
Recipes are included at the end for:
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cream
Frosting, Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes
with Ganache Frosting, Corn Cupcakes
with a Honey Brown Butter Frosting,
Pistachio Cupcakes with Cream Cheese
Fig Frosting.

[Carol]

Book # 10.
A Berry Baffling Businessman by A.R. Winters
Finished: 03/26/2021
Rating: 4🧇🧇🧇🧇
Review:
Kylie Berry has taken over the restaurant and
facilities in Kentucky from her cousin, Sarah.
There is a three day packing conference using
the facilities upcoming. What will Kylie do....she
can hardly cook to make due in her restaurant
on any day, let only cook for a conference.
Enter Chef John Radde, an old acquaintance
of Kylie’s from her life in Chicago who comes
to aide her by volunteering to help with the
special event. Catering this event will add to
the Chef’s resume and fame plus the chef will
use the local resources available for his many
mouthwatering delights. Kylie is happy to be
able to observe and learn techniques from him.
The reader will meet the locals that eat at the
restaurant plus the little staff Kylie has. Plus
we will meet Kylie’s best friend, Zoey.
What could spoil this three day set up to ensure
great food?? How about the DEAD body of one
of the conference’s bigwigs?? Kylie takes out
the trash and sees a shoe under the dumpster.
Turns out to belong to Oliver Drydale, a packing
magnate. How did he die? How did the body
get put under the dumpster?
Kylie and Zoey start their own investigation.
I enjoyed accompanying them on their interviews
of who they considered suspects.
I was shocked when Kylie had a fire bomb thrown
though her bedroom window. Close call but made
her more determined than ever to identify the killer.
This is book # 6 in the Kylie Berry Mystery series.
it can be read as a stand alone as enough past is
mix effortlessly with the present.

[Carol]

Book # 11.
The Fear Hunter by Elise Sax
Finished: 03/22/2021
Rating: 4 🍜🍜🍜🍜
Review:
A very enjoyable read!!
Agatha Bright lives in a haunted lighthouse with
her aunts. The lighthouse is located in Sea Breeze,
California. Agatha has always been in charge of
the lighthouse and never had to deal with the
public.
Then with the death of one of her aunts, Agatha
is assigned to step up and run her deceased aunts
soup & book shop. She needs to make four kinds
of soup every day.
When there is a murder in Sea Breeze, Agatha
decides to play detective to solve the murder.
Then another murder occurs. The handsome
Detective Remington Cumberbatch is a large
inspiration in Agatha to discover the culprit.
There are a lot of quirky, well created and
well meaning characters in this small town to
be viable suspects.
A quick, fun read.

[Carol]

Book # 12.
The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren
Finished: 03/31/2021
Rating: 4 🧁🎂🎂🧁
Review:
Poppy Wilkinson was left wrapped in blanket
inside a box at a British bakery. The family who
adopted Poppy later moved the family over to
the United States.
Now Poppy has qualified for The Great British
Baking contest at Broomewode Hall. She has
learned to bake from the kitchen witch ghost
who lives with her. Poopy is on her own to try
and win plus hope she is not the first voted out
of the competition. She also has an ulterior
motive of being on the show. While watching a
television show, Poppy spotted a blanket in a
picture exactly like the one she was wrapped
up in as a baby. Poppy hopes to sneak into
Broomewode Hall to see if she can learn about
her family.
A creatively cast of characters in a well plotted
murder mystery with witches, magic plus good
eating will keep the reader’s attention

[Carol]

Book # 13.
A Catered Murder by Isis Crawford
Finished: 04/09/2021
Rating: 4 🥗🥗🥗🥗
Review:
Two sisters become a team in a store and catering
business plus as amateur sleuths.
Bernadette Simmons arrives at home in New York
after fleeing a cheating boyfriend in Los Angeles
with just the clothes on her back.
She turns to her sister, Libby who runs A Little
Taste of Heaven store and catering business while
caring for their father who is wheelchair bound.
Bernadette joins Libby helping at a catered reunion
party. All is going along fine til the host takes a
drink of bottled water then drops over dead.
The sisters will work together to find the culprit who
spoiled the event.
Another murder occurs....is it related to the first? If
so how?
Come along with the delicious treat giving sisters
as they interview a cast of hometown, quirky, well
defined suspects.
Love the relationship between the sisters and the
caring they gave their Dad.
Recipes at the end for: Caviar Mousse, Tomato
Aspic, Mesclun Salad with Goat Cheese, Blood
Oranges, and Toasted Almonds in a Balsamic
Vinaigrette Dressing, Midnight Beef (Black
Pepper-coated Beef Tenderloin), Au Gratin Potatoes,
Finger Bone Cookies (Kranserkaker) and Devil’s
Food Cake with Chocolate Mocha Frosting.

[Carol]

Category Hobbies
Paintings Can Be Deadly by Cindy Bell
Finished: 09/09/2021
Rating: 5 👨‍🎨👩‍🎨🧑‍🎨👨‍🎨🧑‍🎨
Review:
A group of the Sage Garden Retirement Village
are faced with solving who has been stealing
paintings from an art gallery. One of the owners
of the gallery had been a former acquaintance
of Jo, a reformed cat-burglar now a resident at
the Sage Garden Retirement Village. He had
reformed and now asked Jo to help him find the
culprit taking the paintings. But he turns up
dead in his gallery and Jo becomes the main
suspect.
With the aide of the Sage Garden Retirement’s
mature sleuths: a retired police detective, a
retired nosy crime journalist and a retired
accountant, Jo moves forward to solve the
murder by following the trail of the missing
paintings.
A fast moving, intriguing puzzle that showed
how each of the mature sleuths worked well
together and showed their caring side of
their friendships toward each other.
This is book #=9 in the Sage Gardens Cozy
Mystery Series. The main mystery is solved in
each book.

[Carol]

Extra # 14.
Nail Biter by Sarah Graves
Finished: 08/06/2021
Rating: 5 🛠🛠🛠🛠🛠
Review:
A fast moving, suspenseful read taking place in
Eastport, Maine involving Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree
and Ellie White. The best friends buy a fix-it-upper
beach front property. Jake decides to rent the
house to a group of people who claim to be coven
of witches.
But after a man is murdered, a stash of drugs are
found and a young mute girl goes missing, there is
more to these renters than meets the eye.
Come along with Jake and Ellie as they go on a
dangerous journey to locate and save the young
girl.
Meantime back at Jake’s home, her father finds
a mysterious box in the cement basement wall,
there is a flood in the basement, the front
entrance gets demolished and rebuilt plus Victor
shows up unexpectedly.
I enjoyed the intriguing and detailed description
the writer used regarding the Eastport area. It made
me feel as is I was there with the characters.
The story is a real “Nail Biter”!!

[Carol]

Extra # 15.
Murder at Catmmando Mountain by Anna Celeste Burke
Finished: 08/01/2021
Rating: 4 😃😃😃😃
Review:
Let’s visit Marvelous Marley World’s Arcadia
theme park in Orange County, California
Georgina Shaw better known as Georgie is a
25 year employee. She is a mature, good looking
and smart addition to the Public Relation Division.
She is the Assistant Director. Prior to being
promoted Georgie was second in command of
their Food and Beverage Division until Maximillian,
the owner brought in his daughter, Mallory
Marley-Marston to head the department. Mallory
was not a very nice person. She was rude, conceited,
condescending and vicious to all the employees.
So when she ends up dead, no one is surprised.
But concern that Georgie’s scarf is with her body
raises questions. Did Georgie kill her? Who had it
in for Mallory? Who want to frame Georgie?
A real well plotted whodunnit with a large array of
characters to suspect.
Homicide Detective Jack Wheeler is on the case.
He and Georgie have an undeniable chemistry
going on between them. Will this lead to anything?
The characters are well defined, artfully created,
and very realistic. Even Georgie’s Siamese cat,
Miles adds to the story with his antics.
A good read with mature sleuths, good humor and
a touch of romance.

[Carol]

Extra # 16.
Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O'Connor
Finished: 08/11/2021
Rating: 5 ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
Review:
In the Irish village of Kilbane, Siobhán O’Sullivan
is getting ready to start her first day as a Garda
after two years of schooling.
Father Kearney comes banging on her door. He has
found a body in the church yard. A dead body lying
above ground.
Off Siobhán goes into the St Mary’s churchyard to
where the body lies. It is an American and he is
pointing his finger at the headstone of his ancestor,
JOHN MALLON 1828–1903
Detective Sergeant Macdara Flannery who is
stationed in Dublin is sent down to lead
the investigation.
Lots of puzzling clues, an American family
researching their roots, each member with a
reason to do away with the deceased, a filmmaker
shooting documentary about their search and
findings, a nurse who turns out to be a fraud
plus the local villagers and Siobhán’s large
family running their own business keeps the
reader involved from the beginning right up
to the end.
So come take a quick trip to Kilbane, Ireland.
The author’s vivid, colorful and detailed description
will have you traveling from your chair to the
lush land of Ireland.
This is book # 3 in the Irish Village Mysteries series.
It presents the past with the present effortlessly.

[Carol]

Extra 17.
Death by Chocolate Snickerdoodle by Sarah Graves
Finished: 08/20/2021
Rating: 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review:
What an intriguing, suspenseful, scary
read!!
Eastport, Maine is the home of Jacobia
“Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White and their
families. Together the two own and run
The Chocolate Moose which is the waterfront
bakery in Eastport.
When Jake’s son, Sam comes running into
Jake’s house and asks his mom to come with
him to where he and his business partner,
Billy are currently working, it is because Billy
found the towns, most disliked man dead
with a hatchet in his head. The man’s death
looks like it will be blamed on Billy.
Jake and Ellie decide to prove Billy innocence.
This leads to a lot of shenanigans on Jake
and Ellie’s part……breaking and entering,
someone already doing the same before them,
finding another body under a old barn, wills,
wills and more wills, a car explosion, a huge
wildfire plus a cast of quirky, colorful, some
unsavory, some plain noisy and mean characters
for the two amateur to encounter.
Meanwhile the bakery is entered into Eastport,
Maine’s Great Downeast Snickerdoodle Bake-Off.
On the home front, you will meet Jake’s
daughter-in-law who is dealing with the young
children fog, the elderly housekeeper who is slowing
down but won’t admit it, the elderly father who likes
to take his evening walks without announcing where
he is going…..of course, Jake and Ellie deal with all
these problems. The reader will love meeting all the
family characters.
I felt right at home with them as they were very, well
defined and relatable with regular family life.
For a great read, I recommend this book.

[Carol]

Extra 18.
Limoncello Yellow by Traci Andrighetti
Finished: 08/28/2021
Rating: 5 🍈🍈🍋🍋🍈
Review:
This is an entertaining, interesting and intriguing
read. You get to be in on the action immediately
as Francesca "Franki" Amato, an amateur cop
for the Austin police department finds herself on
a disastrous 911 call. Her partner has a gaseous
and flatulent problem leaving her on her own as
he rushes into the bathroom. Franki is faced with
German wrestler who was in bed with her
boyfriend. After this event, Franki decides to leave
Austin police department, dump her boyfriend ,
take Napoleon her brindle cairn terrier and start
a new life in New Orleans. An old college friend
has started a Private Investigation agency called
Private Chicks, Inc.
The first case at the agency is a murder case. It
has a lot of twist and turns. The reader will meet
Franki’s new partner, Veronica Maggio and her
Pomeranian dog Hercules; Glenda, the landlady
who was a former stripper but still dress the part;
Corinne who is a bank teller with a stolen bichon
frise dog named Bijou; Bradley Hartman who
is the bank president with a cairn terrier and
potential dating person for Franki; Ryan Hunter
who is the murder suspect; Odette Malveaux
who is one of the finest priestesses in all of
Louisiana when it comes to matters of the heart
and a descendent of Marie Laveau plus a
young Goth girl whose sister was murdered;
her sister, a nun and acquitted man, Stewart
who cannot be put on trial because of the double
jeopardy law.
Franki’s nonna is a trip. She is also trying to set
Franki up with her older Italian friends relatives.
Franki’s Mom & Dad run a delicatessen.
The author takes the reader on a tour of New
Orleans. It is vivid and detailed. You will learn
about Italian families, the world of fashion, Saint
Expedite (the Voodoo Saint), La Marca, a skull
beads that looks like it is from Marie Laveau’s
House of Voodoo , New Orleans cemeteries with
their creepy assortment of tombs, obelisks,
gothic statues and sarcophagi.
Then learn how to make Limoncello and Limoncello
Margarita.

[Carol]

Extra 19.
A Tangle in the Vines by Anna Celeste Burke
Finished: 09/22/2021
Rating: 5 🍇🍇🍇🍇🍇
Review:
Lillian ( Lily) Callahan is the owner of the Calla
Lily Vineyards and Winery in Napa, California.
Lily inherited the vineyard and winery from her
Aunt Lettie who raised Lily when she became
too much for her parents too control.
The story starts as Lily is digging to untangle
vines and trash from a clog drain during a
heavy downpour to save damage to one of
the outbuildings. She makes a gruesome
discovery….skulls from several dead persons.
At the same timeMarlowe, her Mini Pinscher
saves her from an attacker who gets away.
Her wannabe man friend, U.S. Marshal Austin
Jennings swings into action to get the proper
law enforcement out to the vineyard and
established a crime scene.
Meanwhile Lily’s posse which are her friends
from Los Angeles from when Lily was an
actress in a soap opera until her character was
written out are stay at the main house at the
vineyard. They were preparing to present a
play.
Aunt Lettie’s dear friend, Judy is also staying
at the house helping everyone out there.
A twelve-year-old boy is found stuck to the
security fence. He is loaded with bruises.
His parents are called a show up inebriated.
Since the boy is abused Lily decides to foster
him. He tells them about the Numbers Man
and the Sitter although he doesn’t know their
name.
This story is a fast moving, suspenseful,
intriguing and very interesting and informative.
The characters are top notch. Each one adds
their own personality to the mix to produce
an extremely well written, well plotted story
with many twists and turns.
Recipes are included at the end for: Crispy
Butterscotch Praline Cookies, Mississippi Mud
Cookies, Molasses Spice Cookies, and an
appetizer of Figs and Prosciutto.

[Carol]

Extra # 20.
On Borrowed Crime by Kate Young
Finished: 10/16/2021
Rating: 4 🕰🕰🕰🕰
Review:
Sweet Mountain, Georgia is the home of
Lyla Jane Moody. Lyla works for her Uncle
Calvin in his private investigation firm.
Lyla is part of the Jane Doe book club.
They read mysteries and real crime. Never
did Lyla expect real crime to turn up at
her front door in the form of a suitcase.
One of the members of the Jane Doe book
club is inside the suitcase….Dead.
Why was the suitcase delivered to Lyla’s
doorstep? Who murdered the woman?
An array of suspects keeps Lyla busy as
she tries to solve the mystery.
I felt like I was part of the story. I enjoyed
meeting Lyla’s family members especially
her Grandmother. I was introduced to each
member of the Jane Doe book club, Lyla’s
not so nice cousin, Lyla’s ex-boyfriend and
a possible new one.
The plot was usually intriguing and kept
my interest from beginning to the final word.
This is book # 1 in the Jane Doe Book Club
Mystery series. Looking forward to the next
book.

[Carol]

Extra # 21.
Designer Dirty Laundry: A Samantha Kidd Mystery by Diane Vallere
Finished: 10/08/2021
Rating: 4 😊😊😊😊
Review:
Samantha Kidd held the title of senior
buyer of ladies designer shoes when she
was working at Bentley’s in New York.
She was not happy there so left her job
and decided to buy her parents house as
they moved away for their retirement.
Samantha and her cat Logan are staying
in her parent’s house until her mortgage
clears.
Now Samantha is to become the trend
specialist at a family retailer in her
hometown. This is located in eastern
Pennsylvania in a small town of Ribbon.
Samantha was hired by Patrick from
Tradava. He hired her while she was
getting into her car in the parking lot of
the town’s food store.
Day one at Tradava proves trying. She
becomes aware that Patrick has never
told the company that he has hired her as
the trend specialist. Then she runs into a
familiar shoe designer, Nick Taylor’s that
she knew from her former New York job.
Then they find Patrick dead in an elevator.
The EMT with his gurney said he died of
a heart attack.
Samantha faints. When she comes around
She discovers no one can find a body!!
What is going on here??
Next Samantha finds herself set up for
murder by the killer. Who can she trust??
Samantha decides to put her problem
solving skills she used in her New York
job to work on her current situation.
A very well plotted story with characters
involved in fashion designing. All the
characters are well fleshed out. They
are have backstories which will keep the
reader guessing until the final word.
I felt this was a fast paced, fashion
informative, suspenseful and a sinister
well planned undertaking.
This is book # 1 in the Samantha Kidd
Mystery Series.

[Carol]

Extra 20.
On Borrowed Crime by Kate Young
Finished: 10/16/2021
Rating: 4🕰🕰🕰🕰
Review:
Sweet Mountain, Georgia is the home of
Lyla Jane Moody. Lyla works for her Uncle
Calvin in his private investigation firm.
Lyla is part of the Jane Doe book club.
They read mysteries and real crime. Never
did Lyla expect real crime to turn up at
her front door in the form of a suitcase.
One of the members of the Jane Doe book
club is inside the suitcase….Dead.
Why was the suitcase delivered to Lyla’s
doorstep? Who murdered the woman?
An array of suspects keeps Lyla busy as
she tries to solve the mystery.
I felt like I was part of the story. I enjoyed
meeting Lyla’s family members especially
her Grandmother. I was introduced to each
member of the Jane Doe book club, Lyla’s
not so nice cousin, Lyla’s ex-boyfriend and
a possible new one.
The plot was usually intriguing and kept
my interest from beginning to the final word.
This is book # 1 in the Jane Doe Book Club
Mystery series. Looking forward to the next
book.

[Carol]

Finished Challenge: 11/01/2021
Level four (Sleuth Extraordinaire) -

B) Two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 20 cozy books of your choice (total of 40 books)

✅ Two from culinary (anything dealing with food: restaurants, baked goods, etc.)
....1. Crime Chowder Crime Chowder (Death Du Jour Mystery, #1) by Hillary Avis by Hillary Avis….Finished 09/10/2021
....2. The Spia Family Branches Out The Spia Family Branches Out (Mobsters Anonymous Mystery #2) by Mary Leo b Mary Leo….Finished 02/20/2021

✅ Two from animal related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.)
....1.Classified as Murder Classified as Murder (Cat in the Stacks, #2) by Miranda James by Miranda James
Finished: 03/19/2021
Rating: 4 🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Charlie Harris is a widower who works part-time in the University of Athena’s Archive section. Charlie owns a Maine Coon cat named Diesel. Diesel is loved by the town. He accompanies Charlie to almost everywhere he goes on a leash. Charlie takes on a job doing an inventory and classifying a rare book collection for an elderly man. This man, James Delacorte thinks someone is stealing from him. After Charlie and Diesel start the job, James is found dead in his private library. The police enlist Charlie to aide in the investigation especially after a second body is discovered. In addition to the murders, Charlie discovers a copy of Poe’s Timberland missing. Which one of the family is the culprit of the murders and taking the valuable copy? Enjoyed this story with lots of twists and turns. Plus enjoyed Charlie’s son, Sean role in working with his Dad to make sure he stays safe until the culprit is found. The reader will also meet Dante, the dog who comes to live in Diesel’s territory. A good read. This is book #2 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
....2. File M for Murder File M for Murder (Cat in the Stacks, #3) by Miranda James by Miranda James
Finished: 06/01/2021
Rating: 4 🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Charlie Harris is a widower works part-time
in the University of Athena’s Archive section.
He and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, go almost
everywhere together. Diesel is loved by the town.
Charlie’s son, Sean is back home with his dog,
Dante.
Now Charlie’s daughter, Laura has come home
from Hollywood to work as a fill in professor at
the Athena college.
Laura’s old boyfriend, Connor Lawton, is also
working at the college as a writer-in-residence.
One of his girlfriends has followed Connor to Athena
to make sure he stays away from Laura.
But when Connor turns up….Dead….Laura becomes
the prime suspect.
Charlie and Diesel must match wits with Charlie’s
housekeeper’s daughter, Deputy Kanesha Berry.
A fast paced, well plotted murder mystery with a
cast of artfully created characters.
The family relationship between Charlie and Laura
was very heartwarming.
This is book # 3 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone.

✅Two from craft related (any kind of hobbies - knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.)
....1. Paintings Can Be Deadly Paintings Can Be Deadly (Sage Gardens #9) by Cindy Bell by Cindy Bell….Finished 09/09/2021
....2.Death By Cashmere] Death By Cashmere (Seaside Knitters, #1) by Sally Goldenbaum by Sally Goldenbaum…Finished 11/01/2021

✅ Two from paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.)
....1. The Crone's Curse The Crone's Curse (Willows Bend Cozy Mystery, #2) by Evelyn Cullet by Evelyn Cullet….
Finished 07/21/2021
....2. Kittyzen's Arrest Kittyzen's Arrest (Country Cottage Mysteries #1) by Addison Moore by Addison Moore….
Finished 10/22/2021

✅Two from cozy mysteries based outside the US (example: Belinda Lawrence series (British))
....1. Death at the Olde Woodley Grange: A murder mystery featuring a clever and warm female amateur detective Death at the Olde Woodley Grange A murder mystery featuring a clever and warm female amateur detective (Madeleine Brooks Mysteries Book 5) by Tannis Laidlaw by Tannis Laidlaw….Finished 09/19/2021
....2. Cornish Requiem: The Tremayne Mysteries Series Cornish Requiem The Tremayne Mysteries Series by Merryn Allingham by Merryn Allingham….Finished 02/04/2021

✅Two career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.)
....1. Lethal Flip: A Home Renovator Mystery Lethal Flip A Home Renovator Mystery by M.E. Bakos by M.E. Bakos….Finished 05/23/2021
....2. Ruff and Tumble Ruff and Tumble (Dog Groomer Mysteries Book 2) by Chelsea Thomas by Chelsea Thomas….
Finished 07/10/2021

✅Two holiday based (set during any holiday - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentines, etc.)
....1. Deck the Donuts Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolton by Ginger Bolton….Finished 10/23/2021
....2. Hollyberry Homicide Hollyberry Homicide (A Berry Basket Mystery Book 5) by Sharon Farrow by Sharon Farrow….Finished 09/03/2021

✅Two travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.)
....1. Snowed In at the Archive Snowed In at the Archive by Ellie Thornton by Ellie Thornton….Finished 01/08/2021
....2. The Fog Ladies: Family Matters The Fog Ladies Family Matters (A San Francisco Cozy Murder Mystery, #2) by Susan McCormick by Susan McCormick….Finished 03/03/2021

-✅Two historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present)
....1. The Thief of Blackfriars Lane The Thief of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep by Michelle Griep….Finished 01/15/2021
.....2. Winston Churchill's Renegade Spy Winston Churchill's Renegade Spy by Steve Haberman by
Steve Haberman….Finished 04/10/2021

✅ Two is your choice! (freebie!)
....1.Memories Can Be Deadly Memories Can Be Deadly (Sage Gardens #8) by Cindy Bell by Cindy Bell….Finished 01/02/2021
....2. The Lady in Residence The Lady in Residence (Doors to the Past) by Allison Pittman by Allison Pittman….Finished 01/13/2021

Extra 20:
1. Cake and Punishment Cake and Punishment (A Southern Cake Baker Mystery, #1) by Maymee Bell by Maymee Bell….Finished 02/07/2021
2. Bitter Harvest Bitter Harvest (Orchard, #5) by Sheila Connolly by Sheila Connolly….Finished 03/05/2021
3. A Death at Eastwick A Death at Eastwick (The Eastwick Mansion Mysteries, #1) by L.C. Warman by L.C. Warman….Finished 01/23/2021
4. Candy Slain Murder Candy Slain Murder (A Country Store Mystery Book 8) by Maddie Day by Maddie Day….
Finished 03/12/2021
5. Out of Circulation Out of Circulation (Cat in the Stacks, #4) by Miranda James by Miranda James….Finished 06/16/2021
6& 7. Country Cousin Mysteries: Collection One Country Cousin Mysteries Collection One (Country Cousin #1-2) by Sam Cheever by Sam Cheever….Finished 01/05/2021
8. Shucked Apart Shucked Apart (A Maine Clambake Mystery #9) by Barbara Ross by Barbara Ross….Finished 02/03/2021
9. Going, Going, Ganache Going, Going, Ganache (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, #5) by Jenn McKinlay by Jenn McKinlay….Finished 02/26/2021
10. A Berry Baffling Businessman A Berry Baffling Businessman (Kylie Berry Mysteries #6) by A.R. Winters by A.R. Winters….Finished 03/16/2021
11. The Fear Hunter The Fear Hunter (Agatha Bright Mysteries, #1) by Elise Sax by Elise Sax….Finished 03/22/2021
12. The Great Witches Baking Show The Great Witches Baking Show (Great Witches Baking Show #1) by Nancy Warren by Nancy Warren….Finished 03/31/2021
13. A Catered Murder A Catered Murder (A Mystery with Recipes, #1) by Isis Crawford by Isis Crawford…
Finished 04/09/2021
14. Nail Biter Nail Biter (Home Repair is Homicide, #9) by Sarah Graves by Sarah Graves….Finished 08/06/2021
15. Murder at Catmmando Mountain Murder at Catmmando Mountain (Georgie Shaw, #1) by Anna Celeste Burke by Anna Celeste Burke….Finished 08/01/2021
16. Murder in an Irish Churchyard Murder in an Irish Churchyard (Irish Village Mystery #3) by Carlene O'Connor by Carlene O'Connor….Finished 08/01/2021
17. Death by Chocolate Snickerdoodle Death by Chocolate Snickerdoodle (A Death by Chocolate Mystery, #4) by Sarah Graves by Sarah Graves….Finished: 08/20/2021
18. Limoncello Yellow Limoncello Yellow (Franki Amato, #1) by Traci Andrighetti by Traci Andrighetti….Finished 08/28/2021
19. A Tangle in the Vines A Tangle in the Vines (Calla Lily Mystery #2) by Anna Celeste Burke by Anna Celeste Burke….Finished 09/22/2021
20. On Borrowed Crime On Borrowed Crime (Jane Doe Book Club Mystery, #1) by Kate Young by Kate Young
Finished 10/16/2021
21. Designer Dirty Laundry: A Samantha Kidd Mystery Designer Dirty Laundry A Samantha Kidd Mystery (The Samantha Kidd Mysteries Book 1) by Diane Vallere by Diane Vallere…Finished 10/08/2021

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[Katherine]

Carol wrote: "Finished Challenge: 11/01/2021
Level four (Sleuth Extraordinaire) -

B) Two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 20 cozy books of your choice (total of 40 books)

✅ Two from cu..."


WOW!